The voice slid through the dark like smoke.

I'm the one you need. I'm the only one who can help.

Brown slime shot from the dark in long, glistening strands. Too many arms, too many joints. They cracked the air as they whipped toward me.

I hit the ground and rolled. One slammed into the wall behind me and splattered, sizzling. Another caught my ankle and yanked. I twisted, drove my elbow down, and tore free. My shoulder burned where a tendril had grazed me.

I was weak. My lungs dragged. But I

couldn't stop.

Get closer. End this.

Everyone was counting on me. I couldn't mess this up.

Ahead, through the fog - them. My friends. 

They couldn't see me, weren't in the state to notice anything. 

They won't make it if I don't move.

The slime surged. A wave of it crashed down. I slid under, came up, and drove forward. Something grabbed my wrist. I wrenched it away, stumbled, kept running.

If I wasted any more time, it would be too late for them.

For the town.

For everything.

I lunged.