The year is 2006; in this day and age the world is a great danger to human life. The Chernobyl zone is just one of the dangers that exist; for there are more than I can count on my fingers. I will speak of only the zone this time, but in the near future you will come to know the others quite well. The Chernobyl zone was once a beautiful place to live, full of lush trees, wild life, and a wonderful sky. There was nothing better than watching a sunset sitting on the hill that overlooks the area where now sits a nuclear power plant. Ever since this plant has been around strange things have happened. Ever since it opened, employees have died from radiation, yet still the plant stays open. There have been an estimated 140 deaths since it opened so many years ago. Ever since the first death, things have happened that cannot be explained, strange things. Then one day it all ended. Life as we knew it changed. The zone is no longer livable and the surrounding areas are no longer a peaceful place to live. You cannot come within 20 miles of the zone epicenter, due to military outposts, to protect civilians from these things that are within the zone. When I say things, I mean spirits, creatures, and mutants. You see, the scientist who worked in the nuclear plant was conducting strange tests, which caused a huge explosion one afternoon. It killed everything within a 10 mile radius and effected things up to 30 miles from the epicenter. Earthquakes following the explosion ruined most of the outlaying towns and cities close to the zone. High winds carried radiation turning most of the sky to a hazy gray. There aren't many clouds, but what was formed due to the radiation, for the explosion vaporized most all of the clouds. The trees are dark and brown, no longer lush and green. You cannot find any animals and will never again see a sunset, at least not one of interest.

The military will not allow anyone into the zone, not until the year of 2012, when the first scientists were allowed only 10 miles distance within the zone to conduct scientific research for the government. What they discovered shocked the nation. Not everyone believed it. People started trying to get past the military post and get as close to the zone as they could to prove to themselves it was true. They disturbed what lay asleep there, they awoken the creatures within the zone. Soon, there will no longer be cities or towns that are populated. They will be overrun and destroyed by the creatures. If only they had listened, if only they stayed away. But that's over now, there's nothing we can do about it. Nothing except to face it and move on. This is a world in peril; we must fight the creatures, and take over once again what we owned in the past. We must stand and fight, not run and vanquish. All mankind is counting on us; what could happen? Will we survive long enough to counter attack and return victoriously? Will we fail, never to return again? Only time will tell, and through this story you will see what really happened. My name is Kyle; I'm a 23 year old average man living in what was once a nice small town in the zone. Please journey with me as I tell you the story of my trials and tribulations of my time in the zone.

The year is 1986; the nuclear power plant was just finished and now is being operated. Thirty-three people have died within the three year construction of the plant. They were not going to be the only persons to die here. In 1987 another thirty people died due to a freak accident occurring within the nuclear reactor when a turbine exploded killing workers inside the room. There were no accidents from 1987 until 1993, when there was a nuclear melt down due to not having safety regulators. Twenty-six died from the explosions, another forty-four died in the hospital due to radiations. The government shut the plant down in 1993 for six years. In 1999 a wealthy man re-opened the plant for the income it would produce. He promised to ensure everyone's safety, he lied. He cared about no one but himself. He was a greedy old man. He accumulated his wealth by scamming as many people as he could and by taking advantage of elderly people.

I started working at the plant in 2002 as a security guard. The only reason I took the job was because he paid the guards a large sum of money to keep things secret from the public. We did his dirty deeds. Took care of problem makers who threatened to take the secrets to the public and uncover what he was hiding. We knew very little of what it was he was hiding but we didn't know exactly. Once I heard two scientists who work specifically for him say that "it" was becoming very angry, and that "it" was becoming so big that they would have to transfer into a larger lab. There are only a few large labs in the complex, so it wouldn't be too hard to find. So one night after work I snuck down to find out what it was. I couldn't get past a large steal door, but I could hear noises, like an animal being held in bars. I went home and all I could think about was what could "it" be? I decided to find out what it was. I stopped the two scientists I heard talking about it, and got them to let me in. It was too late, I missed it. They had already moved "it" to a new place, and I knew I would not get into that area of the complex. So, I decided to give up. If I was meant to know what it was I would find out s oon enough.

Three years have past now since I started back in 2002. Strange things are still happening and have started to freak me out just a little. I never used to carry high powered weapons, only my Beretta sidearm. I went down to the armory and got me a high powered AK74 assault rifle. Just in case things get rough, I knew that I at least, would be safe. Some people have started to disappear and some have become very ill. They started conducting more experiments in the labs and more and more people started becoming missing. What are they doing down there? Why are so many people disappearing? I went home that night and just started thinking about all that has happened. I started being very cautious for you never know when they might come to you for an experiment. Here's an exert from my journal.

