Before Luka can form a thought.
Twitch-twitch, reech—
The camera focuses on the pinned hand.
A single, blade-like finger scrapes against a piece of drywall.
Luka freezes. Cold sweats coming back.
Slowly, the rubble begins to shift. Wood groans as it's pushed aside. The Darkin emerges. It's a mess—blood leaks more clear from its side this time, and one of its split-jaws is hanging limp—but its eyes are glowing with a new, terrifying intensity.
It's not just hunting, nor irritated anymore. It's furious.
The man still at the window catches the debris moving—
"Hu..huhh, hey kid what is this some kind of joke." scanning for a second before saying, "Look just stay there i'm coming down."
Luka's gaze shifting to the only hope in the situation now says—
"W..WAIT! Mister wait please. Call fo -"
Clink—
The window closes.
Luka stares, his heart sinking into his stomach. He's battered, bleeding, and empty. He holds his shattered shoulder, staring at the only hope leaving.
Turning his head at the scattered garage.
Half way—
A limb appears. Right in front of his eyes.
ZzzDUMPPP—
Luka is sent flying out of the garden and crashing into a tree, slightly bending it.
The camera is still in the big crack he made when sent flying. A claw comes into view from the top, slowly stepping on the fence, clenching it, making a screeching sound.
The camera then cuts to Luka laying with his head down, blood everywhere. He slowly picks his head up as if heavier than ever.
The camera cuts closer and closer.
Now zooming in closely on Luka's face—one eye swollen shut, continuing the zoom, the other reflecting the monster in front of him. Slowly. Walking to him.
Luka had no feelings anymore.
He was tired. So tired.
He couldn't move a muscle.
But at least, now he can finally let go and peacefully go on as this blur of a night comes to an end. The pain slowly resides, and his thoughts calm themselves—
"○Yeaa.. this is it. But i.. i don't mind this. After what i went through now i can leave it all behind."
"○My life was short and i didn't even get my first kiss, but it was memorable enough. So, i'm happy with this." completely ready for his life to end.
The creature closing in.
Each footstep louder than the other.
And each breath of Luka like a ticking clock to his demise.
"M...m.. mister, you're going to be alright right?"
A voice.
"Why are you standing alone in the middle of the night mister." a confused tone.
Turning to his left he spots.. the girl.
What is she doing.
Instantly Luka's senses sharpen, the hairs on his body stand like needles, his mind rushing with dopamine and his body pumping adrenaline, like an abandoned car starting its engine. His eyes widen. His instincts shouting that it's not his time yet. How many times will he get shaken back into reality?
Simultaneously the creature sped up going for Luka.
Luckily it wasn't going for the girl.
Lunging with both its limbs pointed with precision and killing intent.
As it gets closer Luka doesn't dodge or move back. He has no strength left to spare. He lunges forward at the last possible second. As the claws whistled toward his throat, he dropped low and pushed forward—his knees screaming—and drove his chest into the creature's sternum. The impact felt like hitting a wall of solid rubber, sending both crashing into the tree.
Immediately they sprawl into another brawl. Punches, claws. But Luka gathering his strength and the electric feeling returning, he sweeps his right hand trying to hit the creature.
Grrk-AAHRHKKKKSSS—
And he does.
But why did it scream so hard?
Nothing worked even remotely close till now.
So why now?
Luka didn't realize, but directing his gaze to the part he struck, he saw a metal pole stuck in the Darkin's left side on its back.
From a flashback when Luka was hitting the walls of the garage and slamming against them relentlessly, the Darkin lunging, and him barely escaping, we see he caught the pole just then. He never realized it from the pain, shock and no time to stop for a second.
Subconsciously he's been holding it the whole time, not letting go for a second.
Something in his favor. After no fortune, Lady Luck decided to smile in his direction.
An advantage.
A tool to fight with.
Gripping it hard he pulls with his might, the electric feeling surging through his veins.
Snap.
SHREEEeeaEekkakKk—
A snap followed by another shriek from the Darkin.
In pain the Darkin tosses Luka aside and pulls back a bit.
Luka quickly stumbling to the girl's side. His mind only focused on her. Instantly asking—
"K..kid, i told you to go home why didn't y..you listen."
"We...well i don't know where i am so i started following the noises i heard to here." the girl answers.
Luka scoffs, collecting himself knowing there is no time to argue or ask questions. Survival is top priority—
"Listen, just stay behind me and you'll be alright ok?" he said firmly.
"..Mhmm" softly the girl said, tears forming in her eyes.
Turning around and facing the Darkin again, Luka took a stance preparing for its attack.
But he sensed it instantly.
The Darkin was no longer on the offense as much as it was.
The gap of physical restraint clearly closed just now. Plus noticing its breathing pattern Luka could deduce that its stamina was lower than his.
Instincts directed on the creature, Luka was now not budging, with a new motive this time his spirit not shaken.
But still wondering—
"○This again? Why am i so jumpy to protect. Was i always this heroic?"
Discarding his thoughts aside, he moves forward.
A quick acceleration then a slide, hitting the Darkin on its leg.
EeEeEkkkKK—
Quickly standing to face it. A right swing, the creature struck next, Luka dodged now trying to stab on the side. The Darkin catches the pole, but Luka doesn't stop. Completely letting go of the pole he starts throwing punches and kicks.
A right hook to the side. A straight to its chin, twist, switching stances a left hook to the other side followed by an upper cut with the same arm.
The Darkin tries to grab Luka, dropping the pole on the ground. Luka steps back footwork sharp, clean, short, witty.
Uss-uss, huffp..—
Jab, jab, straight followed by another jab to the abdomen then an immediate hook to the chin.
Uss, zzdumpp—
The Darkin stumbling and tumbling, Luka seizes the moment to grab the pole again and goes straight for its leg, piercing it brutally—
SheeEKKEKsSkkk—
Another shriek.
Luka didn't stop there, pulling it out he turns and rotates with the pole in hand holding it in reverse aiming for the side of its ribs.
CRCKKKK—
AAEHEEKKKSSAAAKSSKK—
Fully in pain, the Darkin now screaming.
Luka steps back and winds up a powerful kick rotating his torso preparing to strike—
"Hmph.."
Bang.
The Darkin tumbles and rolls around as it's sent flying.
Luka looks to its direction eyes keen not budging.
The Darkin getting up but barely.
One limb on the ground the other on its knee.