Nico's vision was still blurry, his body heavy like it didn't belong to him anymore. The voices around him felt distant—until one cut through clearly.
"Don't give up! We're here!"
His fingers twitched.
"Just get up… hold on!"
Slowly… painfully… Nico opened his eyes.
Headlights.
A car.
And then—Ron.
"Nicooo!" Ron shouted, jumping out even before the car fully stopped.
It wasn't just Ron—four of his classmates were with him. Fear was written all over their faces, but so was determination. Together, they rushed forward, lifting Nico up and carefully placing Sandy into the back seat.
The creatures were everywhere now.
Not human.
Not alive.
Not something that should exist.
They moved in twisted, unnatural ways, surrounding them like shadows closing in.
"Get in! FAST!" Ron yelled.
Doors slammed shut.
One of them grabbed the wheel and turned the key.
Click.
Nothing.
"Come on… COME ON!!"
Outside, the creatures were getting closer. Their movements quickened, as if they could sense them.
Click. Click.
Still nothing.
"Why isn't it starting?!" someone shouted in panic.
Nico, barely conscious, lifted his head. His chest burned. His fists clenched tightly.
Two creatures broke through the crowd and rushed straight toward the car.
"They're coming!"
One slammed against the window.
THUD.
Cracks spread across the glass.
"Start it! START IT!!"
Nico forced himself up, his voice weak but steady.
"Move…"
Ron turned. "What?"
"I said… MOVE."
There was something different in Nico's eyes now.
Something… dangerous.
He pushed the door open and stepped out of the car.
"Nico, NO!" Ron shouted.
The creatures lunged.
And in that moment—
Nico moved.
Faster than before.
Stronger than before.
His fist connected with the first creature.
BOOM.
It was thrown back as if it weighed nothing.
The second one leaped toward him—
Nico caught it mid-air and slammed it into the ground.
Silence… for one second.
Then more creatures turned toward him.
Dozens of them.
Ron stared in shock. "What… is happening to him?"
Nico stood there, breathing heavily.
"I don't know what I am anymore…" he muttered.
"But I'm not letting anyone die."
Behind him, the car engine suddenly roared to life.
"It started!" someone yelled.
Nico didn't turn back.
"Go!" he shouted.
"We're not leaving you!" Ron yelled.
Nico glanced over his shoulder, a faint, tired smile on his face.
"You already saved me."
The creatures began rushing him all at once.
"Now go save her."
Ron hesitated for a split second…
Then—
"DRIVE!"
The car sped off into the darkness, carrying Sandy away.
Nico turned back to the swarm.
He cracked his knuckles slowly.
"Let's finish this."
And he ran straight into them.