From Embers

F O U R T E E N

Diego and I walked downstairs and out of the front door, and we told everyone we were going to the athletics field because I didn't want to check it out alone. My new friends must have forgotten about the lockdown, because they didn't say anything. As soon as we stepped outside of the unit and I closed the door behind us Scott appeared beside it. He stumbled a little before maintaining his balance. He was still pretty badly hurt, but would heal as we tracked the Wendigo. We headed to its last known location: the main gate.

Scott used an ability he had to make the security guards we passed on the way think we belonged there, so the lockdown didn't affect us. I forgot how long the road from the gate to the actual campus was, and it felt like we had been walking for an hour. We stayed in the treeline when we finally approached the gate. There was a metallic smell in the air, but I couldn't put my finger on what I was smelling. 

"Stay quiet mates, don't wanna alarm them. Might shoot us if we startle them from the look of their friend that just hit the dirt." Scott whispered.

"Hit the dirt?" I mumbled to myself.

Then I saw it. The gruesome scene of a mangled body on the ground right beside the gate. I realized that the whole time I was smelling the wretched stench of blood. It was like the ground around what used to be a person was painted a dark red. The dead guard didn't even resemble a person anymore. There were bits and pieces of him scattered all around the scene, and where the majority of it lied a collapsed head with a part of his neck. Below that, were shredded remains of skin and what was left of his organs. I couldn't make out anything besides a small portion of his face, which was the only thing untouched by the horrible beast. Beside me, Diego turned around and started vomiting. Scott just closed his eyes at the sight and shook his head.

"Tracks lead North, so we need to get a move on before it gets too far away." Scott stated.

"Lead the way." I responded.

He followed the treeline and walked straight out of the main gate with the both of us following directly behind him. He avoided the remains of the guard and simply walked around. The crew attempting to clean it off the road that led into campus. Everything about this made me feel sick. They were just going to clean it up, not tell the students what happened, and move on. We finally passed the scene without a second look from anyone. I looked back and said quietly.

"I'm sorry this was how you had to go. I will avenge your death." 

We pushed on into the forest following closely behind Scott. He seemed to be almost fully healed now. He didn't have a slight limp, nor did he grunt in displeasure when breathing. Scott stopped in his tracks ahead of me, and I stopped right behind him. I peered around his broad form to see trees that had been downed. There were wide scratches along where the forestry was broken. How strong was this thing? Diego inhaled sharply. 

"Did that thing do all of this?" He asked.

I didn't say anything; I only nodded once. 

He didn't say anything else after that.

"Don't move too quickly, and watch yer steps. It's close. Don't make a damn sound." Scott said.

We moved forward slowly, at first no more than a few steps per minute, but over time our pace increased. The amount of damage to the forest around us was astonishing. Something that didn't look very strong is able to clear a forest only using its arms. We followed the path of destruction further in, and the sky above us was almost completely out of sight from the amount of dense forestry. The claw marks in the bases of the trees were at least an inch deep. The Wendigo knew what it was doing; it was out for blood. A distant screech echoed through the forest and send chills down my spine. We had almost caught up with it. Diego pulled out the pistol Scott had given him in our unit and prepared himself. We pressed on as fast as we could without alerting the beast we were approaching quickly. Its screeching got louder with every step, and fear started flowing through me. I felt my abilities awaken with a mental snap. I shivered from the sudden flow of power. Before I realized, Scott had stopped again and crouched low. I almost toppled over him. I got down beside him and looked ahead. The hulking beast stood there. No movement, no breathing, nothing. I summoned my bow and this time I materialized flaming arrows. They would likely be more effective than regular ones.