A.N: I read your review thinking, love interest? Crud, how am I gonna swing that? But I found a way and I'll happily do it, but you have to decide between Rocky or Colt. I could just leave it up to the extras- few as they are, they can still be in love with each other haha. Thanks for the review, and thanks all you guys for reading. I hope you enjoy this story. Making up dailog is kind of tough because the game is done alone for nearly all of it, but little by little I'm finding ways to put words in. I'll be moving in a matter of weeks I think, so I don't know when the next update will be.
...
The rain pelted down on the windows so hard it sounded as if one patter would be strong enough to eventually shatter the glass beneath its strength. The raging storm was dulled considerably in volume when they moved to the other side of the main hall where Rocky was sure they weren't going to run into that monster, which at the moment is seen to him as an invincable being. How could the fire not have killed it? How could the crack to the skull leave hardly an impact on the ghoul? It almost seemed that it didn't feel it!
But Rocky wasn't about to allow his brother to pee on himself, and he wasn't adventurous enough to head upstairs just yet. So better to stick to ground level, should their father really come running through those large oak door. Its strange that they haven't heard from him since they got separated. The only lucky break they managed to have was that, being a ninja, they came prepared for battle without even knowing there would be one. Meaning, they have their survival knives attached to their ankles. Rocky insisted they hold onto to them ready to attack; his lie was that a window had been broken and one of those hellhounds had gotten in. His brother's were not going to argue the instruction.
The double doors at their left had another smaller door beside it to its left; Tum Tum tried it believing it to be the bathroom, but the door was locked. So the decision was made for them. The doors swung open with a sound creeeak. Keeping their cover, they closed the doors after they've entered. The room was a masterpiece- if one wanted to be puny. The walls right and left are litered with paintings large and small, but they're all so intricately painted, so priceless and rare that they alone could buy a man five more houses just as grand as this one. Its amazing! Whomever lives here must be basking in complete luxury day by day. Colt wouldn't be surprised if they ate from solid gold flatware. In the center of the room sat a well sculpted statue of a woman holding a watering jug. But there's something else...
"What's that piece of paper rolled up there?" Tum tum pointed.
"Don't know." Colt tilts his head back trying to get a better look. There's a large slip of paper, rolled up like a map sitting in the statues watering pot.
"Can you reach it?" Tum tum raised a hand, making a little leap for the paper. He didn't even come close.
"Can't get it by jumping, that's for sure." Colt informed. "Maybe if we stand on that cabinet over there." He points to a medium height piece of furniture that looks like it would hold bottles of wine or some expensive nick-nacks. "Gimme a hand."
Colt and Tum tum found their way over to the piece of furniture, whomever lived here would have a fit if they knew what a couple of punk kids were doing to their priceless room-fillers, but who really cared when curiousity led the way. Rocky, however, remained on high alert. It was so weird to see their brother so high strung. Rocky was always calm in the face of anything, and if he weren't he surely never showed it. He's hiding something, and while busy moving their assistant into place, Colt wondered exactly what it was.
"Can you reach it now?" Tum tum asked still down by the floor, hand secured on his brother's leg as if he'd fall without him.
"Yeah, I've got it." Colt's already unrolling the thing by shaking it out with one hand, while the other is planted atop his little brother's shoulder while he allows himself to be helped down.
"Is it a treasure map?" Tum chided. "Because with all the loot on display it would be kind of pointless." He chuckled.
"No... its blueprints. See." He hands it over to the little guy.
"Blueprints?" His nose scrunches in thought.
"Maybe they were doing some renovating, builders could have left it here." Rocky guessed. Though it was strange to leave the roll of paper in the arms of a statue so high up. "This is a good thing actually, we can use this to take us to the bathroom so we're not searching this place for hours. Then we can get back to the main hall." He takes the map from Colt's hands.
Not about to let his brother's behavior slide this time, Colt follows him, with Tum Tum in tow, over to a door off to the right. "Rocky? What's with you anyway? You've been acting weird since we got in here. It isn't just paranoia from those dogs... you saw something in that dining room, didn't you?"
Leave it to Colt not to keep his mouth shut. Rocky sighed thoughtfully, wondering just how to approach the subject. Turning the door knob, he takes a step through the door into a long hallway. White walls and a polished floor greet them. A large chandelier hangs over head and oversized windows are lined around the corner. Some large table desks againt the wall, much like the wine holder from the room they're walking out of. Tum tum heard it, but didn't comment on the sound of rustling from behind them- or maybe beside them? It was very hard to tell. Either way once the door had closed the sound ultimately stopped. Making their way through the hall, Rocky remained silent on the matter as they rounded the corner and just when Colt was ready to push it further to get his answer a window breaks in behind them.
