“So, we use the car to bring the oxygen tanks then split up, trying to find where those creatures sleep and if we’re lucky the damage they took was fatal enough to give us another day before recovering” Kate explained.

  “The explosives?” Kleoff asked.

  “The captain said he had some on the ship, we can use that, are we clear?”

  The group nodded, All aside Adam.

  He had been thinking about his conversation with Charlie by the shore.

  “How did that happen?” His voice was slightly shaking then when he saw the crusted skin in Charlie’s hand.

  Charlie sighed and wore the gloves back to his hand.

  “I don’t know”

  He stared at the burned remains of the grey they had just killed. He thought that the next time it might be him.

  “I just woke up and there was that patch of grey, it had started small but slowly it is getting larger, crawling to my skin-”

  “I considered cutting it up, but I thought it might just appear in a different part of my body”

  He paused once again.

  “so, if I ever turned like that Nolan-“

  “You won't,” Adam said sharply.

  “He wasn't evil, he simply attacked us out of grief; he would have not done- “

  “But if it ever happened. you must stop me- whatever it cost” Charlie interrupted.

  Adam knew what he meant, he thought he couldn’t do it of course. However, if the time really came when he didn't have a choice, he would.

  Adam nodded.

  “But that won’t happen”

  Charlie formed a half smile, turned away from the pit and walked towards the center of the island.

  “I hope so,” he said in a whisper.

  “Adam”

  “Adam”

  Adam suddenly returned to his reverie, realizing that Kate was calling him. Charlie was looking at him sharply when he didn’t reply immediately.

  He probably knows that he was thinking about what they talked about.

  Adam shook his head slightly and nodded at Kate.

  “Sorry I was thinking about something”

  He scratched his head before continuing.

  “Everything sounds fine, I have to check the car first though when I checked it earlier it still wasn’t starting”

  “You could fix the car while we carry the tanks and the explosives out of the island.“

  Charlie pointed out.

  “Me and Adam would travel in the car, the brothers could use their horses” explained Kate.

  Stolen story; please report.

  “As for Althea and Kiel- you two stay”

  “Wait but why? I want to help” Althea protested.

  “Me too,” said the boy.

  “No,” declared Kate as she stood up.

  “But- “

  “Would you want to leave the island unprotected? What if another grey stray towards the island?” Kleoff said.

  Althea and Kiel looked at each other, both unable to form a reply.

  Charlie smirked and picked up his hat from the bed as he stood up.

  “It’s settled then”

  …

  Adam headed out first to fix the car.

  While walking at the causeway Adam estimated that they have another hour or so before the tide starts to rise. They might need to wait for it out before they can return, assuming that the plan succeeds and doesn't go off rails.

  Adam shortly arrived at the shore. The first thing he did was try to start the car and to his surprise it did.

  The engine roared, Adam felt the car as he gripped the steering wheel tighter.

  Afraid that the engine might not start the second time he let it run as he slid out of the car.

  He had no idea why it worked now. The only reason he could have thought was that the cold weather must have prevented the custom heater from working properly.

  While wondering why the car suddenly started working, Charlie arrived single handedly carrying an oxygen tank with Kate and Kleoff following him also carrying a tank, each one holding a side of the tank.

  Adam figured both Kate and Kleoff could probably carry one alone, but they might be trying not to damage the tanks.

  He also found it ironic that those gas tanks that he and Kate worked hard collecting now hold little to no value to them. They had risked their life for it yet now they would just be blowing it up.

  Charlie placed the tank beside the car and told Adam that he would return to get the explosives and the horses. Adam offered his help, but Charlie said he should be fine and that he should focus on loading the tanks in the car.

  Kate and Kleoff arrived shortly after, Kleoff said he would help his brother and left Kate and Adam in Loading the items.

  Kate opened the back seat and spoke.

  “So, what did you talk about?”

  “What do you mean?” Adam replied, avoiding eye contact while handing her one of the tanks.

  “You and Charlie talked about something, that’s why your acting strange”

  Kate placed the tank in the back seat horizontally in order to stack them up, luckily the car was wide enough to have the tanks sideways.

  “We didn’t talk about anything,” replied Adam.

