Hey, Mr. Potassium here. Wow. This is an absolute monster of a chapter here. 34k words in total. So many words that I had to split it up not into four parts (like a regular chapter), not into six parts (like an extended chapter), but into EIGHT PARTS! Call it a special chapter. And it sure deserves the title. This chapter is a gamechanger.
Before you start reading this chapter, I just want to remind y'all that my good friend, Mattgasm, has recently released Chapter 4 with the spinoff story set in this universe. Check out Infection of the Dead: Other Side of Life! He's such an amazing and talented author and is criminally underrated!
Now that I got that message out, time to wrap up Arc 3 (Chapters 21 - 30 / Parts 85 -132)! Here is the final chapter for Arc 3!
-Day 6-
A switch clicked before a timer set to forty minutes began counting down. A security camera in the upper right corner blinked a red light as a couple of US Army soldiers left the sub-basement. On the third floor roof of the White House, a tablet lit up, showing US Army Major Massey the captured footage from the aforementioned security camera. Holding the tablet in one hand and a remote detonator in the other, Massey viewed the recording before a large explosion on the North Lawn caused him to flinch.
"FIRE!" yelled the soldier next to him.
The soldiers present with Massey fired their FIM-92 Stingers, launching surface-to-air missiles targeting the incoming enemy choppers. As Massey observed the exploding fireballs in the sky, a soldier next to Massey nudged him.
"Sir, we aren't really gonna blow this place up, right?" she asked.
"Just worry about the rockets, Private."
Smoke clouded the night sky as gunfire raged across the North Lawn. The attacking KHAN troops were slowly overwhelming the US soldiers defending the White House. Among them was Sergeant Tepper, a member of KHAN's Spectral Army and a fighter for the Nationalist Party. Accompanying Tepper were Corporal Schultz and Specialist Ilona, in addition to various other KHAN troops and mercenaries.
"East Wing's been evacuated," said Corporal Schultz. "Our forces are setting up as we speak."
"Alright. We're moving towards the target as planned," said Tepper as he turned towards the mercenaries. "Go! Go! Go!"
Tepper turned back and lowered his FAL. Ilona stiffened her posture as a general approached them.
"Don't. Not now," said the general.
"Glad you could make it, General," said Tepper.
"Be glad when the mission's over. Now, come on! Adhhab!"
Helicopters began taking off whilst firing an immense amount of flares, misguiding the rockets and missiles fired at them. Aircraft carriers and destroyers fired even more flares, protecting the helicopters flying over them.
Inside the West Wing, an Air Force pilot paced around. Explosions rumbled in the distance whilst bullets and shrapnel rapped against the windows. The lamps flickered softly with each explosion that hit the West Wing.
The pilot heard a set of approaching footsteps and turned his head. His eyes, beaming rays of hope, soon faded to a somber darkness as he identified the man whose hair was gelled back, save for a single strand, as he took some time to catch his breath whilst nervously glancing out the window.
"What is it, Edgar?" asked the pilot.
"Lieutenant…" sighed the man. "I've checked the routers and modems like you asked, and they're fine. The ports and cord lines all seem to be connected. But the phones… the phones aren't working."
"There's gotta be a way I can contact April…" said the pilot.
"Maybe there's a jammer or something. Do those exist?"
"Can't be. Otherwise, this wouldn't work," said the pilot, turning on his walkie-talkie. "Major Massey! This is First Lieutenant Leonard Andrews. Requesting sitrep!"
"You can cut the orderly bullshit, Andrews! There's hundreds of them out there! They're getting into the building way too fast!"
"Sir… are you really considering detonating the F.A.E.s?"
"Andrews! I need you focusing on these Nationalists," said Massey. "One of their squads is getting too close to the sub-basement. I-... need you-...care-... them-...!"
"Sir...? Major Massey! Major Massey, can you hear me?!"
"It's those terrorists, isn't it? They're jamming us!" cried Edgar, worry in his eyes.
"Edgar! Edgar, calm down," Andrews said with a calm, reassuring tone. "Just calm down. Tell me, where is your husband and son?"
"Outside the Oval Office. Hell of a lot of protection there."
"Alright then…" Andrews sighed, before drawing his M11 sidearm. "Go, get them out of here. Hurry!"
"But, Lieutenant…!" Edgar protested, as Andrews faced away from him with his pistol in hand.
