A massive and silent pressure collapsed in on him from all sides, giving him the sensation of being folded into an empty space, his very atoms screaming in protest. Then, just as quickly, it was gone.
The first sensation was smell, not sight. It was the clean, damp, organic scent of a forest at night, a lush tapestry of wet earth, decaying leaves, and pine.
It felt so profoundly, shockingly normal after the non-space he had just occupied that he gasped, his lungs filling with cold, fresh air.
His eyes popped open. He was lying on a bed of soft, damp moss and fallen needles, the canopy of towering, ancient trees blocking out the majority of the sky and leaving only slivers of a pale, waxing moon.
Crickets chirped, and an owl hooted in the distance. It was a peaceful situation at the same time It doesn't seem right; that made him frown heavily.
Where...?
His last memory was of his apartment: a soft glow of his computer screen and the familiar weight of his desk chair.
Suddenly he was in this kind of place...
The sounds of the forest were natural, but his instincts, honed by a life he couldn't even recall, were screaming.
This... was not his world.
Pushing himself up and sinking his hands into the soft loam, he felt a wave of disorientation wash over him.
He was dressed in simple, dark clothing that he didn't recognize—sturdy pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and boots that felt worn from miles he'd never walked.
A strange sound pierced the peaceful symphony of the night.
It was a human scream, raw with terror, followed by the unmistakable, deafening sound of a gunshot that echoed through the valleys, instantly silencing the crickets.
It came from further down the train tracks, which he only now noticed gleaming dimly in the moonlight, cutting a path through the dense forest.
"Tch!"
His body moved before his mind could process the danger, the instinct to investigate and help taking precedence over the primal urge to flee.
He moved like a ghost through the undergrowth, his new boots barely audible on the forest floor, displaying a natural stealth that he should not have. As he got closer, what he saw beside the tracks was a surreal nightmare.
A sleek, modern express train had come to a complete stop, its cars dark and silent. But his gaze was drawn to the origin of the scream.
A young woman, barely older than a girl, was leaning against a thick pine tree.
She wore a crisp, blue uniform from some sort of organization, with a star emblem on her beret, but it was in disarray.
Her face, pale and heart-shaped in the moonlight, was a mask of pure, unadulterated terror, her wide, brown eyes fixed on the thing shambling towards her.
The tattered uniform indicated that it once belonged to a man, a conductor.
Its skin was now mottled and sickly gray, with one arm hanging at a broken angle and a blackish ooze dripping from its mouth.
It groaned, a low, guttural sound that promised only a violent end.
The tattered uniform indicated that it had once been a man's, and he had been a conductor. Its mouth hung open, and its face was dripping with a blackish liquid.
Its skin had taken on a sickly gray color, and one of its arms was hanging at a broken angle. It emitted a low, guttural groan, the kind of sound that does not bode well for its future.
Her hands were shaking so violently that she could scarcely bring the unwieldy handgun to bear. The woman fumbled with it. She found herself in a situation in which she was trapped and unable to defend herself.
Jun did not think. There wasn't any time. A length of rusted, discarded rebar lay near his feet, a crude, unfinished weapon. He snatched it, the weight solid and reassuring in his grasp. Jun moved as the zombie-conductor lunged, reaching for the girl's throat with its rotting fingers.
He did not call out. He did not make his presence known.
The rebar whistled as it flew through the air in a short, brutal arc, and he emerged from the shadows with a single step.
It was not an easy way to end his life. It was chaotic and filled with raw emotion.
The creature's temple was penetrated by the metal spike, which produced a wet, cracking noise as it was driven through. It then fell to the ground at the girl's feet, violently twitching before it came to a complete stop.
A quietness that was interrupted solely by the ragged, sobbing breaths of the girl.
She fixed her eyes on him and could feel her breath shortening with desire. The gun in her hand was now swaying in an enticing way. Her eyes, wide and charged, danced from the dead body at her feet to him, stopping on the shiny, blood-stained rebar in his hand, which seemed to hold both danger and desire.
