Damned Are We

by Durman, Jason

"Can we try another tunnel?" Markus asked.

  Corvo shook his head. "It seems like they blocked off every pipe with a direct link to the town."

  Samantha sighed in frustration. "So now what do we do?"

  The old veteran traced his finger along the map. "We could use the manhole there…" he pointed back down the way they came, "…about twenty metres back. We won't pop up in Riverside, but we'll

  come out near enough. Then, we should be able to just make our way into town on foot."

  "Lead the way," Jacob said. "If I have to smell these sewers any longer, I just might shoot myself."

  "Hold onto that thought."

  With that, the group made their way back down the tunnel until they came to a ladder set into the

  wall.

  Corvo slung his shotgun over his shoulder. "I'll go first."

  "Be careful," Samantha told him.

  The old man shimmied up the ladder with surprising agility. The others watched as he removed the

  manhole cover above and climbed out of the sewers. There was a short silence, and then –

  " Hurry up, get your asses up here!" he shouted. "We've got company!" Gunfire erupted with shocking suddenness.

  "Damnit, damnit! " Samantha cursed, immediately starting up the ladder to help him.

  She came out at the top and emerged onto a grassy field surrounded by warehouses, workshops

  and a chain-link fence that separated them from a dark tree-line. She barely registered that it was

  getting dark.

  Already night-time? It was early in the afternoon when we set out. We were in that damn drain

  system for the better part of a day .

  She saw several Common Infected rushing at Corvo, who downed the forerunners with expertly-fired

  shots. However, one of them bit the old man's outstretched hand, causing him to cry out in pain. He

  grappled with two people, but they violently hurled him to the ground and started tearing into him

  with their claws.

  Samantha cursed and shot the nearest one through the head, and then desperately shoved Corvo's

  remaining attacker off him. It was al the invitation the war veteran needed to raise his sidearm and

  fire the killing shot into the creature's eye in a spurt of blood.

  Markus emerged from the sewers to see Samantha going to help Corvo to his feet, unaware of

  several more snarling figures approaching her from behind.

  "Look out!" he shouted, firing a short burst from his Uzi. Heads jerked back and puffs of dark liquid spurted into the air as their bodies crumpled the ground; dark pools spreading out under them.

  Meanwhile, Samantha ran over to Corvo and helped him up, worriedly eyeing the bloody bite mark

  on his hand, and the number of scratches and bruises that he had sustained in the attack.

  "Are you okay?"

  "I'm fine, kid," he said gruffly, shrugging off the pain. "Thanks for savin' my ass, or I would've been done for."

  "Hey!" Jacob yel ed behind them. "We've gotta find cover!"

  The others looked back to see more Common Infected sprinting across the field at them, shrieking like banshees. Markus let loose with an extended burst of gunfire, sending the leading attackers

  crashing down in a hail of hot lead. The stand consumed the last of his Uzi ammunition, and he

  tossed the gun aside.

  "Make for the workshop!" he cried, pointing behind them to a large building. The open service door

  was clearly visible – a dark and ominous opening.

  "You sure we should go in there?" Samantha called over to him.

  "Better than staying out here!"

  "Good point."

  With that, the four survivors sprinted across the yard, chased by over a dozen raving figures. They

  entered the workshop, and the light from their flashlights revealed a red-painted caboose sitting on a

  service gantry.

  "Get into the caboose!" Corvo yel ed, leading the others up into the train car.

  Jacob quickly slammed the rear door shut, plunging the interior cabin into darkness. The sound of

  many fists pounding on the door came moments later. The group looked at each other through the

  light of their flashlights nervously, knowing full wel that the incessant pounding meant that there was

  no turning back.

  Chapter 29

  Jacob leaned against the side wall of the train car as the incessant pounding continued on the

  outside of the caboose. Samantha pul ed the medical pack off Corvo's back and coaxed him to sit

  down on the floor to address the scratches al over his arms.

  "Don't worry, I'm fine," he insisted.

  "You're hurt, Corvo."

  She tried to ignore the pounding reverberating throughout the caboose as she cleaned the bloodied

  bite-mark on his hand. It looks pretty painful, and she heard the older man hiss as she applied

  antiseptic to the wound. However once it was dressed, given time, it would heal. While she tended to

  his injuries, Markus had taken to exploring the caboose. While there was not much to see, he did

  find another door at the far end of the train car.

  "Hey guys, I think we can get out through here!"

  Jacob shot one last look at the door they had entered the car from – the only thing separating them

  from an insane mob of bloodthirsty people – before going over to check out Markus' discovery.

  "You see, the train car is blocking the way through the service gantry, so the Infected knocking

  outside won't be able to fol ow us," the other man pointed out.

  Jacob gently eased the door open with his shotgun and looked outside. He could see the dark

  outlines of trains, workshops, sheds, and some sort of tower against the night sky. "Well, I guess it's

  better than nothing."

  Once Samantha was satisfied that Corvo's injuries had been tended to, the group ventured out of the

  caboose and found themselves at the edge of an abandoned train-yard.

