A Ghost in need

by Bronycommander


Chapter 11 Dig Site

Chapter 11: Dig Site

At the dig site, Bernd had a suggestion. “I suggest that you and B.J. stay here while we will take the soldiers out.”

“No thanks, I will do this by myself, watch this.” B.J. drew his handgun with the silencer and headshot a commander that was on a Tower. Then he took this pipe out and sneaked behind two Soldiers. He waited until their conversation was over before he attacked.

“I heard noises coming from Old town. Maybe it’s that American Helga was talking about with Herr Schreiner?”

“I don’t think so. He must be dead already. It’s probably those undead things.”

"Why did we have to get stuck up here with these things lurking in the darkness?”

“Are you scared, Hans?”

“Maybe I am. Did you see what they did to Fritz?”

“I liked Fritz. But he had it coming, frocking with the wrong people, if you know what I mean.”

“He made a very good strudel.”

“Maybe so, but he was a sinner. A pure body and mind will keep the Devil away.”

“I hope he doesn’t end up in Hell.”

“I’m pretty sure of it. Now, enough of this chit-chat. Need to stay on alert.”

“Right.” They moved.

B.J. used the same move against the Elite Soldier he used against Helmut, but rammed his pipe through his skull. He killed the other Soldier with a throwing knife.

Then he killed the second commander with his Handgun. Hans killed the Heavy Soldier with a shot on his tank and then the last soldier that was on patrol.

Inside the dig site, B.J. spoke again to himself, “What have you been digging for, Helga?”

Helmut stealth killed a Soldier with his knife. B.J. killed another Soldier with his silenced Handgun. He turned into a Shambler. But a Marksman killed him. Then Bernd shot him. They tried to sneak their way to the lift, as a Super soldier was also here.

They all except for Ruby made it to the lift. She tripped with a loud thud. The Super Soldier aimed at her ready to shoot. “I surrender! Don’t shoot!” She cried. But Hans made the cable of the Soldier snap with a well-aimed shot. “Thanks. I owe you one.”

“You owe me nothing. I protect you until my last bullet.”

In the lift B.J. asked himself, “What drives this madness? You’re like a blind worm tunneling your way through the soil. Deeper and deeper into the rotting bowels of the earth. Into the dark places better left forgotten.”

“Do you often talk to yourself?” Ruby asked.

“It helps be to stay focused on my mission. Damn. Another Commander. I take care of him, you wait here.” He heard the Radio chatter.

He discovered an alternative way by using his pipe. The Soldiers were no problem, even the Heavy Soldier. Helmut threw a grenade at the Super Soldier causing his chest plate to fall off and exposing his heart. Hans finished him off.

Ruby stayed in cover and said where she found supplies. In the entrance to the catacombs, three Soldiers were fighting Shamblers who were at the entrance of the inner vault. The Soldiers were too busy to notice the intruders.

Helmut climbed as first through a shaft. One of his comrades was about to throw a grenade, but a Shambler that charged at him caused him to drop it, killing him and the Shambler when she exploded. Helmut helped the rest of the team through the shaft.

They were fighting Regime Soldiers and Shamblers until they came to a destroyed stairway that leaded into the water.
Helmut gently took Ruby when they jumped into the water and swam to the ladder. They had to dive to get to the vault. Ruby felt safe in Helmut’s and B.J.’s arms despite not able to swim. She heard how Helga and Schreiner were complaining about something but could not hear about what when she was underwater.

After B.J. pushed the button to open the vault, he said, “You ready for what’s going down there, Helga?” They had to fight waves of Shamblers until the Door was fully opened. Ruby bucked them as hard as she could to get them to stumble. That made them easier targets for the Soldiers.

“Helmut, you, Ruby and B.J. get in. I and Hans will keep the Shamblers busy.”

“But they will overrun you.”

“They will, but we will give you enough time to get the job done and get out of there alive. Now go, that’s an order, Soldier!”

“Yes, Sir. It was an Honor to serve under your command.”

Ruby opened the final Door only to be caught with B.J. by a chain.

“Franz? My ‘waiter’? You can’t keep away from the fire can you? Well this time you are going to get burnt!” She punched him. “You’re that American, aren’t you? Who killed my hunter, Rudi? I must say you’re stubborn.” She turned to Ruby. “And you are that filly who was with Helmut, right? Who was interrogated by Rudi? I must say you are really good at finding things. But this time, you found the biggest trouble of your life!”

