Progressive Rock blasts through the speakers of the modified jeep as my hand taps against the steering wheel. I look out the window at the cliff faces that surround me, at the desolate, lifeless earth all around me. I chuckle, though I do not know why, maybe because anyone else would feel so sad, or terrified being out here; but not me, this is my job, and I am good at it.
“How you holding up back there? I hope those restraints aren’t too uncomfortable now. Don‘t worry, we will be in Great Haven soon enough, then you can relax in our five star laboratory, hahaha.”
I knock my free fist against the cage connected to the back of the jeep, rattling the plastic bags that writhe on the floor. My laughter soon fades as more and more bleak sandy earth rushes past me.
“Ugh…what the hell am I doing here? I am talking to these stupid corpses for god’s sake! Well, a nice shower, some grub, and some time with Diane should set me up right again. Just a few more kilometers and we will be there.”
A few minutes pass and an enormous wall of grey concrete blocks out the sun and closes off the path in front of the jeep. I flip a switch and a special bright purple light on top of the roof of the car flashes, signaling the turret guns to stand at the ready. I near the shadow cast by the structure when the jeep starts slowing down, then the radio goes dead and the light shuts off. The jeep just sits there, dead, and fifty meters away from the safety zone.
“The absolute best time for my battery to die…I thought this damned thing kept its charge for decades! “
I look around using the mirrors, grabbing my riffle and pistols. The sun is still behind the Southern Gate, but there is enough light to tell it is nearly noon.
“Okay, you got to be fast. Get to the safety zone and you will be fine, you can run the last fifty meters, no problem…but I might need to leave some of the passengers behind.”
I count to three and kick the door open, running around the back and throwing open the door, picking up one of the body bags and throwing it over my shoulder.
As if called by some alarm, glowing, hungry eyes shine from the dark caves lining the cliff faces. My eyes widen and I slam the door shut, then the front one as I run past. I sprint as fast as I can to get to the protective shadow of the Southern Gate as snarling monsters emerge from the caves and start chasing after me. I look back as I hear the steps in the sand and push myself to go even faster.
“Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap, crap, crap! Since when did they hunt in such big groups?!”
I grab a flash grenade from my belt and lob it behind me, hoping to slow them down with the intense light and noise. But the noise does not come, I glance back and see the grenade just laying on the ground.
“Of course! The only grenade I have with me just so happens to be a dud, what else would I expect?!”
It did not matter though, I was soon in the shadow of Southern Gate, and the guns finally started firing at the group of creatures behind me, thinning out their numbers considerably. The gate started to open and I ran inside, carrying the writhing, groaning bag with me.
Once inside, the door closed back up and I leaned against a wall, trying to catch my breath. I drop the bag like a sack of laundry and look up to a guard asking for my ID. Resisting the urge to sock him right in the face, I point to the Great Haven Scientific Research ID on my shoulder. I rest against the wall for a while after the guard walks off, then I look down at the bag.
“Welcome to Great Haven, one of the sixteen fortresses left in the world. I hope you enjoy your stay, because I worked my ass off to get you here.”
I grab the bag and lift it back over my shoulder, then head in to the inner city.
Sun Feb 20, 2011 12:09 pm
