Asia, Ethan, and Oliver galloped up the stairs as Shaka hustled in front of them. Only the sound of the frantic footsteps slapping against metal and their rapid breaths filled the dark space of the stairwell, then five seconds later something else joined them. Heavy inhalations and low grunts came from behind them. Thunderous footsteps pounded on the surface sending shockwaves of vibration through Oliver's calves.

Nearing the top of the flight of stairs Oliver stopped. "Go without me!" He yelled up at Asia and Ethan as they ran to the next flight of stairs.

Asia's foot halted and Ethan ran in the back of her causing her to lose her balance and slam her hands on the stairs. "What!" She quickly regained her height. "Let's move, Ollie." She ordered.

"No!" Oliver looked back down the stairs he just climbed. He forceful footsteps were getting close. The hairs on the back of Oliver's neck prickled up as her clenched his fist. "Just go!" He shooed them away. "Get Denver." He grabbed the handle of the door that led to the next floor. "I'll catch up with you."

"You'll catch up with us?" Asia repeated. "Yes. You will. You better."

He nodded and they bounded up the stairs two at a time.

It was nearer. Closer. It was probably a flight of stairs away. Oliver had to be sure that it followed him and not Asia and Ethan. He yanked his blade out of the holster and slid it into the clammy flesh of his hand. He squeezed his hand into a fist and smeared blood on the door handle and let droplets splatter on the polished tile floor he just stepped onto.

Oliver ran down the dimly lit hallway. In a matter of inches, the hallway ended dropping him in a room with black floors. He stopped. Turning on his heels, Oliver canvassed the room. Dumbbells, jump rope and kettle balls lined one wall while a thick weaved rope hung from the ceiling. Along the wall on the opposite side was a line of hole-riddled target signs. Floor to ceiling windows reward Oliver with a view of the campus he had called home for almost three years.

Oliver's feet stopped as the door to the stairwell boomed shut. He tightened his grip around the knife's handle and pulled out another blade with his wounded hand. He faced the hallway waiting to see the glitch that came his way.

Oliver took long; steady breaths trying to relax the nerves that bundled down his back. Half of his instincts yelled for him to jump through the window, free fall to the ground and limp away from harm but the other half kept his feet rooted on the floor. Denver was the last person he would call out of his friends but he was still a person he'd rather talk to than anyone else on God's green earth.

Yellow eyes broke through the darkness as low huffs resonated the atmosphere. The hulking beast prompted Oliver's jaw to drop and his stomach to flip but he kept his feet rooted.

A mane of black hair swallowed the long head of the muscular creature that had to bend down as it walked through the wide doorframe. It let out a hollow growl that sent shudders through Oliver's core. Its arms hung well past its waist and the claws that sprouted from its fingers made them look even longer.

Oliver swallowed some saliva trying to coat his dry throat. He flexed his shoulders trying to pump himself up as he quietly cursed himself.

The creature took a step toward Oliver and he took a step back. It's too late to run. A mellow voice told him. Fight. Fight or die. Oliver's chest rapidly rose. The creature took another step toward him. Oliver rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck from side to side. You go this. Oliver squared his feet and held up his blades.

"I'm guessing.... they tried lion." Oliver's voice was low. The words were only intended to for only him.

The creature pointed his nose in the air and sniffed audibly. "Come with me." Its voice was husky like a person that had been coughing for days. "Or face the consequences." It sniffed once more.

"I'm not." Oliver shakily answered.

The creature snarled pulling his mouth open letting Oliver view it's pointed canine teeth. Its breath wafted through the air and Oliver could still smell the bloody flesh that rolled down its throat.

Without warning the creature charged Oliver. Oliver held his ground. It was all he knew to do. Seconds felt like minutes as he studied the beast trying to determine which spot he should aim to strike first. Options sprung up from every corner of his mind. Eyes. Neck. Abdomen. Chest.

Time was up the creature was upon him. A handful of claws swung towards Oliver's face and his choice was made for him. He sliced the blade across the animal's hairy wide arm. It howled a roar then swung its other hand. Unprepared for the quick jab, the clawed hand slapped Oliver's neck. The gashes burned like fire and the impact sent Oliver thrashing to the ground. The blade tumbled from his wounded hand as he tried to quickly crawl to his feet. More fire erupted from his ankle as the creature's claws dug into his thin fleshed limb.

Oliver yelled, desperation and anguish resounding in his tone. Tears blurred his vision and fury surged through his core like hot coals. He kicked his foot into the creature's wide nose repeatedly until he was rewarded with a loud snap.

The creature's grasp of Oliver's ankle loosened and boy flipped off his belly and catapulted the knife toward the beast. Flipping through the air the blade stroke the glitch in the shoulder. The animal wrapped it long, spindly fingers around the handle and tore it from its flesh with a faint grunt.

Oliver scampered over to the other knife. As his hand touched the blade's cold metal handle, the energy in the room shifted. A thud shook the floor and searing pain like no other quaked through Oliver's body. It was the pressure that threatened to snap his femur as strong teeth clamped on his fleshy calf. Snarling and growling the beast chomped onto Oliver limb like it was his last meal for days.

Oliver's screams ripped through his body as he wrenches his hand around the knife. With his eyes gripped tight from the pain rushing through his body Oliver stabbed the knife where the pain in his limb originated.

The shuddering pressure that clenched his person slacked as the beast's mouth went limp around his bloody leg. Oliver leered down at his calf. Blood oozed from the shredded meat and his bone poked through the flesh. Oliver collapsed onto his back from the radiating pain.

"All you had to do was wait downstairs." Matilda orated. "Some people must learn the hard way." Her heels clicked as she journeyed further into the room.

The pain shutting through Oliver's body became unbearable. His eyes rolled back into his head.