Disclaimer: I do not own They Hunger, which is product of Black Widow Studios, or Half-Life, the amazing VALVe game on which this modification was based on.

They Hunger

A Novelization by R0g3r.th3.Shrubb3r

of the Half-Life Modification

"They Hunger" by Black Widow Studios

Prologue

My name is Jack Peterson. Perhaps you've heard of me. Well, probably not. Authors like me are not as widely recognized as actors or athletes, but we're still famous in our own way. I've had several best selling books, mostly based off of the same CIA agent having to fight the hugely impossible government conspiracy that would end the world through some horribly unbelievable doomsday device. But, after four books based off of Agent Westwood, I decided it was best to go a different direction. So did my critics. They tore apart my latest version of the endless chronicles of Westwood, which is why I'm currently here.

Where is here, exactly? I'm currently driving my car up the steep and dangerous roads inside of the Rockwell valley. This may seem random to you, but I am currently en route to my secluded cabin out in the deep forested mountains of Rockwell. You may laugh at me now, but that cabin is where I got my ideas for the Agent Westwood story, which was a New York Times Bestseller. Not to mention that it's a good place to kick back and have a few days to relax before returning to the hustle and bustle of the big city.

I eased my old car onto the dirt covered road, which was nearly identical to the road I left. These roads were supposedly made in the late 1800's, and led virtually nowhere, which is why I'm sure the county never bothered to pave them. I eased my car to a stop in front of the descending guard bar of the railroad. Strangely, the only signs of technology in this entire damn valley were the sporadic stretches of railroad and the tunnels they dove into. They were about the only thing to look at this in the whole valley, well, of course, unless you were some kind of tree obsessed loony. While I was waiting for the train to pass, I reached towards my radio, and turned up the volume. I was met with the hissing of static and fiddled with the dials and came to a radio station that was playing some type of strange Arabic music, which, I admit, was very catchy. The train continued to chug along the track, and finally the caboose entered the right tunnel, and the protection bar lifted allowing me to continue. Suddenly, I heard a thunderclap, and raindrops were beginning to hit the windshield. I'm not talking about a light mist either, big raindrops at a high consistency. Soon, my windshield was coated in rain, and I flicked on my windshield wipers. I shifted up to second gear, when the song on the radio was suddenly cut off.

"This is BMRF Radio bringing you a special news report," came the voice of the man who, I assumed, was the DJ. "Unknown atmospheric phenomena have been reported throughout the area. Meteorologists have been unable to identify the source of the strange electrical displays, but we will keep you informed of any developments. We return you now to our regularly scheduled programming."

It was odd. The DJ sounded rushed. Hurried. As if he was trying to release a crucial piece of evidence before he was executed. Odd.

"Ah, it's probably nothing." I muttered, turning my car into the tunnel. Only half a mile more and I'll be up at my cabin. The radio signal was distorted thanks to the stone barrier above my head. But, the tunnel wasn't long enough to notice it for long. Before I knew it, I was out into the rain again. This road bordered one of the many water reservoirs up in Rockwell. The right side of the road was dominated by one of the mountains that dominated this valley. The Arabic music was on again, and I was subconsciously tapping my hand on the steering wheel in time with the music.

That's when all hell let loose.

My vision was dominated by a blinding white flash, and a monstrous thunderclap deafened me.

"Jesus Christ!" I yelled, jerking my steering wheel to the left instinctively, still partially blinded. Unfortunately, my foot was still hard pressed to the gas pedal, keeping my car traveling forward. My vision was just beginning to clear when I heard the grinding and crunching. My heart stopped, and I just barely made out the steel barrier that "protected" people from falling into the reservoir gave way.

My vision cleared fully, and just in time.

I managed to see the water before I hit it.