Recently I was attacked by chin spots…they were big and shiny…they're gone now but they'll be back…I know it…

In other news, my mother was shocked to find out that I still ate Happy Meals…you can never be too old for a Happy Meal…

Anyways in the last chapter Phil got crushed, Nate and the others avoided rampant Spartoi and a man who might be Ted turned up to help with a bunch of men…standard

Chapter 25

Kadir watched with fascination as the dust cleared and the scene before him revealed itself. He was standing at the back of a colossal chamber. To his right the platform was covered in boulders and to his left the wet stone floor was illuminated by fires. At the end he could just made out a sudden drop as if the rock had been cut with a giant knife. More disturbing than the scenery itself were the occupants. Bodies were strewn across the place and through a thick purple-grey haze, Kadir thought he could see giant humanoid shapes lumbering around.

He didn't need to be told twice that the place was dangerous. Rocks were continually falling from the ceiling and he had to move out of way often. Not once did he think of dropping the bucket of fried chicken and running the heck out of there. That wasn't Kadir's way.

The man called Ted, whom Kadir now considered a friend, was conversing with the Egyptian detective. He was pointing and waving his arms in an orderly way, probably trying to direct the soldiers efficiently.

While they did this, Kadir sidled away, hoping to find a nice hidey hole till his friend fixed the situation. As he did this he ran into two men. One was old with hair shot with iron grey, the other was younger. Both were covered in dirt. Kadir held his bucket away from them.

The younger one muttered something in English to his companion, 'I knew it was a bucket of chicken. Come to think of it, I am feeling hungry. Do you think he'll share?'

'I don't know Nate, he looks kinda…possessive…of it…look at the way he's holding it. Yeesh, of all the things they could have brought, they chose chicken. It's nice to see they have their priorities straight,' the older one said with sarcasm.

Kadir would have pointed out that they did bring an army with them but Ted called out to him and hurried over.

'Kadir! I told you not to go running off,' he said and then turned to the two men.

The older man gaped.

The younger man's stomach rumbled.

…

'Ted?'

Nate turned his attention to the man in front of him. Even with half his face taped up with wound dressings, he knew it was him. Without a doubt.

'It is I,' Ted replied with a grin, 'I thought you guys could do with some back up.'

Nate was more preoccupied with the fast food at the moment but didn't say anything.

'Hold the phone, I thought you were dead. Phil told us that you fell into the rapids,' Sully said flabbergasted.

Ted's smile dimmed a little and gestured to the man with chicken, 'Yeah, I did, but somehow I survived. Kadir fished me out of some river and took me to a hospital.'

'And now he follows you around?' Sully asked confused. Ted leant forward as if trying to shield Kadir from what he was about to say.

'I have no idea how to get rid of him. I once gave him some chicken and I think that was my downfall. Now he thinks that I'll always do it.'

Sully looked at the thin man and shrugged. It wasn't his place to question these things. He had met many strange people on his travels.

Ted straightened and looked around, a frown furrowing his brow. It seemed to pain him because he grunted and looked grim. He was about to speak but Nate beat him to it.

'What happened to your face?' he asked, slightly disappointed that Kadir had left and was now standing by the policeman in the blue beret. His hopes of getting something to eat dashed.

'From when the camp exploded in Uganda,' Ted explained, 'It still hasn't healed properly so don't be alarmed if my face starts dripping blood and pus.'

Nate didn't feel hungry so anymore.

'Was that necessary?' he asked.

'I saw the way you eyeing Kadir's chicken. You don't want to mess with him. He'll kill you. He likes his poultry,' Ted said, dead serious. 'By the way, where is Chloe and the others?'

Nate looked over at the rock that had amassed on one side of the platform. 'Somewhere in there.'

Ted did not look happy, 'What's the situation?'

Nate relayed the info as quickly and as detailed as he could. He told Ted of the two Spartoi, how Elena was missing and the radio conversation he had with Chloe and Barry and their plans to drive the Spartoi to the edge of the platform.

'So Chloe and this…Barry…should be heading over here?' Ted asked.

'They'll be here any minute providing nothing has happened, the Spartoi moved to that area not long after I spoke with her,' Nate said, he was itching to search for Elena. Minutes were sliding by and he hadn't even started.

Ted sensed his frustration but spoke as calmly as he could, 'We need to stick together. This place is going to collapse any minute now. You can't just go gallivanting off on your own.'

Nate wanted to disagree but his better judgement prevailed and he hung back, eyes raking the shadowy pathways that the boulders had created.

The Egyptian policeman tapped Ted on the shoulder.

