Her eyes darted left and right, looking for any sign of Seren, but he wasn't to be seen. She continued running, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't know what she would find next, but she was determined to survive. Her legs began to ache, and she felt a sharp pain in her side. She wasn't used to running so much, and it was beginning to take a toll on her. But she couldn't give up, not until she found Seren.
As she made her way up to the door to the roof, she started banging on the door for a response. There was a muffled sound coming from the other side, and Anne was relieved that someone was there. "HELP ME! I CAN'T GET OUT!"
Suddenly the door swung open, and Seren rushed forward, his arms outstretched. She collapsed into his embrace, relief washing over her. "Oh my god. I can't believe you're alright." He gasped, squeezing her tightly. She buried her face in his chest and began to sob, her tears soaking his shirt.
She felt someone tap her on the back. She looked up, her cheeks streaked with tears. Marcus stood before her, his face covered with blood and sweat, his clothes tattered. He had a gash on his forehead, and his face looked haggard, but he was alive.
"You're covered in blood, Anne. What happened?" Seren asked, wiping a smudge from her cheek.
She shook her head. "I'll tell you later, we need to leave this place before we become monster bait."
Nyx appeared beside her, their tail wrapped around Anne's waist. Anne gathered her thoughts and spoke, "I felt a surge of energy, my movements felt fluid, and they just felt... weak."
Seren asked, "Is this what Erojium is?"
"We have no idea. Let's leave and continue looking for more information." Marcus insisted. As they were about to open the door out of the roof, they began to hear a large quantity of footsteps coming their way.
Nyx bared her teeth, hissing at the intrusion. Anne sighed, "Well, the exit plan has changed."
Seren frowned, "There may be a way down using the elevator shaft."
Anne was relieved that Seren was adapting to the situation and thought of the best escape plan. However, she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched or the sensation of a lingering presence. She suspected they weren't alone.
"You have any ideas about this... whatever they are, Marcus?"
"They've probably been infected by something."
Anne studied the creatures' appearance, the blue glowing eyes, and the bluish tint to their skin. The monsters had elongated features and a strange, shifting body mass. She was drawn to them like a moth to a flame, her curiosity and desire to solve the mystery was getting the better of her.
"We don't have time to figure this out right now Marcus, we know they've been infected by whatever Erojium does; that seems to be the only plausible explanation at the moment."
As Anne struggled with her thoughts, the creatures began to break down the door. Their eyes were filled with hate and malice, and their movements were sluggish and unnatural. Anne knew that they had to get away, but they suddenly stopped. Their bodies stiffened, and their eyes turned dull, and their limbs became lifeless.
Seren and Marcus exchanged a puzzled look, and then saw that Anne was shaking. She looked down at her hands, which were glowing a soft blue. The creatures collapsed to the ground, their bodies covered with frost, and their eyes glassy.
"This looks similar to the abilities of the person who killed Lana." Anne said with a sense of dread.
Seren knelt down and examined the creature. It was dead, and its blood pooled underneath its head.
"Erojium must have some kind of control over their mind and actions. Whoever killed Lana could also have the same ability."
They heard voices down the stairs and began making their way towards them. The group emerged from the doorway, their faces drawn and tense.
"What do we do now?" Seren whispered to Anne as she carefully examined their surroundings.
Marcus came forward, his face flushed and sweaty from the battle. "We're being watched. We have to find out who or what is behind this and put a stop to it."
Seren stood and cleared his throat. He placed a hand on Anne's shoulder and sighed.
"Whatever Erojium is and why Lana was targeted, it doesn't matter Anne, whoever was behind this operation will pay for what they did to these people."
As they crept around the corner, they saw the two hooded individuals looking through papers, one of them glancing at the ceiling before shaking his head. The other had his hands full, carrying dead bodies by the nape.
"This is a mess, how did they all get loose?" One of the hooded men asked.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP LIU. This is because some rats explored my lab without my consent. You know how you made these things; it is your job to fix your mistakes."
"Are you implying this was my fault?" Liu whispered harshly. "Remember when we met on that dig site over a year ago, we chose to do this together."
The hooded man slammed his fist on the table, rattling the tools. "We both did it. It is our choice to live or die with it." He turned to his assistant, "Where did those rats go anyways? We have to track them down, if they reveal what we were up to, it won't be good."
He peered through the window, his eyes glinting with malice. "They couldn't have gone far. No one can outrun death."
Anne looked over at the group, and a shiver went down her spine. The monsters and the dead were all part of one evil, and the hooded men were somehow linked. She glanced over at Seren, who nodded reassuringly. She felt his hand grip hers and a wave of warmth spread over her.
Nyx crept towards the doorway, her eyes darting left and right. She sniffed the air, her pupils dilating as if searching for something. Suddenly, she whirled, her teeth bared and her fur raised.
"What is it Nyx?" Anne whispered.
Nyx shook her head and stepped back, her posture shifting to one of attack. Marcus reached for his gun and pointed it towards the hallway.
A shadow loomed over them, and Anne felt a sense of foreboding creeping up inside her. She could almost hear a voice whispering in her mind, telling her to run, telling her that her life was in danger.
She whirled, her hands burning, and her eyes filled with anger. She looked up, and her eyes widened at the sight of a hooded man, his face obscured by a mask and hood. His hand reached out towards her, and she ducked, narrowly avoiding the grasp of his hands.
The man let out a low chuckle, and his eyes gleamed with madness and hate. He pulled a dagger from his belt and lunged at her, his hands grasping at air as she sidestepped, and he tumbled onto the floor.
"So you're the rats who stepped into my lab; it is a pleasure to meet you."