ACADEMY OF SURVIVAL

"You all sound like a bunch of wasps."

Carter stood, his voice cold as he surveyed the fallen team members. 

"How about I make you all sound a little more... lovely?" 

He casually sliced his thumb, letting a drop of blood fall.

With a chilling smile, he wiped his blood onto each of their tongues.

As the blood seeped into their mouths, they began to transform—twisting into different shapes, shifting into monstrous forms of animals and humans looking sinders.

"Amazing, isn't it? A real masterpiece, don't you think, Carter?"

Carter smiled, watching the deformed transformation of the guards.

Amused, he observed the newly created sinders as they turned on unconscious Neil's body, savagely devouring him.

"You should've listened to him from the start."

Carter muttered, almost as if speaking to himself.

"Now, head out and join your fellow members. Feast to your satisfaction."

He commanded, his voice unwavering.

The newly formed sinders dashed off with terrifying speed, their movements so fast that the ground trembled beneath them as they disappeared into the trees.

Meanwhile:

Rodè, still running, finally stopped to catch his breath, his body trembling with exhaustion and despair. Alone and hopeless, he realized he hadn't caught up to any of his teammates. The isolation was suffocating.

"What happened to the plan we had before all this?" he muttered, his voice trembling as his breathing came in shallow gasps.

Tears threatened to spill again, the weight of his situation pressing down on him.

Then, a sudden thought struck him like lightning.

"Wait! Am I... the sacrificial lamb?" he screamed, his voice echoing through the empty forest.

The realization froze him in place, his legs unable to muster the energy for another step.

Just then, he felt it—an ominous vibration beneath his feet. The ground trembled violently, sending chills through his already weary body.

"Um… what is going on?" Rodè whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the earth shaking.

His disbelief turned to sheer terror as the pounding rhythm of footsteps echoed closer, striking the ground with alarming force.

Without daring to look back, Rodè screamed in panic and launched himself forward, sprinting as fast as his legs could carry him.

His breath came in ragged gasps as his mind repeated a desperate mantra.

"I want to live. I want to survive this."

Fear fueled his every step, and the adrenaline coursing through his veins kept him from faltering. He darted into the treeline, his instincts driving him to find cover.

Finally, he pressed himself against a large tree, the rough bark digging into his back as he crouched low. His chest heaved as he fought to quiet his breathing.

"I'm sorry, everyone," he thought, his heart heavy with guilt as he covered his mouth to stifle the sound of his breath.

The thunderous footsteps grew closer, the ground trembling with each strike. Rodè shut his eyes tightly, praying he wouldn't be discovered.

Hidden in the shadows of the forest, he waited, his fear mounting with every passing second.

Rodè's trembling body froze as he began to hear the chilling cries of horror—agonized screams of people pleading for help, calling out names in desperation. The air was filled with chaos, pierced by the guttural roar of an unknown creature.

His nerves frayed, Rodè clung to the tree trunk, sweat pouring down his face. He strained his ears to separate the sounds, his fear mounting with every cry. Then, heavy footsteps reverberated through the ground. They grew louder, closer, and with a shaky breath, Rodè tilted his head up just enough to catch sight of the source.

A female sinder emerged into view, her towering frame casting a massive shadow over the forest. Her every step thundered against the earth, and her head tilted as if scanning the area. Then she let out a blood-curdling roar that sent the birds scattering from the treetops above.

Rodè clamped his eyes shut, his lips trembling as he suppressed a scream. His mind was blank, overtaken by a primal terror.

His shaky body slid to the ground, his back pressed tightly against the tree trunk, as if willing himself to disappear into it. His hands trembled uncontrollably, and his breathing grew uneven as he struggled to remain silent. The sinder prowled closer, her piercing gaze sweeping across the area. Rodè dared not move a muscle.

And then, in an instant, the sinder dashed off into the trees with terrifying speed, her thunderous steps fading into the distance.

Rodè exhaled sharply, his limbs going slack in sheer relief. His mind refused to process what he had just seen, and for a brief moment, the only coherent thought he could manage was:

"I'm not dead."

His fingers slowly ran across his arms, as if confirming he was still intact.

"I'm not dead! I'm alive!"

The thought almost spilled out as a scream of relief, but at the last second, Rodè slapped his hands over his mouth. His eyes widened in panic as he remembered the screams he had heard earlier.

The memories surged back with horrifying clarity. His teammates—those gut-wrenching cries…

"Am I the only one alive?" The question clawed at his mind, an unbearable weight settling on his chest.

"I… I hope not!" he whispered, his voice shaky as he clutched his head, trying to block out the dreadful sounds of death echoing in the distance.

Just as Rodè glanced down, he suddenly felt a massive drop on him as he became aware of his body, now drenched in a wet, sticky substance. The dense liquid clung to his skin and clothes, its awful texture sending a wave of cold dread coursing through him.

A shiver ran down his spine as he stared at the glistening substance covering him, his breath quickening in horror.

 Slowly, he reached up to touch it. The liquid was thick, sticky. His stomach turned as he realized it wasn't water.

A chilling shiver ran down his spine, and he felt an overwhelming presence above him. The air seemed to grow heavier, darker, as dread rooted him in place.

Despite his paralyzing fear, Rodè forced himself to look up, his movements slow and mechanical. His gaze met a monstrous sight—a massive, gaping mouth descending toward him, jagged teeth glistening with saliva and the remains of its last meal.

"Wha… what…"

Rodè's thoughts sputtered and died, his body unable to move, his mind unable to comprehend the terror looming over him. Every fiber of his being surrendered to the sheer hopelessness of the moment.