Stronghold of the Dead

Private Torres was the first through the gate. Barely any force was needed as he made his way into the silent compound. Captain Patel was the next one, his eyes scanning the image before him. His revolver scanned the area, finger ready to twitch into action at a moments notice.

The compound was called Dengaluru. It was meant to be the Kantebury Empire's newest colony, on a moving island known as Well Island. Soon after the compound was established it became the site of an awful, all day and all night battle for control. The soldiers positioned could never secure the location enough to send in the settlers. The outermost walls could never be erected before it was burnt or torn down. Even mortar shellings from naval ships couldn't keep back the monsters.

Eventually the horror happened. A storm grounded two of the warships, and the third had already left for reinforcements. It must have sank on the way home, because it took a week for the Empire to realize something was wrong. By the time a new fleet was sent out to get a report, the entire 'colony' was gone. After that, it was deemed too expensive and too dangerous to continue efforts to colonize the small island. 

And that is why they were here.

Captain Patel and his team were sent out to this place, almost 25 years later, to try and determine what exactly went wrong.  Now, after a long journey, his team were creeping onto the grounds of the once bustling compound. Captain Patel eyed his surroundings. A wooden wall with pointed tops surrounded a series of buildings. A Barracks. A few small sheds. A large central building, which most likely held a kitchen and dining hall as well as an armory and meeting room.

"Eyes wide in the courtyard," ordered Captain Patel, "Secure this perimeter!"

Captain Patel moved deeper into the compound, pushing private Torres deeper into the compound. Behind them, Private Ghai entered, quickly to scan the area with his rifle.  Corporal Hathi was next, touting a very large gatling gun in his arms. Reaching back, Corporal Hathi pulled forward a shaking Private Patel, who was sweating under the weight of a pack of ammunition and spare barrels, two additional boxes of ammunition belts, and a belt of gun supplies. Behind them, Private Dhaliwal and Lieutenant Jhefferson bringing up the rear.

"Let's move," shouted Jhefferson, "Set up that gun."

"Which direction?" spat Hathi.

"Out, to the jungle," commanded Captain Patel, "I want that armory secured, let's go! Lieutenant."

Not needing another command, Jhefferson tapped Dhaliwal on the shoulder and whistled to Ghai. They ran to the door of the armory, eagerly peaking inside windows. Jhefferson caught Ghai's attention, nodding into the armory. Ghai stepped away from the wall, before spinning and kicking out with his leg, slamming into the armory's double doors. The rotting wood gave way easily, falling from its hinges. Dhaliwal was the first to rush in, followed by Ghai fumbling with a bayonet. Jhefferson disappeared soon afterward.

Captain Patel found a spot next to a rotting cart. He pointed to it and then out towards the main gates. Hathi went to work immediately. Setting down the large machine gun, he immediately went to work setting up a stand for the gun.

"Little P!" yelled Hathi, "Your place is here!"

Private Patel made his way over, practically dropping his two crates of ammo in each hands and desperately trying to shake his heavy pack.

Private Torres scanned the eerie fort with his rifle.

"Keep it down," he whispered.

"What will hear us?" said Hathi as he finished the tripod behind his rotten barricade, "The dust mites?"

"It is always unwise to presume you are the biggest fish," said Captain Patel, eyeing the jungle ahead, "We have not been the masters here in far too long."

"Were we ever?" whispered Torres.

A heavy clank was heard as Hathi slammed the gatling gun onto the mount, ratcheting it into place. Captain Patel caught Torres' eye and shrugged at him.

"Captain!" came the firm voice of Private Ghai, catching the Captain's attention, "Jhefferson's inside."

Captain Patel knew what he meant, nodding and heading inside, "Stay out here, secure the perimeter with Torres. Eyes open, boys."

Captain Patel went inside, leaving the others to patrol the rest of the compound.  Stepping inside, he was cast into darkness. Just inside, he saw a staircase leading upwards. To his right was only one door, large and heavy. Inside stood Private Dhaliwal, his rifle leaned against a table and he had lit a lone candle. In his hand was another rifle, but it looked old, slightly rusty. Stepping inside, Captain Patel observed the armory.  Still lined with weapons, there was a plentiful amount of rifles and arms. Some swords and spears even lined the walls. Barrels of gunpowder could also be seen. Captain Patel strolled to one of the tables, picking up a bag of shot, rolling the steel balls around in his hand.

"These guns, they are old," said Private Dhaliwal, "But they are all in such good condition. Except this one."

The Captain's eyes leapt from weapon to weapon. He saw what he said was true, barely any showed signs of their increased age.

"Any that might fit our rifles?"

"Not that I can see," said Dhaliwal, "There's a cabinet over there with some experimental shells that may work, but nothing for our weapons. However, everything might still work, and there's enough ammunition for months."

"Handpick the best ones and ensure they are ready," said the Captain, "These weapons didn't do the colony any good, they won't save us either. Where is the Lieutenant?"

"Upstairs, sir," said Dhaliwal, "He found something in the map room."

Captain Patel left the room, making his way up the stairs. At the top, a single light could be seen in the small hallway. The Lieutenant had lit a single lamp on the wall of the hallway, and he stood with his revolver in his hand. As he approached, he saw what he was staring at.

The door to the map room was, like so many of the doors here, a double door made with strong wood. However, the doors were locked and bolted, from the outside. It looked as if several of the indoor bolts had been removed and replaced on the outside. Chains were strapped all around the door, and two separate locks were locked onto them. All over the door in faded paint were written words of warning. 'Do not open'. 'Leave this island'. 'Only Death Inside'. Captain Patel also recognized some religious symbols painted and carved into the door. Some he had seen on temples to ward off evil.

Lieutenant Jhefferson stared at the door, his revolver raised half heatedly. He wasn't reading, but just staring. Captain Patel looked from him, to the door. Listening, he heard nothing.

"Interesting."

Jhefferson nearly jumped out of his skin. He brought his revolver up. Patel caught his arm, keeping the barrel away from his face. Jhefferson looked scared stiff, his eyes wide, he stared at the Captain.

"You planning on shooting me, Lieutenant?" whispered Captain Patel.

"Captain." was all he whispered.

"You tried to enter the room yet?" asked Patel.

"Enter?" asked Jhefferson, his eyes wide.

They stood in silence for a few moments, and Jhefferson began to regain his composure. He looked to the door and back to the Captain.

"It's locked," he whispered, "From the outside."

"They really locked up before they left," said the Captain, matching Jhefferson's whisper, "Thoughtful of them."

"They didn't leave here," whispered Jhefferson, "They wanted to keep something from getting out."

"What's this?"

