Curse of the Transformation

Jacob's chest heaved as he crouched behind a rusted metal crate, his knuckles white around the pipe he still clutched. The factory was no longer just a shelter—it was now a battlefield, its every corner echoing with the growls of the transformed woman and the panicked cries of his companions. 

Narkos's voice rang out, smooth and mocking, from the shadows. "Do you feel it, Jacob? That tiny flicker of hope? It's so… fragile. Like a candle in a storm. But don't worry. I'll extinguish it for you." 

Jacob ignored the taunts, his mind racing. He glanced at Daniel, who was pressed against another crate, blood trickling down his arm from a deep scratch. They had no weapons strong enough to take down the creature, and there was no way to overpower Narkos. 

"We need a distraction," Jacob whispered across the room to Daniel, his voice barely audible over the cacophony. 

Daniel nodded, his face pale. "What kind of distraction? She's faster than us, and he's… not human." 

Jacob swallowed hard. "We don't need to beat them. We just need to buy time to open that door." 

The rear exit of the factory loomed in the distance, blocked by debris but not entirely impassable. It was their only chance. 

---

On the other side of the room, the monstrous woman sniffed the air, her glowing eyes scanning the darkness. Her grotesque form twitched with every noise, a predator attuned to even the faintest sound. 

Narkos leaned against a broken machine, watching her with mild interest. "You're wasting time, Jacob. I could end this whenever I please, you know. But where's the fun in that?" 

He gestured lazily, and the woman tilted her head toward the crates. Her claws scraped the ground as she moved, her steps slow and deliberate, savoring the hunt. 

---

Jacob motioned for Daniel to move toward the exit. "Go. I'll keep her busy." 

Daniel hesitated, shaking his head. "You won't last." 

"I don't need to," Jacob said, forcing a smirk. "Just get that door open." 

Before Daniel could argue, Jacob stood and banged the pipe against the crate, the sharp clang echoing through the factory. "Hey! Over here, you freak!" 

The creature whipped around, her glowing eyes locking onto him. She let out a guttural snarl and charged, her claws tearing through crates as she closed the distance. 

Jacob bolted, leading her away from the others. He dodged and weaved through the maze of machinery, his heart pounding in his chest. Behind him, the sound of her claws scraping against metal was deafening. 

"Keep going, Daniel!" Jacob yelled, hoping his friend was making progress. 

---

Daniel reached the door, his hands shaking as he began clearing the debris. Every second felt like an eternity as he shoved aside broken pipes and shattered panels. 

From the corner of his eye, he saw Narkos watching him, a bemused expression on his face. "Oh, I wouldn't bother with that, boy," Narkos said, his voice calm. "Even if you get out, where will you go? The world is mine now." 

Daniel ignored him, his breathing ragged as he continued working. 

---

Jacob's lungs burned as he ran, the pipe slipping from his sweaty grip. He turned a corner too sharply and tripped, hitting the ground hard. Before he could scramble to his feet, the creature was upon him. 

Her claws slashed down, and Jacob barely rolled out of the way in time. The floor where he had been moments ago now bore deep gouges, metal twisted like paper. 

He swung the pipe with all his strength, striking her across the face. She recoiled slightly, but the blow only seemed to enrage her. 

"Come on, you monster," Jacob muttered, struggling to his feet. "Is that all you've got?" 

The creature lunged again, but this time, Jacob was ready. He ducked under her claws and swung the pipe at her legs, knocking her off balance. She crashed into a pile of machinery, momentarily dazed. 

---

"Jacob!" Daniel's voice rang out. "The door's clear!" 

Jacob turned toward the exit, his relief short-lived as the creature recovered and roared in fury. She charged at him again, her speed almost blurring her movements. 

"Move, Jacob!" Daniel screamed. 

Jacob sprinted toward the door, his legs screaming in protest. He could feel the creature's breath on his neck, her claws just inches away. 

---

At the last moment, Daniel grabbed a broken piece of machinery and hurled it at the creature. The jagged metal struck her in the side, causing her to stumble. It was enough. 

Jacob dove through the doorway, rolling onto the ground outside. Daniel followed, slamming the heavy door shut behind them. 

For a moment, there was only silence, broken by the sound of their labored breathing. 

"We made it," Daniel said, his voice trembling. 

But Jacob shook his head, his eyes scanning the dark forest ahead. "This isn't over. Not by a long shot." 

---

Inside the factory, Narkos stood alone, the creature at his side. He ran a hand along her deformed face, his expression unreadable. 

"Interesting," he muttered. "They survived. For now." 

He turned toward the closed door, his smile returning. "Run as far as you like. It won't matter. This world belongs to me." 

> **What awaits Jacob and Daniel in the wilderness? Will they find allies—or more horrors? And how far is Narkos willing to go to prove his dominion?**