Zone 10
Chapter 8
Kid's POV, Biometrics lab sector A, 6:25am.
Sweat slowly dripped from the top of my forehead down to the cold steel floor below, as I entered the lonely room with Hopper and Foley at my six.
"Kid." I heard Foley whisper from my side as I stood still by the door.
Looking back, I watched as he moved his hand to the right.
Nodding, I obeyed my order and took hold of my weapon to head slowly off to the right side of the room.
As I neared another part of the lab, I saw Foley head off with Hopper to the left.
As the gray metal now came between me and them, I refocused on my twelve and began the search for anything that had claws and teeth that can tear my throat out.
Cruz's POV, Cryogenics lab sector C, 6:26am.
This lab was fucking freezing. I swear my ears were about to fall off the second the door opened.
"Why's it so cold?" Wondered the lieutenant as I checked around the room for the cause of the issue.
Shadow came up in front as I eyed the thermostat that rested along the wall on the other side of the room.
I quickly made my way over, leaving the lieutenant to his own devices, as I got my eyes on the temperature.
My ears flickered as it was twelve degrees.
"Fuck." I said to myself as I rubbed the cold off my arms.
"Captain!"
Quickly looking back to where the lieutenant used to be, I found him gone and by the other end of the room.
In a quick pace I neared, and as I got close I saw the issue.
Three large liquid nitrogen canisters were on the floor cracked wide open, and it was obvious the climate was coming from here, because the liquid nitrogen was resting on the floor in a heap of frozen wonders, and I was worried it may be too much to deal with between the two of us.
"Someone must have knocked these over during all the panic." I stated as the lieutenant went to examine the canisters closer.
"Can we fix this?" I wondered as he shook his head.
"Not by ourselves, and not without proper equipment to go along with it."
Quickly nodding, I replied.
"What should we do?"
Gently getting up with a cold breath, Shadow calmly replied.
"Leave it. We can't waste the time here."
Getting a hold on my rifle as it rested at my side, I replied.
"Agreed. We have to keep moving."
The lieutenant agreed with a nod of his head, and quickly got up to watch as I turned for the door.
As soon as I reached it, I took a glance back outside into the hall to find it clear.
In a slow pace, I walked out and moved my hand towards the lieutenant, who just managed to reach me with his shotgun up at his chest to order him to halt.
In speed, Shadow went still and waited as I aimed down the hall to see a shadow move along the wall.
The lieutenant carefully looked out to see it fade away with the light.
"What was that?" He asked me as I moved my fingers up and down the hall, giving him the command to take point.
Nodding slowly, I turned to cover the rear as Shadow began to carefully lead us down the long hall towards whatever that was we saw.
Hoping it was the thing that killed Reaper, I gripped my rifle tightly and turned back to face the way the lieutenant was facing, and began to come to a halt as we heard a door shut further down the hall we were tracing.
Shadow quickly gave me confused and worried eyes as I tried to focus in on the noises ahead.
Nothing was certain, and as I got back my head, I looked back at the lieutenant who awaited for my command.
Quickly raising my hand back up, I ordered him to follow, and slowly we neared a locked door.
As I stopped next to the security panel; I felt something under my feet.
Shadow quickly went for the panel as I got on my knee to see three, small, red spots on the ground.
In confusion, I ran my fingers in it to fill it was thick.
Seconds passed as I decided what to do next, but as many ideas ran through my head, I heard from the lieutenant.
"Got it."
Quickly looking up into his red eyes, it seemed he awaited my order.
The order to go in, or lock it back up.
Shadow waited in loss at the amount of thought I was giving the next move, but I'm a leader and I have to make the right call here. If I walk away, whatever is in here can come back and keep killing my men. I can't have that. I already fucked up enough as it is. It's about time I make something right.
"I got your back." I stated as the lieutenant nodded at my call and hit the button on the panel to open the steel doors in front of us.
As the darkness inside the room awaited, I took hold of my rifle and followed the lieutenant inside.
The door shut tight behind us. Leaving me to my call. Once again.
Rosin's POV, Medical lab sector A, 6:34am.
Borne was growing colder.
I stood above him with my right hand holding the bottom of his head, and as I felt the gash bestowed upon him, I looked over to Amy who remained quiet by the bed where Reaper use to be.
Something wasn't right about her. I could see it in her eyes.
"You ok?" I asked in concern as she slowly nodded her head.
"Yeah. I'm just a little shook up is all."
