Demon Hunterz: Annihilation (Book 3)

Chapter 36: War Hero II

Did I really make the right choice? Was Mitch's life really worth more than Roger? Can human life...is it really possible to value one over the other? I don't know anymore. My mind is too damn foggy process any logic. Only two deaths happened and I'm a total train wreck!

I can't think. I can't act. The mere thought of making another move paralyzed me to my core. I had hit an emotional and physical wall. I was done. Tapped out. 

But one thing stood out to me. About what Roger said. That there's no way I can save everyone. Lives will be lost here today. And that everyone who was at that campfire might not be around for much longer. I should know better than to expect something the opposite. Time and time again has proven just how cruel reality can be. I was a fool to think otherwise.

I can't help but wonder...who's next? How many lives will be lost today? Within the next hour? How many more dreams will be crushed under the cruel weight of reality?!

"Everyone, brace yourselves!" Carter shouts, slamming two more metal pens into the ground. Each several yards apart.

Ahead of us, the smoke clears. George was getting ready to open its mouth for another blast of explosive waves. A blue barrier for a wall rises in front of us. Thin, transparent, and a solid as glass. 

The demon lets it all out in an ear-crushing roar. Sending out countless waves that shattered the ground into a jagged mess of pieces underneath him.

The sailing waves smack the barrier dead center. A flash of distorting light left us stumbling and holding our bleeding ears. My world now a mix of glaring lights and sharp lines and shapes. All swimming in my faded vision. It took about a minute before I could come to. Another for my ears to stop ringing.

Carter, face contorted as he holds a hand up to his face, eyes everyone in rapid succession. "Is everyone alright?"

"Yeah," I groan, slightly shaken up and out of breath. "Dizzy, but I'm still breathing."

"Shit man, I think...I think my left ear is shot!" Mitch says, still tripping over his own feet.

Carter stoops down and lends Mitch his shoulder. A rare act of compassion from the usually rigid old man. Mitch stares blinkingly for a moment. Smirks while wincing one eye shut, and while wrapping an arm around the veteran hunter, the pair lift themselves to their feet.

"You know old man, you're not half bad." Mitch says, still wearing that shit-eating grin.

"Save the thanks for after this is all over, kid." Carter shoots back at him.

Frankie could only utter out a high-pitched whimper. I see trails of oozing red flowing down both his wolfen ears. Out of all of us, his heighten ears took the worst of it. But he stood up ten feet tall. Yellowish claws glistening as his muscular frame was on full display. From his broad, bulky chest down to his ripped stomach and arms the size of tree trunks. Even his face was completely like a wild beast. Bearing a elongated snout, black lips that were peeled to show two rows of teeth, and wild eyes of piercing yellow. 

A towering wall of death if I ever seen one. 

"Fucking fuck!" Bruce already in sitting position due to being the closest to the barrier and having been knocked on his ass, slams a heavy fist to the ground. The muscles in his jaw clenching. "How the hell is he getting the jump on us?! We should be tearing him a new one by now!"