Chapter 13 Back to High School

“Ok lets go”, I say to the girls. As we head to the door outside I hear yells. Probably more Orcs? I move to the window and pull the blinds a little to see outside. There, standing outside are 6 Orcs gathered on the road in front of my house. One seems to be giving off orders in a guttural tongue. He seems bigger than the others, and upon closer inspection

Creature BOSSOrch Chief Level 30

He is wielding a big Battle Axe. More Orcs seem to be coming from the surrounding houses. Looking down the road I see other lights shimmering, more Orcs seem to be spawning. In only a few moments their number has swelled to almost 20.

I sigh, then “Equip Tear Gas canister”

“Equip 4 grenades”

I grab hold of the tear gas canister. "Ok we are going to make a run for it, Once I throw the tar gas and the 4 grenades I will summon the Truck and we will get out of here." Both girls nod. “Cindy if you can, hit the big one with a fireball.”

Confidence and courage seems to be seeping into the girls again, I guess my leadership ability is kicking in now with me handing out instructions.”Julie, shoot anything that moves.”

Prepping is done, instruction have been given, I open the door and rush out pulling the pin on the canister and toss it at the gathered Orcs, then quickly follow up with the Grenades. Julie follows pulling the trigger in fast succession at the gathered Orcs, while Cindy lets fly 2 fireballs, One at the Orc Chief and another at a nearby Orc. The tear gas hits, the bullets tear into them and the fireballs explode and has an immediate effect. Coughing and howling can be heard at once.

“GET DOWN!” I yell to the girls and drop to the ground, the girls without hesitation do the same, at hte same time 4 explosions go off. Chunks of Orc go flying everywhere raining down all over. Without waiting, I call forth the Truck and we all hop in. In mere seconds we are traveling again.

NOTICE!Your party has been awarded 9000 XP each,

due to the titles 7 in One Blow and Lethal Shot,

those with the titles have been awarded an additional 3300 XP.

NOTICE!Level gained

NOTICE!Level gained

NOTICE!Level gained

NOTICE!Level gained

NOTICE!Level gained

“Scott? 5 more levels?” Julie says somewhat in a question.

“Yeah” I say then sigh” umm you all better check your messages and status, you are not going to be happy.” I say grudgingly

“WHAT?? Cold Blooded Killer, but I did not kill anyone!!!” Cindy screams.

“Guilty by association” Julie sighs,”I guess that is the pros and cons of the party system, we all gain for good or bad,”

“But still I am not a cold Blooded Killer!”, Cindy insists.

“You think I am?”,I fire at her.

“I..I ,.....I did not mean it like that Scott, I am sorry really, I was not thinking” she says putting her head down.

“It's ok Cindy, I now you didn't. We just have to deal with it, it is what it is right?” I sigh,” Even if it was in self defense and we were protecting ourselves, the system it seems, is unforgiving when it comes to killing our fellow humans, a kill is a kill no matter the circumstances, for now I suggest we just ignore the title.”

“I guess” she replies then sighs.

“It is not that bad Cindy.” Julie starts, “It is just a title, no one can see it anyways, unless you show it to them.”

“Yeah I guess you are right.” she says while looking over the rest of her status, level 33 now huh? Wow that is going fast.” Cindy perks up a little.

It has been crazy as of late, but it will slow down soon enough I think and actually hope, we need to rest and relax a little or we will break in no time. I hope the girls can hold out till then. I am very concerned about their mental health. It seems the leadership aura may be helping them keep it together, when it is in effect, they change and become calm and confident, I should try something

“Julie, Cindy when we get the High School be on the look out for anything, if it is not human do not hesitate to use force, got it? I say with authority.

Both girls seem to brighten up, once again the calm taking over and confidence is rising in them, it worked it seems, simple instructions seems to give them something to do, take their mind off things, giving them something to look forward to, instead of dwelling on the past events. Eventually we will have to address those, but the longer it takes the more vague it will become and the easier for them to deal with it.

I smile inwardly at this discovery, letting my mind at ease for a bit, one problem solved on how to help them to keep it together, that is a big load off my shoulders. About another 15 min pass and we come upon the road that leads to the High School. It is congested with cars dead in the road. Bodies lay everywhere, rotting. This is not good sign....

I stop the Truck as we have no place to go except onto the sidewalk but there is not enough room for the Truck, unless I plow thru the fence and into the Baseball field on the other side. I survey the area and see nothing moving or anything that would draw my attention.

“Wait here” I tell the girls and leave the Truck running while I get out. I walk towards the fence, take out my Energy gun and shoot the 2 posts at the base severing each. As I head back to the Truck, I am suddenly struck hard in the back, the blow sends me to the ground and almost knocks the wind out of me. A normal person would probably be dead now by the blow, it was that strong. I look around waving the Energy Gun but see nothing. Something jumps on me and clamps down on my arm, I feel pain and blood starts to come from a wound. I see a bite mark formed on my uniform and it is tearing open, revealing flesh being torn as well.