Giving her a glance at my eyes that were calling bullshit, I replied.
"Are you sure that's it?"
Calmly looking up into my eyes once again, she replied.
"Yes, I'm sure. Nothings wrong Rosin."
With a slight smile, I let go of Borne's head to reply.
"You could have fooled me; with how you just got defensive."
I hit an angry bone and almost immediately she shouted.
"Nothing is wrong Rosin!"
Amy's anger fell short, and nearly a second after the outburst did she fall back in her seat with sadness.
I noticed a few tears leaving her eyes and in a few gentle steps, I managed to reach her bedside.
I remained silent, as she placed her mouth in the cups of her hands, and as she continued to cry, I began to reach behind my back for the last small rag I had left.
Gently taking it into my right hand, I slowly lifted it to her side.
"Here." I urged as she glanced up to see it waiting for her.
Our eyes quickly locked and in no less then it took her to begin crying, she took it and began to pat her cheeks softly.
"Thank you." She said in a slightly calmer tone as I carefully got down next to her on the bed.
After a few more gentle pats to her wet face, she handed me back the rag and said.
"This wasn't suppose to happen."
Feeling only confused by the statement, I took back my rag and rested it down on my lap to ask.
"What are you talking about?"
Amy was giving off a clear sign of hesitation, and as I waited for my answer, I continued to stare at her face from the side.
Slowly I turned my gaze to her emerald green eyes as she looked to her side to find me awaiting her thoughts.
"This is our fault. All of this. We caused it." She stated in sadness as I remained sitting down in a caring position, trying to get a grip of what was coming my way.
"What do you mean?"
Kid's POV, Biometrics lab sector A, 6:38am.
My weapon scanned the small room for anything out of the ordinary, but I was happy to find nothing around in my sight.
Gently letting my gun rest downward towards my stomach, I took a moment to breath; then made my way back for the door at which I had entered.
Quickly opening the glass door, I widened my eyes as I saw something beam across the small hall from my left to the right.
Immediately I aimed my weapon to where I saw it run to, and as I neared, I turned the corner to see the door where Foley and Hopper had went through left wide open.
Quickly I went to my comm.
"Hopper? Foley? Come in." I begged as I slowly neared the door.
My breath was picking up it's place, and as I rested my back along the side of the door, I shut my eyes and tried to calm myself down.
Gently running my free hand over my sweaty face, I shook my head left to right and then took a deep breath while looking at the ceiling.
As my heart took a moment to relax, I took my chance and rushed through the door to find nothing but another small hall leading to another glass door that was left wide open.
Taking a deep gulp of my own fear, I slowly approached with my weapon drawn towards my face; prepared for anything that may be ahead.
Cruz's POV, Chemical research lab sector C, 6:39am.
The room was dark.
"Lieutenant." I said in a hurried tone as he reached to his right to grab the lights.
My eyes had to adjust to the new environment, but as it became clear, I saw a trail of the red spots leading to the other end of the room which was cut off by a pair of glass doors.
Shadow remained behind me in a careful position; as I moved my hand towards the door.
Quickly he nodded and moved up, and as he took the point, I shut the door behind us to make sure nothing could get in, or out in this case.
Shadow reached the door way before me, and as I neared my side, I managed to go to my comm.
"We got something here."
I got no response as the lieutenant glanced up into my eyes.
"Ready?" I asked concerned, as we were about to breach head first into whatever was on the other side of this door.
Giving me a slow nod, I took hold of my breath and ordered.
"Go."
Almost as soon as the words left my mouth, did Shadow push his way through the door and into the next room, where nothing but barrels and canisters of hazardous chemicals waited for us.
"Oh fuck." Whispered the lieutenant as I glanced around the large storeroom for whatever had lead us here.
"What?" I asked as he got a closer look at one of the canisters.
In a panicked tone he replied.
"This is nitroglycerine."
I didn't know the first thing about science, and Shadow knew that much. So it wasn't a big surprise when I questioned him.
"So?"
Quickly looking back, he replied.
"It will explode if we hit it. And judging by the amount that's in here. It will blow this whole facility to hell if one goes off."
My eyes widened in major concern for not only us, but everyone now. And as Shadow placed his weapon down, I nodded to reply.
"Whatever you do, don't open fire on what's in here."
Shadow knew this was what we had to do and quickly replied.
"Yes sir."
Quickly I took point a few feet away, and as I went for my leg, I heard him ask.
"So how do we kill it?"
