The quiet in the security office felt heavy, almost like a blanket, completely different from the loud chaos they had just left behind.
The silence hung in the air, heavy with the echoes of gunfire and the soft, lingering warmth of their embrace.
Jun could still sense the warmth of Rebecca's body pressed against his, a soothing reminder in the chilly, musty air around him.
"Hmm... Haaa..." He inhaled deeply, savoring the sweet scent of Rebecca, before gently easing back from their hug.
His hands lingered on her shoulders, a soft touch that spoke volumes. His gray eyes, which were often sharp and calculating, had taken on a gentler look now.
They were filled with a quiet intensity as he gazed at her. "We can't stick around here for too long," he said, his voice deep and soft, hardly breaking the stillness around us.
"This place is a decent spot to hide out, but we have to be careful because it could easily turn into a trap if we find ourselves surrounded."
Rebecca gave a small nod, feeling her own breath start to calm down. Her cheeks had a soft pink hue, and the same color touched her ear and neck.
Meanwhile, the wild fear that once filled her eyes had shifted to a steady, determined calm. "I know, But we really need that moment... to stop."
She gave him a little smile, one that looked tired and worn out. "You know, you were right. We really make a great team together."
It hasn't even been a full day since they first met, but after everything they've been through, facing life and death, it feels completely normal for them to think about it.
A true smile, something special and fleeting, appeared on Jun's lips. "A Best Team."
He finally looked away, his sensible side coming back to the surface. He looked around the messy room, noticing the broken monitors, the torn papers scattered everywhere, and the overall feeling of chaos that seemed to have stopped everything in its tracks.
His Threat Sense buzzed softly in the background, a constant and reassuring presence. The space around them was quiet and open, yet the building nearby felt like a dormant hive, waiting and still. He could sense it deep within him.
"Right now, we really need some information," Rebecca said, watching where he was looking.
She knelt down by the scattered papers on the floor, carefully sifting through them with her hands. "We need a map, a list of names, or anything that can show us how this place is set up and what took place here."
"Yeah..." Jun let out a low grunt, nodding in agreement as his eyes were drawn to a filing cabinet that stood ajar, its contents spilling out as if it had been pried open in a hurry.
He started to pull out the drawers, moving with a sense of purpose and skill.
Many of them stood empty, having been looted or destroyed. Yet, in the very bottom drawer, hidden under a messy pile of personnel files, he stumbled upon it.
A single, clear, laminated map that shows the whole training facility. The blueprint was quite detailed, showing where the dormitories, the laboratories, the library, and even a special area for communications would be.
"Jackpot," he whispered, carefully laying the map out on the dusty floor.
When Rebecca heard her partner say he found something, she rushed over to his side without hesitation.
Her eyes darted across the complicated layout of the building on the map, trying to take in as much information as she could.
"Hmmm... Just as I thought, it's really big, about the size of a small campus... And over there," she said, pointing to a part of the building on the east wing, "that's the comms room. But it's quite deep in there."
"We would need to walk through the big main hall, then make our way down this really long hallway... it feels like a challenge."
"The labs are over this way," Jun said, pointing with his finger towards the west wing. He felt a slight tingle of his [Threat Sense] as he concentrated on that spot.
The feeling he felt was unlike the empty craving that the zombies had. The atmosphere and air were chillier, like there's something happening in there.
"That's where the real problem lies; I can really feel it."
"Then, we obviously must avoid labs." Rebecca said with determination.
"Let's head to the comms room first. We need to make an effort to reach out to the outside world, or at the very least, check if there's any record of the messages my team has sent out."
"...?" x2
While they were looking over the map, a new sound suddenly started to fill the room where they were. It caught their attention and changed the atmosphere around them.
At first, it was just a soft sound, so subtle that it could easily be confused with the usual creaks of an old building settling into itself. But, if you listen closely, then suddenly the sound gets louder.
The sound grew clearer, taking on a slow and steady dragging quality.
It feels like a constant motion, a rhythm of scrape... drag... scrape... drag...
Along with the sound, there's a wet, guttural breathing that comes through. It reminds them of Hunter's breathing, but there's something different about it. It feels less wild and more filled with pain.
Their heads instinctively turned toward the sound, which seemed to be coming from the main hall, just right outside their door.
Jun sprang to his feet right away, gripping the M4 tightly in his hands. He signaled for Rebecca to keep quiet while he quietly moved toward the one-way mirror, looking out into the large, dimly lit hall.
"...What in the world..." In his line of sight, something moved into view, almost like a fresh kind of nightmare that had just stepped out of the shadows.
It looked like an adult man, or at least it used to be, still wearing the worn-out pieces of a lab coat that hung loosely on him.
