Chereads / Waking Inferno: Raccoon City’s Last Sentinel / Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: The Hunt Begins

Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: The Hunt Begins

3rd Person Perspective.

The city is a shell of its former self, draped in the gloom of an endless night. A bitter wind howls through the decaying streets, carrying the scent of smoke and death. Flickering neon signs buzz faintly, casting broken halos over the ruined storefronts. Beyond the shattered windows, distant fires rage—leftovers from past conflicts, or perhaps a signal from the few survivors who still cling to life.

The shuffling of the undead is the only sound, broken by the occasional feral growl of something far worse than a mere zombie. For Sienna Wolfe, the battle to survive has evolved. It's no longer about staying hidden from the undead, but from Nemesis—the nightmare stalking her every step, like a hunter with no mercy.

The chapter begins with Sienna sprinting through the streets, her breath ragged and quick as the adrenaline surges through her veins. Nemesis has found her, and the ground beneath her feet trembles with each of his monstrous steps. Her Glock is gripped tightly in one hand, the other clutching her scavenged gear. Her heart pounds in her chest, but she doesn't dare slow down. Nemesis has an uncanny speed, and the closer he gets, the more certain death feels.

She rounds a corner, barely skimming past the debris of a collapsed building. Her eyes lock on a decrepit gas station, its pumps rusted and broken, the only sign of refuge in sight. It's not much, but it's her best shot.

Diving behind an overturned delivery truck, she crouches low. The mini-map flashes in the corner of her vision: Nemesis: Pursuit Active. The digital timer counts down: Objective: Evade Nemesis. Reach Safe Zone in 10 minutes.

Sienna doesn't waste time checking her inventory—the low ammo count and half health bar are a grim reminder of the risks. The system suggests scavenging nearby buildings for supplies, but that's a death sentence. Every corner, every movement, is dangerous. She grips her Glock tighter. Stealth, speed, precision—those are her only weapons now.

From her hiding spot, Sienna can see him. Nemesis is a towering nightmare—a hulking figure draped in tattered black, his grotesque face a twisted mask of rage and malice. His rocket launcher hangs loosely by his side, an ominous reminder of the death he brings.

Sienna remains motionless, her breath slow and controlled. Nemesis pauses, his monstrous form scanning the area with precision. He moves slowly at first, his eyes glowing with an inhuman intensity as if searching for the slightest movement. The system warns her again: Nemesis has heightened detection capabilities. Every step, every shift of the air around her could betray her position. Sienna's heart races—any misstep will be fatal.

The beast inches closer, its footsteps heavy and deliberate. Sienna's body tenses, but she doesn't dare breathe too deeply, her pulse hammering in her neck. She barely registers the sweat running down her brow as she keeps perfectly still, praying for the moment to pass.

For what feels like an eternity, Nemesis lingers near the truck, but then—he turns. His focus shifts, and he begins to move away. Sienna's breath escapes her in a quick, shaky exhale. But this relief is temporary. The chase is far from over.

Quickly, she checks the mini-map again. The path ahead is a narrow alley leading to a rooftop access. If she can make it there, she can gain the high ground and escape Nemesis's reach—at least for a while.

Her muscles scream as she sprints across the street, her footsteps nearly silent. The wind howls around her, and she's already on the fire escape when she hears the unmistakable groans of zombies. Her heart skips a beat. They're too close.

System Prompt: Objective: Reach rooftop access. Time Limit: 5 minutes.

The timer blinks, urging her on. She can feel the danger in every step—failure will mean permanent death. Sienna moves faster. The fire escape's rusted metal creaks under her weight, but she ignores it. She has no choice. She has to keep moving.

As Sienna climbs, the unmistakable sound of claws scratching pavement cuts through the night air. Zombie dogs emerge from a nearby alley, their glowing eyes locked onto her. The system immediately pings a warning: Zombie Dogs Detected. Engage or Evade?

There's no time for hesitation. Sienna reaches for the flashbang grenade she scavenged earlier. She knows it's a risky move—too close, and the blast could disorient her—but it's her best shot. With a quick flick of her wrist, she hurls the grenade towards the dogs. The explosion is deafening, a bright flash that blinds the beasts. They stagger, disoriented, giving Sienna just enough time to make her escape.

She sprints up the fire escape, her heart pounding in her chest as the growls of the stunned dogs fade into the night. Her breath is ragged, but the rooftop is in sight.

Sienna reaches the rooftop with a mix of relief and tension. Up here, she has the advantage—she can see the city's decay spread out beneath her. Groups of zombies wander aimlessly below, some gathered around scattered fires, others simply moving without purpose. The entire city feels like a hunting ground, and she's just another piece of prey.

Her eyes scan the skies, and her stomach tightens. Umbrella's helicopters are hovering above, circling the city like vultures. They aren't just searching for survivors—they're looking for something specific.

Sienna's mind races. The encrypted files she uncovered earlier flash through her thoughts—Umbrella isn't here just to contain the outbreak. They have a larger agenda, and she's beginning to understand just how deep this rabbit hole goes.

System Prompt: Objective: Investigate Umbrella Helicopters.

Sienna starts moving again, taking care not to make any unnecessary noise. Her eyes stay trained on the helicopters as they drift closer to the RPD, an area on the map she knows all too well. Something's going on there, and she's determined to find out what.

But just as she's about to make her way across the rooftops to investigate further, she hears a loud crash—the rooftop access she used earlier has been compromised. Nemesis has found her again.

System Warning: Nemesis Detected. 30 seconds until engagement.

The clock is ticking. Sienna has no time to investigate further. Her instincts kick in, and she dives into the nearest alley, disappearing into the shadows just as Nemesis crashes onto the rooftop, his footsteps shaking the ground. The hunt is on once again.

Sienna ducks into an abandoned building, her heart pounding. The system warns her again—health critical, and her ammo reserves are dangerously low. She doesn't have much time before Nemesis catches up.

But Sienna is no stranger to desperation. She quickly sets a tripwire mine at the entrance, her fingers moving quickly and methodically as she prepares for the worst. Nemesis bursts through the door, his monstrous form filling the doorway. The trap triggers, and there's an explosion—a deafening blast that throws Nemesis back, but only for a moment.

He roars in fury, more enraged than before. It's not enough to stop him.

Sienna uses the opportunity to flee, knowing that she can't outrun him forever, but she has no choice. She's learned one thing tonight: the hunt is far from over.