'I've gathered the men. We need a plan to take out these…Spartoi,' the Egyptian hesitated on this alien word, concisely summing up that his knowledge on how to fight them was virtually nonexistent.

Ted nodded to Nate who filled the detective in. The Egyptian fell into deep thought.

'We need to draw them out of the area covered in boulders, it will be too hard to drive them anywhere there.'

The others agreed. Ted tapped his chin. 'Sully, go with Abid and take half the men. Set yourselves up on the clear side. See if you can find any survivors. Nate and I will take the others and try lure the Spartoi to where you are.'

Nate got the feeling that Ted had taken this role so he could find Chloe but couldn't blame the man and watched as Sully and Abid left.

Ted barked some orders and Nate was quickly handed a rifle and ammunition.

'You ready?' Ted asked.

Nate nodded.

They set off.

…

Chloe wasn't entirely sure how long she had been running but no matter which direction she went she couldn't leave the thick fog behind her.

Finally, she ran out of breath and stopped. Leaning against a rock she turned to check on the others only to find that there was no one there.

Crap.

Had she lost them? Chloe tried to run through what they had done when she had grabbed Elena's arm and hauled her away from the approaching Spartoi. Basically, they had just ran. Ran for their lives. The boulders formed a maze of pathways and in the bad lighting they could have easily separated.

She could retrace her steps but she didn't want to run into the Spartoi.

Chloe called out their names in desperation but no one replied.

This was not good at all.

…

'Do you hear that?' Ted asked, lowering his weapon.

Nate stopped, listened hard and nodded. It sounded like raised voices. The sound reverberated through the narrow passageways making it hard to tell where it was coming from.

It hadn't taken them long to realise that it would be impossible to search every path created by the rocks and had quickly decided to just head towards the thicker smoke. Ted had men clambering on top of the rocks as well as taking the pathways.

One of the men called out, saying that there was a clearing ahead.

The soldiers fanned out in front of them.

Nate and Ted hurried forwards and found themselves in an area of flattened boulders.

Two people stood in the middle arguing.

'How could we lose her?' a female voice said desperately, 'she was in front of us the whole time. Weren't you watching her? She has a bad leg for God's sake.'

'I'm not her babysitter, it was pretty hectic back there, what I want to know is how did we get back here?' a distinctly British accented man replied. He turned and noticing that he was surrounded by armed men, squeaked and held a backpack to his face in an attempt to hide. 'Don't shoot. We're the good guys.'

'I figured as much,' Ted grumbled lowering his weapon as Nate rushed passed him and grabbed hold of Elena, not caring that he was being watched.

'Ah, Nate, you're crushing me,' she managed to say but he didn't let go.

'Don't run off like that,' he muttered.

Elena didn't feel like arguing with Nate too, so just apologised instead of defending herself. To be honest she had been the only one to actually do anything pertaining to their original plan. Everyone else was wrestling.

'I feel like I need to get you a lead and collar so you stay put,' Nate said.

'This just got a bit kinky,' Barry said and Nate shoved him with an arm in humour while still holding Elena in the other.

It was at this point that Ted spoke up, 'You guys about done?'

Recognising the voice Elena turned, 'Ted? I thought you had died. Don't get me wrong though, I'm glad you're not. Barry, this is Ted, he helped us in Uganda.'

'Naw, I'm not dead yet,' Ted said with a smile and nodded at Barry, 'By the way, you guys haven't seen Chloe around have you?'

Elena grew sombre, 'Well, it's a long story,' she said and tried to get it over with double time.

When she had finished, Ted spoke, 'So basically, we have no idea where Chloe is and Phil is over there somewhere,' he pointed to a corner and Elena nodded

Ted was quiet for a moment as if deep in thought.

'Ok, here's the plan, you guys continue with the mission and I'll go find Chloe,' he said.

'Uh, didn't you want to stick together?' Nate asked. Ted stared at him.

'I need to find her before the Spartoi do.'

Nate caught the look in the other man's gaze and didn't question it. If he hadn't found Elena so soon he would've probably done the same.

'Ok, if you run into trouble use the radio,' Nate said. Ted nodded and turned to Elena.

'Which path did you guys take when you ran away from the Spartoi?'

Elena pointed to the same corner where Phil had been crushed and Ted headed over.

Nate and Elena watched as their friend ran off only to see him pause at the entrance to the pathway. He called out to them and they hurried over.

'What's the matter?' Elena asked. Ted pointed at the ground where a puddle of crimson blood adorned the stone. A crooked line of red spread out from one side of the liquid, as if someone had dipped a brush in it and was attempting to paint the floor. It headed into the pathway.

'I assume this is where Phil was,' Ted said. Barry and Elena nodded, both wondering how the portly man had the energy to drag himself anywhere.

