It was fast.

Faster than any zombie.

Faster than the ghouls I had faced.

If I was not already in a position ready to fight it would have killed me. I got my shield up to meet it. Just.

The blow was like nothing I had experienced before. My shield was rammed back with my arm into my body and I was thrown back. I came off my feet and landed hard on the ground winding me.

I was stunned by the speed and sheer force just unleashed. My body signalled its unhappiness with pain. Grave chill hit me like never before. It felt like I was in a blizzard. My insides were going numb from the cold and I was shaking. I had to get up!

I was “helped” here by my opponent. He grabbed my shield and dragged me up. I quickly found my feet. I found myself face to face with it. I am surprised as it does not attack me.

“Heed the call.” He was extremely close and I could smell a rotten stench as he spoke and a more subtle earthy smell.

“No.” I knew I had to refuse through chattering teeth. Anger was stirring within me fighting the cold.

Suddenly I was lurching around. I was airborne and hitting the ground before I could understand what was happening. My body rocked with the force of the impact. I rolled and was stopped by a gravestone. My head and sight were spinning make ill with vertigo. I had not let go of my axe thankfully.

I tried to get up and face him. But I could not due to cold and pain. I fell back down. I was just getting the focus back when my leg was grabbed. The grip was like a vice as it pulled. Pain surged as my leg was yanked. I was being pulled across the ground.

The creature dropped my leg and grabbed my front armour. I was physically hauled from the ground. Once again, I was face to face with him again. My feet are not fully attached to the ground. I took a desperate chance and stuck out my axe wildly.

As I swung my axe my arm was halted. My attack was blocked. My arm was in the vice grip of the creature’s other hand. I was shocked at how easily I was stopped.

I tried to move my arm but it was held solid. I strained but nothing. The creature looked to my arm and then back to me. I was being held up by just one of his arms the other had my arm. This was bad and getting worse for me.

It turned and I was once again airborne. The impact and follow on bouncing along the ground added to the increasing damage to my body. My axe was dropped. Looking around with blurring vision I could make it out. It was close by. I reached for it.

I struggled to stand again as the world was spinning again. I got up leaning heavily on a gravestone. I looked around and found the creature was walking towards me calmly.

I got to my feet. I faced it as it approached ready to fight as best I could. My head was still recovering from being thrown around but I was as ready as I could be. I was not sure if the world or I was swaying.

As he got into range, I launched forward with my shield leading. I was using the old tried and test tactic of a shield bash followed by an axe strike to the head. A classic for me.

I hit the thing in front of me and was stopped dead. My entire forward moment was gone. I saw a hand holding the top of my shield and looking down saw another. I quickly realised what had happened. He had caught me as I went forward bracing to stop me. I tried to pull back but was held firm. In desperation, I swung my axe in a vertical strike at its body.

The axe hit but did little damage. The blade hardly penetrated his body. This thing was as tough as it was strong. I pulled my axe and arm back to try to protect both.

He snarled in pain at this and then ripped my shield apart. The wood and steel protested at this but could not stop it. Splinters flew and some impacted against my faceplate. I was just too stunned to react. I was left with the middle third where the arm straps are located the rest were in each hand of the thing facing me. The only thing I could think was….

I am so FUCKED!

Rage surged within my chest. I had to act quickly and my anger helped get me moving. I attacked again this time with a horizontal strike aiming for its head. I had to gain the upper hand or I was dead.

Again, this thing moved quicker than I thought possible and dropped on part of my former shield and caught the axe as it approached the blade. The blade cut into its hand but nowhere near as deeply as it should have.

The blade was embedded in its hand. Normally it would have cleaved entirely or almost through. True the blade was not as sharp as it was because of use but the force of my blow and added effect of the gravity of the downward strike should have done the job.

Black blood was coming from the wound but not as profusely as I would have expected from a human. His facial expression was twisted into a snarl from pain or annoyance even a combination of both I could not tell.

It reached out with its other hand and grasped the handle shaft above my hand. Then yanked. My arm and shoulder sent waves of pain in response to this. It nimbly sidestepped as I fell forward with the force it excreted. I hit the ground hard and more pain wracked my abused body. I lost my axe as it was ripped from my hand before I fell. I landed face forward and quickly rolled onto my back trying to use what was left of my shield to protect me.

He was standing looming over me with my axe held in both hands. With a gleeful smile promptly broke the shaft in half and throw it away to either side. That was not a wooded shaft but a composite that was a hell of a lot stronger. That demonstrated how strong this thing was. I had to be smarter to win this.

I had no time to figure out how as again I was lifted up and physically thrown like I was nothing. Once more Terra Firma and I had an unpleasant meeting and this time my moment was stopped by colliding with a gravestone. My back was the main point of contact and I let out a moan of pain.

I tried to gather my focus to try to survive but it was getting harder. I could make out the blurry form walking towards me. I began to try to get up and move but my whole body was protesting and kept falling back down as I tried.

I was soon being lifted by it again. I quickly sought out the handle of my gladius blade. I found it. I and the creature were once again face to face. I drew my blade and thrust forward. The blade plunged into its body.

