The team worked through the night, setting up their trap.
Jian, using his shadows, reinforced the school’s security, creating barriers that would funnel the creatures into a specific corridor. Alex, with her melodic voice, set up sound devices that would amplify her siren song. They would lure the creatures in, but this time, they wouldn’t have the luxury of escaping.
Zariel’s job was to destroy any remaining traces of their victims. He set up flames—nothing too obvious, just enough to make sure the creatures couldn’t leave a trail behind them.
Danial was to act as bait. This was the hardest part for him—he hated the thought of being used like this, but he knew it was necessary. He would play the role of the vulnerable human, drawing the creatures in, all while the rest of the team prepared for the real fight.
Naurah’s job was to make sure everything ran smoothly. Her magic would protect them from whatever otherworldlyattacks the creatures might throw at them. She’d learned the hard way that these monsters weren’t to be underestimated.
The morning of the trap, the team was ready. They’d taken every precaution they could think of. The school, once bustling with students, now felt eerie, almost abandoned. Every shadow seemed to hold a threat, every corner a hidden monster.
"You ready, Danial?" Jian asked, his voice a little too casual.
Danial gave him a half-smile, his nerves still on edge. "Yeah. I’ve done worse."
"That’s reassuring," Zariel grinned. "If by worse, you mean getting thrown into a pit of fire."
"Actually," Danial said, "I’d rather face fire right now."
"Same," Zariel muttered, stretching his arms. "But let’s get this over with, huh?"
Naurah checked the perimeter one last time. "Okay. Here we go. Stay sharp, everyone. We’ve prepared for this, but we can’t take anything for granted."
And then, with the soft hum of magic in the air, they were ready.
The first sign that their trap was working came when the lights flickered in the hall. Then, one by one, the students around the school began acting strangely—pausing mid-sentence, staring off into space, their eyes blank, as if they were waiting for something.
Danial’s heart hammered in his chest. He could feel them—feel the creatures coming, drawn to him like a moth to a flame.
He swallowed hard and forced himself to remain still. This was his role. He couldn’t lose his nerve.
From behind him, Alex’s voice broke the tension, soft and melodic. The sound reverberated through the halls, cutting through the air like a knife. The students around him shivered, some visibly unsettled, but the creatures? They were drawn in.
"It’s working," Naurah said, her voice low but steady. "Stay in position, everyone."
Danial took a step forward, his eyes scanning the hall. The darkness seemed to deepen around him. He could hear the sound of footsteps, low and almost imperceptible. He wasn’t alone anymore.
The creatures were closing in.
Suddenly, a hiss sounded from the shadows. A figure—no, two—emerged, its form flickering like a bad television signal. It was like watching reality itself warp. The creatures’ faces were distorted, barely human—if they had ever been human at all. Their eyes gleamed with malice, and their mouths stretched into grotesque, unnatural grins.
Danial didn’t flinch. He couldn’t afford to.
"It’s time," he said, his voice shaking with controlled determination. "Bring it on."
And the battle began.
The air around them seemed to hum with an eerie energy, thick with tension. Danial stood at the forefront, his fists clenched and ready. Behind him, the others were poised for action, each of them prepared in their own way.
The creatures, their forms constantly shifting and warping, were unlike anything the team had ever encountered. They seemed to flicker, as though they weren't entirely of this world, their distorted bodies twisting in unnatural ways. The longer they remained, the more disorienting it became, like the laws of reality were being bent around them.
Alex’s siren song cut through the air, a soft, haunting melody that echoed in the hallways. The students around them began to act strangely, their eyes vacant, as though the song had pulled them into a trance. It was working. The creatures were coming.
Danial could feel it, the pressure building. It wasn’t just the creatures’ presence that weighed on him; it was the sense of something bigger, something more dangerous, lurking behind them. He wasn’t sure if he was prepared for whatever came next, but he knew one thing for certain—he wouldn’t back down.
A flicker in the corner of his vision made him snap to attention. From the shadows, two creatures emerged, their faces twisted with grotesque, alien grins. The air seemed to vibrate around them as they stepped forward, their movements jerky and unnatural.
"Danial," Naurah’s voice rang out, steady and calm. "We need them to come closer. Wait for it."
Danial nodded but didn't take his eyes off the approaching figures. His heart was pounding in his chest, his instincts screaming at him to move, to fight, to shift. But he held himself in check. Not yet.
The creatures took another step forward, their dark, hollow eyes fixed on him. They seemed to be drawn to his presence, as if they could sense something in him—something primal. A low growl rumbled in Danial’s chest, but he quickly suppressed it. The last thing they needed was for him to lose control before they were ready.
Alex’s song continued to echo through the corridors, a lure that seemed to weave around the creatures like a snare. They couldn’t resist it. The song made them weaker, slowed their movements, but it didn’t stop them. They were still coming.
"Now," Naurah whispered, and in an instant, everything changed.