"What the-..?" Colt spun around, wide-eyed he gasps seeing one of those mangled dogs leaping through the window, followed by another. "Shit!" He braced himself when the dogs charged, survival knife raised up at his neck to protect his vitals where he knew the leaping dog was aiming for.
Rocky stepped in front of his brother, protecting him from the surprise attack, slashing at the beast leaving it whimpering as a long gash to its eyes shot blood across the room and against the clean beautiful walls. But that didn't keep the other hellhound at bay and it clamped onto Rocky's forearm dragging him down to his knees.
"Rocky!" Colt called out. Helping his brother out by slicing into the snarling biting animals back, he's glad to see that his rear is covered by Tum tum who is making waste of the blinded dog thats begun bumping its head into the wall as if a knock to the head would regain its eyesight.
The dog howled in pain from the erratic carving job Colt is giving its backside, with Rocky released it spun around to grab at him instead. But the young wild ninja was too quick for it, and he shoved his knife up under the dogs chin. It was strange because for the strength the hellish mutt has, the knife stuck into it as though it were made of wet paper. Granted paper with a bit of give but paper all the same. Both dogs were taken care of in a haste for self preservation and it wasn't until the last twitch stilled in their legs did it really sink in about what's happened. They killed them. They killed the dogs. It was hard to comprehend though not entirely, they'd do anything for one another that much was sure. But as far as killing, the line had never presented itself to be crossed. But here it was, wasn't it? Their dad shot them, killed them. But that was in his job description, he even was trained not to resort to such an act unless it was absolutely necessary. But as ninjas, even regarding animals- maybe moreso regarding animals- you use it to defend and protect. Not to harm. But was it ninja? Or was it instinct both to protect their loved one and to live?
"A dog didn't break in," Rocky's voice hard but calm broke through their frightened pants. "There was a man... he... he wasn't human. At leat, he wasn't behaving that way."
"What do you mean?" Tum asked; all but forgetting that he had to use the restroom. He must have missed his chance.
"There was someone lying on the floor, he was... he was dead." Rocky stood on shaking legs; craddling his bitten arm against his stomach, his free hand helped to wrap the bottom of his shirt around it and hold it there. The bite was bad and he'd need some gauze. With any luck there'd be supplies in the bathroom. "And the man leaning over him... he was" Rocky couldn't believe it himself, and he had seen it. But to say it out loud? Was harder than telling Emily he didn't like her in that way.
"What?" Colt insisted. He hated being left in the dark, about anything. And if they were all in, they had to be in on the same level. He'd just killed for Rocky, the least he could do was offer the information he's withholding.
"He was eating him." He concluded. He received the looks he thought he would over the matter, first disbelief then realization once the fact that the starving dogs laid out on the floor factored into play. What the hell is going on here? "I thought that I killed it but... it got back up- and I can assure you, I did everything imaginable to the guy... but before I came back into the main hall I heard a door close behind me. It got up and left."
"And you're saying that thing may still be wandering around the house somewhere?" Tum tum successfully terrified asked.
Rocky could only nod. He felt ashamed that he held back in telling them. But neither seemed upset at him. They actually could understand, they wouldn't know how to say it either. "We'd better keep moving, though. Tum tum you can use the bathroom and we'll stand watch. Hopefully there'll be some medical supplies in there so I can wrap my arm." Shaking hands hand over the blueprints to Colt. "I noticed there was a bathroom just beyond this door, can you lead the way?"
Rocky wouldn't willingly give up position as leader unless something was really wrong. The bite must be more painful than he'd thought. He wasn't going to be able to act accordingly either should they come across the invincible-man either. Nodding, Colt takes the roll of paper. "Come on." He takes the leader position with some hesistation, but he won't let his brother down. "Tum tum, you get in back incase we have to cover that area. They snuck up on us before they might do it again." He threw a glance at the broken-in window. Smiling when receiving a thumbs up from his younger brother, Colt opened the door at the end of the hall and led the way through.
