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Chapter 8
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2020-11-05 16:57:29The corridor was dimly lit, but despite the scarce illumination, he could see clearly what had transpired. The white walls were splattered with red and the floors was streaked with blood as if some bastard dragged the dead across to some place unknown. Bullet holes could also be seen on the wall. Lukas walked ahead, passing by the emergency green light above. The next emergency light was deactivated in this part of the hallway probably because of defect or old age, bathing the surroundings in the dark. The next light could be seen ahead, illuminating that section in the same way as the previous one they just recently walked past.
Lukas could feel something mushy beneath his boots but he dared not to imagine what it is. The nurse behind him clutched at his arm so tighty that his recently bandaged hand began to ache."Nurse, cut it out." Lukas whispered loudly. Sala realized that she was grabbing onto the soldier's arm for dear life and immediately retracted, apoRelated chapters
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"Run, run!" He urged as they sprinted. The ground beneath them shook as the entity chased them. The hair on Lukas' neck stiffened as he felt the creature coming closer. His hyperactive imagination began to form images to create a picture of their pursuer.Ahead, he felt bad for Nurse Sala, who wasn't trained in these kinds of situation but fear made her quick and fast and it also gave her the strength to lift the man she was carrying. The entity let out another roar, urging them to run faster. Lukas turned once more, and just in time, the emergency lights activated to reveal its form.A red carapaced monster with a pair of large horns, sharp talons for hands and hooved feet. Beneath its armor was a muscular body in brown or black. Its red eyes glowed red and its mouth possessed a quartet of sharp mandibles like that of an insect's.It roared.Far ahead, the door to the armory could be seen, a green light illuminated above it. The nurse ded
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They travelled across the corridor and stopped before a wooden door. The crucifix attached in the middle was reversed but the Saint Benedict's medal pinned below it was untouched. Francis knocked at the priest's door. "Father, it's me. Open up."The priest did what he was told. Lukas was surprised of what he saw. He wore the same armor and gear of a 666IB soldier, but his left shoulder displayed the patch of his holy Office. He was armed with an M-16."Come in, come in." He said, waving them inside the room.They entered. The office of the Chaplain looked like a warzone, with the table flipped and numerous holy symbols drawn on the surface of the desk. Salt could be seen around him, as well vials of oils and holy water."Salt?" Lukas asked."Exorcised salt." The priest replied. "Salt repels evil spirits due to its...anyway you wouldn't understand." The Chaplain paced towards his desk and righted it. "Seems like someone inside th
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"Alice, lead the way, now!" Lukas yelled, prompting the woman to turn and run. Lukas fired at the Demon, who simply stood there despite taking rounds to its body. Francis let loose a shot from his weapon before he turned and ran after Alice. Lukas followed him shortly.They crossed the lobby of the front entrance while the Demons followed them quietly. Its body was leaking blood everywhere. Francis turned at Lukas and yelled."Cover me, I'll frag the bastard!" He detached a grenade, unpinned it, and tossed it across.The two ran away, back to the intersection that led to the armory. A sharp bang could be heard while they retraced their way back to the Chaplain's Office. In the process, they stepped over puddles of blood on the ground and accidentally crushed scattered body organs that they failed to avoid. Lukas realized that it wasn't just blood that decorated the hallway too. Fear started to rise, reaching its boiling point as every turn they made
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The lights flickered on. Lukas was quietly sat on the chair, savoring the chilly wind brought by the main hall's air conditioning unit. Nurse was beside him, bandaging the laceration on his right arm."Are you sure you're going to be okay?" She asked with concern in her tone.Sergeant Alice Abantay stood a few meters from them, visibly jealous."I have fought with the Lieutenant before, of course he will!" She yelled rather loudly. "That's more of an insult on his part!""Sarge, it's fine." Lukas said with a raise of his hand. He noticed that her forehead was bandaged by medics."No, LT! She made you sound like a wimp!" Alice yelled."I said it's fine, sarge! Dammit." He glanced at her forehead for the second time. "How's that?""The medics advised that I take a day off before I join any combat operation." She grinned. "But what the hell do they know?""I need my XO to be sharp so that she could
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The operation was unlike any other. Lukas sat near the exit of the truck, allowing him to see the other four trucks behind the convoy filled with the recently sent 666IB soldiers from other Outpost Detachments. Most of them had seen a fair share of Hell and doesn't need any form of watered down instructions unlike with the rookies who were clueless about almost everything.Lukas thought about the words of the Major yesterday. When he said that they are going to end this, he really is being serious. Otherwise, he wouldn't have requested a large number of personnel and launched a major offensive in this tiny village that probably has little capability to defend itself against a small platoon of 666IB soldiers.Some of the troopers were loant from the other Outpost Detachments and will return to their original duties after this. It was understandable. The 666IB was the only largest paranormal combat unit, but their numbers are limited. Replenishing it required a long time
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He glanced at the photo with tears falling from his eyes. He held the only possession he have. It was against the rules of the Battalion to obtain any object that would remind its personnel the former lives they had but Lukas does not care.It was an image of him and his wife by the beach. In her bosom, she carried an infant draped in blanket. It was taken by her sister when they had a family reunion before. He wondered how the two of them are doing now since his "death" three or four years ago. The watchers under his payroll told him that she had already found someone--a banker and a childhood sweetheart of hers. Her new husband treats her and their daughter well and she was currently carrying a second baby.It hurt him to hear that she was already happy in the arms of another man, but the sacrifice he--and the others--have made were neccessary to ensure the continuous survival of the nation against the threats that they have no knowledge of.Better that way th
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"Greetings, gentlemen." Major Tomas Veras greeted as they entered. Lukas sat at the middle, as usual, with Alice sat beside him. The aging officer activated the projection after the lights of the room deactivated. "The cellular phone that 1st Lieutenant Francis Borja and his group had recovered contained vital intelligence that would aid us in the pursuit of our target."An image of another village by the river located in Sirawai appeared in the projection screen. The picture was a real-time satellite image and, despite being thousands of feet above, the image possessed a clarity like no other, revealing small details in great accuracy.He saw a handful of wooden huts along the river as well as long flat platforms or bridges that connected the treetops together. By the looks of it, the settlement looked more of a guerilla's hideout than a village. He guessed that beneath the leaves, there were tree houses occupied by belligerents. It put the defenders at a tactical adv
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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 al
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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
