So I'm back with another chapter for viewing! I'll be honest, I was really torn between writing this, Mass Effect, Gears, Zom 100, or Death Bed…or even a peek at an alternate Rising from the Embers which blew up with reviews on that last chapter! Ah, or maybe Final Fantasy 7! So many ideas and possibilities!
But! I've managed to avoid something monstrous for as long as possible. Also, this isn't a copy and paste right out of 'No Hope No Escape' I've rewritten the whole thing. Obviously I can't fit a whole story into one chapter, but this will be a small slice of Raccoon City with a variant of Wendy Marvell from the 137 group of universes. She'll be damn close, but not quite.
Now, onto the words for your eyeholes!
Chapter Six: Raccoon City
Several minutes had passed since the last viewing as the guild bubbled with conversation, many of them going over the last two universes.
"I really hope we don't ever see a pervert like that again. That bee guy made no sense!" Laki complained, the wood make mage unleashing a light huff as she retook her seat.
Laxus gave a simple nod, the blonde and broad shouldered man still unnerved. "Have to agree with you on that. Complete psycho"
"What we should be doing is finding out how Levy stole my future husband" Glaring daggers at Levy, Juvia started to form a water ball in her open hand.
"Like I've said a dozen times in the last three minutes, Juvia. I'm not trying to steal Gray from you" Explaining with a slight stress of her voice, the script mage rubbed her temple. "I completely understand how Lucy feel's"
"Hmph! Juvia will keep an eye on you" Swiftly turning and pointing toward Cana, the water mage was still unhinged. "And you! An obvious rival!"
Cana leaned forward from her bar seat, pressing an open palm to her cleavage. "Hey! I was married to Natsu last time! That makes me not a love rival!" Wilting, her head hung in embarrassment. "I can't believe I was married to Natsu…"
"Yeah! I bet our house had a big pond with lots of fish for me!"
"Hell yeah, buddy!" High fiving, Natsu and Happy grinned while Lisanna gave a slight giggle.
"You're not helping!"
Hisui cleared her throat, the royal queen setting down a chilled glass of water dripping with condensation. "While it was fascinating to witness a version of Magnolia with further advancements…which will be researched, I believe another viewing is in order. Mira? Would you please activate the device?"
"You bet!" Obviously hopeful, Mira hit the green button as Wendy clasped her hands together. "I hope it's a nice, friendly reality! Maybe one where I'm older!"
"Don't be in such a rush, Wendy. There are many years for you to develop and grow. But, I must admit it would be interesting to see your development as a mage when you reach full adulthood" Sitting down on Wendy's lap, Carla knew Wendy was a kind soul that could never hurt anybody.
Flaring with blue lines in the familiar patterns across the numerous sides, the cube lenses danced with light, then projected the next timeline for the guild to see.
Several buildings burned out of control, belching fire, ash and embers into the falling night sky. Toward the northern edge of the city, snarls of traffic had become a nightmare of wrecks and stalled vehicles upon the Arklay Bridge, the roadway covered in broken glass and several smaller fires that smoldered.
Near the Raccoon City Zoo, a fuel truck burned, the gasoline having traveled to a nearby apartment complex that raged with infernal heat.
Rapidly zooming in on the congested streets, an older, portly man ran, his face covered in a sheen of sweat. Behind him, several people staggered, their faces gaunt and lifeless. Turning, the main raised a pistol and fired as he came to a blocked off road, the crumple of cars blocking his path. "S..STAY BACK YOU MONSTERS!" Firing, a round struck a woman in the chest, but she simply groaned before advancing, her pale eyes locked onto the survivor.
The man next to her was missing an arm, the tendrils of flesh exposed as the trio of infected walked forward into the gunfire, none caring about the damage done.
"NO! DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!" Firing again and again into the group of walking corpses, the man's gun ran dry as the monsters enclosed.
"NO! NO…AUUGHH!" Screaming in pain as the woman bit into his neck, the large man was dragged down as the creatures began to feed, the sounds of his screams fading as they ate and feasted.
Lucy gasped, bringing a few fingers to her mouth in horror. "Oh no…"
"Are those zombies? Like from horror stories?" Freed asked, the man slightly gulping as the zombies continued to feast with unending gusto.
"I'll change it" Levy said simply, her hand moving to the red button of the cube.
"Wait" Makarov instructed, the guild master disturbed, but holding up his right palm in explanation.
"Master?"
"Levy. I have a sinking suspicion that if you sever the connection, the next universe will be just like this one. Just like what occurred with that monstrous Turkey Face. No matter what, we will be forced to watch whatever transpires here. I believe the cube…it will force our hand if it so desires. Most likely a feature the initial constructor installed"
"That's probably a good assumption" Erza added, the red head trying not to show her disturbance after watching a man get eaten alive just a minute prior.
"The view is changing" Pantherlily pointed out, the exceed standing tall and firm on the table.
Two women ran quickly down a residential street, the row of two story homes either dark, abandoned, or having several zombies trying to break through the windows.
Moving swiftly and silently, one of the women was a tall blonde with short hair in a bob cut. Wearing a burgundy pant suit, a harness of supporting straps covered her exterior coat, allowing the woman to holster a shotgun on her back. Also gripping a handgun, the woman had a hip holster along with another side pouch on her left hip, no doubt holding spare ammunition.
Watching carefully for zombies, she half looked at the nearby elementary school, her senses stressed as several zombies loitered near the building.
Next to her was a younger female, perhaps fifteen or sixteen years old. Wearing dark pants with several pockets, the girl had heavy boots that looked thick and sturdy for hiking or rough terrain. What could be seen of her shirt was green, but that was covered by a sort of body armor already splattered with some crimson gore. A bluish, metal bat hung from her back, attached via a light magnetic plate weaved into the back of the armor. Over her left breast was a sheathed blade, the knife about six inches long judging by the length. Around her waist was a belt with several pouches, including a large one on her left hip. Near the pouch was a holster, holding a firearm while a second holster on her right hip sat empty, the weapon gripped firmly in her hands that were covered by fingerless gloves.
With her hair tied in a single ponytail, the blue strands flowed like water as Wendy Marvell slowed, the two approaching a school bus at an intersection. Numerous cars had been pancaked beneath the large vehicle, preventing further advancement…not that the two could. Several zombified children fed on a presumed teacher, the little ghouls shoveling ripped flesh into their mouths as they grunted and fed.
Several noticed the two humans, the infected rising as numerous bites and wounds revealed themselves.
"Shit" Lightly cursing, Wendy looked to her left, the alleyway populated with fewer of the undead.
"Hurry, this way!" Breaking into a run, both females sprinted away from the minor horde of the kids, often weaving past a few adult zombies that groaned in pathetic hunger for flesh. "There! The Apple Inn!" Racing toward the gate, both of them pushed the heavy wooden door open as the dead gave chase, the number now over two dozen as they came from numerous directions of the side street.
"Come on! Close you fucker!" Pushing with all their strength, the gate finally swung shut on groaning hinges. Finding the locking latch, Wendy yanked it into the lock, sealing the gate.
Flames licked at numerous floors of the hotel, engulfing several sections as embers rose into the night among the howls of the undead now thumping at the heavy gate, its thick wood and metal bandings old, but sturdy.
