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Chapter 17
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2020-11-23 17:51:56Under 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 aRelated chapters
Beneath The Shadows Chapter 18
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
Last Updated : 2020-11-26Beneath The Shadows Chapter 19
"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
Last Updated : 2020-11-26Beneath The Shadows Chapter 20
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
Last Updated : 2020-11-26Beneath The Shadows Chapter 21
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
Last Updated : 2020-11-26Beneath The Shadows Chapter 22
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
Last Updated : 2020-11-27Beneath The Shadows Chapter 23
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
Last Updated : 2020-11-27Beneath The Shadows Chapter 24
"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
Last Updated : 2020-11-28Beneath The Shadows Chapter 25
He aimed at the mansard-roofed porch and let out a sigh. He made a gesture in the air and the stack immediately complied as they made for the porch. The shadows on either side moved like fluid and Lukas knew that they were Aswangs lying in wait. He whirled swiftly and fired at the silhouette. A wet snap was heard followed by a cry. Nagar fired at the second Aswang behind Lukas, sending it back to the ground. The other soldiers eliminated the creatures without effort before they advanced towards the porch.Lukas, Nagar and Laurel approached the door with precaution. The superior of the three extracted a small pack of explosives from his belt. Lukas removed the adhesive covering and attached it on the door's surface before he pressed his back beside the left sidelight while Nagar and Laurel at the opposite side, out of the right sidelight's view. Laurel unpinned a grenade from his bandolier as the door exploded.When the wooden door fell from its frame, Laurel tossed the
Last Updated : 2020-11-28
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Beneath The Shadows Chapter 32 - Finale
They continued down the street. It was dark and quiet with only the distant noise of the battle taking place elsewhere could be heard. Lukas could hear his own breath as they traversed the road, paranoia slowly forming in his mind. He restrained his thoughts before it became a distraction until something urged him to stop.He raised his fist upwards and glanced from left to right. The storefronts around them looked weird. Of all the stores, one in particular was not barricaded. He studied it and noticed swirling darkness beneath, as if a black smog or a murky water filled it from the inside. He took two steps towards it when the glass that kept it from the outside world shattered, along with the other storefronts around and behind them.Elongated shadows streaked from the stores. Lukas noticed the white porcelain faces on the top of the six entities. He raised his aim and fired at the face of the entity near him.Three bursts and the face shattered. The entity i
Beneath The Shadows Chapter 31
The sun sets in the horizon. The streets were empty, not a single soul was seen in sight. Even the police who should be watching it were also absent, fearful of the fabricated contagious disease that the 6 AM news had broadcasted. In the side of the defenders, it was acceptable since they would just get in the way of things when this particular shadow war was waged. Even the so-called "Regular Infantry" that the soldiers of the paranormal combat units fond of using to reference their ordinary counterparts were also evacuated kilometers away.He envied the civilians, who only thought that this event was just simply caused by some infectious viral disease. Indeed, it was far better to live one's life in ignorance than bearing the burden of knowing about the existence of the creatures that prowls the night.He watched the sun sinks below the world. The scenery was symbolic, for the most part. Davao City, the would-be battle zone of a skirmish that should be fought in the
Beneath The Shadows Chapter 30
The horn of the Demon was laid on the top of a cloth. The Chaplain's Office was now restored in order and the furnishing's orientation was different than the last time when Lukas visited it. He watched as Father Mike sprinkled the horn with holy water while reciting a prayer of sanctification.Every droplet that made contact, the object sizzled. Geysers of smoke rose, as if it was a steaming hot object doused with cool water.After the blessing, Father Mike wrapped it again with the white cloth and handed it to Lukas. He nodded his thanks, the laced vial around his neck containing the eye moved slightly. Lukas was still getting used to his new necklace, which he couldn't wait to remove after this suicidal assault that they are about to undertake.Right after they walked out of the room, they encountered Major Veras outside."Lieutenant." Veras called sternly. "Come with me, we got a meeting.""Meeting?" Lukas asked."Remember the liaison off
