Aurora battlefront: Era of Salvation

I shake off the memory of Kristine and blink away the past. The empty halls of my school feel suffocating. "I'll be with soon Kristine" I jump up from the bench, desperate to escape. "I'm getting out of this hellhole." My jaw sets in determination. No more feeling sorry for myself; it's time to break free from this nightmare and find a way out.

Boom-!

A deafening explosion erupted from the school building. "What's up with this damn place?" I yelled, calming myself and rushing there to investigate. "Could it be someone's grace? No, that doesn't make sense. No one has the power to do this," I muttered as I ran toward the sound. It wasn't my business, but my curiosity got the better of me. I was likely running toward danger.

As I drew near, the air changed. The warmth disappeared, replaced by a cold chill. I felt shivers run down my spine. "A chill crept in. What next? This day couldn't possibly get stranger." My skin prickled, and I reduced my pace. The cold atmosphere surrounded me, like an unseen force holding me back. Despite the unsettling chill, I pressed on, my heart pounding with every step.

After a few moments of running, I reached the spot in the school's garden where I heard the explosion. "Strange. If there was an explosion, there should be fire and smoke." The air smelled of fresh flowers. Their sweet, vibrant scent clashed with the gloomy atmosphere around me. Doubt crept in, making me question what lay ahead.

Roar-!

A bone-chilling roar reverberated through the halls, sending a shiver down my spine. "Great... I jinxed myself," I stared at the entrance once again, contemplating whether to go in. "Don't tell me a rift happened, that can't be... Something doesn’t add up. Could the rift barrier be down?" My mind raced with fear and confusion, trying to make sense of it all. After a few moments of standing, I calmed my nerves and entered.

Shadows enveloped the corridor, which had once been lively, as I crossed the threshold. Silence reigned, broken only by creaking floorboards under my cautious feet. My steps echoed, a steady rhythm in the gloom. I pressed on through the darkened halls. Each step dimmed my memories of brighter days.

Crash-!

The ground vibrated. The lockers shook against each other. The lighting swayed left to right. Then, a huge gust of wind hit. "Yep, something definitely causing this..." I pressed on. I reached a spot in the school. A square hole let light onto the plants below. I went to the middle of a small glass field and looked around. "Huh? I swore the sound came from here. Was I imagining it?" I strained my eyes, scanning the area for any sign of movement. A foul stench filled the air. It was a primal warning. Something monstrous lurked nearby.

Swoosh-

I saw a glimpse of something brush past the second floor. "What was that?" I searched for that figure again. I hardly noticed it before something crashed to the floor behind me, creating a crater.

There it was: a large monster. Its breath was uneven. Its dark, jagged skin glinted with a threatening gleam. Its fists were bigger than my body. Sharp teeth that could crush my bones filled its jaw. Its eyes looked down at me like a predator closing in on its prey. "What the hell is that thing? This guy gotta be 2 meters tall..." I muttered, my voice trembling, while I glanced at the looming shadow with unease. I stared at the monster, backing away to create some distance. Questions filled my mind. Fear enveloped my mind, blurring the line between fight and flight. "Shit... what do I do?"

Fight or flight. The dilemma gnawed at me. That monstrous thing loomed, leaving precious little time to decide. My muscles tensed, ready for action. But which action? Instinct screamed to flee, yet pride demanded I stand my ground. Seconds ticked by, each choice fraught with consequences. I had to move, but how?

I scan my surroundings, searching for anything useful or a place to hide. My eyes snap back to the massive creature. Sweat beads on my brow. My heart races, pounding against my ribs like a wild animal desperate to escape. It drowns out the chaos around me. My palms grow slick with sweat as panic surges through me. "Combat's out. What now?" I mutter while weighing my few remaining options with a sense of urgency.

The tension hung thick in the air, every heartbeat echoing like a drum in the silence. The breaths of the beast echoed. "If I sit, it won't see me." And I dared not move as I awaited the monster's next move. The monster roared before it started to charge at me. "Oh crap!" I froze, my legs glued to the floor. My mind raced as the realization hit that there was no escape.

[end of chapter]