Chapter 33: BATTLE BUDDIES AT THE ANOMALY QUEST.
A low rumble cut through the casino’s music. The scrape of claws on shattered marble. Then another, and another, the hungry moans of Eaters dragging themselves up through the stairwell.
Dancer crept closer, crouching beside Rex’s corpse. She didn’t hiss. She didn’t snarl. She just stared at it, her beast-like eyes soft, almost mournful. Like she understood what it meant to break yourself to keep someone else alive.
Johnquis clenched his jaw. He rose, pulling Dancer with him.
"One big brother to another."
He said softly, giving Rex one last glance.
"Rest easy. You did what you could."
He tightened the chain around his wrist, feeling Dancer’s pulse echo in his veins. Outside the shattered casino entrance, the distant rumble of the swarm drew closer, the dragging feet, the rasping breaths, the gnashing hunger rolling in like a black tide.
Johnquis shifted his stance, bracing Dancer behind him.
"We survived Rex. We survived his whole squad. We’ll survive this anomaly too."
Dancer tilted her head, that strange half-human smile flickering on her lips. Half fierce, half a spark of hope.
Johnquis bared his teeth, "Let’s dance, Dancer. For them. For us."