Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Army of The Damned ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2

 

The woods had definitely played part in war. Old shell holes were still visible, fallen trees that had been shattered by explosions dotted the forest, and rusting barbed wire thickets were still a hazard. Gunter figured it was all left over from the Second World War. He knew he was walking on hallowed ground. Certainly men had died here, and Gunter suddenly got the feeling he was being watched. Not by a sniper but something else, something he couldn't explain. A spirit perhaps? Well Gunter had never believed in the supernatural but he also had never walked in an area where people had obviously died. Blown apart by shrapnel and high explosive, bullets tearing their insides apart. Looking around he suddenly realized the woods were completely still. No insects no birds chirping nothing, nothing but the sounds of the squad. Something was very wrong with these woods, it was the middle of May where were the animals? The blood sucking insects should be swarming them. “Gunter we got a field about 30 yards out!”

thank god! He was glad to be getting out of the forest. They gave him the creeps. Nicholai disappeared from sight. He had jumped down into something. Then, “All clear!”

called Nicholai still nowhere to be seen. The squad double timed and found Nicholai standing in what appeared to at one been a trench. But now it was nothing but a deep ditch. The other side was a field beyond that more trees. But something stood in the middle of the clearing. It looked a large concrete machinegun bunker. It seemed like there was no one in it judging by how dark it looked inside. Gunter felt for his binoculars, feeling nothing he looked down, what the fuck? They were gone. He must have left them in the truck. “Clarkson, I want you to take Macarthur, Cou, Randall, and Alexander around the right side to cover the firing port. Stay low use the trenches for cover, don't do anything stupid I need you alive.”

Quickly and quietly they moved into position. Gunter turned to the rest of the squad. “Okay Tucker your with me,”

He hesitated, looking at Mac and Nicholai. Then continued. “Mac Nicholai I want you to go and cover the left side, and don't fight, cooperate with each other. I don't want to be killed because you two were bickering. The rest of you cover the front port.”

He looked to his right and got a thumbs up from Clarkson. Cou and Mac were now in position.

 

With adrenaline pumping Gunter and Tucker climbed out and moved forward. At twenty yards Gunter told Tucker to stay and cover. Gunter was now moving up alone. He sprinted towards the bunker slamming against the side hard enough that the squad heard it 100 yards away. Ignoring the pain in his side he shot a glance into the bunker. It seemed dark and empty. He edged to the side and saw a large ageing metal door. It was cracked open either meaning one of two things. Somebody was still inside or they had left in a hurry leaving the door open. Gunter looked back at Tucker and waved him up. And Tucker took off at a dead run. Reaching Gunter Tucker tried to stop, but his momentum and the weight of the equipment mixed with the wet grass equaled a bad combination. And he fell face first. Gunter trying his best not to laugh at him helped him up. “You okay?”

Tucker nodded. Gunter motioned for a standard sweep of the room, Tucker went in low and left, Gunter high and right. “Empty.”

“Clear over here.”

Gunter flipped his radio on. “Macarthur were clear, get everyone up here double time.”

There was a pause then, “Roger, moving.”

“Tucker stay here.”

Gunter stepped out to wait, gazing at the tree line. Pondering how for 48 hours he was going to secure this area. Strategically it was a nightmare. All around an elevated tree line bordered by open ground. The only cover they had was in the middle of the clearing and that was the pillbox. He did not have enough claymore mines to cover the whole the parameter. Gunter looked up a little higher at the horizon. It was starting to get dark. He checked his watch, it was only 1700 and by the looks of things they would have to haul ass to get the equipment set up. He had 85 claymores he would need at least 200 to cover the area. Jesus Christ how the fuck am I going to do this? His thoughts were interrupted by the squad arriving. “Muller is this what you came for.”

“Uh yeah, is the bunker secured?”

Gunter opened his mouth to answer but was cut off by Tucker. “No its not.”

Gunter turned to him. “What do you mean it's not?”

“this ain't just a pillbox this is a front line bunker. It leads underground.”

He motioned them to follow him. Tucker turned his flashlight on, illuminating a dark staircase leading down. Stopping at a very large and heavy looking metal door that had to weigh at least a thousand pounds. Macarthur spoke up, “what is it an ammunition storage room.”

“I doubt it, that door is way too heavy. It's probably a bomb shelter.”

Said Mac. Gunter started down the stairs calling over his shoulder. “Well, only one way to find out.”
Nicholai and Mac followed close behind. “Cover me.”

