(Quintiles 29, 59 / 9:02PM)

  (Fred, Gary, and Diego)

  (Fred) Why couldn’t I finish it earlier?

  A young man groveled on the ash-covered grass, his hands clenched into fists as he pounded the dirt with his right hand. Tearing up the grass with his left hand, he held onto the bdes as he continued to look down at the ground.

  All around him were nothing but two soldiers, two agents, and two of his closest buddies, all in front of him as beads of sweat dripped from their temples.

  Except for one short woman.

  (Fred) He didn’t need to die!

  His face started to let out a bulging stream of drool and saliva from the corners of his mouth, the fresh liquid dripping onto the grass. Having the ripped grass in his left hand, he threw it away in the back of him, extending his left arm again to rip away another handful of grass.

  (Fred) I could’ve saved him! Why couldn’t I!?

  His chest heaved upward dangerously, his eyes bloodshot red as he didn’t move his head upwards. Letting go of the handful of grass in his left hand, he pced his left palm ft on the ground, his drool being repced by tears dripping onto the grass.

  The two soldiers, the ones that were well acquainted with the Sergeant, pced their weapons gently onto the grass, their hands shaking gently.

  (Fred) Why am I useless!? Why!? It …

  Fred covered his mouth with his left hand, as more tears dripped onto the grass. His chest heaving upward again, Fred’s legs gave into themselves, and his knees buckled with the grass as he couldn’t dare to move them.

  Eren, Diego, and even Gary crouched down to where Fred was, their eyes pushed down as their hands were motionless on the ground.

  (Fred) It should’ve been me—

  A hard kick nded on the area of Fred’s lungs, causing his arms and hands to falter onto the ground. Laying on the ground with the grass touching his chin and cheeks, he looked up slowly at the person who kicked him, his lungs failing to take in air.

  Pulling back her right leg and foot, Ada's hand, her fists clenching themselves tightly, her knuckles sprouted out like sore thumbs as her bones started to crack. The three men that were crouching down, quickly got back up, turning their sharpened gres straight at Ada.

  (Agent Eren) Ada!? Why did you kick him!?

  (Gary) You bitch! Only I get to kick him!

  (Diego’s thoughts) It should’ve been me!

  (Agent Ada) It’s for the best, you pussies!

  Her face reddened as a little vein started to sprout on the right corner of her forehead, Ada looked over to the boys with a huffed face. Looking over at the young man starting to drool, Ada slowly stomped over towards where the young man was, towering over the man as her arbs started to show from her light shirt.

  Fred, who continued to cough out saliva and drool, tilted his head as he looked up at her.

  (Fred) Why … why did you …

  (Agent Ada) Stop saying that stuff you idiot!

  Crouching down onto the ground, she instantly pced her hand on the man’s hair, gripping it firmly with her cold hands. Pulling him near, she pced his groggy head close to her face, seeing the red teary eyes of the young man.

  The rest of the men just silently watch, continuing to gre at the woman with convulsed faces.

  (Agent Ada) He did it to save us, you moron! He sacrificed himself to save you! Save us!

  (Fred) But why can’t I sacrifice myself—

  (???) Let him be Ada…

  Two figures stood in back of him, looking around the many soldiers and youthful faces, especially at the two agents.

  Gncing at the figures from behind with his eyes, he noticed one of the figures was a below-average-height, blond-haired man dressed in a suit and a fedora, covered head to toe with tar. Next to the man was an above-average-height, brown-haired woman dressed in the same attire. From the looks of them, Fred noticed that both of them had gsses, but the man had normal gsses while the woman had sungsses.

  (Agent Eren) Agent Briggs, Spartan Alexandra, where were you at?

  (Agent Briggs) Had to heal some wounds. Porky over there gave me a run for my money.

  Nodding his head towards the creature, they all looked at the frozen-like creature unable to move, its legs glued to the grass as its head started to twitch. Seeing that the creature wanted to get out of its position, Briggs turned his head towards Ada, his frowning face causing Ada to let out a bead of sweat.

  Briggs folded his arms as he looked down at the woman, his low-frequency voice making her widen her eyes as if his voice had an intent of murder.

  (Agent Briggs) Let him go, Ada, that’s an order.

  (Agent Ada) … Yes sir.

