The roar shook my chest as Andrei’s voice crackled through the comms, urgent and sharp.


    “Change of plans. A horde is heading for the evacuation center on Ninth Street. Trapped civilians are struggling. Split into two teams—one to fight the horde, the other to take on the Eye Beast.”


    Zane’s voice cut through the tension, a growl replacing his usual smirk. “You’ve gotta be kidding. We’re struggling to hold it together, and now you want us to cover both?”


    “Andrei,” Tessa interjected, calm but tense. “How many are we talking about? What’s the horde size?”


    “Too many for one team. If you don’t intercept them, the evac center won’t last.”


    Static hissed through the line. Then, Andrei''s voice softened. It was heavy with the situation''s gravity. “You’ll have to decide. The Eye Beast is getting stronger, but those civilians—”


    “Got it,” Tessa cut him off, her tone sharp. She turned to us, her green eyes locking on mine before sweeping over the group. “We don’t have time to argue. Zane, you’re with me. We’ll handle the Eye Beast.”


    Zane raised an eyebrow, stepping up beside her. “Figures. Guess we’re the A-team.”


    “Rei, Daisy, Oliver—head for the evac center,” Tessa continued, ignoring his smirk.


    A cold pit formed in my stomach. The thought of leaving Tessa and Zane to face the Eye Beast alone twisted something inside me. The creature’s grotesque, glowing eye flashed in my mind—its form a shifting nightmare.


    “No,” I said before I could stop myself. “I should go with you. I can—”


    Tessa’s gaze silenced me, sharp as a blade. “Rei. *This isn’t up for debate.* You’ll be more useful protecting the evacuees. Zane and I know each other’s moves. We can handle it.”


    Her words hit like a punch. I was green compared to them, a rookie who hadn’t earned the trust they had in each other. My fists clenched, frustration rising.


    “You don’t need to babysit me,” I began, but Daisy’s hand on my arm stopped me.


    “Rei,” she said, her voice soft but urgent. “It’s not like that. We need you with us. Those people need us.”


    Oliver shifted behind me, his voice almost silent. “It’s... the right call,” he murmured, tugging at the strap of his rifle. “The Eye Beast is too strong. But the evacuees… they’re defenseless.”If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    My mind raced, torn between the two impossible choices. Civilians needed help, but what if Tessa and Zane couldn’t take down the Eye Beast? What if—


    Tessa stepped closer, her presence grounding me. “Rei,” she said, her tone softer now but still firm. “You’re not a liability. But we have to trust each other. Can you do that?”


    The weight of her words pressed on me, heavy with responsibility. I nodded, though it felt as if my chest was being torn open.


    “Good,” she said, turning toward the distant roar of the Eye Beast. “We’ll regroup after this. Stay alive, all of you.”


    “Likewise,” Daisy called after her, trying to sound upbeat, but her voice wavered.


    Zane glanced back at me, a half-smirk tugging at his lips. “Try not to miss me too much, Rei,” he teased, his tone light despite the tension. With a quick flick of his head, he and Tessa disappeared into the dark streets ahead.


    I stood frozen for a moment, the sound of their retreating footsteps fading into the night. Daisy squeezed my arm.


    “Come on, Rei,” she said, her voice quieter now. “We’ve got a job to do.”


    I nodded, forcing my legs to move. Oliver fell in behind us, his steps as silent as a shadow.


    The walk to Ninth Street felt endless. The roars and frantic screams grew louder with each step. Daisy tried to lighten the mood, her voice an attempt at cheer in the tension-filled air.


    “Hey, Rei,” she called over her shoulder, her voice light. “You think we’ll get a bonus for handling this many monsters?”


    I forced a smile, trying to mask the worry gnawing at me. “I’ll settle for surviving.”


    Oliver muttered something under his breath, too soft for me to catch. His grip on his rifle tightened, his shoulders drawn up like he was bracing for a blow.


    As we rounded the final corner, we saw the evacuation center. It was a large community hall. They barricaded the doors and boarded up the windows. Through the cracks, dozens of terrified faces stared at us, eyes wide with fear.


    Then we saw them.


    The horde. A mass of writhing, grotesque shapes. Their eyes glowed in the dark. Their jagged limbs ripped through the night. They moved as one, a surge of nightmares crashing toward the building.


    Daisy whistled low. “Well, this is gonna be fun.”


    Oliver’s hands trembled as he raised his weapon, but his voice held steady. “We hold the line. No one gets through.”


    I drew my sword, its blade catching the faint light, my heart hammering. One last glance toward the direction Zane and Tessa had gone flashed through my mind.


    *Stay safe,* I thought, gripping the hilt tighter.


    The first monster lunged, its claws slashing through the air. I sprang into motion, swinging my sword with precision. But, another surged forward, aiming for me. I rushed; there was no time for hesitation. I managed to block the strike with difficulty, and the force sent me stumbling back.


    A shot rang out, and the creature staggered, a clean hole punched through its chest. Oliver was already a step ahead, his rifle steady in his hands.


    I shot him a glance, frustration rising. “I can handle them head-on. I don’t need—”


    “Rei!” Oliver’s voice cut through the tension. He stepped in front of me, holding his ground. “You’re right, but this isn’t about *handling* them—it’s about surviving.”


    I blinked, confused. But Oliver was already moving. He scanned the horde with a cool detachment. “The horde’s got a weak point—right under their ribcage. When you hit them there, you expose their core. They’ll drop, but only if we focus.”


    Daisy moved up beside us, her eyes wide with realization. “That’s their weak spot? How do you—”


    “Knowledge,” Oliver said shortly, his eyes scanning the monsters. “I’ve been studying their patterns since I joined WEO. We can use it.”


    I didn’t know how to feel—relieved, impressed, or guilty for not thinking of it myself. But the tension in my shoulders eased as we fell into formation.


    “Daisy,” I said, my grip on the sword firm. “We follow his lead. Get ready.”


    Daisy nodded, her usual cheer replaced with sharp focus. “I’ll cover you guys. You two focus on the weak spot.”


    Oliver nodded, and we moved as one. Every strike felt more calculated as I aimed for the core. The horde began to dwindle, each creature collapsing when hit in the right spot.


    Still, there were more of them—too many.


    “Keep going!” Daisy called, her voice sharp and steady. She was starting to push herself too. Healing our fatigue as the battle went on, keeping us agile. Her focus was unwavering.


    My thoughts flickered back to Tessa and Zane. We''re counting on you. The weight of responsibility pressed down on us. But we held our ground.


    One more push. One more monster down.


    [End of Chapter]