Chapter 29
Ivan was nearing Brahms.
If it hadn't already hit Asheville, it was probably going to any minute. In the distance, thunderclouds rumbled in the warm, breezy night, and already, light droplets of rain were striking against the metal window shutters of the dark building.
After leaving the deserted hallway where they encountered the unpleasant Licker, they found the bunkers, similar to the ones of the previous building they accommodated. No one was sleeping in the bunkers, as expected. They hoped no one was there, anyway.
Alice found the television set, and turned it on the evening news. They crowded together for warmth from the chills and protection against who knew what.
"Already, at an alarming rate, much like how Frances hit, Ivan is pouring into Asheville streets, faster than predicted. Within not even an hour, the rain fall rate is adding up in inches and flooding is definitely expected. It seems that many kids within the Buncombe area won't be going to school again for a while due to the flooding," the weatherman broadcasted.
"And this means that gasoline contaminating the water will be carried further downstream, and possibly into other cities. Anyone living at a low elevation needs to take shelter immediately," said another woman.
"You heard her," Alice said, returning the room to darkness when she turned off the set.
"What do you mean?" Rodney asked.
"Both of these buildings belong to STARS. This is the Alpha Team's quarters. The one prior is Bravo's. My squad," Jill explained. "We've had problems with flooding before, so this won't be a good place to take shelter."
"So what do you suggest? We keep running?" Amelia asked.
"She's right," Carlos said. "Umbrella's probably found us and has us on surveillance. Anywhere we go, they're going to follow."
"So, what do we do?" Hannah murmured.
"We gotta move around with as little movement as possible," Alice told them. "Remember, even though there isn't anyone living around this specific area, there are residents around here. We can't wake them up or cause any commotion."
Suddenly, there was a loud, metallic crash not far from their location. Everyone fell in silence.
"Was that the thunder?" Amelia whispered.
"We're not that fortunate," Rodney mumbled.
They stepped out of the bunkers, and back into the hallway. Carlos shone his light at the end of the hall on the dark wall. They heard footsteps.
"Be on your guard," Jill warned.
They saw their faces, or what was left of them. The five remaining zombies that had been locked behind the shutter doors managed to bust them open. Though still slow, they walked a little faster than how Jill, Carlos, and Alice remembered them in Raccoon City.
"They're a little evolved," Alice whispered.
Hannah fired a shot. "Bastards!" she screamed.
The bullet chipped off a piece of the closest zombie's skull, along with some of its brain. It fell forward on it's face with a loud "thump". The other four came after them, and within a few seconds, the fifth was back on it's feet.
"The hell?" Rodney whispered.
"Good shot, Hannah," Jill said, "but aim between the eyes."
Amelia followed the order, and took it on herself instead. She fired five shots, each in the center of the forehead. Simultaneously, the zombies hit the floor. They looked to her, amazed.
Amelia scratched her head nervously. "Guess I've become a better shot."
They proceeded down the hall, and out the door after stepping over the twice-dead bodies. They reopened the door, and walked out into the streets, when Amelia turned around when she heard movement.
The zombies had gotten back on their feet again after a shot to the head?
Amelia aimed for them again when Jill stopped her.
"No use in wasting anymore ammunition. Obviously, these ones are certified and more advanced by Umbrella. They'll just keep coming back."
Amelia lowered her gun, and they ran into the open streets. Because the SUV was now enclosed in the locked garage, that was out of the question. They would have to look for other means of transportation or some haven.
The rain was beginning to fall harder, now, and the temperature had also dropped. Fog had lingered into the streets, as well.
"Now we really gotta find somewhere to go," Hannah exclaimed.
As they walked down the streets, they heard heavy footsteps, or something of the sort. Amelia's eyes bulged out, and her jaw dropped. Alice looked at her, concerned. How could she see so well, and herself, couldn't? Because of the fog, whatever it was couldn't be seen for a while, but even in view, they only saw some monstrosity over six feet tall in all black.
"Surely, that's not--" Jill started.
"Nemesis?" Alice whispered.
It had walked under a blinking light post, dressed in head to toe in black leather and chained boots. A cord was attached from it's spine to it's shoulder, it's face mangled, it's jaw out of place and too big for it's lips, one eyes sewn up, the other, hardly seeable past the rotting flesh color of it's unconceivable profile.
But it didn't whisper "STARS!" It was after something else this time.