Grumble…
Didn’t quite make my word count today, by a few hundred words.. but I’m just too exhausted. Had a horribly long Monday at work today, and I just don’t have the energy to meet up the minimum for tonight. I’m gonna pay for this later, I just know it. Anyway, click below to read what I added today.
Sam Colwell muttered under his breath as he made his way down the stairs.
?Only exit is through the front gate… I’ll wait for them there. Wish I had time to call in some backup, though.?, he said to himself, pausing and reaching inside his coat to re holster his pistol. Just then, a noise near the base of the stairs and to the side caught his attention.
Nerves tensing, he quickly bounded down the stairs, pistol at the ready, and spun around, aiming at the source of the noise. Nothing, a blank span of polished wood at the base of the stairs. Confused, Sam started to lower his gun, and then the wood moved, a slice of yellowish light pouring forth from a widening slit, and voices raised in alarm.
?It’s coming closer! Hurry!?, came one of the voices.
?Phillip, get over here, now!?, cried Edwin in a strangled voice, , stepping back once more.
Phillip didn’t need to be told twice, the look on his friend’s face all the motivation he needed to run. A massive, misshapen arm swung through the air where he stood a moment before, and a low moan of frustration came from behind Phillip. Turning around as he reached Edwin’s side, Phillip caught sight of what had been sneaking up behind him:
A man, or what was once a man, but massive, easily 7 feet tall and more than half as wide, skin a splotchy gray color, eyes wide as saucers and empty of all but murderous intent. Broken lips twisted in a hateful sneer, the man-thing lurched forward unsteadily on limbs that didn’t seem to respond quite right to its commands. From several places in its body, small metal pipes extruded, letting out puffs of steam, and as it moved, the sound of clockwork gears grinding could be faintly heard coming from somewhere inside it.
?My God! What.. what is it??, said Philip, disgusted and fascinated at the same time.
?I’m not sure, but I don’t think we should try and find out right now. You have the notebook??, asked Edwin, fiddling with one of the many little levers and catches on his metal harness.
?I have it!?, said Phillip, clutching the leather bound notebook closer to his chest, as the creature continued to lurch closer unsteadily.
?Excellent. Step back.?, said Edwin, and extended an arm, a long, thick tube extruded from his harness held in it, and aimed at the thing. Pressing a small catch on the side of the tube, the harness twanged and a glob of a thick greenish substance spat out from the mouth of the tube, impacting the creature on its bare chest.
The creature staggered for a moment, looking down with a confused expression at the stuff on its chest, as it began to bubble and seep into its skin. Its eyes grew glazed, and it stumbled sideways onto one of the large metallic tables, crumpling like a house of cards.
?Knock-out pellets. Works every time.?, said Edwin, a note of satisfaction on his voice, and turned to face Phillip. ?Now, let’s find the way out of here before that thing comes to.?
Phillip nodded, looking relieved, a look which quickly turned to one of horror as he gazed at the creature behind Edwin.
?I don’t think we’re home free quite yet, Edwin.?, said Phillip, raising a trembling finger towards the thing.
Edwin turned quickly, and to his horror and surprise, saw the creature staggering back to its feet, shaking its head and looking even angrier and more hateful than before.
?How…??, mumbled Edwin, staggering back. ?That was enough to knock out a man for days!?
?My turn, cover your eyes, and be ready to run!?, said Phillip, stepping forward, even as the man thing let out an inhuman snarl of anger and began moving forward again. Phillip reached into one of his many belt pouches, and pulled out a small, metallic sphere composed of two interlocking halves. Giving the sphere a half-twist, he tossed it at the creature’s feet and turned away quickly, Edwin covering his eyes and doing the same. The creature looked down at the object at its feet, eyes wide, momentarily distracted, when the sphere exploded in a blinding flash of white phosphorous light, bathing the room in its brilliance for a moment and leaving the thing quite blind.
As the beast howled its pain, Edwin and Phillip ran deeper into the room, following another passageway, passing locked doors and empty rooms. Behind them, they could hear the thing stumbling blindly after them, growling and howling its anger.
