Ephemeral-D - Human Diaspora

Silence

On the road leading to the Bunker the group had to cross the Tomaho river. A blast from the sky struck the river waterbed, a deafening sound pierced their ears while they were resting. It was a large, four stories tall, mechanized vehicle, that looked like a giant spider, coming towards them. Chet knew conventional weapons would do them no good.

"Everybody into the woods now!" Chet said.

In the frenzy of the situation part of the group disobeyed his order and fired at it. The attacker emitted a high pitched sound before discharge a heatwave so powerful that put all to the ground convulsing.

Broad blackened figures descended from the mechanized alien creature. They had humanoid shape and were approaching the survivalists with fast strides. Chet and the unaffected part of the group hid themselves in the grove nearby, they witnessed a horrendous feast on the paralyzed bodies.

The leader of the Pemakan group communicated in his own language to the rest of them: "Take them all to the Pursuer vessel!"

"But you promised that, on arrival, we could taste this primitive and delicious animal's flesh first hand." What seemed to be the second in command said.

The others cheered.

"Okay. Do what you must. Be careful, there may be others out there in the woods. I'll return to the Persuer. Just don't take too long."

Chet looked around trying to find Martha while realizing that she was on the ground closer to the Pemakan soldiers. He became desperate.

"This is the time we were looking for guys. Time to end the meat withdrawal. I'll take this small one first. It's flesh seems to be tender and ripe."

Lifting Martha from the ground by the throat.

Chet screamed but Braden restrained him.

"Stay still, you'll reveal our position! I know it's hard Chet but the rest of us must survive and get to the bunker in time."

Chet flexed all his muscles in pain but withhold his impulse to run at Martha.

The scene that followed showed that the Pemakan eat the meat raw, with no preparations, they stripped the flesh from the bones and chewed it like a grinder. They are carnivorous and their body functions need high amounts of calories and protein daily intake. It pieced Martha to shreds in less than ten minutes, the others did the same to the nearby bodies.

The beast cleaned its mouth with his arm and said, "get back to your exoskeletons, bring the remaining bodies to the Pursuer and let us out of here at once."

Chet and the others watched petrified the terror disheveling before their eyes. The Pemakan soldiers got into their suits and each one carried the rest of the bodies to their vehicle. It ignited its thrusters in no time and flew over them heading away from the bunker direction.

Night fell quickly. Silence crept in while everybody dug graves for the dead. Braden lifted his voice in the darkness: "In the quest for survival, from a far more powerful enemy than we ever had before, we honor those who fell alongside this river. Farewell."

"My love, my strength, true Pythia incarnated. That your light remains among us and guide us to safety. Rest in peace. And now I say to you all, we'll avenge the fallen no matter what!" Chet said.

The remaining group yelled in agreement.

...