A rasp came from the central fountain, the lone zombie staggering on his approach. Missing part of his face, it was obvious how he became infected.
"I'll deal with it, Alyssa" Unslinging her bat, Wendy gripped it tight as the zombie approached, its stagger almost drunken. Rushing forward, Wendy jabbed the zombie in the chest with her bat, throwing it off balance before striking at the left knee. A crunch of bone and cartilage poked out of the torn pants, not that the girl wasted time. Getting around the zombie, she swung at its head, cracking the cranium in a sickening blow. Clearly not dead yet, Wendy struck again, smashing her bat into the head, caving in the skull. Falling to the stone pathway near the fountain, Wendy stepped on its back, her face showing nothing but hate as she brought it down in one, final blow of crunching cartilage and bone.
"No way…IS THAT ME!?" Wendy asked with incredulous shock, her eyes wide.
"It can't be! That city isn't Magnolia at all! She just has to be some girl that looks like you, right?" Lucy asked the guild, hoping that she was right.
"Yeah! We saw that sign, Raccoon City Zoo! This is just some poor girl that looks like an older Wendy!" Gajeel explained, the slayer looking around for support.
"You're all missing the point! The point is those two women are trapped in a city filled with zombies!" Cosmos nearly shouted, the plant mage and knight already disturbed by the fact they had to watch such events unfold.
"….Will admit she took down that zombie pretty fast" Gildarts mentioned, the crash mage then going silent with the rest of Fairy Tail.
Alyssa took a deep breath, her gaze falling upon the left portion of the Apple Inn now engulfed in flames. Debris was blown outward from the boiler room, the doorway nothing but fire, making it impassable. Trying to steady herself, she glanced at Wendy, the girl crouching over the corpse. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Checking his pockets…ah ha!" Holding up a gold plated lighter, the younger female flipped it open, getting a small flame to burn before closing it and shoving it in a pocket. "Never know when you'll need a lighter"
"Not wrong about that" lightly lifting her hand to block the nearby heat, Alyssa's gaze was firm as it set upon the lone door in the far left corner of the courtyard. "Alright. We get through this hotel to Apple Street, then down Elm. That will put us near Main and the Police Department"
"And just a whole city of nightmares and horrors in the way, should be a piece of cake" Checking her firearm, Wendy gripped it tight as the two slowly approached the door set in the northwest corner of the yard.
"Your confidence is my muse, really" Obviously sarcastic, Alyssa slowed as the left wing of the building blazed and burned behind them, the fire spewing ash and embers into the night air.
Gripping the doorknob while Alyssa covered her, Wendy pushed into the hotel, her firearm instantly raised.
Several places along the interior wall were on fire, the blaze licking while spewing glowing embers upon the two women. Fifteen feet before them, the corridor turned to the right, following the U-shaped layout of the entire structure. Eyeing the door set at the corner, both females approached with slow steps. Checking the corner as more heat pulsed from the flames, Wendy moved into the open corridor.
"grrahhh…glarrngg…"
Moans came from the trio of undead, one of them shambling forward with half her body burned beyond recognition. Another was missing his right arm, the limb obviously ripped off by something as they homed in on the living flesh.
Snapping up her pistol, Wendy used the laser sight to place a red dot on the closest corpse. Squeezing the trigger, light and noise filled the corridor as the zombie's head snapped back, the bullet boring through the brain. Collapsing in a pile of ruin, the other two zombies continued to advance along the corridor in a mindless shuffle.
Two gunshots rang out from Alyssa, the blonde uttering a small curse as the first round furrowed through the burnt zombie's neck, causing it to haphazardly tilt to the left in a sickening bob of torn sinew and charred meat. However, the second put the monster down, leaving the last for Wendy.
Firing, the zombie had stumbled, causing the bullet to rip away part of the jaw.
"Dammit" Lightly cursing, the young woman reacquired her aim and put the second round through the brain, leaving the corridor smelling of burnt flesh, cordite, and fire.
"How are you on ammo?" Alyssa inquired, the woman approaching that first door. Checking the knob, it didn't budge, simply rattling before stepping back.
"About two magazines left, and four for my magnum. You?" Wiping a few beads of sweat from her brow, Wendy slowly advanced, stepping over the zombie bodies without a care.
"About twenty and five shells for my shotgun"
"Understood" Speaking with focused understanding, the two checked the next corner of the hallway, finding several splotches of fire consuming the wall around a door immediately to their left. Peeling paint and wallpaper flicked and curled, the flames continuing to eat the material as Wendy opened the door, the girl covered by Alyssa as they stepped into what appeared to be the lounge stairwell.
More fires burned in the corner by some furniture, the cushioning of the couches and chairs easy kindling. In the same corner, a body burned while trapped under a table, the corpse groaning and flailing in pathetic movements.
Starting to raise her pistol, Alyssa aimed at the creature's head, only to have her arm pulled down by Wendy. "Leave it. Unless it manages to rip free, its harmless" Walking toward the stairway on the right side of the room, the carpet was lush and full…despite numerous bloodstains. Right near the bottom steps was a wall map, showing the entire layout of the hotel.
"Graahnnn…"
"Okay, we're here…the corridor to the lobby was locked, and fires are everywhere" Trying to plan a route, Wendy gave up as more sweat beaded along her brow. "We should try getting to the security office. There's an emergency ladder that drops right into the lobby. It's on the next floor"
Alyssa studied Wendy's tracing finger, the older woman consenting, her face showing several smudges of soot. "Might find some supplies there too. Alright, let's go" Taking the first step up the stairs, both women kept a slow pace, keeping their weapons at the ready. Reaching the second floor landing, they found the stairs to the third floor reeling with several small fires, something neither wanted to traverse unless absolutely necessary. Opening the plain wooden door, they came face to face with a near wall of a small inferno blocking the short path to the security office fifteen feet away.
"Damn" lightly cursing as both women backed up from the heat, they turned at the sounds of another zombie approaching from the open corridor. "Come on, maybe we can get around" Pulling her trusty, blue bat, Wendy stalked forward as the zombie groaned.
"She must be so scared" Wendy quivered as her older self commenced to bash in the lone zombie's skull with extreme violence.
"Doesn't really look scared. More like angry. But judging by how horrible this place is, maybe she's just gotten used to dealing with walking corpses already" Erza pointed out, but not liking what she said. "Getting used to zombies would imply extreme desensitization to horror and suffering, especially in a child"
"At least she's not panicking, because I know I probably would" Bisca admitted, the mother shielding Asuka's eyes from the hellish place.
Natsu cocked his head, then suddenly spoke as he watched the two continue down the corridor licking with fire. "I wonder why she doesn't use her magic?"
Gray perked up his head, the ice mage hating that his rival made a good point. But clearly, the mood wasn't right for such foolishness. "I hate to admit it, but Natsu does have a point. If this is some sort of older Wendy Marvell, why not just use wind magic? That would be easy against all the monsters and fire"
"We still don't know if this is Wendy from Earthland. She could just be a native that is nearly identical. We've already witnessed a few worlds without magic so this could be the case. I just hope these two can reach safety" Master Makarov said with hope, the old man hating that anybody, let along a teenager had to face this nightmare.
