I grit my teeth and stumbled back onto my feet.

The thing also stumbled as it regained its balance, turning itself around to face us again. Before it fully turned, I managed to notice that there was a weird hole on its back, with round lips surrounding it. Was that where it sucked in the air?

"Did you see that hole on its back?" I shouted to Jared.

"Yeah."

"If there's anywhere I'd shoot on it, I think that would be the best place to try."

"Yeah, I think you're right, but... it's not blocking the door anymore!"

I blinked. Right. We didn't actually have to fight the damn thing, we could just get the hell out of here. Assuming there was a way out. Its charge had actually made the situation more favourable for us.

As we turned to run towards the door, I heard the sucking noise again. Shit, it was going to charge at us again, and this time it was obviously going to go for the door. Should we dive for it now?

Just as we were a foot away from the doorway, the loud burst of air echoed through the room again, this time followed by an explosive sound of flame as the oxygen expelled by the hole on its back fed the fire. Jared dove through the door but I couldn't make it in time. The creature just barely missed me as it crashed right into the doorway, completely blocking the way with its girth. I heard it heave and make a spitting noise, followed by a shout from Jared, "Shit! It got my hand... it's stuck to the gun. Shit... Markus!"

The flames were spreading so that they covered about half of the room now. The creature pulled itself out from the doorway and faced me, its lardy body jiggling and squirming. I tried to circle around it but felt the intense heat from the flames pushing against my back. The floor at the recording room all the way to about a quarter through the room I was in had completely collapsed into the basement and the rest of the floor was in the process of following it.

Shit... there really wasn't a way out of this situation, was there?

I didn't have a weapon. If a bullet couldn't do anything to its skin, I doubt my bare hands would be any use at all.

The thing "looked" down at me with its fat-fold face, its mouth watered as it snapped open and close.

The flames were unbearable... it probably wouldn't even be a few seconds before the floor underneath me collapsed too.

Jessica... I'll probably be with you soon.

With you and the others who died.

"Markus!" Jared's desperate scream echoed from the other room.

Suddenly, Aaron's face flashed into my mind. My son... I can't leave my son alone! I heard the creature intake air again, it prepared itself to charge at me, which would send both of us into the flames.

I guess it was planning on a suicide attack.

Well then.... I suppose I'd have to risk everything too.