The Long 7 Days

The rhythmic tapping echoed through the ruin, each strike sharp and deliberate, as if a countdown were being marked. Alex crouched at the entrance, his knife gripped tightly, every muscle in his body coiled with tension. Eve crouched beside him, her bow drawn and an arrow nocked, while Jack and Cole huddled farther back, their faces pale in the dim firelight.

"That sound," Eve whispered, her voice tight, "it's deliberate. Someone—or something—wants us to hear it."

Alex nodded, his gaze fixed on the dark forest beyond the ruined walls. "It's bait. They want us to follow it."

Cole gripped his spear, his knuckles white. "Do we take the bait, or do we wait?"

Alex didn't answer immediately. He weighed the risks against the potential gain, his mind racing. The signal could lead to another ambush—or it could lead to answers. The markings on the wall, the abandoned supplies, the engineered creature from the night before—each was a piece of a puzzle he couldn't ignore.

"We move," Alex said finally, his voice firm. "But carefully. Eve and I will scout ahead. Cole, Jack—stay here. Hold the ruin. If anything comes while we're gone, defend it with everything you've got."

Jack hesitated, his hand trembling as he adjusted his grip on his rifle. "And if you don't come back?"

Alex turned, his gaze sharp. "Then you survive. You keep moving."

Alex and Eve slipped into the darkness, their movements silent as shadows. The tapping grew fainter as they moved, as though whatever was creating it sensed their approach and retreated deeper into the forest. The trees loomed tall and oppressive, their branches twisting together to form a dense canopy that blotted out the moonlight.

Eve glanced at Alex, her voice barely a whisper. "This feels wrong. Like we're being herded."

"I know," Alex replied, his knife glinting faintly as he moved. "But whoever—or whatever—is behind this, they know more than we do. And I need answers."

The ground beneath their feet was damp, the moss-covered roots and fallen leaves muffling their steps. Alex's eyes scanned the shadows, his every sense heightened. The tapping continued, uneven now, as if mocking their pursuit.

Eve suddenly raised her hand, signaling Alex to stop. She pointed ahead, where a faint glimmer of light flickered through the trees.

"Campfire," she whispered.

Alex nodded. "Stay low. We flank it."

They moved in tandem, circling the light with practiced precision. As they drew closer, the faint outline of a figure became visible—a solitary figure hunched over the fire, its movements jerky and unnatural.

The figure by the fire wore tattered clothing, its head tilted at an odd angle. It tapped a metal rod against a rock in a steady rhythm, its back turned to Alex and Eve. Something about its posture was off, as though it weren't fully aware of its own body.

Eve aimed her bow, her arrow trained on the figure. "What is that?" she murmured.

Alex moved closer, his knife ready. "Stay here. Cover me."

Eve hesitated but obeyed, her bowstring taut as Alex crept forward. He kept his movements slow, his breath controlled. As he approached, the figure suddenly stopped tapping. It froze, its head twitching slightly before it turned toward him.

Alex froze as well, his heart pounding. The figure's face was obscured by shadows, but its eyes glowed faintly, like the creature they had fought by the river.

"Human?" Alex whispered, more to himself than anyone else.

The figure twitched again, then let out a guttural snarl and lunged at him. Alex reacted instantly, dodging to the side and slashing with his knife. The blade bit into the figure's arm, and it recoiled, moving with an unnatural speed.

Eve's arrow flew past Alex, striking the figure in the chest. It staggered but didn't fall. Instead, it let out a high-pitched scream that echoed through the forest, a sound so unnatural it made Alex's blood run cold.

"Fall back!" Alex shouted, retreating toward Eve.

The scream acted as a signal. From the surrounding forest, shapes emerged—twisted, hunched forms that moved with a predatory grace. Their glowing eyes pierced the darkness, and their guttural growls filled the air.

Eve loosed another arrow, striking one of the creatures in the throat. It collapsed, writhing on the ground, but the others pressed forward.

"We're surrounded," Eve said, her voice steady despite the tension in her body.

"Keep moving!" Alex commanded. "Back to the ruin!"

They sprinted through the forest, the creatures pursuing them relentlessly. Alex slashed at one that got too close, his knife carving through its leathery skin. Eve fired arrow after arrow, each shot precise, but there were too many.

The ruin came into view, its broken walls silhouetted against the faint glow of their fire. Jack and Cole stood at the entrance, their weapons ready.

"Incoming!" Alex shouted as they burst through the trees.

Cole hurled his spear, impaling one of the creatures that had nearly reached Alex. Jack fired his rifle, the shots echoing through the forest as he took down two more. The creatures hesitated, their glowing eyes watching the group from the shadows.

Inside the ruin, the group regrouped, their breaths ragged and their bodies tense. The firelight cast flickering shadows on the walls, making the space feel smaller and more claustrophobic.

"What were those things?" Jack asked, his voice trembling.

"Not human," Eve said, cleaning the blood from her arrows. "Not fully, at least."

Cole retrieved his spear, his jaw clenched. "Whatever they are, they're not just animals. They're... controlled."

Alex leaned against the wall, his knife still in hand. "They're part of this. All of it. The creature in the river, the signals, the markings—someone's experimenting, and we're caught in the middle."

Jack swallowed hard. "So what do we do now?"

Alex stared into the fire, his mind working. "We stick to the map. Whatever's upstream, it's connected to this. We won't survive long if we keep running blind."

Eve nodded. "Agreed. But we need to be ready. This isn't just survival anymore—it's war."

The group spent the rest of the night fortifying the ruin as best they could. Alex and Cole worked together to create makeshift barricades using the debris scattered around the structure, while Eve and Jack scavenged for anything usable in the surrounding area.

The markings on the wall continued to haunt Alex. They felt deliberate, like pieces of a code meant to guide—or mislead—anyone who found them.

Eve approached him as he stared at the symbols. "What do you think they mean?"

Alex shook his head. "Could be directions. Or a warning. Either way, someone wanted them to be seen."

Eve placed a hand on his shoulder, her expression serious. "We'll figure it out. Together."

Alex met her gaze and nodded. "We will."

As dawn broke, the forest was eerily quiet. The group gathered their supplies, preparing to leave the ruin. But just as they were about to move out, the tapping sound returned.

This time, it was closer.

Alex froze, his hand tightening on his knife. The others looked at him, their faces pale with fear.

"They're toying with us," Cole said, his voice low. "Trying to break us."

"Let them try," Alex replied, his voice cold. "We're not breaking."

The group moved out, following the map toward the circled location upstream. The tapping followed them, a constant reminder that they were being watched.

Alex led the way, his eyes scanning the horizon. Whatever awaited them, he was ready. The world was relentless, but so was he.

And this time, he was determined to turn the hunt in his favor.