Wendy and Alyssa had traversed the entire length of the hotel hallway, the corridor wrapping around in a large square. Finally reaching the security room from the other side, the nearby flames burned hot, but far enough that they hadn't reached the door…yet. Made of metal, the door looked to be relatively new and unblemished despite the charring of the nearby wall. Set in said wall to the right was an electronic lock, the piece of technology glowing red.
Trying the handle, Alyssa's brow furrowed in fresh annoyance, the woman pinching her nose. "Of course we need a keycard. Why would it be easy?"
"Could be in one of the rooms?" Wendy shrugged, the girl taking a step back as a gust of embers blew her way.
"Or on some zombie…or just gone"
Face forming into a hard line of resolve, Wendy started walking back as Alyssa joined her a moment later. Checking another door, it simply rattled, then jounced as moans and rasps came from the other side. Backing up quickly, both women turned and sprinted away, not wanting to deal with the dead beyond. Rounding the corner, they heard the sickening crack of wood, along with the increased volume of moans and gasps from the infected. Sparing a quick glance, five of the dead had emerged, the corpses shambling like a virus.
Moving faster, Wendy ducked into the rear stairwell, the bottom steps piled with furniture and haphazard items in a failed attempt by the previous guests. Heading upward, fire and ash flared among the walls, the heat making both sweat as they hurried. Coming to the top landing, they entered the third floor hallway, the left hand path completely engulfed by a terrible inferno. Turning at the corner, they passed a single door, and found the northern hallway also reeling with fire…along with several bodies emerging from the flames. The zombies were near skeletal, their flesh and features long unrecognizable as they ambled forward with insidious groans of hunger.
Raising her firearm, Wendy fired two shots, bringing down the first, burning corpse. But four more were approaching, their damaged throats rasping among drunken staggers. Firing again, she killed a second, the bullet blowing off the top of the burned skull in a sickening burst.
"There's too many! In here!" Yanking Wendy by the wrist, Alyssa pulled the younger woman along.
Knowing they would soon be trapped between two minor hordes, the women went for the only option. Practically throwing the door of the hotel room open, both surged inside just as the first zombies emerged from the stairwell.
Slamming it shut, Wendy locked it, but she knew it wouldn't be enough. "The dresser! Get it against the door!" Moving quickly, both women put their all into it, pushing the heavy piece of furniture against the door in record time.
"That won't hold them for long" Alyssa pointed out, her clothes now covered in patches of soot.
"Then we fill the doorway with bodies" Voice taught and stressed, Wendy aimed her pistol at the door, the tiny red dot wavering as Alyssa pulled her shotgun. Leveling it at the now jouncing door, the long weapon sported a pistol grip as both women grew tense.
The press of bodies broke the hinges, popping off as the door slid sideways, giving the first zombie the chance to crawl over the hasty barricade. Rasping, the former woman was missing half her face, the ragged skin pallid and hanging loose in strands of flesh.
Wendy fired, putting a bullet through the left eye, the orb bursting from the passage as two more zombies started to crawl over the first, their hunger insatiable as their mouths opened in vile groans. Their heads exploded in a hellish spew of brain matter and red paste, Alyssa firing the Mossberg shotgun almost point blank into the dead, creating a larger pile.
Attempting to crawl over the zombies, a fourth and fifth grasped, their skeletal arms licking with fire as flesh continued to fall and cook in a vile stench of burning meat.
Wendy fired four more times, eventually putting the walking corpses out of their misery. Keeping her shooter stance, the girl narrowed her gaze as three more zombies converged at the door, trampling their brethren.
Roaring again as the cone of shot ripped through flesh and bone, Alyssa grunted in satisfaction as two of the zombies fell, damage to their brains too much as they twitched in the hallway.
"graahhhnnn"
"Eat shit and die" Firing once more, it was a clean headshot, blowing the skull backwards in a rancid spray of gore that splattered the far wall beyond the door.
Aside from the crackling fire, smoke and embers, nothing moved as Wendy slowly lowered her aim, the female wincing. "Well, we aren't getting back out that way unless you want to crawl over half burnt corpses"
"No thanks" Racking her shotgun, the spent shell flew away in a lazy arc, the blonde shaking her head in disappointment "Hated using those shells. Shit" Walking toward the bathroom, Alyssa nudged the door open with her foot, then peaked in. "Nothing aside from towels and toilet paper"
Seeing no other exit aside from the bathroom, Wendy walked to the open window, the young woman leaning out.
"There's a ledge. I think we can walk it"
Alyssa peaked out a moment later, finding there was a narrow ledge. Glancing back toward the barricade and multiple bodies, she steeled her nerves.
"I'll go first" Slinking through the window, Alyssa found her footing, the burgundy suited reporter sliding to the right along the ledge. Making room for Wendy, the girl followed…just as another zombie staggered toward the dresser, the larger man completely naked as numerous bites covered his pale flesh.
"Fuck…this is such a bad idea" Gulping, Wendy moved from the window, the young woman pressing her back against the cool brick of the inn.
"Better to keep moving" Alyssa commented as she sidestepped, each movement slow and deliberate.
The cries of the dying city washed over the two as they sidestepped along the narrow ledge, eventually coming to the corner of the building. Numerous fires, the flashes of abandoned police cruisers and fire trucks, along with the screams mixed with gunshots filled the air, a cacophony of death and destruction.
"Okay. I'd be terrified to do that! I mean, one bad step and your dead, right!?" Lucy asked in a bit of fear and horror.
"She killed so many zombies! I'd be terrified!" Hisui admitted, the queen unashamed of her statement.
A fresh yell drew their attention back to the image along the guild wall.
"Dammit! Dammit!" A young man yelled, his left arm bleeding profusely from a ragged bite. Running along the sidestreet along the hotel's property, he carried a metal pipe, the material slightly bent. Halting as a few zombies approached, he swung at the closest, cracking the head…but there were simply too many. Surrounded by nearly a dozen, the man tried to run north, only to come face to face with a snarl of traffic blocking the road.
A zombie latched on, then bit down at the joining of neck and shoulder. Ripping a piece of flesh from the man, he screamed as more of the zombies enclosed to feed.
Wendy and Alyssa watched the whole thing unfold from the ledge, neither trying to help or call out. Still screaming and writhing in agony, the two moved on toward the next window.
"It's open" Talking quietly, Alyssa slipped in, her pistol raised immediately for new threats. Finding none, she assisted Wendy, the girl showing relief.
"Let's check for supplies" Glancing toward the main door, Wendy could see the glow of fire beneath the crack, not that she was eager to walk into hell. Panning her vision to the right, a hole was broken into the hotel room wall, creating a fresh path to the adjoining room. "Stay away from that. Last thing we need is some zombie crawling through"
"No shit" Answering in a minor curse, Alyssa moved to several suitcases on the bed, intent on searching.
Walking toward the bathroom, Wendy pushed the door open slowly, the hinges giving a small creak. Splatters of blood covered the mirror, wall and toilet, while a prone body was slumped between the toilet and bathtub of crimson stained porcelain. Covered in bites, the older woman appeared to be fifty with graying hair while her marron dress sported several rips and damage.
