Prisoner 3-57: Nuke Town (9 page)

Jane
reached into the tight hole as far as she could.

‘
Damn
it,’ she cursed, ‘you have to come with us, please.’

One
of the creatures squeezed through a tight hole in the door. Blood
squirted from the deep wounds caused by the sharp metal shards
stabbing into its gruesome body. It howled a menacing howl, as it
flipped around on the floor. Was it in pain, or just freaking out? It
began to gallop on all fours towards us. I grabbed Jane’s body
armour, hoisted her up and began to drag her away.

‘
No.
No. What are you doing? We can’t leave her!’

I
turned her to face me.

‘
We
have to go! You have to stay alive for your daughter.’

Jane
glanced back at the cabinets where the little girl was. She looked at
me, and then the monster, and finally back at the girl.

‘
DAMN
IT!’ Jane turned and ran.

I
was one step behind her.

The
young girl’s painful screams echoed after us.

Chapter Ten: Final
Destination

The
train was located in a large underground station. It looked like
something that belonged in a city centre. Fiona, Saul, Robbie and
Lena were stood guard by the door of carriage number two. I could
already see a fair few people had already taken shelter in the six
different carriages. Someone laid down gunfire, as we sprinted across
the station. The creatures screamed their demonic sounds. They were
just behind us. The sound of the trains engine vibrated throughout
the station. A cold shiver ran down my spine, as the train began to
gain motion. Fiona and the others were yelling at us to hurry. The
train began to pick up speed. It was heading for the tunnel.

I
could hear voices behind us, too.

We
were not the only stragglers.

Jane
and I cut towards the tunnel.

We
had to run at an angle to get on board.

Jane
reached the door first. Saul yanked his girlfriend inside. I used
every last bit of energy in my legs and charged forward. The train
was getting faster by the second. Fiona reached out a hand for me. I
ran forward faster and faster. My heart was in my mouth. I couldn’t
be left behind. I am not going to die here. Relief washed over me, as
I grabbed her hand. She pulled me forward. Robbie pulled on her. I
could see Rose pulling on him. They were all fighting to get me in. I
fell through the doors, as the train swished into the tunnel. The
people behind me hadn’t made it in time.

Heavy
panting filled the air.

I
was on top of Fiona.

‘
Thank
you...’

She
kissed me before I could finish.

‘
You’re
welcome,’ she smiled a beautiful smile.

Rose
and Robbie helped me to my feet. I got a few strange looks from the
people around me. I was still completely naked. The girl we had saved
from Skull was sitting to one side with her head in the palm of her
hands. Fiona tapped me on the shoulder.

‘
You’re
gear is over there.’

She
pointed to my armour and weapons.

She
must have grabbed them from the shower.

‘
Thank
you,’ I said again.

‘
I
was so worried, baby,’ said Saul.

He
planted several kisses on Jane’s lips. The beautiful red head
looked slightly uncomfortable. She gifted me with a nervous glance
and then walked off with Saul, Lena and the others. I turned my
attention towards Rose. My sister was smiling from ear to ear.

‘
I
thought I lost you.’

‘
I
couldn’t find you,’ I told her.

‘
You
were looking for me?’

‘
You
are my sister.’

‘
So,
you believe I am real?’

‘
I
don’t know,’ I replied.

‘
Well,
it’s an improvement,’ smirked Rose.

‘
Are
we safe now?’ asked Robbie.

‘
I
hope so,’ said a man from a little further down the carriage.

Fiona
and I shared a look. Safe was a matter of perspective. We had managed
to escape the safe house, which was now infested with those demonic
creatures. The problem was our current destination. We were heading
straight for Central City. The map on my x-com showed that it might
take a few hours to get there. We would finally get some rest from
the constant fighting, but Fiona and I knew something that the others
did not. Prisoner X was waiting for us at Central City. We had just
jumped out of the frying pan and straight into the fire. The real
nightmare was still to come.

Incoming Status
Report

....

