by Ben Hammott
Though she thought it unlikely the Wolf Monsters could open the door, Lucy didn't want to linger and be proved wrong. She moved through the short corridor and opened the door at the far end. Her face dropped when she stepped onto a balcony entwined with alien ivy and gazed at the jungle-choked room. The tall foliage was too dense for her to see the far side of the room or how far away it was. Aware she had to keep moving, Lucy climbed down the stairs overgrown with creeping fauna and entered the jungle.
Pinky arrived at the rock wall and scurried up the side towards the nearest beast. She grabbed its leg and yanked it down hard. The Wolf Monster slipped and lashed out at the creature responsible. Pinky easily dodged the claw and jumped onto its back. She grabbed its ears and yanked its head back and to the side. Her head shot forward. Her teeth latched onto its neck and ripped a large gash in its throat. She leaped off as her victim fell and climbed up the cliff. The first beast had already reached the top. She scrambled onto an outcrop of rock and leaped at the second beast. She slammed into its side, freeing its grip on the rock, and raked claws down its belly as she dodged away and watched the wounded Wolf Monster tumble down the cliff.
Pinky climbed over the ledge and looked at her mate facing down the Wolf Monster. It smiled at her and nodded. They both attacked at the same time. The Wolf Monster screeched as it lashed out at the fast moving creatures, but they ducked and dodged its claws as they made contact with their own. It fell to the ground panting heavily. Blood poured from its many wounds.
Howls rang out as the pack announced their return.
Pinky and her mate left the wounded creature as a distraction for its comrades and leaped over the cliff. They slid to the bottom and rushed across the ground as the pack arrived.
The Wolf Monsters instinctively gave chase, but skidded to a halt, raised their vicious snouts, sniffed and turned their heads back towards the cliff and the strong scent of blood. After a brief glance at the two fleeing creatures they headed back to the cliff to begin feasting on the food they didn't have to chase.
Fields of Fear
THE WARM HUMID room the Russian salvage team had entered was lit by rows of light cells hanging from the ceiling. It stretched into the distance and was filled with raised growing beds one-hundred-feet wide and what seemed three times that long. Each contained a single variety of crop that included fruit trees, vegetables and grain crops similar to wheat or barley. Untended, the crops had run wild and a carpet of rotten fruit and vegetation covered the floor between the crop trays and filled the air with the stench of cloying decay. Lines of one-inch wide black pipes, which seemed to be part of an irrigation system, were suspended above each crop area and led to large, tall tanks positioned at intervals around the room.
Sergei Antonoff walked over to a fruit-laden tree and plucked one of its purple fruits, similar in size and shape to an avocado. He sniffed it. “It smells sweet, a cross between a grape and a pear.”
“I wouldn't risk tasting it,” said Brusilov.
Sergei had no intention of doing so. He dropped the fruit and when he gazed down the long path, he thought he glimpsed movement. “Captain, I think crops aren't the only thing in here.”
Brusilov followed Sergei's gaze. Though he saw nothing, he trusted the man's judgment. “Okay, let's leave. There's nothing in this room we want.”
As if it had patiently waited for those very words to be spoken, the door rasped closed just as ominously as it had opened. Weapons were brought to bear on the closed door but no one was nearby to have operated it.
“Probably on a timer to protect the warm, moist atmosphere,” Viktor Rozovsky suggested, feeling a bead of sweat run down his neck.
A distant shriek rang out.
Weapons swiveled towards the sound.
Nothing moved except for their rapidly beating hearts and the blood pumping through their veins.
“Let's go,” ordered Brusilov.
Their weapons roamed the room for danger as they backed towards the exit.
Petya Babinski reached the door first and searched for the door control. He found it smashed on the floor. “Captain, we have a problem.”
Brusilov glanced at the broken control highlighted in the beam from Babinski's flashlight and received an uneasy feeling they'd walked into a trap. He watched as Rozovsky and Vadik tried to force the door open. When it was obvious they wouldn't succeed, he glanced around the huge room. “There has to be another exit in here somewhere and we need to find it before whatever's in here finds us.” He led his men down the nearest path.