Crouching down, Wendy scrutinized the bullet hole in the woman's right temple, clearly ending the risk of reanimation. A revolver magnum was gripped in the right hand, something that Wendy immediately grabbed and looted. Hitting the latch, she swung out the cylinder as she whispered to the body.
"Three fifty seven. Good choice, lady" Upending the weapon, Wendy took the four remaining slugs, and quickly reloaded her own magnum with ease. Moving to the bathroom mirror, she swung it open, her gaze pondering as she reached for the small trove of supplies. "First aid spray, disinfectant alcohol, gauze and some needle and thread. Useful" Pocketing the items in her side pouch, Wendy closed the cabinet, the young woman taking a moment to study herself in the reflection.
The light flickered above, a staccato of electricity as she studied herself. Spatters of blood decorated her body armor while smudges of ash and grime streaked her chin and cheeks. Sweat pooled at her hairline while her blue hair was unkempt and frazzled making her seem more aged than her fifteen years. A small frown appeared, Wendy locking eyes with her reflection.
"I hope Carla's okay…and the rest of Fairy Tail...the ones still alive anyway" Eyes growing hard with resolve, Wendy simply turned and left the small bathroom.
"Well, that confirms it. She is Wendy" Laxus stated with simplicity as the lightning mage slowly shook his head in regret.
"Yeah…which really sucks. How did she end up this terrible place anyway?" Natsu asked, the dragon slayer looking over at Wendy, the girl looking extremely remorseful.
"What did she mean by that last sentence? Have some of us died?" Droy asked, the man only getting shrugs of confusion from the guild.
"Maybe we'll find out. But I don't think I could dig through a dead person's pockets…or just ignore all the blood and suffering. It's so horrible" Clearly disturbed, Wendy turned her attention back to the display of light and sound.
"I found half a box of nine millimeter. Let's take a few minutes to reload" Alyssa suggested as she sat at the edge of the bed, the blonde reporter sliding out the magazine for her pistol.
"Yeah" Agreeing, Wendy sat next to the blonde, starting to do the same.
A moment of silence passed, the two simply reloading before the journalist in Alyssa spoke up. "Is your home nearby? Family?"
Wendy slid in a fresh bullet, the task simple. "No. They're all in Magnolia"
"Never heard of that city. But if they're all there, what are you doing here in this nightmare?"
Continuing to reload, Wendy spoke with a slight edge to her voice. "I'm here by accident. Simple as that"
"What, get on the wrong bus to the wrong city?"
Sliding in another bullet to her magazine, Wendy stared out at the necropolis beyond the window, the scent of ash and death filtering inward among the groans of undead. "You wouldn't believe me"
Alyssa finished reloading her magazine, slapping the item back into her firearm. "Try me. I'm a reporter after all. It's my job to hear the truth. Besides, it can't be crazier than monster's tearing this city apart"
Several distant gunshots rang, but it didn't affect the younger woman in the slightest as she continued to stare at the skyline. Finally turning to Alyssa, Wendy finished reloading her magazine, then slapped it in with extra aggression. "Fine. I'm from a different world…a different universe. My planet is called Earthland and my guild…my home is Fairy Tail" Voice low, Wendy sighed while running her free hand through her sweaty hair. "We figured it out…how to breech into other realities and some…some are amazing. Worlds of nothing but tropical beaches and sunshine. A world where all deserts are healthy. My friend Cana even found a planet where alcohol is free. But then there's the opposite. Places of suffering and horror. Of meeting variants of loves ones…and they're so fucked up its sickening."
Alyssa watched the girl, the woman assessing for signs of lies. "I'm assuming that if you are telling the truth, you didn't choose to come here?"
"Obviously. You know what happens when a dimension rift is struck by lightning surge? It throws off the coordinates. I got flung here on some fucking cosmic whim all because of some shitty electrical storm that came out of nowhere" Tapping her right thigh with her gun, Wendy gave a small smile. "At least I had my equipment with me. Standard procedure when off world even if I was just visiting one of our allies. Let me tell you, meeting yourself is weird the first few times, especially if it's some guild that hasn't done shit" Voice turning into a light mock of sarcasm, Wendy continued. "Oh look, we're canon Fairy Tail, our worst fight was Phantom Lord and it was such a bad war. We lost our guild hall, boo hoo. Fucking weaklings wouldn't last an hour on my planet"
"How come?"
Extending her left arm, Wendy gave a light wave. "Because this? All this shit? It's worse on my planet. Genocide. Hate and suffering. Brutality and war. Those of us still alive…we have the resolve to do what needs doing. To kill those that threaten us" Voice going dark, Wendy's eyes narrowed. "If some random version of my guild was watching right now which is entirely possible in the grand scheme of infinity, they would be next to useless here…most would be dead within the hour, let alone fighting the locust that invaded my world" Shifting her gaze to the growing line of flames from the crack of the room door, Wendy pushed off from the wall. "Enough of this shit, this place is burning down and the longer we sit here, the less our chances are of surviving"
"She doesn't seem very nice" Wendy offered.
"I'm more concerned about the fact something called 'locust' invaded her world, and that they developed travel between realities" Levy stated with a little fear in her voice.
"Just think about it though…you could go anywhere…meet a version of yourself, prevent terrible mistakes or outcomes" Cosmos offered, clearly trying to pique the interest of the queen.
"But the potential for stumbling across something terrible or evil is also there. The danger not only to yourself, but the risk for the planet? It's horrific. This other Wendy…her guild developed the means of travel between world's, yet look how desensitized she is. I can tell…that young woman has seen some terrible things, and I'm willing to bet her guild has come across some vile universes" Makarov looked at his children, his gaze stern while passing over them all. "We like to think we are all good, decent mages. Those that do the right thing, but what if we came across terrible monsters? Or some version of Fairy Tail that abused or attacked the innocent? Such a technology would no doubt be a double edged sword, and easily abused if used incorrectly"
Mira studied the older Wendy for a moment, the barmaid feeling pulls of sorrow from her heart. "I think your right master…she's seen a lot of people die. If her world is worse than this place, violence must be everywhere. Hardening her heart must have become necessary"
"The fact she's killed people already speaks volumes. I doubt they were simple bandits or misguided dark mages that could be redeemed"
"I don't like how dismissive she is of potential versions of ourselves. If anybody is pushed hard enough, they do find the resolve to live" Erza stated with authority, earning agreement from Hisui and her guards.
"I hate to admit it, but this other Wendy is right about one thing. I doubt many of us could survive long in Raccoon City" Evergreen said with a modicum of agreement, though she didn't like the implications. Deep down, she knew she didn't have the skills with weapons to do what that variant had already done.
"By the way, where did you find that gun of yours? Seems to be a reliable weapon" Alyssa asked as they stood before the hole in the wall.
"My big sister Sam got it for me. Well, Knightwalker helped too. Bisca and Levy got this body armor fitted for me" Rapping her knuckles against the fabric, the young woman smiled. "Can stop standard handgun rounds and protects against knife and slash attacks. May not be heavy, but it works"
"Practical. Nice of your sister and her friends"
Wendy looked downward, almost depressed. "She's not really my sister. Sam…she just took me under her wing. Trained me on how to fight…to survive"
"Who the hell is Sam? And why is she talking about Knightwalker, Bisca and myself?" Levy asked, hoping for some sort of answer.
