Yunji (2)
* * *
As we stepped into the apartment, the air was thick with a metallic scent that immediately set my nerves on edge. In the dim light, a figure stood motionless in the doorway—a familiar silhouette. It was Yunji.
"Yunji," I called softly, approaching her with caution.
But she didn't move or react. Her gaze was fixed ahead, seemingly locked onto something in the living room. As I moved closer, the full extent of the scene unfolded before me.
The living room was a nightmare made real. The walls were splattered with dark, drying blood, streaked across the faded wallpaper like some macabre painting.
The furniture was upturned, cushions slashed, as if some violent whirlwind had torn through the space. The floor was a sea of crimson, soaking into the faded carpet and pooling around the lifeless bodies that lay scattered about.
Two bodies were immediately recognizable as Yunji's parents. They were slumped against the wall, their clothes stained and torn, eyes open in expressions of terror and disbelief. The brutality of the attack was evident, their bodies marred with deep, ragged wounds.
I forced myself to look away from the horror, to focus instead on Yunji's face. Her expression was disturbingly calm, a stark contrast to the chaos around her. Her eyes were unfocused, as if seeing something far beyond the present moment, devoid of life and warmth.
Without acknowledging me, she turned and walked silently toward a room at the far end of the apartment. I glanced back at Elena, who stood behind me, her face pale and drawn with shock. We exchanged a look of mutual understanding, then followed Yunji down the narrow hallway.
Yunji stopped in front of a door, her gaze fixed on the handle. Her face remained blank, emotionless, as if she were lost somewhere deep within herself. I stepped up beside her and peered into the room.
Inside was another heart-wrenching scene. A small boy lay on the bed, his body unnaturally still. He couldn't have been more than seven years old.
His skin was pale and cold, and his eyes, once full of innocence and life, were now closed forever. A stuffed toy rested by his side, a silent witness to the tragedy that had unfolded here.
My heart clenched at the sight, grief and anger swirling in equal measure. I turned back to Yunji, her face illuminated by the cold light filtering through the window. She was utterly still, like a statue carved from stone.
"Yunji…" I said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. The contact was gentle, but the gesture felt profoundly inadequate against the weight of her loss. "We have to get out of here."
But she didn't respond. Her gaze remained fixed on the boy's body, lost in a world of her own making. It was as if the violence and horror had frozen her in place, trapping her in a moment of time that refused to let go.
I looked back at Elena, who nodded slightly, her own expression grim. We both understood that Yunji needed time, but time was a luxury we didn't have. The threat outside was real and pressing, and every second spent here increased our risk.
"Yunji," I repeated, more firmly this time. "We can't stay here. It's not safe."
Still, there was no flicker of recognition, no sign that she had heard me. I squeezed her shoulder gently, trying to reach through the fog of shock that enveloped her.
Finally, she blinked, as if waking from a deep sleep. Her eyes shifted to meet mine, a flicker of awareness returning to her gaze. There was pain there, raw and deep, but also a glimmer of something else—a fragile thread of resilience that had yet to snap.
"We have to go," I urged, my voice firm but kind. "We'll figure this out, but we need to be safe first."
She nodded slowly, almost imperceptibly, and took a small step back from the doorway. It was enough for now—a step toward the present, away from the horror that had claimed her family.
"Let's go," I said, casting one last glance at the room.
* * *
We were just about to exit Yunji's home when the noises began. Shouts echoed through the building, followed by the pounding of heavy boots on the stairs.
"Shit!" Elena's voice was tight with fear. "They're coming up! A lot of them."
My heart raced. My mana reserves were critically low, and I had to keep Yunji safe. We couldn't afford to face an onslaught with only the three of us. The narrow staircase was our only advantage—if we could force them to come at us one or two at a time, we might stand a chance.
"What do we do?" Elena's panic was evident, her eyes darting around.
"Start going down!" I commanded, urgency in my voice.
"What?!" Elena's disbelief was almost tangible.
"You have mana left, right? We need to get out of here!" I urged, my voice strained with the weight of our situation.
Elena hesitated for a moment, her fear mingling with frustration. "Fine!!" she said through gritted teeth, and we began descending the stairs.