Another screech closer than before, came from ahead and to their right.
Vadik aimed his weapon at the point where he thought the sound had originated from. “Whatever it is, it's in that alien wheat field.”
Brusilov thought it wise they move before it attacked. “Pick up the pace.”
All were glad to do so and they hurried along the path. Each footstep squelched into the thick carpet of rotted vegetation. The rustle of crops on their right indicated something homing in on them. All were startled by the sprinkler system when it sputtered out jets of water that filled the room with fine rain and cut their limited vision even more. Without making a sound, something leaped from the crop field on their left. It had been waiting for them.
Horror spread across Yegor Kristoff's features when he turned and stared at the ten-foot-long creature. Patches of scraggy fur and scaly, snakelike skin covered its muscular brown body. He stumbled into Babinski when one of the monster's three-clawed front limbs lashed out, ripping three deep gashes across his chest that continued up his neck and across his face. Blood gushed from the wound as the creature sailed overhead. Its long tail, ridged with short, sharp spikes, ended in a jaw the size of a large melon and crammed with sharp teeth. It gripped Yegor's face and flipped him into the air, sending the dying man soaring over the path. The creature disappeared into the opposite crop field and then reappeared briefly to snatch Yegor's screaming body from the air. The grisly sounds of tearing flesh quickly followed, ending the Russian's harrowing screams.
Rozovsky sprayed bullets after the monster crashing through the field away from them.
Sergei gripped his shoulder. “Stop, you'll hit Yegor.”
Rozovsky sprayed one more burst before stopping. He looked at Sergei. “What's it matter? He's already dead.”
“Quiet everyone,” ordered Brusilov. He was worried that the creatures had shown intelligence and there were at least two of them―the one that had lain in wait and attacked and the other that had distracted their attention.
Though the rain made it hard to hear anything more than a short distance away, they all heard the cacophony of excited squeals that rippled across the room. There were more than two monsters and they had smelt blood―human blood.
Expecting an attack at any moment, Brusilov scanned the room. His eyes halted on the nearest water tower. It was their only chance. The higher vantage point would give them a good view of the room, the approaching monsters and an ideal defensive position. “Head for the water tower.”
They sprinted for the tower and while the Captain and Vadik kept guard, the others climbed the ladder. Its widely spaced rungs were evidence it had been designed for someone with longer legs than humans. Once the others reached the top, they covered Brusilov and Vadik's climb.
The height of the tower had brought them above the rain, but the fine mist it created still impaired their view of anything moving through it. The men spread out around the edge of the tank and scanned the room below.
Brusilov switched off his weapon-light and advised his men to do the same to conserve the batteries; they could be stuck here for some time.
Babinski pointed at something moving through one of the crop sections, leaving behind a trail of flattened growth. “Something's coming from over there.”
“Two more coming from this side,” called out Vadik.
“I see four coming in fast over here,” added Sasha Petroff.
The Captain j
oined Petroff in watching the four trails of flattened growth move across the width of a field two crop sections away. The tall crops hid the creatures until they jumped across the path. Four vicious, fanged faces snarled up at them.
The Captain gazed around as more creatures joined in the hunt. He counted nine. “Fire when you have a target, but don't waste ammo. I've a feeling we're gonna need more than we have.”
Brusilov lay flat on the tank and sighted along his weapon, following the leading edge of a flattened trail snaking through a field. When the creature appeared and leaped across the path, he adjusted aim slightly and fired a short burst. The creature screeched, crashed to the ground, tumbled head over heels and lay still.
More shots rang out. Two more creatures died. The remaining creatures turned and retreated. While Brusilov watched them retreat, he wondered why they had halted their attack so quickly. Did their weapons drive them back, or were they testing their defenses? He glanced around at his men.
Vadik approached. “Now what do we do, Captain? We're stuck up here and I can't see those things going too far when a cornered meal's on offer.”
“I've no idea, Vadik. This is as new to me as it is to you. We now know they can be killed and they also now know we have the means to do so. We'll stay here for a while to see what they do before I make a decision.”
