Surviving a Nightmare
Chapter 4: Finding Weapons/Beginning the Search
Disclaimer: I do not own Resident Evil, Capcom does.
A/N: I am debating on whether or not I should introduce another character, and tell the story from their POV also. So, I'm going to let all those who read this decide. Just leave your opinion in the review. (Also, the main character was meant to be a bitch, at the beginning anyways, but as the story progresses, her attitude will change somewhat for the better. Not too much though.)
It's only been 4 hours since the attack, and yet, it feels like I've been trapped in this place for almost a day. Maybe longer. I don't know whether my parents are alive, or if they've become one of those...creatures. Or, even worse, if they've fallen victim and become nothing but a meal. Not that I could do anything if they were alive. Not right now anyways. Being weaponless, I don't think even I'll make it out of here. But I'll be damned if I don't try. I refuse to let those assholes out there make a fucking meal out of me. No way in hell!
Back in the library I sit alone at a table, Mr. Johnson's laptop in front of me. I have to say, I'm glad the old guy decided to bring it with him today. I'm also thankful that he'd charged the battery.
I stare at the screen while waiting for the computer to boot up, all the while gently tapping the floppy disk I'd found in Mr. Roy's office against the table. 'Why would he want to hide something as simple as this?' I continuously pondered to myself. 'Maybe it has some very incriminating porn on it? Heh, wouldn't surprise me...that guy always did seem kind of strange.'
"Finally..." I slip the disk into the A: drive and proceed to open up the My Computer folder, then the three and a half floppy folder. While I was expecting all sorts of files to start showing up, I was completely taken off-guard when only one showed up on the screen. The title was also unexpected, and as I read it, I simply whispered it..."Umbrella."
Now curious, I double-clicked on the file, and was surprised to see a large blue-print show up instead. Only, it wasn't of the Umbrella facility where my parents worked, it was of my school, Bunkie High. 'What's the big deal about a blue-print?'
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It was just...our school. That is, until I noticed the small arrow in the bottom right corner of the screen. Upon clicking on it, I was then shown a completely different set of blue-prints; they were titled "Level B1". Apparently, there was more to this school than it seemed. And as I clicked again on the arrow at the bottom, I was brought to a set of "Level B2/Laboratory Passageway" blue-prints.
"Ohhh fuck....", I groaned out, which earned me a few glances from a few people sitting at the table next to mine. Their faces were bleak and dreary, the fact that just about everyone they knew were either dead, or one of those creatures, being the main cause. The storm and the power being out weren't helping either.
Leaning back in my chair, I stretched and yawned quietly, the only sound being the popping of joints and knuckles. I leaned forward once again, propping my elbows up on the table and resting my head in my hands, I continued to think of where, or even more so, how I could find weapons. Then, at that moment, that's when the thought struck me. Why I didn't think of it before, I do not know. All the while there'd been atleast one weapon, maybe more, at my disposal. The cop. The damn cop that'd been standing near the metal detectors this morning.
I removed the disk from the laptop and proceeded to switch it off; wanting to conserve the battery for later when I could maybe print out a copy of those blue-prints. As I stood up from my seat, I felt the gazes of just about everyone in the room fall on me. I knew they were depending on me to get them out of this place, and back to safety. Mainly because they were too chicken-shit to do it themselves. That, or maybe myself and my friends were just the only ones crazy enough to go risk our lives for people who didn't know us, or respect us.
Well, whatever. I might be a bitch, but I'm not entirely cold-hearted. I happen to have a small conscious. Of course, growing up and being friends with hoodlums and other juvenile delinquents tends to affect a person like that.
As I passed Shane and the others on my way to the ventilation shaft, I simply said, "I'll be back. Just wait here." I didnt' exactly want to tell them to stay because they'll just slow me down. I knew I would have to be fast in doing this. Those zombies were everywhere, and once I got the cops gun and keys, I would have to make a sprint to his car, search it for more weapons and ammo, then return to the library.
Climbing up the ladder, I dreaded facing the horrible stench that awaited me in the vent. Thankfully, I was blessed with a strong stomach, so atleast I wasn't constantly nauseated by the stench.
I lifted myself up into the ventilation shaft once again and quickly started crawling towards my destination. The essence of decay coming from the hallways and classrooms below was even worse now than it was before. As I passed vent openings, I caught glimpses of what lay below me. Sometimes, it was clear of any creature or victim; other times, the sight of seeing a zombie eating a desicrated corpse could be seen. Blood would be everywhere from where the victim bled out, especially if a zombie had managed to sever a major vein or artery.