Nate was thinking along the same lines and thought that there was a lot of blood. It would be tough to survive that, 'He couldn't have got far,' he said.

'Ok, if I find his body I'll tell you guys,' Ted said and without further ado followed the bloody trail.

When he disappeared from view, Nate headed towards the pathway that led into the thick cloying fog.

'We going into that?' Barry asked.

'Yup,' Nate said without turning back.

Barry swallowed audibly.

Elena patted his back, 'You'll be fine.'

Barry seriously doubted that.

…

Kadir had taken refuge behind the soldiers who were in position to lead the assault on the Spartoi when they appeared. The air was tense and the soldiers bristled with nervous energy.

The fisherman was glad he was in possession of his favourite comfort food but even chicken couldn't stop the growing sense of fear inside of him. He could hear the screams and gunfire of the soldiers who had gone with Ted as they tried to lure the Spartoi out.

He tugged the sleeve of the old man, 'Will we live?'

Sully didn't want to raise the little man's hope, 'You'd better savour that chicken, it's probably the last you'll ever eat.'

This is not what Kadir wanted to hear.

He settled down in his hiding space but only for a few minutes.

Kadir did not want to die and his mind was made.

With surprising agility, he shot out from his hiding space and sprinted to the heavy boulders. Head down, legs pumping furiously.

Here he knew he would be safe. Those demons would never see him here.

In the dark pathway, holding his fried chicken close, Kadir waited for a miracle to occur.

…

Chloe was getting irritated.

After several minutes she had found herself in an area where the smoke was thin and she could finally see more than a couple feet ahead. Unfortunately, she had not been able to locate Barry and Elena.

She had perched on a low boulder and rested. The adrenaline rush was over and now she was exhausted. All she needed was a couple minutes downtime. Sudden bursts of gunfire reminded her that she didn't have that luxury.

When the gunfire didn't stop and there was addition of grenades exploding, Chloe frowned. What on Earth was going on? She didn't think that there were enough people alive to make this much noise, but one thing was for sure. If she wanted to see another living soul again she should probably head over there.

Picking her weary body up, Chloe hobbled towards the commotion.

…

Nate realised they were running out of time. Thick cracks zigzagged across the floor and the ceiling continued to shed boulders. It wouldn't be long now till the whole chamber just gave up and collapsed.

He could picture it in his mind, the whole platform subsiding into the rushing water below.

Not a good way to go.

The soldiers sensed his unease but kept going and Nate was grateful they were here. It would definitely make things easier.

He didn't realise how close they were till he heard men scream to his left. The comm. unit squawked and crackled.

'Contact far left! Contact far left!'

Nate scrabbled up the nearest boulder and saw a giant arm sweep towards him. He ducked low and brought up his rifle, letting off a few rounds to get his attacker's attention but he already had it.

The silhouette became clearer as the creature came closer and Nate decided to get a move on. He pointed the rifle skywards as he ran, firing as he leapt from boulder to boulder in an effort to keep the Spartoi interested.

Elena and Barry saw the muzzle flashes move above them and joined in.

That was one Spartoi hooked but it was the other one that Nate worried about. He slipped on a jump and slammed a shin into the edge of a rock. His teeth gritted in pain as lights flashed in his eyes but kept going knowing full well what would happen if he didn't.

Nate supposed that as long as the second Spartoi didn't just appear in front of him, it would be ok. With this in mind he headed towards the waiting soldiers.

He hoped everything would go to plan.

There wouldn't be any second chances.

…

Chloe propped herself up on the rocky walls of the pathway. She still hadn't found anyone. The gunfire continued but her path seemed to be winding away from it. If only she could use her leg properly. Chloe slapped a hand against the boulder in frustration, drinking in the muffled gunshots and muted shouts. Other than that it was pretty quiet and if Chloe wasn't experienced in this kind of thing she'd have probably curled up into a little ball till help arrived.

Dull thuds of footsteps broke the eerie quiet. Chloe's ears pricked up and she raised her pistol. The sound was coming from behind her. Somebody was approaching. A few seconds more and they would round the corner that was currently hiding her.

Chloe squeezed herself into a narrow crevice where two boulders met and hoped that the lingering smoke and shadows would do the rest. The adrenaline was pumping once again and Chloe didn't even realise that she was holding her breath.

The steps rose in volume and she could just make out a person's shadow growing larger through the gap. Hoping that she had timed this right, Chloe swung the butt of her gun out hoping to make contact with her stalker's face and stepped out from her hiding place.

