Page 38 of The General's Captive
“So, you discovered all this out by yourself?” he asked sounding impressed, making me shrug as soon as my hands were free of boxes.
“Yeah, and most by first-hand experience, unfortunately.”
“But you survived,” he pointed out, making me rub a hand to the back of my neck as I thought back to how inexperienced I was back then.
“Through dumb luck mostly,” I admitted.
“You seem anything but dumb to me, the opposite, in fact,” he complimented, making me blush a little.
But then as I looked around at all the people getting ready, I was quick to say, “Yeah, well let’s hope it’s enough.”
I then paused to look at what was coming our way and added…
“As even dumb luck runs out eventually.”
The moments before they attacked were always the worst. Trying to push the fear down and concentrate on the different ways to fight back. To focus on one at a time and use what we had to fight against them in the smartest way.
As for Aster, he continued to stick close to me asking me questions that I didn’t mind answering, not if a single one potentially ended up helping save his life. He seemed genuinely impressed by the tricks up my sleeve, like the big barrels of rotten meat we had collected from outside the kitchens.
A job most people hated and more than making the perfume bombs. I could already feel myself about to gag just thinking about the moment the Ghouls got close enough that we would pull the cord and make them tip. The smell and the mess would spill on the ground making those want to vomit as it rose to our nostrils. But as for the ghouls, they went bat shit crazy over the stuff.
I had never fought one but I had noticed plenty when passing fields filled with dead farm animals to know they loved to feast on rotten flesh. To be honest, these scared me nearly more than anything else. As despite them only being a Class two they were the Myths that most reminded me of Zombies. They were also easier to pick off one at a time but only when they were distracted.
However, we also found that by putting rat poison in with the mix, we saved bullets as this did the job well enough on its own. Which meant that when they arrived first we didn’t have to focus much energy on them. Not when all that was needed was tipping the barrels and watching them swarm.
The demonic dogs, which we still didn’t know the proper name for, were next. Seeing as they couldn’t make it up the wall or pass the gate, it made them easy pickings. Bullets were affective on these so for those on the top of the wall they just picked them off one by one.
However, after that came the harder Class three’s, as the horned snake Cerastes could make it up the wall. These giant snakes were the size of anacondas and there were even rumors of ones even bigger. These were known as Basilisks and were said to have the power to kill with just a look. A class one for sure and thankfully not one I had ever seen, but then again I didn’t know anyone who had. Only stories told and lots of deaths that followed with it.
“Light em up!” I shouted, ignoring the familiar way my scars burned just as the first wave of snakes made it to the wall. The line of soldiers now spraying them with the water guns and soaking them in any flammable liquids we found to fill them with. The sounds of their high-pitched screams meant this round had been a victory.
Aster and I were currently in the lookout tower as Tiffany kept watch on what was coming next. As for Aster, he looked to be already half in love with her which wasn’t exactly good timing. Then again, who was I to say anything. Riley had literally waited until we were potentially all going to die before telling me he had feelings for me.
“We got five Chimera’s coming our way!”
“Fuck, five of them?!” I said and she lowered her binoculars reminding me sarcastically,
“I know my ABC’s as well.” Aster boomed with laughter at this and she winked at him making the big guy blush. But then his eyes grew wide and he nodded, making her snap them back up and shout,
“Watch out, we got Harpies coming in on the West side!”
“Fuck!” I snapped leaving the lookout and striding back onto the wall that was only wide enough for one person to walk along.
“Concentrate on the Chimeras closest to the gate! I will deal with these fucking Harpies!” I shouted now making my way down the wall steps and practically jumping down most of them. I kept looking to the sky knowing that I needed to time this just right as I dashed across the yard in front of the gate. I glanced that way watching as one of the Chimera’s went down as more Goat Bombs were being thrown ready for the next.
“What are you doing?” Aster’s voice startled me, as I didn’t think he would follow.
“My fucking job! Now go and help the others.”
“I’m not leaving you!” he argued making me frown.
“What are you my bodyguard now?” I asked but before he could open his mouth my second worst nightmare sounded in the night, right before Tiffany screamed.
“Fuck No…they have a Gryphon!” I bellowed as I saw it head straight for the lookout tower. A long trail of black smoke following as it flew closer.
“Quick! Go help her!” I shouted to Aster, who for a second looked torn before doing as I asked and running towards the tower. As for me the second the harpies got close I flipped open the control panel our resident sound engineer had hooked up for me. The hidden speakers positioned at each corner of the yard was soon blasting with the sound of Whitesnake’s, Still of the Night. Which was pretty apt right now.
The second it hit them they screamed, bellowing high pitched pained screeches into the sky before dropping to the ground. There was eight in total with only six of them making it inside the yard. I then grabbed the shot gun leaning next to the wall waiting for me and walked towards them shooting each in the head.
