Ira, Jan, and Oscar arrived on the first floor. What they encountered was a horrifying scene that sent shivers down their spines. The once-white floor was now painted red with blood. The bodies of men and women were strewn across the ground, some with bite marks covering their bodies, others missing body parts, and some still clinging to life, crying out in agony for help.
Lee couldn't help but notice a woman who had lost her upper body, leaving only her bloody legs attached to her buttocks. He could only recognize her gender by the remnants of her skirt.
Counting the number of dead bodies, Lee estimated that there were more than fifty casualties, with even more people injured and in pain.
Amidst this gruesome scene, a dozen men and women with guns were desperately shooting at the animals who attempt to enter through the main entrance. Suddenly, five wolves charged forward from the horde, darting past the lines of animals to attack the men. A hail of bullets greeted their approach, causing four of the wolves to collapse onto the floor. However, one wolf, though wounded, managed to evade some of the bullets. It had a wooden stake lodged in its left shoulder and two more bullets embedded in its left chest, with blood pouring from its wounds. Undeterred, the injured wolf gathered its remaining strength and lunged at the nearest man.
The targeted man, realizing the imminent danger, aimed his gun at the approaching wolf. However, to his shock, the gun failed to fire. Panicking, he quickly tried to change the magazine, but he was too slow. The wolf leaped and sank its teeth into the man's neck.
Blood sprayed in all directions as the man attempted to stem the bleeding with his hands, but it was a futile effort. The wolf had severed an artery, and the man had only minutes to live. As he lay on the ground, the reality of never seeing his family again – his beautiful wife and young son waiting at home – filled him with regret as his life slipped away.
One man, with a cigar in his mouth, stared angrily at the wounded wolf. He raised his gun and fired a fatal shot, ending the wolf's suffering with a single bullet to the head. The wolf let out a howl of pain before succumbing to its injuries.
The man with the cigar then turned his attention to his lifeless comrade on the ground. He spoke softly, "Goodbye, John. Have a safe trip."
As Lee, Ira, Jan, and Oscar observed this scene, they experienced a range of emotions. Despite the horror and tragedy, they couldn't help but feel the pain and sadness of the man who had lost his friend. The man with the cigar, with his short black hair and blood-soaked blue t-shirt, had left a deep impression on them.
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When Ira glanced at the man with the cigar, she felt a strange sense of recognition, but the memory eluded her.
The man with the cigar looked at the group and said, "Hi, aren't you the guys I found earlier in the forest?"
Ira suddenly recalled where she knew the man from – he was one of the kidnappers. She responded coldly, "It's nice that you say 'found' instead of 'kidnapped,' because that's what you did to us."
Oscar, confused by her statement, asked, "What do you mean, Ira?"
Lee, too, was puzzled and awaited an explanation.
Ira clarified, "Because of the sleeping gas, I couldn't see clearly, but I remember him. He was there when we were kidnapped. And now, from what he said, he was one of them – he used sleeping gas to bring us here."
Lee's impression of the man sank further upon learning this information. He remarked, "So, you're one of Adam's lackeys."
The man's demeanor changed abruptly. His cigar dropped from his mouth, and his cool expression turned to anger. His face revealed a deep-seated grudge against Adam. He retorted, "Calling me Adam's lackey? You don't even know me. Damn, I hate that man to my core. And you call me his lackey."
Lee hadn't expected such a reaction from the man.
The man then composed himself and began to explain from the beginning. He asked Lee if he knew someone named Chris.
Lee confirmed, "I do."
The man continued, "Chris and I were the first security recruits on this island. We trained together for more than three years. I was the youngest recruit, and Chris was the oldest. During those three years, we formed a bond and treated each other like brothers. Chris even got hurt one time saving my life. But our friendship changed when that Adam guy showed up on the island."
Lee was curious about what had happened. The man continued his story, explaining, "One night, Adam spoke to Chris about something, and from then on, everything changed – his behavior, his tone of voice. I tried talking to him a couple of times, but we exchanged only a few words. My friend disappeared, and ten years passed. Adam and Chris kept climbing the ranks, with Adam becoming the head professor and Chris a high-ranking commander. I also got promoted, but to a lower position than they did. So now, Chris and Adam are the ones who give me orders."
Jan interrupted, her tone worried, "Guys, we don't have time for this. We have company."
Loud howls from the animals echoed from the entrance. Wolves, wild boars, the massive Diatryma birds, and some Entelodon charged into the building.
jan assessed the situation, Sayed, "We need plan fast ."
ira replied " i have one ,kill all what trying to kill you"
Lee quickly scanned the area and formulated a plan. He grabbed something from one of the dead bodies, then rushed back upstairs, yelling to his friends, "Hold them off for five minutes. I have a plan."
Oscar, hearing Lee's instructions, said, "Alright, you want five minutes? I'll give you five minutes."
Oscar picked up a gun from one of the dead bodies, while Ira readied her guns, and Jan tightened her grip on her Machta.
Oscar stood with an axe in one hand and a gun in the other, gazing at the approaching horde of dangerous animals. He declared with determination, "Let's kill some animals."