Her plan worked and the gun thwacked the assailant's face, who cursed in pain and lunged for her. A short scuffle ensued which Chloe struggled to win. Soon the attacker, who turned out to be a man, had an arm around her waist, arms pinioned uselessly to her side and a gun to her throat.

Chloe was going to head-butt the man but thought against it and as she calmed down, she realised who she was looking at.

'Oh,' she said, 'it's you.'

…

Sully perked up when he heard the sound of gunfire drawing close. A mass of roiling shadow was heading towards them. Every now and then an inhuman limb extended out and smashed its way through the rock.

It would be happening soon now.

Abid the Egyptian detective seemed to think so too and tersely relayed orders over the radio. Sully admired his nerve and readied himself. He hefted the RPG that had been loaned to him and found a perch on a high boulder that gave him clearance so he wouldn't hit any of the soldiers.

Without warning there was a colossal eruption of rock and a Spartoi burst forth from the boulder strewn part of the platform. Sully could make out soldiers running around, trying to avoid the Spartoi's steps and desperately trying not to get caught between it and the edge of the platform.

It was time. The contingent of soldiers in front of Sully ran forward guns chattering. Sully looked out for Nate and the others but in the following confusion and activity couldn't make anything out.

Sully noticed the Spartoi turn in their direction. It was still for a moment, as if pondering what the consequences of the raging mob hurtling towards him could be. A belt of grenades flew out to greet him, they bounced off his massive frame and exploded.

The giant being staggered backwards and the soldiers urged that momentum on, continuing with their assault. Sully fired a rocket, a sensation of triumph coursing through him as it hit. Acrid smoke filled his nose but he hadn't felt this good in a long time. For an old timer he wasn't so bad at this. He loaded another missile.

Blinded by the flashes of guns and grenade fire, the Spartoi retreated a little further onto the unstable rock that preceded the long fall into the waters below. As hoped, the ground gave way the Spartoi began to lose its balance. Sensing that it was now or never, Sully tagged it with a final rocket.

The Spartoi teetered on the edge and then tumbled into the rapids, its inhuman roars soundless against the backdrop of rushing water.

Sully put down his weapon and hurried over to the edge where he peered over just to make sure. The water swallowed the Spartoi without mercy and Sully knew that Ted was extremely lucky to be alive.

The soldiers cheered, praised God and high fived but Sully knew it wasn't over yet. There was still another Spartoi lumbering around. He found Nate, Elena and Barry catching their breath on the side.

'Uh, where are Chloe and Ted?' Sully asked, 'If they're off canoodling somewhere, this really isn't the time. And I'm pretty sure there were two Spartoi.'

'Jealous, old man?' Nate asked with a grin. Sully frowned but was pleased to see that they had found Elena and Barry.

'Nothing but criticism, where's the thanks?' Barry shook his head, glad that the dangerous bit was over for now. Maybe he would just sit the next one out. Elena shot him a look as if she had read his mind and Barry picked up his rifle meekly and sighed.

'We lost Chloe, Ted went to find her,' Elena explained to Sully, 'the other Spartoi obviously wasn't taken with our ruse.'

There was a sudden bellow and everyone turned to look at a smaller but still formidable smokescreen that was moving around the boulders in the distance.

Two figures came sprinting out of the rubble at top speed towards them.

'Hey, that looks like Chloe and Ted,' Barry said squinting to see through the persistent haze, 'I think they're holding hands. Awww…ain't that cute.'

If Barry had looked properly he would have noticed that Ted was literally dragging Chloe out of danger and not just holding hands like it was a casual date

Sully rolled his eyes. He knew they'd been canoodling. Nothing like a life or death situation to get all those emotions out. All these young people were the same.

'It doesn't look like they're alone either,' Elena muttered, loading her rifle. Nate did the same and Sully went to fetch his RPG.

The band of heroes watched as a figure emerged behind their two friends. It towered over them, following doggedly, arms outstretched like a small child chasing a toy car.

The second Spartoi was on its way.

Another terrible spelling mistake…contact far left began as contact fart left…that is not a proper direction…this is what happens when you forget a word in a sentence and insert them without looking properly…

Never insert without checking …I smile as I write this…I apologise for my immaturity…I deserve those Happy Meals lol…

Due to my laziness, I decided to split this part into two chapters instead of having a mega long one…

I said I would stop with the chicken but I couldn't for these chapters…sorry…for now it is integral to the plot…sort of…

I think I know how this but is going to end but there is one problem that isn't sorted out and that is how Ted gets the money for the surgery…lol…I'll deal with that later…

Thanks for reading and everything…I appreciate it

I could have finished this off really quickly but I didn't...sorry...

Most of all thanks for your patience…I am bad at updating and tend to long things out...