Chapter IX
1 Left Behind
Ada and Heatherly walked through the flooded lobby, the warm sewage water now up to their ankles. The fire had been extinguished, but smoke still rose from small patches in the corners and around the support columns. Heatherly couldn't believe that they had escaped the Neptune, and had actually put the damn thing to rest. Watching it plummet down the elevator shaft made a grin stretch across her face tired and distraught. She had killed one of the things that Gregory had worked so hard to create…that bastard deserved every bit of stress that she gave him, and even more after that.
"So this is it…" Ada said, pointing to the Maintenance Only door… "Behind that door is the central power core, or the exoskeleton of it anyways. We can see the wires, pipes and elevators that run up through to the one hundredth and second floor. Its exactly where Gregory wants us to look."
"And it's probably exactly where he is planning on setting us up. I bet you that it's another one of his sick riddles, or another puzzle. Just from what I've seen of him I can tell you that he is no ordinary guy." Heatherly snapped, frustrated that Ada was just waltzing into what she thought to be another trap, "I tell you, its probably going to be something we wont be able to get out of."
The man made her sick to her stomach. He had left her to die in a flooding sewage compartment with a shark the size of a trailer…he knew all about her, from her past to her present. She wouldn't be surprised if he knew what bra size she wore, it was that insane. Ada didn't' seem to care for him, but she didn't seem to not care for him. She hadn't had any bad experiences with the man to actually lower her liking for him…he had been gentle to her, like he wanted her to survive this. But that was what he had been saying all along, that if they played by the rules then they would make it out of here without a hitch. Well Damnit they had already run into more than one hitch and they were playing solely by the rules he had laid down for them. When would this bullshit cease?
Suddenly, as Ada and Heatherly continued forward to the power core door, a shrill, high voice was heard from behind them…followed by a hard shove, almost like a train hit them. Together they went tumbling forward and through the door, rolling down a flight of steep steps only to land on hard concrete. Above they could hear Gregory shouting at them, "Welcome to my nesting ground, ladies. I hope you find the brood enjoyable! Hahahahahahaha!"
*
Ada stumbled forward; the force of Gregory's push was unimaginable. She struggled to gain her balance as she tumbled forth, plowing through the door as Heatherly followed. Together, they smacked the cement pavement and rolled down a flight of steps. She could feel every hard impact as her shoulder, then her knee and then her elbow smashed into the cold hard steps. The pain was unimaginable, and how she wished it would just end…
She landed before Heatherly, face down…her body ached; the fall down the steps felt like an eternity, and she hadn't even gotten a glimpse of her surroundings before barreling through yet another hard metal door. Quietly letting out a small moan, she moved just in time to see Heatherly hit the ground beside her. Dust particles and sand kicked up, shadowing her body in a filthy mist of debris. She moaned and looked around, finally catching gaze with Ada.
"What just happened…" Heatherly shivered, massaging her limbs in pain, "…how did he…"
Ada didn't know how to answer. Both of them had been caught so off guard that it was embarrassing. Gregory's power had been underestimated, and the idea that he was just an ordinary human being was scrapped…how had he gotten so strong? Was it possible that he had undergone the same dramatic experimentation that Albert Wesker had? …making him invulnerable and undeniably powerful? He couldn't have…it was exclusive to Wesker's company! Then what happened to him?
Heatherly stood up, dusted herself off and checked her weapon. They had fallen down into a small cubby in the wall, a room filled with janitorial supplies and cleaning chemicals; probably a maintenance room. It was sheltered off from the main info structure of the power core by thick concrete walls and a large metal door. Ada watched as Heatherly counted her bullets carefully, "How many do you have left…" she shuttered to know what the answer was, praying it was enough to take out a few more monsters.
She looked up, "Sixty five shots left. I have my combat knife…what about you?" The bullets were put back into her backpack and her .357 was strapped under her loosely fitted belt. She seemed so calm, and Ada wished she could have her confidence. But, after living through two of Umbrellas hideous nightmares, her ability to calm herself easily had been shattered. Even her cold hard shell that she had worked so hard to develop, the wall she had placed up to protect herself from the pain and agony inflicted with sociability had been crushed by Umbrella.
