CHAPTER 1
Forest

Heather could feel the cool metal around her wrists dig into her skin as she awoke groggily. She felt like hell. The scent in the air was that of fuel, blood and- blood? She blinked a few good times before looking around groaning in pain. Everything was a blur, but she could clearly feel the warm liquid touching her hands beneath her back. At first she was afraid it was from her that she was bleeding excessively but a second look once her vision cleared more revealed the body in the front seat of the overturned car she was in facing away from her was the source of the blood. He was more than likely dead. Her stomach clenched at the thought.

"H-hey..?" She managed to speak. Her throat felt hoarse. Shit. "Come on-" It was obvious he was dead or unconscious and she didn't fancy the idea of either.

Still there was a nerve in her body that told her she had to try. With a long deep breath she found herself trying to force the cuffs down as best she could in the limited space she had and under her legs to free them to the front of her. It proved more difficult than she thought as she found her shoulder in slight discomfort and a headache preoccupying her mind. She was sure she had other injuries but didn't focus on them other than the cut above her left eye. When her hands were where she want she wiped the blood from her face with the back of her wrist as her fingers were covered with blood and she turned over to her knees and hands. She did her best to avoid what blood had seeped into the backseat as she crawled to the front.

When she got close enough she didn't bother talking. She struggled, but she flipped the man over. When she did she wished she hadn't for all it was worth at that moment. Her breath was caught in her throat and she immediately began to curse under her breath. His face-or what was left of it was mauled by something. God she felt sick.. what kind of monster could this? She knew very well many monsters could have. That thought scared her most of all.. Monsters but what kind?

She didn't need to know what kind for her to quickly look around for a gun. There was none of him, but she found a few other items including a small radio, a paperclip, and lighter which she shoved into her pockets. Maybe the radio could be used to contact someone? Or help her evade anyone else who would be looking for her? She wasn't sure but felt it'd be useful at some point. She was glad the pocket knife she always carried hadn't been confiscated.

On a whim, she leaned forward opening the glove compartment finding nothing. Shit, she cursed to herself. She was hoping just hoping that there would have been something. Unfortunately before she could think about it anymore there was a long drawn out moan that caused her to look out of the cracked windshield. She saw it. One of the men- he was crawling towards her, but it shouldn't have been possible! His mouth was blood smeared, chunks of his face missing, and what she assumed entrails being dragged along with him. Her heart stopped at the sight.

It was ridiculous and bullocks, but it was the only thing that made sense.. Zombie. How else could he be doing that? Or was she hallucinating it? Jesus if only she knew! Her breathing became heavy as she thought of what to do. Clearly it was slow (much to the cliche) but what if there were more around? From what she remembered from movies and comics to be one you had to be bitten by one so clearly there were others around. The thought alone scared her. Shit..shit. All she had was her pocket knife and with a little luck she could take one or two down but from the looks of it she was in a goddamned forest how the was she supposed to do this?

She shook her head. She had to at least try. Before they crashed the men had said something about nearing their destination and with any luck she could grab a vehicle. She had to try. It was just as dangerous staying in the middle of the forest like she was. With her mind set, she began to move back to the backseat but before she could she found herself being grabbed by the man that was once dead below her.

"No! Let go!" She yelled at him like it would make a difference. If only.

They struggled as the once had been a man tried to pull her to him and she was forced to place her arm on his neck keeping his head against the metal of the car's roof. His expression was dead and cold. No emotion was shown, but the sounds escaping his mouth were that of pure hunger and he was determined to feast. Yet, she was just as determined to survive this encounter. She relented for a split second grabbing the knife from her pocket after slamming his head against the car dazing him and pushed one of his arms aside quickly unlocking the knife from it's position and thrusting it through his temple with a strained grunt. Soon after he fell limp and she wasted no time escaping to the backseat.

