Man at War – Excerpt No. 336

12 August 2026

Murphy made the sign for two and Marc nodded. The man of war then peeked over both sides of the balcony.

Two more were approaching from the north and guessed it would be the same from the south. Murphy confirmed the latter, before pointing towards the position where Sergeant Sullivan left his support team.

That was six confirmed combatants, all vampires. Had I been their commander I’d—

Before getting into position, Marc and Murphy picked up handfuls of loose mortar and bricks and spread it over the stairs. Right behind him he caught a sound reminiscent of sandpaper rubbing against stone.

Black and white close-up photograph focusing on a soldier’s sturdy combat boots and lower legs as they climb rough stone or concrete steps covered in dirt and debris. The image captures the texture of the worn boots, fabric of the trousers, and the gritty, damaged environment. The low-angle perspective emphasizes movement and determination. The image has a vintage, torn-edge photo border.

Disclaimer: This novel is an work in progress and readers may encounter grammatical errors and inconsistencies. Please view this a draft and not a published work.