"Just go!"
Andrews ran down the hall. Edgar stared as Andrews disappeared, and eventually turned and sprinted away into the abandoned halls with dust and small pieces of debris on the floor.
The US soldiers stationed atop the White House roof attacked the invaders relentlessly with everything they had. The various odors of gunfire and smoke filled the air. The KHAN troops struggled to push through, as US reinforcements began flanking them from the streets.
A US soldier aimed his M4A1 at a Nationalist near a tank and fired, splattering the Nationalist's brains against the armored vehicle. Another US soldier fired an M249 at a jeep carrying Nationalists, killing the driver and three passengers. A group of National Guards yelled as they fired their rifles at the parachuting attackers above them, killing them before they could land.
Andrews ran across the Palm Room and into the Center Hall, finding a group of around ten US Army soldiers moving slowly.
"Hey," whispered Andrews.
A staff sergeant wearing shades and a microphone headset turned around, facing Andrews.
"We have orders to hold position in the sub-basement until reinforcements arrive," said the pilot. "On me?"
"Negative. I've given these men the order to leave. No way I'm making 'em stay here any longer while all hell breaks loose."
The staff sergeant drew his MP5.
"Name's Vaughn. Soon as I'm done leading everyone out, I'll stay and help you hold this position. Ain't nothing like the feeling of defending this country for one last time."
Andrews gave Vaughn a respectful nod as the staff sergeant and his men trod through Center Hall. A Nationalist peeked from the North Hall, before being shot through the nose by one of the soldiers. The soldiers continued making their way to the North Hall, where they heard some footsteps running down the nearby stairs, followed by frantic chatter of a Slavic language. One of the soldiers tossed a flashbang up the stairs, which resulted in profane yelling and angry orders being shouted. The soldiers moved in and fired their rifles at the disoriented enemies, causing bodies to drop and roll down the steps, staining the red carpet and polished floor.
The small squad of US soldiers made their way up the stairs and found themselves near the Entrance Hall where they found more Nationalists coming from the East Wing, this specific group speaking Mandarin. They stopped in their tracks and prepared to fire their guns at the soldiers, but the squad were mounted, covered, and prepared. They gunned the Nationalists down.
Vaughn motioned his hand forward as they quickly passed the Entrance Hall and made their way to the Blue Room. Suddenly, a Nationalist smacked her rifle into one of the soldiers while screaming in Urdu, before the staff sergeant shoved her back into a cabinet, where she slipped and fell. Vaughn fired his weapon at the Nationalist, killing her.
"There's the exit," said the staff sergeant. "You guys can go now. Me and Leo will be back."
Vaughn then faced Andrews as the soldiers ran outside towards the South Lawn, where several helicopters, planes, and armored vehicles awaited them. Andrews swallowed hard as he looked outside before leaving the Blue Room. He led the staff sergeant down the Grand Stairs.
"Feels like every country in the world's invading us," said Andrews. "But we'll be victorious, right?"
"Yes sir. Though… shouldn't you be flying people outta here?"
"I will… but I gotta protect the people here first."
"Then you're headed back to your honey, April, right?"
"Right."
Andrews and Vaughn found corpses outside the sub-basement that belonged to their friends. One of them growled as their yellow eyes stared at the soldiers.
"Damn," whispered Andrews.
"Zombified," said Vaughn as he took out his knife. "They ain't alive anymore. Remember that."
A squelching noise came from the knife as the staff sergeant pulled it out the corpse. He then drew his MP5 again and prepared to walk inside the sub-basement.
He kicked the door open. Tepper, Schultz, Ilona, and the general turned around as Andrews and Vaughn aimed their guns at them. The timer was ticking down next to them. Thirty-five minutes and seven seconds were left. It didn't count down.
"Get on your knees! Now!" yelled Andrews.
A static sound emitted from Andrew's walkie-talkie.
"...-ndrews, can you hear me? Andrews, do you copy?"
"I copy! It's a relief to hear you again, Major."
"Likewise. I've sent Palmer and Russ to assist. They should be there any minute now. Apprehend these Nationalist assholes and take 'em up outside. We're having a friendly chat with them."
"What about the FAEs?" asked Andrews.
"I need you to rearm them. Afterwards, you'll be able to go home and see April."
"Alright."
