Chapter 10. "The Arrival."
Three sets of helicopter rotor blades thwiped above the ghost town. Clouds of smoke from the street grasped toward the sky. The area below the helicopter was a barricaded hold out of the police. From the amount of blood and gore, the barricade was a last stand. The clearing in the street was optimal, strings of rope coiled down onto the asphalt. Multiple shadows took hold of the rope and went down the street.
"Bio-Weapons spotted." The pilot spoke into his headphones. "Happy hunting, Captain."
A bulky man walked forward; he tugged on his vest then took hold of his assault rifle. He wore a light brown long sleeve shirt with black fingerless tipped gloves, same-colored pants, and prepared for war. His hair was clean-cut short, and his chin had several sprouting whiskers. Clearly, at the peak of his physical condition. "Roger that." The Captain turned to face the other agent. They shared mirrored determination. "Everybody prepare for landing." His shoulder glowed in the helicopter's spotlight of a patch on his left shoulder—BSAA North America.
A yellow light appeared in the helicopter, and the rope was tossed outside. A woman walked behind the Captain. She had a charcoal grey baseball cap with a ponytail out through the hole of the back. Her torso was covered in a beige color with a black vest layered on top. Her hand combed her shoulder to reel her submachine gun sling, then secured her grip.
"Let's hope the death count is low." The safety clicked off. "I left a note at home saying that I was going to be busy for the next several days."
"So this is what married life feels like, eh Jill?" The woman had a steely stare, sighed, and a light punch followed. "Your hubby missing you already?"
"Shut up, Chris."
Multiple BSAA agents followed and equally as armed.
"The reports stated that the National Guard was able to contain the spread. Staff Sgt. Boykin is rallying survivors." The Captain crossed his arm. "Remember, Echo Squad is on search and rescue. As for us, we're Seek and Destroy, got that?"
"Roger that." "Loud and clear." "I copy."
"On point, Nivans." Chris nodded as the rest of the squad of nine checked their surroundings.
"Yes, sir!"
Once the helicopter flew at a safe altitude, the squad walked in formation. Jill could feel the cold wind kiss her skin. There was a clear sight of wreckage and bodies littered the street.
The BSAA agents crossed the street went down the street. Blood splattered over the walls, broken glass shards covered the sidewalks. Agent Nivans raised his submachine gun to inspect a flower shop for infected. Apart from the destroyed furniture and a headless man grasping a cash register. The walls had claw marks of a large beast. Flower pots are thrown everywhere.
"Contact! 20 meters to the East." Chris commanded, pointing at the direction of houses on the left side.
The Captain could see shadows of creatures dancing. He waved his hand forward as four agents broke off from the group to take care of the problem.
Jill went in the front, stepping sideways across the messy street to look in the direction she meant to go. She nodded to herself that there was more to this Seek and Destroy mission.
And she heard it, the soft, pining cry of a trio of zombies, half-hidden by the shadows. Jill targeted the darkest part of the shadow and patiently waited for it to step forward. Mentally rehearsing and reminding herself that these things are not human, not anymore, real people died hours ago. Her lip winced seconds after she finished clearing out the alley as more bodies decorated the town, she only went for burst fire, so there was no need to replace the magazine. She aimed and fired a head shot of two zombies, there where she saw more coming.
"Two targets straight-ahead, stay on guard," Jill shouted and aimed her weapon. It felt like thunder and lightning as the five agents fought against the approaching zombies. Brass cylinders rained out and rung on the concrete.
"Jill and I will be on point!" Chris stood close to Nivans. Over the gunfire, the two had to stand close to each other's shoulder to shout at one another.
"Yes, sir! We'll handle these targets, and we'll regroup with you later." Lance Corporal Nivans shouted to Chris and Jill.
"Roger." Jill ran along with Chris following behind. Jill stepped forward slowly. Her ears caught the familiar sound of growling as she walked with her finger ready on her trigger. Razors skidded on the concrete with the shrieking sound that echoed behind the two.
The two of them reached the street-market. The chaos had done its work within the area. Most of the bodies were mutilated and unrecognizable. Among them was a man who died in a slouched position with his back out. The muscles were ripped out like string, and the exposed white shine wasn't welcoming in the dark. The bones appeared to have the marrow seeped out like drained puss. All the man wanted was to shield someone who died underneath him. Chris looked around and counted 8 victims to 12.
"Rest in peace," Chris whispered. "My sister's workplace should be around here."
The sound of nails skidded on the ground, and the silent hum was all too clear.
