At night, the village burned. The flames devoured wooden houses, sending sparks into the sky while smoke rose like dark clouds trying to swallow the moon. Screams echoed in the distance, mixing with the groans of the undead. People fought desperately with whatever they could find—axes, sticks, even bare hands—while others ran only to be caught and dragged down by the horde of zombies.
Through the chaos, Adrik, Draxil, Lyra, Jeff, Carla, Granny, and Grandpa moved together, every step careful, every breath silent. They hid in the shadows, slipping between crumbled walls and broken fences, heading toward the gate at the far end of the city wall.
Lyra (whispering as she glanced ahead): We're almost at the gate... just a little further.
Carla tightened her hold on Clara, who whimpered and cried in her arms, terrified by the constant blasts and horrific sounds around them. Carla rocked her gently, whispering soothing words, but the child could still feel her mother's trembling.
Suddenly, a rotten wooden door burst open. From the shadow of a ruined house, four zombies stumbled out, blood dripping from their mouths and arms. Their eyes glowed faintly in the firelight as they let out guttural growls, rushing straight at the group.
Draxil (stepping forward, gripping his blade): Stay back.
With a swift, merciless motion, Draxil's weapon cut through the air. In a flash, the four zombies were sliced cleanly in half, their bodies collapsing into the dirt. The stench of death filled the street.
Granny (muttering a shaky prayer): Dear God, guide us...
Without wasting another second, the group hurried on, feet pounding against the stone road until they reached the city's gate. But their relief vanished instantly—on the other side of the wall, hundreds of zombies shuffled aimlessly, snarling and tearing at the remains of fallen villagers. The horde stretched endlessly into the night.
Draxil (gritting his teeth, lifting his blade again): I'll clear them all out...
Before he could step forward, Adrik grabbed his shoulder firmly.
Adrik (serious, steady): No. It's too many. We can fight... but we can't protect Jeff, Carla, Granny, and Grandpa at the same time.
Draxil's chest rose and fell heavily. His grip on the weapon tightened, but after a long pause, he sighed and finally nodded, knowing Adrik was right.
They scanned the surroundings desperately until Lyra's sharp eyes caught something—a narrow opening between two collapsed houses.
Lyra (pointing): There... a hidden way. It's dark, but... we don't have another choice.
The group slipped into the pitch-black passage, the air inside heavy with dust and ash. Their footsteps echoed on the wooden floor as they moved cautiously. Suddenly, the faint sound of voices reached their ears—soft, trembling prayers.
Adrik and Draxil carefully peeked inside a broken window. A small family huddled together in the darkness: two little boys clinging to their mother, who stood in front of them with a kitchen knife, her hands shaking as she whispered prayers to the heavens.
The sight pierced both Adrik and Draxil's hearts, memories of their own childhood flooding back. Without hesitation, Adrik slowly pushed open the window. The mother gasped, raising the knife higher in panic as her boys hid behind her legs.
Adrik (calm, lowering his voice): Shhh... we're not here to hurt you. We heard your prayers. Do you want to live? Come with us—we'll take you somewhere safe.
Mother (nervous, voice breaking): H-how... how can I trust you?
Adrik looked directly into her eyes, his tone sincere and firm.
Adrik: I can't lie to a mother who's ready to give her life for her children.
The woman's lips trembled. She glanced at her sons, saw their terrified faces, then back at Adrik. After a long pause, she slowly lowered the knife and gave a faint nod. Carefully, she helped her boys climb out of the window.
Jeff, Carla, and the elders watched from behind with soft, hopeful expressions. Lyra, however, watched Adrik intently—something in the way he spoke to the mother stirred a quiet warmth inside her chest. Her eyes softened, though she said nothing.
Together, they pressed on through the ruins until finally, they reached the outer gate. Relief washed over them as they saw three large buses waiting, surrounded by military soldiers armed with rifles. Civilians were already boarding, guided into safety.
The group approached quickly, but as the others climbed aboard, Adrik, Lyra, and Draxil remained behind.
Jeff (turning back, frowning): You're not coming?
Adrik gave a gentle smile, shaking his head slowly.
Adrik: No... we still have to find Lior. Once we bring him back, we'll return home.
Draxil straightened his shoulders, his usual sharp tone breaking with emotion.