"May 25th 2005

Today I had to shoot someone. It was the first time I ever shot anything, not even an animal. Protesters came onto the complex grounds today armed with shotguns, knives, and handguns among other things. We held our fire until they fired upon us. What was I to do? I couldn't just sit there and get killed. I shot one person and everyone else fled. What was the point in this riot? Why did they protest and charge our complex with weapons?"

I still have not found out what they have been doing down in the labs. I can only wish I knew, or do I want to know? It has become very unpleasing to me. I cannot sleep at night. Just the thought of what has been going on makes me sick. I went to the doctor for a prescription to help me sleep better at night. It worked for the first week, and I finally could sleep. After the first week it didn't affect me at all. Now I am hopelessly lying in bed at night just waiting for dawn.

Its new year's day today, a new start in 2006. Or, so I thought. Things seem to be endlessly dull now. I don't know how much longer I can stand it. Things seem to mean nothing to me now. I go to work, I come home, take a shower and lay in bed hoping to fall asleep, but sleep never comes. In the next few months my life will change drastically. No more dullness and meaningless. I will get sleep, I will find out what I have wanted to know. But all with good time, all in good time indeed. Good time, that's a saying, it's an oxymoron. It doesn't mean having fun at a time doing something. No it means a long waited strung out time.

"March 25th 2006,

Seems that they brought in some new scientist. Wonder what that's for. They never bring in new scientist unless it is for something big. We normally only have twenty-three scientist in the complex at a time. Now we have forty-three. Not only did they bring in new scientist, they also brought in large crates, covered with large black blankets. This is weird, even for me. I hope nothing bad happens."

"March 31st 2006,

Two scientists have gone missing, along with three workers. What on earth is going on down there? This is really starting to freak me out more than ever. I have to hurry and get back to my post before anyone sees that I'm gone."

April 12th 2006,

TV: Attention: Everyone within 20 miles of the nuclear plant must evacuate the area immediately. Please follow your guide to the nearest safe zone. The Military will be around shortly to be your guide. Please do not panic, we have the situation under control.

Announcer: These are live shots taken at the scene of the explosion earlier today. Officials say the explosion was caused by experiments deep within the complex. That is all we can say at this time. We will update you as soon as we get more information.

I awoke shaken by the noise from the video the news crew was showing. I was asleep, for the first time in 3 weeks I was asleep. I couldn't have picked a worse day to sleep. What happened? What was that on TV that exploded? No, it couldn't be, not the nuclear plant. My job.my life.NO! But I'm okay; I'm alive, for the moment.

I walked outside to look around. The clouds are gone; the sky is a dark hazy gray. The trees aren't green anymore; everything is a darkish brown and gray. You could smell the burning in the distance. I could see military personnel walking around rallying everyone they find and escorting the out of the zone. I was grabbed by an MP and was locked up in a small cell at a military base. Since I was a guard at the plant, they knew we were protecting something. They interrogated me, yet I spoke not a word. Why should I? I don't know anything that they don't. They just won't listen. I have told them numerous times that I don't know anything. Finally they released me. I was determined to get into the zone and find out just what caused the explosion. I ran into one of the scientist that went home at the same time as me yesterday. We were both off today. I asked him what happened. All he kept muttering was it escaped. He continued to say it until I slapped him. I asked him what escaped, he said the creature. I knew it! They were keeping a creature in the depths of the complex. I asked him if he thought that because it escaped if that is what caused the explosion. He said no, he said that it was intentional. I left him as he stood staring into an empty sky in a daze. I decided that I had to get into the complex once again. But that meant getting through military outposts and roadblocks. I can do it I thought to myself. If only I had the tools and weapons. I need some food as well, but that isn't a problem. I headed to where the civilian armory was and broke into the back. I took an AK74, a sniper rifle, some grenades frag and smoke, and plenty of ammunition. I went back to my place and got my lock pick, changed into a cloak I had for concealment, and packed my stuff away in a backpack and headed off.

I started my journey 140 miles from the zone. It would take me a few days to get there unless I find a vehicle. I have to then get the vehicle past the guards and that wont do. So I decided to get an ATV. I couldn't believe how hard it was to find one. I went through two towns before I found a single ATV, and even then it was out of gas. So I had to get a gas can and refill the ATV before I could get going. The ATV has just enough room to carry; me, my backpack, and my rifles. I also took two extra cans of fuel just in case. The ATV was real nice. It was big enough for all my stuff, but was also painted camouflage. I win both ways with this; transport, and camouflage.