The stairwell was dimly lit, each step creaking ominously under our weight. We moved quickly but carefully, trying to make as little noise as possible. I kept my eyes and ears open, listening to the approaching sounds.
Behind us, Yunji moved in a detached, almost mechanical way. Her face was a mask of emotionless determination.
Her pupils were unfocused, as though she were seeing through the pain and horror rather than experiencing it. I had to keep her safe, but the weight of her grief made it hard to gauge her strength.
As we descended the stairs, the tension was palpable. Every creak of the steps beneath our feet seemed to echo in the narrow space, amplifying our anxiety.
The distant shouting and heavy footsteps grew louder with each passing moment. We were racing against time, and the narrow stairwell was our only chance to manage the enemy's numbers.
"Elena, get ready!" I barked over the noise. My mana was dangerously low, and I needed her to hold them off as long as possible.
Elena nodded, her face set in a grim determination. The crackle of electricity began to dance around her hands, a promising sign of the power she was about to unleash.
We rounded the next landing, and I could see the shadows of our enemies moving up the stairs.
The first attacker appeared around the corner—a burly figure wielding a large hammer. He was charging at us with a roar, his eyes wild and unhinged.
I moved instinctively, grabbing Elena's arm and pulling her to the side. The hammer swung through the air, narrowly missing us. I pulled out my gun and fired two quick shots, but the enemy was already ducking behind a wall.
Elena stepped forward, her hands glowing with electric energy.
With a swift movement, she thrust her palm forward, sending a crackling bolt of lightning towards the attacker. The lightning arced through the air with a high-pitched whine, striking the hammer-wielder with a blinding flash.
He convulsed, his body twitching violently before collapsing to the ground, smoke curling from his charred flesh.
"We need to keep moving!" I urged, as more enemies closed in. The narrow space meant only a few could confront us at once, but it also meant we couldn't use our full range of movement.
We rounded the next corner, and three more enemies appeared. One wielded a sword, another a knife, and the third brandished a gun.
The gunfire was quick, and I ducked instinctively, bullets ricocheting off the metal railing.
Elena unleashed another electric attack, a burst of lightning striking the gun-wielding enemy. The electricity overloaded his weapon, causing it to spark and explode in his hand. He fell back, his body twitching uncontrollably.
The sword-wielding enemy lunged at us with a deadly swing. I grabbed Elena and pushed her aside, sidestepping the attack and drawing my own gun.
I fired a quick shot that struck the attacker in the shoulder. He staggered, his sword falling from his hand. Elena followed up with a precise electric discharge, sending a high-voltage jolt through his body. He crumpled to the ground, his movements jerking spasmodically.
The remaining enemy, knife in hand, was fast and relentless. He darted forward, slashing at us with quick, erratic movements.
Elena and I worked in tandem, moving as one. I fired a few shots, forcing him to dodge and retreat.
Elena created a barrier of electric energy, blocking the knife strikes and deflecting the blows. She moved with grace and speed, her hands glowing with bright blue sparks.
The attacker's eyes widened in fear as Elena's electric attacks became more intense.
She unleashed a flurry of lightning bolts, each one striking with pinpoint accuracy.
The stairway was filled with the crackling sound of electricity and the smell of ozone. The knife-wielder was finally overwhelmed, his movements becoming sluggish as the electric shocks took their toll.
He dropped his knife, falling to the floor, convulsing from the continuous surge of electricity.
But as we moved down the stairs, the situation grew more desperate.
The attacks from below didn't cease. I could hear the clamor of weapons and the roar of enemies closing in on us.
Elena's breathing was ragged, and I could see the strain in her eyes. The electrical energy around her was flickering, her mana reserves dangerously low.
"Keep going!" I urged, but Elena's face was pale, sweat beading on her forehead.
"I'm running out of mana!" she shouted, her voice tight with exhaustion.
I glanced back and saw a figure charging up the stairs, a large, menacing shape. He was wielding a heavy club, his intentions clear. Elena barely had the strength to lift her hand. I knew I had to act quickly.
"Elena, get back!" I shouted, pushing her behind me.
I took aim at the incoming enemy, my gun steady in my hands. The club-wielder swung with a mighty roar, but I was faster. My shots rang out, three bullets in rapid succession. The first two hit him in the chest, the third in the head. He staggered, then collapsed, the club falling from his hand.