What the fuck is going on, she thought to herself. She hadn't bothered grab the knife. He can fucking keep it, she thought to herself. She didn't care about it at the moment and she wouldn't dare try to grab it in case he wasn't actually dead. She looked around to find a way out and settled on the window. It was busted just enough if she kicked it out she could crawl out possibly. Within a few seconds, she grabbed whatever she could to keep herself up as she brought he leg up and kicked as hard as she could against the window. It cracked again, but the metal fencing held it together. Again she kicked, and again, and again, and again until it finally bent open. She sighed in relief and crawled up to it giving it a final push pushing it out of the way as it fell to the ground and dragged herself out of the car.

She saw the dead man still crawling to her so she pushed herself up to her feet, holding her side so her arm wouldn't move much and darted off into the forest. Survive, was what she set her mind on. Things were- well fucked up wasn't an inaccurate word. This was the kind of thing you expected to be in a damn horror movie! She knew things and has seen things that could be categorized such as that as well bu it didn't stop it from being overwhelmingly impossible. She didn't care if her feet became tired. SHE was running to safety or at least away from here.

She went from running to bolting as soon as she heard the sounds behind her. Their crash had alerted more monsters and she WOULD NOT stay for the chance to see that. Her instincts kicked in immediately against her already sore and tired body so she ran than bolted. She ran so far away.

This was nothing like the horror she'd seen, but at the same time it was eerily familiar. She had seen man's sin from the bellows of hell on earth in her opinion so nothing was far from a stretch for her to believe. She had seen her own mother- no Alessa's mother that she was sure didn't care sin the greatest through eyes not her own but at the same time her own. It had been a year almost.

Shit, she cursed to herself as she leaned against a tree breathing heavily. Her lungs were burning and she was fucking tired. She wasn't even sure where she was going. She was dirty and bleeding more than likely, her legs ached, her arms were tired, and her adrenaline was still pumping. Slow easy breaths Cheryl, she told herself. She did managed to do that and calm down within a few minutes.

Nothing like a hike in a fucking forest apparently, she thought. She let her body slack against the tree more feeling the need to rest a minute longer. The thought of just giving up might have crossed her mind if it wasn't for the faint glow she found herself squinting at. She took a good long look breathing slowly and realized, a train!

There was a loud sound that caused her to stand up straight in panic and look but fail to spot the source of the sound through dense heavy trees and bushes. She took a deep breath. She could try to find the source of that-Yeah like that would work out for me, she thought, or continue to the stationary train. Perhaps she could stowaway or find some actual fucking help.

"Let's go." She spoke aloud. She knew it'd do no good but those things weren't around. She was almost afraid she couldn't talk because it felt like it had been so long since she had.

She forged on. It had taken her four or five minutes but she stayed quiet just in case and low whenever need be. Much to her surprise the dogs were the only real things in the forest thus far but they would pass by and venture other ways if she stayed quiet. They had been avoidable and seemed to ignore the train which she was thankful for.

The only slip up she had was when she thought she could jog to it but tripped over a broken branch and cursed aloud with one nearby that alerted the nasty hound. She held her breath covering her mouth and hid in a nearby bush praying the damned thing wouldn't find her. Fortunately for her the hound seemed to bypass her for whatever reason even as her heart speed up ten fold and left. With that she hurried onto the train.

She stayed hidden by a seat until she couldn't see it any longer and waited a few more minutes then took a deep breath sighing and looked around. She wished she hadn't.

"Holy Fuck!" She shouted to herself.

There was a woman- she was dead. Her face decayed and dried blood crusting her face it made Heather sick to see. There was more than one. This cart of the train was full of them! She shut her eyes tight for a moment covering her mouth trying not to puke and remind herself that right now THIS was the safest place and if she wanted to live she'd have to put up with this. She didn't want to but then who would? She- god it was awful. The smell wasn't pleasant but not as bad as it could be she guessed if the windows weren't cracked and the doorway was covered. She opened her eyes uncovering her eyes and shook her head.

"Better- better get these off then," She told herself looking at the cuffs around her reddened wrists. They'll get me killed and they hurt like a bitch, was her only thought. She stood up using the back of the seat to help hoist her up to her up and fished into her pocket for the paperclip. It had been awhile, but she was certain she could still do it.

