Chapter 17 - Exploration (2)

Everyone here is completely shocked and confused. A deep silence descends.

_ Masked individuals: “ What... did he just do?? ”

_ All Recluses: “ I don't understand… ” “ What just happened?? ”

_ Ayden: “ Huh?? But... What?? ”

_ Son: “ Oh hey, did you see... the same thing I did just now?? ” he said, in shock.

_ Shailly: “ Tell me I'm dreaming?? ” she said, trembling.

_ Ayden: “ I didn't see him move, and yet in a second he just decapitated someone… ”

The mummy in the bobble hat resumes walking, still toward the group, but this time he walks faster and faster.

_ Masked individuals: “ Don't think you'll get away that easily! Guys, forward! ”

One by one, they go up against this mummy, but with one swift move, it slices off each of their limbs. Arms cut off, legs cut off, stomachs ripped open. I'm watching a real horror scene unfold.

In just 20 seconds, he managed to eliminate about fifteen Recluses and terrorists. Now there are about ten left.

_ All the Recluses: “ What the hell is that monster?! ” “ I don't want to die!! ”

They all flee, completely helpless in the face of this terror. But the mummy in the bob catches up with them at lightning speed and tears them apart one by one.

_ Recluse: “ That's it, I remember now... I heard a rumor about a guy in a bucket hat wandering around all the Zones... Wherever he goes, chaos ensues… ”

Everyone is dead except for Reclu, who is talking to himself. The mummy in the bob hat stares at him, then lunges forward.

_ Recluse: “ The monster with a human appearance... The mummy in the bob hat! ”

In the blink of an eye, the mummy slashes the body of the last Recluse standing in a matter of seconds. He falls dead, life slowly leaving him. The macabre spectacle ends with around thirty individuals dead in the space of just one minute. My body is drenched in sweat, my face deathly pale.

_ Ayden: “ It can't be true... Are there really people that dangerous in this forest?? If we run into him... it's certain death! ”

I just turn my head to look at my friends, and unsurprisingly, everyone is in shock. Taïga is speechless. The look in his eyes is that of a trapped animal. Brent and Son, usually tough guys, are shaking like leaves. Shailly is completely terrified, unable to move, close to vomiting in disgust.

But she still holds back to avoid making noise and putting us in danger. No one says a word, but our eyes say it all. We just want to leave.

A few seconds later, we see this mummy in a bob hat looking at the full moon. Then, once again nonchalantly, he retraces his steps and leaves the area, leaving behind all the corpses and the bags in the clinic.

For a good ten minutes, we remain hidden on the ground, afraid that someone might notice us. The wind dies down, and a deep silence descends. Crows caw and gather on the corpses. I crawl back, even though there is no one left, to check on my comrades.

_ Taïga: “ Well, it's been ten minutes now and nothing has happened, and we've been waiting. I really think he's gone. ”

_ Ayden: “ I think so too. ”

Disgusted, Son lowers his head.

_ Son: “ I never imagined that the outside world could be so dangerous… ”

_ Taïga: “ I understand Maïko better now. ”

_ Brent: “ So? What do we do now? ”

_ Son: “ It’s better to go home. I really don't want to run into that crazy guy. ”

_ Brent: “ Damn, when we're right in front of the clinic? ”

Son gestures wildly.

_ Son: “ If someone stumbles upon us, how are we going to get out of this? ”

_ Brent: “ I don't know. ”

With a hook, Brent hits a tree.

_ Brent: “ Damn it! ”

In this deafening silence, a dilemma arises. Turn back empty-handed just a few steps from the finish line, or cross it with new obstacles in sight. The smell of the corpses lying on the ground pierces our nostrils. The determination and confidence of the group are dissipated.

_ Shailly: “ We have to do it. ”

In this gloomy atmosphere, courageous words are spoken. Everyone stares at Shailly, their faces troubled.

_ Son: “ Huh? I thought I heard wrong. ”

_ Shailly: “ We have to get those bags back. ”

_ Brent: “ I never thought you'd be up for it. ”

Son shrugs his shoulders, palms facing outward.

_ Son: “ Are you out of your mind? We saw the same thing, you and me! ”

Emotions run high, then Shailly raises his voice.

_ Shailly: “ Think of our sick, dying tribe! ” she said, with tears in her eyes.

_ Son: “ Shailly? ”

_ Shailly: " After coming all this way, we can't stop now. That mummy is gone, this is our chance. Even though it's very hard, I refuse to give up! " she said, wiping away her tears

_ .Ayden: “ This girl is really impressive. Despite her determined speech, she's still shaking, but she doesn't want to give up. ”

These words, coming straight from the heart, lift me up and nourish my confidence. I rise from the bush.

_ Ayden: “ I'm ready to go all the way too. ”

_ Son: “ You too… ”

_ Taïga: “ That's all well and good, but do you have a plan? ”

_ Ayden: “ The priority is to rush down the hallway and grab as many bags as possible. Then, depending on the layout of the clinic, we'll adjust accordingly. ”

A shrug of the shoulders looms.

_ Taïga: “ I guess there's no turning back now. ”

_ Brent: “ I like that. I would have hated to come back empty-handed. ”

_ Son: “ … ”

I look at the faces of my comrades, frightened but determined to act. I turn toward the camera, take a deep breath, and lift my head.

_ Ayden: “ Okay. On my signal, we go. ”