Draxil (dramatic, voice heavy): I just want to say... I'm going to miss you all.
Jeff's lips curved into a bittersweet smile. He hugged them tightly, while Granny placed her wrinkled hand on their heads in blessing. Carla whispered a soft prayer for their safety before following the others onto the bus. The doors closed, the engines roared, and soon the buses rolled away into the night.
Lyra (turning to Adrik and Draxil, her eyes filled with determination): Time to find Lior.
Adrik: Yeah... but where do we even start?
Lyra (softly, almost to herself): That... I don't know. But I'll search until I find him.
Adrik placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
Adrik (firm, steady): We'll find him.
Lyra met his gaze, her heart steadying at his confidence. They both nodded, and the night carried them onward.
Chrono Guardianz
Episode 9: The Attack
The scene shifts to the shattered remains of the wall. Rubble scattered across the ground, blood soaked into the dirt. Lior stood weakly, leaning on his staff for support. Nearby lay the lifeless bodies of Liza and three dogs, their forms broken and still.
Lior's trembling hands lifted Liza's severed head, placing it carefully back upon her neck. His vision blurred from pain as he pressed the staff into the ground.
Lior (through gritted teeth, voice desperate): Come on... please... heal them...
A faint glow spread from the staff, enveloping Liza and the dogs. Their wounds began to knit together, flesh repairing, breath returning.
Lior (screaming with all his strength): Yes... come on! DO IT!!!
The light grew stronger, but his body weakened. Blood rose in his throat and spilled from his mouth as he collapsed to his knees.
Lior (gasping, voice breaking): No... I can't. I've lost too much blood... I... I can't...
Suddenly, warm arms wrapped around him. His blurred eyes lifted—Liza stood before him, alive, tears running down her face as she hugged him tightly. The three dogs whimpered softly, pressing close to their master.
But the moment of relief ended quickly. From the broken wall, a wave of zombies surged forward, groaning and hungry. Lior struggled to raise his staff, but his body betrayed him—he was too weak, his legs barely able to keep him upright.
The screen faded black.
When it returned, the camera panned over the burning village: zombies feasting on corpses, flames consuming what little remained. In the chaos, two figures—Rocco and Jett—fought furiously. Rocco's blade slashed through undead flesh while Jett's gunshots rang like thunder.
Rocco (grinning): Hah... what a joke!
But then, both froze. A figure stepped from the shadows—Colt, holding a bloodied blade. Relief spread across Rocco and Jett's faces.
Rocco (hurrying forward): Boss! You're alive—we thought we lost you!
Jett (smiling, lowering his weapon): Yeah... but now that you're here, we'll fight together. No zombie will—
His words cut off with a wet gasp. Colt's blade protruded through his chest. Jett's gun fell from his hand as he collapsed, lifeless.
Rocco (frozen, horrified): B-Boss...? Why...? Why did you kill Jett?
Colt's eyes were cold, empty. Without a word, he swung his blade once more, severing Rocco's head from his shoulders. The body fell, blood staining the ground.
Colt turned, his gaze drifting to the distance. There—Adrik, Lyra, and Draxil searched among the ruins. For a moment, Colt's hand twitched as if to move, but instead he turned away.
Not far off, Rex stood beneath a tree, watching the village burn. Colt approached.
Colt (low voice): I saw them...
Rex (raising a brow): Who? Your old friends?
Colt (grim): Yeah. They could become a problem. We should—
Rex (interrupting, calm but deadly): Then let's finish them.
The scene cut back to Lior and Liza. Lior leaned heavily on his staff, his body trembling with every breath. Liza stood protectively behind him while the dogs barked and snarled at the advancing zombies.
Lior froze a few with the last of his magic, but his strength was gone. His strikes grew weaker. The undead swarmed closer, clawing at Liza's arm. Lior tried to swing, but they surrounded him from all sides.
Then, with a sudden flash, two long chain blades whipped through the air, slicing cleanly through dozens of zombie necks. The creatures dropped instantly, the ground littered with corpses.
Lior lifted his head in shock. In the distance stood Adrik, Lyra, and Draxil.
Adrik (grinning, calling out): Oh? Looks like you handled them all by yourself, huh?
