A Star's Descent: Book Two: Star Fall
By evolution-500
Disclaimer: House of the Dead and Resident Evil are properties belonging to SEGA and Capcom respectively. I do not own any of these characters.
WARNING: This story contains violence, coarse language, mature and disturbing themes and imagery. Reader discretion is advised.
Chapter Thirty-Six: The Flood
It burrowed itself deeper within the soil like an oversized sliver, moving in a downward and steady pace into the corrupt soil of the Spencer Estate.
Enjoying the enveloping and soothing coolness of the soft earth on its warm skin, the creature pushed itself downward into the soil, driven by an intense ache in its belly, its primitive mind acting purely on instinct as it searched for food.
It came across some minor morsels in its downward journey - some oversized spiders, including a really large one, the odd zombie here and there, a couple of dogs and frog-like beings, etc - but none soothed the aching need in its stomach. With every consumption it made, the hungrier it became.
Pushing through the mud, Tower Type-8000 relentlessly dove deeper down below the surface as the T-Virus coursed through its long and immense body.
Joseph Frost scowled as he glanced around the tunnel.
Various openings, doors and chambers greeted him and Chris, but it was all a confusing labyrinth.
Looking to his colleague, Frost wiped the sweat from his brow, "So...any ideas on where we should go?"
Chris frowned as he checked his pistol. "I don't have the foggiest idea whatsoever. Let's try the best that we can. Richard and Enrico have to be here somewhere."
"And if they're not?"
Frost watched as Chris impatiently glared. "Then we'll just be wasting time. Come on."
The dirt wall swelled like an oversized pimple as pieces of debris crumbled.
Bursting through, a serpentine head emerged, followed by a second, third, fourth, and fifth. Taking in a collective sharp intake of air, Tower Type-8000 uttered a deep, rumbling groan as it sought to rid itself of the stinging, burning sensation that it felt in the remnants of its ruined loins.
Shaking the dirt off its hide, the beast slithered forward, the heads wincing as they felt their bloodied, dangling member scraping against the ground.
Lifting its central horned turquoise head, the creature glanced over at its rear as it inspected the damage, its fangs glistening with saliva.
Snorting, the beast turned its head away, then started to grind its enormous mass against some wooden support beams and rocky stone walls.
The creature rhythmically scraped itself over and over again, its shell loosening as steam started to rise up from its armored form.
As it scraped at its own body, the serpentine heads started to gnaw on its own shell and scales, munching ravenously, the pieces peeling off little by little from each other's heads and necks.
The creature repeated the process over, and over, and over again as its shell started to molt, its form growing larger, denser.
Taking off his bandana, Joseph wrung it out, wiping it on his shirt. "It would be great if we had a map for this place."
"Yeah, well, we don't have one," Chris remarked sourly.
Opening his mouth to make a retort, Joseph suddenly paused, raising a hand. "Hey, do you hear that?"
Tilting their heads to the side, the pair quietly listened.
At first, all they heard were the faint echoes of water dripping. The survivors waited a full minute before they finally detected a faint noise.
It sounded like somebody was...crying.
Giving each other questioning glances, Chris motioned for Joseph to follow, the Point Man stepping ahead with his pistol drawn as both men followed after the sound.
Taking a right, the duo proceeded down the passage, their steps slow and methodical as the sound drew nearer.
Taking another right, they suddenly stopped, then looked around in all directions as they attempted to locate the sound.
"The hell's it coming from?" Joseph whispered.
Chris suddenly paused, then pointed at something - a hole within a wall probably no more than two feet wide.
It was then that they heard a pleading, whimpering voice.
"I'll be good, God. I swear I will be good! Please help me. Please help me."
The fuck? That voice...
Exchanging quizzical looks with his colleague, Joseph kneeled down alongside Chris, the two of them pointing their weapons down the hole.
Turning on their flashlights, Frost watched as the hole was illuminated, but what they found gave them both a shock.
Lying on his stomach was a person, his entire form completely covered in mud. His face marked with fresh tears, the person looked up from his position, revealing a distinct pair of strange, slitted violet eyes that reflected the light in an unearthly manner.
Upon seeing the eyes, both Joseph and Chris did a double take.