This place, really, its like a lavish funhouse. No room matches with another, and yet it doesn't clash. Its as if each space were decorated for the sheer vanity of the space itself. Kind of like asking twins to decorate a room using the same materials and yet somehow they come out different, yet beautifully the same. To elaborate the point, the granet white floor that doned the first two rooms turned into hardwood. They're in another hallway. Only this one has a few more twist and turns to it than a simple stage-left as the previous hall. The walls are a soft yellow, there's large pantings on the wall, light fixtures brightening the way from what could have been a darkened hall lit up only by the flashes lights of the storm raging outside.
"Cool place, but we're gonna have to do something about all this big windows. We're sitting ducks if those dogs keep spotting us." And this was Tum tum. Leave it to him to break tension with a well placed comment.
He's very right though, they'll have to do something about the windows or at least they should kill the lights so they're not so easily seen. But Colt had other things on his mind as they make a left passing a large piece of furniture that holds plates and glassware like this hall would lead them somewhere near a kichen. But knowing the home owners this was purely the priceless antics that cost quite a bit of money, and eating off of them would be sin.
"Here we go." He announced when a singlular door came up. "Bathroom, let it rip boy."
"Wait. Check inside first, we don't know if the invincible man isn't in there." Rocky looked grim but his voice sounded the same. They really need to wrap that arm.
Cracking the door, knife clutched tightly in his grip, Colt peeks inside the bathroom. "Hello?" Surely if someone were inside they would move at the sound of a voice. But there was nothing. "Its clear, go on in."
Tum tum didn't need to be told twice as his need to relieve himself came back tenfold. The small bathroom despite the grandure of the rest of the place was just a simple bathroom- minus the lovely marble floor and an expensive looking rectangular mirror hanging over the sink. Also marble- the large counter around the porcelian dip. He's surprised the faucets aren't made of gold. Colt went to work looking beneath the cabinets to locate something to wrap Rocky's arm. Thankfully, there was a large first-aid kit beneath the sink.
"Here we go." Opening the case, he pulls out a white can with green lettering that read: first-aid disinfectant. And boy how he hoped this stuff worked. Because Rocky looked miserable. Smirking, despite the possibly dire situation he had to lighten the mood somehow, he asked. "Want me to count to three sweetie or would you rather I do it like a band-aid."
Rocky offered his brother, and his brother's motherly voice a sour glare. "Just spray me." He said holding out his pained arm. His shirt was nearly soaked through with blood.
"I love when they play brave." Colt muttered doing as he was told, and almost delighting in the way his brother cringed.
It served him right for getting so pissy. Bad as the situation was, he had to keep a clear head and moping just wouldn't do. Oh my God. And suddenly Colt understood why his brother was so... driven... straight forward? Yeah that sounds right. He wanted to get things done and leave out all the rest. There would be time enough once they got out. Huh? And all it took to understand his brother was to be given power for what... three minutes? Sweet. And his mind just gained a level- but then video games is more Rocky's foretay as well. Next thing you know he'll develope a love of science and all things sharp and pointy, or rounded and blunt. Rocky loved when they worked with weapons at Grandpa's. He preferred hands personally. And Tum well, he's more tactical weapons and enviroment than real hands-on. Phew. All this new knowledge was making his head spin. Being Rocky is too much of a roller coaster and he can't wait to get off and give the front seat back to his older brother.
Wrapping the arm in gauze once he'd cleaned it, Colt gave it a gentle pat before declaring. "Done. Now take two asprins for the pain, and call me in the morning."
Smiling, Rocky muttered his thanks then test out the movement of his arm. It felt alright. Colt did a good job.
"You guys should go too so we don't have to double back anytime soon." Tum tum announced as he came to wash his hands, booting his brothers aside.
"Yeah." Rocky agreed going over first. The toilet is thankfully hidden around a small corner, so across from the sink is a curtain covered bathtub. He really wondered why he hadn't given that little detail about the shower curtain much thought until now. Hn. Maybe it has to do with that little paranoia of having his back exposed to the unknown for too long. As alert as ninjas could be, they can also develope paranoid habits because of it. But then he has his brothers to watch his back so he let the matter ease away.
Studying the tub, which is filled with a murky filthy water, Colt called over his shoulder to Rocky. "Don't bother flushing I'll do it when I'm done."
Scrunching his nose, Rocky replied. "Colt that's disgusting."
"No different than flushing when someone forgets back at home."
"Yeah, only difference is," The sound of zipping fills the air. "you flush before you use it." He walks around the corner to wash his hands.