I traveled through open country for the first 5 hours. Then I heard something in the distance. It was a military hound helicopter. If they saw me, the whole countryside that I was in would be swarming with military personnel within minutes. There was a small brush that had some color in it still so I ducted in there. It was thorny and had no room. Twigs and branches everywhere, I had to ram it to get in. Finally the hound was gone and I could come out. I backed out real fast trying to get back on the move as fast as I could. Not knowing that a limb that snapped when I rammed the brush, broke off into a sharp edge. It caught my side and gashed in real deep. I had to get it treated as soon as I could before I got an infection. I drove to the nearest town I could get to and got medical treatment. They stitched me up and I left without paying. Could not let them find out who I was and where I was going. Before I knew it, the military was on my tail. Come to find out the medical personnel are actually military personnel. I done myself a good one this time. I did the only thing I could do, run. As we came up on an ruined town I knew I could evade them there. As it got dark I turned off my lights and parked under pieces of a roof and some rubble. They went right past me. After about 30 minutes I couldn't hear them any longer. I decided to take up camp here instead of trying to go through the dark.

That night as I sat there and ate my dinner, I heard thunder. How could there be lighting when there was only radiation clouds? Is there such thing as radiation rain? I threw out a piece of metal I found. It started raining and it smelled awful. Soon after I saw smoke coming from the metal. I used a board that I found to drag it under the shelter. It had small holes all in it. What is this? It couldn't be acid rain, how could it be? I don't understand how acid rain could form in radiation clouds. That's strange, I never knew it was possible. Then again, I haven't been through this before so I wouldn't know. I slept good and woke early and refreshed, ready for a new day. I got on the ATV and started on my way. I traveled thirteen miles yesterday, maybe I can get more done today. I took the fastest route I could find. About 6 hours into my drive I heard a noise. This time it was a mixture of noises. I heard Hound's, Armed Personnel Carriers, ATV's and Jeeps. That's just great, I took the shortest route, and ran right smack into the military. This time it wasn't in any field. I couldn't just hide. This was in the middle of a quite large city. I surprised one of the troops and was shot at. I ditched the ATV in a old house and got out my AK74. I could hear a sniper's bullet zinging past my head hitting boards behind me. I blocked myself in using the ATV, there was no way they could get to me. I got out my binoculars and started searching for the sniper. When I found him, he was a young kid. He was in the top of a tree just wasting ammo trying to shoot me. I took out my sniper rifle and took aim. I shot the limb he was sitting on. It snapped and I watched as he fell limb from limb to the ground. He was beaten badly but wasn't dead. Finally I busted out of there and had to kill a few men to do so. I fled like never before. They were right on my tail as I pushed my ATV to its limits. I heard a pling and then a pop and smelled smoke. I looked back and saw black smoke coming from my tailpipe, then I heard a loud pop underneath me, my engine blew. I just had came around a bend with a large ridge on the side. Luckily I was on the right side of the ridge and they couldn't see me until they got right up on me. So I took cover at the top of a tree that was near me. I sat and sat, just waiting on them to find me. They finally arrived and found the ATV. They then started searching the area. A troop said he heard something and looked into my tree. I stayed as still as I possibly could an they didn't see me. They finally left the area and went into the forest searching for me. I started running to get to the nearest town. I got about a quarter mile from the nearest town and fell to my knees. I had to drink something. My canteen was empty and there was no lakes or rivers around. I finally got up and started walking, very slowly, and got to town about forty-five minutes later. I found an old grocery store and went inside. I found 6 small bottles, and 2 gallon jugs of water. I knew I couldn't take it all, so I drank as much as I could, and refilled the bottles from the jugs. I started off again walking in the same direction as I started this morning. About 3 hours later it started to get dark. I got some branches from a tree and started a small fire. I got out a blanket and laid down.