At that moment, two armed US soldiers entered the sub-basement and joined Andrews and Vaughn in aiming their guns towards the Nationalists. The pilot and staff sergeant exchanged a nod before approaching the four enemies.
"We're gonna need help tying these assholes," said Vaughn. "Private Russ, you take the—"
One of the rifles suddenly turned and a gunshot went off. Vaughn dropped to the floor with a hole through the back of his head. Andrews turned and dropped his M9. He gulped as he raised his hands.
"What the hell?" yelled Massey.
"On your knees," Russ growled.
As Andrews failed to comply, Russ turned his rifle and shot the pilot in the leg.
"I said on your knees!"
Andrews yelled in pain as he dropped to the floor. The general smiled.
"Russ! The fuck's gotten into you! Tell me what the fuck is happening!"
"No hard feelings, Major," said Russ mockingly as he approached Vaughn's corpse, before putting two more rounds into the staff sergeant's head. "And it's Russett, prick."
"Major!" Andrews screamed, in spite of his injury. "Major, find April! Tell her I-"
Palmer suddenly kicked Andrews before crouching down and placing a knife to Andrews' neck.
"Talk, and I slit your throat, clear?" said Palmer.
Andrews did his best to nod, wincing as the blade dug into his flesh.
"You know who I am?" asked the general as he faced the camera.
"Salah al-Mossad al-Abu Ibrahim. Butchered the pronunciation, 'cause you're a real asshole."
General Salah Ibrahim smiled at the camera. Major Massey looked at the detonator in his hand. He gulped as the Nationalists began fleeing the White House.
"So you know what I do. But there is something new about me that I need you to know. I am no longer a nationless commander leading a pack of lone wolves. I pledged allegiance to KHAN. The one nation that will survive the end of times. The one nation that has destroyed your empire. May Krissen and her people be blessed with paradise in the world after. Nova Terra. We are specter of the apocalypse. Your nation has fallen to us… the Spectral Army… serving the Nationalist Party of KHAN… under Krissen Heikkinen."
Tepper and Schultz picked up Andrews as he struggled to fight back.
"Survive. May you be blessed. Don't mind if we take him with us."
General Ibriham raised his Makarov and shot the camera, causing the live video recording to turn into static. Then, a crunch was heard from the walkie-talkie. Major Massey shivered as he dropped the detonator, looking out into the capital. A few fighter planes passed by and carpet-bombed the city. They were F-16s. Whether they were friendly or not— he was unable to tell.
Chapter 30: No Turning Back
I - Home Invasion
-Present Day-
One of the two entrance doors opened, letting in the soft breeze of the windy night into the White House. Eyes and gun barrels stared inside the building as the dim lamps on the walls lit up the hallways, leaving only the corners and edges of the walls covered in shadows. Each group member took a slow step forward, aiming their weapons around. Their eyes spotted no tripwires, no mines, no motion sensors. Only the beanbag chair in the center of the Entrance Hall.
David turned around and stared down the iron sights to his M9 as he peeked around outside. He then closed the door.
The door to the East Bedroom opened. Jeffrey, Clyde, Lana, and Lily entered the room, with Lana holding her sister's hand, trying her best to seem unafraid.
"No more decora-shuns?" asked Lily.
"We'll decorate later," said Clyde. "For the time being, I need you two to hide under the bed."
"Where are you two gonna be?" asked Lana. "Still in this room, right?"
"Yeah, we'll be in the uh…"
Clyde looked around as Jeffrey walked over to a wardrobe closet. He opened it up, finding dirt-stained shirts with sweat stains on the floor. He gulped as Clyde walked to the closet.
"...closet! Oh, geez, that's small."
"I am going to find Lisa," said Jeffrey. "Hide in the closet."
"It's dangerous out there!" said Clyde.
"It is more dangerous to keep Lisa out there."
Jeffrey motioned Clyde to step into the closet. Clyde went inside, coughing and gagging.
"Sorry, Clyde," said Lana bashfully. "If there was a way to wash my clothes, I would…. how about we just leave it at a sorry?"
"Apology accepted," groaned Clyde.
Jeffrey closed the closet, peering into the linear holes that ran across the top of the wooden furniture.
"Are you able to breathe?" he asked.
"Yeah. Through my mouth," said Clyde with a nasal voice. "Are you sure you don't need me for backup?"
"No need. God is watching my back."
