Agent of the Dead
My name is Rick Stone. I am an Agent for the United States Government. What I am about to tell you is truth in every sense of the word. It is also classified information relating to the Mansion Incident in the Arklay mountains. I have no evidence to back up my claims and allegations that can be shared with you. Otherwise I would have to shoot you as is my policy. About one month ago I fell into a nightmare...
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Raccoon Forest-8:00 am
"Bizarre murders have been taking place in the suburbs and outskirts of Raccoon City. A number of families have been slain in the worst case of serial killings I have seen. All victims were killed in the same manner. They were eaten alive by a cult of some kind. Damn freaks, they should all rot in hell. Hopefully I can send them there. The group appears to have originated from the old estate belonging to Oswell Spencer, one of the founders of the Umbrella Corporation; an international pharmaceutical enterprise responsible for 9 out of 10 products in the United States.
Why they have taken refuge in the mansion I don't know. Yet I've been ordered to investigate the mansion and surrounding area to see if anything unusual turns up. Fuck this shit, I've been out here for five hours and have not heard anything." he said switching off his voice recorder.
It was early in the morning and Rick was tired. For the past five hours he had been sitting inside his car deep within the Raccoon National forest. He had heard neither sight nor sound of the murderers. Come to think of it, he had not heard anything since he had entered the forest. No bird calls, no wildlife chatter. He had heard absolutely nothing. Shrugging of the increasing feeling of suspicion he exited the car's right side. Before doing so he was sure to take his remaining ammunition clips and 9mm rounds with him. He also took his cell phone and voice recorder even though he wouldn't get any reception out here in the wilderness.
"Now heading towards Spencer Estate. Time is eight o' five in the morning." Rick said speaking into the recorder. He heard some shuffling noises behind him and turned to see a strange looking dog staring at him intently. Before he could react it darted off into the woods with a howl.
Shaking his head again he spoke once again.
"Dogs appear to be loose from a local resident. The breed looks doberman but I cannot be sure at this time." he spoke quickly.
Fingering his customized Blacktail pistol tightly, he edged to where the dog had been. Upon reaching his destination he made a gruesome discovery. A man who appeared to be in his late fifties was on the ground in a pool of his own blood. It looked like he had been eaten alive by that dog. Nearly overcome with nausea Rick turned from the sight and vomited in the grass. Composing himself he took another look at the body on the ground.
"The body..." he said trying to fight back the urge to vomit at the horrible sight. "The body appears to belong to a male in his late fifties. Cause of death... Cause of death appears to have been an animal attack. By the looks of things, this man was eaten alive." he said hoarsely into the recorder.
Covering his mouth with his hand he backed away from the grisly sight. He used to be on a homicide watch back in Boston. He had seen many corpses in his lifetime but this, this was just inhuman. How could an animal do this to a human being? He heard the same growling as before and turned around to see a dreadful sight. Two dogs like the one who had torn the man apart, were staring at him. Their jaws dripped saliva onto the ground. The mouths of the animals gnashed in anticipation of the fresh meal. Chunks of flesh were missing from their body revealing the blood and muscle beneath. The eyes of the dogs glowed a dull red as they stared at the agent.
'Rabies?' Rick wondered as he activated the laser sighting on his pistol. They barked at him as he loaded a clip into the weapon. Narrowing his eyes he fired the twenty-five round pistol three times. Two of the shots went into the chest. The third shot however, nailed the first beast right below the eyes. It yelped and then sagged to the ground with a heavy thump. The other animal sprang for his throat and Rick was knocked unto his back. He struggled with the beast, trying to keep his arms away from the mouth. Reaching with one arm he grasped his knife and plunged it into the creature's head. It foamed at the mouth and collapsed on top of him. Pushing the thing off of him he kicked it with his left boot.
"What... what just happened?" he asked out of breath..
Panting with exhaustion he picked up his pistol and wiped his hands on his jacket. What the hell was happening in this forest? Backing away from the bodies he turned to see a helicopter crashed in the distance. Running towards the scene he encountered a strange sight. One man dressed in a SWAT member was firing an M4 assault rifle at a group of people. The people in question were covered in blood and had flesh missing from their bodies. With sudden fear he realized what those people were.
Zombies. There was no other explanation for the people's appearance. Their blood drenched clothes. The white eyes. The smell of death and decay. Hell incarnate.
"And when there is no more room in hell, the dead shall walk the earth." he remembered that quote from Dawn of the Dead. Now it seems as if those words rang true.
"Hey just don't stand there! Help me!" the man yelled at Rick.
Gaining his composure Rick fired his Blacktail into the crowd of zombies. Within several minutes they were all dead, again. The man wiped the sweat off his brow and turned towards Rick.
"Thanks for the help Mr?"
"Stone. Rick Stone. I'm with the government."
"Kenneth Sullivan. STARS Bravo team." the man said shaking Rick's hand.
Before introductions could get any farther they both heard howls.
"Quick into that Mansion!" Kenneth yelled with Rick following him. Flinging the door open they collapsed inside. The doors shut automatically behind them. They were in the Mansion's parlor. A set of elegant stairs lead upwards to a second story. Several chandeliers hung from the ceiling fully aglow with majestic light.
"Why do I have a feeling it's only going to get worse?" Rick asked himself.
\Chapter one is finished. What awaits Rick in the Spencer Estate?