rappeler

[TW: Blood/Gore]

~0~0~

4

Burying the dead was always a task Simon hated the most. Since he was the medical assistant, it was his job to bury the people - the children - who had died. However, whoever this woman was, she wasn't a child. He had never even seen her before.

He wondered why Lou, their leader, truly wanted to save this woman. It was too late from the get-go. Now, he was digging into the ground next to the other four graves they had. Four children were dead, all of them killed because they were brought to this environment.

It made Simon sick to think about what happened to these kids; the children. One had only been there for a day before a monster climbed up the wall and attacked the poor child. They were only eleven at the time.

That was the problem with the Craindre. They could climb up the walls to the camp. That's why they needed him. He didn't know much about the Craindre, but he did know that only one species could climb up the wall. It was lucky that the monsters that could climb up the wall were scarce.

Yet still, too many had died from these monsters. Even one of the hunters, who was great at close combat, went insane due to the monsters and the maze. Surely they should have found a way to escape by now?

He continued digging, trying to take his mind off of the Craindre. This was just his job, and soon, hopefully, they could all escape. Right?

He heard the squish of mud behind him when he was digging the shallow grave. Simon turned around to see a guy, one of the researchers, bending down and watching the body, almost examining it as he also looked at a card. He scribbled something in his notebook he had with him. It seemed like he didn't even realize Simon was there.

Simon knew he was one of the researchers, a kid named Quint. He was murmuring to himself as he wrote it down in his notebook.

He was about to say something to the kid when his ears started ringing. Painful, loud ringing. He winced, dropping the shovel he had to hold his hands to his ears. The kid, Quint, looked up at him. He squeezed his eyes shut as flashes of red splattered in his vision.

The screams were horrible of the young girl being ripped apart by the Craindre. Simon watched in horror, along with the rest of the group. They had only been there for four days. They barely even knew each other. Yet now, an older woman who had a scar on her neck from one of the kids held two other children in her arms, covering their eyes and ears.

The large white lion was tearing the little girl apart. Devouring her. It made him sick.

There wasn't much left of her to bury, but Simon would always remember the smell and the look of human flesh barely hanging off of a bone.

"Simon?" someone asked. The ringing stopped as he opened his eyes, looking directly at the boy, Quint. He blinked once more, then slowly lowered his hands down from his ears. How did Quint know his name? Right, he was the medic in the camp, surely everyone knew it.

"Are you alright?" Quint asked, turning his head towards his ears, "I'd say to go to the medic, but you are the medic-" Quint murmured, almost as a joke. Simon didn't laugh as he nodded towards the boy.

"I'm fine," Simon said as he bent down to pick up the shovel again. Before he could continue, he felt his ears starting to ring again. Yet, this time, Quint also looked around, the ringing going through the camp.

No, it wasn't ringing. It was clicking. Slow, methodical clicks rang throughout the camp. Simon felt his stomach clench as he saw Quints face slowly turn white like he had seen a ghost. This was worse than a ghost.

"Come on, I'm sure people will be expecting us." Simon firmly stated as he dropped the shovel. Quint nodded as he started to walk towards the main hall. After the first attack, they were careful and they all took action. They built a bunker for attacks like these since more of them would come.

It almost seemed like once a month, a new attack would commence. Simon didn't want to waste time as he walked. He saw other camp members gathering around the bunker, who was held up by Lou, one of the leaders.

They all filed into the bunker, A small room enough to fit twenty. It was underground but secure, and there were also weapons they could all use if something were to happen. The other leader, Griffin, was watching over the group, a longsword in his hand. He looked threatening, but he almost always acted that way. Unlike Lou, who was group focused and a team leader, Griffin would rather lead things by himself.

Honestly, Griffin acted all tough, but Simon was more afraid of Lou than Griffin. Lou could be caring and kind, then just as easily throw a knife right into someone's heart.

A young girl with red hair was brought in by the arm by Lou, as Lou scanned the room. The room felt colder with the girl in. She was silent as she was brought to his corner, and given to Simon. Simon took her arm softly, not wanting to make another fuss.

He almost felt bad for the girl, she went insane after a hunting mission. She was almost killed, but thankfully a hunter saved her. Now, all she wanted to do was go back into the Maze. For her safety, they had to keep her in her room, separate.

Since then, she hasn't made a sound to anyone.

Lou kept scanning the room, a hint of concern on her face. She circled the room, counting each person in her head once again. Simon watched her become more and more worried.

Before Lou could say anything, another clicking sound rang throughout the camp. Some people winced once again. The chef was handing out fruit to everyone in the bunker. Simon took only one apple, then he handed it to the red-headed girl. She took it, but didn't eat anything. Her gaze only set on the door to the bunker.

The Bunker door was still open. Shouldn't they close it? Unless they were missing someone… Simon gazed around the room, counting each person he saw. Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen… someone was missing.

That's why Lou was so worried. She recognized this. The clicking sound returned, this time seeming closer and louder. Lou walked over to a warrior, one Simon knew. He knew because he was roommates with him. Slyvien.

Simon couldn't hear what they were talking about, but whatever it was, it seemed to worry Slyvien too. He nodded, grabbing a bow from the racks of weapons lined against the wall.

Another Warrior, Shep, straightened his back as he walked over to Slyvien. This time, he was not as quiet as the other two.

Simon heard him ask, "Where are you going?"

Slyvien sighed as he grabbed a satchel full of arrows, "Don't worry about it, Shep. I'll be back." Slyvien muttered as he patted Shep on the back, who looked disappointed as he nodded, going back to where he was before.

Slyvien went back to Lou, nodding as he climbed the ladder out of the bunker. Then, he heard the sound of metal as the bunker door closed tightly.

Lou was making a fire, the Bunker was eerily quiet. No one wanted to talk, they wanted to hear what was going to happen.

Then, the warrior once again stood up straighter. Shep had a look of panic as he spoke loudly, "Where is Melvin?" he asked, looking at Lou.

Lou winced slightly as she stood back up, turning to Shep. She walked over to him, whispering to him. Simon couldn't hear what they were saying.

So that's who was missing. A young boy. Wasn't he only fourteen? He was still a child.

"They won't hurt him." the red-headed girl murmured. Almost as if she was talking to herself. That was the first time he had ever heard her speak. He stayed quiet as she continued staring up at the bunker door.

She was wrong. Simon knew she was wrong. How could he tell her thought? She would never listen. Lou sent out Slyvien to try to save the boy, but Simon knew at the end of the day, he was going to have to bury three bodies.

Yay another chapter! I hope you enjoyed this one, if you still have to submit a character, You have until this Sunday!

Have a great day!