The Captain gestured behind him. A wooden chair had been modified with a rifle stand pointed right at the door. Two dusty rifles leaned against the walls behind it.

"They guarded it?" whispered Jhefferson.

"You... need to step outside?" asked Patel, "You can send up Ghai or Dhaliwal."

"I'm fine," said Jhefferson, "I'm ok."

"We've seen worse," said Patel, "Paschandali. Hurtown. The Kwazulite border?"

"We've seen worse," whispered Jhefferson, "It's what we don't see that bothers me. This island-"

"Remember this mission," said Patel, putting his hand of Jhefferson's shoulder, "I need to open this door and get in there. Now are you with me-"

"Can you not hear it?" whispered Jhefferson, the wild fear showing back in his eyes.

"Hear what?" asked Patel.

Jhefferson's eyes shot to the door. Patel turned, eyeing the door again. He took two steps toward the door, leaning down and putting out his ear. He listened. He heard silence. The creaking of the building. He heard what sounded like the steps of Private Dhaliwal below. He could hear a small ringing building in his ears. He focused in on the doorknobs, a small amount of dust on it.

"It's like a predator, pacing... waiting for its prey."

Patel noticed the hint of panic in the Lieutenant's voice. However he continued to listen. The ringing in his ears grew. He was focusing too much on the quiet. The ringing was beginning to sound more like whispers. At first he thought it was the men outside. But, no, it was more. Was that a woman? What were they saying?

Patel turned to ask Jhefferson, but stopped. Jhefferson's pistol had been raised once more. The barrel pointed at the Captain's head, but Jhefferson's eyes were wide and elsewhere, as if he was staring into a reality outside of their own.

"Come with me, Lieutenant," said Captain Patel, "We won't open that just yet. Lieutenant, if you can't pull yourself together I'll send you back to the ship and exchange you for that dirty Purdadu. Do not break on me."

"I apologize, my Captain," blinked Jhefferson.

"Go," ordered the Captain, his voice causing the Lieutenant to jump.

They both walked down the hall, and Patel took one last glance back at the door before leaving. He thought he heard the chains rattle, as if something hit the door. Patel watched for a moment, before shaking his head and walking down the stairs.

In several hours they turned the Armory into a makeshift command center. Outside they lined the cart with sand bags. And propped up the gatling gun. Corporal Hathi had set up a small campfire where he put a tiny boiler over it. It was attached to the gatling gun, giving steam to the mechanism. A line of the old rifles lined the sandbags. Private Patel shivered behind the barricade, a shotgun in his hand.

Privates Ghai and Torres had searched the large mess hall. They moved some of the more stable tables into the armory and around the armory as makeshift barricades. Lieutenant Jhefferson patrolled the perimeter with a rifle of his own. Private Dhaliwal was placed on 'internal guard duty' where he mostly set up in the second floor, looking after the locked door to the map room. 

Captain Patel prepared for more exploration. He found a saw, and was in the process of sawing down the barrel of an old shot gun with experimental, three part bullets. He grabbed a bag and grabbed the shot pellets, the black powder blocks, and the sparking rings. When combined in the bore of the rifle, these acted like a modern day bullet. 

With the barrel shorter, he holstered his revolver and walked out of the armory. He looked at Ghai and Torres who were finished scanning the other buildings. Hathi and Private Patel were fiddling with the gatling gun, their eyes on the jungle beyond the walls. However, Captain Patel's gaze hovered on Lieutenant Jhefferson's face. He was walking off by the Perimeter, but his eyes lingered on the Armory. Very little did he ever stare out to the jungle beyond. He stared at the ground, and at the Armory. Even his body language kept his firing position towards the Armory. 

Captain Patel sighed, looking to the floor. He ducked back inside the armory, jumping up the stairs, he peered down the hallway. Dhaliwal seemed to be in the process of leaping to his feet. He cleared his throat and stood at attention. Captain Patel held up his hand to steady him.

"You alright, Private?"

"Just fine, sir," said Private Dhaliwal.

"Good," said Captain Patel, before lowering his voice, "Hey, do you... hear... anything. In there."

Dhaliwal looked to the door and then back to the Captain, "Should... I?"

Captain Patel smiled, "It is locked. Look, if you hear anything or start getting..."

He left that hanging in the air until Dhaliwal began nodding before he continued, "...Then go get the Corporal, fill him in on it. Oh! And Private... If the Lieutenant... comes up here..."

"Captain?"

"Just... if He comes up here and he has his weapon drawn," said the Captain, "I trust your judgement. Disarm him. Take him into custody."

"Captain?"

"I trust your judgement. Unless you hear something in there. Keep on!"

The Captain rushed down the stairs, heading out of the building.

"Ghai, Torres, On me," ordered the Captain, "Corporal, hold the fort.If the Lieutenant makes his way back, tell him I want a rundown of the food stores."

"In... there?" pointed Torres, "Cap, we told you they are beyond spoiled."

"My order stands," said Captain.

"As you wish," said Hathi.

"Privates, on your toes," said the Captain, "Patel, grow a spine."

"Y-Yes, Captain."

Captain Patel started towards the barracks. Torres and Ghai were quick to fall in line behind him.

"Should we check the mess again?" asked Ghai.

"The Barracks," Captain Patel grunted.

Torres held his pith helmet to his head and shot a look to Ghai.

"Hey, Spriggs," whispered Torres, "All this sitting well with you?"

"Nothing about this island is well," said Ghai.

"Where's the bodies?" said Torres.

"They never found them the first time," said the Captain, "This is about digging up any and all clues and assessing the situation."

"Empty buildings, no bodies, creepy wood," said Torres, "I think it's pretty cut and dry, Cap."

They reached the barracks and the Captain pointed to the door. Torres rushed forward and tried to kick the door down, but it stopped dead. Wincing slightly, Torres looked to Ghia, who tried to hold back a laugh. Shoving the door with his shoulder, he was met with resistance too. Ghia and Torres used the butts of their rifles to smash out the windows of the doors, aiming the barrels inside the new holes and sweeping the interior.

"Barricaded," said Ghai.

"Holy gods," said Torres, "Look, that whole wall is out in the back."

"Around the back," ordered the Captain.

They started around the corner of the building, Ghai had his rifle at the ready while it was Torres' turn to fumble with his bayonet. Captain Patel cleared his throat, giving the go ahead into the building. Ghai was first in through the gaping hole in the side of the barracks. Torres was quick behind, almost tripping on the wood debris. Captain Patel entered, scanning the room.