"Makes no difference to me." Colt answered back turning away from the tub. Who could have been that filthy, and then leave the nasty muck water behind like that? Could have been their invincible man? Or maybe someone else who got stranded out here, chased by those hellhounds and just made themselves comfortable because they haven't yet found the homeowners. Worse. The place could be abandoned until the construction is finished- if construction is going on. Unzipping, he relieves himself then flushes the toilet. Hopefully they'll be out of here by daylight, with their dad.
Rocky and Tum tum wait by the door for Colt to finish washing his hands. They haven't heard a sound from beyond the door, which meant nothing had gotten in since they've entered and no one has come through the hall. Not an owner, not that invicible man, not their dad. Its such a strange place. Leaving the bathroom, same order as before with Colt in front and Rocky in the middle, Tum Tum bringing up the rear.
"Wait!" Rocky held out his hand to stop them; funny how even when not in control he held it. "Shouldn't we be going back to the main hall?" He wondered as if just running down the reasons why. "We have no reason to go any farther into this place than was necessary. Bathroom breaks have been taken care of, I'm pretty sure no one is hungry-.." He didn't stop himself in time. He cast a quick glance over at his little brother who mostly certainly was always in snack mode. But Tum tum shook his head as if reading Rocky's mind. Good. "Let's just go wait for dad."
Colt shook his head easily. "With that guy still roaming around one room away from us? No thanks. Besides," He turns the corner up ahead. "maybe we'll run into the owners of this place and we can ask them for help. Better yet, we may find a phone."
"Colt's got a point." Tum tum chimed in.
Nodding, Rocky realized he couldn't argue with that logic and took a step ahead around the corner as well.
"Three doors... you wanna decide?" Colt asked while casting a scrutinizing eye over a solid looking green door, a single wooden door at their right, and to the left of that door are large double doors, that no doubt lead into another hall way.
"Its likely that that green metal door leads outside, and we can't risk going back out there with Kujo and family prowling around." Rocky could feel the sting in his arm, even if presently it no longer hurt. "The double doors may lead to a hall, which we'll end up going through either way, so-..."
Cutting in, Colt says. "Single door it is." Turning a bit, he walks up to the door pulling it open. "After you." He gestured to beyond the door.
This place truly was more unbelievable as they went through it. The door led them to a tiny little space, a perfect square of a room that held absolutely nothing within it but another door across from the one opened to the hall. Nothing to do but go inside. Survival knives poised, the three ninjas creep over to the door and with Rocky holding it open, Colt and Tum tum enter. But the room is empty. Its a small office with a loveseat against the west wall, a fire place on the northern wall. A coffee table and thrown rug over the gleaming wood floor. The rug looked expensive and knowing this place it probably cost more than their lives put together. Another lavish painting hung above the fireplace, but the thing that caught Colt's eye was the shotgun hooked to the wall.
"Guys, check this out." Colt moved through the room quickly, his feet marking their place with loud thumps against the wooden floor.
"A shotgun? Cool." Tum tum huddled close to his brother who removed the firearm with the brown and gold finishes from a display-case where it rest on two thick hooks. Tum tum hopped from foot to foot like a deranged ballerina as Colt swung the weapon about the room like he were taking aim at some unseen enemy. "Alright killer. Put that thing down." Tum shoved the nozzle of the gun down at the floor.
"Rocky, look. Let's see that invincible man stand up to this puppy." He held it into view for Rocky. Noticing that his brother seemed bothered by something, he asked. "What's up?"
"I'm not sure but..." He cocks his head, dual colored eyes stare intensely at the high-high ceiling in the tiny square hall. "I think something unhinged in the ceiling..." Shaking his head as if the thought were ridiculous, he waved an arm over his shoulder. "Bring the gun with you, and let's get out of here." He just couldn't explain it, but that ceiling made him uncomfortable. Maybe its being unused to the luxury of one that's up so high above his head, or maybe it was that weird sudden grind that haulted before it could even really be figured out as to what it was. But he wanted to go. Now.
"Right." Rocky was freaking Colt out. He could admit that to himself, maybe Tum tum if he whispered it low enough. Having Rocky hear would only have his brother trying to prove that he's fine and that there was no reason to worry about him or be freaked out by his paranoia. Tum tum in tow, he exits the room.
Rocky reached the exit of the hall first and to his surprise the knob didn't budge when he turned it. "What?" He said so to himself it was practically an unheard whisper. "Its locked." He says to his brothers confused faces.
