Chapter Forty Five:
What are those things? There a erie presence emanating from the pod, which they spawn from. It looked like the thing had a lightbulb glued to its arm.
The monster with out pause, continued to emerge. A leg flopped out, its foot a fleshy mass, four knobs of toes wriggling as much as its fingers. And on the knee, another one of those impossible orange spheres of light, seemingly growing right out of its skin.
"What is that thing?" Minho shouted over the noise of the surging storm.
No one answered. Thomas was dazed, staring at the creature―mesmerized and terrified at the same time. He did finally look away long enough to see that similar monsters were coming out of every pod―all at the same pace―then returned his attention to the closest one.
It had somehow gained purchase enough with its right arm and leg to begin pulling the rest of its body out. Thomas and I looked on in horror as the abominable thing flopped and wiggled until it lurched over the edge of the open pod and stumbled to the ground. Roughly human-shaped, though at least a couple of feet taller than anyone around Thomas, its body was naked and thick, pockmarked and wrinkled. Most disturbing were more of those bulbous growths, maybe two dozen total, spread over the thing's body and glowing with brilliant orange light.
Several on its chest and back. One on each elbow and knee―the bulb on the right knee had busted in a flurry of sparks when the creature landed on the ground―and several sticking out of a big lump of ... what had to be a head, though it didn't have any eyes, nose, mouth or ears. No hair, either.
More and more began to spring to life and observe and took me mental notes. Was this it? Variables or not this is a tad excessive. Where are seriously lacking manpower to fight this army off.
The first monster got to its feet, swayed a bit as it balanced, then turned to face the group of humans. A quick glance around showed that each pod had delivered its creature, all of them now standing in a circle around the three groups.
In unison, the creatures raised their arms until they pointed toward the sky. Then, all at once, thin blades shot out of the tips of their stubby fingers, out of their toes, out of their shoulders. The flashes of lightning in the sky glittered off their surface, sharp and gleaming silver. Though there was no sign of any kind of mouth, a deathly, creepy moan emanated from their bodies―it was a sound we could feel more than hear. And it had to be loud to be heard over the terrible thunder.
'Maybe Grievers would've been better,' Nyx said in my head.
'Well, they're enough alike that it's obvious who created these things, I said back, straining to stay calm. Prehaps we all thought that.
Minho turned quickly and faced the crowd of still-gaping people surrounding Thomas. "There's more them then each of us! Grab whatever you got for a weapon!"
Prehaps if the ones who didn't breakaway we stood an even chance, but who knows. All that matters is us here and the now. What bothers me the most is Curie having to fight, and more then one creature. But she held on to the crossbow. I had flimsy machete as I stood my ground inching closer to Thomas.
Almost as if they'd heard the challenge, the lightbulb creatures started moving, walking forward. Their first couple of steps were lumbering, but then they recovered, growing steady and strong and agile. Coming closer with every step.
Teresa handed Thomas a really long knife, almost a sword. I couldn't imagine where she'd been hiding these things, but she now held a short dagger in addition to her spear, then handed me a long serrated blade similar to what I used back in the Glade.
"Why help me?"
"Come on, we are still friends even If we aren't on good terms."
"I suppose."
"Seriously, someone's gotta be the one to cover Thomas and mines flank."
Suddenly everything became lively as lightning flickered and arc above in short spouts and jets of excitement. The pressure had been on, more so as thoughts of life or death hover.
Nyx stood aside Minho as they worked together to rally everyone. Some girls wriggle to both sides. There weren't any more Groups of subjects, just people- humans trying to evade death.
Still we stood out numbered. It wasn't like I wasn't use to these odds, I prefer them this way. I'm curious about how those amalgamation in the distance worked. WICKED's latest abominations were only thirty feet away.
Teresa finally elbowed Thomas in the ribs. He looked to see her pointing at one of the creatures, telling Thomas―making sure he knew―that she'd chosen her foe. He nodded, then gestured toward the one he'd been thinking was his all along. I point to the one to the far right, declaring it as my mine but it wasn't alone. I'd be up against two. It was time to test my metal, If I can't defeat these things, I have no right to challenge WICKED or overcome the Flare.
Twenty-five feet away.
Thomas had the sudden thought that it was a mistake to wait for them―that they needed to be spread out more. Minho must've had the same idea.
"Now!" Our leaders yelled, a bare and distant bark because of the storm's sounds. "Charge them!" Nyx and Minho said in perfect harmony.
Fifteen feet away- I braced my weapon, ten feet away- I sturdy the grip and observe the biotech monster I had no stake in creating. Five feet away- I push all doubt away, even considering my blood. But what didn't work for the Stalkers ain't going to work here.
Contact. I thrust my blade at it's head before turning on heel, raking diagonal across it's face, down to it's shoulder not making sure to get it lodge in the blob of skin it has. The creatures spew out sharp blade tip from it's disfigured finger grazing my shirt, as it comrade lingers In for a pincer attack.
I tilt the blade before dropping down and rolling out of harms way. Failing to notice the knives for toes of the creatures as it kicks back and forth at me, nearly gutting me. With my right arm, the blade arm I use it to block the feet with said blade. Unfortunately the second is getting closer looking to trample and impale in one shot.
My reflex's kicking in faster then my thought process, swiftly I rip free the machete and block the others feet knives. I'm under constant attack all I can do is attack from on my back. Upword is the shutter of a thunder clap. It's a momentary lapse In attack that I'm able scoot away and get back up with minimal damage to my wrists. Nothing to serious. Now it's my time to go back on the attack after take a huge swallow of air. I still wasn't able to focus on the others.