But Lyra didn't care for Adrik's joke. She sprinted straight to Lior, her eyes wet with relief. Without a word, she threw her arms around him, pulling him close.
Lior's lips trembled, his eyes filling as he hugged her back tightly—as if afraid to lose her again.
Adrik and Draxil approached, noticing Liza and the dogs.
Adrik (curious): Who's this?
Liza (stammering, nervous): I-I'm L-Liza... Lior saved my life... twice.
Draxil (raising a brow): Twice?
Lyra (sharply, cutting in): No time for stories. We need to get to safety first. Then we'll go back home—to the future.
Lior (weakly): Yeah... but big sis... I can't walk. My leg... it's gone.
Lyra froze, then looked down. Her heart sank. Below his knee, there was nothing. His leg had been torn away, a blood-soaked scarf wrapped desperately around the wound to stop him from bleeding out.
Lyra (gasping, hands trembling as she checked the wound): Lior... oh no. We need to heal this... Lior, can't you heal yourself?
Lior (shaking his head, voice breaking): I tried... but I can heal others, not myself.
Her eyes filled with worry, her chest tightening with panic. Without hesitation, she scooped him up into her arms.
Lior (blushing, embarrassed): B-big sis... no, I can walk... please, don't embarrass me.
Lyra (firm but gentle, meeting his eyes): I don't care if you're embarrassed or not. I'm not letting you walk until your wound is healed.
Lior flushed red, hiding his face against her shoulder while Liza giggled softly at his shyness. As his staff slipped from his grip, Liza stepped forward and picked it up.
Liza (smiling kindly): Don't worry—I'll carry it. You just rest.
Lior (softly): Thanks...
Their eyes met briefly, a faint blush coloring both their cheeks. Lyra noticed, her big-sister instincts sparking as she gave them a knowing, suspicious glance. But she said nothing, only smiled faintly before walking on with Lior in her arms.
Adrik: So... where to now?
Lyra: I don't know. But we need somewhere to treat Lior's leg first.
Draxil: Then let's head to the nearest camp. The military should be able to help him.
Lyra (nodding): Yes. Once his leg is healed, we'll return to our time.
Adrik (grinning, stretching his arms): Finally... I miss my home.
Lior (quietly, looking at Liza): But what about her?
Lyra glanced at Liza walking beside them shyly. She leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to Lior's forehead.
Lyra (softly): We'll send her to Jeff and the others. Another outpost. She'll be safe.
Lior (relieved): Oh... so you already sent them somewhere safe? Thank God...
Adrik (nodding quickly): Yeah, yeah, we did. But Lior... what were you doing near the wall?
Lior (frowning, recalling): I was resting... after running. I was talking to Liza and then—
His eyes widened suddenly.
Lior (shaking, voice urgent): Big sis... the blast. It wasn't the zombies. It was caused by... a human.
Adrik (raising a brow, then smirking slightly): A human, huh? Oh come on, Lior... what are you saying? We thought zombies placed the bombs and broke through the wall. (he chuckled under his breath, mocking gently) Maybe one of them carried a toolbox too.
Draxil (snorting, shaking his head): Yeah, maybe they had a whole construction team.
Their small laughter echoed in the ruined street for only a second before it was cut short. Lyra's piercing glare shot toward both of them, her eyes sharp enough to slice. The weight of her stare made Adrik's grin fade instantly, and even Draxil cleared his throat and looked away, pretending he hadn't laughed.
Lior's voice grew heavier, his eyes shadowed by the firelight.
Lior (firm, low, almost trembling): No jokes. I'm serious. It wasn't the zombies... it was your old friend. Colt.
The name struck like thunder. Adrik's footsteps faltered mid-step, his body going rigid. Draxil's hand froze on the hilt of his blade. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The sound of crackling flames and distant groans of zombies filled the silence.
Adrik (voice dropping, grim, heavy): Colt...? He's... still alive?
Draxil clenched his jaw, his expression twisting as if old memories resurfaced—memories he wished stayed buried. He glanced at Adrik, who was staring at the ground, fists tightening at his side. Lyra watched them carefully, realizing there was more behind their reaction than just shock.
The air grew colder. The mere mention of that name had shifted everything.
TO BE CONTINUED...