Chapter 9: Bullseye

                                    

                                          
If I recalled correctly, the gun had only one shot left. Trent had already fired it several times at the monster, along with his grenade launcher, leaving just one bullet in the chamber. Reaching for Emilia's gun was out of the question, as it lay near the monster's feet. As I moved, I could hear Emilia struggling in pain as the monster gradually tightened its grip on her neck. Tears slowly fell from her eyes as her futile attempts to break free were continuously negated by the monster's powerful grip.
     Just as Emilia was about to lose consciousness, I leaped forward, sliding across the ground and managing to reach Trent's gun in one swift motion.
 "Please God, please. Shoot," I whispered to myself as my sweaty hands grabbed the gun as quickly and tightly as I could. Without missing a beat, still lying on the floor, I pointed the gun at the monster.
 "Emilia! Trent! Stay with me!" I took a deep breath and pulled the trigger.
     The only bullet in the gun flew. I could see the tiny amount of hope I had left slowly shrivel away, and with it, so did the bullet. Maybe my hands were too sweaty, or my grip wasn't strong enough. I had never shot a gun before in my life, so the recoil startled me. Just like that, I lay there, gun in hand, still pointed at the monster. The smoke emanating from the gun, followed by my missed shot, had already dissipated. It had hit the wall next to the monster, barely grazing its fur. The tiny explosion managed to divert the monster's attention from Emilia, who had just lost consciousness. I saw it loosen its grip on her as it slowly turned to face me. The monster had decided to set its eyes on me now. I had managed to get it away from Emilia and Trent, but now it was time to defend myself.
 "I was never the kind of guy to think too much ahead... now I know how being in the moment too much can have its drawbacks."
     All I had left to defend myself was a knife Trent had given me earlier and that stupid piece of sharp glass that, for some reason, I still carried. It was obvious that the odds were against me. Every step the monster took closer to me was a step away from my friends. So, I stepped back as far as I could against the wall on the other side of the cave. Just a few steps from me, it stood, the occasional wave of tremors shaking the cave room, a reminder of the sheer size and power I was up against. The fear in my eyes was only matched by the continuously tightening grip I had on both knives. This was it; I had nowhere to run. It was just me and the monster. I was face to face with death, but inside, I knew that I had lived a good life. I never understood how I got here or why things happened the way they did, but I was grateful. As I looked into the eyes of my final enemy, sudden flashes of light covered me. Along with them, tears fell from my eyes. I was at peace; a sudden smile burst from within me.
 "If I was going to go, let it be fighting for my life."
     I took my final breath as I crouched down, getting ready to engage. I closed my eyes for a second... Then, as soon as they opened, I charged forward, screaming at the top of my lungs. Without a plan, without a chance, I just leaped towards it. Just before I could reach the monster's leg, I saw a dark figure leap down onto the monster's face, cutting open its neck with one strike. Blood poured down as the monster quickly fell to its knees. The mysterious figure got down on the floor and looked at me. I was just a few steps away, my mind trying to make sense of the surreal event.
 "Are you okay?" the unknown figure asked. I could barely see him; his body was completely covered in a black cloak.
 "Y-yeah, I'm fine. Thank you, you saved me," I said, and he certainly did. "My friends are hurt, could you help them?" I asked, hoping he might be able to aid me.
 "You're in luck, I happen to have some first aid with me," he said, and I saw what seemed to be a faint smile coming from underneath his cloak.
     As I began to move past the incapacitated monster, I heard the cutting sound of a knife. When I turned around, I saw him cut through the monster's head, leaving it on the floor. Blood splattered everywhere as we made our way around the monster's fresh corpse.