Bathed in the seductive light of the moon, he enjoyed the beautiful curve of her jaw and the enticing, quivering line of her lips that was calling him closer.
Her uniform, though practical, did little to conceal the alluring curves of her enticing silhouette.
The fabric of her shirt clung to her soft, feminine silhouette, straining with each panicked breath, exuding an intoxicating mix of vulnerability and sultry allure in this electrifying moment of life saved.
A gentle and melodious chime resonated softly within the confines of his mind. Words, sharp and seemingly unattainable, took form in his mind's eye.
[Zombie Killed. Points +10]
[New Skill Available: Basic Strength. Cost: 10 Points]
He stared; the world tipped on its axis. Points? A skill?
The girl, after much struggle, finally discovered her voice, a delicate whisper that carried with it a sense of both terror and profound gratitude. "Who... who might you be?"
Just as he was about to concoct a falsehood, an unexpected sound pierced the stillness of the night, a sound so chilling that it sent a shiver through his very veins.
The sound was a low, chittering, and skittering noise, amplified a hundredfold, emanating from the dark, open windows of the train.
The eerie sound of claws scraping against metal filled the air, a chilling indication of something unnatural and ravenous approaching, drawing nearer with each passing moment.
His gaze shifted from the beautiful girl, who was clearly filled with terror, to the dark and silent train that loomed ominously nearby.
In that moment, a deeper and more profound sense of dread began to take root within his soul. The tranquility of the forest had vanished, leaving behind an unsettling atmosphere.
The area functioned as a hunting ground, and unbeknownst to them, they discovered that they had unwittingly assumed the role of prey for whatever creatures lurked within.
•••
The sound of skittering from the train intensified, transforming into a horrifying symphony composed of chitinous legs scraping against the cold metal and fragile glass. The sound that echoed through the air was one that foretold a demise far more horrific than that of the slowly shuffling conductor.
"Get up," Jun said, his voice low and urgent, breaking the girl's stunned silence. He didn't wait for a response, his hand darting out to wrap around her forearm.
Her skin felt soft and warm against his own, and he noticed a faint tremor run through her. He drew her to her feet with a gentle but firm grip that made her gasp.
"W-What is that?" She stammered, her wide brown eyes darting fearfully to the train's dark silhouette.
Her professional demeanor, which she had most likely worked so hard to maintain, was completely shattered, leaving behind a raw, captivating vulnerability.
"Have no idea, and I don't want to find out whatever it is," Jun grunted, his heart pounding against his ribs. The system's interface glowed faintly in his mind's eye, providing a surreal contrast to the visceral terror of the situation. "We have to move now."
He began to drag her away from the tracks and deeper into the forest's denser darkness. It appeared that her training was beginning to bear fruit when she took a step and then fell behind before falling in line with his pace.
She said in a breathless voice, "My name is Rebecca. I am a member of the S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team."
S.T.A.R.S. stands for Special Tactics and Rescue Service.
Although the name itself held no significance for him, the way she spoke conveyed a profound sense of authority, as if she were part of something much larger than herself.
"Jun," he responded with a straightforward tone, his gaze sweeping across the tree line in search of any signs of movement, while he gripped the rebar firmly in his other hand. "It's simply Jun."
"Thank you, Jun," she said, her voice a little more stable now, laced with a profound gratitude that felt strangely intimate in the darkness. "I... I'm not sure what that thing was, but you saved my life."
Just when he was about to respond, a sudden skittering sound came from the train cars, surprising him. Not from within, but instead from above.
Many of them.
They were about the size of large dogs, their shapes forming a strange mix of a giant, two-legged leech combined with features that seemed undeniably demonic.
Their skin glowed with a dark, pulsating color, and long, whip-like stingers extended from their backs, giving off a threatening vibe.
Creatures that resemble leeches.
The name came to his mind, a piece from a game he barely remembered, but now it felt strangely real and unsettling.
"Hurry up! Run!" Jun shouted, pushing Rebecca ahead as the first of the creatures jumped down from the train roof, landing with a heavy thud right where they had just been standing.
They ran quickly into the woods, the loud sounds of chattering and breaking branches right behind them.