The barracks was dark, but as his eyes adjusted he could clearly see the contents of the old barracks. Debris littered the floor at their feet, suggesting something had burst through the wall where they stood. There were several rows of bunks, or there had been. Only a handful stood, showing where the rows might've been. Closer to the front of the barracks, many of the bunks had been pushed and wedged against the door and the windows, creating a barricade of wood, metal, and moldy mattresses.
Closer to them, the other door had also been barricaded with an old card table and a few chairs. It looked like a few tables and chairs and a bunk or two had also been smashed in some sort of fight, closest to them. The rifle cabinet had been overturned, and there were clear signs of a line of makeshift firing lines. Sure enough, Captain Patel thought he could spot the signs of rifles just beyond them. As the three moved to investigate, they found themselves to be correct. Trunks full of moldy uniforms, and small, rusted personal trinkets. Rifles were strewn about with signs of old ammunition casings and boxes laying about.

Ghai was the first lower his guard, kneeling down behind one of the barricades and examining an old helmet. It was leather with some metal plating. It was an old, old model used by a special unit. He looked up to meet the Captain's eyes but Patel refused to meet his gaze.

"The hell happened here, Captain?" he asked, "Where are the bodies?"

"Perhaps the first recovery team buried them the first time," said Captain Patel, kneeling behind one of the firing lines, peeking out behind the makeshift cover.

He was staring straight at the hole in the wall. They were firing at whatever entered there. He frowned. Something big must've ripped its way through.

"Sir," said Torres, "What the hell happened here?"

Captain Patel ignored him, looking around the barracks, "What would you say? Clear?"

"Clear," seconded Ghai, "Let's get out of here."

Returning outside, Captain Patel directed them towards the outer wall at the far side. As they made their way closer, they noticed a massive gap in the defensive wall. Ghai and Torres trained their rifles on the jungle beyond the gap. Their eyes were wide and focused. Captain Patel remained at the ready. They surveyed the gap, and the jungle beyond it for some time before Ghai stepped forward, kneeling down towards the ground.

"Cap," he said, "I have a bad feeling about this..."

Captain Patel observed what Ghai was pointing to. Holes were left in the ground. Gaping and deep. They created a line, connecting the edges of the remaining wall. Torres, too, had found his way to the edge of the wall, running his fingers up and down it.

"It's not broken," said Torres, fingering a nail that stood out of the end, "The wall wasn't broken or smashed."

"There's no debris, there's no sigh of explosions," said Ghai, pointing to the wholes, "There's no wood stumps here. What would yank out an entire section of wall so... effectively."

"There's no disturbance of the dirt around it," said Captain Patel, "Besides, where's the logs after they are removed? It's as if they just-"

"Disappeared," finished Ghai, staring off into the woods.

"How can wood just disappear?" asked Torres, "Like a stage magi?"

"These holes are too thick for these logs," said Ghai, "Maybe they fell out?"

"No," said Captain Patel, "That would be shotty craftsmanship. These logs were thicker then the ones brought from home because they ran out of logs they brought with them. These must have been local trees."

"Ghai stood up, leveling his rifle at the woods, "So, what? Everything about this island is terrible?"

"Everything about this island," said Captain Patel, more forcefully, "Is a threat."

"Captain," said Torres, "We're not really going to stay the night are we? We need reinforcements!"

"So far we have encountered nothing truly dangerous," said Captain Patel, "We complete our mission unless things change."

"And when they do?" asked Ghai.

"I will not take any chances," said Patel.

The rest of their search went without event As the sun moved somewhere above them, they searched the sheds and did a thorough check of the defenses around the perimeter. After that, they returned to the main building.

"So, what now?" asked Corporal Hathi, his large muscles flexing as he crossed his arms, "This island appears to be quite dead to me."

"Where is the Lieutenant?" asked the Captain, but looking out he already knew the answer.

"About that, Captain," said Hathi, gesturing out to the perimeter "Is he alright? He's been wearing a path in that same route all day, muttering to himself. But he's looking at us like I'm looking at that jungle."

"I honestly have no idea," said Captain Patel, "I wish I had an answer. He was exposed to something inside and he's been off his basket all day."

"That's not like him," said Ghai.

"No, it's not," said the Captain, "Private Torres, please relieve Private Dhaliwal and send him down here. Stay vigilant and if you hear anything coming from that room you are to find me immediately. Do not allow the Lieutenant up there with you, is that clear?"

"Aye, sir," said Torres as he disappeared inside.

"Patel, go bring the Lieutenant in, will you?"

"Y-yes Captain," said Patel, standing and heading off at a trot.

"And do it quick," yelled Hathi, "The sun is coming down and that's when the ghouls come and play, haha!"

"Don't scar the boy, Hathi," spat the Captain, "He'll piss himself."

As Private Patel reached the Lieutenant he whistled out to him.

"H-hey, Sir. Captain says we're all to head back, now," he said, "Night's falling and we shouldn't be alone."

"Shh, boy, Shh," whispered the Lieutenant, horsey, "Do you not hear them? Listen, Listen!"

They both stood, in the complete silence. The Private could only hear the rattling of his kit as he shivered in place. The Lieutenant looked around, and then pointed back at the main building. He whispered in a soft, humming tone in contrast to his earlier outburst.

"At first, I thought it was just one. It's playing with me. The Captain, he does not hear it. Does not wish to. But I can hear it. Reaching out, calling to the others," the Lieutenant pointed to the woods, "They are waiting. They know they must get off the island or die. We must leave. This isn't safe."

"L-Lieutenant?"

"He's using the old wood stove in the map room," he continued, "Calling from it like a trumpet. I feel the pressure on my ears but I can describe no sound. If they know where to find us, they will not rest. He needs us to open the door. He's not trapped. We are."

A rustle in the trees caused the Private to jump. The Lieutenant barely seemed bother by it, but it appeared a flying insect moved from the leaves, into the night. Private Patel barely had time to raise his shotgun before he fired it off, the shot firing wildly into the treeline.

The gunshot was like the shattering of reality. A sudden blast of sound casting the evening in silence. The Lieutenant had the shotgun in his hands in a moment, pushing the Private to the ground. They listened, in silence, the the sound as it reverberated off the trees, and then farther in the woods, and farther still, to distant parts of the island.

Hathi was on the gatling gun as if he had never left that spot. Ghai shouted some expletive into the building but even as he did so the Captain and the two privates were already running out of the building, weapons drawn. The Captain saw what was happening and he ran, followed closely by Dhaliwal and Torres, out to the two.
"Lieutenant!" shouted the Captain, "By the Gods! Drop the gun!"

"What happened?" shouted Torres.

"I'm sorry, Cap, it's my fault, "Said Private Patel, "Honest, I... it came from the woods!"

