THIRST

Nikki's hand clamped down over Odin's mouth.

"Shhh," she hissed, her lips barely moving. "Don't make a sound."

He held his breath, his heart pounding in his tiny chest. Together, they crouched, frozen, like statues of terror behind the charred tree trunk. With their eyes wide, staring out over the parched land, they waited for the Bio-Roo that combed the wasteland to pass by.

The bioengineered Red Kangaroo, designed for its resilience in arid wastelands and ability to survive long stretches without water, was a grotesque mockery of its natural counterpart. Any trace of charm or innocence had been stripped away. Its large black eyes were soulless like those of a shark. They didn't blink, didn't reflect light, didn't care.

It stood taller than any man, with an enormous muscular frame rippled with unnatural strength under the matted, scarred hide. Short arms tipped with claws sharp enough to shred flesh into ribbons hung loosely at its side. Its hind legs were powerhouses of devastation, capable of snapping bones with a single kick. And then there was the tail. It was massive, thick, and heavy. At the end, it curved like a giant hook. It wasn't just for balance. It was a weapon. A deadly one.

In the beginning, Bio-Roos had been humanity's salvation. Designed to patrol the wasteland and report on air, water, and soil conditions. They'd once symbolized hope. But that was before the end times, before the never-ending heatwaves and droughts.

Now, they served a darker purpose: hunting the remnants of humanity, sniffing out those who dared take more than their allotted water ration. And if you used more than allowed? Well, they made damn sure you'd never be thirsty again.

THUD.

Nikki felt Odin's body jerk at the sound. She held him tighter, her mind spinning. This was her fault, and she knew it. She hadn't meant to use the extra water. But Odin had been sick, the fever relentless, burning to the touch. She'd panicked, splashing precious water across his face, desperately trying to bring the heat down.

A mistake.

Now, the hunter was here.

THUD.

It was closer now. She could hear the creature breathing, sniffing the air. Searching for them.

THUD.

Right behind them. Nikki didn't need to see it to know--it was there. She could feel it, feel the weight of its gaze on the back of her neck. The sound of its claws clicking together made her skin crawl. Odin whimpered. He couldn't help it.

Nikki cringed. Shit. Shit. She turned her head just enough to see.

The monstrosity stood just feet away; its ears twitched, and the nostrils flared. Its breath carried the stench of survival at its most disgusting--urine, ammonia, and decay, a reminder of how far the world had fallen. She wanted to throw up.

It cocked its head, almost human-like, and looked at them. A guttural growl escaped its throat, deep and vibrating,

Nikki swallowed hard, her mind screaming. Do something! Her eyes darted across the shimmering wasteland. Heatwaves distorted the horizon, but there--a cluster of boulders, big enough to hide behind. Maybe 150 feet away. It wasn't much, but it was something.

"Run!" she told Odin, her voice sharp. Then she shoved him toward the boulders and bolted in the opposite direction.

"I'm over here! Catch me!" she yelled. Her legs burned as she sprinted, her lungs heaving for air.

Behind her, the Bio-Roo lunged into motion, its massive tail whipping behind it as it picked up the chase.

Nikki didn't know where she was running. Didn't matter. She just had to get that thing away from her boy.

Her foot caught on a stone, and she went down hard, her hands scraping against the dirt. She got back up and kept going, the pounding footsteps closing in. The shadow of the creature stretched across her own as it lunged.

She twisted at the last moment, diving into a dry gulley. The Bio-roo overshot her, its claws slicing the air where she'd been a heartbeat earlier. It landed, skidding on the loose gravel, and turned with terrifying precision.

"Mama!" Odin's voice cracked in the distance.

Her heart stopped. She saw Odin perched on the edge of the gulley.

The creature's ears twitched, and then it bolted toward the sound.

"No!" she screamed and scrambled to her feet, desperation driving her forward. "Run!".

But Odin didn't move. His eyes were wide with terror as the monster bore down on him.

The thing was on them in an instant, all claws and teeth and stink. Nikki threw herself at Odin, shielding him just as the Bio-Roo leaped. The monster landed inches away, snarling, its nauseating breath hot against her neck.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small knife -- dull and rusted, like everything else in this goddamn world--but it was what she had. She slashed blindly, cutting a line across its cheek.

The creature roared.

Desperate, she swung again, harder, screaming as she drove the blade into its eye. It reared back with a screech, thrashing as blood and gelatinous fluid spilled from the wound.

Nikki grabbed Odin, dragging him down into the gulley. They hit the bottom hard, rolling to a stop in the dust.

Above, the Bio-roo peered over the edge, its one remaining eye burning with malice. It let out a guttural growl, low and terrifying, before hopping away, its thick tail sweeping dust into the air.

Nikki clutched Odin close, her entire body trembling.

"Mama, is it gone?" His voice as dry as the wind.

"For now," she said.

But she knew. It would be back...

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