Biohazard's Catastrophe: Death's Hallway
Back to Down There
Ardana held her breath while continuing to walk. The condition of the Sirnasurya Forest during the day is still slightly better than in the morning or night. Although the nuances of horror could not be removed just like that, this young man was grateful that he could carry more than one weapon just in case. The SS-2 V4 assault rifle, which was found in the hallway a few days ago, hung behind his right shoulder. While other weapons that he still used to survive still Sako Rk.95 gift from Ilham.
This time he was alone again as he had done the day before taking Paramitha to Karanghawur Village. As ‘mata and ear’, Ilham added one micro-sized camera on the back of Ardana's kevlar helmet. Advanced objects that are not only able to see things in the dark, but also equipped with heat sensors that can distinguish between humans and where not. Although not sure it will be able to give an early warning of the emergence of mutant creatures in the distance, Ilham can remind through a communication tool if behind Ardana there is another threat.
“Test. I've been in Sirnasurya, Sir.” Ardana tried the ability of a communication device integrated with a camera on the back of the kevlar helmet patterned camouflage blood flow.
[I can hear you. No need to be so hard.] The reply from Ilham sounded quite clearly duplicating a very supportive connection.
Across from there, precisely from the guest room in the house of Odang, Ilham sat with a very serious face. It's connected to the rear camera mounted on Ardana's kevlar helmet. What appears on the screen is now part of the Sirnasurya Forest that has been passed by the young man. His eyes squinted observing every exposed angle.
Ardana circulates the view to the surroundings very carefully from front to top then down to the back of the bottom, then turns left to right and so on. Almost an hour later, he reached the location that was the starting point of the entrance to the underground passageway. Ardana carefully went down the iron spiral staircase while looking and pointing the weapon at the bottom of the hole.
“I have arrived at the usual place, Sir,” he said while turning on the LED flashlight on the front of the helmet and under the barrel end of the gun.
There was no reply from Ilham, but Ardana knew the man could still watch him from afar. He went back down the original entrance until he finally arrived at the steel door that opened not so wide. All the bodies of the soldiers without identity or the symbol of unity in front of him are still in place. Ardana wished they were all dead and not suddenly alive when she had already passed the steel door in front of her.
[And? Try to find another way. Perhaps you can find the symbol that Paramitha told on one of the doors.]
“Understanding, Sir.”
Ardana continued his journey after passing through the steel door. Unlike the last time, when he arrived at the intersection he chose to continue down the straight passage and did not turn left or right. After a few dozen meters did not find any room on the wall like in the previous right lane, the path of the hallway he was exploring turned out to lead to a downhill road with a slope of almost forty-five degrees. Equipped with rows of stairs that are also made of concrete and the number is unknown because it feels long to pass. The slippery conditions make Ardana must be extra vigilant and careful. Wrong for a bit, he would fall tumbling down with excruciating pain. It is very unlikely that you will not suffer from fractures of your back, legs and hands.
“In once turned out. I thought only the top was just the breadth,” muttered Ardana.
[How, Dan? What difficulties did you find?] ask Inspiration from across. Despite being underground it turns out that the communication tool worn by Ardana still works well.
“There's another floor downstairs, sir. I do not know for sure, but it is likely almost to reach a depth of thirty meters underground,” replied Ardana while descending the stairs.
Once set foot on the lower end there, right in front of him there is a place resembling a large prison with many prison cells on the left and right sides reaching two floors complete with a barrier iron fence. The total is estimated to be more than a hundred considering there is still a series that continues to spread forward and covered in darkness. A connecting road to the other part of the passageway was six meters wide. Swamped by water droplets coming from a cracked ceiling. Big enough to be said to look like a dungeon.
Ardana walked back. This young man was aghast when his left foot felt something hard and sounded crumpled under his shoe pad. When examined, a human hand bone is dry with the rest of the jacket tear that is still attached.