  Letting go of Fred’s silver hair, Agent Briggs put his hands in his pockets as he looked down at the young man. Turning his attention to the woman near him, he signaled her with his head to help up the boy.

  The woman, letting off a sly smirk, walked her way as she licked her lips, moistening them as her eyes were completely focused on the man. While on her way towards Fred, she rubbed her hands back and forth, her entire focus on the young man drooling saliva.

  (Spartan Alexandra) Oh absolutely~

  (Agent Ada) I’ll help him up!

  Bringing him up instantly, Ada used her small hands to grip Fred’s shoulders, her tiny body and arms easily pulling up Fred. With his feet steady on the ground, as his heels were digging into the soft grass, Fred focused his attention on the man with blonde hair.

  Meanwhile, Alexandra gave off a cute pout, looking away as she put her hands to her hips, her eyes not bothering to look at the short woman. As for Ada, she put herself in front of Fred, folding her arms as she huffed out a huge exhale of air.

  (Agent Briggs) Are you with the Dark Angels?

  (Fred) Only behind the scenes. Why?

  Briggs took out his right hand that was in his pocket, grabbing out of it a lighter and a box of cigarettes. With both in each hand, he took out his left hand as well, grabbing the box with it as he opened the lid to the lighter with his right.

  All while looking at the tall silver haired man, his eyes containing deep bck eye bags underneath his soulless eyes.

  (Agent Briggs) Cause I’m going to need to borrow you for a second.

  (Fred) Sure. But sir, may I ask what it is?

  Opening the box and grabbing from it a cigarette, he pced it inside of his mouth as he ignited the lighter, pcing it so that the cigarette would work. Inhaling the amount of smoke and fumes coming from the toxic paper wrap, Briggs looked up into the smokey sky as he blew out the toxic air, his eyes focusing on the abyss.

  (Agent Briggs) I want you to make the same device you used for your fight, and also one question that I want to ask of you…

  ______________________________________________________________________________

  (Quintiles 22, 59 / 8:27PM)

  (Luke, Miles, Jack, and Stan)

  For our four men…

  (Jack) I guess things are getting a lot worse huh…

  (Miles) You just had to say it, do you?

  (Stan) Come on Luke, pull yourself into the van now!

  (Luke) I’m trying!

  Footsteps ricocheted the entire top end of the roof above them, their ears hearing the metal denting with each step the person or creature was taking. As if the person or creature was made of iron, the roof above them creaked loudly as Jack's eyes continued to be glued to the bck asphalt.

  For Miles though, he had no choice, as he extended his right hand towards the right of him, pcing his sweaty right hand onto a metal handle.

  (Jack) Wait, Miles!? What are you doing—

  The passenger side door of the van swung wide open, the air around Miles being contorted as his entire body flinched towards the direction of the asphalt. As if it wanted to pull him forward, Miles maintained his core strength as his stomach and chest tightened, having his left foot pushing under the glove compartment for stability.

  His face felt the night air pushing against his face, Miles pced his left hand onto his holster on his left hip, followed by his right hand holding the handle of the door. Still, in a sitting position in the van, Miles turned his attention towards Jack, his chest already being filled with sweat.

  (Miles) I’m going in, Jack! Make sure you drive carefully!

  (Jack) Wait, Miles! You have to think this through!

  Putting his right foot onto the edge of the van, Miles steadied himself as he moved his body onto the van door. Carefully he put his entire body on the doorframe of the van, his body now being on the frame as he hugged it tightly.

  Still being pelted by the raging winds, Miles looked up, but to no avail, his eyes couldn’t spot anything. A bead of sweat rolled down from his right temple, he pushed his body up as much as it could go, ignoring the dangers of the road as he tried to squint through the heavy darkness around him.

  (Miles’s thoughts) Just where is Harold—

  A hand gripply held onto the top of his head, the fingernails of the person or creature cwing itself at his scalp.

  (Ryan) Did you forget about me?

  (Miles) Ryan!

  The hand that started to grip the helm of his head tightly was none other than Ryan, his bck-eyed eyelids and pupils continuing to remain on Miles’s pale face. Gulping loudly as he was within Ryan’s mercy, Ryan pulled Miles in front of him, his feet steady on top of the van as the air then blew their hair.