Rebecca, even though she was scared, moved surprisingly quickly, staying alongside him as they navigated through the thick plants.
Jun took a quick look over his shoulder. At least ten of them were present, moving with a terrifying, scuttling speed.
"We can't escape them!" Rebecca shouted, her breathing uneven and labored.
Jun's mind raced. The System. Basic Strength. He focused on the command. Buy it.
A new wave of warmth spread through his limbs, stronger than before. His muscles pulsed with fresh strength, his steps growing longer as the tiredness faded away.
He felt quicker and more powerful. He also felt Rebecca's grip on his arm tighten as she sensed him suddenly quickening his pace.
[Points Spent: 10. Remaining: 0]
[Skill Get: Basic Strength]
He believed it wasn't sufficient.
The creatures were getting closer, their sticky, grabbing feet ripping up the ground as they moved. They required a choke point, a location to hold their ground.
"Look!" Rebecca gestured towards a narrow, rocky ledge, a natural crack in the hillside that was just wide enough for one person to pass through.
"It's either a cave or a crevice!"
This was their one and only opportunity. "Quick, get Inside!" he commanded, gently nudging her towards the small opening.
She jumped in without a moment's pause, quickly turning around as her handgun raised up. "Hurry!"
Jun turned quickly, positioning himself firmly at the entrance of the crevice, gripping the rebar with both hands.
The first Leech Creature lunged at him, its stinger striking out like the tail of a scorpion.
Jun swung the rebar in a smooth horizontal arc, using his enhanced strength.
The impact was strong, a disturbing crunch of chitin and flesh that propelled the creature backwards into its companions, giving him a valuable second.
"Can you shoot?" He barked over his shoulder and looked at the group of monsters getting back together.
"Y-yes!" Rebecca yelled, and her voice was rough but firm.
"Then aim for the ones on the sides! I'll hold the center!"
A gunshot erupted beside his ear, the sound overwhelmingly loud in the tight space.
One of the creatures that was trying to flank them let out a screech and then fell to the ground, a dark hole appearing in its shiny body.
"Nice shot!" he grunted, hitting the next creature that rushed toward the center.
His movements had become more efficient, with each swing delivering greater force and each dodge appearing more fluid.
The System existed, and it was the sole factor ensuring their survival.
[Leech Creature Killed. Points +5]
[Leech Creature Killed. Points +5]
The points notifications flashed at the corner of his sight, a somber count of their survival.
He felt Rebecca close behind him in the cramped space, the warmth of her body and the quick pace of her breathing.
Her soft form stood out sharply against the harsh, life-or-death battle taking place at the entrance of the crevice.
His mind, betraying him, noted the soft pressure of those bountiful chests of hers against his shoulder blade.
"...gulp." Somehow his throat feels kind of wet as for him It was a feeling that brought comfort but was also completely inappropriate.
He shook his head to get rid of the thought. He took a swing when another animal lunged at him.
The fight took on a brutal rhythm: swing, dodge, crack of the rebar, roar of Rebecca's handgun, screech of dying monsters.
Finally, as the final creature fell, a brief silence fell, broken only by their heavy panting. The adrenaline began to fade, leaving a deep exhaustion in its wake.
Jun leaned against the cool rock, the bloody rebar clattering on the ground. He turned to face Rebecca.
Her beret was gone, and her chestnut hair was dishevelled. Her cheek was smudged with dirt, and her uniform was torn at the shoulder.
Her eyes, while still wide with fear, took on a new, fierce light as she looked at him.
Awe.
And something else: a deep, growing curiosity about the man who had appeared out of nowhere, fought like a demon, and whose touch seemed to ignite a strange, warm energy.
"Jun," she said softly, holstering her weapon. "Who are you, really?"
Before he could even begin to formulate an answer, a new sound echoed through the forest, one that was unsettlingly human.
It was the distinct, powerful roar of a helicopter, its searchlight cutting a sweeping blade of light through the canopy above to search.
For a train? For whom?
Rebecca's head snapped up, a complex mix of hope and fear on her face. "That's... that might be my team."
