The sizzling rift sounded like a broken electrical circuit. The sound overpowered any conversation the boys attempted to have. The road was littered with abandoned vehicles stuck in traffic. Ray kept looking inside till he found one with a dropped key on the floor. He waved over Anand who stepped into the driver’s seat and tried the key.

When the car started, Ray took the passenger seat and quickly put on his seatbelt. He took a deep breath and gripped the door tightly.

“I hate this part,” he said.

“It’s faster than walking,” Anand replied candidly. “Not to mention the GDF will write it off as rift related,”

“Including how you drive?”

Anand revved the engine in response and slammed the accelerator. As they got deeper in the city the sounds of machines were louder than the rift. The BEARs that were honored on the Cahlgren University campus roamed around the supposedly empty city. Large claws protruded from the massive legs of the metal plated behemoths. Guns, shields, and other weaponry were connected to the back of the robot’s body. Its head had a long snout and small rounded ears.

“Battle Enhanced Autonomous Robots. You think they came up with the name first or the acronym BEAR first?” Ray asked, trying to lighten the mood.

“Acronyms first,” Anand replied. He didn’t think about the response. All that was on Anand’s mind was his blossoming plan.

He focused on the road but couldn’t help eyeing the rift. A massive claw and scaled hand emerged from within. The BEARs immediately started firing at it. However, the creature was undeterred. It had the enormous head of what looked like a snake with gazelle horns. Its body had patches of fur interspersed among the scales that glowed a deep green. The BEARs focused fire on the head and the beast roared in retaliation, shaking the city. It stepped out of the rift and the machines backed away while continuing their onslaught. Even though the BEARs were half the size of the Riftwalker, it easily grabbed one like a toddler would a toy and tossed it aside. The mechanized beast flipped in the air and landed back on its feet before skidding to a stop.

The road shook violently and Anand lost control of his vehicle. It skidded off the road and slammed into a building. The impact rocked the car but the passengers remained unscathed. Anand tried to start it but the engine sputtered into silence. He grumbled and signaled Ray to leave the car.

“Shit,” Ray said at the sight of the damaged vehicle. “What do we do?”

“We continue on foot. I’m more worried about Sonia than a random car,” Anand replied. “Come on.”

“And what about the Basilisk? Do you think it’s going to just ignore us?”

“Basilisk? That’s not an official name, is it?” Anand asked.

“No! Do you really want me to explain?” Ray asked incredulously and flailed his arm. “Now?”

“Right.”

Anand pulled Ray into a nearby store. It was in disarray from the repeated earthquakes with goods and shelving littering the floor. Anand immediately grabbed two wooden planks and threw one to Ray.

“What good is this against that?” Ray asked and pointed his plank at the foot of the giant beast. “The Basilisk will stomp us before we even poke it.”

Anand remembered the rumor about the smaller creatures that accompanied Riftwalkers. If the GDF covered up the article, it had to be true. There was a chance one was in the city at this very moment. It would be better to have some sort of defense than to engage it barehanded.

“Just in case,” Anand replied while quickly pulling out his phone and checking the tracker. “Sonia should be a couple blocks from here; in the library. I told her to stay put.”

The duo stayed close to each other, watching the empty streets for suspicious movement. Anand didn’t want to get caught by either a monster or the GDF. He wanted to find Sonia before being forced back to the hangar. If this was the only mission Anand ever got to participate in, he was determined to succeed. Not to mention, leaving Sonia behind wasn’t an option.

The boys watched the windows and once the coast was clear, ran across the street. They wrapped around the next building, staying close to the wall. Even moving along the structure was troublesome with the ground shaking from every step the Riftwalker took.

“Wait!” Ray commanded and signalled to stop.

He pointed to the Basilisk which was walking in their direction. A BEAR barrelled towards it with heavy steps. It blasted the beast with a large flamethrower affixed atop it. The Basilisk recoiled and slashed at the machine. Its frontal shield took the brunt of the hit and was torn away. Luckily, the main body was relatively unscathed. The moment the Riftwalker turned away towards another BEAR, Anand and Ray dashed across the street and leapt behind the wall.

“Why is it in Madison of all places?” Ray asked while running to the door of the library.

Anand got inside, slammed the door behind them and said, “I’m not sure. Riftwalkers come to cities to look for resources but this thing-”

“The Basilisk." Ray interrupted.

“The Basilisk, whatever. It’s not going towards the power plant or any of the labs in the city like they usually do. ”

“Well, I think it’s pretty far now,” Ray said, peering out through a window. “Let’s find Sonia and get out of here!”

The boys approached a monitor in front of the doors that displayed a map of the downtown central library. It spanned three floors with a wall of windows on one side. Part of the ceiling was torn off from the gravitational pull of the rift. Broken shelves strained to remain upright and books were strewn across the floor. Shattered bulbs hung precariously overhead with loose wires barely holding them aloft. The only light in the library was from faded sunlight eking through dulled windows.

“Sonia!” Ray yelled through the echoing building.

Anand smacked Ray lightly with his wooden plank.

“Shut up!” he barked. “We need to be careful. Set up your earbuds.”

