9
"Hey"
Claire heard the gentle voice as it pulled her from a dreamless sleep.
"Sorry Claire, but we should start making a move..."
"Yeah..." Claire replied, a little groggy "How long was I out?"
"A little under an hour," Leon answered "I would have let you rest a little longer, but I heard footsteps"
Claire's eyes suddenly widened "No, not aga-"
"No, wait," Leon suddenly cut in "Sorry, I shouldn't have worded it that way. I meant human footsteps"
"There's someone down here?" Claire questioned.
Leon nodded slightly and looked towards a doorway lower down from where they were. "The footsteps were light and fast; I called out, but I haven't heard anything since."
Moving down a level, the pair entered a doorway which led onto a corridor filled with boilers. Claire strained her ears, trying to hear if she could pick up any more tell-tale sounds of other people, but all she could hear was the occasional hiss of steam. They both reached the end of the corridor and were awestruck when it opened onto a vast room filled with yet more boilers and walkways.
Leon let out a small whistle and moved forward onto a metal walkway. "Who would have guessed all this was under the station?" he said, as Claire approached his side. Suddenly, a flash of white caught Claire's eye and she turned to a small room to her right. A heavy cabinet was blocking the way, but she saw a small leg sticking out underneath before it suddenly disappeared.
"Leon!" Claire whispered, placing a hand on his arm. "There's a child here!"
"What?" he questioned, and they both approached the cabinet. Claire crouched low and shone her flashlight into the small gap. There, huddled tightly in the corner, sat a little girl. "Hey... It's okay," Claire started, "I won't hurt you; I promise."
Leon crouched next to Claire, but when the little girl's eyes took in his uniform, she seemed to try and push herself further into the corner. The little girl suddenly stuttered, "But...but, you're with...him..."
"Huh?" Claire questioned, looking at Leon. He shrugged back, and they both turned their attention back to the child. "Leon's a good guy... He won't hurt you."
The girl eyed the young cop and asked, "He…isn't one of the bad guys?" Her voice trembled. "Some of the cops were very bad."
Claire answered, "Not at all. Leon here has saved my butt several times already."
Leon suddenly chimed in, "And I like to eat bad guys for breakfast!"
Claire relaxed a little once she saw a smile break out on the girl's face. "Here..." Claire said, as she passed Leon her flashlight and reached into the tight gap. "You can take my hand."
The girl suddenly paled. "You...need...help..."
Claire frowned "I'm sorry, I can't understand you." she replied.
"You need help." The little girl said louder
"Why...?" Claire questioned.
"He's right behind you."
Claire swallowed, "What?" and turned along with Leon.
A tall, hideous creature stood before the pair. Something half human. The right arm huge, fleshless and distorted. Tattered remains of clothing still hung from its body, along with a white lab coat that seemed far too small for the monster.
Startled, Claire muttered "Oh my god..." under her breath as Leon jumped to his feet. As he did so, the thing that stood in front of them lunged forward, grabbing the young cop by his riot vest, throwing him over its mighty shoulder and smashing him into the metal walkway.
""LEON!" Claire cried. Turning to the little girl still hidden away, she said, "Stay in there!" and she turned back swiftly, raising her firearm when the metal walkway started to creak and groan with the weight of the creature as it continued to smash Leon's body onto the metal grating. Suddenly, it gave way and the monster and Leon fell to the floor below. Claire clung to a railing to save herself from falling along with them. She pulled herself up, scanning the floor below and saw her friend as he limped away from the beast that was staggering to its feet.
Claire tried to get a good aim at the monster, but it was impossible with the countless machines and tight corridors just below her feet. Turning again to where she hoped the girl was still hiding, Claire said, "I'll be right back!" and started to lower herself down onto the twisted metal. She jumped the last few feet and ran toward the sound of gunfire and guttural cries. She almost ran into Leon as he came swiftly around a corner. He grabbed Claire by the upper arm and pulled her along with him just as a metal pipe came crashing down on the floor in a shower of sparks.
Leon swiftly turned, and started to open fire as the creature rounded the corner. Claire raised her own pistol and joined the fight. The bullets pushed the monster back, and it suddenly dropped to a knee. The monster grabbed its head and let out an angry cry. Claire noticed its huge right bicep, which was bulging with muscles, and the pair stopped firing. "What's happening" she asked nervously, when suddenly, a giant eyeball appeared from the layers of exposed muscle on the monster's right arm.
Shocked at what he was seeing, Leon muttered "Jesus..." under his breath, and raised his pistol again. The monster let out a roar and lunged at the pair with renewed speed. "Go, GO!" Leon shouted at Claire, and he pushed her towards the pathway between the machines.
The monster followed, swinging its metal pole back and forth and smashing machines along the way. Pipes split, and hot steam started to create a blinding cloud around the area. The pair stopped and turned, ready for another assault, fully expecting the monster to be on their heels, but all they could see was a thick blanket of steam.
Claire exclaimed, "Not good!" as she threw her aim to and fro. She suddenly felt Leon's back against hers. "I've got you covered," he said over his shoulder, scanning the steam. "Move. Nice and slow."
"Gotcha," Claire replied, as she started forward into the haze. "Where'd you go?" she asked under her breath. The pair made it to a small open area when a huge red shadow dropped in front of Claire and grabbed her face, lifting her off her feet. Panic gripped her stomach as she realized she couldn't breathe.
Leon rolled forward under the arm that held Claire, and as he swiftly got to his feet, he drove a combat knife deep into the large eyeball. Orange goo spewed forth like a torrent from the creatures arm, and as it staggered backwards, it dropped Claire. The monster lashed out furiously and knocked Leon violently backward.
Claire quickly got to her feet and opened fire on the damaged eye. More of the orange goo spewed forth, and the monster roared in pain. Each bullet that made contact caused the creature to stagger further, and further backwards towards a set of railings. Leon got onto his knee and opened fire. The combined power from both firearms caused the monster to stumble backwards over the railings and into the endless darkness below.
Leon still on a knee, was trying to catch his breath when Claire said, "Are you alright?" and offered him her hand. Leon took it, and she pulled him up. Leon gripped his ribs and inhaled sharply, replying "Yeah... But I'll be surprised if my ribs aren't broken by the end of this." Taking another pained breath, he asked "Are you okay?"
Claire smiled and exhaled, "Yeah. Thanks for stopping that thing. I thought I was done for..."
Leon smiled back and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Like I said," he added, "I've got you covered."