A midnight cry for help 1

"Wake up! Wake up! Monsters!"

The words filtered into my ears as I slept, I turned in bed and covered my ears to ignore the shouts.

"Monsters! Levi!"

My eyes shot open with the speed of light, I sat up in bed and looked around in confusion, were the sounds real or did I dream them up?

My door opened and Ava burst into it, panic was written all over her face and her black hair billowed in the wind. She was dressed in a loose gown that clearly was meant for sleeping alone and not walking in public.

"There's monsters". She managed to say in between gasps before she stepped back out.

I flew out of bed, I grabbed my knife from the drawer at my bedside and rushed outside without bothering to put on a shirt.

I ran out the door and shut it behind me.

Adrenaline is a powerful hormone, it spreads through your bloodstream almost at the speed of light and alerts your entire nervous system. No matter what mood you were in before, sad, angry, sleepy, sick, tired, it didn't matter, the adrenaline coursing through your bloodstream would chase it all away and replace it with strength speed and clarity of mind that would surprise even you.

Earlier I had been asleep, exhausted from killing beasts and my late night romp with Ava, but now I stood in the compound, naked except for my pants, the cold wind nipped at my bare chest but I was less concerned. I was ready to fight whatever had made Ava run into my room.

I looked around, Mr Simon was outside with an axe in his hand, he wore a wifebeater and red shorts. With his low level of speed, such a weapon would be more of a hindrance than helpful.

The front of the house was crawling with different types of beast monsters, there were wolves, bears, cats, snakes, hawks, eagles, foxes, hogs, badgers all pouring into the house from the side.

I looked at Ava who was still panicking, I knew I had to take charge for everyone's safety. "Quick, go and call Emily!" I yelled to her.

I looked at Mrs Simon and Petunia, their little daughter. "Go inside and lock the doors behind you!" I yelled. They were reacting to sluggishly so I yelled again. "Go inside, lock the door behind you, then enter the room and lock it behind you too!"

Mrs Simon nodded frantically and grabbed Petunia, they ran into the room together:

I looked at Ava who still hadn't moved. Go now! I shouted, she nodded and took off.

God why was everybody reacting slow today.

"Stay behind me at all times". I told Mr Simon and he nodded.

[Beast monsters detected]

[You have a new quest]

[Survive beast monster attack]

[Reward: None]

Well that's not fair. I thought to myself.

The first beast to attack was a red tailed fox, I ducked its attack and slashed it mid air, a trail of blood followed it but it didn't drop dead or collapsed, it rushed at my legs again and I moved out of the way, we danced in this way for a moment until I moved out the way and struck down with my knife.

Squisssshh!

My knife pierced it's head and it crumpled to the ground.

[1 beast monster killed, +10 mana points]

I didn't stop to catch my breath, I immediately rushed at at large fanged wolf. Knives are decent enough for fighting beasts but at the moment, I found myself wishing I had something longer, like a sword maybe.

I ran at the wolf before it could attack me and that seemed to catch it off guard, it moved its head at the last minute to dodge my attack.

I moved back and observed the wolf, this wolf seemed to be faster than any other beast I'd fought, it's reflexes were quicker than mine by a wide margin. It's strength was also obviously greater than mine so direct confrontation would not be effective to take it down.

I looked at its hide, through the fur I could see how it thickened and rippled with muscle so I knew it would take great strength to kill it.

There are parts of the body known as the vital parts, then there are parts of the body known as vulnerable parts. The vital parts are overemphasized in fights and by the media since they were effective in bringing down the strongest opponents, however, the vulnerable parts were just as effective and easier to located and access. In fact I've always believed they were more effective than vital parts.

The vulnerable parts were general for the most parts but there were some that were unique to each animal. For this wolf, it's vulnerable parts were it's eyes since it couldn't see without them, it's snout since wolves depended hugely on their sense of smell, it's reproductive part, since it was filled with a lot more nerves and could transmit more pain than a lot of other body parts.

The eyes were the most important ones, if I could find a way to make the wolf blind, then it would lose all sense of direction and it's death would be swift.

I moved slowly in a circle around the wolf, looking for an opening, an opportunity to get at its eyes. The wolf eyed me warily as I stepped around it, it eventually got tired of the stalemate and ran at me.

Instead of move away or prepare to dodge it's attack, I ran straight at it too, I could see the surprise on the wolf's face as I drew close to it and with two quick stabs, it's eyes were gone.

Howwwwlll!!!

The wolf howled in pain as blood flowed out of its gouged eyes.

I didn't waste any time, I sunk my knife into its head.

Phunnk!

The knife burried into its head, I stuck again and again until I was sure it was dead.

[1 beast monster killed, +10 mana points]

Just then I looked at the gate and saw Ava running back to the house, behind her was Emily, panting as she ran.