At that moment, his body looked painfully swollen, with his skin stretched tight and shiny over a round, bloated belly. One of his arms had changed into a huge, throbbing lump of flesh that hung down and scraped along the ground. That was the noise he and Rebecca had heard earlier.
Meanwhile, his head hung heavily on a neck that seemed too weak to hold it up. A thick, dark fluid dripped from his lips with every wet, rattling breath he took, or perhaps it was that thing that made those sounds.
Jun can only call it a Crimson Head or something similar, as it's a new type of mutated zombie.
"....."
It came to a halt right in the middle of the hall, its head moving slowly from one side to the other, as if it were sniffing the air.
It definitely lost its ability to see, but in doing so, its other senses became sharper. It seemed to know that Jun and Rebecca were there, almost as if it could feel their presence through those heightened senses.
"?" Jun could feel Rebecca's soft, curvy body pressing against him from behind as she leaned in, glancing over his shoulder. He noticed her quick gasp, and he couldn't help but wonder what had caught Jun's interest.
"What is that?" she whispered, her voice trembling with a new wave of fear.
"Like before, a new kind of problem," Jun said, his voice heavy with concern. "It's the kind of thing that you can't just take down with a single shot and then stroll away, pretending it's not there."
He watched the creature closely, his mind busy processing all the information. Its movements were slow, but that swollen arm looked unpredictable and threatening.
"Hey Rebecca, that thing still hasn't found us. This one-way mirror is keeping us hidden right now, but as soon as we swing that door open..."
That creature somehow let out a low, bubbling moan, a sound of profound agony and hunger. It took another dragging step forward, its movement wily, sightless eyes seeming to stare directly at their hidden position.
"Haaa..." Jun let out a deep sigh, feeling a mix of frustration and disappointment. They had a map in hand and a plan laid out, yet things still seemed to be going awry.
There's a new, changing horror standing between them and what they want to achieve. It shows that the infection lurking within these walls is anything but still.
Particularly, it was a process of learning and adapting, transforming into something far worse than anything a human could imagine.
•••
The swollen creature moved in a slow, painful circle, its drooling mouth opening and closing as it tried to catch a whiff of something in the air.
Its sightless head turned toward the security office, then away, only to come back again.
It seemed lost, sensing something nearby but unable to figure out where it was coming from.
The one-way mirror stood between them and danger, but it felt like a weak barrier.
"We can't take that thing on out here," Rebecca said softly, gripping the shotgun tightly, her knuckles turning pale. "It seems... unpredictable. Also, a single shot could cause it to burst apart."
Jun paused for a moment, his eyes locked onto the creature before him. He wasn't a soldier; he was a strategist, and his mind raced through the options the system offered him.
He sifted through his skills, quickly setting aside [Lockpicking] and [Pain Suppression]. His attention sharpened on [Threat Sense]. Until now, he had relied on it as a passive warning, but what if he could turn it into something more powerful, something he could use actively?
"Huuu, I want to try something," he whispered, shutting his eyes tight. He reached out with his mind, not to get a warning, but to send out a feeling.
He concentrated on the creature's basic, hungry thoughts and envisioned a sound, a smell, something to draw it in.
He imagined a faint noise coming from the far end of the grand hall, close to the shattered main entrance, and he sent that image, that idea, through the psychic link his ability allowed.
It was tough, a kind of mental effort he had never experienced before. A small drop of sweat slowly made its way down his temple.
The creature paused in its shuffling, tilting its head to one side. It made a strange, confused gurgling noise. Then, with a wet, tearing sound, it started to pull its huge, misshapen arm toward the far end of the hall, moving away from them, as if it were being led by something only it could see.
Rebecca looked on in disbelief, her mouth hanging open just a bit. "What did you... how did you manage to do that?"
"I was doing an experiment," Jun said, his eyes fluttering open. He felt a slight throb building behind them.
"It seems like there are a few pages in the system's manual that I haven't gotten around to reading yet." He gazed at her, a spark of keen, clear understanding shining in his gray eyes.
It wasn't arrogance; instead, it was the expression of a man who had just found a new, helpful tool. "It's still here, just a bit distracted. Look, there's a little window we can look through."
Without waiting for any compliments or further inquiries, he stepped toward the door.
He gently pushed aside the metal chairs that were blocking the way.
As he looked outside, he saw the creature about twenty meters away, its back turned to them. It was curiously examining a broken vase, completely absorbed in its own thoughts.
"Let's head to the east corridor now," Jun said, his voice steady and serious. "We need to move quickly and quietly."
They quietly slipped out of the office, with Jun carefully shutting the door behind them to keep things quiet. Moving like shadows, they glided across the marble floor, staying close to the dark shapes made by the grand staircase.
Their footsteps were soft against the fancy runner, and the only noise in the air was the creature's wet, ragged breathing and the slow, steady sound of something scraping and dragging from the far end of the hall.
