Author notes

October Challenge Inhale by Macattack

Macattack

on Oct. 30, 2011

Sorry for the lateness of this. I usually try to upload my entries last minute but I got a little delayed this month. Anyways. The October Challenge was to create a character card for a villain with the bonus entry of making a scary but not shocking story for them relying on suspense more than horror. So read on dear readers read on:
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It was a long ride down the unlit elevator. The near century old, cramped unit was intricately designed and smelt of old iron. They didn't make them like this anymore… thankfully.
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Captain James; promoted as of the week before, stood huddled around a small radio with four other soldiers as General Morton himself gave them their orders.
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"I don't need to tell you the importance of this assignment men." the General explained. "The moment we found out that the cells on level z had been breached our entire staff have been on high alert to deal with this threat. Should this…. Abomination! Be let to escape… it could mean the end of humanity as we know it."
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"You've put this mission in good hands!" Captain James announced bravely, "We will not fail you sir!"
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"We can only hope…" the General mumbled. "Remember. The abomination will most likely be inside a host when you reach the level. You must determine which host he is in and shoot them with your guns before it has a chance to jump hosts. The gun will soot a beam which will tie him to the host as it dies. Remember to be careful who you shoot for the beam IS lethal to humans."
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"We've got it General." the Captain replied as confident as ever."
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"And Captain?" The General replied differently than before. After a long pause he continued, "I am sorry…"
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With that the Radio went silent leaving the only sound being the grinding of the 70 year old iron gears of the elevator. Finally with a loud clank the elevator stopped. It only took a few seconds for the elevator doors to open, but to the soldiers it seemed like hours.
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The men stepped out into a large hallway. The air was stale as the vents had been shut off but what was even more noticeable was the ever present smell of death in the room. As the soldiers marched through the hall they could make out many figures through the darkness, but none were moving… nor would they ever move again. The further they marched the closer the group got together. As they passed one figure, private Sue Brent (the only female in the group) stopped as she could have sworn she saw it move. Slowly and cautiously she approached the corpse.
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"Sue! Stay with the group!" her fiance Private Jerry Short cried in a hushed whisper but he was too late.
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Sue had begun to have her doubts as she approached the shadowy body. As reached out her hand to touch it, it was cold to the touch. Obviously it was nothing more than a dead corpse.
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Suddenly the corpse grabbed her hand! She went to let out a scream but found a cold clammy hand over her mouth preventing her from doing so. 
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"BOO!" the corpse hissed at her with glowing red eyes and within a second she felt a deathly stale smell and taste enter her mouth and then she felt no more.
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"SUE! NO!" Private Jerry cried out as the abomination inspected his new host.
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"This is much better." the creature hissed. "Some bodies just feel slimey to be in, but not this one! This one's as fit as can be!"
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"You monster!" Jerry cried out as he aimed his gun at his fiance's body. "You killed her! I'm going to make you regret ever existing!"
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The creature looked at Jerry and suddenly it's expression changed. Sue's eyes stopped glowing red and turned back to their usual hazel. "Don't shoot me yet Jerry!" Sue cried out. "I'm still fighting it Jerry! Please! I want to be with you! I'm fighting it for YOU!"
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"Susan!" Jerry cried out instantly lowering his weapon. By this point he had caught the attention of the other three soldiers.
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"DON"T LISTEN TO HIM JERRY!" Captain James cried out. "The creature's trying to trick you! She died the moment he took her over!"
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"She Wha…" Jerry cried out tears streaming down his face as he turned back towards his love. To his shock he found a pair of glowing eyes but 2 inches from his own.
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"Should've shot her" the creature hissed and instantly made a leap for Jerry.
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"NO!" Captain James shouted shooting both Jerry and Sue's falling corpse. He had hoped to kill the creature in time but it was too late and it had jumped again. Turning back to the remaining two soldiers the trio all held their guns towards each other.
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"The creature… is in… one of us" Captain James started slowly. "Nobody move… we need to get the right one."
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The three stood for what felt like hours. Their eyes rapidly jumping from one to the other. Finally Frank; a corporal, couldn't hold it in any longer and let out a cough. No sooner had the cough left his mouth than two guns had shot him in the chest.
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"There!" the captain panted. "I think we got him at last." He then turned back to the elevator wiping the sweat from his brow when he heard a voice from behind him call out.
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"Captain… I'm sorry but…" a strong hand fell on the captain's shoulder as a voice hissed, "You chose the wrong one"
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The scream could not be heard from that far underground, but finally, tattered and beaten, the Captain alone entered the elevator.
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"This is Captain James Fisher speaking," he spoke into his radio. "I'm afraid to say I'm the only one left."
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"….Has Inhale been dealt with?" General Morton's voice crackled back after a long pause.
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"In the end he was." the Captain replied
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"….Good then." the General replied after another long pause. "We'll bring you back up to the surface right away then.
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"Thankyou sir." the captain replied turning off his radio. Taking off his helmet he then looked at his reflection in the visor. Two glowing red eyes staring him back he said to himself, "It's been quite some time…."