"Shhh," said the Lieutenant, "You fool, you have doomed us all. Listen!"

They were once again thrown into silence. Dhaliwal and Torres aimed their rifles at the treeline beyond the wall. Captain Patel still had his weapon raised at the Lieutenant, but he didn't seem to notice as the Lieutenant's eyes were firmly on the building behind them.

"Sir, we are not alone," said Jhefferson.

As if on que, a terrible screech came from the jungle. As if a thousand bats all cried out at once. This instantly set everyone on edge. The hair on the back of Dhaliwal's neck stood straight up. Private Patel flinched and began to silently sob. Torres kept spinning, aiming his rifle this way and that as he looked around him. Captain Patel's eyes looked firmly at the edge of the compound, however, at the gate left ajar. Slowly, a fog began to roll in. Creeping from the jungle like a foam from a wash bin. As it came it rose from the ground, going from covering the tree roots to seeping out of the very branches in near minutes.

"Get back," said the Captain, "Form a firing line. Go!"

"I'm sorry, sir," sobbed Patel, "I didn't-"

"Grow a spine, Patel, get up!" said the Captain, forcing him to his feet, "Get behind that damn line. Go!"

"Where's it coming from?" asked Torres.

Captain Patel grabbed the shotgun from the Lieutenant and tossed it at Private Patel. As if by magic, Lieutenant Jhefferson shivered and glared at Torres.

"You heard the Captain, soldier. Move it, move it. Firing lie, now!"

They all started jogging back to the main building, where Hathi and Ghai were scrambling around.

The sun continued to set.

"Give me that belt, Private, come on!"

Private Patel was already on his way over. The grass had been made slick by the fog that had rolled in. He slipped and had issues running. He slipped, and slid on his backside to the gun.

"Careful!" spat Hathi, "You get mud in that chain, it'll jam faster then mashed fruit!"

The trees had already started shaking. The noises from the woods could not be explained. Torres and Dhaliwal kneeled at the ready behind another barricade further down. Older rifles lined their side of the barricades, loaded and ready to fire.

Captain Patel, Lieutenant Jhefferson, and Private Ghai walked together out of the main hall cradling rifles.

"Fire the salvaged rifles first," ordered Captain Patel, "They are single shot and might be unreliable but there's lot of them and we have plenty of ammunition. Switch to your rifles only as a last resort or if we need to escape."

"Fix bayonets on as many as you can," said Corporal Hathi, "Stick 'em through the barricades. If we're lucky they might slow some of them down."

"W-What are we facing?" asked Private Patel.

"Whatever is coming in," said Ghai.

"Lieutenant, take Private Ghai and light some of the brush out there. The light may help cut through this fog. Dhaliwal, upstairs, on the double."

Jheffrson and Ghai began a trot out past the barricades into the fog. Dhaliwal rose and walked to Captain Patel.

"Sir? I must protest," said Dhaliwal, "Am I honestly best utilized-"

"Trust me, If we need you, we'll call."

With a sigh, Dhaliwal grabbed his rifle and walked inside. Captain Patel touted his double barreled shotgun and stepped up to Hathi.

"Corporal, I can't lose anybody on this trip. If something comes out of that fog I need you to keep firing until it stops moving."

"Sir, not including our own men," said Hathi.

"Obviously," sigh the Captain.

"Look, over there!" hissed Private Patel.

The fog and been disturbed by the compound's gate. The large gate began to sway as if jostled by the wind. The captain eyes the opening carefully.

"Shoot it, shoot it!" shouted Private Patel.

"Steady, man," spat the Captain, "Steady."

"Spriggs! Watch out!" shouted Torres.

Suddenly another screech came from the woods, only it was much lower in pitch and sounded more like a howl. A sort of cawing-bark also began to come from the woods. The trees were shaking as they did so.

"Time's up, Lieutenant," shouted Captain Patel, "I want your asses back here, now!"

"The Gods," whispered Hathi.

A black figure could barely be made out through the fog, slowly moving by the compound's gates. Everyone tensed. Hathi grasped the crank gun in front of him. He narrowed his vision on the sights in front of him. Private Patel sniffed back a sob, his gun shaking in his hands.

BANG.

A flash of light in the fog as a shot rang out. There was shouting from the Lieutenant. They weren't far off. The gunshot reverberated around them. The barking and howls stopped dead. The figure by the gates seemed to disappear for a moment.

A warm light grew in the fog by the gunshot. A fire rose to life. A bunch had been set on fire close to the barracks. The figures of the Lieutenant and Ghai were seen running back through the fog.

Two dark figures darted into the compound. Staying to the shadows, they easily disappeared into the fog. The large figured appeared in the gateway again, a growling bark announcing its presence.

The Lieutenant and Ghai burst from the fog. They sprinted back behind the barricades. The Lieutenant tossed aside the rifle in his hands, grabbing one leaning from the barricades.

"Captain, they're-"

"I know, I know," said Captain Patel, "Hathi!"

As an answer, Corporal Hathi began to spin the crank of the gun with his right hand. He squeezed the trigger of the gun, and a roar of sound erupted, tearing the silence of the evening away.

The first volley slammed into the unknown figure, the bullets leaving a swirling, mismatched path behind their path. The figure didn't drop at first. After behind hit, it leapt into the air and darted into the shadows, only to appear slightly to the right, seeming to limp in place. Hathi brought the spinning barrels to bare. He squeezed the trigger again, covering the figure in more bullets as it fell tot he ground.

The other shadows leapt from the shadows, one crossing in front of the barracks which began to catch fire. Hathi expertly followed them. Machine gun bullets cutting through the space expertly.

Even as he did so, the figures were being reinforced. A flood of bodies rushed through the ajar gates, rushing into the chaos of the compound. A few creatures snarled and clawed their ways over the wall, leaping onto the wet grass.

"Concentrate forward," shouted Captain Patel over the roar, "Rifles at the ready! Fire freely! Concentrate on the flanks!"

Jhefferson and Ghai opened fire on a few figures rounding the burning remains of the barracks. They seemed wary of the growing blaze, but a few sprinted for the defenses of the group. Ghai skillfully fired a shot, downing the creatures with ease before jamming the bayonetted rifle into the defenses and picking up another older rifle. The Lieutenant took longer to fire, hitting some and missing others.

Private Torres took his time with his shots, waiting for what creatures could close the distance to get closer before skillfully taking them out. He even took the time to reload a rifle or two as he did.