Dodging their second onslaught, I dash forward and spring at the first monster bringing down both weapons across it jagged body, being meet with a resistance from an internal part of it's body. It was badly hurt as it's attack's became less proper. I seized the opportunity to cut and detached the fingers that could shot out little blades. It still was a force to fear but I made it rather harmless for the time being.
The monster let out a roar this time―a sound almost exactly like the haunted moans of the Grievers―and dropped to the ground, thrashing its arms, trying to impale me, but couldn't. This time is friend got close enough that I drove the machete into it's skull. At the same time lunging the edge of the blade into the first's windpipe.
They were a disgusting mess in the state I left them in, but they hadn't died yet, as I reel out the machete and ready to counter. As I swung forward, I ducked, sucked in a heavy breath. Then thrusted forward as the blade slam in shattered one of the bulbs as the orange light dead. The unarmed creature started to back away, as the second only noticing what just happened it.
Quickly I took a peek at the action. Minho is jabbing and stabbing with knives in both hands, the monster actually taking steps backward, away from him. Newt scrambling across the ground, the creature he fought lumbering after him, obviously injured. Slowing. Teresa was nearly the closest to me jumping and dodging and poking her foe with the butt of her spear. Why was she doing that? Her monster seemed to be badly hurt as well.
Thomas was doing fine fending off his, one of the lights he managed to burst. Nyx had two as well doing adqaute against them. Jane had one, and was at it like a wild animal. Curie laid down suppresive fire from the crossbow, she managed to break the most bulbs. Her creature was rather lathrgic. Brenda was covering Jacob's rear as he had three of the bastards. Aris was helping some girl.
But I had to focus on my battle as more and more pilled in against me. Shuck, it was getting crazy, but I notice that breaking the blubs seem the way to go.
Panting rather hard, I felt my lungs fight against me. Two became four, four became seven. A utterly abysmal situation to be in. I might just die… But a twitch or anger broke out all over my body, I wasn't going to make it easy for them.
"You want some!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, it over took the wind as people began to catch wind of my issue. Yet it wouldn't be enough to mass up and help, I was on my own.
Each creature roar loud all ready to snuff me out. I've come so far that I'm not going to die at the finish line. Stepping back I even out my breathing, as I zero in on as many light bulbs I could see and focus on. I can see my self following through with this attack, not as just using a weapon but as an extension of my arms. Precise and orderly, it was time for a risky gambit.
Dashing forward leaning inward along a jagged line, the onslaught begins. Slicing and shattering bulb after bulb hearing the delicious pop, made me feel alive. More and more I twist and slice, slice and twist until Im through the other side of the creatures. But something is wrong I didn't get as many as planned, my sheets are torn and rip. But I manage to gotten through unharmed. Expect for small slices on my shoulder which don't hurt.
Next thing I know, something presses against my back. I shift my head to see Aris, weapons drawn a little more hurt then I. But he'll live.
"Seven on one, now that's not fair!" He said with the unhinged tone from back in the cave. "Mind if I joined this dance."
"Knock yourself out kid." I said readying to strike again. "Follow my lead you bust the bulbs I miss, got it?"
"Finish what you started, easy…"
This time with help, I went in, he followed, prodding, lunging and stabbing both of us at the same time, a symphony of-
Pop. Pop. Pop. Over and over, it show a decrease in their attack's and power. We might just , again and again. Untill the seven stood still, we went on a joint rampage and despite being critically injured. They still went at us trying to slice and impale us. But I believe we got the better of them. One girl from B, was dead.
Thomas was still dealing with his despite having started off strong. Once we finish our combined attack, I left Aris to clean house. The spry kid was so deadly given the chance. I run, cutting at others creatures, popping bulbs as I go along. Still I was quite the distance from Thomas.
Thomas attacked relentlessly. If only he could quickly finish it off, make it die. Yet still wasn't there yet, it had been eating at him not being to help the rest. I was going to intercept as I running towards him, because the monster was standing in my way. Either Thomas or I are going to land a death blow on feet away, I prime my blade ready to strike to end this once and for all, but then-
A blinding light flashed behind him, then a sound like the entire universe exploding ripped away the brief moment of exhilaration and hope. A wave of invisible power knocked him over and he fell flat onto his stomach, the sword clattering away from him. The creature fell, too, and a burnt smell singed the air. I flew backwards landing hard on my tailbone. Thomas had rolled onto his side to look, I struggle up and we both saw a massive black hole in the ground, charred and smoking. A bladed foot and hand from one of the monsters lay on the hole's edge. No sign of the rest of the body.
It'd been a lightning strike. Right behind him. The storm had finally broken.
Things were about to go from hard to insane. No place to hide, nowhere to run. We we're royally screwed.
The lightning exploded all around us with deafening cracks of thunder; plumes of dirt flew into the air from every direction. Several people screamed―one was cut off abruptly, a girl. And that burning smell. Overwhelming. The strikes of electricity subsided as quickly as they had begun. But light continued to flash in the clouds, and rain started to pour down in sheets.
Thomas hadn't moved during that first flurry of lightning. There was no reason to think he'd be any safer in another spot than where he lay. But after the onslaught, I scrambled to help him on his feet to look around, see what we could do or where we could run before it happened again.
Our options are very limited, regardless we need to move and fast.