  "Not a fan of creepy old train-yards," she commented.

  As they moved further into the dark area, they made sure to check behind train cars, dispatching the

  occasional Common Infected they came across quickly and quietly. Thankful y, there were very few

  hiding in the area.

  "We should check out that tower," Corvo said, pointed to the rickety-looking wooden structure that

  stood watch over the area.

  While Markus and Jacob kept watch at the bottom, he and Samantha careful y climbed the steps,

  and came to the cabin room at the top. She shone her flashlight in the door, and what she saw made

  her blood chil . What was left of a man was lying on the floor, torn to shreds. His rib-cage was

  exposed, and one of his legs had been torn off. The expression frozen on his face was one of terror

  and indescribable agony.

  Corvo carefully stepped past the body toward the window. "Here," he said, throwing a couple of

  M1911 clips over to her.

  "Thanks, she replied, placing them in the holster buckled at her hip.

  Something leaning against the wal caught the war veteran's attention. "A sniper rifle!" he exclaimed, handing his shotgun to Samantha and picking up the scoped rifle. "This will definitely come in

  handy."

  "Glad you found a new toy," she teased. "So, do you know which way we have to go to get to

  Riverside?"

  Corvo unattached the scope from the sniper rifle and walked up to the window, looking through the

  scope and surveying the area. "That way," he said, pointing. "I can see a road leading toward the town."

  They climbed down from the tower to rejoin Markus and Jacob, and then crossed the train-yard

  toward a dark park. Corvo led the way toward the road he
had seen earlier, bordered on both sides

  by thick woods. Samantha looked into the dark trees and shivered. She could not shake the

  unpleasant feeling that they were being watched.

  It's fine. After what happened in the drains, this'll be a walk in the park... A very spooky and sinister park...

  "Why'd you have to pick the creepiest route into town, Corvo?" Markus asked, looking warily into the withered trees.

  "Cut the chatter…"

  They walked in silence for several minutes after that, keeping a cautious watch on al sides, ful y

  expecting company to come bursting out of the trees at any minute. It was a very unpleasant walk,

  and although nothing happened, everyone's nerves were frayed by the time they approached a

  quaint little stone footbridge crossing over a dried-up creek; the bed of the latter covered with dead

  leaves.

  Rustling came from the woods, causing everyone to stop nervously. They aimed their flashlights

  toward the sound, but their weak beams could not penetrate very far into the trees, and the noise

  had stopped anyway. Perhaps it was just leaves being blown in the wind?

  What wind…? Samantha pointed out to herself.

  However, any reservations they had held about the woods were quickly blotted out by another

  chilling sound. Crying.

  "Aw, hel …" Corvo muttered.

  "Where's it coming from?" Markus whispered.

  "I don't know. Take it slow and easy. We don't wanna piss her off…"

  This 'nice and pleasant' walk through the park was going to hell in hand-basket real fast. Corvo led

  the way toward the stone bridge, al the while hearing piercing and tortured sobs echoing al around

  him. Samantha shuddered – her last encounter with a Jaguar had practical y reduced her to a

  sobbing mess, but at least she was with the others now. The crying was so loud – they couldn't see

  the culprit, but she had to be close…

  "She's under the bridge!" Markus hissed in a moment of realisation.

  "Goddamn it," Jacob spat. "It's one of those crazy chicks with the claws, isn't it?"

  "Stay quiet…" Corvo murmured. "If we don't disturb her, we'll be alright."

  The four of them stood in a tense silence for a moment, listening to the Jaguar as she continued to

  cry under the stone bridge.

  "Are we gonna have to take a detour through the woods then?" Jacob scowled.

  Corvo shook his head. "We'll cross over the bridge and keep fol owing the path on the other side."

  "In case you forgot, there's a goddamn bitch under that bridge."

  "Yes, but if we go over the bridge, then she won't see us and come after us. We'll cross one at a time. Walk on the sides of your feet, and make as little noise as possible."

  "This is a shit plan."

  Samantha grimaced for a couple of reasons, one of which being Jacob making known his opinion of the proposed course of action, as usual. He was one of the most stubborn and hard-headed guys

  she had ever met, particularly when dealing with Markus. She had the feeling that if he

  acknowledged Jacob as the best zombie Leaper in the world, the burly biker would disagree out of

  spite.

  However, her other reason for grimacing was that she secretly agreed with him. There was a first

  time for everything right? And she definitely did not like this plan. However, the alternative was

  walking through the pitch-black woods.

  Markus went first, slowly approaching the footbridge with his pistol drawn. The crying steadily grew

  louder as he approached. Oh yeah, the Jaguar was definitely down there. He took a deep breath,

  took his first tentative steps up onto the bridge, and then paused. The infected woman continued to

  weep, oblivious to his presence. The young man allowed himself to relax slightly, and finished the

  crossing without incident. Jacob went next and joined him on the other side without a hitch.

  Samantha fol owed, her heart pounding in her chest. She so did not want to do this. On the other

  hand, the other Jaguar back in the drains hadn't disembowel ed her, even after she had discharged a

  weapon right near her. There should not be a problem out here, right?