"Maybe on her Earthland, Knightwalker decided to come to Fairy Tail and leave Edolas?" Bisca offered in theory, but with such little information, it was a stretch.
"It could be possible that version of Knghtwalker wanted to start over" Erza concluded, the redhead stroking her chin for a moment. "Perhaps this Sam formed a friendship with my Edolas counterpart, and with the mentioned inclusion of Wendy for training, could account for her ability to handle this situation."
"That certainly is possible" Hisui added with a regal tone before returning her gaze to the unfolding events.
"I'm still trying to mentally understand that travel between universes is possible" Levy groaned, the poor mage rubbing her temples.
"Why? We traveled to Edolas no problem" Natsu stated, the fire mage sporting a large frown. He didn't like seeing Wendy struggling…fighting and scared.
"Not the same! This is…this is completely different and…and…ah" Levy lost her train of thought, the slender female returning her attention to the distant universe.
Alyssa and Wendy crawled through the hole in the wall, emerging in the adjoining room. Almost untouched by the horrors ravaging the city, both snapped up their firearms as a body groaned against the far wall near the nightstand.
Coughing heavily, the man in a security uniform lifted his head, his eyes bloodshot while his skin was extremely pale. A ragged bandage of cloth was wrapped around his left bicep, the stain of red soaking through as he supported a shotgun across his lap. Numerous cuts and lacerations had cut into his legs, turning the fabric and skin below into seeping wounds that continued to stain the carpet red. Next to him was an opened box of twelve gauge shells, something that immediately drew Alyssa's gaze. Most likely in his mid thirties and with auburn hair, he struggled to speak.
"S…survivors? Here?"
Wendy approached, her gaze falling immediately to the wrapped zombie bite, then the lacerations. "Yeah. We're trying to make it to the lobby, but all the paths are blocked. We need the keycard to the security room"
"H…heh…guess it's your lucky day…" Reaching into his right pocket, the guard pulled out a thin piece of hard plastic, handing it to Wendy. Suddenly grasping her hand, his face became fearful as his voice rasped. "You need to be…be careful. The monsters…"
"We know about the zombies out there" Alyssa snapped back, the reporter moving in a wide sidestep as she kept her firearm trained on the man.
The guard squirmed, his pain understandable. "No…not the zombies…the Lickers…hunt…they hunt by sound…" Releasing his grip, the man panted, his chest rising while Wendy took a few steps back, her face showing clear alarm.
"Lickers?"
"You'll see them…don't make a sound…n…no eyes…" Coughing heavily, the man spit up some bile and blood, staining his uniform. "Hey. Do me a favor? Kill me. I…I don't have much time…the infection…" Coughing again, the man became more pallid and pale, his life clearly nearing its end.
Wendy gave a curt nod then raised her pistol. Squeezing the trigger in the next moment, the bullet smashed into the man's head, spewing pieces of skull and matter across the bed. Gaze hard, she turned toward the door.
"If I'm ever in the same situation, put me down. I'd rather be dead than some walking corpse" Voice cold and harsh, Wendy picked up the box of shells. "He had seven left so load up" Tossing the spare ammo, Alyssa complied, the reporter taking a long look at Wendy, then the slumped body, her mind understanding the brutal logic. "Same. Promise me you wont let me become one" Starting to reload her Mossberg, Alyssa was done in less than a minute, the reporter placing the extra shells in her side pouch.
"Wendy just killed a man…that's…Fairy Tail doesn't kill!" Suddenly shouting, Natsu was visibly angry, only to have a hand restrain his movements. Looking over, Erza was an ocean of calm, her face showing understanding. "Natsu, it may be terrible, but that man was clearly infected by that terrible disease turning Raccoon City into a nightmare. It was a mercy and his final wish. If she hadn't, it was very likely he would have died, then returned to attack her in moment's"
"Still awful. I could never kill somebody without warning like that" Hugging herself, Wendy didn't really like this hardened version of herself.
"In a messed up way, I'd prefer that over a countdown" Max admitted, the man clearly disturbed. "It would be sudden, but better than risk becoming a monster. Still, that kind of burden for a teenager cannot be healthy for her mental state"
"I have to agree. That other Wendy will probably be haunted by this place for her entire life" Voice low and depressed, Lisanna looked at their own sky dragon, thankful she would never face such decisions.
The two survivors stepped into the hallway, a roaring inferno flickering behind them as embers floated in the air. Smoke and ash rose toward the ceiling, but both were already moving, their steps nearly silent.
Arriving at the stairwell on the right hand side, fire licked at the molding of the open doorway. Spewing more embers, Wendy stepped in first, her gaze noting that part of the landing was on fire. A path to the second floor was possible, but it would be close.
At the first step, the floor creaked from the weight of the two women. Feeling a few wet droplets land on her head, Alyssa looked upward, trying to identify the source.
'Graaannnhhh'
Gripping the ceiling with its large claws sharper than razors, the skinless abomination slowly turned its head. Exposed to the elements, the sinew of muscles ran along the entirety of the body while the brain was fully revealed, the gray matter wrinkled and dripping with moisture. Unleashing another hiss, the mouth opened as a long, snake-like tongue unraveled before stretching nearly three feet in length.
Wendy's eyes brimmed wide with horror, the young woman raising her firearm as the licker continued to lash its tongue back and forth among the charring heat and nearby flames of the stairwell.
Slowly switching to her shotgun, Alyssa aimed upward, neither woman forgetting the warning of the security guard. Taking the first step of the stair case, both kept their eyes locked with the horrid, skinless creature, neither daring to breathe nor make a sound.
"That…that's disgusting!" Gulping, Lucy was probably more sickened as her eyes brimmed, the poor mage completely grossed out by the monster.
"The licker…I can see why the poor man was so afraid of it" Cana gulped, her gaze captivated by the abomination as it took a few steps, the claws digging into the ceiling as Wendy and Alyssa walked slowly beneath it.
"They're both staying quiet. That guard…oh, it's just so gross!" Laki added with a low shout, the wood make mage a little pale.
"I'd be terrified. Look at those claws. Probably could rip a person to shreds" Evergreen admitted with her own quivering voice, her eyes brimming from the sight.
Both reached both second floor landing, neither taking their aim off the licker as it continued to wave its tongue in a threatening display. Pushing the door open slowly, both women breathed a sigh of relief as it closed behind them.
"Holy fuck, felt like I was going to piss my pants" Wendy admitted without shame.
"I never want to see one of those things again. That exposed brain…the sinew…disgusting" Alyssa supported as she wiped fresh sweat from her brow. "Okay, lets get to the security room, then get out of this damn hotel" Turning left as the nearby fire continued to rage, both started to walk along the corridor, keeping an eye out for zombies, but the new horrors as well.
They reached the security room without incident. Sliding the card into the reader, it flashed green, allowing both women entrance. Stepping in, the duo breathed in relief as the room held no monsters…no fire…just the normal computers, desks and supply lockers for the guards.
Finding a few unopened water bottles on a short table, along with a few bags of chips, Alyssa treated herself, leaving half for Wendy to consume.