"Locked?" Trying it for himself, Colt couldn't believe it.
'Was that the sound I heard? An automatic door lock? But what caused it?' Rocky wondered.
"I'm gonna shoot it."
"Colt, no." The stern in Rocky's voice was heavy. "If this thing can hurt that guy, we don't need to waste any bullets, plus-..."
"Uuum, guys." Tum tum's panic ceased Rocky's tirade of reasons why and they turned to the younger male. "Look." He pointed up.
The ceiling was coming down on them, slowly, deliberately slowly. Teasing its way along the long wall with intentions. Like a schoolyard bully sizing up the playground before picking its mark. And it chose the three of them.
"Uhh, Rocky?" Colt questioned what to do, knowing the brains of the operation would think up something.
All three children stare up at the approaching doom, the monster sliding through the tunnel, large enough to block out all and any view behind it. Grissly enough to do what it threatens to do and more. Their hearts were pounding painfully in their chest. Colt actually got so panicked he thought that maybe shooting it would have some sort of effect. It was in that action that Rocky realized when the sound had come, sometime when Colt pulled that gun from the wall. Its the gun! Its like a trap or something!
"Colt! The gun! Put it back on the hook- quick!"
He only needed to be told once, and he was off and running back through the little sitting room.
"Colt, hurry!" And that was Tum tum. The ceiling was inches from Rocky's head now causing his brother to crouch instantly.
Colt replaced the gun on its hooks. He heard such a loud sound after that, his eyes widened in absolute panic. Had doing this only made it worse? "Guys?" He shouted louder than he should have, but fear elevated his voice. "Guys?" He called again before dashing to the exit of the room and finding his brothers slumped against the wall, ragged breaths puffing up and down waiting for calm. Colt could have collapsed himself.
"It worked." Tum tum said, though he didn't need to. Colt could see that the ceiling had returned firmly in place over their heads at its highest elevation.
"So much for protection," Colt looked over his shoulder at the soon to be abandoned firearm. Fuck. They're screwed.
Shaking his head, Rocky stands up on shaking legs commanded to cease by a thought alone. "No. The guy in the hall, the dead one, he had a gun in his hand- I'm sure of it. Between the three of us, we can get it. And if we run into that monster..." He didn't have to say the other part, he just tightened his grip on the handle of the knife.
"Does that mean we're going back to the main hall?" Tum stands, grabbing his brother's arm for help up; his legs weren't so easily coaxed out of shaking.
"Yeah." He hoped that they'd even get lucky and that monster wasn't anywhere around. It seemed the sound was an electronic latch for the door because it opened now.
Maybe it had felt pain and it was off somewhere licking its wounds. It was unlikely, the thing was almost... out of it. Unaware. Zombie. No brain. No feeling beyond a carnal need to eat. If that's the case this is more frightening than he would have figured it to be. How do you go up against an undead canibal with ninja skills and a knife? Will cutting vital points be affective? Does it even matter if it suffers from blood loss? Rocky didn't know that they'd soon get their answer as they pass back through the hall and spot tracks on the floor leading down to where they're headed. Murky, sludge colored tracks, and the pattern it laid was unusual. One footprint and the other... it looked like a drag mark.
"You don't think..." Colt started to say but was cut off by a low hissing sound up ahead of them.
All three boys shot their attention to where the sound had resonated from, knives poised to strike, but none too self assured to race on ahead and be taken by surprise. They have to play this smart or they'd suffer with more injuries than just a bite on the arm. The low raspy moan sent chills up and down Tum tum's spine, and he could hardly remain where he stood when the first rotted and damp foot came around the corner. And it looked like death had become this creature. Mold clung to its wet dripping body, his clothes were tattered as if it had been through a nasty struggle. And its throat clucked just then as if it were trying to speak but the words were no longer able to formulate muchless come out coherantly. Then through that chopping sound came a low hard moan, and it lunged at them. It seemed to be after Rocky specifically. Its hard, blind focus solely on the blood stain on the ninjas shirt.
Rocky, eyes wide and panic radiating, he readied himself for another incounter with a horrible creature. "Guys, go for vital places," He instructed his brothers. "just like with the practice dummy." His knife swung out, slicing at the air in the zombie-like monster's direction.