Jun reasoned, with a cold certainty in his gut, that it could be someone else.
Their respite had ended. The world reminded him that the horrors of the night were far from over.
•••••
The helicopter's roar was palpable, resonating through the air and vibrating in Jun's chest.
The searchlight cut through the forest canopy like a glowing scythe, briefly lighting up patches of ground in sharp brilliance before casting them back into deeper shadows.
It was a promise of salvation, yet to Jun, it resembled a predator surveying its domain.
Rebecca stepped slightly out of the crevice, her face raised, a desperate hope battling with the lingering fear in her eyes.
"It's a UH-1," she remarked, her voice almost lost in the sound of the rotor wash. "That's the helicopter my team uses. They must be searching for me."
Jun's hand reached out, gently yet firmly grasping her arm once more, drawing her back into the relative safety of the shadows cast by the rocks. Her skin remained warm, and he could sense the rapid pulse at her wrist.
"Hold on," he said, his voice soft. "Are you certain? Given what we've just witnessed, can you truly be certain of anything?"
She hesitated, her body tightening under his grip. The logic was indisputable. The world had turned inside out, and monsters were real. Trusting a familiar sound was a luxury they may not be able to afford. The hope in her eyes faded, giving way to a tired, heartbreaking acceptance. She nodded slowly and sank back against the rock face. "You're correct. "I...I don't know anything anymore."
In that moment of vulnerability, the System chimed once more, its interface glowing with a new, enticing offer.
[Survival Objective Updated: Ensure Rebecca Chambers' Safety.]
[Reward: 100 Points. Skill: Threat Sense.]
One hundred points. And a skill that would protect them from being ambushed again. The reward was a siren's call, which confirmed his role as her protector. It was no longer just about his survival; it was inextricably linked to hers.
The helicopter took another pass, its light sweeping dangerously close to their position, illuminating the grotesque, twitching corpses of the leech creatures. Then, as suddenly as it had arrived, the sound of its engine faded, moving away from them and deeper into the mountains.
The sounds of the night claimed the forest once more, but this time they felt like a veil concealing countless unseen horrors.
"..." x2
A profound, heavy silence fell between them. Rebecca, exhausted, can't help but slide down the rock and sit on the ground, her knees drawn up to her chest.
The movement was unconsciously graceful, a subtle shift that highlighted the curve of her hips and the softness of her body, causing her utilitarian uniform to jiggle slightly like a ripple in a pond, prompting Jun to give a silent thumbs up.
Recognize that this woman was extremely attractive, but it also caused him to cough dryly as his mind became increasingly cloudy with each second he spent with Rebecca. At the same time, he feels empathy for her because she appears young, perhaps too young for this type of nightmare.
"...Jun," Rebecca opened her mouth and tried to look at Jun. "What were those?" She whispered, her voice low and timid. "The conductor... and these... leeches." She took a deep breath before continuing, "This is unlike any viral outbreak I've ever studied or read about in a fiction book."
Jun, who was also confused as hell right now, couldn't help but join Rebecca against the rock opposite her, those cool stones directly intruding his back. With a bloody rebar still in his right arm, he opened his mouth and said, "I don't know," which was a simple and honest response to the question.
He then looks at Rebecca and says, "To be honest, I don't believe this is an isolated incident." Rebecca appeared perplexed by Jun's words, prompting him to gesture vaguely in the direction of the silent train they had previously taken. "That train did not derail; it was stopped, implying that something had happened on board."
Hearing Jun's accusation caused her to hug her knees even tighter. "Honestly, my team was looking into murders in the Arklay Mountains. We lost contact with the Alpha Team..."
Her voice became softer and more timid with each word she spoke: "Then our helicopter went down. "I was separated from the others." She then attempted to look at Jun, her gaze scanning his face in the dim light.
She then went on to tell her story, saying, "It had happened so quickly that there was the conductor and those things, and then you, who appeared and were there." Rebecca has no idea what she is thinking right now: "The way you fight, it's as if you've done this before. I know this is somewhat biased, but you don't look like a soldier or from the military, do you? Like..."