"The fuck?!" The former muttered.
"H-Hello?" The person called, raising what looked like a muddy gloved hand to block out the light.
Chris blinked. "Wait a minute...Star?! Star, is that you?"
The violet eyes blinked back. "...O-Officer Redfield?"
"What are you doing in there?!"
The youth shook his head. "I'm-I'm stuck! I-I don't know how I got in here, but please-please get me out!"
Chris raised a hand. "Okay, kid, hold on. Just calm down, alright? Joseph and I will get you out of there, we just need you to keep calm, okay?"
The albino weakly nodded.
Joseph tilted his head from side to side as he inspected the hole. "Christ, the kid's wedged right in there. Can you crawl or move around at all in there, Junior?" Star shook his head. "No?" Getting a shake of his head again in answer, the Alpha then looked back to his colleague. "Any thoughts on how we can get him out of there?"
Chris got down onto his knees, taking out his knife, "I'll go in. Keep a watch out for those monsters, I'll get him."
Joseph nodded as he put his bandanna back on, gripping his shotgun. "Roger."
Lifting his pistol, Chris kept it shined on the muddied albino, "Hang on, kid, I'm coming in. I'll try to get you out of there."
Climbing into the hole, the Point Man slid along his belly, pushing himself forward, the walls and ceiling closing in. Controlling his breathing, Chris kept sliding forward, moving toward the albino before stopping a few inches away.
"Hey," Chris panted.
The albino weakly nodded in greeting.
"You okay, kid?"
The youth swallowed, shaking his head.
"It's going to be okay," Chris assured. "Just take slow, deep breaths, alright? I'm going to get you out of here. Breathe in, breathe out." He watched the youth as he complied, his breathing harsh. "Rough night, huh?"
Star gave a harsh scoff, "Is that supposed to be funny?"
"Not really," Chris shrugged. "Just trying to make some small talk, that's all. Are you able to move around at all?" Star shook his head. "No?"
As the albino shook his head again, the Alpha reached to his belt, feeling around for his knife. Once found it, he brought it out, squirming as he moved his arm ahead of him in the cramped space.
Upon seeing the knife, Star looked uncertainly back at him. "W-What are you doing with-"
"It's okay, kid," Chris assured, "I'm just going to see if I can make more of an opening for you."
With that, he started to chisel out the dirt wall and ceiling around him.
Joseph anxiously eyed his surroundings, his index finger just brushing against the trigger as he searched around with his shotgun. He was just about to turn away when something from the corner of eye caught his attention.
Curious, he looked back, then glanced at the tunnel.
"Hey Chris, I'll be right back, okay?" he called. "I think I found something that might help!"
As he departed, he missed the muffled calls from his companion.
"Joseph, did you say something? Is everything okay out there?" Chris called as he looked over his shoulder.
He waited a few moments for a reply.
Frowning, he looked back to the mud-covered albino, "How about now? Can you try moving?"
Star shuffled, the youth grunting as he shifted, wriggling about like a stuck worm. Exhaling, he shook his head. "It's no good. I can't move."
"It's those damn shoulder plates of yours," Chris noted. "Try taking off your coat if you can."
The albino huffed. "I can't! I'm completely stuck!"
"YO CHRIS!" The Point Man heard Joseph call from behind him. "COME BACK OUT, I THINK I FOUND A WAY TO HELP HIM!"
Looking over his shoulder, Chris called back, "ALL RIGHT, I'M COMING!" Glancing back to the albino, he nodded, "Don't worry, I'll be right back, okay? I'm just gonna see what's up with Joseph. We'll get you out of there, but it's important that you stay calm. Can you do that for me?"
As Star weakly nodded, Chris crawled away, shuffling backward as he watched the terrified youth trembling.
He needed to get him out of there, and quickly, otherwise he was going to die. If the creatures didn't get to him first, hypothermia was bound to set in the longer he remained in that hole.
Once he got out, Chris pushed himself off his stomach and got up onto his knees, dusting himself off.
"What is it?" The Point Man asked as he straightened his back, feeling a slight pop.
Joseph then handed him a pickaxe and some rope. "I found these in one of the tunnels ahead. From what I can tell, this place seems to have been an old abandoned mine or something, probably from the Colorado Gold Rush if the pickaxe is any indication. There are all sorts of abandoned equipment down here."
