Full Circle
'Going for a train ride'
Leon jumped up onto the platform infront of the door and turned around to help Claire up when he heard a loud noise. He looked back in the direction they came and saw something moving towards them. It was a big as a zombie but it was too low to the ground, almost crawling. It appeared to have no skin and razor sharp claws in the place for fingers, it's brain was exposed and it's eyes were gone.
"That's new." Leon muttered.
He pulled Claire up and lifted his rifle at the creature. Sudden the creature was joined by another, then another and then several more. Soon the hallway was crowded with them, some of them crawling on the ceiling and walls.
"Time to go!"
Leon grabbed Bryan by the forearm and hauled him up, followed by Mike and Elza.
"I can't get the door open!" Claire cried as she tried to push the door open.
Leon pushed her out of the way and held up his rifle. "Do you know how to fire one of these?"
Claire shook her head. Leon groaned. He shoved the gun in Claire's hands and pressed the stock against her shoulder.
"Okay, quick lesson: 30 rounds, semi auto fire. I've got more mags."
Leon turned and tried slam open the door. Mike and Bryan brought their shotguns to their shoulders then fired at the first wave, knocking the creatures backwards. Claire tried to fire her gun but it just clicked, she checked the magazine but it was full. She realized the safety was on and flicked the switch then fired the gun, the kickback almost knocked her off her feet. Leon slammed his shoulder repeatedly into the steel door until it finally gave way. He held the door open as Claire and the others ran thru, Leon turned and saw one of the creatures leap at him. Leon pulled the Desert Eagle from it's holster and fired, the .44 magnum round impacted the creature's chest and sent it flying backwards.
Leon went through the door and slammed it shut. The door started to bend from the numerous impacts from the creatures until they stopped. Leon followed the others until he reached a tram, powered up and ready to go. Claire saw a small body near the door and ran/hobbled towards it.
"Sherry!" She cried as she dropped her rifle and scooped up the little girl into her arms.
Sherry didn't move, she just laid bonelessly in Claire's arms. "Oh, god. Is she" Claire trailed off as Elza came over to her and felt for a pulse then breathed a sigh of relief.
"She's alright, she's just unconscious."
Bryan looked over the tram as Leon scooped up the rifle then ejected the empty magazine and quickly replaced it.
"What do you think?" Bryan asked.
Leon sighed. "I don't know. But I think we should take it."
Everyone boarded the tram and the doors closed, the tram started to move forward.
Suddenly, something impacted the roof of the tram and caused dust to rain down on them.
"What is that? Another one of those creatures?" Elza asked as she drew her revolver.
Claire gently laid Sherry down on the only cot in the tram and pulled her shotgun free from its holster. She checked the chamber and took her place by Leon. More dust rained down on them then something shot thru the ceiling, a clawed hand covered in blood. The claw went right between Leon and Claire, both of them fired at the claw and caused it to retract into the roof. Claire pumped a shell into the firing tube, Leon shouldered his rifle and drew his Glock. The two started moving backwards when the claw shot thru the roof infront of Elza, she screamed and fired her revolver up into the ceiling.
She quickly emptied the cylinder and crouched to reload. A claw shot thru the side of the tram by Mike and Bryan, both men fired their shotguns at it until it disappeared. The claw burst thru another hole infront of Leon who emptied his magazine at it until it retreated. A roar was heard above them then silence. The tram rumbled to stop and the doors hissed open, Leon holstered his pistol and took Claire's shotgun from her. He exited the tram and pointed the shotgun at the roof but nothing was up there.
"Okay, it's clear."
Claire scooped up Sherry in her arms and exited the tram, followed by Elza then Mike and Bryan. Leon slid Claire's shotgun back into it's scabbard and unshouldered his rifle, Claire leaned over to Leon.
"What was that thing?"
"I don't know. But I have a feeling it might be coming back."
The only exit off the platform was a single door, a plaque next to it with the writing worn off. That door led to a cramped hallway that dead ended with a ladder going up. Leon shouldered his rifle and scaled the ladder, a hatch covered the top and he pushed it open with ease. A familiar Browning greeted him, Leon looked at the hand holding it then the arm then the face of the owner.
"We meet again, top cop. First the rifle, then the pistol and oh that cannon you got as well."
Leon groaned and unslung his rifle and slid it thru the hatch, followed by both of his pistols. Leon climbed up and moved to the far wall, Claire came up next and was quickly disarmed as well.
"No hard feelings huh?"
"Go fuck yourself."
Ada smiled and sucker punched Claire with her pistol. Claire stumbled backwards and Leon caught her. Bryan and Mike were next then Elza and Sherry. Leon helped Claire stand up.
"You okay?"
Claire nodded, a trail of blood coming out of one of her nostrils.
"Why are you doing this?" Elza asked.
Ada chuckled ruefully but Leon spoke before she could.
"Money, I'm willing to bet."
Ada smirked. "Money, yes. But it's something in particular that I'm after."
"What's that?" Elza asked while holding onto Sherry.
Ada held up a gold locket, Sherry moved forward but Elza held her back. "That's mine!"
Ada opened the locket and frowned. She dropped the locket and pointed her pistol at Leon and Claire. "Where is it?"
"Where's what?"
Ada rushed forward and grabbed Claire, putting her into an chokehold again. Ada cocked the hammer back and pressed it to Claire's temple.
"Tell me. Now."
Leon held up his hands defensively. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Ada pressed the gun harder into Claire's head, she turned to Elza. "Where?" Leon made his move.
He rushed forward and grabbed Ada's wrist and twisted it outwards. Claire got out of Ada's hold and rolled out of the way. As Leon twisted Ada's wrist, she instinctively fired. Leon wrestled the gun of her hand and threw it down the hatch, Ada pulled out her folding knife and stabbed Leon in the arm. Leon gave a yell of pain and grabbed his arm, letting go of Ada. Ada ran thru the door behind Leon and locked it behind her. Leon groaned as he flexed his arm, blood seeped between his fingers. Elza came forward and started to bandage his arm, Mike and Bryan were trying to unlock the door but in the end Bryan shot the lock off.
Leon entered first, pistol drawn and with a deadly look in his eye. He swept the entire area with his handgun but Ada was nowhere to be found. A train engine sat on what appeared to be a turntable, a control panel near the door of the train had a blinking green light which indicated it was ready. The group filed out of the office and boarded the train, Leon hit the switch and the lift rumbled to life. The inside of the compartment was cramped but they made do, the lift started going down. About midway thru the journey, a large crash was heard as something impacted the roof of the train, a gloved hand punched its way thru and almost connected with Claire's head. Claire stumbled backwards into Leon's arms.
"Oh, great. He's back."
Next chapter: Two monsters and a lab
