The Cruel Horizon[Old]

Almost immediately, another creature raises its glowing hands, the eerie black-and-white energy forming into another spear. The air hums with as the weapon arcs through the sky in perfect, horrifying precision.

"No—" The word tears from Obinai's throat as the spear finds its mark.

The explosion rips through the street below, a shockwave of force and debris. Glass shatters. Concrete fractures. And among the scattering crowd—

The Howells.

Mr. Howell's tweed cap flies off as the blast lifts him off his feet. Mrs. Howell's floral dress blooms red before she even hits the ground. Their bodies land twisted, broken. A severed arm—still wearing the gold band Obinai had admired a thousand times while buying cookies—skids to a stop near a crumpled bakery sign.

"MYA, DON'T—!"

But she's already leaning too far over the railing, her small hands gripping the rusted metal. The moment she sees, her entire body locks. Her breath comes in short gasps—like a fish yanked from water.

Then she folds.

Vomit splatters the fire escape, her breakfast joining the chaos below. Between heaves, she whimpers, "No no no no—" Her fingers scrabble at her mouth, smearing bile and tears across her cheeks.

Obinai wraps an arm around her trembling shoulders, pulling her close and shielding her view with his body. His own legs feel like they're about to give out, but he plants his feet firmly, holding her steady. His voice shakes as tears blur his vision, but he forces the words out.

Don't fall apart. Not now. Not in front of her.

"Gotta keep moving," he rasps. His vision swims—from tears or smoke, he can't tell. "Just... one foot in front of the other, yeah?"

Mya's fingers twist in his shirt. "They're dead," she whimpers. "The Howells, and—and everyone—" A fresh sob wracks her small body. "Are we next?"

The question hangs between them...

Obinai swallows hard. His throat feels lined with sandpaper. "I don't know," he admits. Lie. You have to lie. But the words won't come. He squeezes his eyes shut, trying to block out the image of the Howell's lying broken on the ground. "But we can't stop. We have to keep moving."

He gently guides her down the fire escape, his arm still wrapped protectively around her. The rickety metal stairs groan under their weight. Obinai keeps murmuring reassurances, though his voice falters with every word.

"Stay with me, Mya. We'll get through this," he says.

The city below wails, sounds of terror and destruction that presses against their ears. The glow of fires casts flickering shadows across the building walls, the light fractured by billowing smoke. Another creature moves in the distance, its massive form casting long, ominous shadows that stretch toward them like grasping fingers.

As they near the second floor, a sudden explosion rocks the building. The fire escape shakes violently, the metal structure vibrating with a menacing growl. Dust bursts from the cracks in the walls, cascading down like a choking veil.

Obinai grips the railing tightly, his knuckles white as he shields Mya with his body. The building's walls groan under the strain, deep cracks spreading across the surface.

"Hold on, Mya!" he shouts, his voice strained as the fire escape sways. He glances down, his heart pounding as he sees debris raining onto the street below.

"I can't do this!" Mya cries, her voice high and panicked. She clings to him...

"Yes, you can!" Obinai says, his tone firmer now despite the fear gripping his chest. "We're almost there. Just a little further, okay? Just a little further."

He forces himself to look away from the destruction below, focusing instead on guiding Mya down the remaining stairs. The echoes of screams and the relentless sounds of destruction fill the air, but he blocks them out as best as he can.

Step by trembling step, they descend, the fire escape groaning with every movement. Obinai's eyes dart upward, watching the cracks spread further across the building. The structure feels as though it's moments away from collapsing entirely, but he pushes forward, driven by the need to keep Mya safe.

When they finally reach the ground, Obinai pulls her close, crouching low against the building's crumbling side. His breath comes in ragged gasps as they move along slowly, and his arms shake as he holds her.

"You're okay," Obinai whispers, more to himself than to Mya, his voice trembling as he tries to keep them both grounded. "We're okay. Just keep mov—"

Mya suddenly screams, the sound piercing, her small frame seizing up with terror. She freezes on the narrow platform, her hands gripping the railing so tightly her knuckles turn white. Obinai, following closely behind her and focused on maintaining their pace, is caught off-guard by her abrupt stop.

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"Mya, what are you—" he starts, but his foot catches on the edge of a step. Momentum overtakes him, and he stumbles forward, his body slamming down the next few steps. The sharp clang of metal echoes as he crashes against the fire escape, landing awkwardly on his side. A searing pain shoots through his leg, and he hisses, clutching at it instinctively.

"Obi!" Mya screams, her voice breaking with panic as she scrambles down to him. Tears streak her dirt-smudged cheeks as she kneels beside him, her small hands trembling as they hover over his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, Obi!" she sobs. "I didn't mean to—I just got scared. I froze, and I thought I saw—"

"It's okay," Obinai cuts in. He grimaces as he tries to shift his leg, testing its movement. Pain flares through his thigh, but he can bend it—nothing's broken. "It's not your fault, Mya. I promise, it's not your fault."