Looking to the rope, Chris tested it, pulling on both ends to test its durability. Once he was satisfied, he handed one end to Joseph.
"Hold onto this for me, okay?"
Joseph saluted. "Roger."
Getting onto his knees, Chris crawled back into the hole, dragging the cord of rope along with him.
Shuffling forward on his belly, he dragged himself along like a tortoise, each movement slow and drawn out.
Once he got closer to Star, Chris let out a low groan. "There we are. How are you holding, kid? Everything okay?"
Star shivered. "I want..." he swallowed, "I want to go home."
Chris patted his shoulder. "Easy, Star. We'll get you home, alright? You can count on us." He then held out one end of the rope, "Listen, I need you to do me a favor. See this rope?"
"Yes?"
"I want you to hold onto this as tightly as you can, okay, big guy? I'm gonna carve as much as I can so that you are able to fit through. Once I'm finished, Joseph and I are going to drag you out of here, but remember, whatever you do, don't. Let. Go. Can you do that for me, Star?"
Star gave a slow and weak nod.
"Okay." Taking out his pickaxe, Chris looked back at the albino. "You might want to close your eyes for this, kid."
As the youth complied, the Point Man started to chip at the walls and ceiling, watching as debris crumbled around them.
Swallowing the last pieces from their necks, the creature's serpentine head snapped its jaws at the other, causing the latter to let out an indignant roar before snapping back. The two heads growled, hissed and clashed, until finally the central turquoise head lost all patience, asserting dominance through a low snarl, forcing the other heads to submit.
Shuddering, a feeling of relief rippling through the multiheaded beast as it discarded its old shell.
As it emerged in full, the creature felt the pain disappear along with the remnants of its male organs, the beast's strange body releasing high volumes of pheromones through the various chambers as it transitioned from male to female.
Within moments, snakes poured in from all directions, pooling around the Tower's mammoth form as hundreds of serpentine bodies balled up into endless knots.
Writhing from the mass, one snake-like head broke free, disentangling itself from the rest as another regrew in its place.
Rebecca adjusted the bandage on her forehead, her eyes scanning the library as she searched the various aisles. "Do you guys see anything?"
"Afraid not!" Barry called from the backrow.
From an adjacent row, Jill shook her head. "I don't see anything either. I'm not seeing any evidence that either Star or that Magician thing ever having been here."
Frowning, Rebecca took out her radio, pressing into the receiver as she called the albino's name several times. "Star, can you read me? Please Respond."
Bzzzzt.
"Star, are you there?"
Bzzzzt.
"Star, please answer. Are you there?!" Clicking onto the receiver, the medic smacked the radio in frustration. "Stupid thing. God, why won't this work?!"
"Hey, take it easy, rookie!" Jill approached as she placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Shaking her head, Rebecca looked anxiously up at the older woman. "I don't know what to do. We have checked every room around here, and we still haven't found him yet."
"It's okay, rookie. We'll find him," Barry assured.
The medic shifted slightly. "What if...what if I...what if we're too late? What if he's..."
As she faltered, Jill gave her shoulder a slight assuring squeeze. "It's okay, Rebecca. It's okay. We'll find him. It's okay. You just need to stay strong, alright?"
Rebecca shook her head weakly. "What if...what if I have let him down?"
Jill shook hers. "We don't know that. Me personally, though? I think he's still alive."
"What makes you so sure?"
"If he's anything like his father, he won't go down without a fight."
"And if he's dead?
"Then you make his death count for something," Jill replied with conviction, "and make it your priority to survive. It's a lot to ask of you, I realize that, but the thing is, nobody will ever know or care about what's happening here unless someone is around to tell the whole story. People need to know the truth, Rebecca."
Rebecca shook her head, her green eyes drooping. "But how can we? This isn't some small lie, Jill. Umbrella has been doing these horrible things for years, and now it's all just bubbling up to the surface. What makes you so sure that anyone would want to hear about this? What makes you sure that anyone will believe what we tell them when we get back?"
