Prehistoric Nightmare

The group crept through the underground parking lot, their footsteps muffled against the dusty concrete floor. Dozens of cars stood in eerie silence, their surfaces cloaked in a fine layer of grime, flickering lights. The air was thick and stale, clinging to their lungs like an unspoken warning. Every accidental scuff of a shoe, seemed deafening in the unnatural stillness.

Walter led the way. His eyes darted frantically from car to car, scanning for the flash of red that would signal salvation. But the more he looked, the more frustrated he became.

"Where the hell is that damn car?!" Walter hissed, his voice sharp as he quickened his pace. His breathing was heavy, a mix of exertion and growing anxiety, as if the unseen eyes of the dark were closing in.

"Seriously?" Anna snapped, hurrying to keep up with him. Her tone was sharp, her irritation palpable. "You forgot where you parked your own car? In this situation?" She gestured around them, as if to underline the absurdity of their predicament.

Walter spun on his heel, glaring at her. "Oh, I'm sorry, Anna," he snarled, sarcasm dripping from every word. "I didn't realize I needed to jot down the parking space number, especially since the world seems to be reverting to the Mesozoic era! My bad!"

Anna opened her mouth to retort, but Chloe interjected first, her voice shaky yet resolute. "Guys, can we please not do this right now? Seriously, arguing isn't going to help us. This place feels… wrong." Her wide eyes darted nervously to the shadows, and she gripped the straps of her clothes as if they might somehow offer protection.

Jeremy, walking a few steps behind them with Lewis, let out a soft sigh. "Why don't you just use the keys, Walter? Have the car beep or something." His voice was low, cautious, but there was an edge of exasperation beneath it.

"Wow, brilliant idea, Jeremy," Walter shot back, his laughter bitter and devoid of humor. "Except for one tiny detail: the alarm system stopped working weeks ago. I meant to get it fixed, but, you know," he gestured dramatically around them, "since the world fell apart, that's probably never going to happen!"

Thomas hadn't said a word. He trailed behind the group, his eyes scanning the parking lot with a crawling unease. There was something wrong about this place. It wasn't just the silence—it was the absence. Earlier, this parking lot had been teeming with people, panicked and desperate to escape. Now, it was as if they had vanished into thin air, leaving nothing behind but stillness and the faint echoes of the past.

His chest tightened. "This isn't right," he murmured under his breath, his voice barely audible. His gaze lingered on the far, shadowed corners of the lot. It felt like the darkness itself was alive, watching, waiting.

"Thomas, can you not be cryptic right now?" Walter barked, but before he could say more, Lewis's excited shout cut through the tension.

"I found it! Over there!" Lewis practically bounced on his heels, pointing toward the far end of the lot. There, near a concrete pillar, stood the red jeep, its bright color dulled but unmistakable even under the weak light.

Walter's face lit up with a mix of relief and triumph. "That's my girl!" he exclaimed, gripping his axe tighter and breaking into a sprint. "Come on, let's move!"

The others followed, their footsteps quickening, though Anna shook her head in obvious frustration. "Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath. "He's more excited about that car than he's been about any of us this entire time."

"As long as there aren't any surprises inside," Chloe added quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes darted nervously from shadow to shadow, her unease growing with every step.

Thomas lagged behind. His instincts screamed at him to stop, to turn around, to do something. The silence was suffocating, unnatural. His skin prickled with a cold sweat, and his stomach twisted in knots. "Guys…" he started, his voice trembling, but the words caught in his throat.

And then he heard it.

A sound—subtle at first but unmistakable. A slow, deliberate scraping, like claws dragging across concrete. It was faint but steady, the kind of noise that crawls into your ears and refuses to leave. His breath hitched as the sound grew louder, closer.

He froze. "Wait," he said sharply, his voice cutting through the group's hurried movements. "Stop. Something's not right."

The group halted, turning to face him with varying expressions of confusion and irritation. Walter threw his hands up in exasperation. "What now, Thomas?" he snapped, his patience fraying. "We don't have time for this—"

"Shut up," Thomas interrupted, his tone so uncharacteristically forceful that it silenced everyone. His eyes were wide, his body rigid. "Listen."