In the middle of the silence, two dogs charged toward them. Both agents remained calm, and several bullets knocked the dogs back. Chris pulled the trigger, and his gun jammed. Without dropping concentration, Chris instinctively reached for his sidearm, Samurai Edge. Though the dog has dodged two of his shots, he had a clean headshot on the third attempt.
"Nice work." Jill praised, and she continued in the front.
"Appreciated." He nodded. The threat now removed, the Captain peered down his assault rifle to see that a bullet casing was caught in the ejection port. Like a loose nail in the wood, Chris brushed the shell casing out and discerned the weapon will be functional.
From there, he smiled at Jill's MP5. The weapon was rigged to fire 10mm rounds, and those bullets are enough to put a hole in a person and knock them off their feet. Instead of the curved 9mm loadout, the 10mm had straightened magazines.
"Where do you think this started?" Chris walked past her, then watched the opened areas of the street.
"Nothing as of yet. Command thinks that this could be Veltro..." Jill grimaced when she noticed Chris frown at the streets. "Any word on your sister?"
"I've tried to contact her."
A loud explosion echoed out of nowhere, where Chris felt shoved harshly in the other direction where he slammed on stone stairs. He groaned to himself as he rolled onto his back.
"Chris, are you okay!?"
Though he was stunned for a moment, unable to talk, not yet realizing what happened. He almost swore he saw his life flash before his eyes. "Y...eah."
Jill bit her lip and looked at the other side. "Gas leak." Chris slowly pushed himself up to see the orange light, eating a house on the other side.
"What a mess." He whispered, then signaled Jill to move.
Chris had his weapon ready to go. On the first hour of walking, the two soldiers took care of the occasional lone zombie but did not come across survivors. There was no time to even make a stop to access certain areas. Jill did not hold Chris back. Eventually, the duo reached Claire's place.
The Coast Diner came into view, and Chris' heart skips a beat.
As the duo reached the path to their right, they heard creatures screech. Two hunters jumped down at them through the shadows—both standing tall with their greyish green scales while their large claws were still the same. Jill mentally prepared herself for when the hunters will jump.
Chris had a problem to deal with who came behind them. The creatures charged and jumped at her, Jill felt the adrenalin rush, and swiftly she spun around and knelt down, dodging the claws. The small gust of wind brushed past her. The hunter rolled over the ground and adjusted itself upward to stand on the other side of the duo.
Jill's gun flashed, piercing the creatures, and their blood spurt out. From the shadows of the street, moaning approached them. Jill raised her weapon and fired her gun to keep the other hunter at bay. Chris stood up again and did not react fast enough as a zombie lunged at him. The fingers clenched a sleeve, and Chris clenched a fist as his other hand was preoccupied holding the zombie back from biting his throat. Once there was enough space, Chris made a right hook to the zombie's temple, which had it loosen its grip. Reeling away, he kept the pressure up by elbowing it in the same area. The two toppled onto the ground.
KlloookkK! The zombie's shoulder was wholly dislocated, making it easy for Chris to twist the arm, then punched the shoulder again for its bone to separate. Chris had his chance to lean down to pull out his pistol and shot it also directly through its nasal cavity. The blowback of force had the spine snap, and Chris shoved the corpse aside. Jill walked beside her partner and had her gun clear out the targets that threatened Chris. In the distance was the second hunter, with a chest full of bullet holes.
They walked to the glass double doors. "Claire!" Chris called out as a bead of sweat drifted down his forehead.
Jill observed the place. Oddly enough, it seems untouched by the chaos that spread outside. She looked around, saw various meals still neatly placed sparsely around. Chris came through the kitchen, and again no one in sight. He took a satellite phone and also tried, this time Annie's number. A dozen calls earlier were fruitless, but he needed to try again.
"My god Redfield!" Annie answered after a few seconds.
"Annie, are you alright? Where are you now?" He went to the point. "Where is Claire?"
There was silence in the other line one second that made him feel his world is about to crash. "I'm so sorry." She whispered, and Chris felt his blood boil.
"We bumped into someone... she swore to follow him and, I didn't hear from her for hours now."
Chris slammed his fist on the table. His punch was strong enough to make it sway. "Something is going on here! Goddammit, Claire!" He screamed and hanged up the phone without even saying goodbye.
He put his finger in his left air. "Echo 6 reporting in, we received news that several groups of highly armed personal walked on the streets just hours after the outbreak started."
Chris left the kitchen and met with Jill. "Come on, it looks like trouble awaits."
"Chris, wait." She held his hand. "I know how worried you feel right now. You don't have to hide it." Chris looked back at her for a second, Jill went on. "Claire is my friend, and I want to find her too."
