Modern Warfare - Chapter 3

The side attacks from the wolves ceased as if they no longer felt the need to harry the cart along. Instead, the wolves stepped out openly onto the path behind and to the sides, no longer using the bushes and trees to obscure their positions. They formed a semi-circle around the back of the cart, effectively preventing any retreat. Their eyes glowed with malicious intent, and they growled menacingly as they slowly advanced. The trap had been set. Perhaps, they had always planned for it to end here.

The horse, already completely panicked, was jerking left and right, unable to move either forward or backward. The cart wasn’t maneuverable enough to allow it to escape, and it was no longer responding to Clem’s commands, driven by sheer terror. Clem abandoned his position at the reins, his face etched with worry as he rushed to the back of the cart to check on the unconscious Madaline.

Her face was as pale as night, and her dress was covered in blood. Clem frantically bandaged her arm while keeping an eye on the wolves surrounding them. The wolves appeared to be in no hurry, but they were gradually tightening the perimeter, as if trying to squeeze them out of the cart.

“This is bad.” Clem declared, abandoning his position at the reins to check on the unconscious Madaline.

“The girl, can you carry her?” Reo asked.

“Madaline?” He looked down and looked at the bridge. “You mean…”

“Cut the horse free. In the commotion, make for the bridge.”

“I only have one horse and cart.” He looked at the horse worriedly.

“You only have one life,” Reo added. “You can recover the contents of the cart tomorrow.”

He shook his head. “The cart, maybe, but the crystals are the primary reason they’re attacking us. Beasts are all attracted to crystals. If they can eat them, they grow stronger. If I leave them behind, they’ll all be eaten, and we’ll be dead in a few weeks anyway without those crystals.”

“Alright, take what you can carry.”

He sighed. “I’m getting old. I can carry Madaline or the crystals. Both are too much for me.”

He gestured to a large pack, and Reo could see that it really was about the same size and weight as a human.

“The bag has a strap. You Take Madaline. I’ll take the crystals.”

Reo grabbed the back and then swung it over his shoulders. Reo didn’t know why specifically, but it felt like suddenly, all of the wolves’ eyes were directed at him. Maybe he was imagining it.

“Go! Now!” Reo gave the command.

Thankfully, Clem understood the situation they were in. He grabbed Madaline and hefted her over his shoulders. He then took a knife from his belt and slammed it into the cart’s shaft, severing the rope that held the horse to the cart. Freed, the horse immediately exploded into a gallop, attempting to run past the lead wolf. The lead wolf moved to block it, but it didn’t pounce. Instead, it redirected it away from the bridge. A few of the wolves broke away from the pack, quickly surrounding the horse. It let out a terrified whinny, rearing back. The wolves did hesitate to jump at the horse, biting at its body while trying to avoid its hooves.

“Go!” Reo yelled again, but those words were as much for himself as they were for Clem.

Reo only had twelve bullets, so he didn’t waste any trying to save the horse. He also couldn’t spare the mercy to put it out of its misery. Only by leaving the horse to its grisly fate might they have the time to escape. At least, for him, the horse had no attachment. He could see the bitter expression on Clem’s face, though, although it looked like Clem was smart enough to know this was the best decision.

As soon as Clem and Reo were away from the cart, Reo heard a growl from behind and the movement of a dozen wolves springing forth. Reo couldn’t help but turn around to see the cart being overtaken in an instant. The wolves were ignoring the cart, though, their eyes locked on them, their would-be prey.

Reo pulled out his gun and shot at the lead wolf. It struck, and the wolf fell into the cart it was trying to run over. Reo turned back and continued his mad run. At this point, the horse had collapsed to the ground. There was blood all around it as it let out its last few desperate cries.

The pack leader seemed unconcerned about this. In fact, as this massacre occurred behind it, its eyes remained on them, waiting for the best time to strike. Running past this wolf felt like running past a live cobra with its hood out. It finally lost patience and took a step forward, but Reo immediately fired at it. The wolf leapt back at an impossible speed, avoiding the bullet.

Reo was down to ten bullets. He sensed more than heard the wolves behind him. He threw his arm back and fired three shots. It wasn’t part of his plan, but his heart was beating so fast that he could barely think. Reo heard a whimper, so he knew he had hit at least one more wolf.

However, Reo couldn’t focus on the ones behind, as the pack leader was making his approach, trying to cut off their path to the bridge. Reo fired two more bullets in his direction, but just like before, he dodged them with an unreal level of speed. He moved two steps forward, while Reo only pushed him one step back.

“We won’t make it passed him!” Clem yelled.

“We’ll make it!” Reo shouted back.

“Tell my daughter… she was right.” Clem declared.

“What?… Wait…” Before Reo could stop him, Clem shoved Madaline into Reo’s arms.

Reo barely managed to get a grip on her to keep her from falling, his gun now resting just under her butt, making it impossible for him to shoot with it.

“Stop!” Reo yelled.

“Take care of her! Promise me!”