  “A secret then, don’t worry you can keep it”

  Adam was unable to reply, he knows that Kate knew him too well, that and the fact that he also sucked at lying.

  “I’m not even interested in your school crushes”

  Kate followed with a smile.

  “You sure? It might be a little controversial”

  Adam smiled as well as he took another tank and handed it to Kate.

  “No need, just update me when you were dumped already”

  The two did some more small talk until the brothers arrived and to Kate and Adam’s surprise they were with Kiel and Althea.

  Charlie was carrying a wooden box with a painted bright red paint that reads: EXPLOSIVES

  Kleoff was guiding thunder and lighting by pulling their reins as he walked and Althea and Kiel carried another oxygen tank.

  When Adam asked what the two were doing, they explained they just wanted to save the brothers on another trip back at the causeway. Althea argued that this was the only way they could help and they were to return immediately after bringing the tank to the shore.

  Adam couldn’t be mad, seeing Althea go from barely staying alive to almost perfectly healthy. Her skin was no longer pale, and her face was starting to return to its usual shape.

  He sighed and thanked the two, He also asked them to return back to the island and take care of it while they were gone.

  Kiel looked like he wanted to argue but nodded instead.

  Right after Kate and Adam finished loading the rest of the items they slid into the car as the brothers mounted their horses as well.

  The brothers lead the charger with their horses, with Adam driving the car closely following behind.

  He tried to keep the engine low in order to avoid attention and to also lessen its strain.

  If the engine suddenly stopped working after they set up the trap they might be in danger. An explosion to that extent would awaken all nearby creatures and if they did not have the car as they might be in trouble.

  The only comfort he had was that if that ever happened they could ride with the brothers. This was also another reason why they didn't want them to come, if they were here they wouldn't have that as their plan B.

  They travelled the road for more than half an hour before Charlie signalled Adam to park the car.

  From here onward they have to walk, the car might wake up the creature and they couldn't take any risk.

  Adam and Kate got out of the car and stepped closer to the brothers.

  “We will split up in this intersection and search for their nest. We'll meet here in the car after an hour, if possible: walk,” Charlie explained, still mounted on his horse.

  Adam nodded.

  After confirming the plan was clear Charlie flicked his reins and his mount galloped away the left side of the intersection.

  Kleoff looked back at the two and nodded before leading his horse towards the opposite direction his brother had gone.

  Leaving Adam and Kate to walk straight through the intersection.

  It was quiet and peaceful, it almost felt like the old times to Adam. When they were younger, they had to walk if they wanted to get something outside the island. Not like he missed those days, he just felt nostalgic.

  Suddenly Kate turned her head sharply, looking around the streets of the road they were traveling.

  Confused, Adam asked what it was.

  “Nothing, I just thought- I saw something”

  “What was it?”

  “Your sense of humor” Replied Kate as she walked faster. Adam didn't reply but he was sure Kate saw something following them.

  Her pace got quicker and she kept looking around as if anticipating something to just suddenly attack her.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Adam finally asked.

  “You remember Linda?”

  “What? like the creature you named? Yes, I met it twice didn’t I and it stabbed you in the abdomen”

  “Yes, that one”

  Said Kate as if she could be talking about a different creature.

  “I think I saw her”

  …

  After a short argument about whether to pertain the creature as “she” or “it”

  “Linda” didn't show herself, assuming that she indeed was following them.

  Slowly Kate seemed to have eased up her tension and started walking more slowly.

  They walked for some more minutes but there still was no sign of the nest. Adam suggested they should walk a little more and if they still don't find anything they should return.

  Kate argued that there was a nearby plaza a few blocks away and that they should rest there.

  Adam was sure Kate wasn't tired and just wanted to ensure that they were not being followed.

  After some thought he decided that they have enough time and agreed to Kate.

  Just as they went past the block where the plaza should have resided. A great number of creatures deep in its sleep had almost covered the entire plaza.

  The creatures seemed to have painted the entire circular plaza grey and green.

  Adam counted them to be at least fifty and a maximum of a hundred. Far too less than what the brothers have warned them about, All having a signi

  ficant amount of burns in the entirety of their bodies.

  Meaning, whatever it was that attacked them was strong enough to exterminate them almost completely.