  With the night-heavy breeze that brushed against their bodies, Ryan put his left hand onto his chin, pushing his head back as he let out a sly smile.

  (Ryan) Come on now, we were good buds before The Array right? Even though you were a little hesitant because of my status as beast-human.

  Miles’s body continued to dangle in the air as the only saving grace that awaited him was the rapid asphalt on the bottom of him. Kicking his legs, but his arms remained in motion onto his hips, Miles clenched his eyes shut as he turned his head away from Ryan’s face.

  Ryan pulled Miles closer to his mouth, his putrid breath continuing to molest his eyes and nose, causing Miles’s nostrils to fre and his body to do a gag reflex.

  (Ryan) But despite all we went through, you left us to die in that arena? All of you fake soldiers wanting glory yet eliminating the weak and unfortunate.

  Ryan’s hand that gripped Miles’s head started to tighten, with his fingertips clenching onto Miles’s scalp even more. Because of the way his head was being molested, blood started to pour from his nails, the nails slowly digging themselves into the skull.

  As some of the blood managed to roll down right along Miles's left cheek, his eyes ground shut as the pain of Ryan’s stabbing nails was enough for him to move his legs more.

  (Ryan) Well, guess who's poor and unfortunate now?! Who huh?! Tell me who!?

  (Miles) We didn’t sacrifice you, we were all trying to—

  (Ryan) Bh bh bh, bh bh bh, bh bh-bh-bh bh bh bh bh. I’ve heard better conspiracy theories with less shit than that sorry excuse!

  (Jack’s thoughts) Why do I recognize the rhythm of the bhs? Is that from Dog of Fnders?

  His right arm containing Miles, Ryan looked down onto the fast asphalt that was the only way for Miles to nd. With a devilish smirk crawling upon his ghostly pale face, Ryan widened his eyes as he put his left hand motionless to his thigh.

  Miles looked down onto the asphalt road, his forehead slowly forming droplets of hot sweat as he gulped down loudly. His body shaking coldly, with a shiver running down his spine, he swayed his head repeatedly as the lich boy tilted his head to the right, moving his shoulders up while doing so.

  (Ryan) Sorry pal, but I guess this is what they would call…

  Ryan then let his fingertips loose, Miles’s scalp feeling a sense of relief.

  But his entire body wasn’t.

  (Ryan) The end of the line…

  A gunshot was heard coming from the back of the van.

  (Ryan’s thoughts) Hmm?

  Completely letting go of Miles’s head, Miles soon dropped down from the air. Luckily for him though, someone was willing to give him a hand.

  A smooth hand reached towards him, grabbing Mile’s hand tightly as his boots started to scrape off from the highway pavement. Looking upwards, he noticed a familiar figure on the side of the van, the man’s freckled and brownish ginger-haired face giving Miles a good inhale in and exhale out.

  (Miles) Oh shit man, that was close.

  (Stan) No worries … grunts … quick, pull my arm to get to the side of the van!

  (Ryan’s thoughts) How did they get to the side? I never saw that handlebar before. Did they improve or upgrade the van to have sidebars?

  Ignoring the two sturdy men on the side of the van, Ryan focused his attention on the young man with light brown hair and red eyes. His eyes began to sharpen at the man, Ryan’s hands started to curdle into fists, his nails digging themselves into his palms.

  The man in front of him already extended his right arm and hand towards him, his gun pointed at him with smoke coming out of the barrel. Despite his stance making Ryan take a step back, the man’s eyes were slightly wide, his breathing rapid as his hand continued to desperately shake.

  (Ryan) Luke, Luke, Luke. It’s a shame. I mean, are you going to kill your old friend for this huh? Out of all of us, you have the most ethical morals, right? Where’s that young boy you once were?

  (Luke) You can’t talk your way out of this one! You’re the one that shouldn’t be telling me about morals!

  (Ryan) Oh really?

  Ryan slowly walked towards Luke, his footsteps continuing to dent the top of the van, causing Luke to notice the slight loss of stability. Still having his gun motioned towards Ryan, Luke’s arm started to quiver as Ryan put himself in front of the barrel of the Uzi.