For a moment, there was only silence. Then they all heard it—the scraping, low and menacing, echoing faintly through the parking lot. It wasn't just coming from one direction. It was everywhere.

"What… what is that?" Chloe whispered, her voice trembling as she instinctively moved closer to Walter.

Anna's face paled, her earlier bravado evaporating. "It sounds like… claws," she said, her voice barely audible.

Jeremy took a cautious step back, his eyes darting around. "This doesn't feel right. We need to go. Now."

Walter gritted his teeth, his frustration giving way to unease. "Everyone, to the jeep. Now. Move!"

But before they could take another step, the shadows shifted.

From behind the cars, they emerged. Massive shapes, low to the ground yet impossibly muscular, their movements fluid and predatory. The dim light caught their eyes—glowing, malevolent yellow orbs that pierced through the darkness. They were wolves, but unlike anything nature had ever created. They were enormous, their bodies rippling with muscle, their claws glinting like daggers as they scraped against the concrete. Their teeth, jagged and unnaturally long, gleamed as they stepped into the light.

"Those aren't wolves," Anna breathed, her voice shaking with disbelief. "What the hell are those things?"

"Run!" Thomas yelled, his voice breaking with pure terror. But the pack was already closing in, their growls low and guttural, vibrating through the air like a death knell.

Walter raised his axe, his face a mask of defiance and fear. "Get to the jeep!" he shouted, positioning himself between the group and the advancing predators.

But deep down, they all knew—they were surrounded. And the monsters weren't going to let them leave without a fight.

The wolf lunged forward with terrifying speed, a blur of muscle and teeth, and pounced on Lewis. Its massive jaws clamped around his neck with the sickening crunch of bone and sinew snapping. Lewis didn't even have time to scream. Blood sprayed in a grotesque arc, painting the dull concrete beneath him a vivid, horrifying red. His body went limp almost instantly, dangling from the wolf's maw like a broken doll.

"LEWIS! NO!" Jeremy's scream tore through the parking lot, raw and desperate. His voice cracked as he stumbled forward, trembling with horror. Without thinking, he grabbed his backpack and hurled it at the wolf. The bag struck the beast's side, but it might as well have been a breeze against a mountain. The wolf barely flinched, turning its blood-soaked snout toward him. Its yellow eyes gleamed with an almost mocking malice.

"Jeremy, don't—!" Anna started, but her voice was drowned out by Walter's furious roar.

"MOVE! RUN FOR THE DAMN CAR!" Walter bellowed, swinging his axe wildly as two more wolves crept out of the shadows, their claws scraping against the concrete with an ear-splitting screech. He stepped in front of Chloe, who was frozen in place, her face streaked with tears. Her hands clung to his jacket as if it were the only thing tethering her to sanity.

"There's too many of them!" Anna's voice cracked, her words trembling with panic as she stumbled backward. One of the wolves growled low, its ears pinning back as it crouched, ready to pounce.

A second later, it launched itself at Jeremy, slamming him to the ground with brutal force. His scream was one of pure agony as the wolf's fangs tore into his shoulder, shredding muscle and sending blood cascading down his arm. He thrashed beneath the creature's weight, his eyes wide with terror.

"Get off him!" Thomas roared, his fear eclipsed by a sudden surge of adrenaline. He charged forward, gripping a metal rod. With all his strength, he brought it down on the wolf's side. The beast howled, a guttural, bone-chilling sound, and recoiled—but only for a moment. It turned its head toward Thomas, its lips curling back in a snarl that revealed rows of razor-sharp teeth.

"Thomas, what are you doing? Get out of there!" Anna shouted, her voice shaking as she clutched the side mirror of the jeep for balance. But Thomas didn't retreat. Instead, he raised the rod again, his knuckles white, his face twisted in determination.

"Jeremy, get up!" Thomas yelled, his voice cracking as he swung the rod wildly, keeping the wolf at bay. Jeremy groaned, his good arm clutching his mangled shoulder, but he couldn't stand. Blood pooled beneath him, and his breaths came in shallow, ragged gasps.

And then it happened. A hulking shadow slammed into Thomas with the force of a truck, knocking him to the ground. His face hit the concrete hard, the impact leaving him dazed and gasping for air. Pain exploded through his back as the weight of the wolf pinned him down, its claws raking across his skin with brutal efficiency.

