The violent tremors shook the depths of the ground so intensely that the group nearly lost their footing. Screams echoed across the academy grounds as the earth bucked and rolled beneath them.
"What in the name of God was that?" Sylvia demanded, clutching her two friends tightly for support.
Noah’s eyes bulged with panic. This wasn’t happening. They were in the absolute wrong place at the worst possible time. "We shouldn’t just stand here like our feet are rooted to the ground! Let’s get the fuck out of here!" he yelled. His shout snapped everyone back to reality. Students around them began scanning the chaotic environment, fear spreading rapidly.
Ms. Marie stood frozen for a moment before composing herself. "Don’t be scared. This is just a minor hassle." Before she could continue, Rose interrupted sharply.
"Hassle? Can’t you hear what just happened? You’re calling this a hassle?" She couldn’t believe the teacher was still trying to maintain a professional facade when the situation was spiraling out of control.
Killian moved swiftly to Noah’s side. "I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m getting the fuck out of here with Noah. His safety is my priority." Sylvia’s expression twitched violently, jealousy flashing across her face like she was about to explode. Under different circumstances, Noah might have found her reaction satisfying, but right now survival mattered more than petty rivalries.
Noah expected only Killian to follow, but Eugene stepped into his space as well. "Okay, aren’t you going with Sylvia too?" Noah asked. Eugene shook his head, his full attention locked on Noah. The shift felt increasingly awkward, especially with Sylvia watching.
"Let’s carry him to our dorm. I think he would be safer there," Eugene suggested. The whole group gaped at him as if he had spoken magic words. Wasn’t he supposed to be obsessed with Sylvia? Why did he suddenly look so lovesick?
Noah felt an uncomfortable twist in his stomach. This wasn’t his scene at all. "If you all will just focus and realize that instead of arguing, we should actually do something reasonable. Can we all go now?" Lamia announced, clearly exasperated.
Ms. Marie stomped her foot on the ground. "You people are not going to bring confusion here. Aren’t you hearing me? Everything is okay. Panic is the last thing I will tolerate from my students." While she spoke, all eyes shifted behind her. Something massive moved in the shadows. The group began backing away slowly. Marie noticed their stares and turned, confused. "What are you all staring at?"
"Run!" Noah screamed. The group bolted, with Eugene and Killian flanking Noah to keep him shielded from immediate danger. Sylvia vanished quickly, abandoning Emily and Abigail to fend for themselves. Their desperate cries of "Sylvia, don’t leave us please!" faded unanswered.
Marie, still oblivious, turned fully and faced a massive monster. It had a grotesquely wide mouth stretched far too large, bulging eyes, and a hulking body. The creature struck her neck in one brutal motion, tearing flesh as she let out a deafening scream. Noah heard it and began trembling uncontrollably.
"Those monsters—where do they come from?" He looked around and realized it wasn’t just one threat. Anyone the creature disemboweled or mauled rose again as walking corpses, shambling after the living. Lamia planted his feet firmly. His normally red eyes glowed with a fiery intensity as flames erupted from his hands. He didn’t hesitate, incinerating the nearest corpses that lunged toward him.
"We can’t let them reach the main school grounds! We have to get as many people inside as possible. Anyone who can battle this thing and cage it needs to help!" Rose nodded and sprinted ahead, shouting at the top of her lungs. "You all run into the dormitories now!" Students scattered in a desperate race. Some fought back against the corpse attackers, but many fell—maimed, killed, or eaten alive. Noah was hurriedly carried inside one of the buildings for protection.
"This is for your own safety. Don’t come outside," Killian stated firmly. Eugene backed him up. "You’re powerless and can’t handle this. Let those of us who can fight protect you." Alarm bells rang across the campus as staff rushed out, but those caught unprepared were viciously torn apart, only to rise as more mangled, senseless corpses.
Some brave individuals stood to fight, but the original monster seemed nearly indestructible. Its corpse minions could be killed, yet doing so only created more from the fallen students and staff. The situation grew increasingly hopeless.
"How do we end this?" Eugene asked, using his time affinity to freeze several creatures in place before shattering them into dust. More kept coming, turning the fight terrifying. Killian tried projecting into their minds, but his head nearly exploded from the effort. "Fuck..." He collapsed, bleeding from his nose.
"That’s some deep dark magic. I can’t even control them through their minds," he gasped. Rose shook her head.
"They are corrupted with dark magic now. Their heads are filled with dark entities. If you push too hard, your life force might get sucked out." At that moment, three corpses tried jumping at Killian. Rose reacted instantly, firing green flames from her hands. "Incendia!" The creatures collapsed, engulfed in long, hungry flames that consumed their flesh until nothing remained.
"You’re a witch?" Noah asked in surprise. Rose nodded. "Under the moon affinities." But the threat kept escalating. The main monster advanced toward them, its presence overwhelming.
Inside the dormitory, amid numerous panicking students, Noah paced restlessly. He caught the distinct lemon scent again, cutting through the burnt charred flesh and smoke in the air. "You can end this. Don’t let all your friends die," a voice whispered. A hand suddenly dragged him close, making him gasp.
"What is it, Marcus? You’re breathing hard." Of course he was—the chaos outside was overwhelming.
"It’s Damian. He is the monster on the ground." Noah looked down through an open glass window. His friends, including the collapsed Killian, were struggling. Something was feeding off their energy, draining them through the mangled flesh creatures.
The main creature drew closer, nearly reaching them. They shivered powerlessly. "Damian, no!" Without thinking, Noah dashed outside and stopped in the middle of the battlefield, yelling as if his life depended on it. "Stop right there! I command you!"
Before the others’ eyes, the mangled flesh began morphing and twitching. The corpses jerked, gasped, and convulsed until they burst into dust. The main creature screamed in agony as Noah rushed forward, grabbing its hands. In a flash, they vanished from sight.
They reappeared in a quiet room. The monster had transformed back into Damian—shirtless, with tangled hair, slumped face-down on a couch. "Oh motherfucker. So you’re the creature. Fuck me, I am so dead." Noah facepalmed. How would he keep this secret? Marcus telling him meant he clearly didn’t want others to know.
Back on the field, Rose’s eyes widened and Lamia nearly choked. "Is that what I think it is?" Killian responded weakly.
"Grave affinity. But I thought it was dead for years. The last person to use it lived hundreds of years ago. How did it return?" Daylight slowly returned. They had fought through the entire night. The ground around them was littered with dead students, staff, and the remains of the nightmare.
"Things aren’t going to be the same again, right?" Rose muttered. Eugene suddenly shouted, "Shit! Ashton—where is he?" They all began searching frantically, especially Eugene and Killian, whose eyes scanned every corner like the world had ended. Eventually they spotted Noah emerging from a room with Marcus.
They lunged toward him, especially Killian and Eugene. "You did it. I can’t believe you saved us all." Behind them, Sylvia’s eyes darkened with pure malicious intent. Anger bubbled deep in her heart as she loathed the looks of love and admiration directed at Noah by all of them.
Meanwhile, Noah wasn’t pleased with the outcome. He faked a smile, his thoughts lingering on Damian and the desperate plea the other alpha had made earlier: "Don’t tell anyone please. If you do, I will die. Do this for me and I am all yours."