Adam stared at what seemed to be oceans of monsters with his mouth slightly gaped.

  Kate tapped his shoulder and signaled him to return back.

  Adam nodded and they walked away carefully, afraid a sudden movement might awaken the creatures.

  “We should return and tell the brothers that we found the nest” said Kate after leaving the earshot of the greys

  And they did, they walked for a few minutes until they had arrived at the car.

  They waited a while until the brother had finally returned.

  Charlie came back first, followed by Kleoff after a few minutes.

  Kate told them about the location of the nest. They all agreed that they should use the car to get closer to the nest. Carrying the tanks and explosives would take too much time.

  Luckily the engine started for the second time. Just like earlier, Adam kept the engine running low to avoid generating noise.

  Slowly, Adam pressed the gas with the brothers closely tailing the car.

  A few meters away the nest Adam stopped the car and signalled Kleoff and Charlie that they were near enough to carry the tanks.

  Charlie nodded and jumped out of his horse, following his brother’s example Kleoff did the same. The younger brother approached Charlie and took the reins from him and tied lighting and thunder in a nearby lamp post.

  Adam figured they did that because the creatures might scare the horses, making them run away.

  After ensuring that their mounts were secured, the brothers helped Adam and Kate unload the items.

  Charlie and Kleoff helped each other in carrying an oxygen tank, so did Adam and Kate. Two people in each oxygen tank was definitely unnecessary but they were being extremely careful. A single sound might awaken the entire horde, if that happens their survival chance would almost be zero.

  After the short walk the four of them finally arrived at the plaza.

  Charlie gaped at the sight of the creatures. If Adam were to guess he would have bet that Charlie was wondering why the horde was reduced to such size.

  He was too, however, as weakened and as reduced the numbers of the horde it could still prove to be dangerous for the entire island if they did not act right away.

  Carefully, they all stepped into the nest, each step made slowly in order to ensure none of the grey would be stepped on.

  The brothers placed their tank slightly east the plaza and Kate and Adam placed theirs by the west.

  After successfully setting up the first tanks they swiftly returned towards the car in order to take the final tank and the box of explosives.

  Without any interruption they were able to return to the plaza safely and place the last tank along with the explosives which they placed at the center of the plaza.

  Each of them approached the tanks twisting the oxygen valve, producing a low but sharp hissing sound.

  Kate nodded at Adam who was setting up the explosives.

  After receiving the group's confirmation he lit the fuse of the explosive, releasing a sharp sizzle.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Adam nodded at the group signalling them that they should leave.

  The brothers and Kate understood, slowly each of them walked away from the plaza.

  However, Adam suddenly noticed a movement passed the corner of his eyes behind Kate. A figure was slowly rising, stretching its wings. Without much thought Adam took his knife and threw it at the creature. In a brief moment the knife flew straight towards the creature's head, directly piecing its skull.

  The creature dropped with a weak thud, Kate immediately turned around and saw one of the winged creatures fallen on the ground.

  Kate looked back and saw Adam mouthing: 387 as she pulled the knife out of the fallen creature’s skull and handed the knife to Adam as soon as they got out of the plaza.

  The group was able to leave the plaza pretty quickly. Adam thought that they should get as far as possible before the trap explodes. Not only some of the greys sleeping in the nest might awaken other monsters from all around the neighborhood.

  Adam’s thought was interrupted by a sudden deafening explosion that came from the plaza. A breeze of wind went past them followed by sharp screeches from the greys.

  He looked at the group and they all seemed as surprised as he was.

  It’s too early, he thought.

  Dark smoke rises over the buildings as footsteps hurriedly march towards them.

  Adam stared at the almost empty road behind them full of old broken and rusty cars. The ground was slightly shaking, He stared for a moment fearing that some of the greys might have survived the explosion and caught up to them.

  For a short moment the road had turned silent aside for the occasional caws of ravens perched all over the road.

  However to Adam’s disappointment the steps continued to make their way towards them, this time faster.

  Adam looked at each of the group and they all decided to run back towards the car and the brothers' horses.

  Adam turned his head to check if something was following them and for some time nothing was chasing them but when looked back once more he saw a set of figures quickly catching up on them.

