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Episode 041 |
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Old Things In the dark, smoke-filled night,
the lights twinkled potently. Like a thousand diamonds
glittering in the sky, the security lights of the factory were kept company
by the smoldering flames that topped a few of the smoke stacks. In the wet heat of the industrial air, the
gritty smell of raw materials and processing slipped inside of every pore and
choked the natural world. Sprinting on loose gravel, the
security guard ran headlong through the factory. His head held back as he ran, sheer terror
covering his young face, he rushed from the densest portion of the steel
world. Blood stained his blue uniform
while fragments of human remains covered his face and were tangled in his
matted hair. A wrong step tripped him
and he went tumbling forward into the gravel. Sliding face-first, he screamed in
pain. “<It’s alright, boy,>”
came the thick German voice. The guard
looked up to see an older man in a dark brown trench coat. Behind him, other police officers lined the
front gates of the factory. Armed with
automatic weapons, they stood ready, staring into the factory. “<We got your call,>” the older man
said in a gruff, experienced tone.
“<Where are the other guards?>” “<D-dead,>” the young guard
stuttered, his face bleeding. The old man looked beyond the
guard at the factory, then back to him.
“<You said terrorists.>” The young man shook his head. “<No.
S-something…something else…>” “<Where are they now?>” the
old man insisted. The young guard
looked back into the factory, horror filling him, his body shaking so bad, he
seemed near collapse. He shook his
head, moving to run. The grizzled old
veteran grabbed his collar and shook him violently. “<Where are they?!>” he barked. The guard’s hand lifted like a ghosts,
pointing back into the factory.
“<In there?>” the old man demanded. “<It’s in the…near the
boiler…>” the guard managed to string out.
His face drained of emotion and his knees buckled. He fell to the ground, staring aimlessly at
nothing. “<Alright, men,>” the old
police officer said, turning around to the others. “<We’ve got at least four guards in
here, all of whom may be dead. We have
suspected terrorists who are, no doubt, armed. We go in and we find the suspects. Apprehend if possible, but cover your
asses. Our first priority is the other
guards, then it’s the suspects.>”
He looked at each of the guards and drew out his heavy Desert Eagle
pistol. “<Alright. Let’s do it.>” He began to march quickly into the factory,
leading the way. The other officers walked passed
the crouching security guard, each getting a brief, but good look at the
human remains that covered his face and body.
Armed for a war, they all filed into the factory together. |
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