Beneath The Shadows Chapter 29
Sergeant Nagar and Staff Sergeant Alice Abantay stood before the restrained Roberto Omar, who glanced at them with an impressed look in his eyes. Alice crossed her arms and asked."Why are you looking at us like that?""You two could make a good couple," he said. Nagar raised his butcher's knife without hesitation. "What? I meant that in a good way as possible.""No, I think it was something else entirely." Abantay replied. Lukas, and a new soldier from the cut-off team regularly attached to their unit, the newly promoted 2nd Lieutenant Yusuf Ibrahim, stood behind the observatory window with three other subordinates facilitating the room as usual. They quietly listened."You think?" Roberto asked. "I'm just kidding, yes. Because I am very impressed that you survived against my master that I am already convinced, you might win this against him.""How'd you know?" Alice asked, threatening to pull out her sidearm. She was suspicious that the Mambabara
Beneath The Shadows Chapter 28
After an hour of rest and submitting his paperwork to the Major, and to the High Command as an esoteric After-Action Report, Lukas dropped by the Clinic Bay to have his injuries checked. Lukas was laying with his stomach flat on the bed. It felt awkward but Nurse Sala instructed him to. There was no point in protesting since all he wanted was to get himself treated.The nurse came with her tools and pulled his shirt up to reveal his backside. She gasped upon seeing the contusions on his back muscles."I am inclined to recommend my superiors to put you under x-ray for any bones that might be out of place.""Don't sound like I'm gonna die." Lukas protested. "It's just a fall from a two-storey house.""Exactly!" She said. "Don't you hear yourself?""Just apply your guyabano leaves and be done with it." Lukas said sarcastically. "The Major needs to see me in an hour and I want to get this checked before he decides to send us into another operation."
Beneath The Shadows Chapter 27
It was good to be back.Lukas was exhausted. The previous operation had drained all of them both physically and mentally. All of them are quiet upon their return to Outpost Detachment Bravo and Lukas himself wasn't sure if the operation could be counted as a victory because of the casualties dealt on their part. If it was, it would have been a pyrrhic one.They have lost a lot, and to Lukas, he have lost his bestfriend whom he relied on many times, just as how he also relied on him. He swallowed, choking on the lump formed in his throat. For the most part, he couldn't feel anything but numbness in seemingly random intervals, because it would be sometimes replaced with the need to cry out loud as a form of mourning. As fast when it appeared, the urge would disappear, leaving him in numbness again.Maybe, his weeping could bring back something, but the dead will stay dead. There was nothing he could do.As the truck rolled to the garage, he immediately dise
Beneath The Shadows Chapter 26
He hit the ground with his armored back. Static washed across his display link and his electrocardiogram visibly spiked while the deity raised his sword with its blade pointed at him. The front door of the first floor opened, revealing Sergeant Alice and a handful of soldiers in her team. Lukas was horrified about what would happen next."No, not Alice." He spoke weakly. "Not Alice!" But he couldn't move in pain.Sitan received multiple bullets in his back as he stood and turned at the 666IB soldiers. He approached and struck at the soldier in Alice's right. The blood of her comrade sprayed onto her visor, obscuring it in red. The others retreated inside while the other few dragged her away from the rampaging deity.Lukas bared his teeth as he forced himself upright. The armor absorbed the brunt of the attack, he thought. He had gone through far worse, he thought. Sharp pains were sent across his ribs and right leg but he tried to fight them off as he looked at
Beneath The Shadows Chapter 25
He aimed at the mansard-roofed porch and let out a sigh. He made a gesture in the air and the stack immediately complied as they made for the porch. The shadows on either side moved like fluid and Lukas knew that they were Aswangs lying in wait. He whirled swiftly and fired at the silhouette. A wet snap was heard followed by a cry. Nagar fired at the second Aswang behind Lukas, sending it back to the ground. The other soldiers eliminated the creatures without effort before they advanced towards the porch.Lukas, Nagar and Laurel approached the door with precaution. The superior of the three extracted a small pack of explosives from his belt. Lukas removed the adhesive covering and attached it on the door's surface before he pressed his back beside the left sidelight while Nagar and Laurel at the opposite side, out of the right sidelight's view. Laurel unpinned a grenade from his bandolier as the door exploded.When the wooden door fell from its frame, Laurel tossed the
Beneath The Shadows Chapter 24
"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
