Chapter 7: Time To Move
Disclaimer: I do not own Resident Evil, Capcom does. The lyrics belong to Mike Shinoda and the guys of Linkin Park.
Why does it feel like night today?
Something in here's not right today.
Why am I so uptight today?
Paranoia's all I got left
I don't know what stressed me first
Or how the pressure was fed / but
I know just what it feels like
To have a voice in the back of my head
It's like a face that I hold inside
A face that awakes when I close my eyes
A face watches every time I lie
A face that laughs every time I fall
[And watches everything]
So I know that when it's time to sink or swim
That the face inside is hearing me / right underneath my skin
It's like I'm paranoid
Lookin' over my back
It's like a whirlwind
Inside of my head
It's like I can't stop
What I'm hearing within'
It's like the face inside
Is right beneath my skin
-Linkin Park "Papercut"
'Oy, a hangover would be nice right about now....'
Tiny, sharp, pricks of pain shot through my entire body as I attempted to sit up. Okay, so it felt more like a thousand or so needles were poking the shit out of me. This only helped me remember why I hated shots...or just needles in general.
I could hear the sound of what only could be the crackling of flames. Sure enough, I managed to turn my head to the side just a tad, and the car that I'd been standing beside only moments ago was aflame. Near miss, eh? No way...more like a near hit! My luck must be with me today; I just hope it'll stay with me long enough so I can get the hell outta this godforsaken place.
But, I sure as hell can't get anything done just lying here like a bump on a log.
Considering what had just happened, or what seemed like moments ago anyway, when you throw in the unconciousness factor; I wasn't in too bad a shape. Just in an immense amount of pain. Not excrutiating, but still, it hurt. I could definitely use a little rest and relaxation, that's for sure.
Even as I pushed myself up into a sitting position, with my legs out in front of me, my vision seemed to spin, as if I was on some kind of ballistic merry-go-round. Talk about making someone want to toss their cookies. However, since I didn't stop for my usual overly-greasy Sausage McMuffin, one of the many foods from McDonald's that could shorten a person's life span, I didn't have any cookies to toss.
After a few minutes of "riding" on the little go-round, my vision finally cleared enough so I could take a look at my surroundings. All I could really recognize was the large, brick wall of the gymnasium. If it wasn't for that, I would have thought I was in some sort of twisted version of Oz. A Freddy Kreuger kind of Oz.
The clouds from the storm had finally cleared, so that now the entire area was bathed in moonlight. Not that it mattered, I could easily see everything due to the innumerable amount of fires that were ablaze. It appeared as if that "thing" had had a little too much fun with it's launcher. Most of the cars in the lot were either in flames, or they appeared as though they'd been through the chop-shop, hell, and back.
Looking over my shoulder, I found the area around the school to be in the same condition. Cars were bumper to bumper; okay, more like they were backseat to bumper. A few of their owners were clearly visible through the broken glass of either their windshields or windows. Others had been ejected through the windshield, and were now resting atop the hoods of their cars, or on the street. All of them were dead, and I couldn't help but hope they'd stay that way.
"Well, if you keep on sitting here, something will surely get your ass!", I mumbled to myself; something that I'd found myself doing quite a bit of lately. Sheesh, I hope I'm not losing my mind, but then in a place as hellish as this...who wouldn't?
Sure enough, familiar moans and groans suddenly sounded off somewhere to my left. Ignoring the sudden, sharp pain that erupted from out of nowhere, I gripped the shotgun that'd fallen beside me and, using it for leverage, I managed to pull myself to my feet.
No broken bones. I suddenly find myself thankful for small favors, and wondering if maybe there is some kind of "almighty" being, or beings, looking after each and every one of us. For the few of us to have survived as long as we have, there must be. That, or like I said before, we're just damned lucky.
Oh well, no time to ponder such philosophical things. I can always do that once I, and the others, escape to safety. The only question was...what place was safe? There was no way of knowing whether or not if this was just in the vicinity of Bunkie; or if it had spread to neighboring communities as well. There were definitely questions that had to be answered. Namely, who or what caused this occurance to take place?
