Chapter 325
Clementine:
I fought off as many fleshmingos as I could, cutting through the chaos while trying to save my mates, who had suddenly stopped fighting.
They looked around blankly, lost.
They were defending themselves, thankfully, but not killing any of the creatures.
They’d dodge, step aside, and freeze again.
I had no choice but to charge forward, slicing down every Fleshmingo that lunged their way.
When I saw a cluster of them heading toward my squadmates’ room, something inside me snapped.
I didn’t care if I died, I would protect them.
I sprinted to the door, slammed it shut, and stood in front of it, blocking the way.
One Fleshmingo’s neck met my blade, another I stabbed straight through the eye just as it leapt for me.
“Guys, wake up!” I shouted, pounding on the door.
More of the creatures poured in, clawing and shrieking.
My only option left was to move my mates.
I shoved Troy, Haiden, and Yorick toward the room, cutting down the monsters that got too close.
Thankfully, they didn’t resist.
I kicked the door open and pushed them inside while still swinging both blades.
Mira and the others had woken up, but their faces were frozen in shock, too stunned to process what was happening.
Just as I was about to follow them in, excruciating pain tore through my back.
AFleshmingo had bitten me.
Its beak clamped down so hard that my whole body trembled.
I spun around, slashing at its neck, then stabbed it through the eye.
It screeched as the others howled in response.
Suddenly, a strong hand gripped the back of my neck and yanked me inside, slamming the door shut behind me.
It was Sebastian, finally awake, and just in time.
Now all of us were trapped in the room.
Mira, Sebastian, and Renee pressed their bodies against the door to hold it shut while I rushed to pry the window open.
The mansion was suffocating with danger, we needed to get out if we wanted to live.
“Come on, help me!” I yelled at Yorick, Haiden, and Troy. They looked around in confusion.
“Where’s Oriana?” Yorick asked.
I rolled my eyes, tearing at the nailed planks on the window.
“We can’t hold it much longer!” Renee cried.
The door shuddered under the weight of the monsters. I could see my squadmates’ bodies lurch forward each time the creatures slammed into it.
“Just a second!” I shouted. Finally, the windows were open.
“Everyone out!” I screamed. My mates jumped first, and dread twisted in my chest—they were going after Oriana.
I threw myself against the door, using my full weight to brace it.
“Go after them!” I ordered my squadmates. “They’re not in their senses—protect them p>
“What about you?” Mira shouted.
“I’ll be fine! As soon as you’re out, I’ll follow!” I yelled back, forcing a reassuring tone.
Thankfully, they didn’t hesitate.
One by one, they jumped out into the night while I pressed harder against the shaking door, fighting to hold it closed as the growls on the other side grew louder.
Once I stepped out of the mansion, I realized how many Fleshmingos were already storming inside.
The lurkers were going to have a hard time cleaning this place up.
At the same time, I had no idea how this had happened in the first place.
Two people were on guard duty, and I was with my squadmates.
Did Oriana open the door? But why would she?
She had run downstairs in a panic, almost frantic with worry, but it made no sense that she would go so far as to leave through the main door without her shields.
Wouldn’t it make more sense that she felt safer inside the mansion, surrounded by the ones under her spell?
So many questions spun in my head as I stood on the open road, staring around in confusion, wondering where to go next.
Then I heard someone yelling, waving her arms. I looked up and saw Mira holding Haiden from behind.
“I’m securing him! I’m securing him!” she repeated, making me laugh softly before I ran over to help.
I grabbed Haiden by his collar and shook him.
“You need to snap out of it!” I yelled in his face. I noticed his eyes wandering.
“She’s calling for us,” he uttered.
I frowned, glancing at Mira.
“Oriana’s calling for you? You can hear her?” I asked, because none of us could hear a thing.
“I can hear her,” he repeated, and Mira and I exchanged a look.
We both realized this could be our way to find out what had actually happened.
Maybe we could reach Oriana and ask if she was the one who left the door open and if she was, where the hell the White Squad had gone.
Had they run off to save themselves, or had one of them been attacked?
So many questions crowded my mind.
“Okay, how about we come with you and save her?” I suggested.
As soon as I said that, Haiden nodded quickly.
“Okay, let’s go,” I told him, giving Mira a look to keep quiet about any doubts.
We began following Haiden, almost in a hurry.
Every time a Fleshmingo attacked, we fought them off together.
Mira was a great fighter too—unlike Oriana, who was completely useless.
No, Mira was strong, and she was honest and straightforward. I really enjoyed her company.
Haiden led us down the road between Fleshmingo Town and the big city. That’s where we came across the others.
“Oh my God, you guys are here? Thank goodness!” Renee exclaimed as soon as she saw us.
She rushed over, gave me a quick hug, then hugged Mira too.
Troy was walking straight ahead, just like Haiden, following the same unseen voice.
“It’s okay, you did great,” I told Renee, patting her shoulder as she smiled faintly.
As we continued walking briskly, we saw Sebastian moving beside Yorick.
He turned toward us and gestured at him.
“He’s walking like a zombie,” Sebastian remarked. “He kept fighting me to follow some voice, so I just let him go. I wanted to save him from the monsters, but I couldn’t stop him from moving forward p>
I gestured to him that he had done well and didn’t need to stop him.
We just needed to follow the three of them now.
The three walked in a straight line while we trailed behind.
All of us were thinking the same thing, what the hell had happened?
How had so many squad members gone missing?
And who had left the damn door open?
Then, my heart stopped when my three mates suddenly halted.
I knew they could sense her nearby now.