Ada quickly counted her bullets, rushing so that she could get the hell out of there as fast as she could. The whole room had a eerie vibe, like it housed simple evil… "I have about eighty five left, and fifteen in each Colt." She said, "That makes about one hundred and fifteen bullets." She clutched her two magnums tightly, realizing that they would be the reasons she survived this. She placed them butt first in her jean pockets, and rolled up her sweatshirt sleeves. She had found a pair of fingerless gloves down in one of the desk drawers in one of the tenants offices…they fit her snugly. Placing the bullets in her pack, she began to move towards the door.
Pressing her fingers on the door handle, Ada took time to analyze what she was about to get into and what Gregory had said… "…Hope you find the brood enjoyable…"
Heatherly put her hand on her shoulder, "You ready?" she whispered, cocking her magnum in her ear. She was trained to be ready at all costs, but to step into the nesting area of the virus carriers? No one would ever be ready to do that…no one…clutching her magnums tight, Ada pressed forward.
*
"Vela, why are you even here? Go back to your room, no one likes you and no one ever will. You're so dumb, so useless. My brothers and I wish you would just die!" Delia shouted at her sister, laughing as tears began to roll down her poor cheeks, "The only reason mom and dad keep you around is because they don't have the guts to get rid of you…Dimitri and Gregory and I all hate you and wish you would just disappear!"
Dimitri laughed coldly, "One day you'll realize how plain and useless you are, while me and my siblings will rule one of the most powerful companies in the world. When we do that, we'll make sure that you aren't around any more Vela…we'll be so glad to see you go, the pleasure we will get out of it will be infinite." Dimitri and Delia laughed, spitting at Vela as she stood boldly in front of them. They were all fourteen then, and everyone but Vela was quickly developing a brilliant mind…but she was growing up cold, tormented and sad…
Gregory continued the torment, "You cant even do simple tasks at home, and you dream of one day starting your own family? Vela, by the time we all grow up, you'll be so far behind that no man will ever want you! It's too bad you have to be so dumb; we might've accepted you if you hadn't been so damn stupid! You're worthless, petty and incompetent. The world will look down upon you Vela…the world will look down upon you and laugh at what you have become."
*
Ja kicked open one of the tenants office doors, revealing a tidily kept office space filled with copy machines, faxes and telephones. Hillary was first to rush in, heading straight for the phone. She was dripping with perspiration, obviously terrorized by the carrier attack she had just undergone. If it hadn't been for Ja, she would be dead…or worse, she would be one of the things that she knew now prowled the hallways of the building. Just by looking at the creature that had attacked her, its lifeless body that lay mutilated in the middle of the hallway floor, she knew it had to be a fate worse than death.
Quickly tapping the number buttons, Hillary realized that the phone was dead. Putting two and two together, the assumption was made that all phone lines had been disconnected. Even the windows in the room were sealed off, closed by some extremely thick metal shutters. They were stuck, no doubt about that…but the extent of the closure of the building was no coming into reality. It was really locked up, like to the point that absolutely no one was going to get out soon. Their best bet, like Ja had said, was probably to head up as far as they could and see if there was anything they could do at the observation tower.
Ja stood against the door, holding it shut. Who knew what was crawling out in the hallways? After seeing that man try and eat Hillary, he would hold no bars against killing anything that got in his way. He had seen the bullet shatter the things skull, caving it in and sending splinters of its brain against the walls. He was breathing heavy, hoping that Hillary would tell him that the phone worked. In his mind he sub consciously knew the answer, and he knew the extent of their imprisonment. He just didn't want to believe it.
