Plague of Darkness
A/N: I don't like how wimpy Ashley is, so I'm going to add something to her character this chapter.
The images of Pueblo during the day flashed before Leon's eyes as he crept into the
house that had the secret passage, and helped Ashley up the ladder. He listened for movement, but none could be heard over the rain pounding outside of the small house. He drew out his silver handgun, and then clicked off the safety.
"Follow me," he whispered. He opened the door to the kitchen slowly, and examined the area. There were no hostiles. He walked out into the open, and peered through the windows. There were lit torches, which meant that there were some of those things outside. Leon looked around to find a way through, but couldn't. They would have to blast their way through.
He took Ashley's hand and looked her in the eyes.
"Ashley, there are some of those monsters out there. We are going to rush towards a farm that I passed through on my way here. Just past the farm is where the extraction point is. Then we can get out of here, do you understand?" Ashley nodded. Leon reached to his back holster and pulled out his spare weapon. It was a pocket six shot revolver.
"Do you know how to use this Ashley?" Ashley took the gun in her hands and held it carefully, not sure if it would go off in her hand. She shook her head.
"You pull back the hammer and that puts a bullet in the chamber. Then just pull the trigger. The recoil isn't very big on this gun so you should be able to handle it. If I'm overtaken, fire. Aim for the head. I've got six more bullets, here, take them." He handed Ashley a speed loader and she looked at it for a moment and stuck it in her pocket.
"Pull this thing over here," said Leon, pointing, "and then the chamber will open and you can reload the weapon. Be careful, don't hit me." Ashley nodded, and clicked the hammer back, and walked to the door. Leon smiled, and raised his gun. He kicked open the door, and jumped back when he heard a groan from one of those monsters. Ashley ran behind Leon. Leon shot two shots into its head.
"Come on, stay close." Leon edged out of the cabin, and then looked around. He turned on his laser point and then shot two shots into one of the men hiding behind one of the stables. Leon turned and saw three of them, one of them a woman. Leon held his gun with one hand, and the knife in the other. As they rushed him, he grabbed one man's neck and shoved it down to his leg, and fired two shots into the woman's neck. He then slit the throat of the man he was holding and threw the knife into the neck of the other.
"Whoa…" whispered Ashleigh.
Krauser
"The island is informing us that an American Helicopter is coming this way. We need someone to disarm it and make sure it doesn't get to the village. Its flight path will bring it over the castle. Krauser, we want you to destroy it." Krauser stopped throwing his knife into the air and nodded.
"I need a rocket launcher." Saddler laughed, and then shook his head.
"The only…destructive fire power we have here are the cannons at the East Gate. But those haven't been fired in years. Since you are my assistant, I'm sure that using your knowledge you can figure out how to shoot a helicopter out of the sky." Krauser smiled.
"Where is the highest point on the castle, or perhaps the point where the helicopter would probably pass over?" asked Krauser. Saddler smiled, and crossed his arms.
"Probably in the North Gate, on the tower. Please go up there, I will contact you by radio if necessary. Go now, we are wasting time- if Ashley leaves then we won't be able to control the Plaga, or get our large sum of money. Go Krauser." Krauser smiled and then began to jog up the stairs onto the West Tower. Zealots around him groaned as they watched for activity from their posts.
Krauser reached one of the walls and began to jog towards the North Tower. He could hear the sound of a helicopter in the distance. Krauser pushed himself even farther as his arm began to pulse and swell. He smiled at the pain and then jump over a gap in the wall. The North tower was now in front of him. He jumped up to a ledge and then side stepped along the wall, and then climbed up on top of the tower.
The helicopter was now about 30 metres away. Krauser smiled, and then pulled out his TMP.
Helicopter Pilot
"Alpha-9 we have an unidentified target standing on top of a castle's northern tower, permission to engage. The subject is a man wearing a red beret and holding a TMP, permission to engage."
"Granted Alpha-12." The pilot smiled and armed the missiles.
Krauser
As the helicopter neared him, Krauser could feel that something was not right. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the Missile systems moving into place to fire. Krauser smiled as the helicopter approached, and then jumped from the Tower, grabbing onto one of the landing bars. A shout of surprise came from the pilot above him, and Krauser smiled. He pulled out his TMP and open fired at the bottom of the helicopter. This one was armoured. Krauser began to clench his teeth together, when suddenly, blood spurted from his arm.
Krauser watched his arm in glee as it began to mutate before him, slowly and swelling in size. Blades stuck out from places where his hand used to be. The skin on his back was beginning to rip as the mutation spread to his body. He looked up, and then pulled his free arm, his mutated arm back, and plunged it through the hull of the chopper. Suddenly the cockpit exploded. Krauser smiled, and released himself from the landing bar and then free falled back down to the ground.
Helicopter Pilot
"This is Alpha-12 we have to make an emergency landing! Helicopter is going down, repeat, going down! May day May-"
Leon
Holding Ashley's arm he ran over the bridge, but stopped as his radio began to beep. He pulled it and opened the communication screens. It was Hunnigan.
"Leon, how are you holding up?"
"Not bad, I've got Ashley with me and we're almost at the extraction point."
"Well…I'm afraid there's been a mix up. The chopper was shot down by something on the way here, so you'll have to hang in there for a bit longer. I've sent another chopper for you, so it should be there soon."
"Great…just my luck. Thanks Hunnigan." Leon turned off the radio and sighed.
"What?" asked Ashley.
"Our chopper has been shot down. They're sending another one, but-" The sound of moaning and Spanish suddenly filled the air. They both turned and saw villagers, holding torches and pitchforks slowly marching towards them. Leon turned in the other direction, but could find no other way.
"What are we going to do Leon!" exclaimed Ashley, trying to get behind Leon.
"I hate to say it, but we're sandwiched alright. Quick, into that cabin!" Ashley began to sprint towards the cabin across the bridge, Leon following. Leon caught up and opened the door, aiming his gun in. There were no villagers. Ashley quickly got in and walked to the table in the middle of the room. Leon slammed the door and then looked for something to barricade it with.
"Leon!" Leon turned and found Luis Sera standing in front of him, holding a stick. He threw it to Leon and he caught it, smiling. He quickly barricaded the door, and wiped his hands. Luis smiled and walked towards them.
"Small world eh? Well, I see the President's equipped his daughter with…ballistics too." Ashley made a 'hmmph' sound.
"How rude! And I don't believe there's any relevance with my figure and my standing. Who're you?"
"Ho ho, excuse me your highness…Perhaps the young lady might want to introduce herself before asking someone his name?" Ashley scuffed her feet angrily.
"Her name's Ashley Graham, the President's daughter." Leon caught Luis' eye.
"Is she…well, you know…" Leon shook his head.
"Don't worry…she's cool." Luis shrugged and then retreated to the back of the cabin.
"Eh…nevermind. There's supposed to be some kind of obvious symptom before you turn into one of them anyway." Ashley suddenly yelled out, pointing outside of the window.
"Look!" Leon and Luis ran to the window to find the army of villagers coming from all angles, marching, holding torches. Leon cursed under his breath.
"Ashley, upstairs!" he said urgently. He pulled out his gun and then ran to the door, bracing himself. Luis spun out his weapon, a Red 9, and then smiled.
"It's game time."