"How can we get past that thing it moves like smoke!" Whispered Danny running his hands through his sweaty black hair his eyes trained on the city before them. They were all geared up with whatever they could carry without slowing them down. Jinx was to his left standing with her hands on her hips blonde hair falling in her face.

"We have to try... Leo can't take much more of the attacks." Jinx shot a glance over her shoulder at the old tinker who was meddling with explosives his goggles singed from a blast that nearly blew off his fingers.

"I'm fine... Stop worrying your pretty head." His raspy voice droned while the tools in his hands hissed when they touched metal. Jinx shook her head looking down at Danny with concern.

"What's your pl..." she was cut off by a short girl with shoulder length dirty blonde hair.

"He wants us to run into that thing with full force and die. That's what."

"Ember come on! Think positive! We can survive this thing."

She rolled her eyes scoffing, as she pulled out her knife wiping the slick blade with the tail of her shirt.

"5 minutes... Then it's all or nothing." Sighed Danny every inch of him was humming with adrenaline, every sound perking his ears for a hint at where the shadow might be. Ember adjusted her belt taking shells from a pouch loading her sawed off shotgun.

Jinx counted her crystals praying for safety and guidance for the group of misfits while Leo hobbled over carrying several containers of gun powder mixed with whatever it was he added to make it explode on impact. Not the safest thing to carry around however it may do them some good.

Everyone drew in a collective breath as they stood at the edge of the burning city. Screams could still be heard from every direction, which was confusing. They needed a direction they could rely on.

"This way!" Danny shouted as a flash of sunlight and green fields came across his view for a hair of a second. They rushed forward feet pounding hard in the broken asphalt. Ragged breaths being drawn in by Leo as he struggled to keep up, and then complete deathly quiet silence. Everyone froze turning to face each other. Hands holding tightly to their weapons.

"Stay calm..." breathed Danny. It was too late Leo was snatched through the air by the smoke sending him crashing through a two- story window, blowing out walls.

Danny heard Ember scream out in terror followed by a loud thud panic rising in his chest. "Oh God!"

He started running, fire striking him from behind crushing him into the ground.

"Did you think you could run?" It hissed trailing its thick tendrils along his back catching the fabric on fire. He screamed out in agony a flash of freedom ahead once more. A loud sizzling sound came from behind with a shriek.

"Danny."

"Jinx?"

"I think... I... Killed it..."