*
Ada stood in awe at the sight of the power core. Its tightly wound circuits and cords were flying aimlessly about, constricted partially by a massive brown web that wrapped itself around and around the core. Eggs were visibly noticed, sealed into the nest and engraved into the walls. Ada could see the inhabitants of the eggs, the creatures that were folded up inside. Their hideous knees were pressed up against their bony chest, and their bladed, curved arms wrapped around their legs. Their heads were pressed down into their chests, and their sharp exoskeleton was pressed against the edges of the eggs. She recognized them immediately…
Heatherly was taken aback by the sight of the massive breeding ground. She stumbled back, catching her breath. She mumbled to Ada, "…what…what are those things…"
She thought back on the creatures as they had prowled through the city streets of Raccoon…she hadn't met any of them in the police station, but their continuous harassment on the suburban areas of the city were enough. They hung from lamp poles like bats, dropping down and skittering across the concrete to slash at you with their thick metal bladed claws…decapitating and devouring their victims, the Chimeras would leave their prey lying about for the human carriers to feast. They were deadly predators, and even deadlier fighters.
Ada knew that they had to get out of the room as fast as they could, before any of the Chimeras noticed her. She touched Heatherly's hand, signaling to her to head back up the steps towards the door. There was a wrap around balcony that over looked the power core, and a staircase that wound up through to the hundredth and second floor. If the Chimeras attacked, they could try to escape up through to the top of the building.
Silently, Ada and Heatherly carefully walked up the steps, their heels clanking against the grated metal steps. Ada looked at the key panel next to the door. One word flickered across the screen, labeling the door as 'locked'. Heatherly pushed on it, realizing it was sealed shut. The only way to get out of this room was to use the key panel, and solve the puzzle that Gregory had so deviously created.
*
Vela slowly walked through the glorious central hall, silently fixated on her parents bedroom at the end of the hall. It was three in the morning, and everyone in the house was asleep. Her siblings had continued their torment, continued their teasing and continued their hatred. Everything boiled down to her parents, they had been the ones who had filled Delia's and Dimitri's and Gregory's minds with the hatred for her. They were the true cause of all her sorrow. Tonight…tonight she will end her pain and suffering. Drawing the large butcher knife out of her dress pocket, Vela slowly opened the door to her parent's room and stepped in.
*
"Access Denied"
Ada continued to try codes on the key panel, praying to God that the door would slide open…but nothing was happening. She didn't know the code and it was foolish of her to even think that it was breakable. This game had no codes, it had no rules and it had no logic. There was just a key panel, a locked door and two very agitated young women.
"Ada…Ada c'mon hurry. I think they're getting restless…" Heatherly pointed to one of the eggs; it shifted, the creature inside pressing its bladed claws against the egg wall. Suddenly, the unthinkable happened.
An incredibly loud voice smashed through the room, vibrating the floors and shaking the eggs away from the nest, "Access denied. Central Power Core is isolated for twenty minutes. All personnel please report to the lodging bay on the tenth floor. Access denied. Central Power Core is isolated for twenty minutes. All personnel please report to the lodging bay on the tenth floor."
The nest suddenly shook as the computer voice shut down. The eggs exploded, releasing their inhabitants into the room. They clung to the walls, releasing a heinous scream as they skittered about, riding up and down the shaft and communicating with each other. Heatherly and Ada pressed their backs against the wall. The creatures continued their vicious screams, and that was when the Queen Chimera showed her ugly face.
*
A massive beast pushed its way out from the center of the nest, its size two to three times larger than the other Chimeras. It screamed out, showing its vicious teeth to all who cared to notice. Heatherly opened fire, shooting four rounds off from her .357. Ada couldn't do anything but watch in terror, mentally pleading for her to cease-fire. It would agitate the creatures, and they would attack.
"Heatherly stop it!" She screamed, pushing her arms down. The Chimeras on the walls began to jump from side to side, swinging their bladed hands around like pitchforks. Suddenly one dropped down onto the platform that the women stood upon, raised its scythe up in the air and swung.
Ada grabbed Heatherly and pulled her to the ground, the creatures knife like hand coming down against the cold metal wall releasing a shower of sparks. Grabbing Heatherly's hand, Ada quickly barreled forth towards the steps to head up to the tenth floor lodging area. That would be the only accessible room for twenty minutes, and now that the Chimeras were angry there was no way that the twenty minutes would be calm.
