Discord in Exodus (1)

[VANE'S POV] Action music recommended, illustrations available in para-comments

The tunnels were alike, and fellow escapees widened the tear and surged out.

Guided by the compass, I led the way, the others trailing behind.

STEP STEP STEP STEP

"WHERE!?"

"HEY, WHERE ARE WE GOING!?"

"SHIT! THEY'RE ON US!"

CLANG PULCH

"GUAAAHHHH—URGH!"

I heard them dying behind the door, the sentinels were going to come soon.

Swiftly changing course, I broke through another door, only to find other soldiers.

"Shit!" my mind raced, realizing they had noticed us.

I was too late dammit!

Indecision set in as I weighed our options.

"FUCK! WHERE NOW!?"

"QUICK!"

Clicking my tongue, I continued sprinting straight ahead, composing myself.

"STOP!"

CLANG CLANG PULCH STAB

"URGHAAA!"

Thick stench of metal and blood wafted, with heavy footsteps bearing upon the ground.

I broke a door to my left, finding an empty tunnel.

CRASH CRUMBLE

"GO, GO, GO, GO!"

"FASTER MAN!"

"SHIT NO—GUAAAAH"

Seizing torch sconces, I waited for the mob to catch up (around 30 people).

"HEY WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"

"WHERE NOW!"

"GET THESE," I instructed, and they caught on.

"THEY ARE HERE! COME ON!" a sentinel screamed, his figure almost visible.

"ON 3!" I ordered.

"3!"

"STOP THERE!"

"I WILL KILL YOU, FUCKERS!"

"2!"

"WHAT ARE THE—!"

"1!"

The blazing torches bombarded the soldiers, incapacitating but not killing.

"GAAAAHHHH!"

"SHIT! IT BURNS!"

"HAHA, STUPID FUCKERS!"

Without delay, I ran while other sentinels came to assist, along with patriotic soldiers.

Many perished, harrowing screams echoing through the tunnel.

I checked my compass—the needle pointed left, guiding me toward another door.

CRUMBLE

The door crumbled under the force of my foot, revealing another group.

"Hey what's happening!?" the resting soldiers questioned.

Their schedule was off? No that can't be.

I was puzzled but they were only a small group so I charged at them. (5 members)

They were deserters, probably—so killing them was justified.

A surge of bloodlust coursed through me;

"HEY! WHAT AR—GUAHHH!" I pierced his heart and charged at another Soldier.

"RAYN! NO! WHY DI—," I slashed off his head before he reached his sword.

"SOB WHY! WHY! YOU—WH—GUH!" he blocked in the nick of time, but I swiveled past him;

SWISH PULCH

My sword pierced his throat, and the mob dealt with the rest.

Sweat clung to my shirt and my heart raced, the weight of the escape pressing on my shoulders.

"ARE WE THERE?"

"WE ARE CLOSE!" I reassured them, and relief was evident on their faces.

"THANK YOU SIR!"

"REALLY!"

"THANK YOU GOD!"

My assurance was water in a desert for them, quenching their thirst.

The sentinels were shaken off at the door, thanks to the torches and we ran for a while.

"PLEASE WAIT FOR ME!" some were left behind due to their sluggish pace.

STEP STEP STEP STEP

The ground quivered beneath the collective steps of anticipation, and I kicked open another door.

CRUMBLE

The door flew a few meters away, made possible thanks to the potion, surprising the soldiers.

The tunnel, lit by a few torches, seemingly lacking mana for many of them, casting a dim glow.

"SEE! WE ARE NEARING THE EXIT!" the crowd rallied at my words.

"MOVE!" some soldiers pushed past me, but I continued, catching up with those who ran further.

The distance between us widened, courtesy of the agility boost.

'Yes!' relief surged as the tantalizing taste of freedom drew near.

"LAST ONE!" I screamed, stopping in front of the door.

Ear-deafening shouts resounded, and some soldiers tried to hug me.

"THANKS, SI—GAH!" I pushed them away, kicking open the rotting wooden door, it crumbled easily.

CRUMBLE

"GET TORCHES!" I ordered as darkness enveloped us.

I followed the compass pointing straight ahead.

The tunnel, layered with cobwebs and insects, emitted a putrid stench.

Every step kicked up dust and threatened to collapse the precarious tunnel.

The tunnel was dimly lit by torches and energetic chatters.

"THEY ARE STILL ON US!"

"GAAAHHH! FASTER!"

"PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!"

Fatigue slowed the weak ones, allowing the sentinels to catch up, and the mob screamed in terror.

My relief converted into haste, and I spared no energy.

I approached another door and kicked it but to no avail.

THUD

"Urhh-guh!, I recoiled.

Wasting no time, I slashed at it tearing it open, and another kick sent it to oblivion.

SLASH THUD CRUMBLE

"GUH! COUGH COUGH What th—?" the smell worsened, and the soldiers near me also recoiled.

COUGH COUGH

The air weighed my lungs as if I was breathing fluid and my throat felt heavy.

But I bore, pulling my shirt to my nose.

Beyond the door were cracks and black splotches on the ground, emitting a disgusting stench

The black substance was organic as it was decomposing with slimy bubbles, releasing odour.

'Blood?' confusion hit me as I tried to decipher the nature of the mysterious substance.

The soldier said he didn't detect any movement or mana though.

If the intel was correct, the base above should be abandoned.

Then why did the substance not yet decompose and why are there sword marks?

"GAAAAHH NO—KUARRGH!"

"I DON'T WANNA DIE, PLEASE SOMEBODY!"

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG

"PLEAS—GUAARGH!"

"FU—SPLURT COUGH COUGH"

"COUGH COUGH FUCK! I FOUND THEM!" the sentinel shouted, injecting urgency.

The screams forced me to ignore my better judgment and I ran.

Pieces of fabric covered in dark sludge were littered around.

Even the rotting doors to the sides were open, signs of struggle on them.

Every step forced me to think again, my steps weighed down.

Irrational soldiers charged past, colliding with my shoulders.

I saw a dark aggregate at the terminal—the door.

"BREAK IT!" they screamed as they reached the door.

A metal door, reinforced, echoed with the relentless onslaught.

But why was it reinforced?

STEP STEP STEP STEP

"NO, NO, NO, COME ON!" the mob intensified their efforts as the footsteps neared.

THUD THUD CLANG CLANG

The planks and metal sheets were rapidly crumbling under the collective slashes and kicks.

CRACK CRACK CRUMBLE CRUMBLE

"AH! YOU HIT ME YOU FUCKER!" a soldier cried out, but it was of no concern.

THUD THUD THUD THUD

"PLEASE GOD, PLEASE!"

"COME ON, COME ON! OPEN, DAMMIT!"

I was getting anxious by the moment, and the sentinels neared us.

CLANG CLANG

CRUMBLE

"THERE!" I felt relief at the shout.

The reinforcements were torn with only the lock separating us.

"I'LL KILL YOU, DAMMIT!"

"CATCH THEM, FASTER, FASTER, FASTER!"

"WAIT! NO! DON'T OPEN THAT DOOR!"

The desperate plea was met with the opposite.

The door opened to a dark corridor emitting a thick stench.

Quietude presided within, broken by the steps of soldiers entering it.

Dread tightened its grip—something was off.