They arrived at the arched entrance to the east wing without any trouble. Jun turned around for one last look.
The creature was still focused on something else, and it seemed his plan had succeeded, at least for the moment.
The east corridor felt like stepping into another realm compared to the grand hall. It was much narrower and had a modern touch, with bright white walls and smooth linoleum floors. However, it was also a scene of horror.
Bodies dressed in lab coats and security uniforms were scattered everywhere. The walls bore long, dried streaks of blood, and the air was thick with the sharp scent of antiseptic, which struggled to cover up the overpowering smell of death.
Jun's [Threat Sense] buzzed softly, always alert. While there weren't any big, looming threats like that monstrous creature, the corridor felt charged with hidden dangers.
He sensed them lurking behind the closed doors that lined the hall, shuffling and waiting in silence.
"Stay close to me," he said, holding the M4 in a relaxed but ready position. "If we're not careful, this place could turn into a shooting gallery."
They moved forward carefully, with Jun taking his time to check each door they came across.
Most of them were locked tight, while a few were slightly open, giving a sneak peek into messy offices or dim, blood-stained break rooms.
The quiet around them felt heavy, interrupted only by the soft, distant sounds of thumps or moans coming from behind closed doors.
As they walked down the corridor, they came across a door that had a sign on it saying 'Records Room.'
The door was firmly locked, not budging an inch no matter how hard Jun tried to turn the handle.
"Do you think it's worth checking out?" Rebecca leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a soft whisper.
Jun nodded, feeling his lockpicking skills kick in. He looked closely at the straightforward mechanical lock in front of him.
It seemed like it would be a piece of cake to open, but he paused for a moment.
The thought of the mechanism clicking open echoed in his mind, and he worried it might attract unwanted attention from behind the other doors.
He glanced at Rebecca, then shifted his gaze to the door across the hall. His instincts told him it was empty, and suddenly, an idea sparked in his mind.
"Close that door," he said, gesturing toward the vacant room. "I'll be in and out fast, but if anything comes out, you know how to handle it."
She nodded and shifted her stance, making sure she could see down the hallway in both directions. The shotgun felt reassuring in her hands, like a silent vow of protection and power.
Jun faced the door to the Records Room once more. He took a deep breath, steadying himself.
With a smooth, practiced movement, he slid the makeshift pick he had crafted from a paperclip back in the security office into the lock.
He could feel the pins inside, and as he applied just the right amount of tension, he heard a soft click as the lock gave way.
He took a deep breath and paused, straining to hear every sound around him.
Down the hall, a door suddenly started to scratch loudly, as if something was trying to get out. Then, a deep, curious moan echoed, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
Their time had come to an end.
•••
The frantic scratching from down the hall grew louder, transforming into a heavy, rhythmic thud.
Something was throwing itself against the door, and a low, eager moan seeped through the wood.
It was aware of their presence, as if the sound of the lock had rung out like a dinner bell, calling it to feast.
"Jun," Rebecca said, her voice tense as she glanced back and forth between the scratching door and the dark corridor behind them.
"Inside, now!" He took charge, not pausing for a moment. With a swift motion, he flung open the door to the Records Room and pulled her inside, shutting the door firmly behind them.
He locked the simple deadbolt, knowing it wouldn't stand up to a fierce attack, but it was better than leaving it unguarded.
The Records Room was a tiny, windowless area filled with tall shelves stacked high with binders and boxes.
The air felt heavy with the scent of aged paper and dust. A single, faint emergency light flickered, creating long, swaying shadows that danced across the room.
THUMP. THUMP. CRACK.
The sharp crack of breaking wood rang out from the hallway, signaling that their pursuer was getting closer, almost breaking through.
"There's no other way out," Rebecca said, pressing her back against the shelf. She held the shotgun up, aiming it at the door, her expression one of resigned determination. "We're going to stand our ground right here."
Jun's thoughts were racing, but it was a steady, clear kind of rush, much like a surgeon's hands working with precision in a tense moment.
His eyes moved quickly around the small room, taking in the shelves and the boxes.
Inside his mind, his [Threat Sense] blared like an alarm, but it also provided him with important information. The presence outside was not a group; it was one strong being, powerful yet solitary.
He gazed at the sturdy metal shelves, and in a flash, a rough yet straightforward idea sparked in his mind.
"Quick, help me," he said with a grunt, reaching for one end of the tall, heavy shelf. Without hesitation, Rebecca slung her shotgun over her shoulder and took hold of the other end.
Together, using his solid strength and her fierce determination, they managed to tip the massive unit over.
With a loud bang, it came crashing down, scattering binders and papers everywhere across the floor.
The shelf landed at an angle right in front of the door, forming a messy barrier of bent metal and scattered bits.
Even though it may not completely put a stop to it, it would certainly help to slow it down and steer it in a specific direction.
