No Turning Back

Chapter Thirt-Nine: Inner Courage

Before anyone could spew profanities Nikolai's way; the undead began to swarm at the barricades. Dempsey and Takeo grimaced as they readied their weapons whilst Richtofen sprung to action and unleashed his MP40 into a gathering horde.

Primis held Kiana's hand tightly as they rushed through the narrow alleyway and back to their camp. Kiana fixed her eyes on Primis' face as she felt her stomach knot at the worry and fear displayed on it. The good doctor never let go as they trudged through the craterous ground and deep pools of black water.

The terrifying shrieks and cries of the undead followed closely behind as each barricade the pair ran past was ferociously being torn down. But as Kiana caught the gaze of one of the undead scientists; she noticed the man's eyes flicker as his demonic voice seemed to scream her name:

"K---I--A--N---A!" The man shrieked in agony.

Her heart skipped a beat as the violent sneers and gnashing seemed to almost be aimed exclusively at her. The undead seemed to pay very little notice of Primis as their glowing eyes beamed towards Kiana.

All the while, her legs continued at their frantic pace like a locomotion. As she lost herself in her morbid thoughts, Primis continued to drag Kiana through the winding doorways and debris-strewn grounds. In the midst of the carnage, all she could whisper to herself was:

"It's happening..."

For once, Samantha had stayed true to her word. Her promise of an endless pursuit was really happening. But what about the rest of her threats? Was there any way to avoid the painful end Samantha had so gleefully promised?

Such thoughts frightened Kiana who now seemed oblivious to what was going on around her. Her only interaction with reality was the movement of her legs and the unwavering grip of Primis' hand. Her mind had frozen with fear.

"Kiana, KIANA!" Primis cried out.
"Stay vith me!" He called out as they continued to make their way to the lunar lander.

"Do not give into zhe fear. She is wrong!" Primis yelled through the shrill cries of the undead.

"I vill protect jou!-- I vill save everyvone!" Primis cried as he stopped and readied his MP5K before unloading round after round into the hordes.

But Kiana remained in the same debilitating daze of fear. Her mind slowed as all thoughts ground to a screeching halt.

"For as long as I live - I VILL KEEP JOU SAFE!" He desperately proclaimed over the gunfire.

Kiana began to focus on Primis' voice which seemed to be the anchor that pulled her further and further out of her despair. But it was the hopelessness of seeing the vast numbers of undead and the thought of them ever getting to her which sent her back down that deep dark well once more. The thought of the pain and agony of succumbing to their vicious teeth and clawing hands sent her further into her despair.

Kiana looked down at Richtofen's pistol which remained clipped to her waist belt in its tan leather holster. As she looked up and around; the approaching hordes clamouring through every barrier and doorway overwhelmed her. A mere pistol would only prolong the inevitable - if she was lucky.

But then, she thought of the man who gave it to her. She thought of the day he taught her how to use it. The very same murderous man who so gently and delicately guided her aim that day in Der Riese. The softness of his voice as he calmly instructed her every step of the way.

She then looked to his other self who stood there so desperately trying to hold off the offending hordes. The Richtofen who had been trying so hard to atone for his sins. His teeth gritted together as each round tore through the hordes. Kiana felt angry with herself as she watched how his eyes welled with tears as he fought valiantly whilst she simply stood there on the verge of succumbing to her own thoughts.