The bike rattled as it cut through the open desert, tires biting into sand hardened by wind and old heat. Owen sat rigid in front, eyes sweeping left and right, every shadow feeling like a threat. Blair rode behind him, one hand on the handle, the other resting near her halberd, relaxed but ready. The distant light they had seen earlier flickered again, a pale pulse against the darkness that refused to feel natural.
Owen called out over the engine, "I just checked my interface. Two hundred forty three kill points. We are already half way there already, I couldn't understand how the system gives us points, what exactly is the criteria."
Blair leaned closer, voice calm. "There are always bugs in this shithole, we can easily get that half."
Owen frowned. "You want to fight a swarm now. Near an unknown light source."
"I want another pull," Blair replied. "And it would be best before we walk into whatever that is blind, but we have no choice"
Owen hesitated, jaw tight. "Every swarm means risk. If something bigger hears it, we could get boxed in."
Blair chuckled softly. "Boss, everything out here wants to eat us anyway. At least bugs pay."
Owen stayed silent for several seconds, watching the light grow slightly brighter with every bump of the bike. Finally he exhaled. "Fine. But after we check that light. And after you inject the endurance serum. No arguments."
Blair grinned. "Deal."
They stopped behind a cluster of broken stone and scrub. Owen pulled the small vial from his storage, its contents glowing faintly. "Three star endurance serum. Permanent boost. You ready."
Blair took it without ceremony. "If it kills me, haunt the system for giving weak shit."
She jabbed it into her thigh. The reaction was immediate. Her muscles tensed, veins standing out as she sucked in a sharp breath. She knelt, one hand braced against the ground, teeth clenched.
She laughed through the strain. "Feels like my lungs just learned how to breathe properly."
After a few seconds, she stood straight, rolling her shoulders. "Yeah. That is better. I feel like I could run all night now."
They mounted the bike again and moved closer to the light. Soon, they rolled to a stop behind a large stone outcrop. He crouched and peered around it.
"What do you see," Blair whispered.
Owen's eyes narrowed. "A old motorcycle. Scrap built. Two people. And another guy on the ground."
The bike was crude but functional, welded plates, mismatched wheels, engine whining unevenly. Two figures stood over a third man who lay bound on the sand. The standing figures wore layered clothing that concealed their bodies completely. Hoods, wraps, and heavy boots. One kicked the man on the ground hard in the ribs.
Blair leaned in closer. "Something feels wrong."
---
One of the standing men shouted, voice harsh and unfamiliar. "Where the fuck is my money. You fuckers killed my son and assaulted my girl. Be thankful I am not feeding you to the hole of man eating worms."
The man on the ground groaned through the cloth over his mouth, shaking his head violently.
The second standing man crouched and ripped the cloth down just enough for the victim to speak. "I do not know where the money is," he gasped. "It was my partner. He assaulted her. He killed your son. I tried to stop him. He then betrayed me and ran with the money. It has been three days."
The first man punched him in the stomach, hard enough that Owen felt it in his own gut. "Bullshit. Do you think my girl would not recognize your face you lying bitch."
The man on the ground cried out. "I swear. I have been hunting that traitorous bastard since then. I want him dead too."
---
Owen's grip tightened on his machete. "We cannot leave him."
Blair's voice dropped, sharp. "Look again."
Owen focused harder, watching the men shift. One of them turned slightly, and the light caught beneath his cloak. Owen froze.
"Blair," he whispered. "Those are not human proportions."
She nodded slowly. "Four arms. Hidden under the cloth. Legs bent wrong. Their spines are off."
Owen swallowed. "They speak our language."
"Does not make them human," Blair replied. "And they might not care what we say."
Owen thought fast. "I will be bait. I shout. If they are friendly, maybe we talk about our situation and where we are. If they charge, you surprise attack them."
Blair stared at him. "You are fragile."
"I know," Owen said. "But we need information."
She hesitated, then nodded once. "Fine. But if they touch you, I'll kill them."
They took positions. Owen stepped out from behind the rock and raised his voice. "Hey. Can you spare a moment to talk about where we are."
The two standing figures snapped their heads toward him. For a moment, they just stared.
One muttered, confused. "A human."
The other tilted his head. "A clean and healthy one at that, never saw a human like that before."
The sand behind them suddenly burst open. A five foot tall insect erupted upward, screeching as it charged.
The bound man screamed.
One of the four armed men grabbed the tied man and without hesitation hurled him toward the insect. The creature caught him midair. Limbs tore free. Blood sprayed. Screams cut off into wet choking sounds as the insect devoured him alive.
Owen's stomach twisted. "Holy shit."
The two four armed men laughed.
"Less mess," one said. "Now let's chase catch this human."
They jumped onto their motorcycle. One revved the engine while the other spun a weighted rope in his upper hands.
"This one will definitely sells good," he said. "Healthy."
Owen backed away slowly, heart pounding. "Blair," he hissed. "They are not friendly."
Before he could move further, Blair grabbed him by the collar and yanked him behind the rock. She drew her halberd, eyes burning.