"They might not believe us," Jill acknowledged, "but...we have to try. No matter who gets hurt, no matter how many laugh at us or insult us, we have to tell someone. People are getting hurt and are dying because of Umbrella, and...nobody is being held accountable." The older woman shifted in discomfort. "It's possible...it's possible...that...that I might not make it through this night. I realize that. For all I know, I'll end up in a loony bin after this. I don't know. With that said, though...that is not going to stop me from doing what is right." Jill's eyes softened as she looked back at Rebecca, "I know it's asking a lot from you, especially considering this was supposed to be your first mission, but...you have to stay strong, Rebecca. As long as you are alive, as long as you are able to draw breath, you can make a difference. You just have to keep on going no matter what. You will only let everyone down if you just decide to give up now. I know it's asking a lot of you, Rebecca...but...you need to stay strong. Everyone is relying on you. I am relying on you, just as much as Star is. Can you do that, Rebecca?"
The library was quiet, Jill's words lingering as Rebecca digested what was said.
As she opened her mouth to respond, the books trembled as heavy steps started to approach, causing everyone to tense up.
"...You hear that?" Rebecca whispered.
Standing completely still, the survivors craned their necks as they listened. Rebecca felt her heart race as she heard a guttural moan in the distance.
"Everyone take cover!" Jill said in a low voice as she and the other survivors ducked low and hid behind a bookshelf.
Thoom. Thoom. Thoom.
Paperbacks leapt and bounced as those giant steps came closer.
Ducking low, Rebecca watched and waited from behind the bookshelf, until finally the massive, armored creature appeared, its breath coming in loud, heavy wheezes, its bardiche dragging noisily behind it.
Swallowing, the medic let out a slight breath, her green eyes peeking through the gap within the shelves as the colossal being started to search the library, its lens and armor cracked and covered in soot.
"Let's get out of here," Jill mouthed silently to her companions, gesturing to the ladder.
As the armored giant stomped its way through the library, Rebecca and the others cautiously and quietly crawled along the floor on their hands and knees toward the exit.
Rebecca felt the floor shake as the giant walked along the other side of the shelf, her eyes catching sight of its mechanical lower legs as their owner wheezed through his gasmask.
Books spilled and fell all over the trio as they continued to crawl, their enemy not taking notice as it roamed aimlessly.
Rebecca huffed in indignation as a copy of Ayn Rand's "Fountainhead" bounced off her head and landed right in front of her.
'Garbage book,' she muttered to herself.
As they made their way to the ladder, Jill and Barry motioned to her to crawl up, the two of them keeping watch of their enormous friend. Grabbing it, Rebecca started to pull herself up and climb. Lifting her foot up, she placed it softly down on the ladder without making noise, then lifted the other.
'Almost there,' Rebecca told herself. 'Almost-'
The wall burst in front of her, knocking the girl off the ladder with a scream as she landed indelicately on her back, the back of her head hitting the floor, causing her to nearly lose consciousness.
"REBECCA!" Jill yelled.
Opening her eyes, Rebecca's green orbs widened in alarm as she caught site of a gaping, scaly, sharp-toothed maw lunging toward her.
Screaming, the medic recoiled, waiting for the coming strike as gunfire filled the air, the noise accompanied by a roar of pain.
She watched as Jill kneeled down beside her. "God, are you okay, Rebecca?"
"I'm-I'm fine," Rebecca winced as she slowly sat right up, her whole form shaking.
Hearing gunfire, she turned to see Barry firing his Magnum at a large snake-like creature without eyes, its form orange and shelled, looking more like a serpentine crustacean.
"W-What is that?!" Rebecca gasped. "Is that-Is that the hydra?!"
"I don't know," Jill answered. "It looks like it."
"What happened to the other heads?"
Before Jill had a chance to respond, there came a loud, angry whale-like groan as the armored giant stomped toward the snake-like being, its hands clenched around its bardiche.
Upon seeing it, Jill's eyes grew like saucers. "BARRY, GET OUT OF THERE!"
"Huh?" Turning around, Barry's eye grew as he rolled to the side, narrowly missing the axe's swing as it buried itself into the neck of the giant snake, the creature letting out a cry. "JESUS!"
Rebecca watched as Barry raised up his firearm, aiming it at both creatures.
