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Panicked screams fill the air and the partygoers fight one another to flee to safety.
The Shikari, resembling sinister apparitions, glide effortlessly through the night. Their ethereal forms are shrouded in darkness, their presence suffused with an otherworldly aura. With their long, bony fingers and hollow eyes that exude an insatiable hunger, they are the epitome of all nightmare creatures.
Reacting swiftly, Reef draws his weapon, a gleaming cyan blade that reflects the faint light of the moon. His eyes narrow, determination etched upon his face as he steps forward to meet the approaching horde. The partygoers scatter, screams of panic still filling the air, reaching fever pitch, as the hunters swoop down, their presence like a chilling gust of wind.
“Go to the house. Alert the prof. Protect Malia at all costs!” he shouts to us as he steps forward and engages the first hunter, his blade slashing through the air with lightning speed.
The clash of steel against ethereal flesh resonates, and sparks dance in the darkness as their blades meet. Reef fights with a controlled fury, his movements fluid and precise, parrying the relentless attacks of his otherworldly adversaries. He’s always been the best fighter out of us, and I know that he can handle this.
But the hunters are relentless. They outnumber Reef, their strength fueled by the malevolence they embody and the feast of souls that they have stolen. They lunge and dive, their claws reaching for him, seeking to extinguish his light. It becomes a deadly dance, a symphony of violence and survival under the moonlit sky.
“Quick!” Cove grunts, grabbing my arm. His expression is filled with urgency as he pulls me along beside him.
We have to fight past the terrified crowd to reach the house. I want to stay, to help my brother fight, but I know that protecting Malia is more important. Even though it kills me, I race up to the front door of the house.
“You go!” I shout to Cove. “I’ll stop them from following.”
Reef’s eyes meet mine, and he nods, signalling that he understands my plan.
I get surge of adrenaline as I realise it is my duty to defend our position.
Taking a deep breath, I steel myself for the battle that lies ahead. With every ounce of courage within me, I charge into the heart of the fray, my own weapon raised high. The Shikari hunters encircle me, their pale faces contorted in a twisted mockery of human emotion.
Their icy presence brushes against my skin as they close in, their intentions clear. I shiver and fight back with the clash of metal reverberating in my ears. Each swing and parry carries the weight of my determination, the need to protect those I hold dear.
Time seems to stretch as the battle rages on, the beach becoming a battleground of light and darkness. The hunters press on, unyielding, their attacks growing more vicious and coordinated. But I refuse to falter. I refuse to let darkness prevail.
The professor joins me, battling by my side with weapons in each hand. He must have entrusted Cove to get Malia to safety, or to keep her hidden within the house.
Together, alongside Reef, we battle. But as I strike down one Shikari, another takes its place. They keep coming, their numbers seemingly endless. Yet, I fight on, fueled by a primal instinct to protect and defend Malia. The light within me burns brighter, pushing back against the encroaching darkness.
Through the corner of my eye, I catch glimpses of the prof’s fierce determination as he battles beside me. We share a silent understanding, a bond forged through countless trials. Together, we continue, our weapons cutting through the air, each swing a defiance against the Shikari’s evil intent.
But as the battle rages, I can’t shake the worry that gnaws at my heart. I pray that Cove has found a way to protect Malia from the encroaching threat, that our wards around the house stand strong. For now, the Shikari seem to be focused on us, on the battle. And all I can do is hold the line, defending our sanctuary with every ounce of strength I possess.
My heart pounds as I watch Reef also engage the relentless Shikari in a battle for our lives. He’s further down the beach, trying to lure them away from us, away from the beach house. Sweat trickles down my brow, mingling with the fear that courses through my veins. Reef’s movements are a blur of grace and determination, his blade slicing through the shadows with unwavering precision.
But then, in a horrifying moment frozen in time, one Shikari manages to breach his defences. Its skeletal fingers find purchase on Reef’s arm, and a surge of darkness races through him. A gut-wrenching scream escapes Reef’s lips, a brutal cry of pain that pierces my soul. A surge of helplessness engulfs me as I witness his strength falter, his body convulsing under the grip of the malevolent force.
Before my eyes, the Shikari hunters vanish, leaving behind an emptiness that is as chilling as their presence.
Reef crumples to the ground, gasping for breath, his body wracked with pain. I rush to his side, my hands trembling as I try to offer some form of solace, but I’m at a loss for words. My mind races, searching desperately for a way to save him, to undo the damage that has been inflicted.
But as I look into Reef’s pain-filled eyes, I see a flicker of determination that refuses to be extinguished. Despite the darkness that threatens to consume him, there is a spark within him that refuses to be snuffed out.
“Brother—” he calls out on a wheezing gasp.
Then the light leaves his eyes.
The moment the professor rushes from the room, Malia demands to know what’s going on.
“It’s the Shikari. They’re here, attacking.”
She gasps, paling. “Are people getting hurt?”
I don’t want to lie to her, but I can’t bring myself to say it either. I nod. “You need to get dressed and we need to hide.”
“We should help them!”
