"Ha…"
"Ha…"
"Hang in there, Mike," A veteran soldier said to his comrade on his back, trying to keep his voice steady. "We're going to find shelter. Just hold on a little longer."
It was inside the crumbling walls of an abandoned building, and the veteran soldier named Levin was struggling to keep moving. His breath came out in heavy bursts, and his body ached with exhaustion. He carried his injured comrade, Mike, on his back, and Mike's condition honestly wasn't suitable for joining the operation anymore.
So much blood had soaked Mike's shirt, making it cling to him like a second skin. Honestly, if Mike was any other ordinary person, he would've already met whatever creator of this universe already. Only the sheer determination and the result of the harsh training during his time as a soldier were the reason why he was still awake even with the amount of blood he lost in the last fifteen minutes.
Levin's heart raced, not just from the weight of his injured friend but from the guilt that clawed at him. The operation should be simple, just to gather information about the whereabout of the high-end aliens who accidentally appeared in their city and figured out the number of their troops. However, when their presence was detected, it turned into chaos. Out of ten soldiers, only three remained—Levin, Mike, and the soldier they had lost in the mayhem.
"Easy, Captain. No need to be so nervous." Mike chuckled weakly, his voice strained. "This is the first time I've heard you talk so much. You've always been the quiet type. The others would be shocked if they saw your state right now."
Levin managed a small smile despite the weight of despair pressing down on him. He could almost hear their fallen friends laughing in response, teasing him about his reputation for being stoic. If only they could have made it back together. The thought made his heart ache even more.
"Yeah... they'd probably say I was hit on the head or I am some sort of an impostor," Levin replied, his voice softer. He glanced down at Mike, whose attempt to joke was a fragile thread keeping them connected. "But I promise, we're going to make it. Just a little further."
Just when they found a moment of calm, their relief shattered. The heavy, staggering footsteps echoed outside the building, stomping closer. Panic shot through them like ice water.
"Quick, we need to hide!" Levin whispered urgently, glancing around for a place to escape. They darted behind a broken wall, hearts pounding in their chests. The loud thuds grew louder, making it clear that an alien was coming.
Then, through the cracks in the wall, Levin heard a voice he hadn't expected—another member of their squad, the one who got separated from the squad the first time their presence was discovered, Alex. He could hear Alex talking to the alien, but something sounded very wrong. Levin could feel all the blood drained from his face as he kept listening to the conversation.
"No, no! Don't hurt my family! I beg you!" Alex was pleading. "I told you everything I know. Just let me go!"
Levin's face went pale as the realization hit him like a hammer. Alex wasn't just a survivor; he had betrayed them. He had snitched on their plans for this operation! That was why their squad had been ambushed. Every single one of his friends had died because of Alex's treachery.
"Fuck!" Levin cursed. Even though it was just a whisper, Mike who was on his back still heard it. Even though he was still weak and in pain, the man asked with a low voice, "Levin, what's happening?"
Levin's hands clenched into fists. "It's him, Mike. Alex... he sold us out."
Even though he couldn't see it clearly, Levin could guess what his comrade's reaction was. Disbelief, anger, betrayal, and all the negative emotions mixed up in one go, creating a complicated feeling toward the man they thought was aa comrade.
How could Alex have done this? The same man they had fought alongside, trusted with their lives, was the reason for their tragedy.
"Oh, so, your last two companions are here?" A creepy growl could be heard from their hiding place, making them both shiver instantly. "Oh, good… It is time for a hunting game…"
As Levin and Mike listened, their blood ran cold. They didn't need to listen more to know who spoke that. It was the alien, but not the normal, ferally one they usually found in the city. No, the alien they heard they were facing right now was the rare type known for their intelligence, capable of thinking and planning like a human or sometimes even better. This kind of alien was famous for being brutal and enjoyed turning hunting humans into a twisted game.
