Chapter 4: Horror at her breath's reach

Victoria wished she could of turned back and left that RV that moment. The door was open half way and inside that room was a creature lying in wait; probably for a good meal. It looked like a rot, this made what happened hard to do because this dog reminded Victoria of a old dog she use to have.

His name was Pierre and he was the most loyal pet she could ask for. Back when she was a cop, she was assigned to a K-9 unit. This dog ended all similarities at species; this dog wasn't a dog but a beast straight from hell. Bits and pieces of it's skin were missing exposing muscles that seemed to shimmer as the light from outside the curtains hit it.

"Whoa, doggy sit tight. I am just taking a look around."

It was no use; the dog didn't speak English and I doubt she could control this….this…thing. It his mouth was a bone with some meat on it. Then she remembered the guy sitting in the bathroom, he was missing a arm. Victoria could stand it no longer the stench of the rotting flesh got to her and she looked away from the dog giving it chance to eye up its prey.

The hound rushed at the door so with a quick response Victoria grabbed the door handle and slammed the door shut. She took out her Beretta and strided backwards with the gun pointing at the door. Victoria looked over and found a lighter. She looked around and saw a bear bottle.

"Molotov cocktail anyone?"

She ripped a page out of a book and squeezed it into the bottle. She put her gun down and lit the paper on fire. A weapon of power, in her hand brought some comfort to her. She threw the cocktail at the door and grabbed her gun. She turned to her right and jumped down the stairs landing outside the RV.

She wiped her brow with the back of her palm and put her Beretta at her side. She took a few seconds to take in the new surroundings but this overwhelming fear took control of her.

"Are there more of those things out here? Maybe I was safer with the mean doggy."

Off in the distance, headlights were coming towards her. This seemed that that could be the cavalry. She looked at the window that was in the back room and with a loud-

CRASH!

The hound from hell came out of its cage and to play with its new friend Victoria. There wasn't enough time to make a mistake so she took out her gun and fired 3 rounds into the dog's side throwing it to the ground.

It spasimed like a fish out of water, actually it was kind of funny but not enough to change the stern look on Victoria's face. Just in case she fired another 3 rounds into the dogs head. It stopped moving. Relief came over her like a hurricane. A huge sigh and the sound of branches breaking as the vehicle was now visible.

Victoria approached the Humvee and a lone solider stepped out; he seemed to be the driver. He was tall and bald reminding Victoria of her father, he had just come back from the Vietnam War and her sister was born. Twenty years later she was born, some of her first few memories were of her bald stubborn father.

"Excuse me, but are you the police officer that was on the bus back that way?"

Victoria nodded.

"Well, sorry I am Captain Lewis of the Shadow Peaks Marine Corp. I would ask you to follow us but I guess I cannot. Please get into the back of the Humvee."

Victoria got into the back of the humvee, the back seats were both facing each other so Victoria got to meet everyone except a marine sitting up in the front. They headed into the city; Victoria noticed a blockade that leads into the city limits.

"Can I ask what is going on?"

"We, officer, have been put in charge of the city. There have been reports of missing hikers and people who are near the woods. We have had no choice but to seize the city to protect the citizens from whatever is taking them."

"I can tell you that whatever it is; it can't be human. This reminds me of a thing I have tried to forget, 11 years ago-"

"The Raccoon City Incident?"

"Yea. I was there, but I was just a child. I can still remember the creatures. This seems a lot like that day."

"Are you sure, 'cause I may need to have you say that to my commanding officer."

"Damn Umbrella…"

"Maybe I should tell you this. Back when Shadow Peaks was built in the 70's Umbrella had bought a bunch of property near the mountains. They built some bases there that have abandoned since the incident. Maybe it's worth a check?"

"I agree, but first I need to change my cloths and grab a bite to eat."

"Yeah here, read this to get a idea."

The marine sitting next to Lewis pulled out a thick file of papers and handed to Victoria. In a calm way; Victoria read the papers as they traveled through the forest.

The papers were detailed accounts of the abductions and the murders; this all lead to one thing….White Umbrella.

"Oh yeah I'm S.T.A.R.S. okay?"