Clyde let out a cough and a nervous laugh.
"Hopefully God is watching my back too. And everyone else's. He is, right? Right, Jeffrey? Jeffrey?"
The unmade bed and unkempt floor were the only things visible by the illumination of the moonlight through the window. The room was dark. Clyde's muffled voice could be heard from the closet.
"Jeffrey…"
"He left, you dingus," said Lana, her voice coming from under the bed. "Now, quiet. Try to go to sleep if you can."
"Aww man."
"Quiet, dingus," whispered Lily before letting out a soft giggle.
Clyde released his fingers from his nose and sat down on the pungent clothes. He suddenly heard some static in his head. He gasped and pressed a finger against his left ear.
"Lincoln?"
"Shush, Clyde!" exclaimed Lana.
"I'm talking with Lincoln through my earpiece-slash-microphone!"
Lincoln looked around the dimly lit Situation Room. He placed his hands down on one end of a long wooden table surrounded by swivel chairs as the light from the monitors on the walls shined on him, each monitor showing a live recording from the cameras in the White House, except one of the monitors in the center of the wall, which was pitch-black. It was on, but it was a black screen. Ronnie Anne sat on the other side of the table, her arms crossed and her eyes lingering on the monitor behind Lincoln. Lincoln turned around and saw the group walking around the Entrance Hall.
"I'm sorry, Lincoln, what were you saying?"
"Everyone's here," said Lincoln. "Everyone except… George, Becky, and Hana. I don't see them outside."
"Dang. Are you sure you can see everything?"
Lincoln looked around. Some of the monitors showed static.
"Nope. Some of the cameras are just… gone. But I can see them."
"Who? The cannibals?"
"Yeah. And I see Carol back in the armory… she's putting on some riot gear. She's way over her head again. I also see Lisa."
"What is she doing?"
The white mouse squirmed its head as it tried to free itself from Lisa's white latex gloves. The long syringe needle showed its sharp, pointy tip which caused the mouse to squirm harder.
"I'm very remorseful it has come to this," said Lisa, "but the lack of time requires me to deliver the new version of the NIRT cure through inoculation. I hope you can forgive me for the stingful pain you're about to receive."
Lisa pressed the syringe needle against the neck of the mouse, next to its stitched cut, where the blood of Reiji was poured against the mouse's will. The mouse flailed its legs and tail as the dose of the new test vaccine entered its bloodstream. Lisa quickly took out the needle and wrapped the mouse's neck with a bandage before releasing the mouse back into its cage and closing it, placing the syringe down on the table next to the test tubes where more of the test medicine was located before removing her gloves. Her glasses lowered down her nose before she placed them back up, wiping the sweat off her nose. She turned around and saw Kimi sitting by the door, her eyes staring at the girl genius.
"What are you looking at?" said Lisa as she walked towards the door. "Move away from the door. Shoo, shoo."
Kimi remained seated as Lisa opened up the door, placing her hand on the pistol in her pocket.
"Oh, crap."
The hallways were dark. The carpet near the entrance of the laboratory was barely lit by the dim lamps inside the lab, showing only Lisa's long shadow on the floor. She closed the door and locked it with a deadbolt. She ran past the long whiteboard and lowered herself under the tabletop of the large desks, opening a drawer. The red orb below the camera continued to blink. Lisa grabbed a bottle of lye labeled 'KOH.' She opened it and squirted the bottle on the drawer before closing it. She then opened another drawer and went inside the long hollow space inside the desk, closing both drawers as the lye began to dissolve spots of the wooden drawers. Light entered the hollow area, reflecting off of Lisa's glasses, and revealing her terrified blue eyes.
She then heard scratching noises against the drawers. She looked out the hole, her eyeball meeting Kimi's anxious eyes.
"Fine, you can come in."
Lisa opened up one of the drawers and allowed Kimi to jump inside the drawer before she closed it. The dog leaned against Lisa, snuggling her head across her neck.
"You have to remain quiet, no matter what, okay?"
Kimi licked Lisa in the cheek and continued to snuggle up against her while panting loudly.
"You don't understand me, right? Well, my Japanese is a little rusty, but here goes nothing. Shizukani... shite kuda...sai."
The dog closed its mouth and simply lay on Lisa's chest, blinking at the light coming through the hole.