It took a cut to the chest, the long gash spewed blood like he were still a fresh living human. Rocky saw this, and through his panic hazed mind he wondered just how long this man had been dead? Days, weeks, years... or hours? The latter gave him absolute terror. This entire place could be crawling with zombies from that one man having broken in and biten them, eaten at them. The family would never see it coming. Did the zombie in the dining room break in through a door or window as the dogs had? Did the homeowners see it and scream, no way of defending theirselves beyond running and hiding, only to be found almost by heat-seeking senses? It sounded so ridiculous that it couldn't possibly not be the truth. If they find any of the homeowners, is this what they'll have to face time and again? These zombies? The dark skinned bleeding creature staggered forward intending to throw itself on Rocky since the ninja seemed to be hard to get at by just reaching for him. Its already taken several nasty slashes to the palms and fingers in its lust.
Colt voiced his round kick, which connected with the zombie's mouth. Rocky had said hand-to-hand combat would not work, but it cleared the board with getting the damned thing to back off. And it staggered and fell back against the door frame of the bathroom after bumping its shoulder against the wall. Leg raised up straight into the air, straight enough that if he were on the floor he'd be doing the splits, Tum tum dropped his heel into the monster's face. It was disgusting at how easily one of its blind eyeballs sank into its head, before the blood filling up in the socket bobbed the appendage back into view. Rocky was right, these damned things were invicible, and it proved it by reaching out to the grab the youngest ninja's leg to take a chomp out of it.
Tum Tum cried out in surprise and waited for the pain to come, but Rocky had the thing straddled and with his sharpened, double-edge survivor's knife he stabbed the monster in the neck, cutting open an artory, the main artory to be precise. Thank you very much, health classes. Rocky ripped into the blood-thirsty bastards neck with wild abandon, he didn't stop slabbing until the undead enemy's neck hung by nothing more than its spine which was only nicked by the knifes tip. He swallowed hard when it stopped thrashing beneath his hips. Ran the back of his hand across his face to remove its soggy watered down blood.
Colt and Tum tum looked surprised if not a little worried at the force their brother had used, but after all Rocky had faced one before and he knew what it took to take it down it seemed because it certainly was not getting back up once their brother removed himself from it.
"Is it dead?" Tum Tum kicked a curious foot against the things- now- bobbled head.
"I think so." Rocky glared at it hard though, as if daring it to get up. But after a minute, when it did not, he gave his brother's a thumbs up. "I think we're good. Come on, let's get to the dining room."
Colt, despite wanting leader status, was glad that his brother was back to normal and ready for action. If they're gonna be stuck here, whether it be for the doration it took to find the homeowners or a phone, or if they simply were waiting out their father to come through the front doors, or even a back door, or window, it didn't matter. They need their brother at his best.
"Why did that thing come after you? It seemed pretty hell-bent just then." Colt wondered as he studied the now-dead undead. The thing truly is disgusting. Its teeth are broken out. Thanks to Tum tum, one blind-eye is still bobbing about in the blood filled eye socket.
"Maybe it was drawn to the blood on you shirt, Rocky." Tum tum suggested pointing out the large stain of blood on his brother's stomach from the dog bite.
Disgusted, Rocky removed his shirt tossing it to the floor. He was glad he thought it would be cold in the forest, otherwise he'd be completely shirtless rather than have the grace of his black tank-undershirt. "Hopefully it didn't bleed through." Though he was sure it hadn't. His shirt had been thick enough. Thank you very much paranoia of cold, and bug bites. "Let's keep moving."
The three travel cautiously back to the main hall. Rocky told them about what he'd been thinking, about how these things could be all over the place and how they could have attacked the homeowners that lived here. Very well the workers who left the blueprints in the statue. Nothing could be taken to chance.
"At least we know one thing," Says Tum tum as they're peeking into the dining room. "if these people were killed, it was recently. I don't think those things have the capacity to light a fire."
His brother's agreed to that with a nod.
"Wow. This place sure is nice." Tum tum really seemed to appreciate the dining room for him to voice the obvious. This entire mansion was probably gorgeous to a fault.
"Man, what the hell is that smell?" Colt was breathing in such a way it seemed he was trying to push air out of his nostrils.
"Don't know, it didn't smell like this before." Rocky replied. He felt his nerves pricking as they got closer to the door at the end of the room. This was it. He isn't as nervous now though, since they seem to have found a way to at least keep the things down if not killed. He glanced at his brothers to give them the signal to get ready for the attack.
But when the door was pushed open they were surprised to find that it bumped into something before it shoved open the rest of the way, even more surprised to find that that something was a crispy fried zombie.