"Heeeirgh"
Ada looked around and for the first time realized exactly how many there were in the one room alone. There must've been hundreds of thousands of Chimeras, either clinging to the nest or swinging from walls or standing on platforms. She knew it took about three magnum rounds to down one of the creatures. They had nowhere near enough rounds to take them all out, and even with the amount they had it was unsure if their path would be secured.
One flight of steps was climbed, when suddenly a beast dropped itself down right in front of them as two or three more showed up on the scene. The Queen screamed to them, and their attention fixated on her. Ada took this opportunity and bolted forth, pushing forward and through one of them monsters. Heatherly quickly followed, rushing up the steps right behind her.
CLANK!
Another one dropped right in front of Ada. Before she could react, Heatherly had already blasted a hole through its slimy, virally infected brain. She took the gun to her lips and blew the smoke off, "You looked like you needed a little bit of -"
Ada saw the Chimera come up behind Heatherly, swing its claw and penetrate her shoulder. She was lifted up off the ground by the creatures scythe blade, and she just hung there motionless. Ada couldn't bear to watch as Heatherly was thrown onto the floor. She watched in horror and blood gushed from her gouged out shoulder, spilling through the grated floor to drip down into a lower level. She looked up at her, wide eyed with a glazed over look. Ada thought she saw a tear roll down her cheek when she suddenly let out a piercing scream, "Ada! Run!"
It was the only thing she could do. As much as Heatherly meant to her, hearing her say 'go on ahead without me' was one of the easiest things she could've taken in at the moment, and to actually do the act of leaving her came even more easy. Rushing up the steps to the third, fourth and fifth floor Ada didn't even look back once. Heatherly had died to save her. Craig had died to save her. When would it be her opportunity to die to save someone? And if the opportunity came up, would she even take it? The image of Heatherly crumpled to the floor, starring up at her with an emotionless face was embedded in her mind…and she didn't even feel remorseful.
**
1 Left Behind
Ada and Heatherly walked through the flooded lobby, the warm sewage water now up to their ankles. The fire had been extinguished, but smoke still rose from small patches in the corners and around the support columns. Heatherly couldn't believe that they had escaped the Neptune, and had actually put the damn thing to rest. Watching it plummet down the elevator shaft made a grin stretch across her face tired and distraught. She had killed one of the things that Gregory had worked so hard to create…that bastard deserved every bit of stress that she gave him, and even more after that.
"So this is it…" Ada said, pointing to the Maintenance Only door… "Behind that door is the central power core, or the exoskeleton of it anyways. We can see the wires, pipes and elevators that run up through to the one hundredth and second floor. Its exactly where Gregory wants us to look."
"And it's probably exactly where he is planning on setting us up. I bet you that it's another one of his sick riddles, or another puzzle. Just from what I've seen of him I can tell you that he is no ordinary guy." Heatherly snapped, frustrated that Ada was just waltzing into what she thought to be another trap, "I tell you, its probably going to be something we wont be able to get out of."
The man made her sick to her stomach. He had left her to die in a flooding sewage compartment with a shark the size of a trailer…he knew all about her, from her past to her present. She wouldn't be surprised if he knew what bra size she wore, it was that insane. Ada didn't' seem to care for him, but she didn't seem to not care for him. She hadn't had any bad experiences with the man to actually lower her liking for him…he had been gentle to her, like he wanted her to survive this. But that was what he had been saying all along, that if they played by the rules then they would make it out of here without a hitch. Well Damnit they had already run into more than one hitch and they were playing solely by the rules he had laid down for them. When would this bullshit cease?
Suddenly, as Ada and Heatherly continued forward to the power core door, a shrill, high voice was heard from behind them…followed by a hard shove, almost like a train hit them. Together they went tumbling forward and through the door, rolling down a flight of steep steps only to land on hard concrete. Above they could hear Gregory shouting at them, "Welcome to my nesting ground, ladies. I hope you find the brood enjoyable! Hahahahahahaha!"
