Chapter 188: Chapter 188 Arms of Safety or Jaws of Death
Meanwhile under the platform
Tina and Jack clung to each other tightly as they huddled in one corner of the cramped wooden space. Their bodies pressed close as if trying to disappear into each other while their breathing came out uneven and shallow, and the sounds outside refused to fade no matter how much they tried to ignore them.
They did not know how long they had been there, to them time had lost meaning. Only fear and hope were their only determiner... fear of being eaten by the monsters... hope that Ida would find them... or Laurel.
The scraping of claws against the wood continued without pause, a harsh dragging sound that set their nerves on edge. While the low growls of the monsters circled around them endlessly, rising and falling as if the creatures were right outside waiting for the moment the barrier would give in.
Instead of slowing down, the attacks had grown more relentless, each strike heavier than the last as the wooden boards trembled under the impact.
Dust began to fall from above, drifting down in thin streams as the structure shook again and again, and every thud made Tina flinch, her fingers tightening against Jack’s shirt as she pressed closer to him.
Jack tightened his arms around her instinctively, his hand resting firmly against her back as if trying to shield her from everything outside.
"Don’t be scared," he whispered, his voice low and strained as though speaking louder would draw more attention to them. "I’ll protect you."
Tina nodded slightly against him, though her fingers did not loosen. "I... I don’t think it will hold for long," she whispered back, her voice trembling despite her effort to stay calm.
Jack clenched his small jaw. Her words hung between them as he slowly lifted his head and looked toward the wooden entrance not far from where they sat.
The surface was already scratched and dented, the wood splintering in places where the monsters had struck repeatedly, and another heavy hit made it creak in a way that made his expression turn grim.
He knew she was right. If the attacks continued like this, the wood would break. But leaving was not simple.
If they leave now, they might miss them... His mother could come back. Stefan could come back. If they were gone, there would be no way for them to know where they had gone.
He turned towards the dark brown door adjacent to them. Beyond that door, there was no safety waiting for them. The world outside was just as dangerous as the monsters hunting them.
Another loud impact shook the wall, and a faint crack spread along the wood. Jack exhaled slowly, forcing himself to steady his breathing.
"If it doesn’t hold, we run," he said quietly.
Tina nodded again, though her grip tightened.
Jack reached out and tapped her shoulder gently before letting go, then he stood up carefully and walked toward the wall beside the dark brown door. His eyes scanned the surface briefly before he raised his butcher knife.
He paused for a moment, then he began to carve on the wall.
The sound was faint, nearly swallowed by the chaos outside, but he worked quickly, his hand moving with urgency as he scratched an arrow into the wall, pointing directly toward the door they were about to use.
A simple mark clear enough that if anyone came looking, they would understand.
Tina stood up and walked over to him, stopping just beside him as she stared at the arrow forming under his hand. Her lips pressed together, and her eyes lingered on it a little longer than necessary.
When he finished, both of them stood there for a moment, looking at it in silence.
Another heavy slam shook the structure, stronger than before, and this time it was followed by a sharp cracking sound from above.
Both of them looked up simultaneously.
The wooden platform overhead split open, fragments breaking loose as pieces of wood fell to the ground, dust scattering through the air while a jagged opening formed. A claw forced its way through, scraping and tearing at the edges, followed by another that pushed in with force.
"Go!" Jack shouted.
He rushed to the door and pulled it open, the hinges creaking loudly as it swung inward to reveal a dark passage beyond.
Tina ran through without hesitation. Jack followed right behind her and slammed the door shut the moment he crossed over, his hands pressing against it instinctively as his body leaned into the wood.
For a brief moment, there was only silence.
Then a heavy crash sounded from the other side as the monsters fell through from above, their bodies hitting the ground followed by a slam against the door. The impact sent a violent jolt through it, making Jack’s arms tense as the force traveled through the wood.
Another hit followed...Then another.
The door shook under the repeated strikes.
Jack’s heart pounded in his chest as he pushed himself away from the door, his hand reaching out immediately to grab Tina’s.
"Come on," he said, his voice low but urgent.
He pulled her forward, and they ran.
Their footsteps echoed faintly through the narrow passageway as they moved deeper into the darkness, the sound of the monsters crashing against the door following behind them like a haunting ghost.
The air inside the passage was colder, damp against their skin as each breath felt heavier, their pace uneven as they ran not knowing if the path would lead to the arms of safety or jaws of death.
Tina stumbled slightly. Jack tightened his grip and pulled her forward without slowing.
"Don’t stop," he said.
"I’m trying," she replied, her voice breathless.
The passage stretched ahead, covered with darkness except for the glowing green escape light on the wall. Apart from that, the darkness swallowed everything beyond their steps, but they kept moving, driven forward by fear and the knowledge that stopping was not an option.
Behind them, the pounding did not stop and they knew the door would not hold forever. But neither of them dared to look back.