Mya sniffles, her tears falling faster as she wipes at her face with shaky hands. "I didn't mean to—"

Obinai reaches out, gripping her shoulders firmly but gently. "Mya," he says. "Listen to me. We can't stop. I need you to focus, okay? We're almost there."

This might be it for me...damn.

He nods toward the pathway at the bottom of the fire escape, where the door to the building's interior looms just a few steps away.

Obinai casts a glance toward the street—and instantly looks away. Amid the chaos, mangled bodies lie scattered across the pavement, limbs twisted unnaturally, pools of blood reflecting the glow of nearby fires. A child's toy, a bright red ball, rests eerily untouched in the middle of the carnage.

"Come here," he says quickly, pulling Mya closer. He angles her small frame toward the fire escape railing, positioning her so that her back is to the gruesome scene.

"What is it?" Mya asks. She tries to turn, but Obinai tightens his grip on her shoulder.

"Nothing you need to see," he says. "Just keep your eyes on me, okay? Don't look back."

Mya hesitates, her brows knitting in confusion, but she nods.

Using the railing for support, Obinai pulls himself to his feet, grimacing as his injured leg protests. He swallows the pain and puts an arm around Mya, guiding her slowly down the last few steps. Each movement feels agonizingly slow, every creak and groan of the metal grating beneath them amplifying his anxiety.

"Almost there," he murmurs. "Just a few more steps."

The final platform groans beneath them as another explosion tears through the building above. A rain of concrete and glass shards pelts the metal grating. Obinai doesn't think—just throws himself over Mya, taking the brunt of the debris. A jagged piece of brick slices his cheek.

"GO!" He shoves her toward the door. "Don't stop, don't look back—MOVE!"

Mya stumbles forward, her sneakers slipping on dust and blood—his or hers, he can't tell. The fire escape sways violently as another shockwave hits. Somewhere above, metal shrieks as bolts tear free.

We're not gonna make it.

The thought fuels him. He lunges after Mya just as one of those Heralds lets out a screech that vibrates in his molars. He risks one glance up—

A nightmare silhouette looms against the inferno, its elongated limbs twitching as it scans the streets below. Hunting.

"Obi—!" Mya's scream snaps him back. She's at the door, yanking at the handle. "It's stuck!"

Obinai crashes into it shoulder-first. The impact sends white-hot pain through his body, but the door gives with a protesting groan. Stale air rushes out—mildew and old cigarettes and blessed, beautiful silence compared to the hell outside.

He drags Mya through just as the fire escape collapses with an earsplitting crash. The door slams shut behind them, cutting off the world of flames and monsters.

For three precious seconds, there's only darkness and the sound of their breathing.

Then the emergency lights flicker on, revealing the basement's grim interior of exposed pipes and stacked crates.

For a moment, the air feels cooler, heavier, as though the walls themselves are holding their breath.

Obinai leans against it, hissing as he presses a hand to his throbbing leg. Mya hovers beside him, her small hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

"Obi..." Her voice is too small for the girl who debates neutrino physics at breakfast. "Mom and Dad... you think they—?"

He looks down at her, noticing the way her fingers tremble and her eyes dart nervously to the shadows in the hallway. Obinai's fingers tighten on her shoulder—steady, keep her steady—before he forces a smirk. "Damn, Mya. You're the genius. You already did the math, didn't you?"

Her chin trembles. The flickering emergency lights paint tear-tracks down her soot-streaked face.

"They promised," he growls, pushing off the wall. His leg wails in protest, but he locks his knees. "So we're finding them. No arguments. Okay?"

Mya nods quickly, but her eyes glisten under the flickering light.

The hallway stretches before them, the walls cracked and sagging in places. Pieces of plaster and dust fall periodically, the faint sound of crumbling debris punctuating the silence. The dim glow of emergency lights paints the space, and the buzzing hum of the failing bulbs fills the air with a grating noise.

Mya steps forward, hesitating only for a second before turning back to Obinai. "Can you walk?" she asks.

"I'll manage," Obinai replies, wincing as he shifts his weight.

Without a word, Mya moves closer, wrapping an arm around his waist and letting him drape his arm over her shoulders. She's smaller, but she braces herself against his weight.

"Guess I'm the big sister now," she murmurs.

Obinai chuckles softly, though the sound is more a shaky exhale. "Don't get used to it," he says.

They make their way down the corridor.

The dull red glow of the exit sign ahead catches their attention. Mya glances at it. "Almost there," she says.

As they approach the exit, Obinai gently pulls away from her, wincing as he steadies himself against the wall. "I've got it," he murmurs, lifting a hand.

"But—" Mya starts, her hand reaching out toward him.

"I'm fine," he cuts her off, though his voice is softer this time. He forces a small smile as he places his hand on the door handle. "Just… stay behind me."

Mya nods reluctantly, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. She stands just a step behind him, her small figure tense as she watches him brace himself.

Obinai hesitates, his hand hovering over the cold metal of the door handle. This might be the last time I see her. Let's hope I can get her to let me go. He takes a deep breath, the sound shaky in the stillness, and glances back at Mya. Her wide eyes meet his...

He turns back to the door, his grip tightening on the handle.