Without caring about what he stepped on earlier, Ardana continued the investigation. One by one the large rooms behind the bars were examined with details starting from the right side. Up to go up to the second floor, again his eyes must familiarize themselves with some of the bodies without life in each cell. Almost everything has become bones but there are still leftover meat that tends to be moist and blackened in some parts of the body. Some still have it on the head, chest, or even just the remains attached to the feet or hands.
“Who are they? When viewed from the clothes, it seems mixed.” Ardana frowned while shining a flashlight light.
Most of the bodies in each cell were dressed as researchers, explorers and apprentices. Complete with the rest of the luggage such as a large backpack, jungle hat and others. There are also those who only wear regular jerseys and pants. Ardana remembered the missing persons report file which amounted to more than five hundred.
“Pak, I'm in! Looks like the people reported missing in the file you checked are dead. Everyone,” he said while lowering voice intonation. He felt uncomfortable with the atmosphere of a large room that was very gloomy and damp.
[What?! You sure, Dan? Where did you find them?] Ilham seemed surprised to hear Ardana's report and tried to reconfirm.
“Euh... is still in the room now, sir. All of them were locked up in a big place like a prison. Maybe not all of them. I have not explored other parts because it is quite extensive,” reply Ardana.
[This will be the worst report for Odang,] muttered Ilham across the street.
“Good, Sir.” Ardana refocused on checking every holding cell.
From the very first start from the right side, every cell bars he examined were locked. The position of the bodies that all seemed to be cornered to the wall was like explaining them in fear before finally taking their lives in a way that could not be imagined by him.
Krieeeee!
From the opposite direction, the row of left-sided holding cells heard a rocking iron sound. Like played by someone, or rather something. Ardana aimed the flashlight quickly while sweeping away every cell that reached her sight.. No sign of anyone there. The left-side cell bars all appeared to be locked.
“Voice earlier.. it was from there,” hiss. He sure heard something from across the left.
Ardana tried to make sure she wasn't hallucinating by patting her left cheek.
“Better direct check,” murmur.
A little sigh came out of his mouth. After all he was still curious about the sound of the iron swaying earlier. When starting from the first floor section in the left side cell, there was nothing suspicious. It's just that the number of bodies in each of these cells is more than in the right side. There was no time to capture his invention in camera shots because he was not with Inspiration.
Krieeeee!
The same voice again appeared, making Ardana stop her steps while holding a tense breath. This time it was very clearly heard from one of the cells at the top that was covered by darkness. Too far from his standing position.
Sako Rk.95 who had been idle in his grasp was now aimed towards the front. His right index finger slowly approached the trigger. Ardana reduced the speed of her footsteps, making her slightly relaxed but still alert.
A figure crept up on the ceiling, far ahead of Ardana. It resembles a spider but has only four legs. The creature moved so quietly and completely unheard of any sound from it, blending into the darkness. Highlight his sharp eyes were fixed on one of the bodies of the uniformed soldiers hanging on the guardrail made of iron.
DRRKRD!
The sound of vibrations from the iron hit made Ardana surprised. His eyeballs glanced tensely at the part of the barrier that was nearby, then returned to the front. The center of the vibration was coming from that direction. Covered in the dark that is not touched by the light of the flashlight.
Soon Ardana caught another voice coming from the same direction. Between sure and not, he turned his head to the left slightly as if to make room for his right ear to hear the sound more clearly.
Crcrr! Srrrr! Krrtr!
The sound of forcefully and coarsely entangled flesh accompanied by hastily broken bones. Both of Ardana's eyes grew. He stopped stepping and sat half-kneeling with the weapon still pointed in front of him. The flashlight on Kevlar's helmet and the bottom of the barrel of his assault rifle were turned off. It was thought by him to shoot a flare, if not immediately remember he was in a place suspected of being a nest of terrible creatures.
[Ardana, comein! There is something behind you, within twenty-six meters of the stairway.] The voice of Inspiration that suddenly appeared shocked him again.
Ardana who had hesitated looked back quickly. Just like in front of him, there was nothing he saw. But he could hear the sound of heavy, shuffled footsteps accompanied by a faint growl.
“What? Anything else?”
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