Gunter pushed open the door. And it made a horrible screeching sound that made Gunter wince. He couldn't see a thing in front of him was like an abyss. Tucker pushed his way through Mac and Nicholai so he could get light in the corridor. The light cut through the dark lighting up a large concrete hall way that stopped with a path going to the left and to the right. Tucker could faintly hear the sound of dripping water. Gunter looked over his shoulder at the squad. “Okay I need four volunteers to help check this place out.”

Mikhail and Denley immediately volunteered. Then Tucker. And finally Cou. “Okay, Muller you're with me. Along with you, Tucker. The rest of you start putting up defenses.”

 

At the end of the hall the group split up Tucker, Gunter, and Muller going right. Mikhail, Denley, and Cou going left. They agreed on trying to find a source of power, a generator, if they were lucky. Even with three flashlights it was still hard to see much of anything. They came across what looked barracks. Bunk beds, an old furnace some random pieces of clothing were scattered across the floor. “Well whoever was here last sure left in a hurry.”

Said Tucker. Gunter nodded in agreement. Gray duffle bags lay by the cloths and random personnel items such as pictures seemed to have been carelessly tossed on the ground. Gunter shot a glance at Muller; he had a vague look of interest on his face. I don't know what he's doing here, and he wont tell us either. He knows something about this place. And what ever this place is I sure as hell don't like it. Gunter had never disliked a place more that this bunker and woods. But this bunker, it felt more haunted than the forest. The way that the items were tossed and abandoned, wasn't natural something was very, very wrong. Something cracked under Gunter foot. He kneeled down, and pointed his light at the object. It was a small picture frame. The photo all though weathered was still visible. He immediately recognized the traditional dress of southern Germany. Although he had no idea who the woman was. He was now sure that this was a combat bunker. But still didn't understand why these objects had been left behind. Soldiers would never abandon this kind of stuff. He stood up, Muller had stopped at a metal door conveniently labeled. “Generator” in German. Relieved that they may not be stuck in the dark anymore but a little confused at why the sign was in German when the bunker faced back towards Poland. As if to be defending against an attack from the west. Gunter put aside this random feeling of unease and joined Muller and Tucker. “Tuck open it.”

He nodded and Gunter stood, weapon ready. Tucker pushed the door and it swung open. Gunter stepped in ready to fire. “Clear.”

Muller entered the beam of his flash light stopping on the dusty rusting remains of the generator. “What does it run on?”

Asked Tucker. “Well Judging by the age either coal or petrol.”

He waved his light around the room. “Petrol.”

He said as his light fell across eight full barrels of the stuff. “Can you get it working?”

“Well we'll see said Muller, unscrewing the fuel cap.

 

Most of their trip was uneventful. No signs of life accept a rat, random containers and other equipment. Mikhail was starting to grow bored. “What does this fancy company want with a shit heap like this?”

“I don't know but he ain't playing with a full deck that's for sure.”

Said Denley. Stopping at a set of stairs leading further down. At the bottom was another hallway. “How big is this place?”

Asked Cou who was lagging behind a few steps. The hall made a left at the end. But a door was visible just about at the end of the corridor. “Okay lets see what's behind this one.”

Said Denley as he opened. “Oh what a surprise it's empty.”

He said as he peered into it. There was what looked like a large viewing window that was to dusty to see through, and besides two chairs it was empty. Leaving the door open they moved on. And came to another door as they rounded the corner. “Seriously this is getting fucking old!”

Cou said, “Oh for Christ's sake lets just get this over with.”

So again they opened a rusting door. And again the sound made them wince. As the lights shined around the room they noticed a huge change in atmosphere. The floor was now tiled; jars and surgical supplies lay neglected on trays. Although nobody had been here for years, it still gave off a feeling of unease. “Great more stairs.”

The door that the stairs ended at was least at five tons of metal. “Well who wants to open it?”

Asked Denley. Nobody answered so without saying a word he opened it. A thick wave of the scent of death hit him in the face like a hammer. “Oh god, what the fuck is that?”

At that instant the light's came on, Denley stumbled back in horror at what made the stench. A pile of bodies lay in the corner at least up to his waist. Gagging he stumbled out. He switched on the radio. “Gunter you need to take a look at this.”

Over the radio Gunter answered back. “What is it?”

“I don't know sir.”