Part I: The Rift Deepens
The cave was quiet, save for the occasional snap of dying embers. Outside, the winds howled unnaturally—like something listening.
"They're coming," Artemis repeated, pacing. Her claws were out, twitching involuntarily. "Not hours. Minutes."
"We can't fight them," Elara said. "Not here. Not now."
Nova stood at the mouth of the cave, eyes distant. "Then let them come."
Artemis turned sharply. "Nova—"
"They fear us," Nova continued. "That's why they hunt us. You've seen what we can do. Why keep running?"
"Because not everyone gets back up," Elara snapped. "We're still bleeding from last time."
Artemis stepped between them. "We're not strong enough to win yet. But we're not going to die in a cave, either."
Nova crossed their arms. "So we run again?"
"We survive," Artemis said. "And we find others."
Elara nodded, already grabbing supplies. "There's an old evac line that runs through the base of the mountains. If we're lucky, it's still open."
Nova said nothing.
But when Artemis turned to leave, they followed.
Part II: The Hunters Descend
The first explosion shattered the cave mouth.
Flames and dust filled the air as the cliffside split open. Blinding searchlights beamed through the smoke. Silhouettes stepped through—sleek, humanoid Hunters, plated in jet-black armor, energy blades humming to life.
Artemis didn't wait.
"Move!"
She tackled Elara behind cover as Nova unleashed a shockwave, tearing stone from the earth and launching it like shrapnel.
The Hunters adapted instantly. A blast of white energy slammed into Nova, pinning them to a wall.
"Elara!" Artemis shouted. "The tunnel—go!"
Elara activated a magnetic seal panel buried in the rocks. A low click echoed—then a hidden door peeled open, revealing a dark, narrow shaft.
They ran.
Bullets and plasma carved through stone behind them. Nova staggered in, barely conscious. The door slammed shut just as a blade pierced the gap, sparks flying.
Darkness swallowed them.
Part III: The Depths Below
The tunnel descended fast—too fast.
It hadn't been made for people, but for emergency drone transports. The narrow metal walls gave way to ancient concrete, cracked and crawling with moss and black mold.
They moved by flashlight, boots echoing on broken tiles.
"Where does this go?" Artemis asked.
"Old evac system," Elara said, voice strained. "Leads out through the canyon, but… no one ever mapped what happened down here after the Fall."
Nova coughed. "Something's moving."
And then they heard it, too.
Skittering.
Wet. Low. Close.
A moment later, a creature emerged—mutated beyond recognition. Once human, maybe. But now? Elongated limbs, no eyes, flesh warped like wax left in the sun. Its mouth opened with a shriek that echoed through the tunnels.
"RUN!" Artemis yelled.
They sprinted through the corridor as more came crawling from the shadows—mutants, flesh-drippers, and things with too many limbs and not enough bones.
Nova threw up a barrier of telekinetic force. It slowed the swarm, but didn't stop it.
Then Artemis's claws ignited—literally. Fire crackled up her arms, her body reacting instinctively.
"Keep running!" she roared. "I'll clear the path!"
She turned and sliced through the swarm with a blaze of red flame and silver claws, clearing a narrow path through the horde.
The group ducked into a side tunnel, sealing the metal hatch behind them.
Panting. Bleeding. Alive.
For now.
Part IV: New Ground
They emerged hours later into moonlight—cold and blue across a field of skeletal trees. The air was quieter. For now.
Artemis collapsed to her knees, trembling. Her eyes still glowed faintly.
Elara knelt beside her, touching her hand.
"You did good," she whispered.
Artemis shook her head. "I burned them. I didn't mean to—I just felt it. And it answered."
"You're still in control," Elara said gently. "Even if it doesn't feel like it."
Nova, limping and leaning against a tree, muttered, "For now."
Artemis glanced up at the sky.
Stars. Distant. Cold. Watching.
"This world isn't just broken," she whispered. "It's changing. And we're caught in the middle."
Elara leaned her head on Artemis's shoulder. "Then we change with it. Together."
Far off, deeper in the woods, something massive let out a mournful cry.
The world was full of monsters now.
And Artemis wasn't sure she wasn't one of them.