Jax threw another one of those creatures across the gym like it was a stuffed animal. The thing hit the wall with a loud crash and didn't get back up. He was breathing hard but he felt good. Really good.
"Holy shit, Jax!" Tommy shouted from behind the bleachers where most of the group was hiding. "How are you doing that?"
"I don't know, man," he called back, grabbing another dog by the scruff of its neck. "But I'm not complaining."
He had always been strong. Captain of the wrestling team, could bench press more than anyone else in school. But this was different. This was like having the strength of ten guys all rolled into one.
When the earthquake hit and these monsters showed up, something inside him just clicked. Like his body finally matched what he had always felt he was meant to be.
Diana was watching him from the sidelines with this huge smile on her face. She looked proud, which made him want to show off even more.
"Babe, you're amazing," she said when he tossed another creature aside. "I always knew you were special."
"Yeah well, today everyone gets to see it," he said, wiping sweat from his forehead.
There were maybe twenty students crammed into the gym with them. Most of the athletes had been here when everything went to hell, plus some random kids who managed to find their way inside. They all looked at him like he was some kind of superhero.
"What do you think happened to us?" Diana asked, walking over to stand next to him. "I mean, where did your strength come from?"
"No clue," he said. "But right now I'm just focused on keeping everyone safe."
And he meant it. These people were counting on him. His friends, his teammates, his girlfriend. He wasn't about to let them down.
"You think there are more of those things out there?" asked Sara, one of the cheerleaders who had been in the gym when it all started.
"Probably," he said. "But we're safe in here as long as I can keep them out."
He had been doing a pretty good job so far. Every time one of those dog monsters tried to get through the doors, he was there to meet it. His fists were like hammers now. Nothing could stand up to him.
That was when the whole building started shaking again.
"Another earthquake?" Tommy asked, looking around nervously.
"No," he said, his stomach dropping. "That's not an earthquake."
Something was coming. Something big. He could feel it in his bones, like bass from a really loud speaker. The footsteps were too heavy, too purposeful.
The gym doors exploded inward.
What came through wasn't just another one of those dogs. It was huge, maybe the size of a small car, with muscles that looked like they were carved from stone. Its teeth were longer than Jax's fingers and its eyes were glowing red.
Behind it came at least a dozen of the smaller dogs, all snarling and snapping at the air.
"Oh fuck," someone screamed from the bleachers.
The big one looked around the gym slowly, like it was taking inventory. When its eyes landed on Jax, it smiled. Actually smiled, showing rows of those massive teeth.
"Well shit," Jax muttered. "This is going to suck."
The big dog let out a roar that made everyone in the gym cover their ears. Then it did something that made Jax's blood run cold. It looked at the smaller dogs and growled something that almost sounded like words.
The pack spread out, surrounding the group of students. They moved with purpose now, like soldiers following orders.
"Jax!" Diana shouted. "What do we do?"
"Stay behind me," he said, but he wasn't sure how much good that was going to do. There were too many of them and only one of him.
The first wave of smaller dogs attacked all at once. Jax managed to grab two of them and slam them together, but another one got past him and went straight for the students.
"Help!" Sara screamed as one of the creatures tackled her to the ground.
Jax spun around and kicked the thing off her, but while he was distracted, two more got through. One of them jumped on Tommy and tore his throat out before Jax could reach him.
"No!" He yelled, punching the creature so hard its head exploded. But it was too late. Tommy was already gone.
More students were screaming now. The pack was working together, keeping him busy while others picked off the people he was supposed to protect.
"Jax, behind you!" Diana shouted.
He turned just in time to see the big dog charging at him. He braced himself for impact, but the thing hit him like a freight train. His enhanced strength was nothing compared to this monster. It sent him flying across the gym and into the wall.
He hit the concrete hard enough to crack it and slumped to the floor. Everything hurt. His ribs felt broken and he was pretty sure his shoulder was dislocated.
It stalked toward him slowly, like it had all the time in the world. Around the gym, the smaller dogs were still attacking the students. He could hear Diana screaming his name, but he couldn't see her through the chaos.
"Why am I so fucking weak?" he gasped, trying to push himself back to his feet.
