Part 3
The creature
Chapter 26
For reasons she couldn't quite figure out Tomo took a deep breath before running out into the hallway, following Yukari and Yomi in front of her as Kimura led the way along the corridor. The building continued to shake and the whole group was horrified as the corridor lights flickered on and off. After a brief hesitation they remained on. Behind Tomo the rest of the group left, Kozo the last to leave.
Up ahead Tomo skidded to a halt as Yukari had stopped a short distance ahead of her.
"What's going on?" asked the girl as Yukari stared at the teacher in front of her. The man was peering down the stairs.
"What's happened?" asked Kozo quickly marching up to Kimura. The man pointed down the stairs. Neither could see where the steps ended as the hallway below was bathed in darkness. Kozo swore under his breath.
"We could make a run for it?" suggested Yukari, appearing beside Kimura and startling the man. "I'm sick of being in that bloody library."
Kozo paused before turning to the group. "The lights downstairs are off, it seems it's completely dark down there." Mutterings came from the small crowd. "If you wish we can still attempt to get to the vehicles- or we can stay here. What do you want?"
"Hands up who wants to make a break for it" said Yukari stepping in front of Kozo. All but Megumi stuck up her hand- she quickly followed the others, sticking up her own hand, not wanting to be left behind.
"Ok, ok" said Kozo stepping back in front of Yukari. "Yamaguchi, you still have your torch?" he asked the soldier near the back of the group.
"Yeah, and my goggles" said Yamaguchi. "Why don't you take this?" he asked, handing the torch to Minamo who took it gratefully.
"Stay close" said Minamo to Chiyo and Yuka.
"Well lets get going then!" said Yukari, who wanted to get the hell out of there before her thin layer of bravado cracked and she found herself retreating back to the library she now hated.
Kozo led the way downstairs, a short distance behind was Maebara, supporting Ryo. The soldier tapped the night vision goggles wrapped around his head, a nervous habit. He had chosen to follow Yamaguchi in handing over his torch- in this case to Yukari. He still had his weapon, but from that small creature in the library it seemed light was able to do more damage to whatever was out there.
The first few people reached the ground floor, followed by Maebara. Through the goggles he stared with an open mouth at the great gash that had been torn into the far wall. And he gulped down slightly when he saw a pair of uniformed legs- and nothing else. Just a bit further along the corridor was an arm, still gripping a pistol. Maebara turned to Minamo and the two young girls who stood behind her.
"Don't look down" muttered the soldier. Though Minamo didn't reply, she held the torch up so it shone across the wall, making little dent in the unnatural darkness. Chiyo clung onto Minamo's sleeve. The torch beam swung through the air, showing the back of Kozo's head as the man slowly moved along the corridor. Once or twice he grimaced as he shoe touched something squishy yet solid on the floor. At least once he was certain he had stood on a hand.
With the younger girls around Minamo Kagura had chosen to stay near Yukari. She would have preferred to be with Minamo, not knowing much about Yukari, but the teacher seemed ok, if a little crazy. Beside Kagura marched the slightly strange girl she knew as Tomo. The girl with glasses who guessed was Tomo's 'friend' followed.
Behind them marched Yamaguchi.
"Oh shit. Oh shit man they got torn apart" he muttered to himself.
"I'd suggest keeping that to yourself for now" whispered Turner. The two scientists marched in the darkness near the soldier.
"Whatever" said Yamaguchi shaking his head. "Torn apart man."
Kozo had just reached the entrance when the building shook again. In the distance something fell, loudly, and a shrieking roar could be heard. Before Kozo could even open his mouth panic descended upon the group.
From the back Yamaguchi let out a stream of expletives as the wall cracked open, brick and mortar falling to the floor, something grabbing Yusuke and pulling the boy away. He audibly cracked before being pulled through the small gap in the wall, never even having time to scream, shout out in surprise.
Turner ducked down as Yamaguchi opened fire at the wall, bullets splintering the cheap school wall. As Kozo shouted out for him to stop Yamaguchi saw movement from behind and reloaded before firing again.
"Get a fucking move on!" he yelled out, the group moving as a single mass towards the entrance. As the magazine ran out of bullets Yamaguchi also turned, running for the entrance. Turner followed, having stood back up, but stumbled over a body.
With a crack he landed on the hard floor, and as the pain shot across his face realized his must have broken his nose. He decided if that was the worst that happened it would be a good day. As his hands scrambled across the floor to get up he stumbled across something cold, metallic. A pair of the goggles?! He gripped them- yes they must be goggles.
He ignored the pain from his crushed nose as he slid the goggles on. He could see the bodies of the soldiers, but cared little- all he had to do was escape. Times spent at horrific accident scenes had strengthened his stomach. But he felt it heave when he saw Yamaguchi step through the doors, leaving him alone in the hall.
Expensive shoes slipping slightly the psychologist stood up and ran. He barged through the closing door which smashed loudly against the wall. He froze as he saw that right in front of him was a strange looking creature, more a blob then an animal. In the way.
"Fuck it" said the man. He was a fast runner, he'd have to take the long way. He sprinted, cursing the chainlink fences that had been put up. He spied a gap, near the edge of the building, and picked up speed- before stopping.
His jaw dropped as he stared at the gigantic quivering creature in front of him. He shook his head in disbelief as a three clawed hand reached down and picked him up. The creature stood about ten feet tall, Turner grimacing as the grip tightened around his body. He saw the drool splattered maw open, revealing lines of sharp teeth.
He cried out as the goggles started to slip from his head. Not like this- he didn't want to be eaten alive! As though in response another clawed hand gripped his legs and yanked down. He cried out in surprise as he felt various bones crack and pop. Suddenly the feeling in his legs were gone. As he limply looked down he could make out the vehicles. He didn't say anything as his torn body was yanked apart, ripped in two as his bloody entrails fell to the floor below with a splat.