*
Ada stumbled forward; the force of Gregory's push was unimaginable. She struggled to gain her balance as she tumbled forth, plowing through the door as Heatherly followed. Together, they smacked the cement pavement and rolled down a flight of steps. She could feel every hard impact as her shoulder, then her knee and then her elbow smashed into the cold hard steps. The pain was unimaginable, and how she wished it would just end…
She landed before Heatherly, face down…her body ached; the fall down the steps felt like an eternity, and she hadn't even gotten a glimpse of her surroundings before barreling through yet another hard metal door. Quietly letting out a small moan, she moved just in time to see Heatherly hit the ground beside her. Dust particles and sand kicked up, shadowing her body in a filthy mist of debris. She moaned and looked around, finally catching gaze with Ada.
"What just happened…" Heatherly shivered, massaging her limbs in pain, "…how did he…"
Ada didn't know how to answer. Both of them had been caught so off guard that it was embarrassing. Gregory's power had been underestimated, and the idea that he was just an ordinary human being was scrapped…how had he gotten so strong? Was it possible that he had undergone the same dramatic experimentation that Albert Wesker had? …making him invulnerable and undeniably powerful? He couldn't have…it was exclusive to Wesker's company! Then what happened to him?
Heatherly stood up, dusted herself off and checked her weapon. They had fallen down into a small cubby in the wall, a room filled with janitorial supplies and cleaning chemicals; probably a maintenance room. It was sheltered off from the main info structure of the power core by thick concrete walls and a large metal door. Ada watched as Heatherly counted her bullets carefully, "How many do you have left…" she shuttered to know what the answer was, praying it was enough to take out a few more monsters.
She looked up, "Sixty five shots left. I have my combat knife…what about you?" The bullets were put back into her backpack and her .357 was strapped under her loosely fitted belt. She seemed so calm, and Ada wished she could have her confidence. But, after living through two of Umbrellas hideous nightmares, her ability to calm herself easily had been shattered. Even her cold hard shell that she had worked so hard to develop, the wall she had placed up to protect herself from the pain and agony inflicted with sociability had been crushed by Umbrella.
Ada quickly counted her bullets, rushing so that she could get the hell out of there as fast as she could. The whole room had a eerie vibe, like it housed simple evil… "I have about eighty five left, and fifteen in each Colt." She said, "That makes about one hundred and fifteen bullets." She clutched her two magnums tightly, realizing that they would be the reasons she survived this. She placed them butt first in her jean pockets, and rolled up her sweatshirt sleeves. She had found a pair of fingerless gloves down in one of the desk drawers in one of the tenants offices…they fit her snugly. Placing the bullets in her pack, she began to move towards the door.
Pressing her fingers on the door handle, Ada took time to analyze what she was about to get into and what Gregory had said… "…Hope you find the brood enjoyable…"
Heatherly put her hand on her shoulder, "You ready?" she whispered, cocking her magnum in her ear. She was trained to be ready at all costs, but to step into the nesting area of the virus carriers? No one would ever be ready to do that…no one…clutching her magnums tight, Ada pressed forward.
*
"Vela, why are you even here? Go back to your room, no one likes you and no one ever will. You're so dumb, so useless. My brothers and I wish you would just die!" Delia shouted at her sister, laughing as tears began to roll down her poor cheeks, "The only reason mom and dad keep you around is because they don't have the guts to get rid of you…Dimitri and Gregory and I all hate you and wish you would just disappear!"
Dimitri laughed coldly, "One day you'll realize how plain and useless you are, while me and my siblings will rule one of the most powerful companies in the world. When we do that, we'll make sure that you aren't around any more Vela…we'll be so glad to see you go, the pleasure we will get out of it will be infinite." Dimitri and Delia laughed, spitting at Vela as she stood boldly in front of them. They were all fourteen then, and everyone but Vela was quickly developing a brilliant mind…but she was growing up cold, tormented and sad…
Gregory continued the torment, "You cant even do simple tasks at home, and you dream of one day starting your own family? Vela, by the time we all grow up, you'll be so far behind that no man will ever want you! It's too bad you have to be so dumb; we might've accepted you if you hadn't been so damn stupid! You're worthless, petty and incompetent. The world will look down upon you Vela…the world will look down upon you and laugh at what you have become."