As we continued down the stairs, even more noise of footsteps were heard. There were still many more, potentially dozens of people coming up.
I could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me. My mana was nearly depleted, and the incoming enemies made my heart race. The stairwell was becoming a battlefield, and I could hear the relentless approach of our enemies below.
I glanced over my shoulder. Elena's face was pale, her strength clearly waning.
But suddenly, she suddenly stepped in front of me, her body rigid.
"Get back!" she shouted, her voice firm despite her exhaustion.
"What? Why?" I asked, confusion and urgency mingling in my tone.
"Get behind me!" she insisted.
Without waiting for a response, she pushed me back and planted her feet firmly on the stairs. I hesitated for a moment, then complied, stepping behind her as she prepared for what was to come.
Elena took a deep breath, her hands glowing with the last remnants of her electric power.
Her entire body seemed to crackle with energy as she channeled all her remaining mana into a single, powerful attack. The air around her hummed with electricity, the intensity of the charge causing the space to vibrate with anticipation.
With a determined look on her face, Elena raised her hands above her head and unleashed a massive surge of electricity down the stairwell.
The energy shot through the air like a lightning bolt, a blinding arc of pure power cascading down the stairs.
The sheer brilliance of the electric attack illuminated the stairwell, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
The force of the electricity crackled with a deafening roar.
The sound was a thunderous explosion, followed by a chorus of screams from the enemies below. The stairwell lit up with flashes of blue and white, and I could see the silhouettes of bodies being thrown against the walls, collapsing in a chaotic tangle of limbs.
The enemy forces were engulfed in the electrifying wave, their screams mingling with the thuds of their bodies hitting the ground.
Elena's attack was both awe-inspiring and devastating.
The sheer magnitude of the electrical burst illuminated the stairwell, making the scene look like something out of a nightmarish fantasy.
Elena's body shook from the effort, and her glowing aura faded to a mere flicker.
The power drained from her, and she dropped to her knees, her hands still sparking weakly.
"My mana's completely gone," she said, her voice a whisper of exhaustion.
"Okay, let's move before more come up," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the overwhelming fatigue.
Elena's legs were trembling, her energy spent. I quickly knelt beside her and lifted her into my arms.
"Wh—what are you doing?!" she stammered, her voice a mix of confusion and indignation.
"Well, you can't move, right?" I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the adrenaline still coursing through me.
Elena's face flushed a deep crimson, her expression a blend of embarrassment and reluctant gratitude.
"Y—yeah, but—" she started to protest, but her words faltered as I adjusted my grip, holding her securely.
Her cheeks grew even warmer, and she squirmed slightly, clearly uncomfortable with the close proximity.
"This is so... embarrassing," she muttered, trying to look away but failing to hide the pink tint on her face.
I couldn't help but chuckle softly at her reaction, despite the tension of the moment. "Well, if you want to get out of here alive, you'll have to put up with it," I said, my voice tinged with a hint of amusement.
Ignoring her protests, I started moving quickly but carefully down the stairs, making sure to avoid any potential obstacles.
"Just hold on tight," I said, focusing on the task at hand. The sounds of distant explosions and the thuds of bodies hitting the ground served as a harsh reminder of the danger we were still in.
Elena's initial embarrassment seemed to soften as she clung to me, her head resting against my shoulder.
"Fine," she said with a sigh, her voice quieter now. "Just... don't get any ideas."
Her flushed face buried itself further into my shoulder, and she let out a small, resigned sigh.
As I moved quickly down the stairs with Elena in my arms, I glanced back to check on Yunji.
"Let's go, Yunji! We need to get out of here!" I called out, urgency clear in my voice.
When I turned, I was taken aback by the expression on Yunji's face.
Her eyes, usually so full of concern, were now narrowed and sharp, a stark contrast to the fear and exhaustion that marked the rest of us.
Her lips were pressed together tightly, and her gaze was fixed on Elena, who was still clinging to me.
There was something in Yunji's look—a tense, almost suffocating intensity.
Her eyes, usually warm and soft, now held a cold, unyielding sharpness.
The way her jaw tightened and her brows furrowed suggested an underlying storm, an unsettling mix of frustration and a fierce, protective emotion that seemed to cut through the chaos around us.