The cold emotionless voice signalling the destruction of the facility urged him on. Taking the red coded walkway that would lead him to the lower level, Leon was halted by a familiar voice, one which he hadn't expected to hear again. Turning back, Ada appeared before him, looking bloody and exhausted. She stopped, raising her arms and pointed her nine-millimetre at his face.
"I've been waiting for you Leon."
He couldn't stop the shock and surprise from entering his voice.
"Wha-what are you doing?"
"You know what this is about, so just hand over the G-virus."
"I don't believe this….Annette was right…about everything"
She walked a few paces closer, gun in one hand still raised, "That's why I told you to leave without me but you wouldn't listen, now hand it over, don't make me shoot you." She stopped in front of him as he shrugged, "You can't do that."
She thumbed off the hammer, a faint click emitting from the weapon and aimed at his forehead. He was sure she couldn't do it, despite what it would cost her; her mission. A few silent moments passed, then she lowered it, along with her head. She looked sad, perhaps ashamed she could eve threaten him and now at a loss for what to do next.
Feeling somewhat dazed and surprised at himself he stepped toward her, intending to take her hand and take her with him. In spite of everything he knew about her along with what she had just done, he still cared about her and now was sure she felt the same.
She cried out as the slug hit her from behind, ripping through her left shoulder and knocking her off balance. She slumped over the walkway's railing and fell. Ignoring the dying woman behind her, he made a grab for Ada as she fell.
He grabbed her wrist, his grip quickly slipping to her hand which he held onto fiercely. Her voice faint and barely audible came to him.
"Leon…" She paused…"It's over…just let me go."
"Shut up, you're gonna make it."
"It's too late Leon"…she stopped again as he tried in vain to pull her up, reluctantly easing her back down at arms length but continuing to hold his grip. "We both know it."
"No, I promised you that we would escape, you just have to help me out here." He knew it was hopeless but he wasn't just going to let her fall. He couldn't.
"I really wanted to escape with you Leon, escape from everything…" her voice faltering as she struggled to breathe. His grip was slipping , as she gave one final struggle and murmured her last word…"goodbye.."
He watched her fall and disappear into the darkness below as she slipped form his grasp. His cry followed her. Slumping to his knees, shaking his head in disbelief and quietly cursing himself he wasn't sure that he wanted to continue. Back on his feet he took the small vile containing the purple gel liquid that was the virus. He didn't want it. Wasn't even sure why he'd taken it.
He stared at it a few moment then muttered "So this is what everyone's been dying for" throwing it over the side of the walkway. Without giving Annette's body a glance, he left, the door sliding closed behind him as the alarm blared in his ears.
