This time, it was Lukas and Francis who watched behind the observatory window. In front of the Mambabarang was Sergeant Alice Abantay, and the newly promoted Corporal Jan Nagar.
Roberto was restrained in the same manner as the cultist who previously sat in his chair. The Mambabarang watched in amusement, his gaze was glued at the soldiers before him."I never knew the Armed Forces has a branch specialized in occult combat." He chuckled."And we are good interrogators too." Alice said as Nagar lifted the knife from the wheeled table by the wall."Wait, isn't this police brutality? I have rights too!" The Mambabarang protested."I'm afraid we are not police." Alice grinned as Nagar raised the knife in the air, causing the light to reflect against its shiny blade. "And their jurisdiction does not reach us. Meaning, we could kill you here without no one finding out.""Okay, okay," Roberto shifted uncomfortably in his seat, still smiling as if alUnder the cover of the night, their transport journeyed to the targeted location. Lukas caressed the grip of his blessed rifle and calmed his troubled mind that was slipping to yet another world of random thoughts again but he thought that there was no point in wishing back his previous life or how things should be and decided to refocus his thoughts on something else entirely.He noticed that their transport vehicles, no matter how long the distance was, always arrived to its destination in a short period of time. Sometimes, the vehicles itself were occasionally seen by civilians in broad daylight when there were no secret routes available to take.He heard from the privileged few included in the Personnel Exchange Program with the Agency, that their vehicles were modified using the organization's advance tech that allowed them to reach point A to point B in a short span of time. In addition, their vehicles were also fitted with a cloak tech that made it looked like a
The two teams met in the middle silently and moved on. Just like the first corridor, it ended with an eastward bent, which they crossed before they ascended to the third floor. Lukas recalled that the lights came from the rooms of this level and the level above. He tightened his grip as they arrived at the floor...Only to be disappointed.The floor contained no doors, only a straight narrow corridor with bare walls flanking it on either side. Strangely, the floorboard was dimly illuminated from the lower parts of the walls where the doors should have been. Lukas could see moving shadows, as if someone was inside. He was curious what lies behind it."I wanted to blow up a chunk of this wall." Francis whispered at Lukas. "But the element of surprise that we have would be lost for sure.""What do you think was behind it?" Lukas asked."I'm guessing a nightclub." Francis joked. He pulled out a small rectangular pack of explosives wrapped together by a
"Lukas!" Francis called and his team turned, only for him to shout not to break the formation apart. "Wait, it's us!""I know it's you!" Lukas yelled back, still not turning. "We pissed the monster off! I suggest you duck before we--" another five minutes, "--now, now!"Francis hit the deck but some of the soldiers reacted a second too late and got hit in the chests. Another loud whimper and the sound of clattering."Who are the dumb fucks who didn't duck?!" Lukas yelled in irritation as the domed arcade above was now replaced with the regular ceiling commonly found with the previous floors, but the pillars still persisted.Another five minutes, they opened fire again. The pillars disappeared and the nondescript ordinary walls replaced it. The corridor beyond was still shrouded in liquidous shadow."Soldiers, I think the bastard was now in front of us." Lukas calmly said. "Take aim." He ordered.They turned and raised their rifles at its dir
The Observatory Post simply known in the papers and maps of the 666IB as 'Golf-745' was larger than he expected. It was a telecommunications building purchased by the government from some company in the verge of bankruptcy, its services were only available to the civilians nearby for a good reason. The real purpose of the establishment laid hidden beneath the centimeters-thick floor of the OP and was only accessible to those who have proper clearances.It was midnight when they arrived at the building. Due to the disseminated news of a serial killer, the populace had retired to their bedrooms earlier and even the most wayward of people refused to go outside at this hour in fear of becoming the next in the headlines. The fabricated story came from within the walls of this building, and for Lukas, OP Golf-745 had done its job well in maintaining control of those within their area of jurisdiction.The story of a "serial killer" was created when the 666IB soldiers of the O
The moon was brighter than before as dusk drew closer. Lukas glanced at the twinkling stars for a few seconds, mesmerized by its beauty before his gaze went down to the mountains in the far horizon. He gradually developed an affinity for the night sky, which now started to comfort him. The night became a symbol for him that defined the world they lived in. He believed that as long as there are monsters around, the world will never see the light of the "true" day. It will always be shrouded in darkness, no matter what.Maybe, his military career had steeled his guts for every worse thing that the shadows threw at him. He sighed and wondered when will this end.The truck entered Kapalong City. Just like the area around Observatory Post Golf-745, the small city was asleep, save for a few policemen manning the checkpoints. As usual, the truck appeared like any other normal civilian vehicles in their eyes. It was stopped and the driver was asked where he was heading. He han
Another stack of gunmen appeared at the end of the street. Lukas realized that the syndicate members have little to no combat experience evidenced by their undisciplined behavior. Walking in the middle of an open territory was a dangerous practice. But for them, they are just easy pickings waiting to be dropped. He peeked around an old Toyota Corolla, rifle-first, and spotted the column approaching. He discharged a short burst at them. As soon as his target spun in place and dropped to the ground, he recoiled back to cover.They returned fire, the noise that thugs' weapons made echoed from one end of the street to another, discouraging any curious civilians to go out.He pointed at the hood of Toyota and Nagar already understood his superior's instruction. They moved quietly while Lukas dropped to his stomach and aimed his M-16 beneath the car, directed at the feet of the thugs. He fired steadily again, and a man hit the ground while clutching at his gunshot wound. Nag
A few minutes after they disembarked, Lukas was leading his small team again. The houses around looked more habitable than the ones near the port. Each homes have two floors; the glass sliding door behind the balustrade of the balconies of the upper floors were obscured with silk curtains from the inside.From their distance, he could hear the quiet hum of air conditioners running, which he paid no heed. They moved with haste and purpose, clearing each alleys and corners with the muzzles of their weapons. So far, they encountered no creatures of the night.But there was something in the air that he could not ignore. He let out a sigh as they moved across a crossroad. From his perspective, he could see moving shadows beyond, alerting him in an instant. He gestured at his team to stay vigilant.And as if on cue, the farthest team behind led by the Sergeant opened fire. Lukas wondered what caused the weapons discharge but his attention was caught by a nearby silhou
"The coast is clear!" Francis finally said. "Time is of the essence, go!"They moved once more; Lukas saw clusters of furred bodies everywhere and realized that there must be a nest here. The possibility of the entire subdivision being a nest crossed his mind, but he immediately banished it because it scared him. He started to doubt their survivality rate in this operation.They came across a rotunda with a marble fountain in the middle. Lukas held a fist up when he felt being watched from the shadows beyond. Paranoia grew in his mind as he turned to the darkened corners around, but Nagar's aim remained fixated at the fountain in the center.He followed his aim and noticed a person with no clothes on. It was hard to determine their gender or their features due to its blackened flesh, as if they had been incinerated for a long time. Lukas aimed but he dared not to approach the entity.It laughed, revealing a decaying teeth from its ashen mouth. And in an i