Chapter 76

The next day rolled around all too soon. We are transported out to the zone by helicopter. When there we were quickly outfitted with our kit. It was then I found out that my axe handle had been also replaced from wood to a composite material with a mess grip. I was not happy about this but knew that it would do nothing in complaining right now.

We were quickly pushed through a reminder briefing on what we were doing. After that, we were directed to the zone edge and given a few minutes to prepare ourselves mentally before going in.

“Everyone ready?” I asked.

I got various confirmations from that question. It was easy to hear that none of them was happy to be here. A sentiment I completely agreed with.

“Okay let’s go.” I lowered my faceplate and walked into the zone.

The effects and constant dampness of the zone quickly enveloped me with the fog. I walk several metres into the zone taking in everything around us that could be seen. Which of course was not a lot.

I stopped and looked back at the others.

“Diamond formation from here on in. Smith is on my right. Hills on my left. Edwardson on the rear.” They nod in understanding where they would be information. Each would be about 3 m away from the other in a diamond pattern. This was the best formation for us as it gave room to swing or support another team member when needed.

“Make sure to pay attention to the ground here. Especially in the long grass. This zone has been rated as a creature type. Some form of large snakes makes up the zone’s defenders. They come in fast and low so keep an eye out.” Hills was clearly still upset about finding this out. She doesn’t like snakes. “Let’s go then. The faster we do this the faster we go home.”

We set off down the road that will lead into the small collection of houses that make up the bulk of this zone area. There is a small collection of houses about a dozen in total all with accompanying patches of land. The zone is located in the centre of the area and when it opened it was the middle of the night most of the locals do not get out.

We made no small talk. We weren’t in the mood and the zone’s oppressive nature didn’t help the situation. The area was overgrown and several of the fences that separated the fields and gardens had gaps that had appeared due to the wires snapping. The hedgerows were all still intacted.

We progress slowly but surely making sure that we cover as many angles and approaches as possible. The reduced sunlight is creating large patches of deep shadow and the fog is suppressing most sounds. If there were any present.

We passed the first house. We have all been given maps of the area. We will have to check each house on the route to make sure that there are no nasty surprises for the support team that will come behind us. Normally entering the breach would attract every threat in the zone to us but recent events have shown this does not always happen fast enough.

Looking quickly over my teammate’s weapons and a decision on who was going in. Sword with Smith. Hills and Edwardson both have spiked maces.

“Hills. Take Edwardson and check out the first house internally while Smith and I check the outside.” She nods and quickly leads Edwardson up to the front door to check the danger. She is instructing him on what was about to happen and what they were going to do in the house. She had clearly come a long way in such a short time.

“Smith head right. I will go left.”

“Understood.”

I move around the left side of the building checking as I go for any dangers. The front door had been smashed in and as I walked around the building, I saw several smashed windows. Windows had been smashed out I walked over the shattered remains of the glass on the floor. The house was dark and empty and I knew from the evidence that bad things had happened here.

I encountered nothing around the house and met Smith in the back. It was clear that neither of us had encountered anything and we walked together back to the front. We were joined a few minutes later by hills and Edwardson.

“All clear.” She told me.

“Good. We move on with the same formation.”

As we approach the second building located further back from the road in its plot of land I stopped. I got that tingling sensation up and down my spine and this head on the back of my neck shot up. I look around for the source. We were being watched.

“Harrington, what’s wrong?” Smith asked.

“Thought I saw something.” I tell him. “It was nothing.”

I continued walking. I think he accepted what I said. It was normal to think you see something in the fog and it turns out it’s normally just shadows playing tricks on you. The feeling is still there and this makes me tense.

We have to go into the second building and here it is Smith and I that search the inside of the house. The house is wrecked and is clear that something nasty had gone down here. Dark stains can still be found in some of the rooms. They had not been washed away by the endless damp but were reduced. The hardest part was the kid’s rooms.

We met up once more outside with the other two. Still no sign of any threats which I was unsure with a good sign or a bad sign given the fact that we were still being watched. None of the others showed any sign of being aware of the observation.

Again, I wonder is all in my mind.

No, I can’t think like this. I have to trust my instincts because they have not let me down yet. In many ways, they are all I have when in here.

“We go on.” They quickly settled into formation again as we had been in to go on.

I quickly stopped the group again a short distance later. This time I did see something in the fog, moving. I motioned for everyone to kneel to reduce our profiles. They quickly followed my instructions. I pointed to the distance. Just on the edge of our view within the fog, there was a figure that we were able to make out barely.

It did not seem to be approaching us moving more along a parallel line. The way it was moving was odd. A zombie maybe? No this was something else it was not staggering it was more swaying. I think. It was odd.

Smith and hills had moved forward to have a look as well. And they were looking at me just as perplexed. I could only shrug my shoulders.