Chris's lips twitched a bit with half a smile, and he let go of her hand. "Danger always finds my sister; I have to be there to keep her alive." He muttered. "She's the heart of our family."
"BOWs spotted!" Their radio buzzed.
Once the two of them left the diner, something was not right, they walked carefully in the street, but they were stopped midway at the sight of a group of Hunters gathering around them.
"Oh, great," Chris whispered.
"I bet they think they have a chance." Jill's eyes gleaned from MP5's gun railing as she aimed at the creatures.
The hunters circled around and exposed their fangs. Chris shook his head and raised his assault rifle. From her peripheral vision, Jill noticed several zombies homing in.
"Targets to the left." Jill fired her weapon to signal Chris to do the same.
Chris walked forward as a Hunter lunged at him. He fired at it, came in, and sidestepped it as the body rolled on. From there, a zombie attempted to grab him, but his left arm came around in a clean hook. The punch had so much force, the loose flesh couldn't hold the jaw together. Chris kept his pace onward. Jill noticed the damaged zombie and finished it off as she walked behind Chris.
Jill noticed a zombie that crawled at them. She shook her head and lowered her gun, finished it off while a Hunter jumped to her side. The claws glided along with the asphalt as she turned around with a flash grenade.
Chris kept his eyes forward as a white light shined in the area for a moment as he turned around. When it passed, the hunter completely overshot Jill and ran into a nearby wall. It groaned to itself as Chris unloaded half of his magazine into the torso.
The hunter leaned its head up and coughed blood onto the wall.
Jill nodded as she had a zombie trying to get close to her. She kept her gun leveled, but it clicked empty on her. From there, Jill dropped the weapon as the strap caught it while she drew an M1911A1 handgun. With a solid black metal coloring and brown handle, she had the zombie get a new hole in its nasal cavity.
With the last one died, Chris and Jill breathed, their two partners started reloading their guns. "I think the military are the only ones that can stand against these things," Jill murmured.
"Seconded." Chris gritted his teeth.
"There is still hope for this place to be under a heavy quarantine. People might be able to return to their daily lives here." Jill didn't attempt at eye contact with her partner.
"I don't think anyone would want to live here knowing people were slaughtered." Chris sighed at the ruined street. "We never prevent danger. We only deal with the aftermath."
Chris clenched his fist, "Justice doesn't help the dead. Only for the ones who cause misery to know that they deserve what happens to them in the future."
Jill nodded. "We'll never stop chasing them."
They spent several minutes walking around the area to find hidden creatures that could later prove a threat. Nothing but the occasional zombie was found. The two covered each other's flanks.
…
Hunk and Claire searched through the hallways for a way out, but it feels like a curse. In the middle of another corridor, they were able to find a double door. Hunk knelt down, ready with his knife, while Claire watched their back. Hunk listened for a moment for any kind of sound before he kicked the door open and went inside as Claire stayed along the wall for support.
The two found themselves in a U-shaped room. Nighthawk was in the middle of the room on a small fold-out chair with him using several zombies as a footstool. "What took you so long?" He crossed his feet again. "I've been here for like ten minutes." He had a double-barreled shotgun resting over his shoulder and nodded at the two when they entered the room.
Claire lowered her gun. "Wiseass." She holstered her revolver. "Did you find a way out or what?"
Nighthawk crossed his arms. "We're out of time. The BSAA is clearing out the town."
"They're here? That's great!" Claire smiled and had her tiptoes lean up while the two soldiers stared at her. "Right… sorry."
Hunk sauntered past the two to peer at the other side of the room. The wall was shaped like there is a path behind but was heavily boarded. It would be a waste of time to try to breakthrough. The lenses reflected a burning car fire as a group of zombies feasted on a corpse.
'No, I won't allow them to win. Death cannot die.'
Nighthawk stepped around the corpses, explaining what he did during his time alone in Tall Oaks. Outside, Nighthawk noticed a small hunting pack roam around and killed off several human survivors that tried to loot a nearby electronic store. Nighthawk decided not to intervene since he had an educated guess that they would instead force him to give up his equipment than offer further assistance.
Something did come out of the torn apart bodies, however. The leader carried a double-barreled shotgun with two dozen shells in a satchel. The red soldier had a weapon and waited for them since. Hunk tapped the left side of his gas mask as Nighthawk did the same. Claire rolled her eyes as she crouched down, her back resting in a nearby shelve. When suddenly a sound came through the speakers that were connected to the room.
"I must say I'm impressed that all of you survived this far." A deep masculine voice called out.
"What?" Claire raised her revolver at the doorway.
Hunk bared his fangs in a stern tone under his gas mask. "I told you, Nikolai, you never learn."
