The wind howled—

WHOOOOOO—~

Dust dragged across the street in violent currents, grinding against metal, glass, and bone alike.

The Land Cruiser pushed through it—

VRRROOOOM—!

Blind to anything normal sight could offer.

But not to him.

Don's gaze stayed forward, pupils faintly lit—

Tracking.

Mapping.

Everything.

Beside him—

Charles moved.

No warning.

No countdown.

He launched.

The breakaway was hard—

Immediate—

His wings snapped outward—

SHFFFT—!

A powerful surge of air followed, forcing the dust around him to scatter outward in a brief clearing—

The car dipped—

Tilted slightly to one side as the force rolled over it.

Don's hands adjusted on instinct.

He eased off the gas—

Just for a moment—

Then turned the wheel hard—

SKRRRT—!

The Land Cruiser drifted sideways across the broken road, tires grinding against loose debris as heavier chunks slammed into its side—

THUD—! CLANG—!

The windows rattled—

A crack spread across the windscreen—

Thin.

Holding.

Not breaking.

Don's eyes flicked across it once.

"…didn't think I'd be testing the modifications this soon."

Flat.

Then—

Something shifted.

Small.

Barely there.

But wrong.

His senses tightened.

Forward—

A sudden impact—

BAM—!

Metal rang out as something dropped onto the hood.

Don's gaze snapped up.

Out of the dust—

A blur—

Small.

Fast.

The child.

The same one.

He was already mid-motion—

Arm raised—

Then—

He struck.

CRACK—!

His nails drove into the windscreen.

Not scraping—

Piercing.

The glass held—

But only just.

Thin fractures spread outward from each point of contact.

His fingers dug deeper—

But stopped at the knuckles.

The rest of his hand couldn't follow.

For a second—

Stillness.

The boy lifted his head.

Met Don's eyes.

Cold.

Empty.

Don didn't react.

Didn't blink.

His pupils flared—

Vmmmm—~

The force hit instantly.

The boy's body seized—

Lifted slightly off the hood—

Then twisted.

Hard.

Joints bent the wrong way—

One—

Then another—

CRK—! CRK—! CRK—!

A wet, broken scream tore out of him—

"AAAH—!"

His limbs spasmed—

Violent.

Uncontrolled.

Through Beastshift—

Don saw it.

The thing inside.

The spineworm.

It loosened.

Not losing control—

Yielding.

Letting it happen.

Letting the boy feel everything.

Don's gaze didn't shift.

Didn't soften.

"…so that's how you want to play it."

No pause.

His hand moved slightly—

And the boy's head snapped sideways—

Once—

Twice—

Then—

Spun.

CRRRK—!

Again—

And again—

Until the body went slack.

Dead.

The force released.

The corpse slid off the hood—

THUD—~

The Land Cruiser lurched forward slightly—

Then—

Impact.

From behind.

GRRRAAM—!

The entire vehicle jolted—

Forward—

Metal groaning under the force.

Don's eyes flicked to the rearview.

A hand.

Huge.

Bent at an unnatural angle—

Pressed against the back of the vehicle.

The man.

Still there.

Still moving.

Don's jaw set.

No hesitation.

His hand lifted—

A sharp push—

The force slammed outward—

BOOM—!

The man's body was thrown back into the storm of dust—

Vanishing into it.

Don didn't wait.

The engine idled—

The door creaked—

He stepped out.

The wind hit him immediately—

Clothes snapping against his frame—

Dust scraping across his skin.

WHOOOO—~

He didn't close the door.

Didn't need to.

He listened.

Heavy breathing.

Close.

Dragging.

Hands scraping along the ground—

SCRRRT—~

And beneath it—

Clear.

Bright.

Heat.

Don took a step forward.

Then—

He moved.

No build-up.

No wasted motion.

One step—

And he vanished.

The ground cracked under the force—

CRACK—!

A split-second later—

He was there.

