I was nervous, partly because this was my first mission and I didn't pay much attention at the training.
“We're nearly there...” whispered someone next to me, probably Concho... This didn't help me in the slightest, in fact it only made me even more nervous... thanks Concho...
Maybe it was a good idea to go to sleep, like some other people on this train. How I know if someone is asleep it is unknown to even myself, as everyone is wearing their Anti Respiratory Infection Suits and the helmets made it impossible to see the face. You think that they are always awake and alert as the two eyepieces continually stare at you... If it wasn't for the gentle huffs and puffs of the respirator then you wouldn't know if they were dead. Dead... I wonder what's it like being dead. How does it feel? What do you see? I hope there is a good afterlife, I guess. If you had to choose your afterlife, as in you would be given a menu and told me “here is what you can have, pick” then I would have the best afterlife even. Virgins, ice cream, the biggest couch ever...
Enough daydreaming! I ain't dead yet and I won't die here, how bad can it be out there?
“Hey, Tyro, you asleep?”
“...no” I replied
“Cool.”
“What do you want, Concho?”
“Have you seen this guy? Sleepin' like a baby.” He said as he pointed to the guy opposite us.
“...Wait, who is he? Never seen his armour before...” It was true as I had never seen it before, It looked like a modified version of the Anti Respiratory Infection Suit... It looked cleaner with four extra eyepieces and it had logos and emblems painted onto the armour.
“...Never seen... Oh man, you never seen an Observer before?”
“...Well...”
“...Whatever... You see, these guys are sent out from the Fortress so that they can see what we do on these missions. They usually report straight to the... Administrators...”
“Hey Concho... Shut up, do you want me to lose my job?” It was Leader, who was next to Concho and he was not too happy about it...
“But Boss man, the newbie (I grit my teeth when I heard that) wants to know about stuff...”
“Well I don't care! He should of listened to basic training... also don't call me Boss man, call me by my designated ID”
“Boss ma...?”
“No!”
Suddenly a red light started flashing and Leader got up.
“Okay! Everybody up! Time to go!” He loudly shouted prodding people until they woke up, except the Observer... Leader stayed clear of the Observer. When everyone was up, groaning and complaining, the train screeched to a stop. Then Leader went around and checked if everyone had their ARI suits on and that the respirators were working properly. When the task was done He went to the front of the train unlocked and opened a door. When the door opened the arid and deceitful air came creeping in. Everyone trudged out the door... along with me.


The city, that is dubbed City 17, stood towering before us. Dilapidated and vacant. Windows have been smashed, everything is dusty and dirty and it is quiet, very, very quiet. The very odd thing that you notice straight away is the silence, this is because there are no living things in sight... no birds flying in the sky and no swarms of people on the city streets.
“Alright...” Leader whispered quietly “...Guard you be point man” I groaned, I always was point man. “Sniper, you guard the rear...” Sniper nodded in agreement and moved to the back... Sniper... I don't trust him, he doesn't talk and he is too quick to follow orders... I just don't. Argh! I fell into a muddy puddle... now I'm wet. Damn ARI suits, the designer of these suits should've been shot... the top and helmet are all fine and dandy, but the bottom half is a steaming pile of dog shit. It's just cloth! How the hell is cloth gonna stop a bullet or a knife!? It's just... It's just strips of cloth that makes it look frilly and it feels like you're wearing some sort of skirt.
“You alright?” someone asked behind me, reaching down to help me up.
“I'm fine!” I snapped “Just don't touch me.”
“Fine... geez, I just wanted...”
“I'm fine!”
Damn ARI suits... Damn them...


We are at the heart of the city, I think... I'm sure we are. It is really quiet... even the smallest of noises startles you. I understand now how a person can lose their sanity through this experience alone... I've seen the reports... men coming back absolutely crazy explaining how that there are millions of eyes staring down at you from the vacant shadowy windows of the skyscrapers and other building. Eyes that conspire against you and plan you're downfall... and the silence doesn't help much. Even now I feel that I am being watched and as we venture further, I find myself looking over my shoulder more and more to confirm that the team is still behind me...


“Let's have a break!” Leader suddenly said, breaking the tense atmosphere. “What's on the menu?”
“Well...” Medic said as she rummaged through a big bag she carried. “You can have J.O's Chicken soup...” Medic gave Leader a small can, on the can it read in big bold letters: “J.O's Chicken Soup... Now actually tasting like chicken!” Leader inserted the can in a second nozzle on his helmet, which followed with a slurping sound and then a coughing/spluttering sound.
“Tastes like chicken?!? It tastes like my ass! Urgh!”
“Well... You can always have the Mushroom Soup.” After that statement from Medic, Leader stopped complaining and continued to suck on his soup.
“I'll have the Mushroom Soup...” Grunt bravely proclaimed.
“Don't do it man, It causes violent vomiting and severe constipation...” whispered Concho.
“Really? What does it taste of?”
“Don't ask...”
Suddenly Grunt had a good idea. “Hey, Tyro, I want you to eat something...” But Tyro, was no-where to be seen...


