The 0714 Files: File #1 Inferno (Remake 2)

Chapter 59

"Class A breach detected. Lab quarantined until target is neutralized." The system announces loudly, the warning sirens end as the platform settles into the ground. All that stands between meeting up with Claire and Annette to help Sherry is William standing ahead.

I focus the shotgun on the eye that'd grown into the left leg, firing to watch it stumble slightly as the shell burst it. It's nothing close to enough as it continues to approach me after a second of reprieve. Arms on its back spread wide, claws thick and can cut me in half without any struggle.

I duck to the left of the bridge, past a group of four cylinders marked with a yellow sticker bearing a triangle and exclamation point on them. Above the symbol is the word: "Caution", and I note it to avoid shooting them on accident. Whatever they're containing inside, I'd rather not be next to them if they're hit. If its fuel of any kind, I won't be walking out of this lab. Even though I've decided and said to Annette I'm prepared to die here for Sherry, I cannot.

A low growl is emitted as I turn around in the small space, green lights on my left cast their glow on me and I aim my shotgun again. Preparing for it to enter—

I gasp when William jumps onto the machinery beside me, it crushes under the weight. It hovers menacingly over my small form, left side of its body arching backwards. The arm rearing back, I realize, in an attempt to hit me. I duck as low to the ground as I can manage, a rush of air over my body as its claws nearly graze my back.

Taking a chance, I aim my gun from the kneeling position. Firing into the center of its chest where all the eyeballs hide. It teeters back, but instead of falling backwards, it rights itself with a snarl and jumps, landing to my left. Right arm lifting this time, I drop and roll towards the creature to avoid its large hand colliding into the metal before tearing away.

Getting up before it corrects itself, I dash out of the space; turning around in the middle of the bridge as I throw the shotgun onto my shoulder. Pulling out a fire round and the launcher next from the duffle, I'm glad I took it from Claire without even thinking at the time. Loading the weapon, I start walking backwards as it stalks from the space towards me. "Eat this!" I seethe through clenched teeth. Firing a round at the right arm's eye, the round pierces the flesh and explodes, sending bits of vitreous fluid and flesh everywhere with the destruction of the eye. All the while burning what remains inside the wound.

I put the weapon back into the bag and grab my shotgun again, there has to be something to stop William.

It doesn't react exactly as I'd expected it would to the agonizing wound caused. It rears its head back and roars, the sound raising the hairs all over my body. Then fixes its gaze on me again once it's done, large feet eating up the distance I'd put between us with ease. Before I can gauge its next attack, an arm swipes back and it frenziedly swings both at me, one at a time. So fast I barely keep a safe distance, unable to risk a second of stillness to fire because it'll kill me.

My back hits a wall and it stops with a rumble in its chest to see me cornered.

William won't get me that easily. Rifling through my bag, I find the grenade I'd grabbed from a soldier and pull the pin. Throwing it and darting to the right into another cramped space to narrowly avoid the explosion. It goes off and there's a feeble cry, accompanied by a small shake in the ground that sounds as if it dropped.

I step out from the wall I'd hidden behind to find just that. It'd dropped to its hands and knees, back rising rapidly and there I see a third eye hiding in between the shoulder blades.