Unlimited Revamp for the Pawn

My head began to throb, and my body ached. I couldn't maintain this speed much longer; I hadn't invested in endurance or stamina points. Tears welled up as I pushed myself to the limit. I leaped down the steps and kicked aside several more rodents that were closing in on Barry. He and Dad were shielding Mom, doing what they could despite not fully understanding what was happening.

"Thank God," I whispered, pulling them into a quick hug before leading them out of the tunnel. Riding anything at this point was out of the question, the streets were jammed. Thankfully, the number of rabid rats dwindled as we moved farther from the crevice.

Like a human shield, I swatted every rat that comes their way, not minding the stain and smell on my own body. I didn't blink for a second, fearing that one might escape and injure them. More and more people drop on the streets, trying to fight off the pests that's trying to kill them. 

My parents, both elderly, slumped onto the sidewalk, exhausted. The streets were no longer congested, but cars sped by as if evil were on their tail.

I collapsed beside them, my body screaming for rest. A bottle of cold water would've been a miracle. Thankfully, Barry had managed to secure the groceries. I grabbed a bottle and gulped it down, the cool liquid barely soothing my parched throat.

I tried calling Fae to check if they'd made it onto the bus. Zild answered instead, his voice tense. "We're almost at the port, but there are too many people here."

"Did you see anything unusual on the road?" I asked.

"Not really," he replied. "Just a convoy of black SUVs heading in the same direction."

My jaw tightened. Someone important must've learned about the tower. I slammed my fist on the ground. I should've acted sooner, but I'd done everything I could.

We watched videos of the chaos unfolding across the country. The news blamed it on a gas leak, but no one mentioned the dead and injured, their bodies gnawed beyond recognition.

I opened Ogle Maps on my phone, digging through my memories for the location of another tower. There had to be one nearby. We didn't need to reach the island to see if my family could be bestowed with special powers.

The nearest tower was located at a construction company owned by Markus's family. I cursed under my breath. I'd be facing that bastard sooner than I though

•••••••••••••••••••••••••

We flagged down a large moving truck. The driver must've been shocked by my sudden appearance in front of his vehicle. We'd been trying to hitch a ride from passing cars for a while, but no one had stopped for us, until now.

We bribed the driver to take us to the east side of the city. He agreed, partly because the news about the strange creatures was focused on the opposite side of town. I offered him ten times the initial amount if he could take us to the port via a different route, but he refused. "People are scrambling to head south," he said. "It's not worth the hassle."

Then my mom spoke up, addressing him in a different dialect. I was surprised she immediately recognized he was from her hometown. His face lit up, and he agreed to take us all the way to the port. It was amazing how languages could break down barriers so quickly.

We asked the driver to wait for us outside and to call if there was an emergency. We also warned him not to leave his truck unless absolutely necessary.

When we arrived at the warehouse, I used my company ID to get us past the gate. The guard stopped us at the entrance, his expression skeptical. I explained that Markus had commissioned us to clear out the warehouse and asked for extra hands.

The guard raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't informed," he said confidently, acting as if he were Markus's right-hand man. He demanded our IDs and proper documentation. I almost snorted, remembering how Markus had dealt with him after discovering he'd been cheating the company.

I leaned in closer, lowering my voice. "It's just as documented as the construction materials you and your pals smuggle out of here," I said with a smile. Then I reached under his chair and pulled out a small logbook he'd hidden there. His face paled.

Finally, he let us in, but not without a threat. "I'll get you for knowing what you shouldn't," he muttered.

"Anytime," I shot back. "By the way, do your friends know you take the biggest cut? I doubt they'd be happy to find out you promised them the 'biggest piece of the cake.'" He froze, clutching the logbook tightly as we walked past him.

Inside the warehouse, the tower was buried under piles of rubbish - a neglected corner of the building that had been ignored for years. In the past, it had taken us weeks to discover the tower here. By then, it was too late for my family.

I began clearing away lumber and cardboard boxes, working faster than any normal person could. My parents and brother watched in awe. My dad muttered something about me becoming a superhero. I laughed, but the thought lingered. Soon, there would be others like me, others who are even stronger.

When a portion of the tower was finally revealed, their expressions were priceless. "Place both hands on it and wait until it feels warm," I instructed.

They did as I said, but nothing happened. No light, no warmth, no reaction. Seriously? I asked them to wave their hands as I did, but still, nothing. I had been hoping for too much. The three of them were unfavored, after all.

Just as disappointment settled in, a voice cut through the darkness. "Liam?" It was Markus. I hadn't expected him to show up so soon, but there he was. "The guard said you brought unauthorized people into the warehouse. I guess it's true."