Quarantine

9. The Spreading Chaos

The next morning, a small group gathered at the elevator door on the sixth floor. They had devised a plan - someone would run the elevator down to the ground floor, where others would be waiting to confront the creature and restrain it. The floor manager of the wing took charge, heading to the elevator operating room with a sense of apprehension lingering in the air. They knew the risks of operating the elevator remotely, but they were not willing to take any chances with the creature potentially escaping.

Among the group were Steve, Clint, Sam, Mr. Stuarts, and Natasha, along with a few others who had covered themselves in makeshift safety gear, with baseball gear serving as makeshift armor. They stood ready at the ground floor, prepared to release the elevator.

With a tense anticipation, the elevator disconnected and plummeted downward, crashing loudly at the bottom floor. Those with ropes and cuffs positioned themselves near the door, while Clint and Steve, armed with sharp rods and drillers, braced themselves to open the doors forcefully.

Natasha's voice cut through the tension from behind, a warning to proceed with caution. Steve and Clint nodded, acknowledging the risk. With a final grunt, they forced the elevator door open, and the creature lunged out with a ferocious growl.

In a coordinated effort, Sam swung his baseball bat, aiming at the creature from the front, while Clint and Mr. Stuarts swiftly trapped it in ropes. Steve wasted no time, swiftly cuffing its hands, while Natasha and another member of the group tied its legs.

Once they had the creature under control, they wasted no time dragging it outside, tossing it out into the open air before quickly shutting the door behind them. As they did, they could hear the cacophony of scratching and growling noises from outside, indicating that they were not alone in their predicament.

Exhausted and relieved, the group slumped onto the floor, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away as they covered the glass doors with long bedsheets, creating a makeshift barrier against the unknown horrors lurking beyond.

Suddenly, a sense of urgency gripped Steve as he instinctively checked his waist-belt – the walkie-talkie! His eyes widened as he frantically looked around the hallway, but the small black device was nowhere to be found. Natasha, sensing his distress, asked, "What is it?"

Without a word, Steve rushed to the door, gently lifting the sheet covering the glass to peer outside. What met his gaze sent a chill down his spine – almost fifty or sixty yellow creatures were scattered in the immediate vicinity. As he suspected, the walkie-talkie lay under the feet of those grotesque figures, seemingly trampled and lost in the swarm.

Steve slumped against the door, his mind grappling with the implications of losing their sole means of communication. Natasha and Sam, witnessing the gravity of the situation, looked at Steve for an explanation. He sighed heavily, "That device is gone."

A palpable disappointment filled the air as Natasha let out a sigh, and Sam shook his head in realization. The harsh truth sank in – they were stranded in their isolation for four more days, and the loss of the walkie-talkie severed their connection to the outside world. The trio exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of frustration and resignation.

The rest of the day passed in a haze of frustration and fear, each moment weighed down by the uncertainty of their situation. As night descended upon the building, casting elongated shadows across the hallway, the sense of isolation intensified.

Later that night, when it was already late and the residents were beginning to settle in for the night, the doorbell suddenly rang, shattering the silence like a thunderclap. Sam and Eva were already drifting into sleep. Steve and Natasha exchanged a glance, a silent acknowledgment passing between them, before they both rose from their seats and made their way to the door.