Tightly gripping my blade that was resting in it's holster, I brought it to my chest to reply.
"Right to the head."
I saw the lieutenant's face as he understood the command, and as he went for his knife I ordered.
"Clear the other side."
Nodding, I watched and waited till he was off on his end, to begin my own.
Shadow's POV, 6:43am.
Besides the room being cold enough to freeze a fish in the water, I was also concerned about the room we had to share.
I knew it would take time for me to get to Cruz if he needed help, cause it was a fucking maze in here. Pellet after pellet of nitroglycerine canisters, and if one stray bullet just so happened to find one, we would be dead before we would hear it go off.
My breath slowly lingered in front of me, showing me it's presence, as I turned another group of canisters to head off more to the right.
All I could hear was the sounds of the fans speeding above me, and as I neared the edge of another pellet I heard the sound of a door creek close.
Quickly raising my knife, I turned to see the gray steel door left an inch open; before hitting the base of it's surface against the frame, shutting tight, leaving me in an extremely cautious state.
I felt the hidden fire under my skin break free of my body, and as I took my first step towards the door, I felt a thin drop of sweat roll down the right side of face.
As the door was within reach, I brought my knife to my chest; blade forward, and prepared to breach by letting my left hand go soft on the side of my guard.
Gently reaching down towards the frozen steel knob, I raised my blade up in case whatever was in here was right behind the door waiting for me.
As I opened the door, white smoke came flying out at me, must be the cold inside cause it was twice as bad in here.
Gently walking in, the only light was that of the room behind me.
I felt my breath come back at me as I searched for my flashlight, and as I managed to get it out with my numb fingers, I looked ahead and clicked the bottom of it exposing the room to my white light and weary eyes.
I could see boxes. Large steel cargo boxes. Not as big as they would be in a dockyard, maybe just as large as one you would see holding an animal of some weight, like a horse.
As I moved the light to the left, I forgot about the door.
"Click!"
Immediately looking back at the door, I went for the handle and pulled.
"Ughhhh! Come on." I begged as it had locked behind me.
"Thump! Thump!"
My mind went to instant defense as I remembered that sound.
Quickly aiming my light around with my knife on the top of it, I tired to find where it was.
As my light shined through the cracks of each metal box, I noticed something black and solid moving in the corner of one of the larger crates.
"Ahhhhhh...ahhhhhh...ehhhhhh."
I remained still as I tried get an eye on what it was I was approaching.
"Ughhhh! Ahhhhhhh! Ehhhhhh!"
I stopped to the sounds of what seemed to be gagging, and as I watched closely, I saw it was a person.
I wasn't about to take a chance at getting close this time, so I remained a few feet back as it went on to continue it's slow pace of breathing.
"Ahhhhh...hhhhhh...ahhhhhh."
My quills stood on end from my back up to my head as I took another small step forward.
Through all the cold and all the fear, I managed to mumbled.
"Sir?"
"Ahhhhhh...hhhhhh...ahhhhhhhh." It just kept breathing as if it didn't hear me.
As my view became clear, I squinted to see a pair of long quills going down it's back.
My blade remained along my side as I was a few feet behind it now.
As my feet came to a stop, I felt something under my feet nearly make me slip.
Aiming my light down, I saw the red spots made in the lab; lead to him.
Gently raising back up my light, I widened my eyes to see he was gone.
Immediately I turned around to the sound of something hitting the ground outside, and as my hands shook from the cold and the fear, I tried to calmly make my way out of the container and back into the darkness.
My light followed the sound and as I neared another turn, I found a large dolly on it's side.
As I took my step over it, I saw the blood leading it's way down the turn.
I remained as quiet as I could, but as I neared the corner; I found the blood had stopped and made it's way onto the roof of one of the larger crates.
"Ahhh fuck." I whispered to myself as I lowered my light and blade to try and jump for the ledge of the crate.
As my hands took hold of the edge, I used all I had to pull my legs up.
"Ughhhhhh." I groaned as I finally managed to get my body up.
As my light got back in front of me, I found this crate only led to one place.
The floor.
"Ahhhhhh...hhhhhh...ahhhhhh."
My body tensed as warm air rushed my neck.
Gently I lowered my hands and shut my eyes knowing I was played.
"Ahhhhhh...hhhhhhh."
I felt it's body right on me, and in a calm movement, I gripped my blade and readied myself.
"Ahhhhhhhh."
In all the speed and force I had, I turned with my blade; swinging to see nothing but air get slashed by my attack.
