When I enter the room, I'm panting. There's heat in my cheeks from sprinting all the way here as water from my hair runs down my back. The fence should hold, but we need to get out while we have a chance. Water drips onto the concrete as Madeleine sits in the chair, blanket pulled around her body and curiosity in her eyes at my disheveled state.
I spot a uniform in an open locker and grab it, along with the key hanging beside it. Maybe it will unlock the gate? There's a loud shiver from the woman behind me, as I second guess the possibility of the key being so easily found right here. I have to at least try the key, otherwise we'll need to find another way in. I'm certain I saw a path to the main courtyard boarded up while chasing...
Stepping over to Madeleine, I hold the key in front of her. Her eyes meet mine before dropping to my hand. "Hold onto this," I tell her, and her hand comes up to grab it before returning to holding that and the blanket. I return to the locker once more to pick up the uniform inside. Eyeing it for a moment, I should wear something. Anything. To represent myself as an officer to any civilians, this might be my last chance to put on a uniform if the R.P.D. is crawling with those things.
''They died or ran away.'' Her words replay, the station can't be safe. I can't believe she survived so long if she was all by herself. Thoughts buzz through my head in a blur as I deliberate again.
"'She's not all there'," what I'd told Claire a moment ago, but deep down I know I'd probably be just like her if I watched everyone around me die. Maybe I'd be dead myself if the police station was decimated down to only one survivor sitting behind me.
Just like that, I regret saying it like that. Like she's insane.
Maybe it would've been best if I hadn't come in yesterday like planned. Or at all like I'd been told. But then I would've remained trapped with Grace...
"I'm gonna put this on," I tell her suddenly, gesturing the clothes in my hands to her and her gaze lowers to the floor.
She turns around quickly. I throw the clothes down in the locker to remove my jacket and the shirts beneath it. The jacket makes a ruffling noise as it falls to the floor, and as soon as my chest is unclothed, I kick off my sneakers. Unbuttoning my pants and unzipping as I do so, pulling them down the second my shoes are off. My eyes then wander over to the girl then, finding her back to me.
I don't know why I checked. I'm not entirely sure what I would've done if I'd caught her staring at me in just my boxers, but she isn't. She's shivering and trying to run the blanket around her hair to dry it. Hair that is just past her shoulders and curly. Again, if we were in another place, I'd think it pretty.
I distract myself from the thought, instead thinking of how it's pointless to dry it as she'll be soaked again once we step outside this door. I'm not going to be the one to say so though, she must know that already.
"The gate's locked. I'm hoping that key will unlock it," I inform her as I throw on the uniform's pants, covering my legs and waist. Securing some kneepads with the Velcro, "I need to go inspect the rest of the building for survivors when we get inside. You don't have to come, but I would feel much better if you did," I offer her the chance to say no. Hoping she doesn't.
All I hear from the chair is a quiet, "There's no point... Everyone's gone."
Jesus she's blunt. Maybe it's just how she's coping with the trauma. "As an officer of the R.P.D. I still have a duty to check the building for anybody," I counter her apathetic response. Throwing on a white long sleeve and then the police shirt, it's a little tight, but I'll live. Might pull a few threads out by the time I take it off though. The bullet vest, elbow and knee pads, and belt are the last to go on. As I connect the radio on my shoulder to the walkie on my belt, I see Madeleine's eyes wander to peek over her shoulder. She looks up at me when she sees I'm fully dressed, there's fear swarming her wide eyes. Is she afraid to be by herself?
YOU ARE READING
The 0714 Files: File #1 Inferno (Remake 2)
Horror"I think you're going to learn a lot of things about this city and the people that you won't want to." Madeleine Sówka has spent the last twelve years of her life believing she knows what monsters look like. They are the people who hide in the backg...
