==>Start from day one.

It was just another average fall day for you, and you were enjoying it with your best friends.  You were currently lounging on the couch with your closest friend, one Mr. Strider, and the two of you were playing Resident Evil together.  He was, of course, much better than you at this game, but you tried not to let that deter you.

Your two other best friends, Jane and Lalonde, were sitting together off to the side of the room, watching the two of you play and quietly conversing with each other.  Occasionally one of them would speak up about something that was going on in the game, but otherwise they didn’t really seem to be paying attention to you or Strider.  They were off in their own little world, talking about whatever it was girls talked about.

“English, would you pay attention?” Strider was berating you for your lack of playing skills again.  ”That’s the fifth time I’ve had to save your ass.”

You laugh lightly and apologize for your negligence.  ”Sorry, bro.  Guess I’m just a little distracted.”  It was true, you were rather distracted today.  However, you couldn’t place why exactly.  Something just seemed off, like one of those bad feelings you get that just won’t go away.

“I’m about to kick your sorry ass off my team and call in Lalonde for my partner.  Get it in gear.”  He rolls his eyes at you and turns his attention back to the screen.

“What was that, Strider?  You need me~?” Lalonde is laughing at him now, while Jane sighs and tries to regain her attention.  It’s a well-known fact that Lalonde is the worst video game player this side of the hemisphere, and there was no way he’d been serious when he said he’d rather have her as a partner.  Hell, she’d manage to kill him even without friendly fire on.

He doesn’t even bother to look away from the TV long enough to grace her with a reply, completely intent on the game before him.  You shrugged an apology at her on his behalf before refocusing on the game yourself.  You heard a frustrated sigh from her, but nothing more.

Minutes slipped by in relative silence, the only sounds being those coming from your game and the soft whispering of the girls as they discussed ‘secret’ information.  Your bad feeling from earlier still persisted, but at this point you were doing a good job at ignoring it.  What reason did you have to worry right now?  You were in the company of your friends, and you were all enjoying yourselves.  It was times like this that you were thankful for your lot in life.

It isn’t long before the silence is broken, though.  You can hear a woman screaming, and it sounds like it’s coming from outside.  You quickly disregard the thought, it must have just been from your game, right?  You look over at your friends to see that they’re all looking around, though.  Maybe it really had been from outside?

“…Did you guys hear that?” Jane asks, sounding hesitant.  ”They sounded… terrified.”  You nod at her slowly, affirming that you did indeed hear it.  The other two also seem to have heard it, as they’re nodding in agreement, too.  ”I’m sure it was nothing big…  Maybe she was just startled?”  You all nod again, though none of you seem to believe it.  You and Strider eventually turn back to your game, and the girls begin talking again; you’ve all decided to act like nothing happened.  But it isn’t long before you hear another scream.  And then another.

“Okay, there’s something going on.” Lalonde is the one to speak up this time, and she seems scared now.  ”Maybe we should check..?”

You turn to look at Strider and he nods at you.  The two of you jump off the couch and head over to the window, peering outside to see if you can catch a glimpse of what’s going on.  You don’t see anything amiss, tho—

Wait a minute.  There were people running away.  What were they running from?  Was there something outside?  Strider’s already bounding off to the door before you can say a word to him, and by the time you catch up he’s already got it unlocked.  ”Are you sure it’s a good idea to go outside right now?” Jane asks, the look on her face clearly stating she doesn’t agree with this. 

“We’ll be fine.  We can just lock it again if there’s something there.” Strider reassures her.  She still doesn’t look convinced, but she makes no move to stop him.  ”Ready, Jake?” he asks, turning to you.  You nod in response, and he yanks the door open.

None of you were ready for what lay beyond.