Ray fished a pair out of his pocket and asked, “Why?”

Anand was sure it was obvious. He and Ray could split up to look for Sonia and easily communicate on the phone. There was less risk of being found because of careless yelling.

“Communication,” Anand said. “I’m calling you.”

“Right. Be careful and don’t do anything rash… again,” Ray said while fiddling with his single earbud. “Can you hear me?” He whispered into the mic.

“Loud and clear,” Anand replied as he walked away. “I’ll head up.”

Ray split off into one of the side rooms on the first floor whispering, “Sonia, you here? It’s Me. Ray.”

He sounded pretty nonchalant for someone in his situation. Anand wasn’t sure if it was calmness or stupidity. He turned his attention to the stairwell and slowly made his way up. He was acutely aware of every sound around him. But the Riftwalker stomping around the city made it harder to discern the difference between footsteps and toppling bookshelves. Anand kept one hand on a wall to steady his footing while the beast outside shook the ground. He gripped his plank tightly while wiping the sweat from his brow. With cautious movements, he stepped around a broken light fixture that had crushed a table when it fell. Even in the darkness it was clear no one was nearby. Walking slowly to the hall, Anand heard footsteps ahead of him.

“Ray? Where are you?” Anand whispered.

“I’m on the east side of the first floor,” Ray replied.

Anand heard more shuffling ahead of him and picked up the pace. He hugged the wall and peered into the room. To his left was a desk with a cabinet behind it. The rest of the room was occupied with several tables covered in books left behind from before the evacuation. A teenage girl in overalls was staring at one of the shelves at the back of the room.

“Sonia?” Anand asked quietly. She had scrapes on her arms and legs likely from running through the city.

Anand walked towards her.

“Found Sonia! Going to the stairs,” Ray yelled over the phone.

Anand felt a chill run down his spine and froze as he stared at the girl in front of him. She turned to face him. He shrieked at the grotesque sight. What Anand had mistaken for wounds on the girl’s arms were large cavities where muscles should be. The creature’s skin was dehydrated and sank into itself. Instead of eyes it had cavernous black pits with small white dots that looked like full moons in the vastness of space. Anand whimpered as the creature’s throat cracked trying to form words. Slowly raising the plank like a bat, Anand stepped backwards. His breath staggered and legs shook with each step. The creature followed and tilted its head.

“What’s... wrong?” It asked. The creature’s voice was high pitched like Sonia’s but beneath was something sinister; something unknown.

It leapt at Anand and swiped at his weapon. He held the plank tightly and tried to remain steady while blocking the attack. Unfortunately, the sweat on his hands loosened his grip. A single push from the monster forced the plank out of Anand’s hands. He squealed and backed away, tripping over fallen debris. As he fell prone the creature sauntered towards him and knelt down. Its face started to melt, bones bent and broke, and Sonia’s face dissipated and morphed. The creature was amused by its body growing taller and hair falling out and regrowing shorter. Anand recognized the new form as a dark reflection of himself.

With its long nails outstretched, the monster lifted Anand’s glasses off his face and awkwardly wore them. It recoiled in disgust and threw them aside, shattering them against rubble. Even with blurry vision, Anand could still make out the shape in front of him. Though the creature’s disgusting scent alone revealed its location.

“Anand! Roll right!” Ray yelled.

Anand didn’t have the luxury to figure out where Ray shouted from. Instinctively, Anand rolled and just barely avoided being crushed by a toppled shelf that landed on his assailant. The creature started to move the wooden planks off as Ray grabbed Anand’s arm and pulled him to his feet.

“Run!” Anand yelled.

Sonia was waiting in the hall in front of them. Anand hesitated for a second till her face came into focus. Streaks traced her face where tears flowed. Anand quickly grabbed her hand before continuing his sprint.

Anand commanded through grit teeth. “Keep your eyes forward and don’t slow down, got it?”

“Okay!” Sonia said, clutching her brother’s hand.

Anand heard the shelf break behind them and felt the glare of the monster. He ran back to the stairs and hesitated as they got closer. Squinting his eyes, he realized that the stairs had begun to crumble from the tremors outside. Anand did his best to take light footsteps and run down but as he reached the first floor, the stairs crumbled. Ray leapt over the gap that formed and landed heavily next to the others. He turned back and was beset upon by the monster. It knocked Ray over and clawed at his blocking arm.

“Get out of here!” He yelled as his blood sprayed his face.

Anand hesitated, then nodded. He dashed to the door and ran outside. But something stopped him from running any further.

He pushed Sonia out and commanded, “Go to the store over there and hide! We’ll come get you after I get Ray.”

Without waiting for a response, he rushed back inside and grabbed the first loose plank he found. Anand sprinted at the creature, yelling to get its attention. It slowed its onslaught and looked up to see the plank sailing towards it. As the plank made contact, Anand punched the back of it, forcing it further into the creature’s face and shoving it off Ray.

“Dammit! Why is it always my arms?” Ray swore. Blood dripped from cuts on his forearm but aside from the wounds, he seemed okay. “Why didn’t you run?”

“You’re here because of me. I wasn’t gonna let you die!” Anand replied shakily as he frantically searched for the creature. He heard cackling from above and saw the monster hanging from the railing of the second floor.