Damn it. Damn it! How can I be lost? I swear I was right behind the team one moment and then they were gone, disappeared. Don't panic... don't panic, they can't be too far off... but how about if they are not close by? Then I could be stuck here for a while... I could even spend the rest of my life in this desolate city... I look around, the buildings seemed to come closer as if to trap me... the silence still petrified everything in it's ghastly veil...
Noise. Behind me. The sound of glass being stepped on. I instantly twirled around to see the intruder, almost dropping my gun by doing so. I sighed, it was a human being, male to be exact. It must be a survivor, the people who are rumoured to be still living in the city and still not infected.
“Hey, I thought it was something dangerous but it's only you, man.” I said laughing to myself because I was such a fool to fret.
“...Hey, you alright?” I asked as he just stood there silently. Something is wrong, very wrong, he has no breathing apparatus... He started to shuffle forward out of the building, mumbling to himself.
“You better stop right there or I'll shoot!” I threatened as I cocked my gun but he still continued to lurch forward.
“I mean it!” I said as I pointed my rifle at him, my hands were shaking.
“...Help...” the strange creature said as it looked me in the eye, definitely human.
“Yeah, we... I can help you.”
“Help... me? For the love of God! Help! Argh!” He started to groan, splutter and advance even faster.
“Don't come any closer!” I shouted, my hands trembling even more than previously, making it hard to aim.
“FOR GOD'S SAKE, HELP...!” BOOM! The man's' head exploded and his brains scattered and sprayed the scene with itself. The man seemed to be fine for a moment, but then he suddenly found reality and fell to the floor, dead. Yet it wasn't me who took the shot and there is no-one here except for myself... wait, who is that? Sniper? Yes it is Sniper coming with his high-powered sniper rifle around his waist. He came up to the corpse and knelt beside it, inspecting his victim. I heard him silently whisper to himself “Tier 1 zombie eliminated. Perfect head shot executed.” Following Sniper was the rest of my team... I'm saved...!


I chuckled to myself, as it is certainly amusing... the way that Tyro got a damn good thrashing. Leader started to lecture him, until the Observer came up and took out his notepad, scribbling in notes and reports... He then started proclaiming how Tyro is going to stay in the academy for the rest of his life or he will never be let out missions ever again and he will probably have to work in the mines or as some kind of servant. Heh, the way how he was all quiet, you could just imagine him crying or something. But now it was all over, Leader concluded that at least he didn't get hurt or lost and now we are on our merry way... through the depressing city that is City 17. The city is too depressing, just shades of brown and grey and the weather did not help much, It was cloudy and the sun was hidden. What is that in the distance...?


We are closing in the area, taking as much cover as possible. Moments ago we (It was me actually) spotted a column of smoke and I was sure it came from around here... It's hard to tell now as a gust of wind has erased the smoke. Woah, We seem to have entered the town square or something, as it was a huge plaza with a statue nervously standing in the middle. Next to the statue was a make-shift hut with a fire in front of it. The fire must be the cause of the smoke and the zombies can't make fire, so a human must of done it. We charged down the plaza, taking up positions next to the hut. Something stirred, making noise, preparing... Leader was reaching for the door handle... Boom! The door crashed open and a person came sprinting out waving a weapon around wildly. He looks like some sort of caveman, he has a primitive weapon... an old shotgun by the looks of it also he has a weird looking mask on, which is probably his means of keeping the virus out of him, it looks like it should be in a museum. The guy looked taken aback but his visitors and looked like he doesn't know what to do, shoot or not.
“Friend or foe?” He nervously asked.
“Fri...” Leader began but the Observer shoved him out the way before he could finish.
“I suggest you give that... gun to me, it will need to be confiscated.” The Observer told him as he whipped out his notebook and started making notes and sketches. The guy looked at the Observer then at his gun.
“I'm sorry but I ain't giving up my gun, I like to keep it for close encounters.” The Observer was obviously angry about the answer but he kept on being calm.
“Fine... age?”
“...40... um, 45” Obviously lying but the Observer scribbled down the answer given anyway.
“Gender...” The Observer looked at the guy. “Male.” More scribbling.
“Height... roughly...” More notes.
“Place found...” Looking around, the Observer made more notes and sketches.
“Name?”
“...Wayne... What does this have to do with anything!? Look, I need help... can you please rescue me, or at least give me some supplies please.”
“...Wayne, is it. I regret to inform you that we only have enough supplies for our team only... also we have a mission to accomplish and you would only be a burden, yet if we finish we may come back for you...”
“Mission, eh? What is it?”
“Nothing that concerns you...” but the Observer got interrupted by Grunt, who couldn't resist.
“We're gonna destroy the zombie hive!”
“Destroy... a zombie hive... many have tried to but they all fail, what makes you think...”
“Enough of this!” The Observer angrily snarled.
“Also, if you do destroy it... there are more...”
“I said, enough! C'mon, we're leaving!”


It was getting dark, we had to find shelter... someone suggested we set up camp within one of the buildings, in this case it was a skyscraper. We set up camp on the ground floor, reception, whilst Sniper took a position on the higher levels. It is now time to get some sleep, or so Leader says... some zombies have come up from their hiding places and Sniper is busy taking them out. The whole night might be filled with the thunderous booming that is Sniper firing. I don't know if I can go to sleep because... of the... noise...
...
...Yeah... the noise... is pretty... loud...
... too... loud...
...
...