In front of the man.

Arm already in motion—

His fist drove forward—

Straight into the man's chest.

Impact—

BOOOOM—!

The air buckled around the strike—

Dust lagged behind—

Only catching up after the hit had already landed.

The man's ribs caved—

CRRRK—!

A broken sound forced out of him—

Not a scream—

Just air leaving a body that couldn't hold it.

His feet left the ground—

His entire frame launched backward—

Through the storm—

Clearing a path in the dust as he went—

Then—

CRASH—!

He slammed into a building.

The wall gave—

Partially collapsing inward as his body tore through it.

Silence—

For half a second.

Then the wind rushed back in.

Don straightened.

His arm lowered.

His eyes lifted.

Past the Land Cruiser—

Up.

Through the storm.

He found him.

Charles.

A silhouette cutting through the spiral.

He didn't fight the wind—

He followed it.

Circling.

Tighter.

Closer.

Using its pull instead of resisting it.

Lower—

Then higher—

Wings folding in at angles to slip through denser currents—

Adjusting constantly.

Precise.

Then—

He broke upward.

Out of the tighter rotation.

His wings dipped—

Briefly—

Avoiding a violent shift in the current—

Then angled.

Locked.

Target set.

He struck.

FOOSH—!

Feathers launched.

Clean.

Straight.

They tore through the wind—

Unaffected.

And hit.

THKK—!

The older woman's body jerked—

Once.

Then went still.

No resistance.

No second phase.

The wind collapsed instantly.

The spiral broke—

Air losing its structure—

Falling apart into scattered gusts.

WHFFFT—~

Her body dropped—

Limp—

Hitting the ground with a dull—

THUD—~

Charles descended after.

Slower than before.

His landing—

Controlled—

But not clean.

His foot hit—

Then slid half a step before he steadied himself.

A slight shift in posture.

A minor imbalance.

Gone just as fast as it appeared.

Don saw it.

Said nothing.

Just watched for a second longer—

Then turned.

Walked back.

The Land Cruiser waited where he left it.

Engine still running.

Door still open.

He got in.

Hands returned to the wheel.

A turn—

The engine growled again—

VRRROOOOM—!

Ready.

For whatever came next.

---

About 20 minutes later...

The Land Cruiser still pushed on—

VRRROOOOM—~

The engine however, no longer smooth.

A dull drag pulled at the vehicle now—

A rhythmic thump beneath the frame—

Don didn't look down.

Didn't need to.

He felt it through the wheel.

Through the seat.

One tire was gone.

Not destroyed—

Pinned.

A jagged, diamond-like spike had driven clean through it from another encounter they had with infected, the edge still lodged deep, grinding against the road with every rotation.

They kept moving anyway.

Ahead—

The tower came into view.

Ebon Crest.

Tall.

Dominant.

Even now—

Under siege.

The outer perimeter was already set.

Blacked-out SUVs formed a defensive ring around the main entrance, positioned at tight angles—nose to flank—creating a barrier that forced anything approaching into narrow lanes.

On top of them—

Figures stood.

Still.

Disciplined.

Black and silver uniforms hugged their frames—armored plates layered over reinforced fabric, silver lining tracing the edges of their torsos and limbs. Berets sat low over their heads, insignias pinned at the front, unmoving despite the wind.

Their weapons—

Heavy.

Assault rifles built thicker than standard, barrels reinforced, each shot carrying weight behind it.

They fired in bursts—

THUD—THUD—THUD—~

Not rapid.

Controlled.

Each recoil absorbed through trained posture.

Each shot placed.

Outside the perimeter—

Bodies.

Too many.

Scattered across the ground in uneven clusters.

Some torn.

Some intact.

All still.

And between them—

Movement.

Civilians.

Those who made it this far.

They pressed toward the barrier—

Hands raised—

Voices breaking.

"Please—! Let us in—!"

"We're not infected—!"