I shivered at the thought of being eaten alive. That was not how I wanted to die, not that I had any plans on dying anyways. But, if it did come down to either taking a bullet to the head, or becoming a meal to those bitches....I'd take the bullet.
Finally, after fifteen minutes of crawling through the vent and smelling the atrocious odors of the undead, I came upon the entrance where the metal detectors were placed. There, next to the table where they searched backpacks, was the police officer's corpse. "Yes!"
Turning my body around, I managed to get into a position where I could kick open the vent cover. After a few powerful kicks, the cover fell to the floor with a loud clang. "Heh...open sesame.."
I slid out of the opening, and once I was gripping the edge, I let go and dropped to the floor. Thankfully, the area was devoid of zombies or any other hellish creature. That would have been the last thing I needed in my way. Turning to the fallen police officer, I knelt down next to his corpse and, without any hesitation, removed his weapon. I had to say, I was impressed with his choice of weaponry. He carried a Beretta 92 FS, fully loaded, with a fifteen round capacity. I check the chamber and clip, finding the weapon to be fully loaded. He probably never even had a chance to draw it, before the zombies had taken him down.
"Tsk...sorry dude, but it doesn't look like you'll be needing any of this." I removed three extra clips, a total of 45 rounds, from one of the pouches on his utility belt, along with a set of keys, no doubt for his patrol car and places in the station, and a large combat knife. I removed the holster for the knife and pistol, and slipped them onto my belt, along with the pouch for the clips, figuring it'd be lighter, not to mention better, than having all that other shit slow me down.
No need to ponder how I know all these things about weapons and such, just remember who I socialize with, that explains it all.
Keeping the handgun drawn, I stayed in a crouching position while I searched the area around me for the patrol car. The stench of decay wasn't nearly as terrible as it was inside the vent shaft and hallways. Thankfully though, the rain had let up, now it was merely a small drizzle. Although, it wouldn't be like that for long. Dark clouds could be seen building up again to the northwest; while flashes of lightning could still be visible and claps of thunder could be heard, also. So if I was going to search the patrol car thoroughly, I'd better get a move on before things started to get worse.
Quickly standing up from my crouching position I glanced about, making sure the area was clear. Off to my right were a couple of the undead, but not close enough to be a problem. If the moment arose, I would have enough time to take them out before they could do any harm.
Seeing that everything was clear, I jogged outside and across the teacher's parking lot where, in between an old Corsica and a Ford Explorer, the policeman's patrol car was parked. Now, even for a small town, Bunkie does have a well-funded police force. Which, as with everything else, I'm pretty sure they are funded by Umbrella. The very same people who, I am beginning to suspect, have something to do with the creatures that have taken over my school, and without a doubt, the entire town.
I holstered the Beretta, not bothering to snap it in securely. The last thing I needed was to have some zombie bite my ass because I couldn't get my weapon out of it's holster.
Looking around again, I unclipped the set of keys taken from the police officer. Realizing I didn't know which key was used to open the car's trunk, I began to go through each and every one of the keys. Thankfully, I got it right on the fifth key I tried.
I clipped the keys back onto one of my belt loops and began searching through the mess that occupied the trunk. 'Shit, this guy was a slob. No wonder he couldn't get to his weapon, he probably had freakin' butter-fingers or somethin'.'
As I was searching, a wheasing-type of sound suddenly sounded from somewhere behind me, along with a *click, click, click* type of noise. Almost as if, someone with asthma was creaping around. Not to mention someone wearing high-heeled shoes.
Stopping, I quickly turned around, drawing my weapon as I did so, only to find that the parking lot was comepletely empty. Whatever was there before must've left.
Turning back to the car's trunk, I began rummaging through it's contents once again. After throwing out most of the trash that had occupied it, I smiled when my gaze come across a shotgun. Picking it up, I recognized it as a standard issue SPAS-12 tactical assault shotgun, fully-loaded with a 7 round capacity. I slung it across my neck and shoulder, adjusting the strap so I could easily swing it around when I needed it. The only other item contained inside the trunk was a box of 12-gauge shotgun shells with a count of fourteen shells.
Closing the trunk, I turned around and began jogging back to the school's entrance. Finally I could get around to searching the rest of the school for survivors. Although, there probably weren't many, if any, at all.
About halfway to the entrance, I began to hear the same noise as I'd heard before, near the patrol car. Stopping in my tracks, I realized that they seemed to be coming from somewhere behind me. 'This can't be good.'
Quickly swinging the shotgun around, I gripped the stock tightly with one hand while I chambered a round with the other, then turned to face whatever was behind me.
