NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17: Trap
Startled but intrigued, Annie cautiously stepped forward into the workshop. She looked small and vulnerable in the vast space, her eyes focused on Zack as she slowly approached. "My mom... she asked me to follow you," she said quietly.
"I know," Zack replied, not looking up from his work. He was dismantling parts of the MV-01 armor, but glanced at her for a moment. "This is MV-01. I'm making some upgrades. Watch closely. You might learn something."
Annie stood nearby, her expression serious as she took in every detail. Despite her timid appearance, her sharp mind was fully engaged. For the next three hours, Zack worked on the armor, adjusting the transmission systems, reworking the joints to improve mobility, and enhancing its overall efficiency. By the time dusk arrived, he was putting the final pieces back together.
Stepping back, he quickly tested the armor. The upgrades were a success; transmission efficiency had increased by 30%, boosting both speed and maneuverability. While it still wasn't as flexible as a living being, it was much more agile than before.
"Not bad," Zack muttered, satisfied.
After a brief pause, Zack thought about Sophia, left alone at the mansion. His mind wandered to her well-being, and he called out to his AI assistant. "Ego, check on Sophia Monroe."
"Yes, sir," Ego responded. Within moments, a live feed from Mansion No. 9 appeared on the screen, showing Sophia sitting at the dining table. She glanced at the clock every so often, several untouched dishes laid out in front of her.
"Didn't I tell her I wouldn't be back until tomorrow?" Zack murmured as he watched her.
"Ego, let her know not to wait up," he added. "I won't be back until tomorrow."
"Understood, sir," Ego replied. Zack's voice soon came through the walkie-talkie on the dining table.
Sophia's face brightened when she heard his voice, but it quickly faded as she realized he wouldn't be coming home that night. Zack felt a twinge of guilt, but he knew he had to stay and secure the steel plant.
"Turn it off," Zack sighed, and the surveillance feed cut out.
Meanwhile, down in the factory, the workers had finished setting up the traps and were waiting for further instructions.
"Let's go, Annie," Zack said, putting on his modified armor and grabbing a box of weapons. He headed downstairs, Annie trailing behind. In front of the workers, he dropped the weapons onto the floor.
"The Night Stalkers will be here soon," he announced. "If you think you have steady hands and quick reflexes, grab a weapon. The rest of you, head to the office and stay put, no matter what you hear outside."
Several workers stepped forward, grabbing guns left behind by Jacob's gang. There were nine pistols, two shotguns, a rifle, and plenty of ammo. With his armor, Zack didn't need a weapon, but arming the workers would help spread the responsibility. To his surprise, Charles, who was now in his seventies, reached for a pistol, as did Annie, who, at thirteen, seemed determined to fight, even though she struggled with the weapon's safety.
"You two, stop causing trouble," Zack said, taking their weapons with a sigh.
"I just thought—" Charles began, but a sudden, piercing howl interrupted him, echoing through the factory.
"The Night Stalkers are awake," Zack said, his expression turning serious. "Get Annie and anyone without combat experience to the office. Now!"
Charles quickly led the others to safety, while the chilling howls outside grew louder, followed by a series of snarling roars. The sound was primal, like a wolf pack preparing to hunt.
Zack motioned to the remaining workers. "You two, guard the back exit. The rest of you, keep an eye on the broken wall. I'll handle the main entrance."
Taking his position by the entrance, Zack steadied himself, watching as shadows stretched and grew in the dim light. Under the moonlight, he spotted the twisted shapes of the Night Stalkers as they moved across the roof of a nearby building, their eyes glowing with hunger.
The leader spotted Zack and let out a high-pitched screech, immediately signaling the others. Within moments, a swarm of Night Stalkers was charging toward the factory, splitting into three groups to attack from different angles. The largest group stormed the main entrance, where Zack waited. His face remained calm as he counted over a dozen Night Stalkers closing in on him, their eyes burning with predatory intent.
As the first Night Stalker charged, it suddenly tripped over a thin steel wire stretched across the ground. The trap was triggered—sharp steel pipes launched from hidden corners, slicing through the creature with brutal efficiency. The creature let out a strangled scream before collapsing into a heap, its lifeless body falling back into the darkness.
With a sharp twang, the steel wires sent the pipes flying, impaling the two leading Night Stalkers before they could react. In an instant, they were skewered, each one turned into a grotesque, steel-studded figure.
"Roar!" The sudden ambush caused the remaining Night Stalkers to hesitate, but fear didn't stop them. Seeing their fallen comrades only fueled their rage, and they charged forward.
The advancing horde triggered more traps as they moved, steel strings snapping through the air. Traps fired rapidly, cutting down Night Stalkers at the back exit and the broken wall. By the time they reached the factory, half of their number had already fallen. The workers, who had once feared these creatures above all else, now watched in awe as the Night Stalkers were cut down with surprising ease.
"Another one down!"
"Mr. Zack's traps really work!"
Their initial fear was replaced by excitement as the Night Stalkers fell one after another. But then—
"Roar!" A powerful howl rang out from the distance, silencing the workers' cheers. The Night Stalkers stopped charging blindly and began moving from different angles, using shadows and walls to avoid the traps.
"Ego, did you pinpoint the source?" Zack asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Sir, I can only approximate the location at 11 o'clock," Ego replied. The leader was too far away to locate exactly.
"Understood," Zack murmured, shelving his plan to confront the leader directly. With the Night Stalkers now splitting up to avoid the traps, he had to act fast.
"Ego, turn on the lights!" he ordered.
Click! Click! Click!
High-power floodlights suddenly blazed to life, flooding the area with intense light. The steel plant and its surroundings lit up like midday.
The Night Stalkers howled in agony as the blinding light hit them. Their shrieks filled the air as they clawed at their eyes, disoriented and panicked. Even Zack, encased in his armor, squinted against the brightness. The workers shielded their eyes, waiting for the Night Stalkers to adjust.
"Now!" Zack's voice crackled over the intercom. "Take them down!"