Chapter 1: Enter the Survival Horror
Ed brought the helicopter down to an opening in the woods. We had seen what seemed to be a mansion before our descent. Captain Marini ordered us to investigate the area surrounding the landing site. There was nothing of any interest. We had no idea what we were looking for in the first place. The victims that were found in the area in the past weeks had supposedly been eaten. Kenneth suspected a bear, or maybe even coyotes. I wasn´t ready to assume anything.
The hot July air was taking its toll as the sun began to set over the Arklay Mountain horizon. We had been searching the forest nearly all day. Enrico suggested that we split up to cover more ground. Rebecca didn´t agree. She should be ready as a field medic, but we can´t be too hard on her. It is her first time on assignment, and she is only eighteen. She seems to like company.
We finally decided to check out the mansion we had seen while we were in the air. Ed stayed behind to watch the helicopter and keep in contact with the other S.T.A.R.S. members at the station. As we headed toward the mansion, Enrico seemed edgy. He didn´t stop mumbling something with Kenneth. All I heard was Redfield, Wesker, and Burton. Forest and I just looked ahead, anticipating that someone would open the mansion door and invite us in. No such luck.
The front door was locked. There were some windows that we could have broken, but it was obviously a residence and we didn´t want a lawsuit on our hands. We split up to look around for another door. Kenneth followed Enrico. Rebecca decided to stick with me and Forest. She´s a little annoying at times but she always means well. Forest and I kept her in good spirits by joking around.
We walked around the side of the house and found a tall steel fence enclosing a small courtyard. There was a door leading inside on the other side of the fence, but again, we didn´t want a lawsuit. Eleven o´clock approached and I received a call on the radio from Kenneth.
"We just got fed up and picked the lock on the front door," he told me. "We were in the main hall a minute ago. It´s pretty big inside and there doesn´t seem to be anyone around. Enrico and I split up from the hall. I´m in what seems to be a medical room. Anyway, I just heard something outside. It´s probably Enrico. See you inside."
"Ken never was one to wait," Forest said with a smile. My radio went off again. It was Ed. He started screaming. We could hear him struggling with something inside the helicopter. It sounded like a pack of dogs were attacking. Ed let out a final cry. It was followed quickly by a ripping sound.
"Oh my God," Rebecca squeaked. I didn´t want to lose hope yet.
"Ed, are you there? Dewey, respond, damn it!" I shouted.
"Richard, forget it," Forest said as he moved his hand from Rebecca´s shoulder to mine. "It´s obviously too dangerous out here. Let´s get inside."
We started to sprint to the front of the house. I noticed something moving in the brush, but before I could let out a warning, a dog jumped out and onto Forest. Before he could react it bit his arm and clawed at his chest. I pulled out my assault rifle and shot it once in the head. The shot pushed the dog off Forest and to the ground.
On closer inspection, we noticed the dogs skin and flesh was rotting away, revealing muscle tissue and bone. Its eyes were a milky white. Rebecca cringed and looked away.
"What is that thing?" she asked.
"This is messed up," Forest groaned as I helped him to his feet.
"Forest, your wounds!" Rebecca shouted. He was hurt badly. The dog was strong enough to scratch through a good few layers of his skin. "Here, let me put a bandage on you or something." Rebecca was about to prepare some first aid, but a growl had drawn our attention to the front door. In front of it was a pack of those hell hounds that attacked Forest. We obviously couldn´t get in that way.
"No time for the bandage now, Rebecca!" I shouted. Helping Forest a little, Rebecca turned back the way we came and took off. I managed to get a shot in on one or two of the dogs before I started running myself. We could hear the other dogs close behind us.
We had little chance of escape. From our earlier investigation we had discovered that the back of the mansion was surrounded by large stone walls. If we tried to escape in Raccoon Forest, we would lose contact with our team members and would eventually be caught anyway. I was out of ideas.
"The fence!" Rebecca shouted. Without another word she and Forest jumped and made their way over the steel fence. Just as I swung myself over it, one of the dogs leapt and nearly grabbed onto my ankle.
We ran for the door, hoping it would be unlocked. Luckily enough, it was. We rushed inside. There are only three of us left now: Forest, Rebecca, and myself. We don´t know where Captain Marini and Kenneth are.