“Now they've seen we aren't the easy prey they no doubt assumed we were, maybe they'll leave us alone and give us chance to leave?” said Babinski, hopefully.
Brusilov climbed to his feet and stared down at the surrounding crops, but saw no sign of the monsters he knew were down there, watching and waiting. “I think them leaving us alone is wishful thinking. They are up to something.”
The rain stopped to be replaced by occasional drips of water from the irrigation pipes.
Brusilov suddenly crouched and placed a hand on the metal tank. He glanced at Rozovsky. “Check the ladder.”
Rozovsky moved to the ladder and peered down its length. Half a body length away a monster growled at him. Its tail head lashed out, gripped his shoulder and flung him over the edge. The creature bounded up the last few rungs and onto the tank. Startled by its sudden appearance, Sergei froze. The captain barged the shocked man aside as the monster lashed a claw at Sergei's face. Brusilov fired. Bullets struck the monster's chest. It collapsed to the ground. Babinski kicked it in the head, sending it rolling off the tower.
Rozovsky, though shaken by the fall, had been saved from injury by the cushioning effect of the thick carpet of decayed mulch covering the floor. When he gazed up and saw the monster plummeting straight for him, he rolled out of the way. The monster crashed to the ground beside him. Blood oozed from the bullet holes in its chest. Though it was undeniably dead, the message had not yet been received by the tail head. It snapped its jaws and lunged for Rozovsky. Having dropped his weapon during the fall, Rozovsky snatched the knife from its sheaf on his thigh and stabbed at the head. The blade entered just behind its snapping jaw and after a few seconds it fell still and drooped.
“Are you okay, Rozovsky?” called out Sergei.
Rozovsky gazed up the tower to see his comrades staring down at him.
“I was until someone dropped a bloody monster on me.” He used a hand to push the head from the blade and threw it aside.
Babinski grinned. “That was me.”
Rozovsky turned his head and stared at the monster's face only two feet away. No flesh or hair covered its head from its ears to the tip of its long snout. It gave it a skeletal appearance and revealed the full wickedness of its sharp, scythe-like fangs.
Brusilov noticed two creatures heading for Rozovsky. “If you're finished playing with your new friend, I suggest you climb back up here before its comrades join the party.”
Rozovsky took the hint. He climbed to his feet, grabbed his rifle and rushed up the ladder. He was halfway up when gunshots echoed through the vast room. A screech indicated one monster had been hit. The other was not so easy to kill. It didn't move in a straight line, but constantly dodged and changed direction, making it hard to hit. They were learning. It leaped out of the crop below the water tank and onto the ladder.
Rozovsky fumbled with the weapon he'd slung over his shoulder for the climb.
Brusilov dropped his rifle, grabbed his pistol and shot out an arm behind him. “Someone hold me.”
When someone grabbed his wrist, Brusilov leaned out over the edge, took aim and fired four shots at the monster's head and two in the tail head. It fell to the ground and lay still. Brusilov glanced at Rozovsky and nodded.
Rozovsky returned the nod. “Thanks, Captain.”
When Brusilov was pulled upright, he reloaded and holstered the weapon and reclaimed his rifle.
A creature, slightly paler and larger than the others, stood in the shadows watching the strange new arrivals trapped in its domain. Though they were proving difficult to kill, it wasn't beaten yet. It had a plan. It tilted its head and looked at the rows of yellow lights hanging from the ceiling. It wouldn't be long now. It turned to face the hoard of creatures waiting for instructions and barked a command. The creatures glanced towards the prey atop the water tower and then rushed off.
The men on the tower stared in the direction the bark had come from. They glimpsed the bulk of a larger, paler creature before it slunk into the shadows.
Wondering what the creatures were up to now, Brusilov eyes searched the room for a clue and noticed the farthest row of lights go out and then the next. One by one the rows went dark. Pitch-blackness sped towards them.
Sensing something bad was about to happen, the Russians switched on their flashlights and waited.