  Putting his hands onto the sides of his gun, Ryan slowly motioned it towards the lower area of his heart, the barrel of it pointing right at his most vulnerable spot. Luke, his hand shaking even more, started to feel the numbness of his legs take full effect, his breathing turning more and more rigid.

  (Ryan) Come on, you can shoot that nice and easy. It’s quite simple really, I’m the bad guy and you’re the good guy, that’s all that is to this scenario.

  (Luke’s thoughts) What is going on? Why am I holding back!?

  Luke’s eyes began to widen as his arm, hand, and finger remained still and motionless to the way Ryan had a hold of his gun. Devilishly smiling at Luke, Ryan let out a small chuckle as his breath reached towards Luke’s face.

  Luke arched his head back as the putrid breath smacked against his face, his nostrils being molested by the smell of rotten eggs and manure.

  (Ryan) You’re not going to do anything huh? I guess in terms of character, you’re too good of a guy. You don’t want to kill me, but…

  Ryan then threw his left hand back, his left arm being stretched into the distance as he focused his eyes on the youthful face. Having both of his feet steady onto the van, the metal began to dent evermore, since the soles of his heels dug themselves deeper to create a presence of stability.

  (Ryan) In terms of my character, I’m way beyond in need of salvation.

  He then started to thrust it towards the face of Luke, the air around the edges of his stretched left arm working battling against friction. With his left fist barreling its way towards Luke’s face, Luke shut his eyes from the incoming fist, his face shivering from the dreaded upcoming impact, but…

  A loud gunshot can be heard from behind.

  (Miles) Unfortunately for you, I’m not that good of a guy.

  Turning his head towards the dark-toned man, Ryan continued to keep the barrel onto his left chest, holding the deadly metal tightly with his fingernails cracking the insides of the chamber. With the air blowing into his pale face, Ryan sharpened his eyes as his legs started to quiver in an unstable manner.

  (Ryan’s thoughts) Why do they always shoot me from the back?!

  Wielding his sawed-off shotgun with his right hand, Miles already had his arm extended and his finger on the trigger, smoke coming out of the gun’s barrel. His left hand holstered the grip of his other sawed-off shotgun, Miles’s ears perked up as Ryan shook his vocals with intensity.

  (Ryan) Can’t you just jump off a bridge or something!? I’m in the middle of a killing here!

  (Miles) I’m afraid I can’t do that.

  (Ryan) Ok, tough guy! Bring it!

  The shell that was lodged inside of Ryan, the area where the shell was dead in the center, sprouted outwards back to its original direction. Seeing the shell coming towards him, Miles lunged his left leg and foot back as his stomach and chest tightened, his hand holstering his sawed-off shotgun into his right hip.

  As he managed to pce both of his arms right in front of him, Miles’s forearms soon began to convulse, his muscles stretching out as he sharpened his eyes toward Ryan.

  (Miles) Not today!

  A bluish shield appeared in front of Miles, the bluish particles that emitted from his hands created a wall that was as hard as diamonds. With the bullets that were heading in the direction of Miles hitting the shield, the metal crumbled into powder as blue sparks lit up upon impact.

  (Miles’s thoughts) Guess I have to go into offense.

  Still having his blue shield on standby, Miles pulled back his left arm. Because of the absence of his left hand, the shield was dropped down by half, but size wasn’t the only thing that changed.

  The small shield on Miles’s right hand started to form two sharp ridges on the top of the shield, making the shield turn into a weapon for stabbing. Not only that, but the shield slowly slid onto his right wrist, as if he was homing the shield with his right hand.

  (Mile’s thoughts) Now I’m ready.

  His legs thrusting himself off the metal material, Miles focused his eyes towards Ryan, having his right arm kept into his body as he id his left arm motionless. Seeing that Ryan wasn’t flinching, despite having his body wide open, Miles managed to close in the distance between him and Ryan, thrusting his tucked right arm as the rigid shield homed in on its prey.

  (Ryan’s thoughts) Think fast!

  In return, Ryan extended his left hand back, stretching it so that it would bring in a surge of inertia upon his hand. Feeling the air around his hand and arm trickle down his pale skin, Ryan pushed his left hand with an abundance of strength, his left arm contracting as his fist barreled its way toward Miles’s face.

  But something caught his hand.

