[Review] Blind Hunters Beneath The Black Water - Part 7

The Black Water Parts A giant python surfaces, thick as an ancient tree. The spear remains buried in its back. Rain pours, total silence. She wades slowly, gripping her knife. With cold precision, she slashes a single deep line down the monster's belly. She bends down, pulling the soaked cub from the snake's stomach. Standing in the downpour, hot tears mix with rain, dropping onto the limp orange fur. One arm cradling the heavy cub, the other pulling the spear free. Leaving the massive carcass behind, she drags her black shoes through the thick mud toward the solid bank. The cub is placed under a natural rock overhang. Its body lies completely motionless on the hard stone. Dry wood catches fire. She sits by the flames, her hand continuously stroking the damp fur. Her eyes stare blankly ahead. Beside her, the cub remains perfectly still. She steps back into the trees. Heavy rain continues to batter the leaves. Since her arrival, thick clouds have completely blocked the sun. She stops. Her eyes lock onto a tree base. She pulls the spear back, ready to throw. A gray rabbit pops its head from the hollow. She lowers her arm. She turns and walks away through the pouring rain. Suddenly, her shoes halt. Something shifts just ahead. A red fox stands in her path, its eyes locked directly onto her. Her fingers tighten around the spear shaft. Her gaze fixed straight ahead. The fox steps forward, growling low in its throat. Sharp fangs are bared. The girl's body flinches slightly, but her grip on the spear remains locked. The fox suddenly sprints at her. A loud crack cuts through the rainy forest. The girl's knees hit the dirt. Beside her, the red fox lies completely still on the ground. The dead fox is tied to her back. She trudges back to the cave. Sits down and touches the cub's body. There is no movement. Pieces of fox meat sizzle over the fire. Slowly, the cub's head lifts off the stone. Its nostrils flare at the scent of roasted meat, and its eyes blink open. The corners of her mouth curl up. Her hand rubs the cub's head. She drops a raw fox leg onto the stone. The cub's jaws snap it up immediately. They chew their food beside the crackling fire, while the heavy rain continues to pour outside. The forest plunges into darkness. Only a dim fire flickers in the cave. A giant snake emerges. The cub sleeps by the embers. The snake's jaws unhinge, lunging forward to swallow the cub whole. The girl sprints in from outside. The giant snake spots her. Its massive head pivots, aiming directly at her, muscles coiling for another strike. Beads of sweat roll down her face. Her lips tremble, making no sound. Her chest heaves with rapid, heavy breaths. Her body jolts, and she sits bolt upright. Beside her, the cub lies peacefully asleep. The fire continues to crackle, pushing warmth across the cave walls. She grabs her spear and stands. Daylight shines outside. Chewing a piece of roasted meat, she walks to the cave entrance. Her black shoes stop right at the edge of the falling rain. An unknown animal darts from the forest into the cave. The cub immediately sprints after it. The girl turns her back to the rain and walks deeper inside. Pitch blackness. Her eyes scan the dark space. The cub emerges from a corner, jaws open, growling toward the unseen depth. The girl squints, staring straight ahead. A shapeless blur streaks past. Her focus breaks. Her foot slides on the slick ground, and her body plummets down into the deep chasm. Her body is wedged tight between the narrow rock walls. Her arms thrash, pushing against the rough stone to force herself upward. Deep below the narrow crevice, pitch blackness swallows the space. She keeps pushing up the tight gap. The walls are damp and slick with water. Her chest heaves with ragged gasps. Her grip gives out, and she falls heavily downward. Above, the cub stares down the gap, letting out sharp, loud cries. At the bottom, the girl pushes herself up onto her hands and knees. Shallow water covers the ground. Intact, she stands upright, her eyes scanning the dark surroundings. Behind her back, a bizarre creature emerges. It is the size of a chimpanzee, its entire body hairless, smooth, and pale white, ending in a long tail. She turns around. Her body freezes completely. Her eyes lock onto the pale figure directly in front of her. The creature steps slowly forward. Its sharp claws dig deep into the rock edges. The cub lifts its head to growl, but the girl's hand clamps instantly over its mouth, pressing it down. The eyeless face turns directly toward the girl. Its nostrils flare, pulling in the air. Its jaws suddenly unhinge, releasing a loud roar before it dives straight under the dark water. Her eyes scan the dark space. Beside her, the cub bares its fangs, a low growl rumbling in its throat. A pale creature plummets from the vertical cliff, slamming into the water. Its head slowly breaches the surface. The girl breaks into a sprint. The creature leaps rapidly through the water, then launches itself onto the sheer wall, clinging flat against the rock. Its limbs stretch out, scaling the vertical stone with rapid, sharp movements. She runs. Shallow water splashes violently, dragging at her feet and restricting her movements in the narrow gap. The creature crawls headfirst down the vertical wall, tracking directly behind her. Another pale figure drops down. Then a third. A massive swarm emerges, diving and surging through the water, advancing straight ahead. Beneath the dark water, pale bodies glide silently, swimming straight toward the splashing sounds. They latch onto the vertical cliffs. Hundreds of bodies crawl over each other like ants, descending from the top of the rock face. She sprints forward. A wall of pale flesh blocks the narrow passage. She digs her heels in and sprints the opposite way. Her eyes are wide, her breath rapid. Around her, the creatures scramble chaotically over the rocks, hunting the echoes of her footsteps. She scrambles up a rocky incline. She looks up. Countless pale figures blanket the sheer wall directly above her. The overhead swarm dives downward. She drops back down, spins around, and sprints full speed into the narrowest part of the crevice. A creature swings its arm, swiping at her head. Her body instinctively drops into a crouch. Claws slice the air. She pushes off the ground and keeps running. Creatures plunge from above into the water. One lunges at the cub. The cub's jaws snap around its neck, dragging it beneath the surface. The creature thrashes and scrambles away. High above, the remaining figures cling to the vertical cliff. They hang perfectly still. Their jaws unhinge, releasing a synchronized shriek. They dive as one into the splashing water. The cub bounds forward, the swarm tearing through the water right behind it. The cub sprints through the shallow water, closing the distance, and collides with the girl's legs. Bodies drop from the ceiling, plunging heavily into the water. Her black shoes stop moving. The passage ahead is completely sealed by hundreds of pale bodies, crawling directly toward her. She spins around. The path behind is blocked by an equally dense swarm. The narrow rock walls offer no gap. The water at her feet erupts. Creatures burst from the surface, lunging their claws straight at her face.