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At the checkpoint gates, dozens of cops were trying to keep order, while up on the high walls, heavily armed soldiers stood guard, rifles loaded and machine guns mounted.
Anyone dumb enough to charge through would instantly be turned into Swiss cheese.
The scene was chaotic, everyone pushing to be checked first so they could leave sooner, but the moment rifles swung their way, people fell back into line.
"The time's come to raise some hell!"
"Raaaagh!"Venom threw his arms wide as his clothes melted into a black liquid, wrapping around him until he transformed into a hulking monster.
"Ahhh!"
The crowd screamed in panic. Watching a man turn into a towering beast right in front of them sent people scrambling in every direction.
"Shut the gates! Open fire!"
The commander on the wall barked the order the second he spotted the monster emerging from the crowd.
"Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat—"
Bullets rained down from the walls, slamming into Jack's body, but they barely seemed to faze him.
Meanwhile, the massive gate creaked as it slowly started closing.
Venom glanced at the gate, grabbed a car beside him with one hand, and hurled it with all his strength.
The vehicle smashed into the steel doors, crushing them inward and jamming them open for good.
Ignoring the rain of bullets peppering his body, Venom grabbed another car and flung it straight at the wall.
The soldiers on top had no time to dodge. The car hit with a crunch, taking several of them out at once.
With a single leap, Venom landed on the wall. His arms morphed into blades, and in a single swing he cut down several soldiers.
The rest fought back desperately, but their weapons couldn't even scratch him.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Explosions shook the checkpoint, fire roaring through the compound as Venom tore through it like a mad beast.
Creak…
The church doors groaned open.
A small group stumbled inside—Jill Valentine, a few civilians, a SWAT officer, and a journalist.
(Author's note: Jill Valentine's name is too long, so I'll just call her Jill from now on, otherwise you guys will complain I'm padding the word count. (?í_ì?))
The moment they stepped in, all of them felt like they'd just survived hell.
After scanning the place, the four finally let out a collective sigh of relief and split up to rest.
The journalist fiddled with his video camera—professional to the core, even now, making sure to record everything for the world to see.
The cop slumped onto a pew, lit a cigarette, and took a long drag, trying to calm his nerves.
Jill stood quietly to the side, regaining her strength.
The civilian gripped his gun tight, eyes darting around nervously. Even in here, he couldn't shake the feeling of danger.
Thud!
A sudden sound echoed inside the church.
All four instantly tensed. Jill raised her weapon and followed the noise.
The others stayed back, watching every corner with their guns raised.
"Raaaagh!"
A shadow flashed across the ceiling with a guttural roar.
"What the hell was that?!"
The cop's flashlight beam swept upward as he raised his pistol, ready to fire.
In the beam of light, a massive Licker scuttled across the ceiling, vanishing again in the blink of an eye.
The three scanned the rafters, hearts pounding.
"There!"
The journalist shouted, pointing. The others whipped their heads around—just in time to see the Licker leap and vanish again.
"Jesus Christ…"
The civilian's face twisted with fear. He broke, bolting deeper into the church.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
The other two kept their weapons up, watching in horror as the civilian disappeared inside.
"Ahhh!"
His scream split the air a moment later.
The two regrouped with Jill, and after a quick exchange, they moved out together.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Jill and the cop unleashed a volley, firing at shadows as the Licker skittered around them.
But it was too fast. Their bullets missed every time, the creature melting back into the darkness.
Even when they couldn't see it, they could hear the faint scratching and crawling all around them.
The three pressed their backs together, ready for whatever was coming.
Behind them, without a sound, a Licker dropped from the ceiling and landed on the floor.
They felt it instantly and spun around—only to see the creature creeping closer step by step, its grotesque tongue snaking out.
"Son of a bitch…"
The cops cursed under their breath as the Licker crept closer step by step.
Just as the three of them were about to bolt, the stained-glass windows of the church flared with light, and the distant growl of a motorcycle engine roared through the air.
"....."