“You’re so resilient,” it croaked.

The creature’s mannerisms and voice were now closer to Anand’s. This transformation was far more accurate than Sonia’s. That made it all the more frightening. The creature dropped down and at the moment of impact lunged at Anand, knocking him to the floor. He scrambled to his feet and put up his fists. It hurt to breathe but there was no chance to rest. The only thing keeping him up was adrenaline.

Ray threw a book to distract the monster. The second it turned he yelled, “Run!”

He and Anand were almost to the exit when the creature leapt over them and blocked the path. Almost in unison, the boys stumbled backwards. There were no more options. Even if they could reach the other exit this thing would block the way.

Just as it tried to attack, a shot resounded through the air. The creature yelled and leapt away revealing the attacker. An older gentleman clad in a GDF issued blazer and a pair of sleek glasses sauntered through the door. It was far from the standard equipment agents wore on the battlefield.

“You brats alive?” He barked while cocking his rifle. His voice was aggressive but calm.

“Yes! Anand, we’re saved.” Ray cheered and finally lost his strength. Anand scrambled to grab him and acted as a crutch.

“There’s a BEAR outside waiting for you. Your sister’s in there. Get out of here!” the man commanded.

He guarded the door while Anand and Ray ran outside to two more agents guarding Sonia. They were wearing armored pilot suits with helmets hiding their identities. It was the expected outfit for field agents. Next to them was a BEAR laying on its stomach with the side open, revealing a doorway.

“Oh geez. Gale, get the med kit ready,” one of the agents commanded while the other took Ray inside. “Are you the only ones who were here?” he asked Anand who nodded in response. “Great. Alec, we’re clear. Get back here.”

Alec shook his head and replied, “Head back without me, Conrad. I’m gonna send this thing back to the rift.”

Conrad didn’t get a chance to reply before Alec shut the library door.

“Dammit. Boss, what do we do?” Conrad asked another agent sitting at the central command seat of the BEAR.

Boss answered, “Keep the BEAR open. Give him five minutes. If he hasn’t returned by then, we will depart.”

“We can’t just leave him in there!” Anand protested.

Conrad shook his head. “Alec will be fine. Our goal right now is to keep you safe.”

“He wasn’t wearing pilot suits like you!”

“He will be fine,” Conrad insisted.

“He’s in there because of us. We can’t just leave him!” Anand insisted.

He brushed past Conrad and ran out of the BEAR. Conrad reached to stop the boy but hesitated. Anand took the chance to burst back into the library.

The overwhelming scent of fire hung in the air. There were sounds of struggling coming from above him. Anand looked up to see holes in the ceiling. But he couldn’t see the fighters. It sounded like Alec was struggling to hold his ground against the creature. Anand gave himself a second to think. They just had to scare the thing away. He looked around and grabbed a splintered plank.

Anand ran upstairs and found Alec crouched behind a bookcase, reloading his rifle. Within an instant he turned and aimed at the boy.

“You were just over there. How fast are you?” Alec asked.

“Please don’t kill me!” Anand said and put his hands up. “You just saved me.”

Alec took a second to examine Anand. The agent swore under his breath and pulled Anand into cover.

“If I had finished reloading, you’d be dead,” Alec said.

“We should run,” Anand pleaded. “What’s the point in fighting that thing?”

Alec sighed. “The sooner it leaves, the sooner the rift closes. Do you know how to fight?”

“I’ve taken classes.”

“Weekend classes or training?”

“Where does CahlU fall on that scale?” Anand asked. Even though he was panicking, he couldn’t help but feel a little smug.

“Perfect,” Alec said, “You don’t have to hit the thing but grab the glasses that are over there.”

He pointed across the room to the glasses on the floor. Anand could barely see them with his fuzzy vision.

“You asked if I could fight,” Anand said.

“Dodging is part of that,” Alec replied dryly as he finished reloading his rifle.

Alec was right and Anand wanted to get out of here. If getting the glasses was the only way, he was all for it. He took a deep breath and hatched a plan.

Without saying a word, Anand threw his plank over the bookcase. The creature moved out of the shadows just enough for Alec to get a clear shot. Simultaneously, Anand ran for the glasses. He tripped over a book and crawled to get a hold of his target. Once the glasses were in his grasp he looked back to Alec who was going toe to toe with the creature. It looked even more like Anand now; no wonder Alec was confused. Not only that but the creature was getting stronger. Where once Alec had easily kicked it away, now he was struggling. It seemed the more the creature got used to its form, the more power it could draw out.

Alec held back the creature as best he could and yelled, “Kid, put on the glasses!”

“What?” Anand asked, taken aback. “What good will that do?”

Alec punched the creature but couldn’t break free of its grasp.

“I don’t have time to explain! If you can fight, put them on and say ‘unsheath.’”

Anand was hesitant but slowly put on the glasses. To his surprise, his vision was clear. He touched the unbelievably thin lenses. Alec loudly gurgled, catching Anand’s attention.

“Um… uh…” Anand stammered.

“Un… sheath…” Alec spat out while the creature choked him.

“Right.”