"Well, isn't this quite the predicament we're in, ladies," the big man muttered. He then suddenly paused and sniffed the air, wincing. "Ugh! Smell that?"
Rebecca coughed, the girl covering her nose. "Yeah."
"The hell is that?!" Barry groaned.
"I have no idea," Jill gagged as she held her nose as well, "Jesus, it's like rotten eggs-"
Something fell out from the hole where the ladder used to be, followed by another.
Looking towards the source, the survivors froze as pools of snakes started to pour into the room.
"Are you kidding me?!" Jill muttered. "Are you kidding me?! FUCKING kidding me?!"
Rebecca watched in horror as more snakes started to pour in, the girl jumping as several shots rang out.
"We need to block that up, otherwise more of these bastards are going to make their way in," Barry instructed as he fired upon the snakes, his shots hitting with incredible accuracy before pointing to a shelf close to the wall. "Push the shelf over there, I'll cover you."
Taking out a molotov cocktail, the Weapons Specialist took out his lighter and lit up the rags. Snapping the lighter lid down, he reared his arm back and hurled with everything he had, the bottle sailing through the air before coming down with a startling crash. Rebecca watched as a portion of the library was engulfed in flame, watching as all the snakes writhed around in agony, the library filled with their horrible cries before collapsing lifelessly to the floor once the fire had cleared.
Firing four more rounds, Barry reloaded. "GO!"
Rebecca and Jill nodded. "Got it," the latter replied.
The two women quickly went to the shelf and started to push as hard as they can.
In another part of the library, Rebecca spotted the armored giant and the beast battling, the latter attempting to constrict around the former's muscled form. The armored beast let out an enraged roar as it tore the serpent free, the creature brutally stomping on its body, causing its opponent to cough up blood.
Swallowing, Rebecca pressed all of her weight into the shelf alongside Jill, the two women letting out groans of exertion as they attempted to cover the hole.
"Come on! Come on!" Rebecca said with grit teeth, her face flushed red.
After several pushes, the girls suddenly felt the shelf come to an abrupt halt, refusing to budge.
"Come on, Rebecca! Push!" Jill groaned.
"I'm trying!" Rebecca muttered, her face hot.
Pushing with all their strength, the girls watched as the shelf slid into place.
"Finally!" The medic sighed as she wiped her forehead.
Hearing a dying wail, the two turned to see the armored being behead the giant snake, watching the reptile's body writhe around in its death throes before finally falling still.
Lifting up its helmeted head, the giant tightened its grip on its axe as it eyed them both. Gunfire pinged off its helmeted head, causing the creature to turn to face Barry, his Magnum smoking.
"Hey asshole! Over here!" Barry shouted.
Gripping its bardiche, it started to make its way toward him. Thinking quickly on her feet, Rebecca moved to a shelf in front of her. "Help me out with this!"
Joining her side, the two women started to push upward.
"PUSH!...PUSH!"
Using every ounce of strength they had, Rebecca watched in satisfaction as the shelf toppled into another and another, creating a domino effect as books spilled. Column after column of bookshelves collapsed on top of one another, each fall marked by a loud crash. Pages fluttered as an avalanche of books fell, the goliath letting out a surprised roar as a shelf slammed down onto its massive frame, the armored beast pinned down and buried beneath hundreds of books.
Jill wiped the sweat from her eyes. "That should buy us some time. Let's get out of here before he breaks free!"
Rebecca nodded as she and the others hurried out of the library, listening to the sound of wood being broken.
The Neptune shark drifted through the flooded corridors of the square-shaped room within the dormitory, brushing their way back to the cracked glass of their aquarium as they navigated their way upward toward a ring platform. Joined by its two other companions, the trio searched from top to bottom for something to eat, only to find their surroundings empty.
From down below, one of the grey walls of the square corridor started to crack.
Chris wiped his forehead as he grasped onto the rope alongside Joseph. "Okay. One last time. One. Two. Three!"
Letting out strangled cries, the two men pulled on the rope, watching as Star's form dragged straight from the hole.
As the albino pushed himself off the floor, both Chris and Joseph helped him up onto his feet.
"There ya go, Junior!" The latter clapped him onto the shoulder before looking at his gloved hand. "Christ on a crutch, you're filthy!"