The creature screamed in pain and spun throwing me again. I lose hold of the blade as I am thrown.

I hit the ground hard. My left arm and shoulder take the bulk of the impact. I think I heard a crack. My vision turns white briefly and I am just able to stay conscious. The pain is intense and I quickly realise that I am now badly hurt from this impact. The arm is no longer working properly. I roll again to find the creature.

I turn to the location of the creature gritting my teeth from the pain. I can just make it out. The blade was embedded into the stomach but not as far as I hoped. Blood was staining steadily spreading downwards. It starts to withdraw the blade as I struggle to my feet. Looking around I notice that I am close to the slope that leads up to the church.

I quickly as I can move over to the wall and get across it. My arm is causing a lot of pain to the point it is drowning out the other injuries I probably have. I can taste blood in my mouth and my breathing is becoming harder. The cold from the grave chill is in my joints slowly further.

I keep moving and start the climb.

I don’t need to look back to know it is following. I have to keep it distracted as long as I can. I have to keep moving.

My plan is simple as it is. Get to the breach and try to stay alive as long as possible to attract everything left to me. It is the best I got.

Pain, cold and exhaustion are weighing me down making everything harder. I stumble serval times but remain upright as I continue to go up. My head is swimming and my vision is blurry.

I focus on moving.

As I climb the pain continues but helps focus my mind. My breath is still laboured. Internal injuries are a given at this point. I stumble to the path leading up. I follow it.

For the next few minutes, I continue as the church becomes visible even in the darkness. I hurriedly check what I have to use. I had four lite chemical light sticks at the start of the fight now I am down to one. Lost or crushed. My flare gun holster is empty. Lost somewhere back in the cemetery. My trench knife is still with me my last weapon.

I follow the path we took earlier around the church heading for the main door.

I look back and see that it is still following. The plan going well so far. Yea me!

I am staggering now badly holding my left arm with the right. I had not even attempted to remove the remains of my shield as my left had been not very responsive to commands. Only sending pain signals.

This helps keep my anger fuelled and allows me to move. Adrenaline is one hell of a drug!

I making to the doors. More blood is in my mouth and my breathing is getting a lot harder. I spit out or cough out some as I move, I cannot be sure anymore. My vision is still wobbly. I realise that my faceplate is gone.

I get to the still open door and move inside. It is dark here far darker than outside. But I realise that there is a light. This is the first time I have seen a void breach in darkness. It is giving off a faint blue/green light that was only just lighting the area around it.

I stagger towards it.

I only move a few steps when a powerful blow hits the back of my left leg just above the knee. This sends me sprawling forward hard onto the stone floor. My head hits the floor hard. My vision is on again white from the pain.

This stuns me.

I try to focus again as I am lifted and turned around again.

I don’t think I have anything left.

But I try. My working hand finds the handle of the trench knife. I draw it slowly.

The creature faces me again contempt and anger clear even to me on its face.

“Time to heed and call and serve.”

Its voice echoed in this place.

In stories, this is when the hero comes up with one last quip and then the final play. Me I can just make my move. I focus as best I can. The trench knife in my hand is thrust forward into his face into one of its eyes.

I am thrown again backwards. I hit the stone floor hard and bounce then skid. I don’t think there is any part of me that is not hurting right now.

The creature is screaming in pain holding on to the knife in its eye. Turns out its eyes are not as tough as the rest of it. I slowly get back to my feet. I am inside the void breach area now not far from it.

The creature pulls out the blade slowly. This gives me the time to get up.

It looks at me now and I know it is going to kill me. Black blood oozing from the wound. It throws my blade away. Standing there looking at each other one last crazy thought comes into my mind. I move slightly to be ready.

“Come on then FUCKER!” I challenge it. It obliges by charging.

My positioning is as ready as it can be mostly in its new blind spot. As fast as always, I just time it right. I grab one of its arms and use its momentum to through it over my shoulder as I twist my body. I feel my knee give way and my shoulder tear with burning pain.

Its speed helps me do this.

It travels into the breach. Then explodes.

…….

……..

…….

I come awake to pain.

Lots of pain.

……

…….

Can’t think straight.

Can’t see much.

I discover my face is covered in black gore and seeing is still difficult.

I cough. More pain. Blood to.

I try to get up. I fall back.

Right. Leg and arm not working. Breathing hard too.

…….

Wait! No sleep. Got to move. I stop from falling into blackness again.

I roll onto my right side. Look around.

Near the doors. Got to go. Lots of wreckage. I crawl over to some.

Pain from everywhere but I keep moving. Still coughing. I feel sick from the constant waves of pain.

I dig slowly through the wreckage and find a bench section to use as a crutch. Part of a pew?

I get to my feet slowly. The wood is strong and I think can use it to get out of the zone.

Give in.

The voice from my dreams echoes in my head.

Come and join.

It continued but I did not stop getting to my feet and standing unsteadily. My back is to the breach and I think the voice is coming from it. I am more aware now but not by much. I am driven by a single goal.

Give in.

Again, it calls to me. I feel the pull to turn and go to the breach. Like a siren’s call. I resist and give voice to my goal driving me.

“No…... I going home.”

I shuffle towards the door.

Going Home.