Resonance Unbound

The creature was different from the one earlier but no less horrifying. Ezra's mind screamed at him to run, but his body betrayed him, frozen in place. He could only watch as the monster crept closer, its mandibles clicking rhythmically. Thin, needle-like fangs glistened, mere inches from his face.

The world tilted. Ezra's head spun, his vision blurred, and just as his knees buckled, something yanked him backward. Strong arms hoisted him off the ground, and before he could react, he found himself flung over a broad shoulder.

"Kid, you've got rocks for brains, you know that?" a familiar, gruff voice growled. The world sped by in a blur as Shirley carried him away. "Standin' there like a damn statue while death's knockin' on your door. What were you thinkin'?"

"Shirley…?" Ezra's voice was weak, his head throbbing as blood rushed downward. "Could you… maybe not carry me like this? I'm already half-dead—don't make it worse."

Shirley snorted. "Half-dead? Try fully dumb. You passed out the second I grabbed you. You're lucky I don't leave you for the vultures."

Ezra opened his mouth to retort, but unconsciousness swallowed him before he could form the words.

When Ezra finally came to, nausea churned in his gut. Memories of the encounter rushed back, and he shuddered. He'd been face-to-face with something straight out of a nightmare—and lived. Barely.

"Welcome back to the land of the livin'," Shirley said from nearby. He tossed a dented can of soup toward Ezra, who fumbled to catch it. "Figured you'd wake up eventually. Thought I'd have to slap you around some."

Ezra groaned, sitting up slowly. "Please don't. I think I've been slapped around enough today." He cracked the can open and drank straight from it, wincing at the sour metallic taste but too hungry to care.

"You scared the hell outta me back there," Shirley muttered, more to himself than to Ezra.

Ezra blinked in surprise. "You? Scared? You're not serious."

"Don't get smart with me, kid," Shirley snapped, though there was no real heat in his tone. "You've got no idea what's out there. Things are gettin' worse by the hour. Those monsters? They're crawlin' outta every crack and crevice in this city."

Ezra frowned, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I didn't think it could get any worse."

"Oh, it can," Shirley said grimly. "And it will if we don't keep movin'. Backup's late—again. We can't just sit here twiddlin' our thumbs."

"Backup?" Ezra asked, narrowing his eyes. "Who are we even waiting for?"

"People who're supposed to keep us alive," Shirley growled, his frustration evident. "But they're takin' their sweet time, and we're sittin' ducks out here. Let's move."

The city was a shadow of its former self. Smoke curled into the darkened sky, ash falling like grimy snow. Streets were choked with debris—shattered glass, crumpled metal, and broken concrete. Shops had been looted, their interiors gutted, shelves overturned and empty.

Worse still, the monsters were everywhere. Their glowing eyes swept over the rubble, their hulking forms prowling with predatory intent. Ezra kept his head low, every nerve on edge.

"You keep laggin' behind, and I'll leave you for 'em," Shirley muttered, glancing over his shoulder.

"Sorry," Ezra mumbled, quickening his pace.

Shirley carried a rucksack slung over one shoulder and a makeshift weapon—a crude axe that looked more like it belonged in a scrapyard than a battlefield. Sweat and grime streaked his white shirt, now stained brown with blood and dirt. He tied his graying hair back with a grimace, his brows furrowed as he scanned their surroundings.

"What's wrong?" Ezra asked.

"Backup should've been here hours ago," Shirley muttered. "They're later than a preacher at a bar."

Ezra rolled his eyes. "Do you ever just… say things normally?"

Shirley shot him a look. "Do you ever not get yourself into trouble?"

Point taken. Ezra sighed and trudged along behind him.

Hours passed, and still, no one came.

The monsters grew bolder, their growls echoing closer with each passing moment. The once-dark sky churned with storm clouds, and soon, heavy rain began to fall in unrelenting sheets. The streets turned slick, water pooling in jagged potholes and cracks.

"There," Shirley said, pointing to a partially collapsed building. "Move it, kid. We'll hole up there for the night."

The building was damp and reeked of mold, but it was better than nothing. Rain battered the walls, the sound masking the distant snarls of the creatures outside.

Shirley dropped his rucksack onto a broken table and sank onto an overturned crate. Ezra paced restlessly, glancing out of the grimy windows.

"We're safe for now," Shirley said, breaking the tense silence. "But come morning, we're outta here. No more sittin' around."

Ezra hesitated. "What if the backup doesn't show?"

"Then we don't wait." Shirley's voice was firm. "We move. Backup or no backup."

Ezra nodded, though unease churned in his gut. The storm outside raged on, thunder rumbling in the distance. He leaned against the wall, exhaustion pulling at him.

Morning couldn't come fast enough.