Private Patel used one hand to help feed the bullet belt into the crank gun. He whimpered beside Corporal Hathi as he stoically cranked the bullets into the gun and fired round after round into the advancing creatures. With his free hand, Private Patel attempted to raise one of the rifles, resting it on the barricade and aiming loosely. When he could level the gun, he fired a shot wildly into the crowd of creatures before dropping it and attempting to raise the next rifle.

Captain Patel eyes the situation. The creatures were slowing their advance, and their numbers were not being replenished as quickly as before. More and more of them began weaving back and forth, avoiding the lines of fire, instead of charging blindly at their defenses. They moved in a similar fashion to some wolf packs buck leapt and skulked like a type of large cat. Some of their eyes even glowed in the reflection of the burning barracks, which now began to burn even larger.

They hadn't even gone through a large number of these older rifles, either, thought Captain Patel. He nodded sternly. His men were holding out and they appeared to have the advance under control.

From above, Captain Patel picked up the sound of wings. Large wings. He looked up into the fog, unable to see the source. A large black shadow dropped from the sky, massive claws extending from underneath, landing effortlessly on one of the advancing creatures and lifting it up into the fog above.

Private Patel let out a massive curse. He fell back onto his butt. With a quick glance up, Captain Patel saw one such shadow descending onto them. Before the claws could extend out from underneath it, he lifted his old shotgun and fired. A blast sounded like firing of an old cannon, and a cloud of shot plumed above him into the shadow.

A gust of wind almost blew him over from the large wings as the creature tried to disappear again into the fog, only for it to fly over them, crashing into one of the sheds off to their right with a buzzing noise. Private Patel let out a terrified scream.

"Keep firing!" shouted Captain Patel, opening the old shotgun to reload the shot, "Eyes all around us. Keep on firing!"

Dhaliwal's leg kept bouncing up and down. He could hear the gunshots out there. It sounded messy. He could even make out Private Patel's sobs from in here. He glared at the chained door. Shaking his head.

"Stupid door," he mumbled, shifting the weight of his rifle in his hands, "What the hell is so important about you anyway?"

With a swift kick, he booted the door, rattling its chains and sending a small pain up his leg.

Dhaliwal cursed. Kneeling down, he tried to rub his foot through his boot. He heard a louder bang from outside, and the shouts of Captain Patel.
Suddenly his ears picked up something troubling. Inside the room, he heard the scuffing of a chair, as if someone rose suddenly. Heavy boot steps crossed the floor of the room beyond before coming to a stop in front of the door.

Dhaliwal jumped up, fumbling with his rifle. He eyed the door carefully.

"Wh-Who is there? The hell is that?" he yelled, trying to raise his rifle, "Answer me! Who is in there?"

Rising from the silence beyond came a troubling, hissing "Shh" that rose in volume and oozed from the door like the running of a faucet. The door didn't move or the chains rattle with the effort, but Dhaliwal could feel it down his spine.

His thumb moved ever so slightly, thumbing off the safety of his rifle.

It was a spider the size of a carriage. With wings. Private Torres barely noticed the buzzing noise until it was almost on him. He tried to raise the rifle to fire but the firing hammer slapped down and did nothing. The gun was silent. The creatures eight legs opened, revealing a large sting in its abdomen.

Captain Patel was there in a moment. A well placed blast from his shotgun tossed the creature back, its guts sloshing out over Torres who barely had time to look down, shield his face from it.

With disgust, he removed his pith helmet and tossed it aside. He lift and tossed the rifle like a javelin, it disappearing into the fog beyond.

"The hell his happening, sir?" yelled Ghai.

"It's obvious we're caught in some sort of supernatural feeding frenzy," shouted Jhefferson.

Not far off, two of the wolf-cats ripped at the remains of one of the downed large raptors. Corporal Hathi fired at one of the spider creatures who was attempting to haul off another one of the creatures as it spun it in a web. Its bee like wings buzzing hard as it attempted to fly away.

Lieutenant Jhefferson stopped, cold, dropping the rifle in his hand. His head snapped around, his eyes wide. He stared at the door to the building behind him, looking into it with horror. No one even noticed.

Corporal Hathi cursed. The crank went slack and easy, and he glared beside him. Private Patel was sniffling, lifting a rifle in his arms and firing into the fog.

"Damn you, coward. You dishonor your empire," said Hathi as he slapped him upside his pith helmet, reaching down and grabbing a bullet belt himself.

He ripped open the crank gun, placing inside the end of the belt which he tried to crank into position. Captain Patel gasped and rushed forward, firing both shots from his shotgun into the fog ahead.

"Corporal!" he shouted, "Private Patel! I want to hear that gun roar, now!"

"LIEUTENANT! NO!"

Captain Patel spun around. Ghai was alone, firing at an approaching creature. Lieutenant Jhefferson was not to be seen. Captain Patel feared the worse, until he barely caught the Lieutenant disappearing into the doorway. He cursed under his breath.

"Jhefferson! NO!" he cried, "Return to your post! That's an order! I will shoot you Jhefferson! No!"

"CAPTAIN!" yelled Torres.

Turning, the Captain barely had time to see what looked to be a saber tooth doe lunge and down one of the creatures and begin tearing it to shreds when the outer wall on the other side burst away as if hit with an explosive. Through the debris flew a large, rhinoceros-esque creature which had just gourd a figure that looked like a man in a miss suit wielding a spear.

"What is wrong with this island?" spat the Captain.

"DAMNIT!" yelled Hathi, the force of his curse snapping the bullet into place.

Closing the gun, Hathi leaned back and began to crank the gun as quickly as he could. After a moment of silent whirring, the dun began to bark once again. His blast honed in on the larger beast. Captain Patel sighed and he looked around at his men.

"We cannot hold them back forever," said Ghai, "We're running out of old rifles."

"They're completely waste anyway," spat Torres, "What's the plan, Captain? We stay here fighting off the whole island all night?"

Captain Patel swore under his breath. He only had two more of the makeshift shotgun rounds in the barrels.

Jhefferson leaned his rifle against the wall. He stared down it, his eyes glazed over. Taking light steps, he slowly made his way down the empty hallway. Dhaliwal's rifle butt could be seen upon the floor. The barrel disappearing into the open doorway of the old map room. Jhefferson swallowed nervously to attempt to relieve his dry throat as he walked the last few steps.

He stood over the rifle, following it into the empty map room. It was dark, but he could still see into it from the lantern sitting on the chair behind him. He stared in, seeing the old wooden map table in the center of the room. Overturned chairs littered the room. Old maps and charts littered the walls. Small desks lines a few of the walls and a decent portion of crates and boxes. Not a single cob web or drop of dust inside.

