The adrenaline surged in my veins.
No time to rest. I got up with difficulty, ignoring the pain in my shoulder and ribs. I had to move. I realized that staying in this shattered building meant an inevitable confrontation with more of the repulsive "Failed Experiments."
I dragged my exhausted body towards the nearest broken window overlooking the outside. I had to check the situation before I rushed out and threw myself into another hell.
I crept through the rubble, cautiously poking my head out from the edge of the broken window. The cold air hit my face, along with the smell of dust that filled the place.
The view outside was breathtaking.
I saw the creature that confirmed all my fears.
A few meters away from the building, a new hideous creature was walking. A two-headed Nomu. Its massive, distorted body carried an extra swollen head growing twistedly from its shoulder. Both exposed brains, and their eyes were wide, black pits.
It was walking slowly and—
I quickly clasped my mouth. "Hyooogh—"
What made me clasp my mouth was not the disgusting sight of the Nomu, but what it was dragging behind it.
The two-headed Nomu was dragging the body of another Nomu, but cut in half. Its lower limbs were completely torn off, and gray, shredded flesh was oozing out white viscous fluid and blood onto the ground.
A powerful wave of nausea swept over me. I was already feeling sick after the scene the first Nomu left and my killing of it. This new scene exacerbated my condition unbearably. I gritted my teeth hard, struggling to keep what was left in my stomach in place.
Hold on, Miata. Don't throw up!
I forced my eyes to look further.
What I saw made my heart sink completely into the depths of despair.
In the distant square among the ruins, there was a group of Nomus—at least three or four, of varying sizes and shapes—fighting brutally among themselves. It was not a battle for survival, but a random massacre. Massive hands were colliding, the mechanical noise escalating, while blood was scattering in the air like a fountain.
[Damn it!] I cursed internally.
Why?
Why did I find nothing when I first came here? I realized these filthy creatures had been hiding all along. But now, the entire city was overflowing with these repulsive monsters. What wretched luck this was?
There was no time to dwell on luck. I quickly pulled my head back from the window.
[I must find a safe place in this building if I can't get out of it] I thought, before moving.
I quickly rushed through the rubble-filled corridor, returning to the first room I was in. But as soon as I saw the sheer chaos and the blood-stained bed, I realized something else. I couldn't stay here; this place would attract more of them.
I pushed myself forward, passing the still corpse of the Nomu I had killed, and started searching for another room.
I reached the corner of the corridor, and there I saw it.
It was a medium-sized room, sealed with a door that looked slightly different from the other dilapidated wooden doors. This door was made of iron, albeit covered in rust.
I didn't care why an iron door existed in this crumbling building. Absolute safety was all I was looking for now.
I pushed the door with my trembling hands; it emitted an annoying screech but only opened with effort. The room was relatively empty, except for some rubble piled up in the corner. Strangely, why did this room exist in this building?
I didn't waste a second thinking about it. All that mattered to me was the solid door.
My body quickly slipped inside. Immediately, I turned towards the iron door and pulled it shut with all my remaining strength. The door made a heavy, muffled sound as it closed.
I gasped for air, before checking the door and ensuring it was securely closed. I had to stay here until morning.
I headed towards the only bed in the room, which was an old metal frame without sheets, and without thinking, I threw my body onto it. It was hard and uncomfortable, but it was the only thing there.
My agitated mind never settled. My eyes were fixed on the locked iron door. I pulled out a thick iron rod I had picked up from the rubble upon entering, gripping it with a white-knuckled fist, ready for any impending attack.
A minute passed. Then two minutes. Silence enveloped the entire building.
[Maybe I'm safe...] I began to think, a faint sense of hope creeping into me. Perhaps the iron door was enough.
In that moment, the room shook with a slight tremor.
Then a sound came. It wasn't distant mechanical noise, but a deep, terrifying roar coming directly from the corridor.
"Grrrrrrrr... Zzzzzzzz!"
The roar stopped, replaced by a sound of frightening, heavy breathing, like air being pulled forcefully through a wide opening. The sound echoed against the iron door, making me realize that something massive was standing on the room's threshold.
I gripped the iron rod, my eyes fixed on the iron door, waiting for it to open.
[It's true that I won't be able to fight the monster behind the door, but at least I won't die like a chicken.]
"Sushi..."