Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece-Chapter 100: No Safe Place [1]

The man didn’t even have time to scream.

The transformed demonic human. Let out a low, broken growl. His body twitched, arms jerking like a puppet on strings.

His skin had gone pale and stretched. Thick, black veins crawled up the side of his neck and face.

His eyes were glowing faint red. Unfocused but full of something dark and hungry.

Then he lunged.

He tackled the man next to him, sinking his teeth deep into his neck. A horrible, wet crunch followed.

Blood sprayed out in a wide arc. Splattering the seats, the window, and anyone standing too close.

The bitten man froze, eyes wide open in shock. Then slowly collapsed to the floor with a thud. Twitching once before going still.

Gasps and screams followed.

The corrupted human raised his head. His mouth covered in blood. He looked up, almost sniffing the air.

Then turned toward the next person. His lips peeling back in a twisted grin.

People started backing away.

"No—no, get away!" someone shouted.

A woman screamed as she grabbed her daughter and stumbled back.

Others tripped over fallen bags and one another, trying to get out of the monster’s reach.

A man fell backward into the aisle. Kicking wildly as he scrambled away.

The corrupted human took a step forward. Arms twitching fingers clawing the air.

And then a blur shot past the panicking passengers.

Eleanora.

Her footsteps were light, barely making a sound on the blood-stained floor.

In one clean motion, She stepped in front of the creature. Her estoc flashed silver in the dim light of the train car and drove straight into its eye.

There was a sickening pop as the blade pushed through. Followed by a spray of thick, black and red blood.

The corrupted human jerked violently once. Then dropped like a sack of meat. The sound of his body hitting the ground echoed through the car.

Silence followed.

Everyone stood frozen for a few moments, barely breathing.

Then came the sobs.

Some people collapsed onto the floor, overwhelmed. A woman near the wall hugged her knees, crying softly.

A man held his wife close. Whispering to her as she shook in his arms.

One boy sat in the far corner staring at the corpse like it was still about to move.

"I just wanted to go to Eldermere..." a voice mumbled.

"I was only visiting family," said another.

"I didn’t sign up for this..."

Kyle stood still. His chest rising and falling with each breath. He could feel the tension in the air.

Everyone was scared. No, terrified.

He looked around the train car.

Blood was everywhere.

Red blood. Black blood. Splattered on the windows. Soaking into the seats. Running in small rivulets along the floor.

Some people had stains on their clothes from just being near it. The smell was awful.

Metallic, sour, and heavy. It filled his lungs and clung to his skin.

Then his eyes found them.

Anaya and her mother, Mira.

The two of them were huddled together near the far side of the train car. Mira was clutching her daughter tightly. Arms wrapped around her like a shield.

Her face was pale, her hands shaking. But she was whispering softly to Anaya, trying to calm her down.

Anaya’s cheeks were red and wet with tears. She was crying loudly now her little hands covering her ears. Her small body trembling.

Kyle felt a sharp pain in his chest. He hated seeing her like that.

He started to move toward them. But then stopped.

He looked down at himself.

His jacket was soaked in blood. His pants were splattered. Some of it was his own, but most of it came from the corrupted.

Black stains marked where he had cut them down. Bits of dried flesh clung to the folds of his clothes.

He clenched his fist.

Beside him, Eleanora stood in silence. Her blade hung loosely in her hand. Its silver surface now stained black.

She looked down at the blood pooled around her boots, then sighed quietly.

"...I shouldn’t have come without telling anyone," she whispered to herself.

Kyle barely heard her. But he didn’t need to ask. He could feel the weight in her voice.

Then it happened.

Thump. Thump.

A loud banging sound echoed from the far end of the car.

Kyle’s head snapped up.

The door to the next car shook under the pressure.

Something or some things were on the other side. Clawed hands slammed into the metal.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The corrupteds were trying to break through.

"We have to move," Eleanora said. She tightened her grip on her sword.

"Move to the next car, now" Eleanora said firmly.

Kyle and Reo nodded without hesitation.

