Even thicker stone pillars or columns surround the chapel below. This time, they are round, but in the same formation as up here. The entrance must be a way to the right past the end of the row of columns, but out of sight. I can just about see what has to be the altar, nestled just in front of the arch of columns below and just to my left. Wooden pews then run down the middle, either side of a central walkway. Imagining how delightful and elegant this little Chapel would be—especially viewed in this low setting sun—is easy. Right now though, it is anything but; it is heinous.
Dread again burns into my stomach as the realisation sinks in that there’s only death down there, and the odds of me finding Josh safe and well are extremely slim. I could be looking at him now without realising.
Twisted, mutilated bodies, at least fifteen of them, cover the chapel's stone floor, which is stained with patches of deep dark red blood. Many of the bodies are in combat uniforms. The wooden pews which I’m sure were once lined up neatly down each side of the central walkway of the chapel are askew and have yet more bodies draped over them. One of the pews is even on its side across from us, propped up lengthways against one of the columns. The whole scene is like something out of one of those sick horror stories or a Spaghetti Western where everyone gets shot up in the church at the end of the movie, Quentin Tarantino style.
The only positive to be taken looking down into the chapel is that I can only see two Rabids stumbling about; one is behind the columns on the far side from us and the other near the back.
There’s another moving; it is one of the ones on top of a pew. The creature’s legs are dangling down the back of the pew and its head is on the seat, but it is backward, face up. The thing’s back is hideously broken over the top of the wooden pew. The body and legs are nearly parallel to each other, its head moving with its dark hole of a mouth wide open and its arms are flailing around but it seems it is paralysed from where its back is broken, and can’t get up.
Making a mental note to put it out of its misery if I get chance, I move back from the pillar, towards the passageway so I can talk to Alice more freely. She follows without me having to say anything.
Alice has a very sad look about her; many of the dead down there were her comrades, her friends, so I’m sickened and can only imagine how she feels.
“I’m sorry, Alice, and sorry you saw that. There was nothing you could have done for them, you got out just in time.” I try to console her, but the words seem flat.
“I could have tried something, done more,” she whispers.
“No, Alice, no you couldn’t. I’ve been in the same situation when these monsters come at you in full flow in big numbers, you get the fuck out as quickly as possible. Second guessing yourself now is pointless; if it had been viable, you would have stayed and fought but it was carnage down there, that is plain to see,” I say vigorously, trying to pull her back. Apart from which, it is the truth.
Her head lifts. “I’m okay, it was just shocking to see.”
“Yes, I can imagine.”
“What’s the plan then?” she says, trying to raise a smile.
“Maybe it’s futile but I’ve got to see if Josh is down there, alive or not… or turned… so I’m going on, but I don’t think you should. You’ve come far enough, you wait here or on the…”
“No fucking way. I’m carrying on,” Alice cuts me off, looking me straight in the eye.
“Alice,” I start.
“I’m in, end of, now let’s get on with it while we still have light!”
“Fair enough, have you got any coins on you?” I ask.
Alice gives me a confused look but tells me, “Yes.”
Back behind the same pillar overlooking the chapel, I have the Rabid in the sights of my M4, still on the far side of us beyond the columns. I squeeze the trigger; the rifle spits its bullet and the Rabid falls straight down into a pile on the floor. Swinging the M4 right, I fire again and the Rabid at the back of the Chapel falls. Finally, I take aim at the Rabid with its back broken over the pew and fire, giving the wretch some peace.
Pulling the M4 in, I give Alice a nod and we quickly and quietly follow the walkway as it bends around to the front of the chapel. I lie down beneath the centre arch in the opening between the two pillars at the very front, the altar directly below. Alice lies down beside me on my left, coins jangling in her hand as she does so. As Alice gets into position, I point my M4 straight down towards the back of the chapel, using the floor to steady my left arm that is holding the gun.
As I’m checking my sights, Alice urgently says, “Two o’clock, behind the columns.”
Adrenaline fizzes through me and my M4 pivots on my elbow, down and right to two o’clock. I quickly have the target in my sights and as soon as I have the head shot, I take it. Through my rifle sight, I see the bullet take the top of the Rabid’s head off and it drops.
“Good call,” I tell Alice.
She is acting as my spotter; the coins are for her to throw down into the chapel in the hope the noise will attract any Rabids in the other rooms