She was about to punch her too, but Helmut screamed, “Don’t even dare to touch her!” He aimed at Helga who was not impressed.

“Helmut, you are about to see how history is written. What have we here?” She took the map from B.J. “Well, this would have saved us some time.”

“I don’t understand these symbols…” Schreiner said.

“Oh, Fortuna. So strange and unpredictable. I could just…” She gave Ruby a kiss on the cheek. “I feel like I’m a child again digging for the treasures in the woods. This moment will put me in the history books amongst the greatest of adventurers. Do you see, Schreiner?” She walked to him.

“Yes, but this changes nothing. You failed to impress both on me and General Strasse thus far, Helga.”

“My God, Schreiner! Look. The code on King Otto’s map. It corresponds to the symbols on this pedestal. It’s the combination, you idiot. There we go.”

The room began to rumble. “Are you sure this is right, Helga?”

“Oh, Schreiner. You toe sucking coward.”

The rumble increased causing B.J. and Ruby to fall on the ground. “Helga, what is it?” Suddenly a large monster came from the ground. Schreiner aimed his Handgun at it. Helmut did the same with his rifle.

“Got gibiotit! Firstulle!” Helga calmed it down while B.J. tried to free himself and Ruby. “Oh, hello! King Otto’s little secret, huh? You look so terrible lonely. Well, I’m here now. I am. And I have a tasty meaty treat for you. Yes. American Flesh.”

She pointed at B.J. and Ruby who trembled in fear. “No, please! I didn’t do anything!”

The monster however looked as it was about to attack Helga. “Gaganhöre!” The monster calmed down so that Helga could touch it. “There we go. Schreiner? Schreiner, do you see? This is how you control a monster. Would you like to try?”

Schreiner replied with a light nervous laugh, “I must admit, Helga. I am somewhat impressed.”

“But why on earth did King Otto hide your pretty face from the world? Hm? Oh never mind. Time to feed. Anabikke!” She pointed at B.J. and Ruby who screamed in fear.

The monster attacked Helga instead and threw her back to the entrance of the vault. “My God!” Schreiner panicked and shot at the monster who responded by killing him too.

Helmut had do duck to avoid being hit by Helga. B.J. finally freed Ruby and himself.

Helmut was about to shoot but B.J. lowered his rifle. “Wait! Look!” Then Ruby and Helmut realized that the monster wasn’t attacking. Just “looking” around. “It’s blind. It seems only to attacking when we made noise, see?” He walked to the other side of the room and fired at the glowing mouth. He stepped aside to avoid its attack.

“I suggest that we are attacking it from both sides to confuse it. Aim for the glowing mouth. Ruby, stay in cover.”

“Yes, Helmut.” She was still scared but was understood with the plan.

After a while, Soldiers joined them to attack the monster. Helmut heard how they screamed several lines like, “Backup! We need more men!”

“Keep fighting! Until the last man!”

“No Retreat! We will continue to fight!”

“Backup! Come on!” or

“Do not be afraid!” But the Monster smashed all of them. Some of them turned into Shamblers.

Helmut was not sure if, they were sent by Helga or if Bernd had sent them. Helmut looked again and again at Ruby, as he was worried about her safety. She did her best to avoid being smashed by the monster, but was now surrounded by Shamblers.

B.J. fired a flare at one of the Shamblers. The Shambler that was hit by it stumbled. Ruby used this to get free before it exploded.
After a while, the room began to catch fire identical to the opening of the vault.

More Shamblers entered the room. Bernd and Hans were among them. It was not easy for Helmut but he managed to end their misery without making too much noise.

Distracted by this, he was startled as the monster let out a scream and died.

“Ruby!” he checked her.

“It is over?” She asked, her voice shaken.

“Shh, it’s over.” He comforted her. They walked to Helga. She was seriously injured.

“I lost… control. I lost… control. I lost… control. I lost… control…” She said multiple times before she died.

B.J. took the folder. “You don't understand, you never were in control.”

Suddenly, multiple boulders were falling on them. Helmut clutched Ruby protectively, before they were knocked out.