Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
An uneasy silence fell over us as we waited. I could feel my nerves getting the best of me, and the hairs on the back of my neck began to stand up. Glancing around, I saw Mel doing the same. When our eyes met, she gave me a knowing look.
"Guys," I said, noticing someone wearing an LED mask peering down at us from the rooftop.
"He's been there the whole time," Brody casually commented.
"And you didn't think to mention that?" Carol snapped.
"I was waiting for him to..." Brody trailed off as the man disappeared and started whistling a tune. “Do that.”
"Where did he go?" Earl asked with concern in his voice.
"That's a good question," Charon responded. "He usually has company."
"How can you tell them apart?" Mel asked, narrowing her eyes.
"He's been playing for a while now, so he's considered mid-level. He used to run errands for us," Charon explained.
"So you're not exactly friends then?" she quipped.
"He definitely doesn't like us," Maverick chimed in cheerfully.
"What are you guys looking for?" Dion asked, joining Ciaran and Ky who were still examining the brick wall on the side of the building.
"The way in," Ky replied.
"We need to find a keyhole," Ciaran elaborated.
"Oh, right," Dion nodded, stepping forward to help.
I eyed the wall but saw nothing but endless, dark red brick.
“I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news or anything, but a pair of Jeepers Creepers just showed up at the end of the alley,” Lana announced calmly.
All eyes turned towards the sound of shuffling and heavy breathing. At the entrance of the alley stood two masked figures, looking like something out of a horror movie. Their grotesque masks resembled distorted human faces, with exaggerated features and empty eye sockets. They were dressed in all-black clothing that only added to their menacing appearance.
"They let those damn cannibals loose,” Maverick groaned.
"The what?" Dion exclaimed in shock.
"Find the door," Ky ordered, scanning the walls for a way out.
The cannibals, as Maverick had named them, spoke quietly amongst themselves. One of them pointed directly at Mel and me, then licked its gloved hand while inhaling deeply.
"Gross. What the hell?" I muttered, feeling a chill run down my spine.
One cannibal turned away and grabbed a metal lasso with spikes from its hip - a weapon I remembered all too well from Judicium.
Suddenly, a bottle came flying towards us from above. It wasn't until it shattered on the ground that I realized it was a Molotov cocktail. Earl pushed me out of harm's way while Carol shielded Lana. Hayven and Mel managed to dodge the explosion just in time.
Another Molotov cocktail landed in the dumpster, setting it ablaze. One of the cannibals sauntered closer, spinning the spiked chain in his hand. We were stuck, with our only escape route being the hole in the fence behind us. But there was no way we could all make it through.
"Are you okay?" Earl's voice was strained as he asked me.
"Yes, thank you," I replied, my heart racing.
"Don't thank me just yet," he responded grimly.
The cannibal flung the chain towards us. Carol and Lana darted out of the way, but Lana's head collided with the wall as Carol shielded her.
"Ow, damn it," Lana hissed.
Ciaran immediately halted what he was doing and went to her, slipping behind the dumpster to reach her quicker.
“I've got it!” Dion exclaimed, narrowly avoiding a Molotov cocktail that was thrown from above. “Hey man,” he yelled at the person responsible as Brody pulled him out of harm's way.
I could see the key in the lock, but we were stuck in a dangerous game of dodgeball, trapped between two crazed individuals. Another flaming bottle flew towards us, this time landing right beside Earl. He screamed as the flames engulfed him, pushing me away in a panic.
Ky was there to catch me before I hit the ground, pulling me away from Earl and towards the door.
“Get down!” Mel shouted at Earl, but he didn't listen. Instead, he ran past us, screaming in agony, his entire body engulfed in flames. He collided with the dumpster and pitched to the side. The metal lasso flew through the air and wrapped around Earl's neck, dragging him across the pavement towards the cannibal.
“Get down!” Mel shouted at Earl, but he didn't listen. Instead, he ran past us, with a blood-curdling scream, his entire body engulfed in flames. He collided with the dumpster and pitched to the side. The metal lasso flew through the air and wrapped around Earl's neck, violently dragging him across the pavement towards the cannibal. The stench of burning flesh filled the air. Earl's body flailed in agony, a helpless sacrifice.
CHAPTER TEN
As we made our way through a narrow, crimson-lit corridor, a sense of unease consumed me. Ky's tight grasp on my hand was the only thing keeping me grounded. Earl had saved my life, and that realization twisted painfully in my gut. He didn't have to help us, but he did. I couldn't help but wonder how much longer we could retain our humanity in this forsaken place. The boys had already lost a significant part of their own, particularly Kyrous, and I couldn't be certain if it was solely due to the Playground's influence.