"You're very well-mannered, you know that?" whispered Lisa. "If I could offer you a reward in the form of doggie snacks, I would. But not at this current moment. Just… not… now."
Their footsteps lightly pressed against the polished floors as they looked around. The blinking red dots flashed as Calvin looked around the bright Cabinet Room, his group of cannibals diverging around the long elliptical table. He grabbed his walkie-talkie.
"Calvin to Arlington, is anyone there?"
"I'm here," said a raspy female voice. "Look, Calvin. We couldn't trap the group—"
"Fuck that. I don't care anymore. If they got in, they got in. My question is… can you guys make sure they stay in?"
"You don't want us going inside the White House?"
"If you saw a curly-haired blonde woman with a red overcoat on, what would you do?"
"We'll hold her at gunpoint. We won't kill her if that's what you wanna know."
"That's… great. But that's not what I wanted to know. People of Arlington. Do any of you know what Lori or any of her people look like? Of course not. You never saw them. For your information… madam… I was talking about the beautiful Nora Roper."
"Aww. I'm flattered," smiled Nora.
Calvin flashed a quick smile at her.
"So you want us to surround the building? Cover all exits?"
"Yes. Exactly what I want you people to do."
"Got it, Mr. Reed. Out."
Calvin placed the walkie-talkie back inside the pocket of his denim jacket. Guillermo nudged him.
"Aren't you gon' talk to the guys downstairs?"
"Oh yeah."
Suddenly, the lights went out.
Lincoln and Ronnie Anne gasped as they looked at the dark room, the monitors being their only source of light. Clyde and Lana felt the heater turn off. Jeffrey stopped jogging as he pressed his hands against the walls of the East Colonnade, finding himself surrounded in the absence of light. The light reflecting off of Lisa's glasses faded away as she was alone in the darkness of the drawer with Kimi. Carol, placing the fingerless gloves on her hand raised her head as the lights turned off, leaving the armory covered in moonlight and darkness. Lori and David moved closer as the darkness caused the group to be more alert. They looked at the Cross Hall in the middle of the first floor, staring at the Christmas lights.
Calvin smiled. He continued walking ahead, leading the group towards the exit of the Cabinet Room. He stepped outside the room and looked at the corridor that led to the Oval Office. He whistled slowly as he slowly began to walk down the corridor, raising the ACE-23 as his whistling echoed around.
"The hell happened to the lights?" asked Jace.
"I-I don't know," whispered Lori. "Someone must be down in the sub-basement."
"Right," said Benny. "It's them. The power circuit's down there. They're trying to frickin' mess with us."
"Just like when they froze our water filter," said Luna.
"Yeah, that was so cold of them," said Luan.
"We're heading to the armory," whispered Lori. "Then the sub-basement. Try to keep your voices down."
The red, blue, green, and yellow Christmas lights glimmered across the rooms and arched down away from the ceilings, hanging like branches. The group slowly entered the Grand Staircase and took light, soft steps down the carpeted stairwell. The colorful lights blinked on and off, each bulb switching colors as the group members passed by them.
The air was still. Each survivor held their breath as they descended into the Ground Floor, looking at the walls of the Center Hall. The long southern hallway was covered in Christmas lights as well, but instead of a quick blinking motion, the lights slowly faded into darkness before illuminating again in a gentle and quiet manner.
David slowly peeked down the North Hall from the corner of a wall. The North Hall had shelves filled with papers and folders, some of which were littered across the floor. David faded into the darkness along with the lights. Then, the lights illuminated themselves, carefully revealing David aiming his suppressed M9 towards the end of the North Hall. He walked more quickly, though his steps were still light, and Lori followed right behind him.
Dana's Glock-17 shook nervously in Bobby's hands, with sweat forming from around the pistol's grip. Bobby took a deep breath before wiping some of the perspiration off his face. Luna struggled to keep her Smith Wesson MP steady without being able to hum one of her calm and soothing melodies. Sam gulped as she swapped shoulders with her AR-15, checking the relatively closed confines of the North Hall through the scope of her rifle. Jace followed close behind, eyeing potential blind spots with his Px4 in hand. Benny and Luan entered the Basement Hall under the North Portico with their swords raised. Luan's lips quivered as the lights appeared again. Benny nudged and faced her.
"It's okay," he mouthed.
"Okay," she mouthed back.
