Creepy Crawlies

Sierra 2-1

The hot Afghan sun beat down on the backs of the squad as they approached the insurgent encampment. Lieutenant Williams signaled for his men to fan out and secure the area, rifles at the ready. An eerie silence hung over the dusty courtyard, tentative footsteps scattering gravel and litter as they swept through.

"Clear!" came shouted calls as each area was confirmed empty. Williams felt the hairs on his neck stand up despite the sweltering heat. Where was everyone?

Just yesterday, intel had indicated this is where the terrorists who stole the biochemical weapon were hiding out. A nasty mutagenic compound rumored to have devastating and unpredictable effects. Command feared the insurgents planned to smuggle it out of the country to launch an attack elsewhere. Williams and his squad were dispatched to recover or destroy the weapon at all costs.

Approaching the main house, Williams noted the door hung loosely by one hinge, swaying slightly in the hot wind. Marks from bootprints scuffled the dirt around the entrance. Williams waved his men to stack up behind him. He nudged the door open with the nose of his rifle. The men flooded the interior, fingers resting lightly near triggers.

The room looked like the site of a frenzied struggle. Furniture smashed and splintered, cushions gutted and leaking stuffing. Dark splotches that might be blood splattered the far wall. Shell casings littered the floor. But still no people.

A low moan echoed from an adjacent room, making the squad raise their weapons instinctively. Williams gestured toward the sound. They approached the closed door quickly but cautiously. The lieutenant counted down with his fingers - 3, 2, 1! The point man kicked the door in and they rushed inside, ready to fire.

The waning light from dusty windows struggled to illuminate a nightmare scene. Three men in insurgent dress knelt on the floor, doubled over and clutching their stomachs. Dark vomit pooled around them. Their skin seemed stretched too tight over their bones, open sores leaking fluid down exposed arms.

As the squad entered, the men looked up with expressions somehow conveying both agony and ravenous hunger. They bared their teeth emitting something between a hiss and a roar. Then, moving with disturbing speed, they scrambled on all fours toward the stunned soldiers.

Muzzle flashes lit up the room as short controlled bursts dropped the three assailants inches from the squad's boots. Williams felt the bile rising in his throat as he stared down at bodies still twitching in death throes, a putrid smell wafting up from the corpses.

"Command, this is Sierra 2-1," Williams spoke into his comm, "The weapon has been deployed, I say again, the weapon has been deployed. Unknown chemical agent with...unnatural effects on the infected. No survivors remaining on site. Request immediate hazmat backup to secure sample."