" The Brace of Shadows"

The fall wasn't far, but Alex landed hard, his body jarred by the impact. Groaning, he pushed himself to his feet and looked around. They were in what appeared to be a service tunnel beneath the bridge, dimly lit by broken skylights above.

"Sam! Chloe! " Alex called out, his voice echoing.

"Over here!" Sam's voice came from nearby.

Alex hurried toward the sound, finding the kids huddled together near a pile of debris. Both were shaken but unharmed.

"It's okay," Alex said, kneeling beside them. " I've got you—"

A low growl cuts him off, sending a chill down his spine.

Slowly, Alex turned. Emerging from the shadows was a creature unlike any he'd seen before. Its form was humanoid, but its movements were deliberate, almost predatory. Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto Alex, and a wicked intelligence glinted in its gaze.

"Stay behind me," Alex said, drawing his knife.

The Hunter charged with startling speed, forcing Alex to activate Strength and brace for impact. Their clash was brutal, the creature's claws slicing through the air with precision.

Alex countered with a powerful punch to its torso, sending it sprawling. The Hunter screeched, its body trembling as it tried to recover.

"Brute force," Alex muttered, realizing its weakness. "It can't take hits."

The Hunter snarled as it scrambled back to its feet, its sinewy frame twisting unnaturally.

Alex kept himself between the creature and the kids, gripping his knife so tightly his knuckles turned white.

The faint light from above glinted off its razor-sharp claws as it lunged again, faster this time.

Alex sidestepped, slashing at the creature's side as it passed.

The blade bit into its pale flesh, but the Hunter barely reacted, twisting midair with a guttural snarl.

Alex ducked just in time to avoid a swipe aimed at his head, the claws slicing cleanly through a rusted pipe behind him.

"Stay close to the wall!" he shouted to Sam and Chloe, risking a glance over his shoulder.

"Don't move unless I tell you!"

The kids nodded, their wide eyes fixed on the fight.

The Hunter circled Alex now, more cautious after the initial blows. Its glowing eyes flicked between him and the knife, calculating.

Alex could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins, heightening his senses.

Every creak of the tunnel, every drip of water from the ceiling, seemed amplified. He couldn't afford a single mistake.

It darted forward suddenly, feinting to the left before slashing at Alex's right side.

He barely blocked it, the force of the attack sending vibrations up his arm. He retaliated with a heavy kick to its knee, the enhanced strength from his ability making the creature stagger

"Come on, motherfucker! " Alex growled, advancing now.

He delivered a series of quick strikes-one to its shoulder, another across its chest. Each blow made it reel, but it recovered faster than he expected. Its body trembled violently, as though the damage was destabilizing it, yet it refused to fall.

The Hunter let out a high-pitched shriek, its claws scraping against the concrete wall as it backed up. For a moment, Alex thought it might retreat. Instead, it launched itself into the air, using the wall as a springboard.

Alex, look out!" Chloe screamed.

He dove to the side just as the creature slammed down where he'd been standing, the impact cracking the floor beneath it.

Rolling to his feet, Alex realized the knife alone wasn't enough. The creature was relentless, and while it couldn't take much damage, it was faster and more adaptable than he'd expected.

"Think, Alex. Think," he muttered under his breath, scanning the tunnel.

His eyes landed on a thick broken pipe jutting out of the debris near Sam and Chloe. It was rusted but solid enough to serve as a makeshift weapon

"Sam, throw me that pipe!" he shouted.

The boy without hesitation, picked up the heavy metal rod. his hands trembling under the stress and weight of the metal rod.

With a grunt, he tossed it to Alex, who caught it mid-air just as the Hunter lunged again.

This time, Alex didn't retreat.

He swung the pipe with all his strength, connecting with the side of the Hunter's head. T

The impact sent it crashing into the wall, where it slumped, dazed, and in pain.

"Stay down,"

Alex growled, advancing again. He brought the pipe down on its torso, the sound of metal meeting bone echoing through the tunnel. The creature writhed, its shrieks piercing and desperate.

But it wasn't done. With a final, desperate burst of speed, it lashed out, its claws trying to rake across Alex's leg. It didn't succeed but Alex stumbled and had his foot scratched on a protruding rock.

Pain shot through him as he stumbled back, but he refused to let it see weakness.

"You're not taking them," he spat raising the pipe again. This time, he aimed for its head.

The strike connected with a sickening crunch, and the Hunter collapsed to the ground, motionless.

Alex stood over it, chest heaving his grip on the pipe tightening as he waited for any sign of movement. When none came, he let the pipe drop, the clang echoing through the tunnel.

"Alex!" Chloe cried, rushing to his side.

"I'm okay," he said, though his leg throbbed with pain. He knelt down, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Are you two all right?"

Sam nodded, though his face was pale. "What was that thing?"

"I don't know, Alex admitted, glancing back at the creature's lifeless form. "But it won't be the last. We need to keep moving.

He tore a strip from his shirt to wrap around his wounded leg, wincing as he tied it tight. Then, with Sam and Chloe close behind, he led them deeper into the tunnel, the faint echoes of their footsteps leading deeper into the tunnel.