Josh ran down the corridor with Mira just behind him while the others scattered ahead toward the exit. The sound of footsteps echoed unevenly, mixed with panic and heavy breathing aa they no one wanted looked back.
Josh slowed down his movement as turned towards the back.
Mira noticed immediately. "Josh… don't."
Then he stopped completely.
Behind them, the sound of something hitting the wall came again, followed by a low, distorted growl that no longer sounded human.
Silar was coming.
Josh tightened his grip on the sword. His chest burned from the earlier injury, and every breath reminded him that he was not in perfect condition, but still, he didn't move.
Mira stepped in front of him, shaking her head.
"We have to go. We can't fight that."
Josh looked at her for a second, then past her toward the end of the corridor where faint light from the exit could be seen.
"If I run now, it will catch up to all of you."
Mira's lips trembled. "Then we run faster!"
"It's already faster than all of us."
The truth hit louder as they were silent for a few seconds.
The sound behind them suddenly stopped.
For a brief second, the hallway became silent, that silence felt worse than the noise.
Josh's instincts screamed.
He pushed Mira aside.
"Move!"
Silar appeared in front of him in the next instant.
The speed was unreal, as the impact came immediately.
Josh barely raised his sword in time. Silar's arm slammed against it, and the force pushed Josh backward several steps. His shoes scraped hard against the floor as he tried to stabilize himself.
Mira gasped.
The movement had been too fast.
If she had blinked, she would have missed it completely.
Josh steadied himself and looked up at the mutated silar stood a few meters away.
His body was no longer moving erratically. The convulsions had stopped. His posture had straightened, and the unnatural tension in his muscles made him look like something coiled and ready to strike.
His eyes had changed completely, it was misty and also a little taint of a black pupil.
There was no confusion left or struggling as only a cold, focused intent was directed at him.
Josh felt it clearly.
This was not the man from before.
Silar moved again.
This time Josh saw it coming, but just barely.
The distance between them closed instantly.
Josh swung his sword, aiming for the neck.
Silar tilted his body slightly, dodging the strike with minimal movement, then drove his elbow forward.
Josh twisted his body to reduce the impact, but the hit still landed hard against his side. Pain shot through his ribs as he was thrown sideways.
He hit the wall and pushed himself back up immediately.
There was no time to rest or even time to think.
Silar was already moving again.
Josh forced his body to respond,their movements blurred. As steel clashed steel. Bringing about a strong force.
Each clash made sparks as it sent vibrations through Josh's arms.
Silar's strength had increased beyond anything he had faced before. But worse than that it was his speed.
It wasn't wild or uncontrolled like the a normal infected he had seen.
It looked like he still kept his intellct or it gain intelligence as it could move like a predator in which Josh was it's prey.
Josh stepped back, then forward, then twisted to avoid another strike. The exchange was too fast for normal eyes to follow. If any of the students had stayed behind, they wouldn't have been able to track what was happening.
Mira stood frozen for a moment.
Her mind couldn't keep up with what she was seeing.
Josh… was keeping up, barely.
But he wasn't overwhelmed instantly.
Still, it was clear, that he was being pushed back.
"Josh!" she shouted.
He didn't answer, he couldn't. His focus was the man.... No not man the being in front of him as he couldn't tell what it is or the difference.
Every second required full focus.
Silar's hand shot forward again. Josh parried with the flat of his blade, then countered with a quick slash aimed at the torso.
The blade cut into Silar's side. But it didn't slow him.
Silar grabbed Josh's arm. The grip was like iron clamp.
Josh reacted instantly and twisted his body, forcing the angle of his arm to shift before the pressure could crush it completely. He kicked forward, breaking the hold and creating distance.
His breathing became heavier. His chest burned more with each movement.
Mira took a step forward.
"I'll help—"
"No!" Josh snapped.
The sharpness in his voice made her stop.
"You can't fight this."
Silar lunged again.
Josh moved to intercept, but this time he was slightly slower.
The difference showed.
Silar's hand struck his shoulder.
The force drove him down to one knee. Pain exploded through his body.
Josh gritted his teeth and forced himself back up, swinging his sword in a wide arc to keep Silar back.
It worked for a second.Just for few seconds.
Mira's eyes filled with tears.
She understood now.
Josh was just hanging on, he was barely holding on.
And that wouldn't last for long.
"Josh…" her voice shook. "Come with me… please."
He didn't look at her.
"Go."
"I'm not leaving you!"
"You have to."
Silar moved again.
Josh intercepted, but this time the clash pushed him back farther than before, his footing slipped slightly. That small mistake almost cost him.
Silar's next strike came immediately.
Josh barely avoided it, but the force of it tore more of his already damaged shirt and sent him crashing into the wall again.
Dust fell from the impact.
Mira covered her mouth.
Tears streamed down her face.
She knew that if she stayed, she would die here. And Josh would die trying to protect her,
Her legs felt heavy.
But slowly… she stepped back.
"I'll find you…" she whispered, her voice breaking. "You have to stay alive…"
Josh didn't turn.
"Go."
That was all he said.
Mira bit her lip hard, then turned and ran.
Her footsteps echoed down the hallway as she pushed herself toward the exit where the others had already escaped.
She didn't look back again.
Because she knew if she did… she wouldn't be able to leave.