Vell looked at Maya.
She tried to hide it, but exhaustion showed in her trembling hands. Even he was running on fumes after hours of fighting and running, not to mention his injuries.
The wolf circled below them, its massive body tensed to jump again. The gray mist around it thickened as its wounds healed.
"We cannot keep this up," Maya whispered.
Vell looked around, desperate for anything they could use. His eyes locked on a jagged piece of metal rebar sticking out from a broken concrete slab. It had a sharp, pointed end.
He grabbed it and tested its weight. Heavy. Solid. Sharp.
A plan formed in his mind. A terrible, desperate plan.
"Maya, when I say run, head for the stairs," he said, his voice low.
She looked at him, confusion turning to alarm as she realized what he meant to do.
"No! That is crazy!"
"Trust me."
The wolf gathered itself, muscles bunching for another leap.
"Run!" He shouted.
Maya bolted for the stairs. The wolf's head turned to follow her movement.
Vell did not hesitate. He gripped the metal bar tight and sprinted toward the edge of the floor.
"Vell!" She screamed as she realized he was not following her.
He did not look back. He jumped.
Time slowed. The ground rushed up at him. Wind whistled past his ears. His stomach lurched into his throat.
The wolf looked up, eyes widening as he plummeted toward it.
He aimed the sharp end of the rebar downward. His arms strained with the effort of keeping it steady against the rushing air. The wolf's snarling face grew larger, closer.
He had one chance. One shot.
The beast opened its jaws, ready to catch him.
He adjusted his grip. Tightened his muscles. Focused on the spot between those glowing eyes.
The ground came up fast. Too fast.
Impact.
The rebar plunged into the wolf's skull with a sickening crack. The force of Vell's fall drove the metal deep, all the way through.
A cloud of dust exploded around them as they crashed to the ground.
Silence.
"Vell!" Maya's voice sounded distant, muffled by the ringing in his ears.
He could not move. Could not breathe. Had he broken every bone in his body?
The dust began to settle.
Vell blinked, surprised to find himself alive. He sat atop the wolf's massive body, the rebar jutting from its skull. The yellow glow in its eyes faded to dull amber, then nothing.
The gray mist dissipated like morning fog.
[Enemy Defeated: Alpha Dire Wolf]
[Experience Gained: 1200]
[New Skill Unlocked: Regeneration level 1]
Maya rushed down the stairs, her face pale with fear.
"Are you insane?" she shouted, her voice breaking. "You could have died!"
He tried to stand, wincing as pain shot through his legs. Nothing broken, somehow. Just bruised.
"It worked, did it not?" he said, unable to keep a hint of pride from his voice.
Maya punched his arm, hard. "Don't ever do that again!"
He looked at the dead wolf, then back at her worried face. "No promises."
She stared at the dead wolf with wide eyes.
Her own system appeared.
[Experience Gained: 800]
[Level Up: Level 2 → Level 3]
A dull ache spread through his entire body from the impact. He felt the bruises forming already. He took a deep breath, then winced.
At least nothing felt broken. The new skill appeared, but he did not feel any magical healing wash over him. Maybe it was a slow, passive thing.
"You really are insane. Your legs… are they okay?"
He tried a small smile. "Still attached. Just a bit banged up." He looked down at the rebar still embedded in the wolf's skull.
"That was too close."
"Too close? You jumped off a building!" She exclaimed, her voice still shaky. She glanced at the dead wolf, then back at him. "We need to get out of here. That fight made a lot of noise."
He nodded. "You're right." His gaze fell upon the wolf's body.
It began to shimmer. The gray fur and solid flesh turned translucent, almost like smoke. Within seconds, the entire massive form dissolved into particles of light that faded into the air.
Where the wolf had been moments before, a small yellow stone remained, pulsing with a gentle glow.
"What is that?" Maya asked, moving closer to examine it.
A notification window appeared before them both.
[Item Discovered: Alpha Dire Wolf Monster Core]
[Description: The crystallized essence of a powerful creature. Can be used for crafting or sold for resources]
"It's some kind of monster core," he said, bending down with a wince to pick up the stone. "Like its heart, I guess."
The stone was warm to the touch and about the size of a golf ball. Its surface was smooth, and the yellow glow seemed to pulse in rhythm with his heartbeat.
"Should we keep it?" She asked.
He nodded, slipping the core into his pocket. "Might be useful. The system says it can be used for crafting."
He looked around the construction site, listening intently.
"We should go. That fight made a lot of noise. It might attract more monsters."
Maya nodded, helping him to his feet. "Can you walk?"
"Yeah," he said, testing his weight on his legs. They ached, but nothing seemed broken. "Let's get moving."
They made their way cautiously out of the construction site, Vell leaning slightly on Maya for support. The streets were eerily quiet, but they both felt eyes watching from shadows.
They traveled for hours, stopping only when necessary. The suburbs grew more familiar as they neared their neighborhood. Houses replaced apartment buildings, and trees lined the streets instead of lampposts.
"Do you think our place is still there?" She asked as they turned onto a street they both recognized.
"I hope so," he replied.
The sun was beginning to set.
The reddish glow that had filled the sky since the towers fell seemed to intensify at dusk, making everything look as if it were covered in blood.
They rounded the final corner, and their apartment building came into view. It was a small, three-story structure with only eight units total. Theirs was on the second floor, overlooking a tiny courtyard.
"It looks untouched," she said, relief evident in her voice.
The building stood intact, no visible damage to its walls or windows. The front door was closed, and no signs of looters or infected could be seen.
They approached cautiously, checking for any movement in the windows or around the perimeter. Nothing stirred.
Vell tried the front door, surprised to find it unlocked. They entered the small lobby, listening for any sounds from within.
Silence greeted them.
"Where is everyone?" Maya whispered.
"Evacuated, maybe," he said. "Or hiding in their apartments."
They climbed the stairs to the second floor, each step feeling heavier than the last as exhaustion caught up with them. When they reached their door, Vell fumbled for his keys, surprised to find them still in his pocket after everything they'd been through.
The lock clicked open, and they stepped inside.
Their apartment was exactly as they had left it, almost eerily so. Dishes from their last breakfast still sat in the sink. A sweater lay draped over the couch where Maya had tossed it before school. Vell's work boots stood by the door.
"Home," Maya said softly, dropping her backpack on the floor.
Vell locked the door behind them, sliding the dead bolt and chain into place. Then he moved through the apartment, checking each room and closing all the blinds.
"It's safe," he announced, returning to the living room where Maya had collapsed onto the couch. "For now, at least."
She nodded, eyes already half-closed with exhaustion. "I can't believe we made it."
He sat beside her, the reality of their journey hitting him all at once. They had fought infected, escaped dangerous men, and killed a monster wolf. And somehow, they had found their way home.
"We are pretty badass." She said, leaning on him.
"Yeah."