SMASH!
The door finally broke apart, splintering as it swung open just a foot. It got stuck on the fallen shelf, leaving a narrow opening.
Through that gap, a huge, powerful arm with claws as sharp as steak knives reached out, clawing at the air.
A terrifying, reptilian head with bright red eyes snarled and snapped, trying to push its way through.
This was another Hunter, looking sleeker and faster than the last.
"Now!" Jun shouted, his voice ringing out with urgency.
Rebecca didn't need any more encouragement. She lifted the Benelli, bringing the barrel close to the creature's snarling face through the opening, and squeezed the trigger.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The noise was deafening in the tiny room. The Hunter's head snapped back sharply, a big piece of its skull and one of its glowing eyes disappearing in a burst of dark fluid and bone.
It let out a terrible scream, filled with raw pain and fury, but it didn't give up. Instead, it flailed around, its power starting to shove the heavy shelf backward.
Jun was already in motion, realizing that the M4 just wouldn't cut it for what he faced. He needed something more powerful.
His gaze landed on a heavy, sturdy metal fire extinguisher that was mounted on the wall.
Without hesitation, he yanked it off its bracket, feeling its weight as if it were nothing.
He carefully stepped over the fallen shelf and approached the injured, writhing creature that loomed before him.
"Jun!" Rebecca cried out.
The Hunter, filled with fury and unable to see, felt Jun getting closer.
It lashed out with its sharp claw, but Jun quickly ducked beneath the wild swing, the rush of air from it tousling his hair.
With all his might, he swung the fire extinguisher like a heavy hammer, aiming for the creature's head.
When it hit, there was a horrible, wet CRUNCH that echoed in the air.
The Hunter stumbled, its movements growing clumsy and erratic. Jun kept pressing on, swinging his weapon again and again.
There was a harsh, raw beat to the sound of metal striking flesh and bone.
With each blow, the creature's skull turned into a shattered wreck until, at last, it fell, twitching, into the doorway. Its body became just another piece of the barricade.
The room fell silent; the only sounds were Jun's deep breaths and the faint ringing in their ears.
The sharp, metallic scent of blood mingled with the dust and the musty smell of old paper, creating an unsettling atmosphere.
He let the dented, bloodied fire extinguisher fall to the ground with a loud clang. Turning to Rebecca, he saw her staring at him, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
The shotgun in her hands was still smoking, and her face was hard to read. It showed a strange blend of horror at the violence they had just witnessed and a sense of awe at how effective it had been.
"You... you really just..." she said, her voice trembling.
"It was in the way," he said calmly, his voice steady, without a hint of pride or shame, just stating the truth. He was someone who fixed problems, and the Hunter had certainly been one.
He wiped a splash of dark blood from his cheek with the back of his hand. "Alright, let's find out what we came here for in the first place."
For the next ten minutes, they searched wildly, their hearts racing as they pushed aside the gruesome sight seeping under the barricade.
They stumbled upon files about the [T-Virus] and some personnel records, but there was no trace of Rebecca's team. Just when hope seemed lost, Jun managed to pry open a locked drawer.
Inside, they discovered a small, black journal that had belonged to the chief researcher of the facility.
As they flipped through the pages, they found frantic entries that described the chaos, the horrifying mutations, and then, one final chilling passage that sent a shiver down their spines.
Marcus may no longer be here, but the impact he made continues to thrive. The 'Queen Leech' isn't merely a creature; it is him, brought back to life in the depths of the water. This is where the outbreak really begins. The training facility has been lost. The mansion is the next stop on our journey. "May God help us all."
Jun lifted his gaze from the journal and locked eyes with Rebecca, who was staring at him with wide eyes.
The mansion, known as Spencer's Mansion, was the heart of everything.
Suddenly, their path ahead was becoming clearer, but it was also growing much more perilous.
"We have to hurry and get to that communications room right away!" Rebecca spoke, her voice sounding empty and laced with a touch of panic as she recalled something that felt much more important. "We have to let them know!"
A strange sound suddenly caught their attention. It wasn't a groan or a snarl; instead, it was the soft, melodic tinkling of a music box.
The sound floated through the air, coming from somewhere deeper in the east wing.
It was a hauntingly familiar tune, a siren song that seemed to beckon them, echoing through the eerie silence of the house of death.
They knew what they had to do next, but the facility still had some tricks up its sleeve for them.
(To be Continued)
•—•—•—•—•
Jun's Current Status:
Points: 485
Skills: Basic Strength, Lockpicking, Threat Sense, Enhanced Regeneration, Pain Suppression
Equipment: M4 Assault Rifle (1 magazine), Combat Knife, Benelli M3 Shotgun (Rebecca).
Bound Companions: None
Active Objectives: Reach the Comms Room; Investigate the music box.
•—•—•—•—•