  (Ryan) Oh, you little cheater!

  (Luke) It’s called thinking strategically!

  Both his guns being holstered on his hips, Luke used both his hands to catch and grip the lich, his fingertips digging themselves deep into Ryan’s rubbery skin. His fingernails caused Ryan’s arm to bleed out tar, Ryan ground his teeth together as he turned his face towards Luke, his eyes turning tarshot.

  (Ryan) You better let go right—

  Ryan’s head was delivered an expendable punch, the sharp spikes on the top of the rigid shield clutching themselves deep into Ryan’s right cheek.

  His head almost turning 180, Ryan’s body was pushed back as the force of the shield punch was enough to knock him off of his feet. His right cheek had many holes of tar dripping out, Ryan’s eyes rolled to the back of his head as his legs buckled, causing him to colpse on the edge of the roof of the van.

  And his left arm and hand, that was being held by Luke, was let go as it fastened itself towards the lich.

  (Luke) Ok!

  With a sly smile dawning upon his face, Luke focused himself on the rolled back-eyed lich, his eyes not faltering for one second as Ryan’s fist barreled its way onto himself.

  The hand nded on the same area that the sharp shield hit and the lich’s face started to push away as his head and body began to be sent flying. A shockwave traveled his entire body from head to toe, the pressure and intensity of it caused his body to falter under the weight of his body.

  Since his body was on the edge of the van, the final push caused him to fall quickly onto the incoming asphalt, the weight of his body keeping his body down as it homed into the pavement.

  (Ryan’s thoughts) Those cheaters!

  His body made contact on the bck paved highway at a rapid speed, his entire chest hitting the ground first as the fast-paced movement that he was already in.

  Started to scrap away his pale skin, brutally gliding through the highway with his entire body sliding off the ground.

  Seeing the horrible sight with both of their eyes, Luke and Miles looked away, their faces starting to darken.

  Both of them turned their heads towards one another, giving each other a nervous nod as their feet loosened the grip on the top of the van.

  (Luke) Did we … have to do that…?

  (Miles) It’s for the best Luke…

  (Jack) Hey Fenix, or Luke. I think something’s coming up your way!

  (???) My turn!

  Another lich popped out from the driver's side of the van, its white pigmented body barreling towards Luke and Miles as its eyes honed not at Miles, but at…

  (Luke) Oh no!

  Noticing that his feet were not gripping the roof of the van well, Luke’s body was thrusted more back, more than he calcuted. His eyes widened at the sudden pushback by only himself, his body was leaning itself right at the edge of the van.

  The lich had his right arm extended, pulling it back normally as his right fist was enclosed in a tight grip. Unable to defend himself as one wrong push would send him flying out of the roof, Luke only watched as the fist edged itself closer and closer towards Luke’s nose.

  (Luke’s thoughts) What can I do?!

  (Harold) Time for payback you bastard!

  The knuckles of his fists started to come into contact with Luke’s face, the frail bones of his fist starting to push the fat and skin of Luke’s nose as the vibration was felt throughout his entire face. First managing to completely encapsute his entire nose, a rge cracking sound was heard as a major jolt of pain unched up inside of Luke.

  Which caused Luke to be fully pushed back, as his feet were completely loosened from the ground.

  His body was sent backward onto the bck asphalt below, his face was changed as his nose started to instantly flow a river of blood, his right and left cheeks heavily bruised. The pain of the punch sent shockwaves throughout his entire body, he quickly put his hands to his cheeks as his fingertips clenched his cheeks.

  (Luke’s thoughts) Ah! Aaah!

  But below him, was the bck asphalt highway, with the back of his head being the first to nd.

  Luke’s eyes focused upwards as he saw two figures looking down at him from the top of the van. His breath caught in his throat, his breathing coming to a standstill, and his mind blocking out the surging pain from his shattered nose, Luke’s eyes began to water as the st sight that he saw was…

  ______________________________________________________________________________

  (Harold) My turn!

  Another lich popped out from the driver's side of the van, its white pigmented body barreling towards Luke and Miles as its eyes honed not at Miles, but at…

  (Luke) Miles! Use your shield!