Nothing. The parking lot was completely devoid of life. Besides myself, that is.
"Strange..." Lowering the weapon, but not loosing my grip on it one bit, I turned back towards the entrance; but was stopped immediately by the sight that lay before me. Or should I say, the sight that hung before me.
There, crawling upside down on the tin catwalk that lined the pickup/drop-off area, was one of the most horrendous images I've ever laid eyes upon. The creature certainly looked like something out of a nightmare. Or a cheap horror film. It's body was skinless, nothing be red-muscle and tissue visible. Blood dripped onto the cement walkway. Yet, the two most disturbing images were the lance-like tongue that snaked it's way out of it's mouth, which was composed of sharp teeth that looked as if they could tear flesh better than the sharpest of scalpels. It's eye's were black, bottomless pools that looked as if they were just holes in the pinkish-white flesh of it's exposed brain.
"Ohhh...shit...", were the only words I could mutter at the moment as I slowly began to back away. I knew I would have to face the creature, simply because there weren't any other places to run.
Before I even knew it, the hidious monster had dropped to the floor with ease. Landing on it's large-clawed feet and hands, it simply stayed in place. Almost as if, it was waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Gripping the shotgun tightly, I slowly began to raise it up to take aim at the creature, when suddenly it just sprang forward. Not really knowing what I was doing, just acting on instinct and pure adrenalin I quickly raised the barrel and aimed upwards and pulled the trigger.
The entire encounter was over in mere seconds. There, the monster lay at my feet, it's entire face gone, like it had just exploded. Small pieces of tissue and brain matter littered the ground around me, not to mention an enormous ammount of thee creature's blood. Blood that was also beginning to pool around my feet and the monster's body.
Stepping back, I also realized that I'd been sprayed with the creature's blood. It covered my arms and upper body. My once-white uniform shirt was now stained red, making it look as if I'd been the one injured.
Shaken by the encounter, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. So, zombies weren't the only things me and my companions had to worry about. But creatures like this one as well. I didn't know what had caused, or who was responisble for what was going on in Bunkie, but now, I am determined to find out.
After climbing back into the vent shaft, I made my way back to the library once again. My bloodied appearance not really helping everyone's hopes of getting out alive, nor managing to up their spirits. Which, at the time, I wasn't exactly concerned about doing.
I sit atop the librarian's desk now, my legs dangling off the side while I plan out my search. As far as I could tell, the best plan would be to start with the classrooms in the English Department, then work my way down to the Math and Science Department. From there, I would head straight past the library and check the classrooms that were across from the office. After those, I could check the Art and Business classrooms. Next, that would leave me with the Ag and Home Economics Departments, and finally, the Gym. Of course, there were places like the Cafeteria and the portable buildings that contained more classrooms. Since the Cafeteria was closer to the library, it'd be wiser to check it first, then start with the English Department.
Sighing and taking a deep breath, I look up and glance around at everyone else. Some were lying down with their heads on the table, others were reading or talking amongst themselves, most likely in order to keep themselves from thinking about our situation.
I hop off the desk and unholster the handgun at my side. Motioning to Mr. Johnson, I move over to one of the locked doors. Moving around the hallways, even if they were littered with corpses of students and teachers, would be better than crawling through that damn ventilation shaft again. Now that I had weapons. But, I knew I would have to use them sparingly. I simply didn't have the ammunition to go around blasting my way through the hoards of undead.
I stepped to the side while he unlocked the door. Smiling, I gave him an encouraging nod. What can I say? I got along better with this old guy than I did with most people my own age. And not because he's old and I take pity on him. More like I have respect for him, because he respected me even though I'm a complete smartass.
Turning the door knob, I pushed open the door and stepped outside, into the bloody and decay-smelling hallway. I waited until I heard the door close and the turning of a lock before moving on. I constantly kept the Beretta aimed out in front of me, my right hand gripping the gun with a finger kept on the trigger; while, my left hand cradled the butt of the handgun, like you usually see cops doing. This was supposed to help keep the gun steady while aiming, and as far as I could tell, it actually worked.
"...And so the search begins." I speak to no one in particular. I knew that this was only the beginning of my adventure, or should I say, my nightmare. First people turning into zombies, then creatures with no-skin and a tongue that could probably stab right through a human body? This was definitely stuff that made up nightmares. And one thing about nightmares, they never got better, only worse.
A/N # 2: Okay, I didn't put this at the top because I hate leaving long author notes. Anyhoo's, when you give your opinion about adding another character, leave your thoughts on maybe what the character should be like. So, maybe, I can pull off something to please everyone.