“We moving in behind it. Quiet and slow. Identify then eliminate.” I whispered to them. They both nodded in understanding.

“Edwardson, follow but do not engage.”

We spent the next few minutes positioning ourselves behind whatever was in front of us. Once we were ready, we had Edwardson hold back but not far as we advanced ready to engage.

We are able to get close enough to see it without it spotting us and we were shocked by what we saw.

It was clear it was no zombie.

The upper body was humanoid with a head and two arms. The lower body was that of a snake. The whole thing was covered in scales that were more like armour, I think. From behind, I could see its hands ended in nasty-looking claws.

Before we could do anything it suddenly spins around, snarled and attacked Smith.

It was fast.

But what really surprised me was the grave chill that swept over us.

But we were ready. Smith got a shield up and was quickly blocking the rapid strikes. I moved into attack straightaway and scored a nasty hit onto one of its arms. The scales were a lot harder than they looked and my original impression of armour was correct.

The cold was trying to slow us down getting into our joints and heads. My anger rose to meet it. I hope the others could handle the sudden onset of the chill.

Smith swung at it with his sword. He hit it but did not penetrate its scales on its shoulder. It quickly moved backwards.  It was soon lunging with its upper body striking at both of us. Its lower torso was planted to the ground and was used to increase its range by striking with a lunge and then pulling back, like a cobra. Its red eyes were clearly glowing and focused on us.

This kept us out of our striking range. As we try to advance it would then strike forward forcing us back. It however did not account for Hills. She had moved around behind the creature I was not aware of her as it was focused on us. Its scales were clearly strong but the blow from her mace to the back of its head was more than enough to stagger the creature. Blunt force trauma is a great thing when you’re not on the receiving end.

Smith and I do not hesitate and quickly began a full assault. The three of us in a rough circle pounded on the creature for all we were worth. Black blood quickly was flying as blow after blow fell upon it. It struck out many times but each attack was going slower and weaker.

Eventually, we beat it to the ground hard and killed it. His head was completely smashed in from repeated blows from my axe and Hills mace. When we were sure it was dead, we all staggered roughly away from it breathing heavily from the exertion of the fight.

“What the fuck was that!” Smith asked between heavy breaths.

“Fucked if I know. You felt the chill?” I asked.

“Yes. What the hell! That’s the no undead.” Hills added.

I quickly look around for any more dangers and my eyes fall on Edwardson. His face is white I mean chalk white. It is also clearly shaking, I think he was caught in the grave chill’s effect.

“Hills.” I motioned to Edwardson.

“Shit. Aidan are you okay?” He doesn’t answer. “Aiden! Are. You. Ok?” She asks more forcefully. This seems to shake him out of his startled state.

“Eh…are….what?” Is clearly confused.

“Then focus Aidan. This was your first engagement and training mission, you are suffering from grave chill.” Hills attracted his attention she was speaking slowly and calmly to him.

Wait first engagement! Training mission!

I wanted to say more but I decided to stay quiet. Hills was going to answer a few questions along with Hawk.

She spent the next few minutes giving Edwardson back into a mental state that he could at least work with us. This did not bode well for him in the long run. You might be able to handle entering the zone but mentally he did not look strong enough to deal with what was within it.

Smith and I inspected the corpse while she was doing this.

“Thoughts?” I asked him.

“I have no clue.”

“You got that right. Snake’s lower body. Humanoid upper. Claws and scale armour. Black blood, red eyes and grave chill.” I listed off what was in front of us. “It’s like several types of threats all merged together.”

Smith leaned in closer to me and whispered.

“Harrington. I’ve heard the rumours and I know that you’ve seen some crazy shit. Have you ever seen anything like this?”

I didn’t know what to fully make of that but the question he asked was a fair one.

“Never. You?” I felt I had to ask him. He shook his head vigorously in the negative.

“What now? Continue or scrub the mission?” He asked.

I looked over to Hills and Edwardson. Hills I knew was reliable it was Edwardson I was worried about. It was clear that he could handle what is happening and I expected the grave chill was really fucking with him.

“I think I should send Edwardson back.”

“Good idea. You’re going to have to send Hills with him though.” Smith could see the same issues that I did.

Before I could say anything the feeling of being watched returned even stronger than before. I quickly looked around trying to identify the source of the feeling. Out there in the fog whenever it was still hidden.

We were deep in the zone and actually quite close to the breach. It was then I had a terrible feeling that we needed to get out of here. Something was coming. Smith had noticed my changing attitudes I was far warier looking around as well.

“We are scrubbing. Let’s get out of here.” The others looked at me but voice no opposition. We quickly set back along the road we used to come in.

As we walked along the road, I was hit by a terrible sense that we were already far too late.