  All built similar to the one they saw at the island but these ones were slightly larger. Adam counted there had to be at least three of the creatures, one of them had its wings on flames as it climbed on top of a car and screeched at the group.

  Adam looked at Kate and noticed that she left her rifle back at the car when they carried the tanks and explosives. He still had his pistol but he thought that it wouldn't do much against three greys even though they are all injured.

  Charlie probably brought his revolver but that was it, Kleoff was prohibited by his brother to use guns the best he could have was a knife and even that Adam wasn’t sure if he brought one.

  He looked back slightly once more as he ran, the chances of them outrunning those greys were unlikely.

  Without much of a choice he turned around and pulled his pistol, letting the others go first.

  He aimed at the closest one’s head firing two shots, one hitting its shoulders and the other hitting the creature’s head.

  The grey had fallen down before it managed to close the distance however another grey was quickly approaching Adam.

  He tried to fire again but this time he missed, the creature was able to weave through the road swiftly despite its injuries and reach Adam.

  It leaped towards him with its sharp claws but another gunshot erupted before the creature could land the hit. Its skull exploded, as its body had fallen to the ground, its dark blood spilling all over the road.

  Adam gasped as he looked around to check where the shot had come from. It was Charlie with his revolver.

  He immediately shook his head and focused on the remaining grey, if he counted it right there should be another one.

  But to his surprise when he checked again there wasn’t any other grey following them.

  …

  Despite the explosion no creature seemed to be lurking around the road aside the ones they shot which were both part of the horde. While that alone was strange Adam still couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something. He could have sworn that he saw three monsters from the horde but why would one of them suddenly disappear.

  He tried to stop his thoughts and focus on getting back to the car. Even though they haven't seen any new monster that could quickly change if they stayed longer.

  After a short walk they have finally returned to where they left the car and the horses.

  Kleoff went ahead and took the reins of the horses as both Adam and Kate slid into the car.

  Adam inserted the key and pressed the start. The engine hummed, Adam turned his head, he saw that the brothers had already mounted their horses.

  He nodded at them and pressed the gas.

  The ride home was smooth with no interruptions. Which further supports Adam's doubt, usually groups of monsters should have been awakened by the blast.

  He sighed, Kate noticing his quietness asked what he was thinking.

  Adam explained about strange occurrences he noticed from the lack of greys to the sudden disappearance of the other creature from the horde.

  Kate crossed her arms, while she processed Adam's explanations.

  “Yes, I definitely saw three of those winged greys”

  “see? So why would it suddenly disappear?"

  “I don't know, maybe the injuries finished it off?”

  “We would have seen the body if that's the case” argued Adam.

  “Something could have attacked it” he followed.

  “But didn't you just say the area seemed to have a small quantity of monsters? What could have attacked it then?”

  Adam thought for a moment, he remembered about the creature Kate said she had seen.

  He figured pointing it out wouldn't help so he kept it to himself.

  After a few moments they had finally arrived back at the shore. Adam parked the care at its usual spot.

  Charlie approached him, saying that he and Kleoff should leave now that the issue had been resolved. They would have the residents of the north down waiting for them. Just like Adam and Kate they were the only ones who could take resources for the residents outside the gap.

  Adam argued they should take the night at the island and leave in the morning. Charlie, knowing that the trip would take a long amount of time, agreed.

  Adam nodded and stared at the causeway.

  Thankfully the tide hasn't fully risen. Adam figured they had enough time to return to the island before the causeway became uncrossable.

  Adam led the way with Kate followed by the brothers pulling their horses through their reins.

  Before the tide could cover the causeway the group arrived at the island.

  Kiel and Althea welcomed them on their return.

  …

  Back at the plaza a male figure approached the heaps of dead monsters.

  The corpses were charred and smelled burned.

  Behind the figure a group of monsters rushed towards the dead bodies and started devouring the lifeless creatures.

  The figure stepped forward, noticing something from the stacks of dead bodies.

  “Wait” the figure spoke in an authoritative voice.

  The creatures immediately halted and stepped away from their meal.

  The figure crouched and pulled one of the winged grey from the pile, gripping its neck.

  The monster shrieked.

  Nolan smiled thinking he just had the thing for the creature.