In confusion of what just happened, I widened my eyes as I heard from behind me.
"Aghhhhhh...hhhhh...hhhhhh."
Instantly, I swung back to get my arm grabbed by the inside, stopping my blade short of it's face.
My eyes remained wide as I locked with my attacker.
Blood rolled down his mouth in slow drips, with chunks that looked like parts of his insides, that continued to make the spots on the floor below my feet.
His breath lingered of death, and I went still as I stared into his deep white eyes.
"Aghhhhhh...hhhhhh...hhhhhhh."
"Reaper?" I said in complete disarray as he gripped my arm tightly.
I felt my muscles tearing as we stared at each other, but as seconds passed I began to sense he was trying to really hurt me.
His grip turned into a fierce power of strength, and immediately I dropped my blade along the edge of the container to the pain, and attempted to push him away with my left hand that still held my flashlight.
"Aghhhh!" I screamed as he didn't budged from my efforts.
I showed my teeth to the pain he was causing me, and as I went to grab my sidearm, I felt him take hold of vest by the top where my throat was.
Instantly I felt my feet lift, and I panicked as I was sent off the crate and to the floor below.
"Bash!"
My back drilled the steel floor like a brick and as I went to move, I felt he was already on me again.
Getting to my feet, I took hold of my sidearm and began to aim both it and my light around the room for my friend.
"Reaper, it's me! Shadow!" I stated as I heard footsteps come from my right side.
Nearly falling over my own feet, I turned to find him in my face.
"BASH!"
My head and body fell to the ground as Reaper's fist had connected. And as I struggled for my light that had slipped a few feet away, I felt his cold touch take hold of my shoulder.
In force, I was pulled back up to see he had vanished in an instant.
My mind was boggled; as some blood slipped out from one of my teeth, but as I realized he was gone, I also realized I was alone to this.
Using what I had, I went for my light and took it from up off the frozen floor and back into my weary hands, to feel Reaper already back.
I had no choice.
As fast as I could, I lifted up my gun and turned to point it directly at his face that was solid as he stared into my eyes.
As my finger gripped the trigger, I felt the swift movement of his arm connect to my chest.
The wind was knocked right from out of me, as my gun went off next to his face.
"BANG!"
Cruz's POV, 6:50am.
"BANG!"
My head turned in almost an instant as I heard the faint sound of a gunshot.
Immediately I went to my comm.
"Lieutenant!?" I shouted as I left my position to head for the area at which I heard the round go off.
As I neared the other side of the large storage room, I found a small steel door shut tight.
Upon looking down, I found the same red spots we followed in; leading inside.
Quickly rushing for the handle, I widened my eyes as it wouldn't budge.
In force, I sent my boot forward drilling the steel.
"Bash!"
"Bash!"
"Bash!"
The steel wouldn't budge.
My teeth shined in anger as I went for my rifle.
"BANG! BANG!"
The force of my rounds sent the handle off and I quickly kicked through the door as the lock was weakened.
"Shadow!" I shouted as I looked around the dark room.
Shadow's POV, 6:50am.
My gun fell as I hit my back along another container, and as I went to move; I felt Reaper move to my side.
I widened my eyes as he swung for my temple and as fast as I could, I ducked, letting him miss, and as fast as I could, I sent my shoulder into his stomach and tackled him down onto the floor.
Reaper's eyes showed no signs of pain as I sent my fist down at his face, but as my hand came within reach, I felt him grab hold of my wrist and watched as he lunged for my neck.
In an instant, I sent my head towards him, connecting a blow to his nose, and as he collected his thoughts, I got up and went for my flashlight that was resting on the floor next to my gun.
As my hands grabbed the pair, I turned and aimed at Reaper who was gone from my sight once again.
"BANG! BANG!"
The sound of two gunshots drew my attention and as I looked to where they had came from, I panicked as I felt the back of my neck get grabbed from behind.
In such unbelievable force, I widened my eyes as I was sent back into the container I was once on.
Reaper's hands were cold as he turned me around, but as he went to lift me up I heard.
"Shadow!"
My breath was cut short as I was lifted up on the crate and as I attempted to respond to Cruz's voice, I felt Reaper grip harder on my neck.
As hard as I could, I kicked him in the chest, and to my efforts he felt the force of my boot and leaned over just enough for me to get a base for my feet.
As my feet now rested on his shoulders, I took hold of his arm with both my hands and pulled him away till his fingers were away from my neck.