  The crying stopped, and a viscous growl drifted out from under the bridge.

  Samantha immediately stopped walking and gripped the handrail. Oh god, oh god, oh god…

  Corvo and the others abruptly drew their weapons and pointed them at the bridge, ready to open

  fire. However, after a nerve-wracking silence, the Jaguar resumed her crying, which they took as a

  good sign. Hell, at least she wasn't growling anymore. Corvo lowered his pistol slowly, looked up at

  Samantha and gave her a reassuring nod. She slowly crossed the rest of the bridge and gave a

  heavy sigh of relief when she came to the bottom of the ramp on the other side.

  Corvo grimaced as he careful y walked up the ramp and onto the stone footbridge. He had made it

  just over halfway when the infected woman below him started panting and growling, obviously

  agitated. He stopped walking, but the growling continued.

  Oh, shit. I gotta get off this bridge…

  To everyone's surprise, he continued to cross.

  "Idiot old man," Jacob growled. "He's gonna make her snap."

  "That Jaguar is not happy," Samantha murmured in agreement.

  Corvo reached the other side and slowly backed away from the bridge, pistol raised. The Jaguar's

  furious growls continued for a little while longer. However, the sounds abruptly stopped, and the

  group saw a dark figure emerging from under the bridge, slinking up and out of the creek-bed, and

  stalking away into the trees on the other side. No one dared to move or say anything for several

  minutes.

  "That was too close," Markus finally breathed.

  The ragtag group fol owed the pathway through the park for ten more minutes. The Jaguar

  fortunately did not come after them, but they did encounter several Common Infected lurking on the

  path or off to the side. Samantha returned Corvo's knife to him, which he used to careful y creep

  forward and slash their throats before they knew what hit them. The last one saw the old man

  coming and screeched furiously, but was silenced with a pistol shot to the head.

  The trees abruptly thinned out, and a church was visible in the distance. The spire rose up into the

  air, lit up by two floodlights aimed at it.

  Corvo looked at the structure in surprise. "There are lights on in that church!"

  "Maybe the army is holding out there!" Samantha said hopeful y.

  The four survivors left the path and passed through a gate in a stone wall, finding themselves at the

  south-east edge of an old cemetery in the church yard. The moon was obscured by a pal of clouds,

  but its pale light stil filtered through, illuminating the old tombstones and leafless, withered trees that

  ran along the perimeter of the area.

  However, despite the grim situation, Samantha could not help but giggle. "Dunn-dunnn- dunnnn! "

  She looked around to see the others looking at her like she had grown a second head.

  "Got a screw loose, kid?" Corvo remarked.

  "Wel , I mean, come on, guys! We're standing at the edge of a creepy old cemetery in the middle of the night? Talk about cliché!"

  Before anyone could answer, a bloodthirsty scream cut through the air. They looked back in alarm to

  see several Common Infected come tearing out of the woods toward them, snarling viscously.

  "Into the graveyard!" Markus yel ed, motioning the others forward with a wave of his arm. I can't believe I just said that!

/>   Muzzle-flashes lit up the cemetery as the four survivors ran headlong into the tombstones. They cut

  toward the church, firing back at their pursuers, several of which caught bul ets and went down.

  However, the others began to weave throughout the tombstones, causing the shots to go wide.

  Corvo cursed and slung his sniper rifle over his back in favour of his M1911, the far better option for

  a fight of this nature. He raised his pistol arm to fire a shot at a dark figure, only to feel himself

  tackled from the side. He crashed to the dirt, struggling desperately with his attacker. With one swift

  movement, he drew his knife and slashed the man on top of him, feeling blood spurt into his face. He

  snarled and climbed to his feet, stabbing the second figure bearing down on him through the heart.

  Scattered pistol shots and shotgun blasts echoed throughout the cemetery, amid animalistic cries of

  pain and anger. Jacob swung the butt of his shotgun, knocking an infected man to the ground. He

  stooped over him and then proceeded to bring the butt of his gun down repeatedly, unceremoniously

  clubbing the man to death. The brief skirmish was over quickly, and the graveyard fell silent once

  more. It was now the host to several new bodies.

  Samantha shivered. "Let's get the hel out of here." She ran toward the church, excited at the

  prospect of being rescued at last.

  Meanwhile, in a small room inside the church, a man trembled uncontrol ably, almost dropping the marker in his hand. He had let her in, shown her great kindness. And how had he been repaid? He

  looked down at the bite mark on his hand and whimpered softly.

  That was what you get for considering the safety of others before your own. If you wanted to survive

  this apocalypse, you had to play it safe. Safe, and not sorry. Wel , now he was looking out for

  himself! He had to be safe! And never sorry!

  He had no idea how long he had been writing on the wal in front of him, but before he realized it, the

  entire surface was covered in his righteous message: “Better safe than sorry” written hundreds of

  times.

  Chapter 30

  The four survivors cautiously entered the church, guns held out in front of them. The interior of the

  building was il uminated by several mobile electric light units, which cast shadows all over the room.