“You know the drill, comrades,” Brusilov said. “Spread out and keep your eyes and lights trained below. The only way they can get to us is by climbing the tower. If we stay alert we'll survive. Pick off any that venture too close and hopefully we can reduce their numbers enough to risk climbing down and search for an exit.”
The men spaced themselves around the edge of the tower and roamed their lights over the area below. When thirty minutes had passed and the creatures still hadn't shown themselves, Brusilov became concerned. He didn't like the inactivity. He preferred they attack so one way or another they could bring an end to this stalemate. His eyes searched the ground as he walked the tower's circumference, but nothing moved below. He cocked an ear when he thought he heard something. There it was again. It was faint, but continuous―the sound of something sliding, slithering. He stared into the patch of darkness he thought it originated from and raised the light fixed to his weapon. Caught in his beam nine feet away was the open jaw of one of the creatures hanging upside down from a ceiling beam. He shifted the light left and right, revealing rows of the monsters, one behind the other.
“They're on the ceiling!” he shouted.
Bullets sprayed from his rifle. A creature screeched and fell to the floor. A second soon followed. The others raised their lights, glimpsed the creatures moving along the roof girders all around them and fired.
One leapt and twisted in midair with its claws aimed at Babinski. Babinski fired as he dodged back and smashed the rifle butt into its head when it flew past. The creature slammed into the tank and rolled.
Rozovsky jumped over it to prevent the tumbling monster from knocking him over the edge and glared at Babinski. “Stop throwing monsters at me.”
Babinski shrugged and grinned as he shot another creature. “I assure you, Rozovsky, it's not intentional.”
As the men dispatched more of the horrors, Brusilov went through their options. They would soon run out of ammo if they remained here and if the creatures were on the ceiling, perhaps―if they were really lucky―there wouldn't be any below or reduced to a number they might be able to handle. He glanced at the men firing beside him. “Sergei, Petroff, climb down and take position at the bottom of the ladder. It's time we found that exit.”
The men shot two more creatures as they moved for the ladder. Petrof
f slid down first, Sergei quickly followed. Bullets continued to find their targets from the remaining men on top. The creatures that had witnessed the deaths of those in front now moved more cautiously or had stopped.
Brusilov placed a hand on Vadik's shoulder. “I'm going down next. The rest of you follow in quick order.”
The men nodded and followed the captain down the ladder. When Rozovsky was the only one on the tower, he sprayed bullets in all directions at the creatures until his foot touched the top rung. He quickly shouldered his weapon, gripped the side rails and slid to the bottom.
Brusilov explained his escape plan. “We head to the far side of the room and hope we find a usable exit.”
“And if we don't, what then, Captain?” asked Babinski.
“I'll let you know if and when that happens. Let's go.” Brusilov sprinted into the darkness with his weapon raised and moving from side to side. His men followed close behind in staggered formation.
Their feet squelched and slipped in the rain-moistened compost covering the floor. They had crossed over half the room before a creature attacked. It leaped out of the crop at Sergei, who was at the back. He sensed the creature's presence, turned to the side and fired without breaking stride. The dead creature dropped to the ground. Two more rushed from a side turning in front and were mowed down before their claws found flesh. The leading men jumped over their bodies and dodged the tail head that lunged for them. A single shot from Vadik's weapon rang out and the snapping head exploded in a spray of blood and teeth.
Brusilov's light fell on the far wall and searched for a door. Finding one identical to the one they had entered and hoping this one would open, he led the team straight for it. Five more monsters attacked and died before they reached it. Brusilov groaned on spying the smashed control panel. There would be no escape this way. His flashlight and eyes searched the length of the wall until they halted on a dark opening a short distance away. He led the men over and when he paused outside, they formed a defensive shield around him while he checked the room. Brusilov peered inside and swept the light around the chamber before entering. The floor was covered in a thick layer of alien crops collected from the growing beds. Circular impressions dotted across it, hinted it might be where some of the creatures slept. Though his senses screamed at him to turn around and go back, he and his men needed to find a way out of this hellhole.