Drinking deeply, Wendy savored the slightly warm, but soothing liquid before diving into the bag of Doritos. "Didn't realize how thirsty I was…or hungry"
"Stress and fear tend to do that" Alyssa stated as the woman sat down in one of the chairs, the two taking a small break.
"Does keep your mind busy, trying to fight down the ever present terror" Laughing awkwardly, Wendy finished the small meal, then walked to the cabinet. Opening the gray, panel door, she allowed a small smile as she reached in. "Nice. A box of nine millimeter, a flashbang, and a flashlight"
"Good find" Finally standing up, Alyssa moved toward the emergency trap door in the corner, the reporter turning the handle, then lifting up with a groan of exertion. Releasing the latch for the ladder, it fell in a stagger, the metal grinding with age while embers, smoke and heat rose through the opening.
Waving her hand in an attempt to dispel the acrid fumes, Alyssa poked her head through the hole, then immediately snapped backward, her face contorted in a mixture of fresh rage and horror. "Fuck" Barely audible, she moved aside for Wendy, the girl looking through the gap. Yanking her head back, the blunette gulped deeply. "Five…five of those lickers" Snarling the words, Wendy gripped the flashbang in one hand, then gripped the first rung. "We run for the door after setting this off. Hopefully it will draw them away"
Descending down the ladder toward the upper balcony, both women entered the hotel lobby, which was a scene of hell. Fire burned against three of the walls while an inferno consumed the front desk and nearby hallway that led further into the structure. The polished banisters and lush carpeting were enflamed, but that was all secondary as five lickers crawled along the walls and floor, each testing the heated air with flicking tongues that could cut flesh.
Past two of the abominations, a hallway was clear of fire, leading toward the nearby street as it waited like a passage to salvation.
Gripping the flashbang as the two women moved down the steps, Wendy pulled the pin of the blue tinted cylinder and threw, aiming for the far corner.
It exploded near one of the beasts, a sudden flash of blinding light and noise that threw it into a frenzy of screams. Drawing the others as they unleashed monstrous shrieks, the creatures flew into a rage as two jumped, their claws slicing through the air toward the source.
Wendy and Alyssa sprinted toward the exit, rushing down the hallway among the roaring flames.
'CLANG!'
A vent panel dropped, along with a body that had been feminine once. Wearing tattered clothes, the skin was now a hideous red as the maw opened, revealing a horrid tongue that whipped and slew through the air.
"Fuck!" Rolling under a terrible swipe of a clawed hand, Wendy came to a kneeled crouch behind the mutant licker as her fellow survivor sprinted past. "Alyssa! Get the door!" Aiming her magnum, the younger woman braced her body and fired, the heavy round finding its mark. Blowing through the head, the round burst the cranium, splattering the walls…and Wendy with pieces of gore. Some landed in her hair, a few flecks on her chin and neck, while more coated her body armor like a spray of chunky red.
The other lickers shrieked, the gunshot like a fresh dinner bell as they started to surge down the hallway.
Firing again, the heavy round tore through another of the lickers, ripping through the shoulder as it let out a painful shriek of agony. Thrashing on the floor, it held up the others for a few vital seconds.
Charging into the door of partial wood and glass, Alyssa broke through the paneling, landing in the street among a shower of shards. "Wendy! Let's go!" Scrambling to her feet as licker shrieks bellowed from the main lobby, Wendy followed, part of her face now covered in spatters. Nearly sliding on the fresh layer of glass, the younger survivor started to run as a few zombies started to notice the disturbance.
Running past several abandoned vehicles, boarded up buildings, and along the street littered with trash, debris, and the occasional walking corpse, the two fled the inferno of the Apple Inn.
"HOLY CRAP! Those were great shots!" Alzack exclaimed, the man impressed by the accuracy the young woman displayed.
"Ugh…the gore though…and all those monsters…" Gulping, Bisca used magical guns, and they didn't cause heads to explode into horrid paste. She didn't throw up, but she wanted to.
"I'll be honest, I would vomit from fear, stress or horror after getting pieces of monster in my hair" Turning a little green, Lucy gulped hard…then raced to the bathroom with her mouth covered.
"I must admit…she is quite the survivor" Hisui complimented, the queen herself visibly disturbed by the grotesque creatures and exploding heads of monsters.
"Got that right" Laxus agreed, the lightning mage handling the situation better than most….which was clearly not the case of Evergreen who breathed deeply…then finally managed to regain her composure after a few deep lungful's.
Finally slowing at a T-intersection that traveled West or North, both saw the northern road was completely blocked off by a tangle of wrecks. Glancing Westward, several shops lined the road, including a bar. Further down, several zombies feasted on a body in the road, but they hadn't seen the two yet.
Moving toward the bar, the sign flickered 'Black Jack's', the neon letters of red lit up for a moment. Opening the heavy door, both stepped inside, only to come face to face with two other living humans.
Snapping up her pistol, Wendy centered it on the woman who was standing in the middle of the room. Alyssa did the same to the man, her shotgun leveled and ready.
Dressed in a blue tube top that hugged her modest bosom, the female wore a black skirt and cowgirl boots. A gun belt with a side pouch was wrapped around her slender waist, along with two smaller pouches for spare magazines. With short, brown hair, the style was similar to Alyssa's, except some strands dangled over her right eye.
Next to her, the man was clearly a police officer, his shirt clearly a light body armor stenciled with 'R.P.D' in big, white letters. His pants, boots and armor were an off black and clearly part of his uniform. Shaggy, brown hair covered his ears as the main pointed a larger handgun at the two before he spoke. Clearly handsome in a rugged way, the lone man still tried to defuse the situation. "Okay…clearly none of us are zombies. How about we take a small breath and lower our weapons. Let's not make the monsters job easier"
The brunette spoke, her aim unwavering. A small glance toward Alyssa seemed to put her at slight ease, same with the other officer. "Alyssa Ashcroft…figures your still alive"
"Jill Valentine. Same could be said about you" Lowering her shotgun, the reporter gave a small nod to Wendy, prompting the young woman to slowly lower her own weapon.
"Seriously Alyssa? You don't recognize your favorite officer of the R.P.D?" Grinning lightly, the man tried to improve the mood, then looked at Wendy, the girl moving behind the nearby bar. "Who's your friend?"
"Wendy Marvell" Picking up a dish rag, the lost mage started to wipe down her face of grime and gore.
"Officer Kevin Ryman at your service" Giving a light bow, he once again tried to be assuring.
"Oh, thank goodness! She found some other survivors and they appear to be law enforcement!" Mira practically gasped in relief, her hope rising.
"Now that is one fine looking woman. Long legs, a great waist line and clearly competent with a level head in a dire situation" Stroking his rust colored beard, Gildarts studied Jill Valentine before getting slapped upside the head by a very angry daughter.
"Really dad!? That's all you can think of when they're clearly in a living nightmare!"
"Hey, I'm just saying she's a great mix of beauty, brains, and strength. It's a compliment"
"Pig"
"What happened?" Lucy asked with caution as she finally returned from the bathroom, her stomach contents gone despite her pale demeanor. Sitting near Natsu and Erza, she wanted proximity to her friends.
"My double found a few more survivors in a bar. They're police officers" Wendy informed, the young girl clearly relieved by the positive turn of events.
