FFF - Ch73

Stealth is gone and most likely so is Curio’s plan. Jane brings her carbine to her shoulder and fires a protracted burst at the monster’s center of mass. The thing doesn’t flinch, fall, or run away: it charges, slashing madly.

Jane fires the rest of the magazine. It’s pointless, but she can’t outrun something like this. There’s nowhere to hide in the cramped corridor.

The last round gets a reaction; maybe she got it in the eye. The creature howls and staggers but keeps coming. Jane drops the carbine and turns to flee only to be caught on the backswing of a swipe. She tumbles to the floor and rolls onto her back, scrambling away as she goes for her pistol.

The thing is on top of her: a dark mass of muscle, claws, and foul, snarling breath. If rifle rounds didn’t stop it, a 9mm certainly won’t, but Jane desperately brings the gun up as the creature pins her with a giant hand and opens its mouth.

Shell strikes from behind, dropping into a slide and slashing the creature where a human’s Achilles tendon might be. The thing howls deafeningly and releases Jane. Shell struck a weak spot, but she’s not quick enough to get away. A blow from one of the thing’s clawed hands spatters the wall with blood and Shell hits the exposed pipes with a crunch, falling limp to the ground.

Jane fires several shots into the body and face, but all that does is make sure that the monster’s attention is wholly on her. The clawed hands slam down, pinning her gun arm. Disgusting drool and rancid breath wash over her as the jaws approach her face.

Curio appears, lunging suddenly enough that the creature doesn’t have time to react. She jams the barrel of her carbine into the monster’s open mouth and pulls the trigger. The cavernous mouth is lit yellow with muzzle flashes as Curio empties her magazine, then lets go of the carbine to duck a flailing arm. She hops back out of the way as the creature and what’s left of its head and face collapse, pinning Jane.

“Well, well…”

Curio’s words sound faint; the shots are still echoing up and down the halls and Jane’s ears ring from the shooting in the confined space. Curio produces a small light and clicks it on, illuminating something metal attached to the horned skull of the dead monster.

“That’s an interesting hat you’ve got on, old man.” Curio’s curiosity always lights her up. “You simply must tell me where you got it.”

Jane groans, trying to shift the creature off.

“Curio,” she bites out. “Shell’s down!”

“What?” Curio straightens. She frowns and turns to see the fallen woman. “Oh dear.”