“Wake up everybody!” Woah, I did not fall asleep... I did not... why is Leader waking us up? What time is it? What's happening?
“Tyro, get up, Sniper has told Leader that there is a mob of zombies coming towards us.” Someone said and my gun was thrown at me.
“I'm up, I'm up.” I sleepily replied as stood up. A mob of zombies. My God.
“Where's Leader?”
“Behind the receptionists desk.” I rushed to the desk, where Leader was holding a conference.
“Okay people, Sniper has informed me of a massive group of zombies coming down the street towards our position. They will be here any moment. You know what to do... and people... whatever you do, don't leave this building. We all fight together. Got it?” Everyone nodded, agreeing. Then the door burst open and a tidal wave of zombies came flooding through.
“Fire!” but the order did not have to be issued as everyone fired anyway. Row upon row of zombies fell creating a wall of corpses. Suddenly out the shambling crowd of zombies a monster came running out. This must be a Tier two zombie, It looked no longer human, the skin has come off and it's muscles were showing... the face is horrid and twisted. Unlike their Tier one counter-parts they actually ran. The monster ran up to Concho trying to claw at his face but Concho unleashed a jet of flames that engulfed it.
“Whooee!” Concho shouted out as he held up his flamethrower, but before he got to use it the window behind him smashed and a horde of tier two zombie came through and restrained him whilst stripping away his suit.
“Argh! Help! Argggggh!” I forced myself to look away, as the rest of team was engulfed.
“Let's get out of here.” Guard said, smashing a window.
“But Leader said we shouldn't leave...”
“Shut up and go.” Guard replied and pushed me out of the window. I fell and ran, I ran so hard and so far. Morning has come and I don't know where I am, There is a church... I'll go there. The church is old, older than the other buildings. I sat down on one of the benches... what am I gonna do? Everyone's dead. What was that noise? I turned around to find myself staring at a priest. Damn a zombie. I pointed my gun at him.
“Hold it, my son. I am not a zombie...” I stopped... not a zombie?
“Nice day, isn't it?” What?
“Nice day? Dude, there are zombies outside!” I replied but he only just laughed.
“You can call me 'The reverend'.”
“I don't give a shit!” I loudly cried out but he only laughed harder.
“Hey, you better keep your voice down. I guessing you don't want to upset the neighbours... they're sleeping now, but they are always grouchy when they wake.”
“Neighbours... what do you mean...?” I got up and looked out the window. I don't see anyone... wait... shit... Graves. This must be the hive. I gotta get out of here. I started for the door but The Reverend stopped me.
“Wait... Don't you want to say hi to them?”
“Let go of me you crazy bastard, or I'll shoot you.” The window broke and zombies came running through, I'm guessing they came up from the graves. Before I could shoot they were upon me. I pushed them back, and smacked them with my rifle. Ha, not a scratch. I looked down. The tube that connects the respirator to the mask had been torn in two. Shit.


Where did he go? I asked myself because I've been walking around for ages and still I have not found him. What a coward, running away like that. Hmm, I guess that's him. What an idiot, stumbling around the middle of the street, and he lost his gun!
“Hey, Tyro!” He turned around to face me.
“What have you been doing, you seem...” He look odd, Hunched over and not being his usual loud and obnoxious self... and his tube...
“...Help...” ... He breathed it in, and now he is one of them.
“... Help.” He sobbed “It hurts.”
“Yeah, I can guess.” He is coming closer. I cocked my gun.
“For the love of God! Help! Please!” I aimed my gun at his torso.
“Yeah. Help is on it's way.”
“It hurts... It hurts!”
“I'm sorry Tyro, but I never really liked you anyway.” I squeezed the trigger and he fell, dead.


I've been waiting for hours and he finally arrived.
“You're late...” He laughed but didn't move.
“Hey, I'm a busy guy, so come get it!” I held out the package to him.
“But we haven't introduced ourselves yet... I'm The Reverend...”
“I don't give a damn what you call yourself!” I finally lost my patience and threw the package at him. It hit him and he calmly picked it up.
“My, My, What a temper.”
“It's all there, everything.” I explained
“So, what will you do now?”
“I dunno, might go around and look at the scenery.” I sighed “Goodbye, you crazy bastard.” He didn't respond only stood there, grinning. I turned and left, going into the depths of City 17... It was going to be a long day...


You stop the recording that came from the Neurocamera. What the hell is going on?
“What's wrong, Boss?”
“...”
“Hey, Boss!”
“We gotta get these recordings to the Fortress.”
“Why?”
“Something not right...” You look at the two bodies that held the recordings then at your team.
“Listen up! We're going back! Grab your stuff and move out! ... and Pyro...”
“Yes sir?”
“Incinerate the bodies...”

Authors notes:
3149 Words
Cheers for reading, Hoped you liked it!
And yes, I have put some easter eggs in my entry... hope you found them.