Together, they started pushing forward. Guiding the shaken passengers toward the opposite end of the train.

Some people moved on instinct. Others had to be pulled along, their eyes still locked on the bloody mess they were leaving behind.

The door to the next car was shut tight.

Kyle knocked. No answer.

Reo stepped forward and slammed the butt of his spear against the metal. "Open up!" he yelled, his voice sharp and urgent. "We have got survivors here!"

Kyle added quickly, "Please! Let us in!"

A few tense seconds passed. The passengers behind them murmured nervously. Some clutching children or holding trembling hands.

Then, with a sharp hiss. The door unlocked and slid open.

Two figures stood in the doorway.

Mercenaries.

Tall, broad, and clearly worn from battle. One had a massive broadsword slung over his back, its hilt stained with dark blood.

The other held a short-handled axe and a battered shield both coated in grime.

Their armor was dented. Torn at the edges, and soaked in sweat and gore.

The one with the sword jerked his chin. "Get in. Quickly."

Kyle and Reo didn’t wait. They moved through first, making sure the way was clear before waving the civilians in behind them.

Eleanora stayed near the back, eyes sharp, guarding their flank.

The moment they were all inside. The door slid shut again with a heavy clang.

This car wasn’t much better.

Bodies littered the floor some torn apart. Others eerily still with black veins spreading across their skin.

Blood had pooled beneath the benches and smeared the walls. One window near the end had cracked, letting in sharp gusts of cold wind.

The smell of iron and rot was thick in the air.

The passengers slowed, staring in silence at the aftermath. Some turned away. Others simply looked down, too numb to react.

"You kids..." the axe-wielding mercenary said after a moment voice rough and low, "you did good. Holding them off like that...You saved a lot of people."

Kyle gave him a small nod. But his chest felt hollow.

"We tried," he said quietly.

Reo leaned against the wall, gripping his side. Blood trickled from a cut on his leg.

Kyle noticed and quickly reached into his coat pocket. "Here," he said, tossing Reo a small vial.

Eleanora already had one in her hand, uncorking it and drinking without a word.

Kyle followed, swallowing the bitter liquid and grimacing. Warmth spread through his limbs.

The ache in his muscles dulled slightly. The worst of the pain faded.

Once they were stable. Eleanora turned to the mercenaries. "What’s the situation?" she asked.

The one with the broadsword exhaled, running a hand through his tangled hair. He glanced at his companion before answering.

"The next car’s gone" he said flatly. "Full of corrupted. We tried to push in... lost two men. No one made it out from that car. Anyone who ran there thinking it was safer—"

He didn’t finish. He didn’t have to.

Everyone understood.

The mercenary looked around his jaw tight. "Right now.. This car is the only safe place left."

The weight of those words sank into the room like a stone dropped in water.

Safe...for now.

A woman near the front let out a choked sob and dropped to her knees. She buried her face in her hands and started crying, her shoulders shaking.

A man began muttering under his breath. Several people clutched their loved ones tighter. Some openly weeping, others just sitting there in stunned silence.

Kyle pulled out his phone.

No signal.

He checked again. Still nothing.

He looked to Reo. Who was trying his own phone. Dead screen. Same with Eleanora.

Whatever was happening. Whatever had caused this. Had also cut them off completely.

No calls. No texts. No help.

They were alone.

The only sounds were the muffled cries of the passengers and the dull thudding from the door behind them.

Thump. Thump.

The corrupted were still there. Still trying to break through. The metal groaned with every slam.

"Isn’t there a way to contact anyone?" someone asked weakly.

"There has to be backup, right?" another voice said. More desperate this time.

No one answered.

Kyle stood still, hands at his sides, eyes fixed on the door.

Reo sat down on the floor. Leaning against the wall near the sealed entrance.

His spear rested across his lap, stained with blood. His leg was still bleeding a little, but he didn’t complain.

He stared at the ground for a long while.

Then, quietly. His voice hoarse and tired, he spoke.

"...What do we do now?"

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