"What do you think happened?" Asked Tum tum, not about to touch it, he poked it with his knife.
"His head was lit up, but he still managed to walk away."
"I guess the flames engulfed the rest of him. This guy is out." Colt looked impressed. But he was also hoping that fire wasn't the only way to defeat the things, they couldn't exactly lure them all into the dining room to take a bath in the fireplace.
"Guys... I think he was a cop. Look at this," Rocky showed them the man's blood stained uniform.
His brother's gazes avoid the bitten through neck as they focus on the bullet proof vest reading: F.B.I a familiar sight to them.
"Why would they have been here?" Colt asks. "I'm guessing it wasn't a costume party. This gun is real." He's studying the Bereta handgun he picked up from the floor. It was laying in a pool of the man's blood.
Searching the body, Rocky found another handgun strapped to the man's leg. He's seen his father place his extra handgun there all the time. It was better that there were only two, he doesn't want his little brother in charge of firearms just yet. They'll protect him, and themselves. And with renewed energy, Rocky stands from his crouch. "I think we should make sure there isn't anyone else alive in this house, and search for a phone to call for help. The F.B.I wouldn't send just one man, they'd have a partner with them."
And Rocky would know since he's dying to become an agent when he's older. He hoped they were still alive somewhere. Who only knew how big this place was. The blueprints alone were impressive with the first floor, but what about upstairs? Looking over his shoulder, Rocky looked to Tum tum who still has the map with him.
"Where are we right now?" He asked.
"Umm, I'm not sure. But the door behind us leads to a hall and through there are some bedrooms. Should we check their first?" He scrunches the map in his grasp rather than rolling it or folding it up.
"Yeah. Someone could be hiding in there." They walk down the hall about seven steps. Rocky tugged at the door knob. "Its locked."
"Let me see." Colt kneels down before the door to try picking the lock, but it was no use. This side doesn't even have a key hole. If they're gonna get inside they'll have to do it from some other way. "What about down there?" Colt points.
"Hmm, looks like it could be a bedroom, we can always check."
Heading down the hall, they try the knob for that door as well, and like before its locked. Damn. Checking, Colt finds the keyhole and makes quick work of it, pushing the door open for his brother's to enter. Rocky went in first, gun steady in his grip ready to fire if needed. But there was no one inside. At least not in plain sight.
"Hello?" He called. It remained quiet. "Its empty."
"Let's look around anyway, we may find something usefull." And by usefull Colt's attention was at the bar at the west end of the room. Bottles of liqour shine polished and pristine, ready to be uncorked and drank. But drinking it isn't what has the ninja smiling, making a molotov cocktail is. All they need is a lighter and something to stick inside to be lit. "Maybe we could tear up Rocky's shirt for fuse lines." He says when holding a 1638 bottle of red wine.
"Maybe." Tum tum's finger drops onto a piano key. The noise resonated throughout the small lounge room. Is it a man cave? He wondered. A bar, piano. Shelves with books. Plus the painting of a naked lady might be a clue as a woman wouldn't find it all that great to look at. A leather sofa sits along the wall where the door is, and little naked statues adorn the corners of the room. Aside from whatever Colt wanted the liqour for, the room was useless. "We should keep moving, we don't wanna sit for too long if those things really are moving around the house."
"Yeah." Rocky agreed.
Tum tum's eyes are on the map now as they exit the room. "We can go upstairs. I vote right side, we were heading that way anyway."
"Well if you're saying right side, I'm saying left side."
"Right." Tum shot back.
"Left!" Snapped Colt.
"Flip a coin so we can go." Rocky groaned, rolling his eyes to the ceiling.
Removing a quarter from his pants pocket, Tum hands it to Rocky. "You do it. I don't trust this guy."
"Fine." Positioning the coin, once its caught he says. "Call it."
"Heads." Tum replied leaving Colt with tails.
"Its tails," Rocky announced ignoring his brother's 'yes' of victory. "Can we go?"
"After me." Colt waltzed out of the door.
The storm hammered away at the house, it only seemed to be getting worse as the rumbles of thunder shook the window panes. The lights in the hall blinked brightly before burning out completely. The hall, thankfully, wasn't leaving them in too much darkness. The large windows at the end of it lit it up for them every so often by illuminating the flashes of lightning like a demented flash light picking and choosing when to turn on. They were just about to enter the dining hall when they hear a loud scream...