screaming. "Ms. Sunderland," he grumbled, flinging himself out of bed.

He was down the hall in an instant. "Ms. Sunderland! Open the door!"

He could hear, as he tried to break the door down, something growling inside the room. An animal of some kind.

Stan and Randy had awakened and were now heading down the hallway.

Zander was right behind them.

"Colonel, what the hell is going on?" Randy asked as he rubbed at his sleepy eyes.

The old soldier didn't reply, but continued to ram the door with his body. With a loud crack, the door finally flung open, followed by the toppling Colonel.

The Colonel got up quickly. Pulling his pistol out, he aimed it at a large thing growling in the dark. The thing lunged for The Colonel. With shaking hands, The Colonel fired at it, sending the thing to the ground and back a few feet. Strangely it leaped to its feet, still growling, and lunged for The Colonel again.

The Colonel, flabbergasted, horrified, covered his eyes with the cross of his arms as an another shot exploded from behind him.

The thing was sent flying backwards and to the floor; only this time it didn't get up.

"Is everyone alright?" Carl asked as he stepped into the room and lowered his rifle.

Randy had flipped on the light, exposing the thing, a man with blood pouring from his stomach and head. The smell in the apartment was horrendous.

The model was in a sorrowful state, sobbing, sucking in air, her eyes burning red.

"Are you alright, ma'am?" Carl asked her. "I am truly embarrassed that you had to go through this. I haven't much in the means of security, here, and occasionally, I am forced to confront such crazies. I usually handle this type of situation myself."

She nodded, still sobbing, softly. "I thought I heard an animal in here with me?"

The Colonel regained his composure, looking strangely at his pistol. "I thought I heard an animal too?" He added, still looking at his pistol.

"The madman perhaps believed he was some sort of beast. You get all kinds, Colonel." Carl replied.

"Yes, of course," the old soldier replied. "But I swear I shot the man in the head. I'm sure I aimed for his head. I don't see how a man, no matter how raving mad, could have gotten up from a shot to the head?"

"You were nervous, Colonel," Carl told him. "This here rifle of mine," Carl sported to the Colonel, "has laser guidance. I aimed it at the crazy's head and fired. You must of hit him in the stomach."

Still in a state of disbelief, The Colonel slowly shook his head.

"It stinks in here," Randy said, with a look of disgust on his face.

"It's that man," his brother informed him, pointing at the dead man in the pool of blood.

"You all get back to bed. The hike's going to be a long one. I'll take care of this mess. Ms. Sunderland, you can sleep in my chamber, and I'll stay here." He handed her his rifle. "Take this, it should help you sleep better."

"Thank you," she replied, taking the gun from him.