Chapter Text
It hurt. The pain was too much it made it incredibly impossible to breathe but they knew they couldn't stop. Not now, not when they were so close to making it back home.
A loud explosion to the west, bright purple hues filled the sky in a display of fireworks going off into the permanently crimson sky. It was a sign of the ongoing battle to gain control over the lost territory. More explosions followed and then a loud roar.
The enemy was retreating. For now.
Suddenly the ground beneath them caved and the once running soldier came crashing down into the long forgotten subway tunnels. Pain shocked every nerve in their body as they fought to get to their feet. They couldn't risk staying in one place for too long, not with the enemy nearby. So with gritted teeth and a limp to their step the soldier carried on.
It was hard to tell if they were even going the right way now. For all they knew they could be heading straight to the enemy. Shaking their head the soldier gripped the small bundle of fabrics in their arms and glanced down momentarily only to jolt up at the sound of a similar spine chilling screech.
"Shit!" They huffed. Not wasting time on looking back the soldier ran. They ran down the long stretch of tunnels and set small explosions to the wall to slow down the creatures a few yards back.
Holding a small receiver in one hand waiting for the right moment to press it, the soldier dared to glance back only to lose their footing. A loud crack was heard as their right foot bent in an unnatural way and suddenly they found themselves on the dirt covered train tracks.
The creatures were close now. They knew they needed to move but any energy they had was quickly depleting. Clutching the bundle of fabrics as close as humanly possible the soldier bit their bottom lip and pressed the button on the receiver. Loud explosions echoed loudly and the soldier was quick to hunch over the small bundle and hoped it was enough to block as much dust and noise as possible.
Breathing loudly the soldier looked around and tried scrambling to their feet only to come crashing down as they tried putting pressure on their clearly broken foot.
"Fuck! Shit!" They cursed seeing it was impossible to get up but they tried. They would crawl and try to use the walls for support only to fall over and over and over and over again.
"No. No. C'mon! Please!" They pleaded. Their voice cracked as tears ran down their dirt stained face. "Please! I need to- I can't! Not here! Please!" The soldier's voice was desperate and filled with fear. They couldn't let it end, not here, not with the small bundle of hope being pressed against their chest. Not after coming this far only for it to end here.
"Get up! You have to get the fuck up!" The soldier grunted and screamed as they tried desperately to get on their feet only to fall. The same pitiful story. "Dammit! Shit. Shit. Shit!" Tears now freely flowed down their face as they slumped against the wall. Their breaths heavy and wheezy.
Suddenly there was movement. The small bundle of fabrics started moving, small hands and feet pushed and kicked at the confines that wrapped around its small and fragile body. The soldier tried wrapping them up again but once the small being was free it let out a loud and needy cry.
"No. No. No. Please don't cry. Sh sh sh… Please. Please." The soldier pleaded. Their voice soft yet still held onto the desperation. When the small child failed to listen the soldier broke. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Fuck! I'm so sorry."
The explosions above had moved farther away along with the screeching sounds of the creatures that had been chasing them. That was good, at least it gave them a bit of time. Clicking a button on the side of their white mask the soldier spoke soft and light.
"Anyone in my area?" There was a long pause, the small child in their arms whimpered and whined. "Please I-" A loud roar ripped through the silence. The ruble to their right starts pulsing as the creatures on the other side clawed at the fallen rocks.