Thomas screamed, flipping onto his back, and found himself staring into the beast's gaping maw. Drool dripped from its fangs, landing hot and sticky on his cheek. The wolf growled, the sound vibrating through his chest, and its jaws snapped inches from his face.

"Jeremy, run!" Thomas managed to shout, his voice strangled with pain. But when he turned his head, he saw the pack already descending on Jeremy. The wolves tore into him with savage ferocity, their fangs ripping through flesh and bone as if he were nothing but prey. Jeremy's screams were short-lived, cut off by a sickening gurgle. Thomas's stomach churned, bile rising in his throat as he watched his friend's body go still, lifeless and unrecognizable.

"No! Jeremy!" Anna's voice broke into a sob, but Walter grabbed her arm, dragging her toward the jeep.

"Anna, we can't help him! Get in the car before we're next!" Walter yelled, his voice laced with desperation. He yanked the driver's side door open and practically shoved Chloe into the back seat. She was shaking uncontrollably, her pale face streaked with tears as she whimpered incoherently.

"Damn it, start! Come on, start!" Walter slammed the key into the ignition, twisting it furiously. The engine sputtered, coughing like a dying animal before roaring to life. "Finally!" he yelled, gripping the wheel tightly.

"Thomas! He's still—he's still out there!" Anna cried, refusing to climb into the car. She turned toward the chaos, her eyes locking onto Thomas as he struggled beneath the wolf.

Thomas, his body screaming in pain, gritted his teeth and gripped the metal rod with his uninjured arm. With a guttural yell, he drove the rod upward, aiming for the wolf's head. The jagged end struck its ear, piercing through with a sickening squelch. The beast howled, its jaws slackening as it stumbled back. Thomas didn't hesitate. He pushed himself up, ignoring the searing pain in his arm, and drove the rod deeper. The wolf convulsed once, then collapsed, its massive body hitting the ground with a heavy thud.

"Thomas, RUN!" Anna screamed, her voice shrill with urgency. The remaining wolves, their bloodied maws dripping, turned their attention to him. Their growls rose in unison, a chilling harmony of hunger and rage.

The jeep screeched to a halt beside him, the passenger door swinging open. "Get in, you idiot!" Walter shouted, his knuckles white as he gripped the wheel.

Thomas didn't need to be told twice. He stumbled toward the vehicle, his legs trembling beneath him. He could feel the wolves closing in, their hot breath on his neck. Summoning every ounce of strength he had left, he leaped into the jeep. Anna grabbed his jacket, yanking him the rest of the way in as Walter slammed his foot on the gas.

The wolves lunged as the jeep sped off, their claws raking against the rear bumper. One managed to leap onto the hood, its claws leaving deep gouges in the metal as it snarled at the windshield.

"Get OFF!" Walter roared, swerving violently. The wolf lost its grip and was thrown to the ground, disappearing into the darkness behind them.

Breathing heavily, Thomas collapsed into the seat, clutching his bloodied arm. His vision blurred, but he could see Anna staring at him, her face pale and tear-streaked. "Are you okay? Say something!"

"I'm... alive," he muttered, his voice weak but steady. He managed a grim smile, though the pain was overwhelming. "Not... how I planned my evening."

Anna let out a shaky laugh, though it was tinged with hysteria. "You're insane... but thank God you're alive."

As the jeep burst out of the parking garage, the group fell silent, their eyes widening in collective shock. The city was gone. In its place stood an alien landscape—a sprawling jungle of massive trees, their roots tearing through asphalt and concrete. Vines hung from crumbling skyscrapers, and strange creatures darted through the foliage, their cries echoing in the humid air.

"This... can't be real," Chloe whispered, her voice trembling. "It's... it's like we're in another world."

Thomas, his head resting against the seat, opened his eyes and gazed out the window. His voice was quiet, almost a whisper, but it carried a weight that silenced the others. "We're not in our world anymore... This is something else. Something ancient."

Walter's hands trembled on the wheel as he swerved to avoid a massive tree root. "Damn it... What the hell is going on?!" he yelled, his voice cracking under the weight of panic. "Where the hell are we?!"

No one had an answer. The jeep sped forward, deeper into the unknown, as the remnants of the world they knew disappeared behind them.