*
Ja kicked open one of the tenants office doors, revealing a tidily kept office space filled with copy machines, faxes and telephones. Hillary was first to rush in, heading straight for the phone. She was dripping with perspiration, obviously terrorized by the carrier attack she had just undergone. If it hadn't been for Ja, she would be dead…or worse, she would be one of the things that she knew now prowled the hallways of the building. Just by looking at the creature that had attacked her, its lifeless body that lay mutilated in the middle of the hallway floor, she knew it had to be a fate worse than death.
Quickly tapping the number buttons, Hillary realized that the phone was dead. Putting two and two together, the assumption was made that all phone lines had been disconnected. Even the windows in the room were sealed off, closed by some extremely thick metal shutters. They were stuck, no doubt about that…but the extent of the closure of the building was no coming into reality. It was really locked up, like to the point that absolutely no one was going to get out soon. Their best bet, like Ja had said, was probably to head up as far as they could and see if there was anything they could do at the observation tower.
Ja stood against the door, holding it shut. Who knew what was crawling out in the hallways? After seeing that man try and eat Hillary, he would hold no bars against killing anything that got in his way. He had seen the bullet shatter the things skull, caving it in and sending splinters of its brain against the walls. He was breathing heavy, hoping that Hillary would tell him that the phone worked. In his mind he sub consciously knew the answer, and he knew the extent of their imprisonment. He just didn't want to believe it.
*
Ada stood in awe at the sight of the power core. Its tightly wound circuits and cords were flying aimlessly about, constricted partially by a massive brown web that wrapped itself around and around the core. Eggs were visibly noticed, sealed into the nest and engraved into the walls. Ada could see the inhabitants of the eggs, the creatures that were folded up inside. Their hideous knees were pressed up against their bony chest, and their bladed, curved arms wrapped around their legs. Their heads were pressed down into their chests, and their sharp exoskeleton was pressed against the edges of the eggs. She recognized them immediately…
Heatherly was taken aback by the sight of the massive breeding ground. She stumbled back, catching her breath. She mumbled to Ada, "…what…what are those things…"
She thought back on the creatures as they had prowled through the city streets of Raccoon…she hadn't met any of them in the police station, but their continuous harassment on the suburban areas of the city were enough. They hung from lamp poles like bats, dropping down and skittering across the concrete to slash at you with their thick metal bladed claws…decapitating and devouring their victims, the Chimeras would leave their prey lying about for the human carriers to feast. They were deadly predators, and even deadlier fighters.
Ada knew that they had to get out of the room as fast as they could, before any of the Chimeras noticed her. She touched Heatherly's hand, signaling to her to head back up the steps towards the door. There was a wrap around balcony that over looked the power core, and a staircase that wound up through to the hundredth and second floor. If the Chimeras attacked, they could try to escape up through to the top of the building.
Silently, Ada and Heatherly carefully walked up the steps, their heels clanking against the grated metal steps. Ada looked at the key panel next to the door. One word flickered across the screen, labeling the door as 'locked'. Heatherly pushed on it, realizing it was sealed shut. The only way to get out of this room was to use the key panel, and solve the puzzle that Gregory had so deviously created.
*
Vela slowly walked through the glorious central hall, silently fixated on her parents bedroom at the end of the hall. It was three in the morning, and everyone in the house was asleep. Her siblings had continued their torment, continued their teasing and continued their hatred. Everything boiled down to her parents, they had been the ones who had filled Delia's and Dimitri's and Gregory's minds with the hatred for her. They were the true cause of all her sorrow. Tonight…tonight she will end her pain and suffering. Drawing the large butcher knife out of her dress pocket, Vela slowly opened the door to her parent's room and stepped in.