A woman stumbled forward, blood smeared across her face, dragging a child behind her.

"Please—!"

The child cried.

Barely able to stand.

The guards didn't move.

Didn't lower their weapons.

One stepped forward slightly—

Rifle raised—

"Step back or we will shoot!"

His voice carried over the chaos.

Firm.

No hesitation.

Some of them froze.

Others shook their heads—

Refusing.

A warning shot cracked through the air—

BANG—!

The round struck the ground just ahead of them—

Concrete bursting upward—

KRRK—!

They flinched back instantly.

Fear overtook desperation.

Some dropped to their knees.

Others backed away slowly—

Hands still raised.

A few—

Collapsed where they stood.

Laying among the dead.

Not moving.

Not trying anymore.

Inside the perimeter—

The building itself showed strain.

Several windows along the lower and mid levels were shattered—

Others cracked.

Impact marks spread across parts of the structure.

But it still stood.

Protected.

Above—

Two silver military helicopters circled.

Low.

Controlled.

One gunner leaned out from the side—

Hands locked on a mounted machine gun—

Barrel tracking movement below.

Beside him—

Another.

Still.

Calm.

Sniper rifle braced.

Scope fixed downward.

Watching.

Waiting.

Across the building—

Spotters occupied multiple floors.

Silhouettes behind reinforced glass.

Weapons angled outward at different positions—

Each sector covered.

Nothing moved unseen.

Nothing.

The Land Cruiser approached.

Grinding forward over bodies despite the damaged tire—

THMP—THMP—THMP—~

Inside—

Don's gaze stayed forward.

Unchanged.

Beside him—

Charles stood partially through the missing door space, one hand braced against the roof, wings folded tight against his back.

His eyes scanned the perimeter.

Focused.

Above—

The sniper's scope locked onto the vehicle. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Tracked.

Adjusted.

Then—

Shifted.

From Don—

To Charles.

Recognition.

Immediate.

The man leaned slightly—

Pressed a hand to his earpiece.

His voice cut through the rotor noise—

Clear.

Professional.

"Falcon-Lead to Ground—visual confirmed. Target designation: Winged asset and guest. No visible signs of infection."

A pause.

Cross-check.

Then—

"Clear a path. Set inward perimeter."

Below—

The response was instant.

The SUVs ahead shifted—

Engines revving—

VRRRM—~

Two pulled forward.

One reversed.

A gap opened.

Narrow.

Every guard along the path adjusted position—

Weapons lifting—

Not lowering.

Aimed.

Tracking the vehicle as it approached.

The Land Cruiser entered the opening.

Slow.

Every movement watched.

Every angle covered.

Don guided it through without hesitation.

The damaged tire scraped hard against the asphalt—

SCRRRT—~

The spike sparked briefly—

KRRRK—~

The vehicle pushed through the final stretch—

Then—

Braked.

Hard.

SKRRRT—!

It came to a stop inside the perimeter.

Engines idling around them.

Guns still raised.

Not a single barrel lowered.

Not yet.

Don's hands remained on the wheel.

Grip steady.

His eyes lifted—

Scanning once.

Counting.

Positions.

Angles.

Threats.

Charles stepped down from the side.

He straightened slightly—

A small shift in his posture as his weight settled.

Subtle.

There.

Gone.

His wings remained folded.

Tight.

His gaze moved across the guards—

Then toward the entrance.

No words.

No greeting.

Just assessment.

Around them—

The civilians outside the perimeter still watched.

Some with hope.

Some with resentment.

Some with nothing left at all.

The guards held their line.

Unmoved.

Waiting.

For the next command.

---

A/N: Been a shit month with mid semester exams in progress but this arc is slowly starting to build, I'd love to tell you more but man I'm tired... and I still have to go back to campus later.... damn, pray for me.

Anyway, we've hit 600 so noice. Thanks for the support so far as usual, you guys are legends, feel free to toss a little feedback so far.