  With a quick nod under Luke’s command, Miles extended both his arms in front of him, using his rigid shield that was in his right wrist to sprout out towards Luke. The shield transforming to that of a normal wall shield, the shield instantly teleported towards Luke’s direction, as if it was moved at light speed by the user’s decration.

  The lich, seeing in front of him the fast shield popping out of nowhere in front of Luke, had no choice but to sm his body onto the blue shield, his entire body and face squeezing itself.

  (Harold) Come out of theeerrre! I got a supprrrriiiise for you!

  Having the palm of his bony hands firmly pcing itself onto the blue shield, Harold’s face was made into a goofy one as he tried to push his way onto Luke, but with no avail, the shield didn’t budge.

  Miles, his legs slowly starting to feel numb as his blessing was getting the better of him, started to sweat profoundly from his left and right temples. His arms slowly started to fall to the ground, he began to dent the metal with the way his feet were steadied, his heels stabbing the roof of the van.

  (Miles) pants … Don’t let him get you!

  (Harold) Oh, what an absolute joy the two of you are! Can’t you guys just fight like normal men!? The way men are supposed to fight!?

  Pulling back his face from the shield, he turned his head towards where Miles was, the wind blowing against his light bck hair that was on the edges of his forehead. Noticing that the blue shield started to lose its blue radiance, Harold let go of his right hand that was pced on the shield, pcing it up high up to the sky.

  Both noticing Harold’s hand, they all focused their attention on the weird stance that Harold was doing, his legs spread out as he had his face looking high on the orange smoke sky that pgued the city.

  (Harold) Then again, I’m not a man, just a shell of it.

  Harold then spoke in a low tone, his voice dark and sundered as if the entire aura around him completely changed to that of a middle-aged man.

  (Harold) Hallowing of Lupus.

  Despite his voice and stature being that of a teenage boy, his aura for that one single moment was enough to straighten both Luke and Miles’s backs, gulping loudly as their throats were parched with thirst.

  And then…

  (Luke’s thoughts) What is that sound?

  Luke turned his head towards the direction of the sound, the sound being in the back of the van. Squinting his eyes into the darkness in front of him, he saw the pounding of dust on the highway pavement in front of him, a group or pack of animals chasing after them.

  Opening his mouth softly, he put his right hand onto the helm of his right eye, covering it as he noticed the familiar animals that were after him.

  (Luke’s thoughts) Oh come on … wait … why are they coming now? Weren’t they in back of us the entire time?

  The weirdly undomesticated bloodthirsty wolves nuzzled their muzzles to the smell of the two men on top of the van, drool and saliva sprouting from their mouths, causing Luke to turn his head towards Miles. His face turning into a whitish color, Luke raised his voice towards Miles, having his left and right hands caressing the helms of his holsters.

  Miles, looking towards Luke’s yell, perked his ears as his body remained still under the moving van underneath them.

  (Luke) Get your weapons ready Miles!

  (Harold) Stop being a snitch, you bastard!

  Harold started to bang on the blue shield, his hands pounding the wall that started to cause Miles to let out many droplets of sweat trickle down onto the metal floor. With each bang that Harold reverberated on the shield, the more his numbness caused his legs to shiver, his breathing going rapid.

  Yet Harold continued to do so, banging and banging as he tried to pry open the blue shield that was in front of him.

  (Miles) Luke! I can’t take it anymore!

  (Luke) Wait, Miles!

  Withdrawing his arms towards him, the blue light that emitted from his hands ceased to exist, the weight of his legs loosening as his breath returned to normal. With the shield being withdrawn…

  (Harold) Hehe, you’re mine!

  Thrusting himself towards Luke, he pushed his bare feet against the metal of the van, extending his hands outwards as he eyed Luke’s throat. His eyes sharpened towards the brown-haired boy, Harold clenched his jaw shut, his fingernails sharpening at the sight of Luke’s youthful and pretty face.

  In slow motion, Harold was about to make contact with Luke’s throat, his fingertips and nails slightly touching Luke’s Adam’s apple. In one small push, Harold could’ve ended Luke easily, but…

  Luke dodged it.

  Arching his back to his very limits the fingernails and hands that were about to lodge into his throat merely missed him by a couple of millimeters.

  (Harold’s thoughts) What the fuck?!