Jhefferson's eyes scanned the room. He thumbed his side holster, taking out his revolver. With slow, careful steps he began to walk into the room, his eyes darting left and right.

There was no body. Jhefferson's eyes ran over every surface. Over every shadow. He took easy steps, going deeper into the room.

Like a terrible chill, the whispers began. They didn't have a source, they just started up in his head.

Torres thrust the rifle forward into the creatures chest. The taloned hooves lashed out, missing his face by meer inches. The bayonette cut deeper into the creatures stomach. The horrid face bleated out a blood chilling cry.

Two brisk shots landed on the creatures face, causing the body to go limp. Torres tossed the stag over the barricade. Captain Patel turned his revolver off into the fog.

"Pick up your rifles, boys," shouted Captain Patel, "We can't fiddle with these ones all evening. We got to move!"

"What?" shouted Hathi, unable to hear over the roar of his crank gun.

Two shots rang out from behind them. Captain Patel turned to the sound of a third shot ringing out of the building.

"Curses," shouted Captain Patel, "Bunch up, boys. Watch your backs!"

Captain Patel ran inside, his revolver raised. He tried to tear up the stairs to the second floor.

"Jhefferson! No!" he yelled, "Dhaliwal? Dhaliwal! Answer me damnit!"

Patel reached the top of the stairs, his revolver leveled down the hallway. It was empty, no sign of Dhaliwal or Jhefferson. His revolver swept the hallway. He made his way down towards the door.

Captain Patel eyed the door. The chains were unmoved and the locks and boards were still firmly there. Captain Patel reached out and began to pound on the door.

"Jhefferson! You in there?" he yelled, slamming the door harder, "Dhaliwal! You in there? Answer me, damnit! That's an order."

Stepping back, he aimed his revolver at a large lock on the chains, firing a shot into it. The bullet pinged off, into the door. Firing another shot only lodged the bullet into the lock. In anger, the Captain lifted his leg and gave the door a tough kick. He heard nothing. Only silence behind the door. He heard nothing but the sounds of combat outside.

Captain Patel turned away and ran down the stairs. He frantically searched the building, seeing no signs of his two men. He began cursing over and over. Tearing up the stairs again, he unloaded the rest of his revolver in the door, slamming his shoulder against the door.

"Gods! No, Gods! No!"

He breathed heavily, leaning back against the wall. He listened to the dying shots of gunfire. He shoot his head, wiping his brow. He took off his officers cap and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Captain!" shouted a voice.

Captain Patel couldn't place it. He sniffed through his nose and he put his cap back on and stood up straight. He heard the gunfire die down. The crank gun went quiet. He reloaded his revolver before turning down the hallways. A voice shouted up that stairs.

"Captain Patel," shout Private Ghai, "Lieutenant? Anybody!"

"Private!" answered Captain Patel as he turned and rushed down the stairs.

At the bottom of the stairs, Captain Patel saw his team. Private Torres had placed a draw bar over the door. Colonel Hathi was cursing in the armory, throwing objects off a table to rest the crank gun on He ripped open the cover, trying to yank a stubborn bullet out of the gun. Private Patel was sobbing silently as Private Ghai bandaged his arm. With a few tugs, he tied off the bandage and slapped Private Patel.

"It's just a scratch, man," said the Private, "Find strength."

"You should've been watching these barrels, Private," spat Hathi, "No look at this! Amelted mess, and a jam I can't-" with a powerful tug he ripped the bullet free.

"Report," asked the Captain.

"Where the hell did you go?" asked Torres.

"Sir, It's like a feeding frenzy out there," said Ghai, "It was a waste to continue shooting. They're eating each other, and scavenging the corpses. They barely noticed us."

"More like we weren't the path of least resistance," said Hathi, ripping out one of the bent, hot barrels and tossing it aside.

"Where's the Lieutenant?" asked Torres, "Private Dhaliwal?"

"They weren't outside with you guys?" asked Captain Patel.

Ghai and Torres shared a surprised glance before Ghai said, "Did I hear that correctly?"

"It was us, they were inside," said Torres, "Didn't you run in after them?"

Without another word, Torres ran upstairs, Captain Patel shaking his head and reaching out to stop him, but he let him run. Ghai shook his head as well. He passed the Captain and he walked to the back. After a few moments, a gunshot erupted from the top floor. A few moments later, Private Ghai returned to the sound of Private Torres descending the stairs.
"Where'd they go?" Torres asked.
"They aren't here?" asked Ghai.
"They're dead," said Captain Patel, "If they aren't in this building they are outside and with a lack of gunshots they were destroyed by the creatures."

"We need to leave this island," said Private Patel, "We're outnumbered. The spirits haunt this island of misery!"

"We can't go back out there, into the jungle," said Private Torres, "We'd never find our way."

"Staying here is a death sentence," said Hathi, "I suggest run for it."
"I'm ordering it," said Captain Patel, "This mission is over. I will not lose another man. Not. Another."

"What's the plan?" asked Private Torres.

"I need a signal cannon, ready to fire," said Captain Patel, "Is that inside?"

"It is," said Corporal Hathi,"Which one?"

"Two reds," came the cold response.

"Sir?"

"We tell the battleship to level this place," said Captain Patel, "We make a run for it as the shells drop."

"What about the jungle?" asked Ghai, "It's dark as it is. Add foggy-"

"I'll hold a lantern," said Captain Patel, "But I'm unsure it'll be much easier then that."
"What about the others?" asked Torres.

"If they aren't in this room they are dead, do you understand?" said Captain Patel, "We all saw them come in here."

"But there's no bodies!"

"What do you suggest?" said Hathi, pulling out a couple replacement barrels from a bag, "That they ran past him? That they ran outside and ran away and none of us noticed? This Island is bloody cursed."

"We don't know where they are and I'm not losing anyone else," spat Captain Patel, "Enough talk about them, for our concerns they are d-"

The sounds of gunshots arose. They were coming from outside, and they sounded far away. All the soldiers looked at one another. Captain Patel looked at the door, hopefully.

"Is it?" whispered Private Patel.

He was cut off by the course sounds of a automatic weapon joining the fight. This development sent confused glances around the group.
"Who else is on this island?" asked Ghai.

The sound of several cannons firing off filled their ears, and they landed close enough to shake the building they were held up in. The group looked to Captain Patel.

"They aren't allies," said Captain Patel, "We have to get off this island."

With a slap of the receiver, Hathi brought everyone's attention to the fact that the crank gun had been fixed. He frowned down at it.

"This is the last belt," said Hathi, "But even if we grab the few we left behind, this isn't exactly easy to walk and shoot with."

