Raviel stayed in the driver's compartment, his back was pressed on the broken chair with foam and mesh sticking out of it. The door shook violently on its hinges, just on the verge of collapsing under their brutal assault but still it held on.
The metro lurched forward in the darkness, but as soon as it teared through the tunnel's end..... the whole landscape changed, from the crimson soaked windshield Raviel caught glimpses of orange and violet streaks running in backward direction.
Through the tiny cracks in the windshield he could smell the acidic taste infesting the atmosphere, it didn't look like day and night or even dawn but just different all together.
His breathing grew frantic as he remembered something, lifting his trembling figure as the chair creaked beside him, with shaky fingers he quickly looked down at his arms—turning back the sleeves he searched for any bites or scratches,
"No bites, no scratches... haaaaa!!!! had me scared there for a second"
Raviel muttered under his breath as he had watched far too many movies in which the characters endured all kinds of hell but all it took was one bite and then you would start looking at friends and families like a damn 5-star cuisine.
But still he couldn't believe—why? Did this happen all he did was, gulping down a potion that by all standards as mentioned in the novel a safe sure shot way of ranking-up without a pinch of pain then...why?
A loud bang from behind reminded him again where he was, just then the reinforced glass of the compartment splintered around the corners that made Raviel stumble as he started scanning the small area for anything usefull.
His eyes then stopped before the box that was bolted on the metallic surface with few of it's screws loose and on its painted red surface was written: FIRST AID KIT.
He pulled it free whilst his fingers fumbled on the latch before he yanked it out.
CLINK~
The latch fell on the floor with a soft thud and he pulled out the thick rolls of bandages and started wrapping them around both of his arms and shins till it clung to his skin with squeezing pressure till the area felt stiff when he moved.
CRACK!!!!!!
The glass shattered completely under their combined pressure and just then... a undead shoved its head through the gap and with a wet sound it squeezed his hand till it got scrapped around the leftover shards on the gap and started banging near the door-lock.
Seeing this Raviel quickly ran towards the door and just before his mind could
process——
The undead squeezed it's body further till black blood started flowing down the surface and lunged towards Raviel,
It's teeth sank into raviel's arms with a sickening crunch sound.
Raviel screamed upon the bite force "...Aaaaahh" and in the excruciating pain Raviel looked towards his arm, expecting to see his skin torn apart but the bandages held.
The undead which had bitten him had used so much force that some of the teeth were still trapped on the upper layers of the bandage.
His chest heaved as he went backwards due to the sudden attack and relief flooded but then again the creature's guttural roar entered his ears.
Raviel's pulse hammered in his ears but the windshield got his attention as he saw a collapsed station and knew this was a chance as the door was reaching its breaking point from all the slamming.
Without a second he grabbed a broken piece of the metallic pannel under the control stand and slammed it on the windshield, behind him the door was also making some noises as it was on the verge of comming out.
CRASH!.....
The glass on the windshield broke with a deafening sound with the cold air now rushing inside the compartment, Raviel then slammed his fist on the big red engine STOP BUTTON and in the next second screeching voices came from the track as the brakes got Initiated and the train started slowing down.
Raviel climbed out of the broken windshield and stood on the upper edge of the metro and soon as it entered the platform which was now visible to him from his sideway.
"Now or Never..... Raviel"
He didn't think— he jumped straight on the platform, the world spun as his body tumbled and rolled to resist the sudden motion of rest.
But he didn't have time to breathe as the horde which was present on the station were now alarmed by the noise and spotted Raviel rolling on the platform edge.
Gathering himself he ran seeing them comming towards his direction his legs sprang into action...
His feet stomped on the broken tiles as he ran. A figure lunged at him from his side—its eyes were hollowed with overgrown stomach but Raviel didn't panic this time as he jumped and pulled a wire which was dangling down from the ceiling and swung it around the creature's neck before jumping and pulling it with all the force he could gather till something snapped— the creature's head shifted downwards like a broken twig and it's body hit the ground but raviel didn't stop...
As he saw two more comming at his direction from the front, seeing them he lifted a large chunk of debris that was just near his reach, which was attached with several metal rods with all his strength he threw it at the foremost undead,
Thud!!—
"Hrrnkkkk...." The creature shrieked before it's scream faded...just then the one which was behind it—charged at Raviel from another direction but Raviel picked the metal rod from the debris and aimed the pointed part towards the thing's throat...
Swoosh~
The rod pierced through it's throat as hot blood splattered on Raviel's face and he ended it by pinning the undead to a wall— it gurgled with blood and drool falling from his mouth as it tried to scream....
"Hiieee—kkk..."
Raviel staggered back, chest falling in erratic rhythm, his whole body screamed in pain but looking at the countless shadows pouring into the station he moved...
❖❖ ❖❖ ❖❖
A comms tower
After running and evading for 10 minutes, Raviel finally saw a high rise communication tower from the broken walls of the station, which could help him survey the place far more effectively,
His body screamed no and his thoughts screamed suicidal, but his feet kept moving because behind him, there was no choice...
He bursted through the entrance and ran towards the tower with all the speed he could muster.
The tower now loud before him—standing before it Raviel felt fear as this was the thing he was supposed to climb which pierced the sky at 100m high-up above.
The ground near the tower was littered with wires and copper sticking out of the insulation, rusted debris and chunks of body parts wrapped in a grotesque way.
He grabbed hold of the nearest wire dangling from the middle segment of the tower it's copper undercover exposed— and pulled.
Don't look down.....
Below the horde flooded the base like ants, their bloodstained faces stared at him—tracking down his every movement.
His throat went dry, his arms locked up for few seconds.
Then— SNAP
One of the cables gave away, his body tilted and lurched downward.
"Shit——"