Moans once again sounded off to my left. It seemed as though some of the zombies that'd been roaming the streets had finally made their way to the school grounds, which were now easily accessible through the gaps in the chain-link fence that surrounded the campus.
"This just keeps on getting better and better." Picking up the shotgun, I chambered a round even as I started to limp/trot across to the set of double doors that lead into the lobby of the school's gymnasium. The entrance with the metal detectors had been destroyed, and was now blocked by portions of the rooftop that'd been damaged during the blast.
The zombies had been avoided easily, and I sighed in relief when I closed and locked the two double doors behind me. The only way they could be opened, now, was from the inside. Unless the bastard with the rocket launcher came along. He could just blast it into millions of splinters. What in the hell was that 'thing' anyway? He, (Or should I say "it"? Oh well, I hardly think the creature's sex matters, considering the circumstances.) reminded me of a lab experiment gone wrong. That, and it's seen one too many 'Die Hard' movies. "Yippy ki-yay motherfucker." Oh yeah, I could see that beast quoting John McClane.
Inside, the lobby of the gymnasium was desolate. Thankfully. Even though I'd been successful in surviving my first encounter with "Johnny", I doubt that I'd be able to survive another one. The first encounter was horrendous enough.
As I walked on towards the exit on the opposite side of the lobby, I could only hear the sounds of two things: the moans of the undead that were outside, and surprisingly, the beating of my heart. Shadows played across the walls while silvery patches of moonlight shone through the windows. Outside, I could see corpses that littered the ground. Both the living corpses, and the dead ones. So many had fallen victim to this...anomoly...in such a short period of time. Less than a day has passed, and already it's managed to wipe out the town.
Pushing open the door that allowed me to exit out into yet another hallway, I took a moment to peer around. Nothing. Just the remains of those zombies I'd taken out earlier.
I stepped out into the hallway, the only light being that provided by the moon, nature's very own flashlight. As I did so, I had remembered Frances fleeing through the same entrance that'd been destroyed. 'Did she make it?' After surveying the devastation caused by the launcher, the chances of finding her safe and sound in the library were steadily rising, and not in her favor.
Lifting the shotgun so that the stock was pressed against my shoulder, I flicked on the flashlight that'd been taped to the barrel. Moonlight could only be so useful. Nope, the light of the moon couldn't penetrate the shadows. Which is why, I suppose, we were never able to see those creatures that hid in our closets or under our beds.
And, that was definitely the case here, for when I proceeded down the hallway that would take me to the library I could hear the familiar *click, click* of claws.
Even as I paused the sounds continued in my direction, getting closer every second. Yet, still I waited. This creature wanted to play games. Well, I could play games too. It was the hunter, I its' prey. Soon however, the tables would surely turn in my favor.
That's when I heard it. What could only be described as some sort of suction noise, and then a barely audible *click*. Spinning around, I found that the creature was crawling towards me on all fours. Sure enough, it was one similiar to the monster I'd previously slaughtered. Taking aim, I didn't even give it time to leap into the air before pulling the trigger.
The impact from the blast threw the monster backwards, a large hole now visible in it's body. Pieces of tissue were splattered against a nearby wall, and on the floor just around it's body. Jagged chunks of flesh flapped about as it squirmed and shook in it's final death throws. Then with a final shriek, it's body stopped it's quivering. Now lifeless, it just lay there with it's long tongue hanging out from inbetween it's rows of sharp and jagged teeth; the same ones what would never tear into a piece of living flesh again.
With that obstacle taken care of, it was time to get everyone out of here. Things were getting worse as time passed, so the option of holding out until rescue came was definitely non-existant. That creature had been sent here for a reason. As for what that reason may be, I really didn't care to know.
Don't ask why, but I was relieved when I was greeted by a locked door. That meant, most likely, that everyone was still alive. Or almost everyone, anway.
Smirking, I balled my hand up into a fist and proceeded to do what was called "a ghetto knock" on the library door. Sure, it probably scared the shit out of everyone, but how else was I going to get them to open the damn door?
"Hey! Open up!", I shouted. No doubt drawing the attention of a few nasty's in the process. As long as it wasn't ol' "Johnny".
