Surviving Raccoon City

S.T.A.R.S

I left the weapons room in a hurry, itching to see what was on the other side of the ruptured steam tank. I took the stairs two at a time to the second floor, pain in my ankle slowly disappearing, the quick wrap up of my ankle finally taking effect.

Once inside, I attached the value and twisted it tightly. The steam emitting from the pipes came to a slow stop, and I was now able to get into the women's locker room. The new path leads into the showers, and some were still on. I quickly ran through to avoid getting soaked.

Now in the women's locker room, I kept my handgun held high waiting for anything to jump out at me. Only a person sat on the lone bench, as I got closer, it started to move.

Thinking it was another one of those things, I stopped walking and aimed my gun waiting for an attack. But it only fell over and onto the floor. Wondering if it was a trick I nudged it with the tip of my toe. It made no move to grab me so it must be permanently dead.

I headed through the only door in the room. A wave of cold air smacked me in the face, sending shivers down my body, still wet from earlier. The only sound in the room was a patter of rain on the window and wood.

"Window must be broken" I summarized, wondering how in tarnation that managed to happen. Images of that large creature flashed through my head. "No, it's just windy out, stray branch broke the window that's all" I theorized, trying to convince myself.

Let's just say, it didn't work.

"Where are you guys?" I whispered, not wanting to be along for another second.

Letting out a shaky breath to calm my wracking nerves, I pressed forward into the dark hall, one hand on the wall to help me navigate as the wind outside howled. Cursing myself for once again forgetting the damn flashlight.

My right foot grazed against something soft yet firm. Squinting my eyes, I made out an outline of another dead body. Three long gashes covered the poor cop's chest and stomach, exposing his insides. I covered my mouth in shock and disgust.

"It got in" I whispered, looking up and around the hallway hoping to God that it was somewhere else in the building and NOT here.

Everything in me told me not to continue, turn tail. No one would fault me, right? I mean come on, the bodies littering the floor would make anyone run. No, stop don't think that way, what if Leon and Claire went this way. They could be hurt, or worse.

I have to keep going.

I headed further down the hall when a body was yanked up into the air and towards the ceiling at lightning speed.

Like a frightened cat, I immediately froze mid-step, my shoulders hunched up to my ears. Eyes searching everywhere for the source of the sickening squelch noise, but it was too dark. Then the sound began to move towards me.

Since it was so dark, I wouldn't be able to see whatever it was till it was right in front of me. The thought made my blood turn to ice, and I shivered. The scraping sound stopped suddenly, and a loud hiss sounded right above me.

My handgun shaking in my grasp, I closed my eyes feeling tears cascade down my cheek, my lower lip trembling.

Don't look up, don't look up, don't lookup.

Against better judgment, I forced my eyes open and looked up.
I held back a squeak at the sight of the skinless creature that clung to the ceiling with its clawed hands.

Its long, grotesque tongue slowly weaved back in forth as its head twitched back and forth. Its brain exposed to the world, I didn't notice any eyes though.

In fear, I took a few steps back, watching as its head twitched about as if it was trying to hear. My foot stepped onto a loose floorboard, a significant creak filling the silent room.