Claire listened carefully to the voice. 'Isn't Nikolai dead? I remember Jill wrote something in her report of Raccoon City… How did he survive?!'
Nikolai laughed loudly. "I love it when you're angry like this. But you two are in a quiet predicament now. It was fun seeing you have troubles with that Kristen look alike girl."
"…Motherfucker…" Nighthawk whispered and turned to look at Claire
"I don't understand? Lookalike...who?" Claire tightened her grip with the revolver.
"What do you mean? Am I part of your sick plan?" Nighthawk shouted back while Claire noticed Hunk stand entirely still like a statue, unfazed by his surroundings.
"Oh, Claire Redfield, such a fool. From the very moment, I have seen your face. Just some wonderer that doesn't serve a purpose, but birds of the feather...flock together. Ever wondered why he scares you but never has the heart to hurt you?"
"Shut it!" Hunk screamed, and he took the shotgun from Nighthawk. It's a voice she never heard before, full of rage. "Don't you ever mention that name again." He fired at the speaker.
Nikolai laughed as the speaker sparked with the sound fading away. "It was nice working with the two of you, farewell." The outside had the moans and groans of an all too familiar enemy.
Hunk offered his shoulder for his brother's arm and jogged out of the room. Claire followed behind, though she heard creatures' sounds, lizards to be more specific, meaning they are in serious trouble. Her every instinct within her said for her to run, to get away—but there was nowhere to go.
She looked at the ground as the two moved in front of her…
"Come on, girl!" Nighthawk shouted at her to follow.
Claire gritted her teeth and ran before the zombies could reach her. Two hunters inspected the survivors and kept them at a decent distance. The next room was small, and it had cleaning supplies like it was used for an ordinary place. "Over there! The laundry shoot."
Hunk held his hands together and allowed his brother to jump first. Once Nighthawk was up, he kept his leg for Hunk to helped him and climb up.
Sadly, Claire shook her head, thinking that's it, they'll leave her alone, and she'll die here. To be some snack for some fucking zombie!
"Hurry up, Redfield!" Hunk shouted to her surprise.
"Right!" She jogged forward into the palms of his hands to be lifted up to reach the shoot. Claire got half of her body onto the vent and offered a hand to the mercenary. Hunk jumped up to grab Claire's hand as she pulled him up enough so his free hand can help pull his weight.
Claire nodded as Hunk went down the shoot to check on his brother before her. Several zombies clambered at the wall with their blood-soaked fingertips. Once the shoot looked clear, Claire let gravity take care of the rest.
She landed on a pile of sweat perfumed sheets. She gagged at the smell as she crawled out of the pile to see a gloved hand offer support. It was Nighthawk, who barely looked like he was able to stand; she made sure to apply the most of her weight on her knees so she would cause a problem for the red soldier.
Hunk dusted himself and worked over his mask, which felt that a strap was loose. Nighthawk took a moment down in the ground to check up on his wounds.
He groaned and held his ankle, ignoring the pain in his arm. "Not my lucky day."
Their radios buzzed. "Can you hear me? Please respond."
"Just a signal from the town. Nothing new." Nighthawk leaned on his right leg as he walked.
It was a voice Claire knew all too well. "We are here to help." The radio continued.
"Keep your body straight, to allow your blood to continue circulating." Hunk said as he drew his combat knife then paced around to see if there was a threat nearby. "Hey Redfield, watch the window."
"Since when do you order me?"
"Whatever."
"Hey, you guys. I'm going outside to get a look around." Claire stated.
"You mean recon?" Nighthawk grunted. "I knew you weren't as useless as you looked." He chuckled.
"Yeah, screw you too." Claire rolled her eyes. She walked out of the room.
"I like her." Nighthawk smiled under his mask. Hunk shook his head as he took a moment to help the red soldier swap out his bandages. His gloved hands tightened on at the knee, which had Nighthawk flinch.
Claire walked through a small hallway and looked outside of the house. Several zombies and such walked at the edge of the streets. The silhouette of a hunter was in the distance and crawled along the roof. The hunter did not express much interest in her direction. She peeked out and jogged across the street.
Claire kept her back close to the wall so a creature couldn't get the jump on her. She sighed to herself as a pile of bodies had several zombies feast at the mound. She shook her head and walked around a corner and had the black abyss of a handgun in her face.
"Claire?!"
"Chris?" Claire asked as the gun moved away from her view.
"Thank god!" Chris holstered his gun as he smiled then hugged his sister. "Where have you been all this time?"
"Just exploring. I wanted to see if others needed help in town." Claire looked over her shoulder by reflex. Once that happened, her brother embraced her again. His armor had the magazines dig into her shoulders and abdomen, but she did not desire to ruin the moment.