Reaper's teeth now growled at me as I forced him away, and using all my leg power; I pushed up and managed to land back first onto the top of the container.
I heard the instant growl as I angered my once best friend, and immediately, I turned and leaped for my blade that was still resting on it's side.
As my right hand tightly gripped the bottom of the combat knife, I turned around to find Reaper reaching for me.
In a panic, I lifted up my blade and waited, as he dragged me off the crate and back down into his body.
As I was falling into his arms, I widened my eyes at the sharpness of his blood engulfed teeth coming for my neck once again.
"AGHHHHH!"
At that exact moment, I shut my eyes to the sound of a skull cracking under me.
Everything went still as I looked to see my blade stuck inside Reaper's head.
In almost as fast as it took me to scream, we both fell to the ground.
In complete fear, I rolled to the side and grabbed my neck, next to my now dead friend.
The pain was excruciating as I felt blood roll under my hand.
"Lieutenant!" I heard Cruz call out from some other side of the room.
Cruz's POV, 6:52am.
I ran for the sound of Shadow's screams, and as I finally managed to find him through all the containers and boxes, I widened my eyes to see him on the floor next to a familiar figure.
Reaper was spread wide with a large steel combat knife halfway in his head, and as I neared; I saw he had a flesh in his mouth.
"Aghhh!" Gagged Shadow as I found him back first to me only a few feet away with his hand holding his neck.
"Shadow!" I stated as I got down to see him in pain.
My worst fears became reality as I saw the missing part of his neck he was keeping down.
"AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" He screamed as I panicked and rested my rifle on the floor next to the pile of blood he was losing.
"Hold on!" I begged as I took off my vest to grab my black shirt.
Shadow remained down as I got it off, and quickly he took hold of my hand as I used it to put pressure on his wound.
"I need you to hold this Shadow, understand!?" I asked in fear for his life as he nodded and took hold of the shirt.
Quickly getting back on my vest, I asked.
"How bad is it?!"
Through all his pain, he replied.
"Really bad!"
Quickly looking towards Reaper's body, I pulled out the blade from his skull and replied.
"We need to get you back to the lab!"
Shadow remained down, unable to respond as the pain and blood began to exceed him deeply.
I had no other option. I'm not leaving him here to die.
In force, I took hold of his arm and ordered.
"Hold on!"
Shadow's free hand gripped my shoulder as tight as it could as I began to run us for the exit.
Rosin's POV, Medical lab sector A, 6:55am.
My mind was shocked by what I was just told, and as I stared into her eyes we heard.
"Beeeeeeeeeeeep!"
Quickly looking back, I panicked as Borne's vitals went blank.
"It's happening." Stated Amy as I looked back into her eyes.
"We have no choice."
Her words fell deep as I looked back to see Borne moving his right hand slowly.
My eyes were wide in shock as he groaned.
"Ughhhhh...eghhhhh...hhhhh."
Slowly I got up and turned my body to see him move his legs.
The bed began to move with him as I lowered my hands to my side.
Amy remained sitting behind me as we watched Borne try to sit up.
As his body finally managed to reach it's goal, I stared in a solid stance as his white eyes got a fix on me.
"Ughhhh...hhhhhh." He grunted as I watched him try to stand off the bed.
His legs stumbled at first, but as he balanced out, I began to back up as he took a step forward.
Amy quickly got behind me as we went back, and I continued to stare at my once great friend as he neared inch by inch.
In no less then a few seconds, both Amy and I hit our backs along the wall, and in fear Amy ordered.
"Do it Rosin!"
Borne was now no less then seven feet away as I still remained frozen in shock.
"Kill him!" She screamed as I flickered my hand towards my pistol that awaited in it's holster.
Quickly flicking up the flap that held it in place, I took hold of my M9's butt and aimed at my friend who saw at nothing but a meal in front of him.
Our eyes locked, and in an instant, he lunged teeth first.
"BANG!"
I hope that was okay for a shorter chapter. Please let me know what you thought. It means a lot to know I'm not writing to myself.
By the way I will be leaving for spring break to spend time with my girlfriend who lives in MS. I will try and get a chapter up before I leave at some point, but if not expect it when I get back home. Love you guys and gals who understand.
PS – My internet will be back soon hopefully. So after this story I will start up another series with a chapter a day so long as the internet is up by then. So don't forget to PM my account for any questions or comments, and I'm still looking for more OC's if anyone wants me to use him/her's in the next series I'm doing.
mT Shadow
