I sat in the seat looking out the window. The sky was pitch black. Not even a single ray of light could pierce the clouds. It was hard to see.
The aircraft broke through the last layer of the Clouds. There it was Carcer City
Atleast what remained of it.
I leaned forwards my eyes. The ruins were endless. The skyscrapers were laying on the ground. Entire city blocks had collapsed into themselves. Streets were buried under debris and dust.
There was no sign of life Just silence.
I looked at the watch
Target Location: 12.4 km
Rift Activity: Stable (Low Expansion Phase)
The VTOL tilted slightly. Beginning it's descent. The ground was cracked and blackened dust and ash were everywhere.
"Deploying Operative" a voice said from the cabin
The rear hatch opened. A wave of cold air rushed in with it the smell of dried blood and rot.
I stood up walking until I was standing at the edge of the VTOL for a brief moment I hesitated.
This was real afterall this was not some simulation. I took a deep breath and walked out.
The moment my boots hit the grounds the VTOL's hatch closed and in seconds it lifted disappearing into the sky.
I started to walk across the ruined city. The air was heavy. And ash was settling on my shoulders and head.
The city felt... wrong. It didn't feel empty. A shiver ran up my spine it felt as if someone was watching me.
There were abandoned cars littered across the streets many crushed flat. Some had their Doors open others had belongings inside.
I walked until my eyes fell on a rusted sedan. I didn't know why but it felt as I had remembered it.
There was a cracked photo frame on the dashboard. The photograph was half burned. It was a family.
Smiling.
My stomach twisted as a flicker of a memory tried to come.
Pain
I exhaled slowly. forcing myself to look away.
"Focus" I muttered to myself.
The watch beeped again.
Target Distance: 9.8 km
I picked up my pace. The deeper I moved into the city. The heavier the air became. The silence broke. Replaced by distant sounds first they were barely noticeable.
A sound came from the alley to my right.
Clicking. I stopped. The sound came again.
I didn't wait.
I launched a wave of fire in the alley the alley was small.
Something crawled out of the alley. It looked like a hellhound.
It's head snapped towards me. It had no eyes just a split across the face. That grew wider and wider revealing rows of jagged teeth.
It let out a shrill screech.
It was fast but pathetically predictable.
I jumped over it grabbing it's flaps for mouths ripping it in half.
As more of the dogs came out of the alley. Not one, Not two dozens
I straightened myself. Their movements were erratic and jerking.
"Come on" I said quietly
The swarm rushed in. I moved through them releasing bursts of flame. A claw came at my blind spot I sidestepped ripping it out.
Within minutes the alley was silent what remained was ash that quickly got mixed with the ash of the city.
I stood still for a second catching my breath. I didn't lose control this time.
The watch beeped again
Target location: 2.1 km
Rift activity: increasing
I picked up my pace running to pick up on lost time.
The buildings were thinning out as I approached the edge of the City park. It was a wasteland the tress had no leave. The earth was parched and at the centre of it all.
I saw it.
The Rift.
It didn't look it looked wrong. The space folded inwards and outwards at the same time it felt as if reality couldn't decide how to exist near it.
I looked at it creatures were crawling near it's edges others were half formed as if struggling to enter this world.
This was the end of the line.
Close the rift. Simple I took a step forward. Then I heard a voice.
"...Help.."
I froze the word was faint. But sounded unmistakably human
My head snapped towards the sound.
Under a pile of debris I felt movement Another voice trembling "...please..."
Someone was alive. My mind went still. The Rift seemed to grow. The watch beeped again
Rift expanding rapidy
I looked at the needle then at the sound. I exhaled slowly Mission or humanity.
The choice should have been simple closing the rift took priorty.
"...David..."
My breath hitched how do they know my name my grip on the needle tightening it was the first time since I arrived here I hesitated behind me the Rift pulsed violently.
I turned running towards the debris pulling it off the man.
"Hey—" I dropped to one knee beside him "Can yo—"
The man's hand shot up. Binding my throat lifting me in the air he stood up.
The man's head tilted up slowly he didn't have a face it had a split just like the dogs.
I tried to rip his hands off my throat.
The man's body shifted
Bones cracked muscles expanded his entire body stretched unnaturaly as a centipede came out of the body.
The body went limp the grip on my throat stopped as the centipede whipped me with its tail I was launched backwards crashing against a wall. My scalp bleeded nose bleeded as the watch screamed
Threat Identified: Class 3 entity
Threat level: Extreme. Do not engage.
"You've got to be kidding me" I spit out blood
It slithered towards me.
As heat began spreading across my body.