"Who are you, Jun? Really?"
"..." Jun.
Jun had to make a decision, as if he could tell a lie or make up a cover story. But looking at Rebecca right now, you can see the dirt on her face and the conflict between trust and fear in her eyes. A deeper instinct told him that in this world of lies and monsters, perhaps a sliver of truth would be his most valuable asset.
Jun took a deep breath and opened his mouth to say, "I'm not sure how I got here," meeting her beautiful eyes. It was the truth, stripped down. "In one moment, I was somewhere else, safe. I suddenly found myself in these woods. I don't have a team, no mission, and... He paused, weighing the risks associated with each word that came out of his mouth. "There is something else. like..."
He paused again, knowing that this would be a watershed moment for him, and then he continued, trusting his gut instincts that everything would be fine. He paused again, knowing that this would be a watershed moment for him, and then he continued, trusting his gut instincts that everything would be fine.
"The system." He gave Rebecca a false soft smile and said, "In my head, there's a system similar to artificial intelligence that rewards me for killing those things. Points that I can use to gain strength."
"....." x2
There was no word from the two; in Jun's mind, he expected disbelief and panic, which caused Rebecca to shrink away from him. Instead, it's that girl. Instead, it's that girl. Rebecca Chambers, the S.T.A.R.S. medic and brilliant scientist, carried out her duties as trained.
She has unexpectedly analyzed him.
"System? AI? You mean the cognitive interfaces?" She murmured, her brow furrowing with thought. "A psychosomatic manifestation of latent ability triggered by extreme stress? Or something else entirely?"
Jun was perplexed because the girl did not call him a liar, let alone a lunatic. Like this girl saw a new variable in a nightmare, an impossible equation.
"You said it strengthened you, correct? You suddenly got faster while we were running."
"..."
Jun was still perplexed before nodding, giving up on worrying about those things while feeling a wave of relief wash over him. Her belief, while conditional, is also a lifeline. "It's called basic strength."
"..."
This time, it was Rebecca's turn to be silent for long enough to process Jun's words. DNA and her job as a scientist made her appear fascinated. She was terrified right now, but clinging to this new, solid piece of the puzzle piqued her interest more than the fear.
"Okay," she finally breaks the silence, her voice seeming to gain a sliver of its former strength.
"So you're now an enhanced human, and we're both stuck here." She took a deep breath and focused her gaze on Jun, who appeared to be more human-like, perhaps an interesting object of experimentation and puzzle in those eyes.
"My priority is to find my team, and we need to find out what happened on that train. It could be connected to everything."
There was a plan. A perilous one, but a direction. Jun reviewed the System's offer.
Ensure Rebecca Chambers's safety.
Their goals were now in sync. Protecting her was the key to his own power, and it might be their only chance of survival tonight.
"All right then." He pushed himself to his feet and extended his hand once more. Jun noticed that her gaze lingered on his outstretched palm for a second before her smaller, softer hand slid into his.
He drew her up, and she stood close, the top of her head just reaching his chin. The smell of pine and a faint, clean hint of her shampoo cut through the coppery odor of blood. At the same time, her bountiful ample bossom jiggles slightly, naturally inviting Jun to look.
"Then we stick together," Jun said, his voice firm. "You lead the way to your team. I'll make sure we get there."
Hearing this caused Rebecca's lips to form a ghostly smile, both brave and fragile. "Partners?"
Jun nodded: "Partners."
As they turned to leave the crevice, a new sound stopped them in their tracks. It was not a moan, a skitter, or even a helicopter.
It was music.
It was a faint, distorted, but unmistakable child's music box, producing a tinkling melancholic melody that appeared to be drifting away from the darkened train. It was a faint, distorted, but unmistakable child's music box, producing a tinkling melancholic melody that appeared to be drifting away from the darkened train.
It has issued an eerie, haunting invitation from a tomb on wheels.
Both of them took a deep breath before slowly walking to the train, which was no longer silent and had something inside waiting for them.
(To be continued)
•••••
Woman that appear in this chapter:
Rebecca Chamber.