I howl in pain as it shoots thru me. My gun arm is pinned so I am unable to shoot at whatever it is. I am hit again from the back, it seems a second creature is trying to latch onto me. I feel claws digging into my back, the pain is getting to me now. I cry out again.

“Equip Advanced Marine All Purpose Goggles” I barely get it all out.

“True Sight” I yell. And suddenly I can see them, oh boy am I fucked. It is an entire pack, they stand 6 ft tall, long arms ending in cruel looking claws, protruding lower jaws with jagged, sharp teeth exposed and I am their meal for the day.

I hear a scream, it is Julie, I try to fend off the two creatures on me, kicking out at the one on my arm with great force, I hear a yelp and it goes flying a few meters away, releasing its grip on my arm. The one on my back is still digging into my back. I feel skin tearing and a burning sensation. With my arm now free, I fire at the one I just kicked. Firing multiple shots hitting true, the creature falls to the ground but not dead. I did manage to sever a leg.

“Scott!!!” Julie Yells running up to me with Cindy in tow.

I try to yell but only can get out “Invisible”. Cindy quickly understands and throws up a wall of fire to encircle us, yelps and cries are heard and few catch fire. But not all were outside the circle, as Cindy is suddenly thrown to the ground blood begins to flow from her shoulder and she cries out in pain.

I try to aim at the one on Cindy, but my arm is once again taken into the maw of yet another creature.

This time the impact of the bite sends the gun flying out of my hand. With my free hand I begin to punch as hard as I can at it. Dealing massive blows. I am able to not only smash its snout but cave its head in.

Cindy is being shaken like a rag doll now and screaming in pain.

“STOP IT NOW!!!” Julie Screams at the top of her lungs. A blue light emits from her and goes out in all directions from her like a shock wave. The blast incinerates any creature in range or stuns them if they survive the blast.. The creature on my back is gone. Cindy is unconscious on the ground not moving, but not being shaken anymore..

I summon what strength I have left, “Equip AR-15” and then begin to meticulously fire and kill any creature I see using head shots. Bleeding heavily from the arm and back, I raise myself up, and see Julie has feinted also.

I go to grab Cindy and pick her up and put her in the Truck, the pain is maddening, but I have to ignore and endure it. I then retrieve Julie and put her in the Truck too, then getting in myself, all the while surveying the area, but see no other creatures close by, 10 were killed. I see the bodies slowly beginning to fade but see.

CreatureInvisible Stalker Level 35

Damn, now they come equipped with invisibility I put the Truck into drive and crash thru the weakened fence. I head toward the Main building of the High School. Pain and blood loss are causing me to get dizzy. SHIT!! I forgot my Energy Gun. Fuck fuck.....

I crash thru another Gate, this time the bump is jolting enough to wipe my dizziness away as I am speeding to the main building. Cindy is stirring but bleeding badly, and Julie is out cold, no waking her at all.

I hit the Brakes and we come to a screeching halt sending Julie and Cindy into the dash, causing Cindy to awaken and cry out in pain. Julie crumbles to the floor of the Truck.

I survey my surroundings I see 2 of the creatures headed towards us. I get out of the Truck and take aim with the AR-15 and drop them both. Now that I can see them they are not so tough as I am still wearing the goggles. "Cindy we have to move" I yell.

She is in severe pain, but nods, I move to the other side of the truck an grab Julie in one arm and sling her over my shoulders of my bad arm while holding the AR-15 in my good arm.

Cindy staggers towards the School building, and I follow running backwards keeping an eye out for incoming creatures. I spot another running wildly towards us and fire of a few more shots dropping it.

We get to the entrance, but the doors will not open. The doors are dented but unmoving. Barricaded?

I look at Cindy, she is not doing good and may lose consciousness soon. I see more creatures coming at us. I fire off more rounds. Another drops, the others halt in their tracks and begin to try to encircle us. More of the creatures are coming.

“Equip Advanced Marines Grenade High explosive!” I yell, I drop the AR-15 and Julie to the ground, no helping it now, survival comes first over a few bruises. I tug the grenade and lob it at the gathering creatures, “DOWN” I yell, Cindy drops to the ground and yells in pain

KA-BOOOOOM!!!

The Grenade goes off and the shock wave hits us and it is strong, pushing us up against the School door like rag dolls.

I slowly get up on shaky legs, very dizzy now, and survey the area. A huge crater about 10 meters wide and probably 1 meter deep has formed where the grenade went off, Overkill again I think and sigh, no creatures are close by, some running away, a few look wounded.

Cindy is now unconscious, and Julie is still out. I hear rattling and bumping coming from the door behind us, I move both girls out of the way just as the doors opened. Out come half a dozen guys with various weapons wearing police uniforms and riot gear.

“HURRY GET INSIDE”, one of the officers yell. My consciousness fades.