Just in case though she luckily found a pocket knife on one of the gentlemen that had about half of a face left and after poking him to make sure he wouldn't rise she grabbed it and found a seat with no body taking up a space. She was thankful her father had managed to teach her this. It was funny because she had asked him if he knew and despite the funny face he gave her he taught her. She hadn't meant for him to teach her but he had and she was thankful. After the session was done he kissed her forehead and told her get ready for bed while he whipped up a sunday.

Heather clenched her teeth at the thought of her father, fighting back the lump in her throat and thought, Dad what have I got myself into this time? The truth was she hadn't meant to do anything. She was just picked up for being too close to some property and had no idea what the fuck happened until she was in that vehicle with those two assholes before it crashed. She groaned in frustration with the cuffs.

"I could use some help dad!" She spoke to herself but took another breath. "What was it Emmie said? The cuffs are only as tight as smart as the person who slapped them on you. I think that was it." She softened a bit and stopped trying to jab the clip into the keyhole.

The day Emmie said that was when she demonstrated to her subordinates that if they didn't start tightening up the cuffs but not to where there were no circulation, they were going to have a bad track record. She accidentally stumbled onto the lecture but enjoyed it nonetheless. "Guess who's not very smart if their suspect escapes when they could have done more to prevent it? It's certainly NOT me because I actually know how to be a cop." She laughed at that and thanked her friend for entertainment. Emmie smiled and told her it was no problem they just needed tough love sometimes especially the newbies.

When one side of the cuffs did eventually come off she threw her head back in defeat as her paperclip had been snapped to short in the process to do the other. Fuck it, she thought. One is good enough besides extra weapon I guess, it was meant to be a sarcastic thought, but it might be her only weapon besides the knife. While working on it she had forgotten about the bodies around her and cautiously looked around to find them all still there and well dead as can be. She laughed at her own paranoia before standing up. If anything she could find something to clean up her wound above her brow and whatever other injuries she sustained.

She didn't like the thought of searching bodies so for the most part she didn't. Suitcases and purses were fine and some visible pockets but she couldn't bring herself to search for more than that. She found a business card, battery, some Twix and a backup with she threw over her shoulder just in case. She didn't think keys, bracelets, and the etc would help. There wasn't much else besides a notice to staff that she didn't bother reading but skimmed over.

The next cart was much like the one before with the exception of less bodies and less things of use. She took a deep breath and looked out of a window. She'd have to think of the next step. What was the next step?

"Survive and not get eaten for one." She told herself as she looked around.

That was necessity but she had no idea where to go from here. She supposed she could see if there was a way to contact someone but who would she contact? The military? FBI? She didn't know but ANYONE. Emmie or Douglas would have been a sporting idea if there was a phone. She didn't think trains had those though not even a mobile phone and considering from what she got from the earlier note this was a Umbrella train they probably wouldn't have allowed that either.

She might have thought to find a gun but she didn't think that a train of all places would have one then again it depended on who she searched and IF the right person was dead on this train. If Umbrella were the ones who were escorting her then there was a slim chance that others could have found this right? Escorting someone else? It had sounded like to her that the guards used the small path frequently. It was slim chance.

She sighed and looked down the small area connecting to the next one. A dead body could be spotted sitting in the corner. He was holding something and miraculously she saw a shimmer- flare gun? What the fuck would he be doing with a flare gun? She thought. She took and and a small paper as she stepped back just in case he decided to jump up and try to take a chunk. She read the note in it's poorly written scribbles.

The prisoner, he's got away. No one's alive here but in case you encounter him- avoid. He's dangerous, he killed Hank god he killed Hank! He just shot him in the head without blinking! Mother fucker! I was paid to deliver these delinqutes! Not get bitten by some fucking dog and be chased down by a maniac! Whatever the fuck happens our car is nearby- crashed but I think Hank and James bodies are still there. They had the only guns I WAS A NEWBIE! I'm staying here till they find us. You know search party.. hopefully. I took the flare gun... if I hear a copter I'll use it.