  His feet gripping the van tightly, Luke had both of his hands motionless on the ground, his hands already forming into fists as his face and Harold’s face were grazing upon each other in the slow motion of time. And with his fists, he raised them upward to where Harold’s stomach was, his feet on the verge of slipping as the metal wasn’t enough for his feet to grip on.

  (Luke’s thoughts) I just hope this is enough.

  Expanding his slim muscles on both of his arms, Luke punched Harold’s frail stomach as hard as he could, his knuckles touching the cold skin of the boy. Pushing his hands to the very limits, Luke managed to raise Harold’s body a little bit, but just enough for him to be carried out of the van itself.

  (Harold) Damn it you!

  Luke’s feet that were holding him down firmly weren’t enough to keep him up.

  The world now in present motion, Luke fell as his body rested on the metal roof of the van except for his head, the blowing air bursting against his face as he had his head looking up. Turning his head to the right, he noticed that the highway led to a rge opening, almost like the highway was leading toward…

  (Jack) Just to let you guys know! We’re heading into the McLain Tunnel!

  Miles turned his head to where Jack shouted, as Jack’s hands were still edged onto the wheel as he thrust the engine to its very limits. Pushing the pedal to the metal, his hands continued to remain sweaty as he saw the pitch-bck tunnel getting nearer, and from the right of him, was the brownish-ginger-haired elf on the side of the van.

  (Jack) Get inside Stan!

  (Stan) I’m trying but I can’t reach the passenger! Also, Miles and Luke were busy dealing with Harold!

  Miles walked to the passenger side of the van and looked down, his eyes seeing the still clinging Stan as he remained still so that he wouldn't fall off. Crouching down, Miles had his knees on the edge of the van, gripping the edge with his left hand for stability.

  Extending his right hand, he pced it on top of Stan’s head, his palm wreaked with sweat as his eyes remained focused on the man looking up at him.

  (Miles) Here, let me help you up.

  With a silent nod in agreement, Stan extended his right hand upward, clutching onto Miles’s hand. Using all of his right arm’s strength, his muscles bulging from the pull upward, he slowly and carefully pulled Stan to the top of the van’s roof, with Stan having his arms and knees holding his body up as the air around them started to loosen.

  Turning their heads to the tunnel that was starting to get nearer, the rushing air that pelted their faces now becoming nonexistent, Miles motioned his body still, his body feeling the familiar air that he felt long ago…

  (Miles’s thoughts) How long ago was it when I was in a tunnel?

  But that question soon sunsetted quickly, as an animal lunged itself at the three men that were too busy looking at the tunnel.

  Turning his head, Luke first noticed the presence of the animal behind him, a hearing of a reverb service bell dwelling inside of his heart as he saw the bloodthirsty creature bearing its sharp teeth. Opening his eyes wide to the sight of the wolf about to lunge onto the roof of the van, Luke gnced his eyes toward the two other men near the front end of the van.

  (Luke) Hey, we got a wolf!

  Both men turned their heads in the direction of Luke’s shout, noticing that the jumping wolf’s trajectory was right towards the center of the roof of the van they were standing on. Quickly pulling their weapons out, the men managed to pull them out just in time as the wolf smoothly nded, and in an instant.

  All three men focused fire at the wolf, filling it with lead as the bullets nded themselves all over the bck wolf’s body.

  Their bodies shook with intensity as they shot the wolf without hesitation, their hands shaking from the brittle shockwaves of the recoil of their rifles and shotguns. Finally putting their pointer fingers out of the trigger of their guns, they all took a breath in as tar poured out of the wolf, an unfamiliar sight to their eyes.

  (Luke’s thoughts) Wait a minute…

  Luke turned his head to the left of him, only to find…

  (Luke) Uh, Miles…

  (Miles) Yeah? … oh … uh Stan?

  (Stan) Yeah? … oh … uh Jack?

  (Jack) Yeah? … oh … uh Luke?

  (Luke) Yeah?

  (Jack) It’s been nice knowing y’all.

  With the four men, even Jack included as he looked through his side mirror, saw dozens upon dozens of wolves lunging themselves in the air, their trajectory being…

  (Luke, Miles, Stan) Oh damn.

  And as soon as they saw the wolves, their vision darkened, the tunnel that was edging near earlier was now being plowed into by the brown van.