"Hey there, Red." Jill smiled.
"Hey, Jill. Fancy seeing you here." Claire nodded. "How's it going for the town? Don't tell me there will be another nuke?"
"No. It was reported in the early stages, and the BSAA was able to mobilize before it got out of hand." Jill responded. Claire took a sigh of relief.
"I see." Claire smiled at the sight of people she knew. Finally, she felt happiness fill her troubled heart.
"Oh yeah, did you see any suspicious people in the town while you were outside, did you?" Jill asked as she kept her eyes at the nearby roofs in preparation against hunters.
Claire clenched her left fist as she shook her head. "No… I didn't…"
"Listen, there is an evacuation going on about two blocks back. Jill and I can escort you." Chris spoke in a tone that he was in a hurry.
"No." Claire said without hesitation… "I mean, I can take care of myself. I can walk myself there as you two work at your jobs."
Jill and Chris looked at each other. "What are you saying? It's too dangerous."
"Here you go again, being overbearing." Claire set her left hand on her hip.
"Overbearing? Listen here, I promised mom and dad I would protect you!" Chris frowned.
"I can walk there myself. Listen, it's nothing against you, Chris, but I saw some hunters head deeper into the city. There could be other people that need help sooner, and your escorting could put their lives at risk!" Claire waved her hands at the town around them.
"She's got the point." Jill nodded.
"Jill, please." Chris rubbed his forehead.
"She's been through worse, Chris. There could be someone injured that could use our help."
Chris looked at Jill, and Clare then groaned to himself. "Get over there as soon as possible. Do you understand?!"
"Yes, Dad." Claire frowned as she purposely bumped her shoulder against her brother's. In the moments since then, Claire was given a handgun before the two walked off to continue their sweep of the town. Claire sighed deeply as she stared at the direction they walked off in.
"What the hell are you going to do now, Claire?" She asked herself. Across the street and down several blocks… was freedom. She closed her eyes and groaned to herself.
"I… made a deal…" Claire turned around and jogged across the street and turned at the corner.
…
Above, a figure revealed itself as it had blue lensed eyes over with the gas mask. The hooded man has his rifle trained over the center of Claire's back. His index finger at the ready as she kept an eye out but not for a weapon to end her. He shook his head as he pressed his left hand over his left side of his gas mask. He walked into the shadows as his suit faded from view, and not even a shadow remained.
…
Claire walked through the doorway and she saw a submachine gun pointed at the center of her face.
"Hold fire!" Hunk shouted. "She's with us."
"Copy that." The gun dropped as it revealed a black leather blonde woman in a gasmask stare at her from the doorway.
Claire leaned her head down. "Friend of yours?" As she asked that, Claire couldn't even hear herself over the thumping of her own heart.
"Yes." Hunk brushed past her with Nighthawk at his shoulder.
"No name?"
"What's it to you, girl." The woman walked forward to the point of almost challenging Claire…
"Well, sorry." Claire shook her head.
"Do not speak that way." The woman shoved Claire forward.
"Hey!" Claire turned around and had the urge to draw her handgun.
"Knock it off, you two!" Hunk snapped at them.
"Her codename is Bertha." Nighthawk decided to cut the middle man out.
"Well, nice to meet you, Bertha." Claire did not sound sincere… at all, which Bertha frown more. "The pleasure is all… yours."
Claire rolled her eyes as she walked beside Hunk. "What's the plan now?"
"Time to get the hell out of dodge. That's what."
"Seriously, girl. How stupid can you be?" Bertha shook her head.
"You get used to it," Hunk added.
Claire stopped for a moment as the group walked ahead of her.
'… Oh, joy,' Claire jogged to catch up. 'it seems she is worse than him, god.'
"What do we do with her?"
Hunk looked at Bertha. "Bag her when we get to the extraction vehicle. We'll take her to the safe house. She deserves that much."
"Yes, sir." Bertha had plenty of ammunition to help the group escape the city.
"This is Vector. Come in?"
"I hear you."
"Hello, sir. I've done recon over the area and cleared a path in several of the back alleys. I've marked them, and it will guide you out. I'll be clearing out any threats that approach."
"Good work, Vector." Hunk nodded.
Claire caught up. "Hey, lemme help." She took the other side of Nighthawk's shoulder to help divide his weight. Hunk nodded as she did the same in his direction.
'Saintly types annoy me…' Bertha thought to herself while the group made it out of the town.
Thank you for reading. So the nightmare is finally over, what do you think so far? more is coming.
Special thanks to The95will for his help.