"So Jill? Where are you heading because where we just came from? Nothing but fire and monsters" Moving toward the door, Alyssa locked it, the sound low and quiet.
"The police station. The S.T.A.R.S. office has a small armory and other supplies which I have the keycard for"
"That, and hopefully some of our fellow officers are still alive. If the helicopter is still there, we can simply fly out of this city" Ryman added with a positive note.
"We were heading that way already" Wendy offered as she crouched down behind the register, clearly searching for things to use. Finding a small, canvas bag for presumable groceries, the girl set it on the bar, then started to collect high proof rum and liquors, along with spare dish rags. Opening one of the bottles, Wendy started to soak the rags as the three adults looked her way.
"Kid, what are you doing wasting all that fine booze?" Kevin asked, his voice almost disappointed by the waste.
"Molotov Cocktails. Might be useful in a pinch"
"Not a bad idea" Jill agreed, the officer quickly taking a moment to assist.
A few minutes passed in silence, Kevin finding a few water bottles, cans of soda, and bags of bar snacks. Placing them in a small backpack he found in the men's bathroom, the officer knew they would be essentials later. Helping himself to one of the soda's the man grinned. "Damn, never thought a Pepsi would taste so good"
"Enjoy it while you can" Wendy stated, the girl taking the satchel and draping the supporting strap across her chest. Having the lighter in her pocket, the young woman waved her hand to the rear door of the bar. "After you, officers"
"Damn right. Let me show you how its done" Cocky and positive, Kevin hid his underlaying dread as he readied his sidearm, gripping it tight, then opening the rear door.
Descending a small flight of concrete steps, the group walked through a recessed area, the concrete stained with dried blood, garbage and debris. Groans of the infected wafted on the air, flowing as Kevin led the way up another small flight of steps. The rear alleyway split into three paths, but the police man immediately chose the northern route. Walking between the apartments, a few zombies appeared at the windows of the upper floors, the infected dragging bloody hands across the panes.
One of the windows cracked from the pressure on the third floor of the left structure, the material spiderwebbing as the fat woman inside rasped. Suddenly giving way in a shatter of deadly shards, the larger zombie fell through.
"Watch out!" Pushing Wendy, Jill barely avoided the falling corpse as it landed behind the group.
Splattering head first into the pavement, the overweight woman twitched, the explosion of meat and crunch of bone sickening.
"Thanks" Wendy muttered, the girl giving a cautionary glance at the body, then dismissed it as Kevin pushed a connecting gate open, the squeal of hinges like a cry. Stepping onto the side street, their boots crunched on broken glass from a nearby wreck, the mangled car having slid into a nearby store. A body lay on the hood, slowly thrashing as the seat belt prevented the zombie from breaking free.
"Ignore it" Jill ordered as she stepped forward, her gaze scrutinizing the roadway. Most of the stores had been looted already, or simply attacked by the undead. A few more vehicles were parked along the left side of the road, abandoned as they trailed off toward a tall barricade blocking the end. Blue and with the markings of the RPD, the tall barriers shuddered as the four humans approached with caution.
Gasps and cries came from beyond, along with several fingers and hands poking through the cracks from numerous undead.
"There's a side alley right near that barricade" Alyssa pointed out, the reporter still brandishing the shotgun. True to her words, an alley was on the right hand side, the gate slightly ajar as the zombies beyond the barrier continued to moan and cry for flesh. Starting to wobble and shift, the press of bodies on the other side was clearly going to topple the police barrier in moments.
"We should run, now" Wendy stated with extreme urgency before breaking into a sprint for the partially opened gate. Covering the fifty feet length of road in seconds, the young girl flung it open just as the barricade toppled, spilling dozens of zombies into the road.
Alyssa, Kevin and Jill were right behind her, each running as fast as they could as the first zombies started to stand and shuffle toward the alley gate.
Slamming it shut and yanking the lock to the side, Wendy stepped back just as the first infected reached through the gap of bars, their arms and hands flailing to reach the humans beyond. Skin was pale, most covered in bites or cuts as dozens of bodies groaned.
"Fuck it. Can't have these assholes following us anyway"
Taking one of the Molotov's, Wendy lit the doused rag with her lighter, then promptly threw it at the roiling horde beyond. Arcing over the gate, it broke in the middle of the zombies, immediately catching fire as the alcohol began to burn flesh at an astounding rate.
"Makes you want to rethink having a barbeque" Kevin lightly joked, the officer stepping forward into the main alley that traveled East and West. "This way. Stations close" Walking slowly, Kevin took another step down the alleyway, his boot accidentally kicking a can that clattered. Nearby lights flickered, momentarily plunging the path into darkness, then relighting as the nearby gate loomed with flecks of rust and strange, sickly webbing that covered the nearby brickwork.
"Kevin, stop" Wendy warned with a whisper, the young girl gulping, then looking upward as something shifted and crawled among the darkness that permeated near the rooftops. Passing the upper windows of the apartment structure, the creature scuttled as the four humans halted their steps, all looking up with a sense of renewed dread.
Sensing the prey, the creature scurried, then jumped down, its horrible visage finally seen under the flickering alley lights.
Somehow a mess between a licker and an insect, the creature had long, deadly claws for the hands while the exterior shell was a sickly greenish brown. Covered in straggly, black hair, the beast raised a second pair of arms that ended in sharpened protrusions. For the head, it was smooth and discolored while a dozen, beady black eyes stared out at the humans. Opening its mouth, mandibles slid to the side as drool and saliva dripped from an extending proboscis.
'SSHHHRRIIIIEEKKK!'
Suddenly charging forward, the monster homed in on the uninfected, its extra arms pointed upward as its feet stomped across the dirty pavement of the alleyway.
Alyssa fired her shotgun first, flinging the beast backward with a scatter of shot. Struggling to regain itself, Jill rushed up and unloaded three rounds into its head, not giving the beast a chance to recover as greenish fluid seeped out of the wounds.
"That's so fucked up. I thought Lickers were bad, but this? Disgusting" Alyssa uttered as she racked a fresh shell, the spent casing dropping to the ground.
"I'm sure we'll all have wonderful nightmares about this, but we should really get moving before more show up" Wendy reasoned, the young woman brushing some sweat soaked bangs out of her eyes.
"Yeah…good idea" Kevin agreed, the man wavering, but moving on past the genetic horror. Opening the alleyway gate, the four stepped onto Main Street, the scene a chaos of several small fires, abandoned wrecks, glass and chaos.
Two zombies were trapped nearby, wedged between two cars and a corner building as they cried and moaned, but couldn't do anything else.
Advancing along the road, loose paper, trash, and discarded items littered the pavement. Weaving past several of the wrecks, many with lifeless bodies inside, the four finally reached the steel gates of the R.P.D.
Pushing one open with a sense of relief, Jill walked in first, followed by Wendy, Alyssa and Ryman.
"Finally" Relief filling her voice, Wendy stared up at the structure, its looming size like a monolith. Standing in a small courtyard, the four started to walk toward the station when a shout came from behind them.
"Jill! Jill! You…you have to run!" Gasping, a man in a yellow vest and green pants pushed through the gate, his pants and boots covered in grime and soot. Clearly wounded along the side as blood seeped, he limped forward as fear contorted his face.