Mission:
Reincarnation

....

Complete

....

Fourteen Players

....

Submitting Player
Status Information

....Incoming Status
Report...

Convicted Murderer

Prisoner 3-92

Level: 12

Missions Complete: 7

Kills: 16

Experience: 260/500

Credits: 4700

Status: Killed in
Action...

....Incoming Status
Report...

Earth Force Soldier

Levi Monk

Level: 22

Missions Complete:
30

Kills: 98

Experience: 010/500

Credits: 3981

Status: Active...

....Incoming Status
Report...

Dancer

Bella Hughes

Level: 1

Missions Complete: 2

Kills: 0

Experience: 200/500

Credits: 50

Status: Active...

....Incoming Status
Report...

Factory Worker

Saul Duke

Level: 9

Missions Complete: 8

Kills: 15

Experience: 250/500

Credits: 920

Status: Active...

....Incoming Status
Report...

House Wife

Jane McCarthy

Level: 17

Missions Complete:
16

Kills: 22

Experience: 100/500

Credits: 1660

Status: Active.....

....Incoming Status
Report...

Student

Lena McCarthy

Level: 16

Missions Complete:
15

Kills: 20

Experience: 100/500

Credits: 340

Status: Active....

....Incoming Status
Report...

Military (Retired)

Arthur Sheppard

Level: 15

Missions Complete:
16

Kills: 33

Experience: 330/500

Credits: 1800

Status: Active.....

....Incoming Status
Report...

Security

Iaso

Level: 18

Missions Complete:
21

Kills: 64

Experience: 140/500

Credits: 3050

Status: Active.....

....Incoming Status
Report...

Air Hostess

Alisha Jones

Level: 16

Missions Complete: 5

Kills: 8

Experience: 80/500

Credits: 3100

Status: Active.....

....Incoming Status
Report...

Earth Force Special
Forces

Clay Evans

Level: 24

Missions Complete:
30

Kills: 53

Experience: 70/500

Credits: 2650

Status: Active...

....Incoming Status
Report...

Student

Robbie Jameson

Level: 1

Missions Complete: 3

Kills: 4

Experience: 340/500

Credits: 0

Status: Active...

....Incoming Status
Report...

Cargo Lifter

Rose Wells

Level: 3

Missions Complete:
10

Kills: 12

Experience: 320/500

Credits: 650

Status: Active...

....Incoming Status
Report...

Convicted Murderer

Fiona Knowles
(Prisoner 2-91)

Level: 17

Missions Complete:
16

Kills: 36

Experience: 420/500

Credits: 11,000

Status: Active...

....Incoming Status
Report...

Convicted Murderer

Prisoner 3-57

Level: 6

Missions Complete: 5

Kills: 11

Experience: 110/500

Credits: 2120

Status: Active...

Mission Three: Into
the Fire

Chapter One: The
Warden

Pain
throbbed throughout my body. I could feel something warm dripping
down the side of my face. It felt like I had the hangover from hell.
I opened my eyes. They felt heavy. My vision was blurred. The edges
of my world were in darkness. I winced in pain, as I tried to
breathe. My ribs were broken. Strong hands were hooked under each of
my arms. I was being dragged. Using every ounce of strength I could
muster, I looked up. I was in a hallway. A red carpet ran the length
of the hallway. Framed pictures were upon the walls. A young man was
stood by a wooden door with a golden handle. He looked nervous. If I
had to guess I would say he was an intern. He was not expecting to
see a badly beaten prisoner. The young man opened the door and
stepped back. I was dragged into an office. The size of the office
instantly put into perspective the enormity of its owner’s
role. This was a big cheese. The far window overlooked the moon
colony. I knew this from the glass dome that covered the town. A
wooden desk sat before the window. Bookshelves were along the walls.
There were a few potted plants in the room, but they looked plastic
and fake, like a page three girls boobs. The office was designed with
a cold sense of duty. It was the type of office that was supposed to
make you feel small.