*
"Access Denied"
Ada continued to try codes on the key panel, praying to God that the door would slide open…but nothing was happening. She didn't know the code and it was foolish of her to even think that it was breakable. This game had no codes, it had no rules and it had no logic. There was just a key panel, a locked door and two very agitated young women.
"Ada…Ada c'mon hurry. I think they're getting restless…" Heatherly pointed to one of the eggs; it shifted, the creature inside pressing its bladed claws against the egg wall. Suddenly, the unthinkable happened.
An incredibly loud voice smashed through the room, vibrating the floors and shaking the eggs away from the nest, "Access denied. Central Power Core is isolated for twenty minutes. All personnel please report to the lodging bay on the tenth floor. Access denied. Central Power Core is isolated for twenty minutes. All personnel please report to the lodging bay on the tenth floor."
The nest suddenly shook as the computer voice shut down. The eggs exploded, releasing their inhabitants into the room. They clung to the walls, releasing a heinous scream as they skittered about, riding up and down the shaft and communicating with each other. Heatherly and Ada pressed their backs against the wall. The creatures continued their vicious screams, and that was when the Queen Chimera showed her ugly face.
*
A massive beast pushed its way out from the center of the nest, its size two to three times larger than the other Chimeras. It screamed out, showing its vicious teeth to all who cared to notice. Heatherly opened fire, shooting four rounds off from her .357. Ada couldn't do anything but watch in terror, mentally pleading for her to cease-fire. It would agitate the creatures, and they would attack.
"Heatherly stop it!" She screamed, pushing her arms down. The Chimeras on the walls began to jump from side to side, swinging their bladed hands around like pitchforks. Suddenly one dropped down onto the platform that the women stood upon, raised its scythe up in the air and swung.
Ada grabbed Heatherly and pulled her to the ground, the creatures knife like hand coming down against the cold metal wall releasing a shower of sparks. Grabbing Heatherly's hand, Ada quickly barreled forth towards the steps to head up to the tenth floor lodging area. That would be the only accessible room for twenty minutes, and now that the Chimeras were angry there was no way that the twenty minutes would be calm.
"Heeeirgh"
Ada looked around and for the first time realized exactly how many there were in the one room alone. There must've been hundreds of thousands of Chimeras, either clinging to the nest or swinging from walls or standing on platforms. She knew it took about three magnum rounds to down one of the creatures. They had nowhere near enough rounds to take them all out, and even with the amount they had it was unsure if their path would be secured.
One flight of steps was climbed, when suddenly a beast dropped itself down right in front of them as two or three more showed up on the scene. The Queen screamed to them, and their attention fixated on her. Ada took this opportunity and bolted forth, pushing forward and through one of them monsters. Heatherly quickly followed, rushing up the steps right behind her.
CLANK!
Another one dropped right in front of Ada. Before she could react, Heatherly had already blasted a hole through its slimy, virally infected brain. She took the gun to her lips and blew the smoke off, "You looked like you needed a little bit of -"
Ada saw the Chimera come up behind Heatherly, swing its claw and penetrate her shoulder. She was lifted up off the ground by the creatures scythe blade, and she just hung there motionless. Ada couldn't bear to watch as Heatherly was thrown onto the floor. She watched in horror and blood gushed from her gouged out shoulder, spilling through the grated floor to drip down into a lower level. She looked up at her, wide eyed with a glazed over look. Ada thought she saw a tear roll down her cheek when she suddenly let out a piercing scream, "Ada! Run!"
It was the only thing she could do. As much as Heatherly meant to her, hearing her say 'go on ahead without me' was one of the easiest things she could've taken in at the moment, and to actually do the act of leaving her came even more easy. Rushing up the steps to the third, fourth and fifth floor Ada didn't even look back once. Heatherly had died to save her. Craig had died to save her. When would it be her opportunity to die to save someone? And if the opportunity came up, would she even take it? The image of Heatherly crumpled to the floor, starring up at her with an emotionless face was embedded in her mind…and she didn't even feel remorseful.
**