The creatures were closing in fast.
The military fought back—guns roaring, bombs lighting up the dark—but their numbers were too great. Every monster once scattered across the world had gathered here. It was a stampede of nightmares.
Panic spread through the town. Civilians broke formation, running on their own, only to be torn apart. Walls crumbled, houses were razed to the ground, and fires raged unchecked. Soldiers were trampled under monstrous limbs but fought till their last breath. Commanders shouted orders while fighting alongside their men. Machine gun fire rained from helicopters—until the flying beasts ripped them from the sky. The wrecks crashed into the streets below, killing both soldiers and civilians.
Father Aldric had drawn strange circles around the church days ago, sensing that something like this might come. When the monsters reached the church, they slammed into an invisible barrier. Claws scraped, fangs bit, but nothing pierced through.
Those who had taken shelter inside screamed at first, but when they saw the creatures couldn't reach them, hope flickered. Yet Father Aldric's face told another story. He knew the barrier wouldn't last forever. Sooner or later, it would break—and when it did, everyone in the church, including himself, would be torn apart.
He stood before the frightened crowd, his voice steady yet heavy with truth.
"Everyone! Let us pray to God. It is His mercy that keeps us safe. Let us thank Him…" His tone softened. "And hope He keeps us alive for tomorrow."
The people clasped their hands and prayed. Some, understanding what Aldric truly meant, wept as they whispered what might be their final prayers.
In the Walker household, Sophia moved fast. She grabbed a stick of chalk from her bag and dropped to her knees. Her fingers—stained with ink from earlier rituals—traced practiced patterns across the wooden floor. Her hands were steady, but her breathing quickened as glowing sigils began to form, each humming with latent energy.
When she finished, she pricked her left index finger and let a single drop of blood fall into the circle's center. Red light spread outward until every chalk line glowed red.
"This will buy us some time," she said through gritted teeth. "But not much. There are too many of them."
Moments later, shadows appeared in the distance—twisted shapes of teeth, claws, and flickering flesh that disobeyed the laws of nature. They moved like smoke and muscle, circling the house like vultures starving for meat.
James held Emma and Olivia tightly while Alex gripped the largest knife he could find in the kitchen. His hands trembled, but his stance was firm. He would protect his family.
Angelo dropped to his knees, staring at his shaking hands. "What is happening?" he whispered. "Is this how it all ends?"
One of the monsters lunged forward with a deafening screech. The moment it crossed the boundary, crimson fire erupted from the chalk. It wasn't flame—it was something older. Hungrier. The creature was consumed instantly, leaving behind only scorched air and the stench of decay.
Emma screamed. Olivia covered her eyes as tears streamed down her own face.
James shouted, "What do we do now?"
"We have to go!" Sophia yelled. "Now!"
"Go where?" Alex barked, panic breaking through his voice. "They're everywhere! We can't outrun them!"
He turned toward Sophia, fury in his eyes. "This all happened because whatever's inside Angelo has been suppressed!"
Silence fell like a blade. Outside, the monsters howled. The fire raged. Inside, shadows crept along the walls.
Olivia held Emma close. James tightened his grip on them both, jaw set. Even Sophia hesitated now—her eyes flicking to the windows, calculating, doubting.
Then Angelo rose to his feet. Tears ran down his face, his voice trembling.
"If the seal is removed…" he looked at Sophia, "…will it come back?"
Sophia froze. "No. I told you—it's like a dam. It's holding back a flood. If I remove it…" Her gaze darkened. "I don't know what happens next. The pressure could destroy you—and everything else."
Angelo clenched his fists, forcing strength into his voice. "But if the creatures feared the presence before—"
"They'll run again," Alex interrupted, realization dawning.
"No!" Olivia cried, stepping forward and grabbing Angelo's arm. "You don't know what you're asking! You don't know what you'll become!"
Angelo looked at her—saw the fear, the love, the desperation—and smiled sadly through the tears.
"If I can save you all… then I'll become the monster."
Olivia shook her head, voice cracking. "No, no, no! You can't do this! I'm not letting you!"
Emma clung to James's leg, sobbing. "I'm scared… please make them leave…"
Alex stood silent, torn between anger and admiration. Sophia opened her mouth to object—but stopped. There was no time. The air was growing colder. The creatures were drawing closer.
She gave a single nod. "Lie down."
Angelo freed himself from Olivia's grip and moved to the center of the room.
"Please," he whispered. "Let me do this."
James and Alex held Olivia back, tears in their eyes. Emma's small hands tightened around her father's leg.
"Emma," Angelo said softly. She looked at him through tears.
He smiled—gentle, broken. "It's going to be alright. I'll protect you. Be brave, okay?"
Emma didn't understand what was happening. She only knew her brother's voice sounded like goodbye.
Angelo took off his shirt and lay down. Sophia knelt beside him, pulling out a strange vial and a brush from her bag. She dipped the brush into the glowing liquid and began to draw—new symbols, older, deeper. Angelo's skin pulsed faintly beneath her hand, each stroke making the light grow stronger. Her whispers filled the room in a language no one else understood.
A sickly light spread across Angelo's chest.
The first seal broke.
Then the second shattered on its own.
The third followed, splintering like glass.
One by one, the rest began to collapse.
Sophia flinched, eyes wide. "This isn't supposed to happen," she whispered.
A soundless roar filled the room as something unfurled inside Angelo.
And then—he heard it.
The voice.
No longer distant or cold. Alive.
Thrumming with hunger.
Eager. Unchained.
"Time to destroy."