With a new resolve, Miles continued to searching the room.
He moved systematically through the clutter, his eyes scanning every surface now that sharp focus had replaced fear and despair; he felt previously.
His expression is just sharp focus and calmness as he continued the searching for few minutes.
After few minutes of searching, Miles hadn't found anything worth keeping as he slowly walked to the door again to step outside.
He paused with his hand on the frame, casting one last glance around the messy room.
The overturned furniture, broken glass, and dark blood streaks were a stark reminder of what had happened here, but there was nothing left to salvage.
Miles pulled his night vision goggles back down over his eyes and stepped quietly into the corridor, closing the door to room 206 behind him.
The hallway was still empty, other than the 3 Cursed on the otherside of the corridor.
They were still clustered near his room, but just a little deeper to the hallway.
Their gnarled hands scraping against the wall as they shuffled back and forth, occasionally letting out low growls that echoed softly in the empty space.
'I deal them after..'
He kept close to the shadowed wall, his body pressed flat against the cool tiles as he began to move, crepting close to room 205.
As soon as he reached 205, he pressed his ear flat against the wooden door like what he was doing previous, he was holding his breath to listen for any movement inside.
But, once again silence greeted him, no shuffling, no breathing, nothing to suggest presence within.
He tested the doorknob carefully; it turned with a soft click, unlocked.
Miles eased the door open just a crack, his M17 raised and ready as the green tint of his goggles cut through the darkness inside.
The room was neat compared to 206, the bed made, clothes folded neatly on a chair, and a small desk lamp sitting on the wooden surface in the corner.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Miles slipped inside, closing the door softly behind him. He moved straight to the room, scanning his surrounding with his M17 raise.
His eyes swept through each corner like a routine, noting that every surface was orderly, no signs of struggle, no traces of blood.
The curtains were drawn tight over the window, but a thin strip of moonlight seeped through, casting a faint silver line across the floor.
After confirming that there was nothing of value or any danger here, he stepped back out into the hallway and continued his search.
Keeping his guard up, he walked past door by door checking it.
Room 204 was locked solid-even with his shoulder pressed against it, it wouldn't give.
Room 203 stood ajar, its interior ransacked like 206 but with even less left behind, just overturned drawers and scattered papers.
At Room 202, he found the door slightly open, and peering inside revealed another empty space, though this one smelled of mildew and decay.
Stepping inside, Miles was greeted by a single Cursed that lunged at him from behind a toppled desk.
But before it could let out a harsh snarl, its gnarled hands reaching for his throat. Miles brought his M17 up and fired a single silent shot in the head.
The Cursed crumpled to the floor instantly, and he disposed of it quickly, dragging the body into a dark corner and covering it with a moldy blanket to avoid attracting more of its kind.
His phone vibrated in his pocket.
[Tutorial Mission 4: Kill 20 Cursed.]
- Kill your first 20 Cursed Encounters.
Completion: 15/20
Reward: Unknown
Miles checked his weapon and then swept the last room, which he found nothing useful, he headed back to the hallway, his attention now fixed on the three Cursed still clustered near his room.
But, this time. They're walking closer to him, their heads tilted as if they'd picked up his scent or heard the faint sound of his encounter with the Cursed in room 202.
One of them let out a longer, more aggressive growl that echoed down the hall, and all three began moving with purpose—their shuffling steps growing faster.
Miles didn't hesitate. He pressed himself back against the wall near Room 202, bringing his silenced M17 up to aim with steady hands.
The first shot struck the lead Cursed cleanly in the head, and it crumpled to the floor without a sound.
The second whipped around toward him, its distorted face contorted in a snarl. But, Miles already had his M17 aimed and with two precise shots hit home, one in the throat and one in the head, dropping it instantly.
The third charged forward with a guttural roar, its claws slashing through the air.
Miles dropped his aim slightly and fired once at its torso to slow it, then drew his tactical knife as it stumbled closer. With a quick, decisive thrust, he ended its advance.
His phone buzzed right away:
Tutorial Mission 4: Kill 20 Cursed.]
- Kill your first 20 Cursed Encounters.
Completion: 18/20
Reward: Unknown
"Last two" He muttered under his breath, wiping his knife clean on the creature's tattered clothing before sheathing it.
Turning his attention to the right side of the corridor, the opposite end of the hall. He started with.
Soon, he began searching door by door.
Room 207 was locked, but the wood around the frame looked splintered, as if someone tried to force their way in. Putting his ear near the door, Miles listened intently-there was nothing but complete silence inside, not even the faintest sound of breathing or movement.
He ran his fingers over the splintered wood, noting the direction of the marks. They looked like they'd been made from the outside-someone had been trying to get in, not out. The lock itself was bent and damaged, but still held firm.
"Whatever happened here, it's over now," he whispered to himself.
He considered trying break it down, but with the rest of the floor cleared and no signs of life inside, he decided it wasn't worth the risk of attracting unwanted attention.
Room 208 stood wide open, and as he peered inside, he spotted movement in the shadows.
Two Cursed emerged from behind a heavy wardrobe, their eyes fixed on him as they let out synchronized snarls.
Miles raised his M17 smoothly-one shot took down the first as it lunged, while the second charged straight at him.
He side stepped, bringing his knife up in a swift arc that ended the creature's advance.
His phone buzzed more intensely this time, but he ignored it as he moved on, bypassing his old Room 209 to search the remaining doors at the far end of the hall.
