The Long 7 Days

The night descended on the camp with a quiet ferocity, the darkness pressing in like an uninvited guest. The fire cast flickering shadows against the towering trees, their skeletal branches swaying slightly in the faint wind. Alex sat cross-legged near the dwindling flames, his knife in hand as he methodically cleaned the blade. Eve perched on a rock a few paces away, her bow resting across her lap, her sharp eyes scanning the perimeter.

Cole was huddled near the fire, his spear propped against his knee. Jack sat farther back, his rifle balanced awkwardly across his thighs, his face pale but determined. The group was silent, save for the occasional crackle of the fire and the faint rush of the nearby river.

Alex broke the quiet, his voice low but firm. "We need to establish a watch rotation. These woods aren't safe, and I don't trust what we can't see."

Eve nodded, already standing. "I'll take the first watch."

"I'll take the second," Alex said, glancing at Cole and Jack. "The two of you handle the third. Together."

Jack frowned but didn't protest, while Cole simply nodded, his expression unreadable.

Eve moved silently around the camp, her steps deliberate and light, leaving barely a trace. She disappeared into the darkness, the soft hum of the forest swallowing her as she vanished from view. Alex trusted her instincts; she was the best scout he'd ever known. He leaned back slightly, watching the fire's embers dance in the cooling air.

Jack shifted uneasily. "Do you think those things are still following us?"

"They're out there," Alex said simply. "Whether they're following us specifically is another question."

Cole leaned forward, his face partially illuminated by the firelight. "They are. Trust me, they don't just stop. If they're not here now, they will be. That's how they work."

Alex's gaze sharpened. "What do you know about them?"

Cole hesitated, his fingers fidgeting with the shaft of his spear. "Not much. Just what I've seen. They hunt in packs, but it's not random. They move like they're being directed, like they have a purpose."

"Directed by what?" Jack asked, his voice tight.

Cole's eyes darkened. "I don't know. But I've seen things—shadows bigger than any beast I've ever heard of. Whatever's behind them, it's not something we can fight."

Alex frowned, his mind racing. The idea of these creatures being more than mindless predators was unsettling. But he couldn't afford to let fear dictate his actions. "We've fought everything else. We'll fight this, too."

Eve returned just before midnight, her face grim. "The traps are set. Nothing's triggered them yet, but I don't like how quiet it is out there."

"Quiet isn't always bad," Jack mumbled, though his tone lacked conviction.

"It is here," Eve said curtly, sitting down beside Alex. She kept her bow close, her hand resting lightly on its grip.

Alex stood and stretched, the muscles in his back and shoulders taut from tension. "I'll take over. Get some rest."

Eve didn't argue. She laid down on her bedroll, her bow still within arm's reach. Jack and Cole exchanged uneasy glances but settled into their positions. Alex moved to the edge of the camp, his eyes scanning the darkness beyond the firelight.

The river was a faint silver ribbon in the distance, its steady rush the only sound in the oppressive silence. Alex's hand rested on his knife, his instincts on high alert. He had learned long ago to trust his gut, and right now, it was screaming at him.

The sound came softly at first—a faint ripple, like something large moving just beneath the surface of the water. Alex stiffened, his eyes narrowing as he stared toward the river. The moonlight glinted off the water's surface, but nothing was visible. He didn't move, his breath slow and controlled, as he strained to hear.

Then, it came again. Closer.

Alex moved silently back to the fire, crouching beside Eve. He touched her shoulder lightly, and her eyes snapped open instantly, her hand going to her bow. "What is it?" she whispered.

"Something in the river," Alex replied, his voice barely audible. "I heard it moving."

Eve was on her feet in an instant, her bow drawn. Alex motioned for her to follow, and they crept toward the riverbank, their movements synchronized and soundless. Behind them, Jack and Cole stirred, the tension in the camp palpable.

The river seemed calm at first glance, its surface reflecting the faint light of the moon. But as Alex and Eve scanned the area, they noticed subtle disturbances—ripples that moved against the current, patterns that shouldn't exist.

"There," Eve whispered, pointing to a dark shape gliding just beneath the water's surface. It was massive, its outline barely visible in the murky depths.

Alex's grip on his knife tightened. "Stay low. We don't know what we're dealing with yet."

As they watched, the shape moved closer to the bank, its form becoming clearer. It was unlike anything Alex had ever seen—long and sinuous, with fins that sliced through the water silently. Its eyes glowed faintly, twin orbs of eerie light that sent a chill down his spine.

Eve nocked an arrow, her bowstring taut. "Do we engage?"

"Not yet," Alex said. "Let's see what it does."

The creature stopped just short of the riverbank, its glowing eyes scanning the shore. For a moment, Alex thought it might retreat, but then it surged forward, its massive body breaching the water. Its head was sleek and reptilian, with jaws lined with jagged teeth that gleamed in the moonlight.

Eve loosed her arrow without hesitation. The projectile struck the creature just below its eye, eliciting a guttural roar. It thrashed violently, its tail whipping through the water and sending a spray of droplets into the air.

"Fall back!" Alex shouted, motioning for Eve to retreat.

They scrambled up the bank as the creature lunged after them, its powerful limbs propelling it onto the shore. Its body was covered in slick, armored scales that shimmered darkly, and its movements were unnervingly fast for its size.

Cole and Jack were on their feet, their weapons ready. "What the hell is that?!" Jack shouted, his voice rising in panic.

"Focus!" Alex barked. "Aim for the head or joints—any weak points!"

Cole charged forward, his spear aimed at the creature's neck. He drove the weapon into its side, the sharpened tip piercing the scales but failing to penetrate deeply. The creature roared, swinging its massive head toward him, but Cole rolled out of the way just in time.

Jack fired his rifle, the shot striking the creature's shoulder. It staggered but didn't fall, its glowing eyes now fixed on him. Alex took advantage of the distraction, lunging forward and driving his knife into the base of its skull. The blade sank deep, and the creature let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing.

The camp was eerily silent in the wake of the battle, the only sound the labored breathing of the survivors. The creature lay motionless, its massive form partially submerged in the river. Blood seeped into the water, staining it a deep crimson.

Alex knelt beside the body, inspecting the scales and the strange, luminescent patterns on its skin. "This isn't just some mutated animal," he said, his tone grim. "This thing was engineered."

"Engineered by who?" Eve asked, her voice tight.

Alex shook his head. "I don't know. But if there's one, there's more."

Cole sat down heavily, his spear resting across his knees. "This is what I was talking about. These things—they don't act alone."

Jack was pale, his hands trembling as he reloaded his rifle. "We can't stay here. Not after this."

Alex stood, his gaze hard. "Agreed. We follow the river at first light. Whatever's out there, we're not sticking around to find out."

As the group settled in for what little remained of the night, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that they were on borrowed time. The world was changing, evolving into something darker and more dangerous. But he wasn't about to let it break him.

"We'll find answers," he said quietly to Eve as she took her position for the next watch. "And when we do, we'll be ready."

Eve nodded, her expression unreadable. "We always are."

Alex sat by the fire, sharpening his knife as the first hints of dawn began to creep over the horizon. The hunt continued, and so did his resolve. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he would face them head-on.

The world had its monsters, but Alex Kane was ready to fight.