"No, grab a rifle when we run," said Captain Patel, "When we open that door, use the gun to clear a path to the side entrance. We'll go out the way we came."

"Are we ready?" asked Torres.

The group looked wearily at one another.

The door was kicked open and a swift blast from the shotgun dealt with a moving pile of fire that couldn't be identified. Captain Patel fired off another shot at movement out the door before tossing the old shotgun to the ground. Passing him, Private's Ghai and Torres leapt out the door, rifles at the ready. They fired off swift shots, dispatching figured in the fog quickly.

Corporal Hathi wasted no time running out behind them and slamming his crank gun on the nearest barricade he could find. With a quick aim, he targeted the figures between the group and the way they had arrived. With a turning motion of his arm, he began firing off the last of the rounds, pelting the entire path with bullets and shredding any figure standing remotely in the way. When one figure would stop moving he would move onto the next.

Trying not to trip down the stairs, Private Patel carried an elongated tube to Captain Patel, and they slammed it into the ground. Expertly, Captain Patel placed a charge in the tube, followed by a shell made of delicate powder. He placed in a second charge on top of that and a second shell of powder. Without waiting for the Private, Captain Patel held a match, scraped it over the Private's Pith helmet to light it, and then shoved it into an opening at the bottom of the tube. In two distinct "POOF"s, the tube fired off two shots, sending a tail of red dust into the air, through the fog. After a moment of hesitation, the shells ignited into a bright, red light that easily illuminated the fog around it into a massive red beacon.

The Captain pulled out a whistle, and blew two, distinct blasts into it. It's screech ripped through the night and gunfire. Easily reaching even the tree line.

"Jhefferson! Dhaliwal! If you can hear me: MOVE OUT!" shouted Captain Patel, before moving to his team, "Let's move!"

They waited only a moment more, bunching behind the barricade with the crank gun. They all waited as the gun slowly sucked in the last of the bullet belt. All at once, the crank gun went silent, only the whirring of its barrels remained. The last of the spent shells bouncing off the barricade and cascading to the ground by their boots.

Torres and Ghai led the way, each going around an opposite side of the barricade with their rifles at the ready. Hathi tossed aside the large gun, picking up a rifle from the barricade with a steady bayonet. He went next, with a swift hissing word to Private Patel. Private Patel followed him, with Captain Patel taking up the rear, his revolver at the ready.

"Go, Go," said Captain Patel, his eyes scanning the fog, "Fire only when you must. We need to draw as little focus on us as we can."

"Don't shoot me in the back, Patel," hissed Hathi.

Torres was the first to reach the outer doorway. Slowly and deliberately he scanned the jungle and the wall around, careful to move. As he stepped out, Hathi and Ghai were close behind, also scanning the jungle. Torres directed them to the path they had used to get here, the path that would lead them to the longboats. Ghai took point and charged ahead at a trot, with Hathi dragging along Private Patel.

"Get moving," said Captain Patel to Torres, "I'm not letting anyone fall behind again. You lot don't leave my sight."

And with that, they were jogging along a trail through the jungle once more. The darkness seemed to double inside the treeline, and Ghai had to slow his pace, careful to stay on the remains of the old gravel foot path that had been here for decades. Captain Patel watched their rear, and was not surprised that the fog and the jungle almost instantly swallowed up Dengaluru. It was as if the compound was never to be seen again.

A large, hulking figure moved through the fog above them, the sound of engines roaring. As the group hunkered lower, they listened for signs of an assault. When the moving mass moved away, Captain Patel gave a swift whistle, and their movement continued.

"The path," said Private Ghai, "I can barely see it. It was hard enough on the way in!"

"Keep going, we'll be fine if we stick together," said Captain Patel, "But we need to keep moving.

Private Patel was the first to fire a shot from his shotgun into the jungle around them. Whether or not he hit something, he brought everyone's attention to the black figures moving swiftly around them. Some seemed to scuttle, others ran or bounded to and fro.

Despite Captain Patel's warning to fire sparingly, the others began to take shots off when a figure was presumed close, or heading in their direction.

Out of the trees jumped a large humanoid creature, its head opening up into a horrific mouth of teeth. Blood dribble from its mouth, but it appeared to be coughing it up. In its hand was a long spear. It thrust out the spear, missing Private Patel by mere centimeters.

Hathi rushed forward, screaming and jabbing his rifle's bayonet at the creature. Despite sticking the large creature expertly and forcing it the ground, one of its powerful legs swept out, knocking Hathi off his feet. The creature rolled, placing a large, muscular had over his chest and began to squeeze with great force.

Torres came screaming from the side, attempting to jab his rifle at the creature, who bashed the attack away with a swift motion from his hand before curling up its three fingers and punching Torres so hard he fell to the ground. Hathi reached for his Kukri Dagger at his waist. The air began to be squeezed out of him, and he could feel his clavical begin to strain as if to break. He let out a pained yell.

A shot rang out. Captain Patel put a bullet into the creature's back. A second shot caused the creature to turn and face the captain, his grip on Hathi lifting him off the ground and loosening. With that, Hathi drew the Kukri dagger and slashed at the creatures arm, cutting deep. The creature howled, and doubled its squeezing power, slapping his clavicle. Hathi let out a scream, Jabbing the knife into the creature's gut.

The hold loosened, and Hathi was dropped. With his fall, he dragged out the knife, disemboweling the creature. Even as the creature fell, Captain Patel took a few steps toward it and fired another shot into what should have been its neck area.

Private Patel and Torres helped Hathi to his feet. He clutched at his shoulder in pain.

"You alright?" asked Private Patel.

"Keep moving," said Hathi, "Eyes out there."

"Welcome to Hell, boys," grumbled the Captain, "Eyes everywhere or we're dead!"

They made their way further down the path, a place where the jungle seemed to thin slightly. Ghai leapt over a silvery puddle on the ground and continued ahead. Private Patel struggled to reload the pump shotgun and Torres fired off a few shots into the Jungle. He worked the bolt like lightning, slamming the bolt into place and firing off a shot in the same, fluid motion.

A horrible cacophony of snapping branches and crushing metal exploded next to them, and suddenly the jungle was bathed in light from the flames of a crashed air ship. It was quite a ways through the trees from where they ran, but the balloon was alight in bright fire and the hull had smashed on the jungle floor. Flames reached out, burning the brush and the trees it could get its hands on.

That's when they heard it. Small bangs in the distance, like the banging of drums. If they truly listened through their fear they might've been able to hear the whistling of the bombardment as it flew through the air and cut through the fog. But they felt it. It felt as if it was only steps behind them. Shells dropping from the sky, and explosions and dirt being thrown everywhere. That must've been the ship, they had seen their flair.

