Infection - Part I

Chapter 13.

With Monica, Valerie and Lisa all in one, big circle, the three women looked into Lisa's map of the basement. They knew they didn't have much time left before the driver they managed to contact was to arrive in Artull.

"Do we go through the main exit... or do we use the door to the garage in the basement?" Lisa asked, looking at her two teammates.

"Like we said, there is debris throughout town. We'd have to climb over it to get through... however, given that Monica is injured, I don't think that'll be a very good idea," Valerie voiced her take on Lisa's suggestion. "So I think the door in the basement is our way to go...". Valerie looked toward Monica, who nodded her head.

The women took what they needed, which was the map and two more torches Monica and Lisa managed to find in one of the drawers, located by the bookshelf.

With the women leaving the room, they headed toward the stairs, where Lisa assisted Monica in slowly ascending the steps to the ground floor. There, they were met again by the gruesome sight.

Fire lit up the outside of the police station as the rain fell as a heavy shower. "We'll get soaked if we have to wait for him..." Valerie commented.

"I'd rather have that and get driven to the airport than be stuck here. Now come on... we don't have much time," Lisa responded as she and Monica walked toward the stairs of the basement.

With the two women going down the steps first, Valerie followed close behind them, her gun in her hands as she looked around for any threats of zombies.

The basement was just like how Valerie and Lisa left it. The water still filled the floor of the hallways as the two, unresponsive corpses were right where Valerie shot them dead. 

Looking at the map, the women slowly made their way through the slim ways of the basement until they reached the hallway where the big, metal door awaited them.

Just as Valerie was about to take a step forward, two, subsequent explosions sounded from above. Each shook the hallway they were in, causing small rocks and speckles of dust from the overhead cemented ceiling to fall onto the watered ground.

They knew that the explosion wasn't from the police station, but somewhere close by. 

However, the women didn't give it much mind, the continued heading toward the door. Upon reaching it, a large metal wheel waited to be turned, to unlock the door.

Valerie was the first to attempt turning it, however, with the wheel budging slightly. it didn't give in. Lisa was next, trying to put in a bit more power, however, her results were the same as Valerie's. The wheel didn't move.

"How about you help me?..." Lisa asked, looking at Valerie. "Maybe together, we can get it open...".

The two women took hold of the wheel and gave it their all. It sang strings of agony as it moved, but just slightly. It made both Lisa and Valerie well aware that the metal was rusted.

"Hold on..." Valerie began. "We can use some of the oil we found in the generator rooms, yah?... It might help loose up the wheel.".

Lisa nodded her head. "I didn't think of that... I'll go and get it, you stay here with Monica.". Giving the two women one last look, "I'll be back...". She was off.

Valerie turned toward Monica, seeing the way she rested against the wall, trying to control her breathing. "How are you feeling now?" Valerie asked.

"I-... I don't know... I don't know if I feel better, or if I feel worse..." she responded, turning her head toward Valerie. "Can you check my bite wound, please?...". She peeled the bloodied shirt from the left side of her neck, showing off the bloodied flesh of her fresh bite wound. It was dark, darker than she expected, with slight streaks of white patterning the wound here and there as if they were small pockets of pus. The veins that led from the bite seemed darker. As if whatever the bite had begun spreading.