"Sorry buddy eternal rest for the dead." She muttered placing it back in his hands. She wasn't even going to attempt to find that damned car. That was too much of a risk but the flare gun was a good find. It was loaded but atleast she had something. It gave her false comfort.

There was a creak and she looked out of the window. It was raining now but there was someone out there. She barely saw the dim light of a flashlight and only had enough time to hide behind a wall as she heard them step forward. Maybe she could take them by surprise if it was this prisoner. How the hell did he get a flashlight? She'd never know. She took a deep breath raising the flaregun and stepped around the corner.

"Wait a fuckin-" She stopped mid sentence to find a gun a real gun looked special issued pointed at her by a familiar petite. She lowered her gun.

"Stop right there!" She orded shakingly. Once the woman realized who it was she stopped and softened lowering her gun slightly but still unsure. "Heather?" Heather shook her head yes.

"Rebecca wh- what are you doing here?" She was thankful but worried at the same time. Rebecca lowered her gun unable to believe it. Taking her in Heather thought the uniform suited her quite well. It was just good to find another human being, an actual human being that wouldn't rip her throat out!

"It's a long story. I should be asking you that." She put her gun in in it's respected place and shook head. She noticed the flare gun finally and nodded to it. "May I?"

"huh," She looked at it then at Rebecca. "Oh yeah sure." She handed it over and watched the woman look it over the nat her skeptically. "it was uh- his." She gestured to the dead guard and looked at the ground.

"You took a dead mans gun?"

"It was that or the monsters." She threw her hands up defensively.

"Monsters?" She must have hit her head pretty hard, Rebecca thought as she looked at the wounds on her friend. She sighed and reached for the small pack of wipes and bandages.

"Rebecca," Heather's eyes shot open wide as she looked up. Rebecca halted what she was doing and looked at her. Heather was almost stuck in complete fear as she saw the figure behind Rebecca. "Rebecca," move you fucking moron it's going to eat her! She told herself as it reached for her. In an instance Heather grabbed Rebecca's wrist and pulled her forward and behind her as Heather slammed her foot into the mans chest causing him to knock over and grabbed Rebecca's gun before placing a foot on his chest and pulling the trigger. He stopped moving.

Heather heard the low moan and looked at Rebecca who backed up from another. Heather aimed the gun at his head when Rebecca yelped and had no other choice but to ram her shoulder into another's abdomen knocking him back to get room. Heather shot the man a few times before he fell. When he did Rebecca grabbed her wrist and pulled her along to the next room locking the door behind them. Both girls fell silent as heather gave her her gun back and sighed.

"Thanks." She told her. Rebecca only nodded and took it back. She gave a look.

"What?"

"Just didn't think I'd see you for months." Rebecca gave her a look in return. Rebecca didn't reply and Heather had worried she'd said something wrong so she changed the subject.

"Shit I-"

"You can curse."

"Heather."

"If you want to know what's going on I really don't know." Heather admitted to her throwing her hands up and looking out of the broken window. "I just woke up with my vehicle turned over in cuffs, hurt, and one of those things- two of them plus a fucking forest full of dogs," She shuddered at the idea. "I don't know what's happening!"

"Heather," Rebecca grabbed her attention with the hard voice. "Breathe." Heather rubbed the back of her neck and took a deep breath. "I-I don't even know what I just saw but if you don't keep calm-"

"Keep calm! Did you see them?!" She saw the look Rebecca gave her. "Alright, fine. Sorry."

"I'm freaking out right now myself."

"You don't look like it." Heather snorted.

"Thank my sister." Heather caught the deeper meaning and winced at that. She hadn't mean elict that harsh tone she got but it was inevitable she guessed. Rebecca and her sister were close. Heather saw that, what would she hide from her?

Rebecca took a deep breath of her own. What the hell is going on, this isn't possible. Rational explanation Rebecca, She told herself. First the chopper, then Heather who felt off, and then the dead? There was NO rational reason.