It stopped right in front of him and tilted its head. Then it spoke, and its voice was like gravel in a blender.
"You thought you were strong," it said. "But you are nothing but food for us. My master will be pleased."
It raised one massive paw to crush his head.
That was when Diana came flying out of nowhere.
"Get away from him!" she screamed, jumping onto the creature's back and trying to choke it.
It just reached back and grabbed her, then threw her across the gym like she weighed nothing. She hit the far wall and crumpled to the floor.
"Diana!" Jax shouted, finding the strength to get back on his feet.
She was trying to get up, but she was shaking all over. Blood was running down her face from where she had hit the wall. But she was looking at him with this determined expression that made his chest tight.
"I'm not letting you die," she said through gritted teeth.
Her eyes started glowing purple. Not just a little bit, but bright enough that Jax could see it from across the gym. The air around her began to shimmer.
"Diana, what are you doing?"
She raised her hands and suddenly every loose object in the gym started flying through the air. Basketballs, pieces of broken concrete, metal folding chairs. All of it flew straight at the big dog like she was controlling it with her mind.
The creature got pelted with debris, but it just stood there and let it happen. When the last chair bounced off its hide, it looked over at Diana and laughed.
"Is that all?" it asked.
Her eyes went wide. "No," she whispered. Then she collapsed.
The big dog turned back to Jax, who was already moving. While it had been distracted by Diana's attack, he had gotten close enough to land a real hit.
He put everything he had into an uppercut that connected right under the creature's jaw. The impact sent the monster flying backward and it crashed into the gym wall hard enough to leave a crater.
"Got you, you piece of shit," he panted, running over to check on Diana.
She was unconscious but still breathing. He knelt down next to her and checked for serious injuries. She had a concussion for sure, but nothing that looked life threatening.
"Diana, can you hear me?" he asked, gently shaking her shoulder.
She didn't respond. Behind him, he could hear the other students crying and calling for help, but there were a lot fewer voices than there had been a minute ago.
He looked back at the crater in the wall where the big dog had landed. It wasn't moving. Maybe he had actually killed the thing.
Then he felt teeth sink into his shoulder.
The pain was incredible. Like someone had driven a railroad spike through his body. The big dog lifted him off the ground by his shoulder and shook him like a chew toy.
"Did you really think that would work?" it growled, its voice right in his ear.
It threw him across the gym and he bounced off the floor twice before sliding into the bleachers. He could taste blood in his mouth and everything was going fuzzy around the edges.
He tried to get up but his legs wouldn't work right. The big dog was walking toward him again, taking its time.
"You failed them all," it said, gesturing at the bodies scattered around the gym. "Some protector you turned out to be."
Jax looked around and felt his heart break. Tommy was dead. Sara was dead. Most of the other students were dead too. The few that were still alive were hiding behind the bleachers, too scared to move.
Diana was still unconscious where he had left her. At least she was safe for now.
"Why am I so weak?" he asked himself, tears running down his face. "I was supposed to protect them."
He had failed. All that strength, all that power, and he couldn't save the people who mattered most. What was the point of being strong if you couldn't use it when it counted?
The big dog was almost close enough to finish him off when he heard a voice in his head. It wasn't his voice or Diana's or anyone else he recognized. It was deep, ancient and it sounded amused.
[You have spirit,] the voice said. [Even in defeat, you do not give up. I like that.]
"Who are you?" He asked out loud.
The big dog stopped walking and looked around, confused.
[I am someone who appreciates potential when I see it,] the voice continued. [You are weak now, but you could be strong. Stronger than you ever imagined. All you have to do is accept my offer.]
"What offer?"
[Let me sponsor you. Let me give you the power you need to protect what matters to you. In return, you serve my interests.]
He didn't even hesitate. "Deal."
[Excellent. Now get up and show me what you're made of.]
Golden light erupted around his body like someone had set him on fire. But instead of burning, it felt warm and powerful. His injuries healed instantly and his muscles swelled with new strength.
He stood up slowly, feeling better than he ever had in his life. The big dog was backing away now, its confidence replaced by something that looked almost like fear.
"What is this?" it snarled.
Jax smiled and cracked his knuckles. "This is me getting serious."