But they were off course.

Shells landed in the jungle. Explosions flew up. Before Captain Patel could scream an order, a shell landed between the team and the downed airship. The force of the shell split one of the amazingly tall trees, sending shards of wood everywhere. Captain Patel dived for the ground. Private Ghai yelled out, clutching his arm, a large wooden shard sticking out of it.

Private Patel took a blast full on, closing his eyes and falling back from the debris. His body landed in one of the silvery puddles and he was bent over with the force of his head hitting the edge of the pool. However, as if by magic, his body continued as if falling through a hole. In another moment, his feet disappeared into the pool and his body was gone, barely a ripple on the surface of the water.

"Little Patel!" yelled Torres, who slid on his knees to the pool and reached in.

In moments he was up to his shoulder and he caught the ground beside it for support to avoid falling in himself. Corporal Hathi yanked him back from the pool, seeing Torres' hand coming back empty.

"He's gone?" asked Torres, in a daze.
"The water isn't wet," answered Torres, looking at his arms in a daze.

"We need to move, now!" ordered Captain Patel, helping Hathi to his feet, "We need to go!"

"What about-"

"GONE!" answered the Captain, "If they aren't here, they are gone!"

More shells fell from the sky, throwing up dirt and debris everywhere. Captain Patel led the charge this time, firing off shots with his revolver as he continued down the gravel path. Private Patel tried to lift his rifle, but he concentrated more on huffing along and keeping pace, his arm bleeding through his uniform.

Hathi tried to keep pace, too. Private Torres help him along, his rifle barking off shots into the trees. Through the light of the fire and the silhouette of the trees they could see the dark figures of creatures and people, moving back and forth through the forest.
A tall, armored man stepped out of the treeline into the path ahead of them. He wore a bucket-esque helmet that was almost completely closed off but for a T slit in the helmet. He had a large armored breastplate and armor all down his arms and legs. On his back, a large tank sat. He seemed to look at the group.

Captain Patel leveled his revolver at him, but did not fire. He assumed his armor playing might be able to stop a bullet. He stared at the armored man and the armored man stared back. The armored man pointed a finger at them, then he jerked back his hand, thumbing behind him.

"GO!" came a muffled yell from the helmet, "Go now! Go!"

He turned to the wood beyond, listing his hands. Out of his gauntlets stream to jets of intense fire. The flames hungrily began to devour the jungle, and he stepped closer, continuing to burn the trees. Creatures hiding in the shadows squealed and howled in pain at the flames, but the armored man kept taking steps further into the jungle.

"Go," order Captain Patel, who took off at a run behind the armored man.

Captain Patel looked back, ensuring he was being followed by the rest of his team. He watched the armored man disappear of the trail into the inferno. He turned away, continuing his run through the jungle.

Captain Patel saw the coast through the fog. The trail began to break up, leading to a downward slope. After a little way more, Captain Patel could spot the shoreline, and with it, a bundle of boats resting on the beach. Captain Patel frowned, seeing five boats resting on the beach. He turned to his group, limping down the pathway. He called over Private Torres quickly.
"Give me," he ordered, taking the rifle from Ghai and gesturing to Torres for ammunition, "Go, get a boat into the water. Take them."

"Why are there so many?" asked Torres.

"They must've sent help," coughed Hathi, "Where are they?"

"If they are in there, they are dead," said Captain Patel, "We need to leave, now!"

"What if they aren't?" asked Ghai.

"Then we'll tell them to leave!"

The Captain checked the rifle's ammunition before turning his back on his men, facing the jungle. Torres checked on the other two, before sprinting down to the beach. He looked around at the other boats. Captain Patel pulled out a cylindrical whistle from early and gave it three, long, resonate blasts. The noise ripped through the fog and penetrated the trees. Private Torres took that as a sign to leave.

Torres tossed his rifle into a boat. Grabbing the size, he gave the boat a rough tug towards the ocean. With a small exclamation, his face twisted in disgust and he looked down to his hands. Pulling up from the slimy, sticky wood like boat he struggled to remove his hands from it. It looked as if the boat was coated with a warm, sticky substance.

It happened before Ghai's eyes. The boat lurched into the air. The sides spiked like jagged teeth. The boat bent and became a mouth. With great force, it was down, over Torres' head and torso. The teeth made a squish and crunch sound as it bit into his body. A muffled scream burst from within, Torres screaming out. The hull of the boat began to turn dark, before showing black skin and two, beady, black eyes. A series of powerful legs began to drag the whole thing away, back into the brush.

Ghai wheezed out a silent scream. Hathi swore as he watched the creature disappear with Torres' legs dangling out of his mouth. Even the legs had disappeared back into the jungle by the time Captain Patel backed far enough back to notice something was wrong.
"Where's Torres?" he ordered.

"Sir..." Hathi pointed into the jungle.

The Captain swore, before gesturing to the boats.

Corporal Hathi put a hand on Ghai's back, and they approached another boat. With his Kukri knife he launched a few strikes into the wood of the longboat. He listened to the clunk of it hitting wood and watching the wood splinters fall from his blade. With a look to Ghai, they both grabbed the boat and began to push it into the surf.

A few gunshots erupted from Captain Patel's rifle. Fire was returned from the jungle. The bullets kicked up the beach. Hathi gritted his teeth through the pain of the shoulder to push the boat further into the water, the waves lapping at his knees. Ghai choked on a sob as he pushed with his arm. The gunfire behind them picking up.

A splat ripped into Hathi's back, he let out a scream and fell face first into the waves. Ghai let out a yell.

The Captain was there a moment later. He tossed the rifle into the boat and dived into the waves. A moment later, he pulled out Hathi from the ocean. With a heave, he tossed him onto the boat.

"In, now!" shouted Captain Patel.

Ghai climbed in as well, his eyes warily on the bullet spikes tossing up in the water. Captain Patel kept pushing the boat further into the waves. Ghai struggled to set up the oars, trying to move them in unison to help.

Patel climbed into the boat, on resting a moment to toss his revolver at Private Ghai. Pushing him to the back of the boat, Captain Patel grabbed the oars and begun a rigorous rowing rhythm and, slowly, brought the boat out further into the ocean.

The gunfire died. Moments dragged into minutes and soon the island began to disappear into the fog. Captain Patel glared into the fog.He didn't even notice the lights of the ship in the distance as it searched the fog. As the boat rowed out the the fog, the lights focused in on the tiny craft. Those lights illuminated a wounded Private Ghai, a Corporal Hathi bleeding out on the bottom of the long boat, and a determined Captain Patel, rowing until his arms screamed with pain.