Star wiped his face. "I noticed, thank you."
Chris frowned. "Try brushing yourself off as best you can, kid. Make sure to shake all the mud off from your clothes and coat, you don't want that stuff to harden."
Complying, the albino started to brush off his coat with his gauntleted hand as much as he could, the youth scowling. "Unbelievable."
Chris waited as Star dusted himself off. Once he finished, the albino put his coat back on along with his hood, looking miserable. His clothes were still dirty in parts, but at least the thicker chunks of mud were off him.
"You okay, Junior?" Joseph piped up.
Star frowned as he brushed off his pants with his gauntleted hands. "Well, aside from being dragged through the dirt, I'm feeling quite dandy, thank you very much!" Brushing his coat, he looked up, then paused, glancing around. "...Where are we?"
Chris shook his head. "Not sure. Joseph reckons this was some sort of old mine that Umbrella had bought ages ago, but frankly? I have no idea."
"Are the others down here?"
The Point Man shook his head again. "I think they're still somewhere upstairs, but I can't really say for sure, though." Closing his eyes, he sighed. "Let's get you up top where it's warmer - you'll catch your death down here in this cold. You can use the fireplace in the dining room to dry out your clothes." Pausing, Chris then gave the albino a curious look, "Do you have an extra pair of clothes with you?"
"I do," Star nodded, "but...I think they are back up top...somewhere."
Chris nodded. "Don't worry. We'll find them. In the meantime, stay close. Neither of our radios seem to be working. We'll see if we can try and raise the others upstairs, if not our helicopter. Just keep it together, okay, kid."
The albino sighed. "Okay."
As his companions turned around and led the way. Star looked down as his dirty coat and clothes, letting out a tired sigh as his shoulders sagged and exhaustedly followed after them.
'What I would give for a nice warm bed right now,' he thought miserably.
And a bath.
The grey wall cracked as something large struck against it, the cracks growing large with each concussive force.
Curious, one of the sharks approached, the creature quizzically eying the wall with interest.
Food?
As it drew closer, the wall shattered. The shark barely had time to react as several large serpentine heads emerged from the wall, their fanged teeth tearing straight into its flesh.
Pulling its massive body from the wall, Tower chased after the Neptunes as it went into a feeding frenzy, the overflowing pool spilling outward into the hole that it created.
Chris cast a glance over to Star as the albino tiredly tried to keep up. "You okay, Star?"
The youth tiredly nodded. "I'll be fine. I just...I just need to get some sleep."
The Point Man nodded. "Don't worry, we'll get you out of here. We shouldn't be too far from the stairs. We're almost out of here, big guy. Just hang in there."
The survivors kept navigating their way through the tunnels, winding their way through long loops and endless passageways.
It was then that Joseph suddenly froze.
"Huh?" Pausing mid-step, Chris glanced over at Joseph as the latter looked around. "Do you guys hear that?"
"Hear what?" Star tiredly grumbled, the youth yawning.
Chris' ears twitched, the Point Man lifting his chin. "I hear it too. What is that?" Looking around, the trio glanced around the tunnels, staring through the various openings. It was a deep, rumbling noise, a sound that sort of reminded him of...crashing waves?
"What the hell?" Joseph muttered.
The sound grew closer. Louder.
A few moments later, a large tidal wave appeared, causing Chris' eyes to widen.
"OH SHIT-!"
By the time he and the others turned around to flee, it was too late as the wave fell upon them. Chris struggled to breathe as he, Star, and Joseph were submerged, the trio dragged mercilessly through the black waves. All sense of direction was lost as up became down, the survivors' bodies spiraling and somersaulting in various directions.
Lifting his head above the water, Chris struggled against the current, only to be pitifully dragged back down again, his lungs burning as he desperately sought to get air.
The Point Man felt several sharp pains as his body struck various hard surfaces and several unknown objects.
Within moments, Chris felt his vision fade.
Author's Note: I am so sorry for the late chapter! I have been busy with work, and as such, I was unable to work on this for a long, loooong time. I also had a bit of writer's block for this section as well, unfortunately. That said, however, I think I know where to go from here now. I will try to finish up whenever I have time available. Thank you all for reading, and my apologies for the inconvenience.