Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 29: Show Yourself!

Chapter 29: Show Yourself!

"Wait!" Mary cried out, just as Garvin’s hand reached for the doorknob. Her voice broke, and a shiver ran through her as tears filled her eyes. "I’m terrified," she whispered. "Are we really safe out there? Did Scarlett actually take down all those monsters?"

Louise scowled, his voice harsh with frustration. "What the hell is this, Mary? If you’re so scared, then stay here in the room alone. We’ve trained hard since Scarlett left, and now that she’s given us the signal, you’re getting cold feet?"

"Ease up on her," Mrs. Anderson interjected, her voice trembling as her hands gripped a gun. She was scared too, and her quivering fingers betrayed it. "We’re all scared, Louise. This isn’t easy for any of us."

Garvin looked around at them, his face serious but understanding. "Listen up, everyone." He spoke with a calm authority, his tone persuasive. "It’s only the weak who let fear control them. But we’re not weak, we’re survivors. Keep that in mind. We must survive, no matter what."

The group fell silent, nodding, absorbing his words. Louise rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed, but said nothing. Finally, he exhaled sharply and glared at Mary. "You’re scared, huh?" he scoffed. "Well, Scarlett didn’t let fear stop her. She went out there alone to fight those monsters. Sure, she’s got powers, but what’s a gun if not a weapon too? It’s just as much a tool as her fire."

Garvin raised a hand, cutting off Louise’s tirade. "Enough, Louise. She’s still young, and being afraid in this situation is natural. Anyone would be. Now let’s stay focused."

Turning back to the others, Garvin took a deep breath, his gaze steady. "Okay, let’s do this. On my count—three...two...one."

With a firm push, he opened the door, stepping out into the hallway, the rest of the group following close behind. Garvin took the lead, Mary and the Andersons huddled in the middle, and Louise guarded the rear.

Faintly glowing fireballs lay along the floor, marking a path left by Scarlett, and the group followed the dim light with growing relief. They were getting closer to the exit, and no monsters had appeared. Cautious optimism crept into their expressions as they moved forward.

The air grew thick with the acrid stench of burnt flesh, fire, and decay making them to cover their noses.

"Scarlett really cleared the way for us," Mary whispered, a spark of hope in her eyes, though her gaze darted nervously from shadow to shadow. "She’s like a guardian angel sent to protect us."

Mrs. Anderson nodded, though her hands clenched her gun tightly. "Yes...but stay vigilant. We’re not out of this yet."

The hallway twisted and turned, an ominous labyrinth lit only by the fireballs guiding them forward. Just as they descended a set of stairs, a creature appeared from the shadows. It was small, the size of an infant, with a skull for a head and a body dripping with mud.

Garvin reacted instantly, raising his weapon and firing a clean shot that felled the monster in one swift motion.

Louise let out a laugh, his tone almost gleeful. "Now that was easy! A baby monster! If we’re going to run into any more, I hope they’re all as tiny as that one."

"Keep moving," Garvin instructed firmly, and the group nodded, their fear momentarily tempered by their small victory. But as they pressed on, the foul odor intensified, making Mary gag.

"We should have brought masks," she muttered, wrinkling her nose. "This smell is worse than anything I’ve ever experienced."

"Quiet," Garvin hissed, pressing a finger to his lips. "We’re not safe yet."

They rounded another corner, and there it was the exit sign, a faint glow at the end of the hall. Relief surged through the group, and they picked up their pace, drawn to the light like moths to a flame. But as they neared the door, Garvin stopped abruptly, staring at something ahead.

"What’s wrong?" Louise whispered, his voice tense. "You’re freaking everyone out."

A feminine figure stood in the shadows near the exit, unmoving, her face obscured. The group froze, their hearts pounding.

"Scarlett?" Mary called, hope flickering in her voice. "Is that you?"

The figure said nothing, remaining still.

Garvin tightened his grip on his weapon. "Show yourself!" he demanded.

The figure stepped forward slowly, revealing Scarlett’s face, though her expression was strangely empty.

"Let’s go," she said, her gaze not on them but fixed somewhere behind them. "There are monsters outside. We need to go back to the room."

A chill ran through Garvin. Something about her wasn’t right.

"Back to the room? Have you lost your mind?" Louise muttered under his breath. "We’re so close to getting out!"

Ignoring him, Mary took a step forward. "Scarlett, thank you so much." She embraced the figure, but something felt wrong. Scarlett’s body was icy, and the awful smell of rot was strongest here, emanating from her.

Mary looked up, her blood turning cold as she saw what was truly before her, a face half-ripped, flesh hanging loosely, bones exposed and writhing with worms.

"S-she’s not Scarlett!" Mary screamed, stumbling back in horror. She turned to run, but the creature’s long, jagged hand thrust into her stomach, lifting her off the ground. Blood poured from the wound as she gasped, choking.

The monster transformed, mud coating its body, its head a skeletal grin filled with sharp, jagged teeth. Garvin’s eyes widened as realization struck. "It’s the mother of that baby monster we killed!" he shouted. "Shoot! Everyone, fire!"

Their momentary shock dissipated as they raised their guns, squeezing the triggers. But the creature dodged and lunged, closing the distance in an instant, slamming them against the walls with bone-crushing force. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson slumped to the floor, unconscious.

The monster then got ready to end the group once and for all.

"We’re fucking dead!" Louise uttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

At that moment, the real Scarlett burst into the hallway behind the creature, her eyes blazing with determination. She raised her hand, summoning fire that shot towards the creature, searing through its torso and leaving a gaping hole. But as they watched, the wound began to heal almost instantly.

"Regenerating, are we?" Scarlett muttered under her breath. "Let’s see if you can grow a new head."

She unleashed a blade of fire, slicing cleanly through the creature’s neck, sending its head tumbling to the floor. Swiftly, she followed up with another blast, splitting the creature’s body into two, scattering writhing worms across the ground.

Ding!

{Make sure the worms don’t cling to any survivors, or they’ll become monsters.}

"Stay clear of the worms!" Scarlett shouted as they began crawling towards Garvin and the others. They scrambled back, carefully avoiding the wriggling creatures, lifting Mr. and Mrs. Anderson onto their shoulders.

Scarlett rushed to Mary, who lay slumped where the monster had thrown her, blood pooling around her. Kneeling beside her, Scarlett lifted Mary’s head gently, tears brimming in her eyes.

"I’m so sorry, Mary," Scarlett whispered, her voice breaking. "If Rose hadn’t knocked me out to stop me from going after you all, I would have come the moment I sensed the danger."

Garvin stared, his face pale with shock. "Knocked you out?!" he repeated, his voice hoarse. "But how was the monster able to take your form."