"Brad! Your sti—"
"NO! Stay back! Sta—" Something large landed between Brad and the four survivors, the creature slowly turning toward the wounded man. Standing straight, the monster was in a black trench coat, the clasps sealed shut across its broad chest. Wearing large, heavy boots that thudded with each step, the beast approached Brad Vickers.
"Stars…" Voice a low, harsh rasp of violence, the creature's words erupted from a lipless mouth. Scar tissue and stitches ran across the right side of the face, its skin a grotesque brown of decay while the lone left eye was a sea of white. Numerous tubes of pulsing purple ran from the neck into the monsters back and the right shoulder, the fluid inside no doubt vile. Standing nearly eight feet tall, it was a mountain of hate, rage and muscle that would display no mercy.
"BRAD! RUN!" Jill screamed as she raised her pistol and fired.
"JILL! HELP!" Terrified, the man tried to run away, only to have his head gripped by the monster. Hefted up, he tried to struggle, only to have his face impaled by a tentacle moments later. Tossed aside like a rag doll, the man was clearly dead as Jill fired again, her bullets simply smashing against the pile of muscle.
"GET INSIDE! IT'S AFTER STARS MEMBERS!" Screaming once more, Jill rolled to the side as the Nemesis lunged, its fist cratering some nearby brick lined flower beds.
"Fuck that!" Taking her satchel of Molotov's as Alyssa and Kevn lent their own weight of gunfire, Wendy flicked the lighter, producing a small flame. Lighting each of the impromptu bombs, the young woman then spun the satchel and let it fly straight at the abomination.
Bursting in a spray of glass, alcohol and fire, the flames licked at the Nemesis, clearly scarring some flesh and the heavy coat as the three adults continued to fire.
Rolling again, Jill unleashed five shots into the back of the creature, its front aflame as it turned. Wendy flanked toward the double doors, pulling her pistol and taking a stand near Kevin. His .45 roared, the spent casing flying away as the officer cursed. "What do we have to do!? Hit it with a dump truck!?"
"No" Aiming carefully, Wendy was guided by the laser sight of her firearm. Waiting for the monster to turn toward Jill, the opportunity soon arose. Hovering the red dot on the lone eye, Wendy fired, her own weapon barking light and noise.
Smashing into the pale, white eye of the Nemesis, the creature brayed an insidious roar, the sound a nightmare of dread and rage. Turning randomly, it jumped over the brick wall of the nearby courtyard, disappearing into the hell of the city as it suddenly fled the scene.
"Holy shit Wendy…that was a great shot" Jill gasped, the woman gulping for air as a sheen of sweat poured out from her racing heart.
"Well…fire clearly didn't do much except piss it off. Figured blinding it would help"
"Still…thanks" Finally standing back up, Jill looked backward, her fear still thumping in her throat.
"What was that thing? A mutation?" Alyssa asked, the blonde showing equal terror.
"U…Umbrella. They make bioweapons. We found them at the Spencer Mansion in the forest. Which I tried to warn the city about"
Kevin cursed himself, clearly having misjudged a past event.
Now agitated, Jill moved toward the double doors, only for one to swing inward.
"Hurry! Get inside!" Waving the four in, another officer stood, his right hand holding a pistol.
Entering in moments, the older man closed the door, breathing deeply before looking at the new arrivals. "Jill. Kevin. Glad to see your both still alive"
"Marvin…it's good to see you" Wiping a hand through her brown bangs, Jill felt a supportive hand from the older officer.
"Not much better in here. It's safe for now, but the East Wing is completely overrun. We closed the emergency shutter" Indicating with an extended hand, the shutter was clearly rolled down, occasionally thumping from a body on the other side.
"Better than the shit out there" Wendy added before walking into the main hall and taking a seat on the edge of a central statue stand as several other survivors milled about.
"Guess the zombies don't care if you're too young or not" Slightly frowning, the officer took in Wendy's appearance and age, noting the blemishes, splatters of blood across her armor, and rampant grime. "What's your name, young lady?"
"Wendy Marvell" Voice stressed and short, she popped her magazine and started to reload what was needed.
"I'm lieutenant Marvin Branagh" Pointing to his left, several survivors stood, some of them police officers while others were a clear mix of a waitress, plumber, a transit worker and a few others. "Why not introduce yourselves to Wendy?"
"Cindy Lennox"
"Will Tanner"
"David King"
"Jim Chapman"
"Rita Williams"
"David Ford"
"Leon Kennedy"
"Claire Redfield" Introduced last, the brunette strode forward, crouching down as a smile adorned her face. Dressed in black leggings, red shorts and a biker jacket, the brunette tried to be friendly. "Nice to meet you, Wendy. Do you need any help with that?"
"I'm not a child and can clearly reload my personal firearms. You want to help me? Then let's think of a plan to escape this city" Slamming the reloaded magazine into her pistol, Wendy's gaze was hard as she stared at Claire.
"Zombies…skinless mutants…giant insects and then some hulking…MONSTER! I Can't take it!" Evergreen shouted as the last few minutes were a horror show of blood, fear and nightmare.
"Why was that monster immune to fire!? Wendy used lots of fire and it didn't die at all!" Natsu roared out, clearly upset over the whole thing.
"I'm just relieved she managed to reach the safety of a police station, with several other survivors. Truly brave to face down such horrors at nearly every turn" Erza complimented.
Levy finally hit the button, severing the link. "Wendy and all those others have a hard road before them. I just don't think I can handle any more of terrible creatures trying to eat or kill her"
"I hope she makes it" Wendy uttered softly, the sky maiden wringing her hands in worry.
"Judging by what we saw, she's quite the fighter and survivor. If she's with a whole group now, her chances increase a lot. Still…would not want to be in her shoes" Droy admitted.
"Should we try locking onto another universe? Just to make sure it's moved on from Racoon City?" Lisanna asked with a soft tone.
"Nope. For all we know, this multiversal cube will lock onto to a near identical reality and force us to watch Wendy fight even more horrors that we can't even dream of across a whole city of the dead. No…let's just take a minute, breathe, and collect ourselves from that terrible timeline" Crossing her arms beneath her bust, Mira made no move to push the green switch at all.
"I concur. A mental break after all that would be favorable to all" Hisui stated, the queen still slightly pale.
"That was so scary…I feel bad for her" Happy said with a depressed frown, earning a light pat from Natsu. "Same here buddy. We just have to believe she'll survive and make it back home"
With that, the guild fell into silence, each processing the horrors of violence, a vastly different Wendy willing to take lives, and the fact that multiverse travel was possible.
So yeah, hope you all enjoyed lickers, zombies and other monsters that several characters of the games faced, including a variant of 137-C! I'm sure it won't be everybody's cup of tea, but I had lots of fun writing it! Who knows, maybe I'll do a follow up later after I write Gears! But odds are, the next universe will be more pleasant. It's not fun if everything is doom and gloom so I have to throw in some nice, easy chapters too! Anyway, if you want to read more, check out No Hope No Escape for a proper story of Racoon City. If not, that's cool too.
I'll either write a small, fun chapter next, or go back to Rising! Either way, enjoy!
The Happy