The Long 7 Days

The forest thinned as the trio made their way down the ridge, the dense canopy giving way to patches of open sky. The sunrise was muted by thick clouds rolling in, casting the landscape in hues of gray. It had been hours since they left the bloody scene behind, yet the memory lingered like a phantom. Alex's mind was in overdrive, dissecting every detail of the attack.

The creatures' glowing eyes.

Their relentless pursuit.

The intelligence behind their movements.

They were more than predators—more than apex beasts. They were something else entirely. Something that defied natural order.

Jack trudged behind Alex and Eve, his movements heavy and unsteady. His breathing was labored, each step a struggle as if the weight of the world pressed against him. Alex glanced back, noticing his state.

"Jack," Alex called, his voice sharp enough to break through Jack's daze. "We'll take a break soon, but you've got to push a little longer."

Jack stopped in his tracks, slumping against a tree. "I can't," he said, his voice cracking. "I can't keep doing this. Those things… they're not supposed to exist! What if more come? What if—"

"Jack." Alex stepped closer, his tone soft but commanding. "Look at me."

Jack's wide, panicked eyes met Alex's calm, steady gaze.

"I know it's hard," Alex said. "We're all scared. But fear won't get us through this. We've faced worse odds before, and we made it out. You can do this—you have to do this."

Eve joined them, placing a hand on Jack's shoulder. "Alex is right. You've held your own so far, and that's no small feat. Rest when we stop, but right now, we need to keep moving."

Jack exhaled shakily, nodding. He pushed off the tree, his rifle held with trembling hands but his resolve slightly stronger. Alex gave him a curt nod and resumed leading the way.

An hour later, they stumbled upon a small clearing nestled between two low hills. It wasn't much—just an open patch of grass surrounded by trees—but it offered a brief reprieve from the oppressive forest. Alex scanned the area, his instincts honed to detect danger. Satisfied that they weren't being followed, he signaled for the group to stop.

"We'll rest here," he said, dropping his pack onto the ground. "Eve, keep watch. Jack, take a seat and eat something."

Jack collapsed onto a fallen log, pulling out a ration pack with shaky hands. He chewed mechanically, his eyes darting nervously to the shadows around them. Eve took up position on the edge of the clearing, her bow drawn as she scanned the tree line.

Alex knelt beside his pack, pulling out a small notepad and a stub of pencil. He began sketching a rough map of their surroundings, marking the ridge they'd left behind and the direction they were heading.

"We need a plan," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "Somewhere to regroup. Somewhere safe."

Eve glanced over her shoulder. "Any ideas?"

"There's a river south of here," Alex said. "If we follow it downstream, it might lead to a town or settlement. Worst case, it'll give us access to water and fish."

Eve nodded. "Better than wandering aimlessly."

Jack swallowed the last of his ration, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "And what if there's nothing? No town, no people, just more of those… things?"

Alex didn't answer immediately. He looked at Jack, his expression unreadable. "Then we adapt. We've done it before. We'll do it again."

As they prepared to move on, Eve stiffened, her sharp eyes narrowing as she scanned the horizon.

"Something's coming," she said, her voice low but urgent.

Alex was on his feet in an instant, knife in hand. "What do you see?"

Eve didn't reply immediately. She tilted her head, listening to the faint rustle of leaves and the distant snap of a twig. "Not sure. But it's moving fast."

Jack's eyes widened, his grip on his rifle tightening. "More of those things?"

"Possibly," Alex said, his tone calm but firm. "Get ready."

They moved quickly, positioning themselves behind cover. Alex crouched low behind a cluster of bushes, his eyes trained on the direction of the sound. Eve took up a position in the trees, her bow drawn, while Jack huddled behind a large rock, his rifle aimed and ready.

The forest fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Then, without warning, a figure burst into the clearing.

It wasn't a beast. It was a man.

He stumbled into view, his clothes tattered and his face streaked with dirt and blood. He clutched a crude spear in one hand, his movements frantic as he scanned his surroundings. When his eyes landed on Alex, Eve, and Jack, he froze.

"Don't shoot!" he shouted, his voice hoarse and desperate. "Please, I'm not a threat!"

Alex emerged cautiously from his cover, his knife still in hand. "Who are you?"

The man lowered his spear, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. "Name's Cole. I've been running for hours—those things… they're everywhere!"

Alex's eyes narrowed. "What things?"

"The beasts," Cole said, his voice trembling. "Big, fast, and deadly. They've been hunting in packs. They killed my entire group."

Eve stepped forward, her expression cold and skeptical. "How did you survive?"

Cole hesitated, his grip tightening on the spear. "I got lucky. They were distracted—something bigger spooked them. I ran and didn't look back."

"Something bigger?" Jack asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Cole nodded. "Yeah. I didn't get a good look, but it made those things look small. Whatever it is, it's heading this way."

Alex exchanged a glance with Eve. The news was grim, but it wasn't entirely unexpected. They'd already suspected the creatures weren't the apex predators of this territory.

"We need to move," Alex said finally. "Now."

Cole looked at him, desperation in his eyes. "Take me with you. I can fight—I'll pull my weight, I swear!"

Alex hesitated. Trusting strangers was risky, especially in a world where desperation often led to betrayal. But leaving Cole behind felt wrong, especially knowing what was coming.

Eve stepped closer to Alex, lowering her voice. "Your call. But if he slows us down, we can't afford to carry dead weight."

Alex studied Cole for a moment, weighing his options. Finally, he nodded. "Fine. You can come. But if you step out of line, you're on your own."

Cole nodded fervently, relief washing over his face. "Thank you. I won't let you down."

The group moved quickly, following the path Alex had mapped toward the river. Cole proved surprisingly capable, his movements efficient and his spear always at the ready. He was clearly used to surviving in harsh conditions, though his eyes betrayed the deep scars left by whatever he had witnessed.

The forest grew denser as they descended into a valley. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and moss, and the faint sound of rushing water grew louder with every step.

"We're close," Alex said, his tone steady but urgent. "Keep your guard up."

The river came into view just as the sun began to set, its waters dark and swift. The group stopped on the bank, exhaustion etched into their faces. Alex scanned the area, his instincts on high alert.

"We camp here," he said finally. "Eve, set up traps around the perimeter. Jack, gather firewood but keep it small—we don't want too much smoke."

"What about me?" Cole asked, gripping his spear.

Alex looked at him, his expression unreadable. "Help Jack. And stay close."

As the group worked to set up camp, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The shadows seemed deeper here, the sounds of the forest carrying an ominous weight.

When the camp was finally secure, Alex sat by the fire, his knife in hand as he sharpened the blade. Eve joined him, her eyes scanning the darkness beyond the firelight.

"You think he's telling the truth?" she asked quietly, nodding toward Cole.

"About the beasts? Probably," Alex said. "About everything else? Time will tell."

Eve nodded, her expression thoughtful. "If something bigger is out there, we're going to need more than a knife and a bow."

Alex glanced at her, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "We've made it this far. We'll figure it out."

As the fire crackled and the forest hummed with unseen life, Alex felt the weight of the journey ahead pressing down on him. The world was a brutal, unforgiving place, but he wasn't about to back down.

The hunt continued. And Alex Kane was ready.