Clem didn’t wait for Reo to agree. Instead, he drew his small knife and, with a feral scream, charged the pack leader directly. Reo couldn’t do anything but curse and start running toward the bridge, the package on his back, and Madaline in his arms. His heart felt complicated. It had only been a short time before when his best friend and girlfriend had betrayed him.

Now, in this other world, a man he had just met was trusting him with his daughter, and giving him his life for a chance to escape. It left a complicated feeling inside Reo’s heart. He didn’t know much, but he knew he didn’t want to be the kind of man to betray this trust given to him. He wasn’t like that whore or that so-called friend.

Reo only focused on running; the sound of Clem’s desperate cries echoed behind him, buying them precious time. He couldn’t look back, couldn’t afford to slow down, even as the sound of Clem’s screams turned to gurgles and then to a sickening crunch. Reo’s mind had become jelly, and he didn’t think at all. He just kept running.

As he neared the bridge, a wolf finally caught him. He felt the impact and stumbled forward. However, when he recaught his feet, he realized the wolf had bitten into the pack at his back. With all his strength, he pushed forward. For a moment, he felt like he was being pulled back, pulled away from the bridge and safety, but then he heard the ripping of fabric, followed by the sounds of dozens of crystals clinking on the ground.

Reo stumbled forward, the weight on his back being reduced significantly. He ran with everything he had left. He hit the wooden bridge and then kept running. He only stopped when he was about halfway over the bridge. Overall, it wasn’t that long. The river under it was only about ten meters wide. His eyes went up to a glowing statue situated just above the bridge. That must be the wardstone.

He put Madaline down carefully, right in the center of the bridge. He then pulled off the pack on his back. The top half had been torn to shreds, but that could have just as easily been his back. There were only about one-third of the crystals remaining. It wouldn’t be enough to last the winter, as Clem had wanted.

Reo couldn’t help but twist his head bitterly before looking back where they had come. The wolves had abandoned to chase to munch on crystals, but they suddenly scattered as the pack leader approached, its muzzles covered in blood. Their eyes met, but then the pack leader lowered its head and started munching on the crystals the other wolves hadn’t managed to swipe.

Reo’s body shook. He felt anger similar to when he learned about his girlfriend. This wolf not only killed a man just to steal some crystals the man needed to survive, but it had succeeded in getting what it wanted. Now, Clem was dead, and Madaline was injured. He adjusted his fingers on his gun and then raised it. Five bullets left.

With a roar that echoed across the bridge, Reo charged forward. The pack leader, seemingly unconcerned, continued to eat the crystals. Reo aimed and fired three bullets in rapid succession. The first bullet grazed the wolf’s leg, causing it to fall to a knee. The second hit its shoulder, and the third tore through its flank, leaving a trail of blood. This time, the pack leader acknowledges him. It glared with hatred, and as he left the bridge, it charged him, its claws tearing at the ground.

“Reo!” He heard a call from Madaline.

She had awoken? That was good. That meant she was alive. He couldn’t spare her a glance because the pack leader was leaping right at him. He aimed and let off the last two shots, waiting until the last second so he knew that hit its skull. However, even if he killed it, the creature still had tons of momentum. He braced himself as the wolf slammed into him. The impact was powerful enough that the two went tumbling down the blank. The next thing Reo knew, he was plunged into the icy water below.

The current was far stronger than he had predicted, and he was immediately pulled away from the shore. He fought to stay afloat, his gun clutched in his hand, but his strength was fading, and as the water pulled him away from the bridge, it also threatened to pull him under. His consciousness began to dim as he found himself devoid of oxygen. He realized he was going to die.

Reo wasn’t all that upset. In his past life, he had died killing people who needed to die. Perhaps he had a few regrets, but that was just how things went. In this life, though, he had managed to protect Madaline and even left her some crystals. At least, he had done something meaningful and productive with his life, even if it had been exceptionally short.

As his consciousness faded, he saw some text appear on his screen.

Mission: Complete

Result: B-

Mission Debrief:

Objectives:

Protect Madaline.  (5 points)

Protect Clem. (5 points)

Kill the Wolf Leader. (New Recipe)

Hidden Objectives:

Recover at least 200 crystals.  (10 points)

Recover all crystals. (100 points)

Kill at least five wolves. (New Recipe, extra ammo)

Kill all wolves. (Gun Attachment)

Complete your first mission successfully. (10 points)

Mission Rewards:

1 Clip of 9 mm Ammunition (15 bullets)

213 Mana Crystals

7 Wolf Pelts

12 KG of Wolf meat

New Recipe: Wolf Hide Armor

New Recipe: Guard Booth

Reward Points: 25 points

Well, how about that? It looked like God expected quite a lot from these missions, but also awarded accordingly. Reo couldn’t help but sigh as he was pulled into the dark. It was just a shame he’d never get to use any of those rewards. Rewards were for the living.

That’s when he felt a hand grab his wrist and pull him up. It was too bad he was already unconcious before he reached the surface.