It did not take Gary long to find the creature once back underground. He was struck in the stomach by a tentacle that seemed to be searching for something or someone. On the end of the tentacle was some sort of deadly, bony tip.
He remembered reading in his grandfather’s notes that it was believed that the creature was reported to be able to spray an acid like substance that causes death instantly. It is also claimed that this beast had the ability to kill from a distance with some sort of super charged electrical charge on top of its super strength and tentacle appendages.
Chapel recalled one passage that his grandfather had noted his belief that touching any part of the worm will bring instant death, and its venom supposedly corroded metal.
His stomach hurt. He was in pain—incredible agony.
There was a fire in his stomach. The pain stabbed him in the belly and he doubled over, stumbling into the wall. Using his hands to steady himself, he got back onto his feet and continued his dash for freedom.
He was sure of that already, but if he could make it down the long stone-flagged corridors to the lower tunnels and Deena and make a leap for it, he might have a chance of survival. Two figures, eyeless and looking like walking fish, appeared in front of him but he immediately barged them out of the way, sending them skidding along the smooth floor. Just in front of him were the heavy rocks that stood between him and the outside world. His escape was blocked.
He paid no mind to the possibility that this may be the end. Without a pause to think about his actions, he felt all the power in his body flow through his arm and up his side and shoulder-charged the barricade, knocking it on its side. The cool fresh air washed over his face as the cold rain poured in torrents from the darkness.
His foot slipped in something slimy. It was a trail of ooze and something else, a stain of blackish-red. The viscous stain on the floor had the rich smell of organic compounds with a tangy hint of iron. It was human blood.
It was his blood.
The wound in his stomach was bleeding heavily. He felt he may pass out.
Gary Chapel willed himself on.
For Deena Hopping. For Strafford. For himself.
* * * *
Sheriff Lindsey Hill listened to her voicemail. She could not believe what she was hearing.
“Gather the troops,” she immediately ordered the nearest officer. “We’re moving to the other side of town. Tell everyone to arm themselves to the teeth. Shotguns, backup pistols, and alert the SWAT teams from the surrounding counties. And see if we can call in the National Guard.”
The officer stopped and stared blankly at her.
“Move it! I’m serious,” Sheriff Hill responded.
Sheriff Hill moved towards the door. As she went she slipped, or seemed to, all but stumbling on to her knees. Through the floor a tentacle broke through and grabbed her around the ankle.
Then it was gone just as fast again.
“Something tripped me up—what’s this?” She was stamping on the floor with her foot. “There’s something down there. Come and lend me a hand, one of you fellows, to get it up. Who knows what mystery’s beneath?”
Detective Sergeant Robert Townsend, who had just entered, went to her aid. As she said, there was something in the basement. Her stepping on it unawares had caused her stumble. Together they were standing by and watching the door as it was opened by two uniformed officers. Having removed it, they peered into the basement it disclosed.
There was something there.
“What do you see?” cried the Sheriff.
“It’s a woman!” shouted one of the officers.
“You mean what’s left of one,” added the other officer who then promptly vomited.
“And she’s covered in slime!” exclaimed Detective Sergeant Townsend.
Sheriff Hill gasped. “Oh, my God! He wasn’t kidding.”
The radios and phones began to ring off the hook.
One officer yelled, “Reports are coming in from all over the town of similar discoveries.”