Levin glanced at Mike for a moment, trying to see what his comrade was thinking about. Fear flickered in Mike's eyes, but there was a spark of determination. If the intelligence they had about this type of aliens was right, they understood that they had no way out of this. Out of the seven times this type of aliens appeared in public, all the seven occasions always ended up in a blood bath with no one able to survive. Hell, the last time this type of alien was seen, the Xing Federal, the biggest country in the world, ended up losing about 3000 of their best soldiers.
They knew by now that those two wouldn't be able to escape. However, they could fight. Even though they won't be able to do a lot, at least they had to get any information about this mysterious type of alien so that their comrades' sacrifice wouldn't be for nothing.
"Mike, activate the hidden camera in your suit." Levin whispered, preparing his weapon. It was a sleek, futuristic gun capable of firing deadly lasers that was enough o kill any ordinary aliens outside here. Still, this weapon was useless against this intelligence alien as it had a quite fast movement, able to react and evade the laser instantly. Coupled with the fact that the gun almost run out of battery, Levin calculated inside his head quickly before saying, "Two minutes. That is all the time I can give you. So, make sure you observe that bastard and find something useful, okay?"
After being put down on the floor, Mike stared at his captain for a few seconds before nodding solemnly. "Don't worry, Captain. I will make sure your sacrifice is not for nothing."
Levin's smile was strained as he patted Mike's shoulder and said, "May we meet again in whatever underworld exist in this universe, Mike. It is good to be your captain."
BAM!
Just right after he said that, Levin raised his laser gun and shot at the ceiling, creating a loud blast that echoed throughout the building. Dust and debris fell, and the alien's attention snapped to him, its glowing eyes glimmering with anger.
Levin moved quickly, aware that the alien was much faster than any human. He tried to use the wreckage around him to his advantage, aiming blasts at walls and objects to create obstacles that might slow the alien down.
But the alien adapted quickly. With its speed and strength, it started pushing Levin back, gaining the upper hand. As time went by, Levin's heart raced. Even though he managed to dodge and weave, he could feel himself being cornered. What frustrated him the most was that even after a minute or so the fight had run, he still couldn't find any opening to expose this alien. The alien was quick, agile, strong, and always be able to react to his movement. It didn't matter whether he was going to shoot with his laser gun or go for a close-combat fight, he couldn't match this alien at all.
However, just when Levin felt his back met the wall and thought he was finished, he heard Mike's voice.
"Levin! Aim for its shoulder!" Mike shouted, his voice excited. "Every time it gets hit there, it slows down!"
Levin didn't question how Mike got this information. Hell, he didn't even question how ridiculous the information was, to hit its shoulder to slow down the alien's movement. At this time, his instinct as a soldier to follow command kicked in, and he raised his laser gun to the alien's shoulder instantly.
However, right before he could pull the trigger, an explosion could be heard from a close distanc, and the next thing Levin knew, he was in a lot of pains already.
BAM!
"ARGH!" He screamed, feeling his back was crushed by the building, and darkness began to creep into his mind. He fought to stay awake, struggling to keep his eyes open. As his vision blurred, he saw Alex, the traitor, standing next to the alien. Levin's heart sank as he realized who just hit him from behind. "Why, Alex? Why did you betray us?" he asked weakly, his voice barely above a whisper
"I am so sorry, Captain…" Even though Alex apologized, Levin could notice the indifference in his voice. "Humanity has no hope to win this war. You don't understand how powerful the aliens really are. They have an army unlike anything you can imagine.".
"Why…"
"Don't worry, Captain. You won't understand it." Alex murmured. Then, under the alien's watch, Alex pulled his laser gun and aimed it straight to Levin's head, and before he pulled the trigger, the traitor whispered, "I hope you will have a better life in your next life, Captain. See you in hell."
BAM!
And right after Alex pulled the trigger, everything faded to black. Levin lost consciousness, the pain and chaos slipping away, leaving him in a dark silence.