That night I heard some strange noises. I must be getting close to the zone border. I can hear noises of the creatures that lay in wait for me. I knew they wouldn't come into my camp due to my fire. Then, I felt something crawling on my leg. Then I woke up, it was a dream. When I woke, it was daylight. I slept late today. I checked my map and I was no more than twenty miles away from Chernobyl. I started walking again. About a hour into the walk I came across a paved road. I got my binoculars out and peered down it. I could see a roadblock ahead. I decided not to take the road and stayed to the field. I could see a small forest that goes right around the roadblock, but was a good 30 minutes out of the way. As I got into the forest I could see a mixture of dead and green leaves. I there encountered a mutated animal. It was a deer. It's antlers grew to great lengths. Its eyes glowed red and it doubled in size. Its face looked like it was roughed up real bad. It saw me and ran off. Seemed it was still afraid of humans even mutated. As I continued through the forest, my foot caught a hole and I tripped. I hit my head on a large tree stump and was knocked out cold. I woke in the middle of the night to the noise of an owl. I looked up and saw 2 yellow glowing eyes staring at me. I watched as they turned in a complete circle and then vanish. I reached for my flashlight and turned it on. I saw an owl, but not a normal owl. This owl was mutated, it was half bone and half skin, it had feathers and its beak was jagged. I flashed its eyes and I could see it closed them. I shook it and it flew at me like it was trying to kill me, then flew off. I walked out into the clearing. I could see a small town with lights on in some of the houses. I snuck up and peaked into one of the windows, I could see military troops playing poker. One of them was really bluffing, he had an eight of hearts, ace of spades, king of clubs, and four of diamonds, and was betting $200. I found a jeep and decided they didn't need it. I jumped in, and it had the keys in the ignition. I started it up and drove off real slow so they didn't hear me. I know I am about twelve miles from the border now. I kept driving until I saw lights at another roadblock. I turned off my lights and kept going, but accelerating at the same time. I zoomed past the roadblock almost hitting one of the guards, and they couldn't do anything, no vehicle. I kept driving for another 2 hours and decided to park and rest for the night. I pulled into a set of trees and covered the jeep up with limbs and leaves. I turned on the radio and listened to it for a few minutes before I went to bed. I heard that things in the Chernobyl zone are getting worse. Creatures have been attacking the military troops there and showed no fear towards anything. I turned off the radio and went to sleep. I dreamt of a room. I saw a door, and I could hear strange noises coming from behind it. Then as I started to open the door I got half way then woke up. Its like something is calling out to me. What could it be? Its that thin, that creature that they were doing experiments on. Why me? Why does it call to me? What have I done? When I woke, it was 0500 hours and still dark. I laid back down and tried to fall back asleep. Sleep did not come. I kept thinking about my dream. So I got up and turned the car on. I listened to the radio for the next few hours. When dawn broke, it was 0630 hours. I smelled something terrible, it was me. I knew I was close to a town so I started the car and started towards it. When I reached the town I searched out a house with a bath in it. I checked to see if the house still had water and it did. I took me a hot bath and soaked there for the longest time. To me, this was like a vacation. Don't get to do this much anymore, and this was the first bath I have had in about a month. I drifted off asleep and saw that door again. Like last time, I got right as the door opened and woke up. But this time I didn't wake up to myself in the dark. This time I woke to the noise of a handgun pressing against my forehead. I woke and found a women. She reminded me of my wife, who had died about 2 years before Chernobyl was built, in a car accident. She asked what I was doing here. I explained my situation and she took away the gun. We sat down and talked for a while as she cooked me a hot meal before I left. She explained she lived in this house and what all has happened to her. As I ate, I couldn't help but stare at her. She was beautiful. She had long blonde hair, blue eyes, was about 5'2 and only weighted about 110 pounds. After dinner I helped her with the dishes since it was the least I could do. Then I went on my way. I had to forget about her, I had a goal to achieve. I cannot let anything stand in my way. I've gone to far now to give up.

I headed north-east from her house. She told me I was closer to the zone than I thought. I was about a two hour drive away. I drove as far as I could. Suddenly I ran out of gas. What the luck, I get two hours driving distance away and I run out of gas. Looks like I have to hike it from here on out. I came up on this fort. It didn't look occupied, at least from the outside. I could hear gunshots and screams in the distance and ran to find out what was going on. As I entered the fort, I saw military troops and creatures going at it. There were tons of dead bodies laying on the ground in huge puddles of blood. The creatures tear them limb from limb. I ran as fast as I could out of there but only ended up going in the wrong direction. I ran right out the entrance that the creatures had came through. I ended up right dab in the middle of fight. Then all of a sudden, I heard a noise. It was a familiar noise. It was the noise I heard behind that metal door in my dreams. I heard the trees rustling, then a large figure appeared. As it got closer I could make out its body. It was big like a bear, it had a large body shield made out of bone and metal, through the shield you could see it's eyes. They were as red as blood. You could see it's claws and fangs. It ripped through everything, even its own kind. It singled me out. It started a fast sprint towards me. I turned and ran away. I kept looking back and seeing this creature getting closer and closer by the second. I turned back around and tripped. I was to busy looking behind me that I didn't see a log in front of me. I turned on my back just in time to see this creature lunging at me. I stared into it's eyes and closed mine. Right as I thought I was dead it was over. I woke up, it was a dream. I was still in the tub, and now the water is cold. It was all a dream. The women, the hot meal, the fight, all a but a dream. I must be going insane. But wait, I saw a creature, a creature that looks different from the rest. Could it be? Could that be the creature I've been wanting to see? I shall find out in good time. But now I must go. I must hurry, my time is running short. So, I started the car and left once again on my journey.