"Nat?!", Shane's voice could be heard from the other side; and then the click of a lock.
Not wasting any time, I quickly entered and shut the door behind me. We may be leaving soon, but that wasn't reason enough to make a foolish mistake.
The library and it's occupants were bathed in the glow of flashlight beams. Since we weren't able to get gasoline to the back-up generator, the school was entirely without electricity. Which, come to think of it, really sucked. Without power, there was no way I could possibly get that door in Mr. Roy's office open. Wait, I take that back. With the power out, it could be possible to open the door manually...meaning I actually had to work to get the bitch open.
Still, there were other factors to take into consideration. Number one being: what was behind the door? Just what exactly was our asshole of a principal trying to hide? On one hand, it could always be something really useful...like a passage that would take us to safety. However, on the other hand, it could be hiding some really nasty bad ass. One that was more than willing to rip our flesh from our bodies and devour us while alive. Okay, imagination taking over here.
Shaking my head to rid myself of the rather disturbing image, I immediately stopped when my vision started to go all "psycho-merry-go-round-" on me once again. I really gotta do something about that.
"Man, you look like shit." Oy, leave it to Paul to tell me something I already know. However, his attempt at humor is only half-hearted. He stood leaning against the librarian's desk, where he idly flipped through Mr. Johnson's rolodex, looking rather depressed. Can't say I blame him. The last eighteen hours have been pretty shitty for all of us.
"Yeah, I feel like it, too." I walk over to the nearest table and plop down in an empty seat. A little rest wouldn't hurt before we leave. Besides, who knows when we'll be able to really relax after we leave?
"Natalie?!"
Well, looks like Frances made it. Yeesh, she could probably take down a whole freakin' group of those zombies with just a scream. Do you know how nails on a chalkboard sound? If you do, imagine that...then multiply it times ten.
"The one and only. It takes more than a freak with a rocket launcher to kill me." Heh, looks like no matter how bad of a beating I take, my ability to be a smartass at all times will still be there.
"Whatever...."
"Hey, where's that gun I gave you?"
Uh-oh, I really didn't like that sheepish look she had. Now she's looking down at the floor with her hands behind her back. Then, she uttered the words I really didn't want to hear...
"I lost it."
"What? How in the hell do you lose something like that?!"
"I...while I was dodging rubble...it got knocked out of my hand. And...and..I couldn't go back and get it."
"Oh...", was all I could say. I hated the fact that she'd lost the gun, meaning the only type of weaponry we had was the shotgun and a knife, but atleast she did the smart thing and keep running. And now, she looked as thought she were going to burst into tears. So, since I didn't want to hear her balling like a big baby, I did the only thing I could do. "Don't worry about it. Atleast you're okay." Oy, I really hate being sensitive. "Although...not having it is going to make getting everyone out of here more difficult."
"Yea-what?! Just what do you mean by 'getting everyone out of here'?", she shrieked.
"What else would I mean? It's not like we can stay here forever."
"But..someone's bound to come. Right? I mean, someone's bound to know what's going on here!"
"I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you."
"But-..."
"Look, I don't know about you, but I do NOT want to stay here any longer! There are other things out there besides those zombies, you saw that yourself. Just how long do you think we'll be able to stay here until that thing finds us? And you know, as well as I do, that those doors aren't gonna keep it out of here."
Hah, looks like that convinced her; and a few others, as well. Now that I had them all convinced, and more than eager to get the hell out of here, there was only one thing left to do. Although, I had no idea of how I was going to do it.
Getting everybody to Mr. Roy's office would be pretty simple. There weren't many of us, so we could go in one group. The hallways were pretty much devoid of zombified students; they simply went where the food was, meaning they'd moved off campus and onto the streets.
After getting the doors open, I could do a quick sweep of Level B1 and eliminate anything that might hinder our passage. Then, hopefully, we could move on to the passageway. From there...I had no idea what we were going to do; not that any of them needed to know that.
Standing up, I slung the shotgun over my shoulder and motioned towards the door. It was time to get the hell out of here.
"Time to move."