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Bruiser fungi. She pointed her light around and saw pieces of all shapes and sizes scattered everywhere.

What the...?

As she stood up, a low crackling came from her garometer. Heart in her throat, she checked it immediately.

The level was at fifteen.

She let out a little gasp, whirling around. “Kryxis!” she cried.

A large shadow slunk closer and her garometer grew louder. Through the steam, the shape appeared.

It was not Kryxis.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Dani

It was hard to say what it had once been. Something sleek like a giant cat maybe. Furless, with razor-claws and long, snake-like fangs. It was hard to identify because it was mostly covered in bruiser fungus, spreading all along its back and on its head, growing where it’s eyes might have once been. Now, only it’s mouths remained. Two on each side of its face. Along its back was another pair of arms.

It was intimidating enough as it drew near her on all fours. But when it got closer, it pulled itself up and towered over her on bent legs which made it look so much worse.

It made a low clicking noise at her as it slunk closer. Dani slowly backed away. Never taking her eyes off it, she reached for her gun.

The thing stumbled toward her, its head tilting at a disturbing angle. It growled and swiped at her, trying to grab her. Dani pulled out her gun and let loose. She hit the creature square in the chest, making it jolt back and squirm, shrieking with rage.

Dani bolted away, hitting the back wall, watching the silhouette of the thing search for her through the steam. It broke through one billowing pillar and found her, and she shot at it again in response. It snarled in frustration as it stumbled back and disappeared.

Pressed against the wall, she waited for it, gun aiming high and low. She slid along, back toward the office, hardly blinking. When she saw a glimpse of it again, she went to fire out of instinct and found her gun out of ammo.

Shit.

Knowing she was dead if she stood there, she pushed herself off the wall and rushed for the office—only for something to sweep her off her feet, making her tumble forward. She fell on her stomach, dropping her gun in the process. It clattered a few feet away. She crawled for it, and something caught her ankle, pulling her right back.

She screamed as a heavy claw dropped onto her back, pinning her down. She felt its rancid breath against the back of her neck and knew it was about to bite down.

She braced for pain, and instead felt its sharp claws rip her shirt as it released her. It shrieked again, leaping back, and as she twisted around, a long, sharp tail whipped out toward the creature, slicing into its leg.

Kryxis came into view, his head bent, eyes narrowed as he stalked the thing, talons at the ready, tail swinging.

The thing roared and so did Kryxis. Without hesitation, he took two strides and leapt, knocking the creature back into a wall of steam.

They fought tooth and claw. Chunks of bruiser fungus dropped from the creature as Kryxis sliced into its back.

Dani crawled away, forcing herself up onto her feet and stumbling to the next wall. She went for the bag on her belt, taking out one of Kryxis’ bombs, just one left after their fightthrough the tunnels. She took out a lighter that had been thrown into the bag and flicked it open. The lighter sparked several times but wouldn’t create a flame.

“Come on. Come on!” she shouted at it. She flicked again. When the flame appeared, she lit the wick, then shouted to Kryxis. She threw the bomb, and it bounced a ways before rolling close to his feet. Kryxis, with his red hands, yanked one of the creature’s jaws open. He grabbed the bomb with one blue hand then stuffed it into the creature’s mouth, forcing it closed before bolting back.

The creature struggled to throw it up but was too late. The bomb went off, and a ball of fire engulfed the center of the room, torching the creature.

Dani sank down against the wall as she stared at the sight. The creature crumbled until it was no more than a pile of burnt flesh and bruiser fungus between them.

As the fire died, Kryxis stood among the pile and faced her, reaching out. “Dani.”

Using the wall for support, she rose to her feet. She let out a cry of relief before pushing off the wall and rushing for him. She nearly knocked him back as she closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around him.

“I knew…I knew it,” she said softly against him.

He pulled her in closer, nuzzling the top of her head.