I checked my map, just as in my dream I was only about two hours away from the zone border. I knew I wouldn't get anywhere near the plant on the ground. If only I could find a airplane or helicopter. I heard a hind in the distance and watched as it flew. I followed close behind and watched it land. It was in the middle of a military base. Am I crazy? There is no way I am going to get into the base, find the key, and steal the hind. Even if I got in and found the key, I don't even know how to fly it. It cant be that hard, I got to try at least. I snuck up on the guard at the gate and snapped his neck. I took his body into some bushes and took it clothes. Now with his clothes I will have a better chance at getting in. I found the barracks and found a pilots jacket. I put it on and went around to find a key. The key was hard to get, it was around the neck of the pilot himself. I had to sneak around and find the pilot just to get the key. Wait a minute, the hind had just landed, he had to be near it! As I came up on the hind I saw the pilot and about 6 troops around him. When the troops left he was alone. I ran up and slit his throat. I took the key and stole the hind. The whole camp was trying to get me. I finally figured out how to turn the hind on and how to use the throttle. I finally got into the air and out of range. I took it south and then north-east again through the forest. I came up on the zone and in the distance behind some trees I could see the plant. It was ruined. Everything was dark and gray. I could smell death in the area. I landed about 20 meters from the plant. I got out my gear and attached a flashlight to my rifle and started to enter the complex. The place was so ruined I could barely get through half of it. Metal I beams were twisted like pieces of tinfoil. Creatures heard me and started to attack me. I had to fight my way through every inch of the complex. I went through at least 12 magazines before I got halfway down the complex. I finally reached basement floor 2 and everything seemed quiet, so I thought. It was so dark down here. I left glow sticks to find my way back out. I heard a noise and really didn't want to know what it was. I could hear it getting closer. I raised my rifle and aimed it towards the noise. There wasn't anything there. I kept hearing people talking. I hear people talking about experiments and other stuff that they used to do down here. I heard someone that sounded like a construction worker, then I heard a few of them. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find anyone or anything. They were in my head it seemed. I continued to the lower labs, the larger labs with air-tight doors. They were open and I could get in with ease. The doors were half blown up and I could fit through the holes. I came up on a large black metal door. It was half open. It was the door from my dreams. Finally I will find out what is behind that door. Was I ready for what may lie in wait on me in there? Was I prepared for it, ,mentally and physically? I started opening the door slowly. I tossed two flares and let them go off. I continued opening it and saw nothing. I walked in and could see most of everything in the room. I couldn't see everything, for the flares only lit up most of the room. There were a few nicks and crannies that were pitch black and could hide anything. I crouched and kept looking. I just knew something was in here, I could feel it, I could hear it breathing. I yelled "COME OUT! Come out and show yourself!" I heard a noise from the roof and it lunged down landing on the lab table. It was huge, it was just like in my dream. It had a large body shield made out of bone and metal. I heard it growl and he stared deep into my soul. All I could do was stare back at him. He started walking around on the table and then jumped off and continued walking in circles around me in and out of the shadows. Finally he lunged at me seeing I was not afraid. We went at it, he tried to tear me limb from limb. I used every big of ammo I had but nothing penetrated his armor. Finally I pulled out a fragmentation grenade and pulled the pin. I popped the timer and waited for him. When he lunged at me I chunked it right into his mouth. I ran for cover and heard the explosion. When the smoke cleared I saw him laying on the floor in a puddle of blood. I did it, I killed the creature within. I found out what the boss was hiding and destroyed it. Could this possibly be what caused the explosion deep within the power plant? Who knows, all we can do is wonder.

Many years have past now since the accident at Chernobyl. Things have changed, but things will never be the same for human life. Our world is slowly being destroyed and overrun by creatures. I will continue my journey across the world destroying what creatures I can and bringing a little peace back to the world. I am but one man, one ordinary man who one day had enough. When you push a man to his limits you find he is capable of doing anything. As the world slowly gets ripped from reality more people like myself emerge and start fighting back. Some call us poachers, others call us hero's, but many call us S.T.A.L.K.E.R.S.

The End

The Creature Within Story and dialog: Chris Saxon

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Story contest 2003