"We need to get moving."

Our leader and supervisor, Henry called out.

Our team consisted of forestry experts, hunter extrodinares and medical geniuses. There were five of us in total.

Henry was our lead hunter and also our tracker.

I didn't bother moving from my cross legged position on the floor, already having packed and waiting for the rest.

"Quit your yapping." Our resident medic, Macy quipped. "We set up traps all over the place. If a shark came near our territory, we would know." She plopped her bag down beside me, her body following suit.

"W-Well, it doesn't hurt t-to be prepared..." Another hunter, Janet piped up. It was surprise to all of us that such a timid thing had such a passion for hunting.

"She's right Mace, we should listen to Henry." Our biology expert, Andrew heaved up his own bag on top of his shoulder. "Those sharks are unforgiving."

Sharks. Gigantic monstrosities that defied the laws of physics, gravity and nature. Carnivorous predators that floated, or rather "swam" through the forest, searching for pray. Research institutions would pay millions upon millions to research even a corpse of these beings that, when obviously should be classed as marine life, breathed air, and floated meters off the ground at a time.

That's why our team assembled in the first place. Henry, leading our expedition. Macy, his wife, here to heal any injuries received during the hunt. Janet, a timid thing with a load of debt. Andrew, an old friend of mine. And me, a 34 year old hunter whose life goal is to kill as many of these monstrosities as possible.

"Steven!" Henry called out to me from the edge of the circular clearing we were camping at. "Can you check the alarms on the other side? I'm a bit preoccupied at the moment."

I grumbled, but got up from my comfortable spot and headed to our other set up.

These alarms were electronic, specifically made to catch these predators. They hooked up on trees, underground, in rivers and streams, anywhere.

Dead leaves crunched under my weight as I made my way through the darkness only illuminated by a small campfire. I reached the start of the forest and ventured in, aiming for the spots we set up the alarms just earlier that day.

I came across a tree with scratched bark, and hanging from the branch, swinging side to side from the wind, was the alarm.

A broken alarm.

"WE HAVE A PROBLEM!" I shouted, running straight back to the clearing.

Just as I reached the group, a gigantic white thing burst from the treeline, Henry's dead body limp in it's jaws.

Macy let out a ear-piercing shriek at the sight of her husband's body, and immediately dove for my bag.

She ducked to the side as Janet and Andrew scattered, each holding their own weapons. I ducked behind a large rock, thanking whatever force out there made me want to keep my rifle out for a little longer.

The shark swam overhead, dropping the leftovers of Henry's body and heading straight for Andrew.

Before anything happened, Macy emerged with my machine gun and screamed as she fired it at the shark.

The bullets tore through its skin, painting the ground with crimson.

In her frenzy though, she had missed all vital spots Andrew had told us to aim for, and the shark dove straight for her.

Janet got up on one leg, her ideal sniping position, and shot at the shark. The bullet passed through its fin, causing it to hobble around and crash into the campfire.

Janet let out a sigh of victory, before her headless body dropped in place.

Another shark had appeared from above while we were occupied with this one, and had taken Janet's head clean off.

Two sharks in one place, one heavily injured. two of us were dead, one was hysterical.

"ANDY, MACY, RUN!!" I shouted at the top of my lungs before taking a shot at the new entry, hoping to injure it to raise our chances of survival.

Andrew took my advice, and with his bag, made a mad dash out the clearing and to the forest.

The bullet shot it's eye out, causing a great deal of damage to the second shark.

I ran out, trying to get Henry's bag which contained the rest of the alarms, when Macy got back up and started shooting again.

The shark that had crashed into the campfire had gotten back up and was coming for me, mouth wide open with bloody teeth on display. Macy aimed at the inside of the mouth, successfully taking out a shark.

My eyes widened as I saw more and more sharks gather at the smell of blood.

A whole pack was this close to us, and we never even noticed.

I grabbed the woman next to me and bolted straight back to the forest, Henry's bag in one hand, rifle slung over my shoulder.

Macy screamed and scratched at my hand, trying to take out the other shark, but I held on. I had no intention of letting my friend's wife die as well.

We ran and ran, the sharks on our tail. Few had stopped chasing us, opting to go for a sleeping deer or a bear.

We ran and ran and ran, taking turn after turn trying to shake them off.

We had ran for a long while before the beeping alarm in Henry's bag stopped.

Macy dropped to the ground, panting. I learned against a tree trying to catch my breath.

We stood for a moment in silence, mourning for the loss of our friends and loved ones, before Macy got up and started digging through the bag she had. My bag.

She took out a box of bullets and reloaded the machine gun.

"We're getting out of here. And we are doing so alive." She said with a determination in her voice. I quietly nodded, reloading my rifle as well.

I took out two alarms from the bag I had, and gave one to Macy. I strapped one on my shoulder and she did the same.

Without wasting any time, we headed deeper into the forest, Henry's map and compass in hand.

I'm not letting Macy die, even if it's the last thing I do.

The cover image was created in Canva!