Preston raised Becky's Glock 17 as the group approached the Carpenter's Shop, where all sorts of weaponry awaited them. Lynn and Vonda were behind the group, holding their bow and arrows, when they suddenly heard footsteps echoing from the Grand Staircase. The group quickly went into the armory as Lynn and Vonda hid behind the walls in the North Hall.
The footsteps got faster and louder. A small grunt could be heard as a cannibal walked past the North Hall. Another pair of footsteps followed the cannibal. The lights flashed on again as Vonda kept her back against the wall, turning from the back of the wall to the front, with her arms extended out as she held an arrow in her hand. She slammed the arrow against the second cannibal, driving it through her ears as her head slammed against the wall. The first cannibal turned around and was quickly shot between his eyes by an arrow. His body fell back and slammed against the polished floor as Lynn slowly came out of the North Hall.
The lights dimmed as the squelching sound of an arrow piercing flesh was heard. The lights illuminated again with David coming out of the armory and Lynn wiping the blood from her arrow.
"Jesus, Vonda," whispered David. "What happened to you?"
"No… it's cool," whispered Jace. "She's done stuff like this. For like months, man. Just… just leave her be, okay?"
Jace walked back into the armory as Lynn and Vonda walked past David. He exhaled a large breath before walking inside the armory.
"They're not gonna do it," said Ronnie Anne.
"They are," said Lincoln.
"They aren't."
"Are."
"Not."
Lincoln sighed as he turned around. He saw Ronnie Anne looking away from the monitor that displayed the armory.
"Why do you gotta rain on my parade like that?" asked Lincoln.
"I just don't want you raising your expectations. A lot of hope is dangerous."
"But it doesn't kill," said Lincoln. "Can't kill to have a little hope."
"Right. Well, I hope that Carol can kill all the cannibals by herself. Because walking around in a group like that? Uh uh. Too slow. Too risky."
"So going alone— all Rambo on them— is the best choice? Nice job— throwing logic out the freaking window."
"Shut up."
"Is there anyone there? Can anyone hear me?"
Lincoln pressed against his earpiece.
"Bobby! Oh, man! It's me— Lincoln!"
"Lincoln, bro! Are you okay?"
"Yeah! So is Ronnie Anne! She's in here with me! We're in the Situation Room, and guess what. We're watching you guys."
"Watching us? How?"
Another voice spoke through Lincoln's earpiece.
"Cameras, bro," said Clyde. "Also, this isn't a one-way chat. Everybody should have one of these bad boys on."
Lori placed her AK down on one of the tables before grabbing an earpiece and, after inserting it inside her left ear, pressed against it.
"Can you hear me, Lincoln?"
"Hear you loud and clear, Lori. Is there enough for everyone?"
"No. There's only one left."
Lori looked at David.
"Take it."
"Well, that's good, actually. If you guys are gonna stick together, then there's no point in everyone getting an earpiece. It'd be distracting to hear so many whispers anyways."
"So you mentioned being in the Situation Room? What's—"
"What's the situation like?" interrupted Luan. "Sorry, I had to."
Lori let out an annoyed sigh.
"Can you give me a sitrep?"
"Sitrep? I'm your eyes and ears! Look, these cameras even have night-vision!"
"I literally can't see them, Lincoln."
"Oh, right. Anyways, some of these cameras are down, like the ones in the sub-basement. But the only cannibals I've enter and leave are the two Vonda just killed."
"Well, we're gonna check it out," said Lori. "You might be our eyes in the dark, but I just need the lights on. I can't deal with the dark. None of us can. Y-You understand."
"Yeah. I completely do. Knock yourself out."
Lori slowly stepped out of the armory with a black bulletproof vest around her chest, elbow pads, knee pads, forearm and shin pads, black combat boots, and a black helmet with the image of the Nova Terra flag on the back. Everyone else walked out of the armory and followed Lori, all armored up like her, with some wearing the colors of the dark-clad KHAN soldiers or that of the green and brown camouflage clothed U.S. military soldiers.
"Keep talking to me. Where… is… Calvin?"
"In the Oval Office. He's got a whole group of cannibals backing him up. But you guys can beat 'em, right?"
Lori approached the Grand Staircase. She walked down the revolving steps, her eyes meeting the eyes of her group members.
"With this group? Definitely."
The group followed her down the dark steps into the sub-basement, where the lack of Christmas lights added a true sense of darkness.