Hell had followed them back from Nevada. That was the only way to explain the carnage that ruled the halls of whatever base Vera stood in. The power had been taken out base wide, leaving only the emergency lighting to display the horror. Splatters and sprays of blood covered every wall. Bullet holes marked firefights from the soldiers, and bodies, whole and pieced, littered the floor where they died. Pools covered the floors. Bloodied footprints lead paths around dark corners. And all around the air was filled with the distinct grunting sounds of the infected. There was even sounds of feeding. Vera silently moved down the hall, walking through the bloody pools, not caring that she trailed though infected blood barefoot. She stepped around each body, searching through their gear for anything that could help her. Unarmed, she could only handle a few at a time, but armed, then it was a whole new playing field. Vera retrieved several mags of ammo and tucked them into a confiscated tactical belt. She took several holsters and loaded up with pistols. Finally, Vera took up one of the discarded M16 rifles and a few mags. It should be enough to get her off base at least.

Loaded up with weapons, Vera hugged the wall, staying in the shadows, and moved through the hall. She thumbed the trigger of the rifle as she moved toward the dark corner. She could hear ragged breathing of infected nearby, hear their distended heartbeats, the grinding of their teeth into flesh. Vera took a deep breath and stepped around the corner. Ten yards from her position, a horde of infected knelt on the ground, feasting away at the remains of soldiers. Her gun light skimmed over their bloodied backs and deformed heads. None of them had yet to fully transform, leaving their physical state in between human and Imp. Vera pulled the trigger, just as her gun light caught the attention of one of the infected. Bullets ripped through the hall, blasting through the skulls of the infected. Their bodies jerked upon impact, collapsing on the ground, joining their fallen comrades.

With the last body to the ground, the hall drew silent. Vera counted the seconds, waiting to see if the silence would be short lived. She heard the familiar pattern of ragged breathing, having made that strangled sound one too many times. Vera waited, listening as the ragged breathing grew worse, until it finally stopped. Then, and only then, did she continue to move down the hall. Her steps took her through the blood, adding to the print patterns that already covered the floor. Vera picked up the pace, nearly running through the hall. Her rifle was gripped tightly in her hands. Her eyes made a frequent sweep of the hall, watching for signs of anything.

Keep moving. Keep moving. She told herself. Can't stay still for too long.

But the real question was, where was she to go? If the infected were on base, there was no telling how many there were, or how far they had gone. Hell, they could have broke through the fences and made their way to a populated area. If they had, then no place was safe. It wouldn't matter where she went, she would still find herself staring down with an Imp.

The hallway split into two sections, leading two different directions. Vera stopped, staring down both halls. The right lead to the infirmary and then the barracks. The left lead toward the prison cells and further, the transports. Infirmary held supplies that she may no longer need, but the tools could be used as weapons. The barracks might hold more survivors, or someone who could tell her what the hell happened? The cells could hold the same, tools and information. It also held transport. Left or right? Left or right? Vera glanced down each tunnel, rocking on her bloodied heels with uncertainty. Finally Vera headed down the right tunnel.

No more than four steps down the tunnel, an earsplitting shriek rang through the hall, turning Vera's blood to ice. Slowly, Vera turned toward the sound. It came from the left tunnel. The shriek had pierced every nerve in her body only hours ago. It had split her blood cells, shaken her muscles, destroyed her eardrums, and it was doing to same to some poor bastard. Moving without a though, Vera clutched her weapon and headed down the left hall. Her steps grew faster as the shriek maintained its length. Soon, Vera burst into a sprint. The closer she drew, the louder the shriek became, but it didn't effect her this time.

Vera burst into the holding cell block. Her eyes immediately fell to the Imp. It stood ten yards from her position, its back turned to her. Vera snapped the rifle to her shoulder and fired a single round. Its head exploded with unexpected force. Vera felt the wind rush past her right ear before the blood from the Imp covered her face and scrubs. It rolled down her face, between her eyes, and down her lips. Vera wipped the blood from her face.

"Vera?"

Vera turned. On the floor twenty yards from her was Captain Stijn. His uniform was covered in blood, his hands covered his bloody ears, but he appeared relatively unharmed. "Stijn."

Stijn sighed heavily and stood. "Damn good to know you're alive."

"Likewise." she answered. "The hell happened?"

Stijn managed to his feet. "All hell broke loose."

"I noticed."

"Not like this." Stijn replied. He glanced down at the dead Imp. "Didn't know you carried explosive tipped bullets."

Vera frowned. "I don't."

"Then how did-?"

"Vera!"

Vera looked past Stijn, down the cell block hall. "John."

mwahahaha...that is all :)