Save me
Vivian VanDam
Chapter One: First bitten, first immune.
The name is Lulie, don't ask me why. But you can call me Lu…I've lived in Raccoon City my entire life…my parents had worked for Umbrella Incorporated. Now, I just blew my mother's face off, and painted the parchment white walls of our apartment with her once intellectual brains. She was a biochemist, and my father, is and possibly was a virology expert and minored in biology.
My mother bit me eight hours ago. I'm still alive, not affected by the bite. The wound hurts like a motherfucker, but what can I say? I got lucky to be immune. Possibly…the only immune one in this entire city…not like it matters but I'm 20 years old, a college freshman…and now, I'm fighting for my life. And so far, I haven't put a .50 cal through my own brains yet.
I felt jealous of my father, unaffected by the virus, happily tucked away in his tight little laboratory. Hopefully working on a cure with the Berkins. Oh yes, I know them, Annette, William and Sherry. Their little girl, she's only been in this world for 12 years and she has to live this life? I would've rather her grow up in the outskirts of the city…I've been to their house a lot. Only holidays though, when they actually have a chance to be human for once. A nice family really…
Much better than mine.
At least her own mother comes home more than mine…heh…now I have to run to my father, screaming and crying telling him that his wife is dead, his daughter is the carrier for the antibodies because his wife bit her.
"Oh yeah, by the way dad? Yeah, mom got turned into a god fearing cannibalistic fucking zombie and fucking bit my god damn wrist! Yeah I patched myself up, here, and my blood. Please, treat me like a lab rat. So I can you know, become one of you FUCKED UP EXPERIEMENTS! Happy fucking birthday up and coming millionaire. Become a hero!"
I laughed out loud, looking up at myself in the mirror holding the .50 caliber Desert Eagle…a beautiful gun. Something my mother and father gave to me for my 18th birthday and a graduation gift. What would you have guessed? I love guns, I'm a fanatic and my uncle Kendo taught me how to shoot. I remember shooting just with him…and he was so proud. Much more proud then my mother and father had ever been with me…except when I graduated high school and tried to beg me to follow in the footsteps.
I didn't want to fuck up what god had made…but I looked to my mother laying on the carpet, her rotting brains. I smiled and laughed. I still looked at my own reflection. I had to get rid of my red hair, it was too long and could be easily grabbed. Tying my hair up in a ponytail, I took out a combat knife I kept hidden my dresser, and pulled my hair out and gave a solid yank. The knife cut through with ease and little pull.
Tying what little hair I had left, back I tossed on a baseball cap, and rummaged through my dresser again, pulling out painkillers, and tossing two in my mouth chewing them up and swallowing them as fast as I could. I tossed the rest into the backpack that laid out on my bed.
It was going to be one hell of a night, and I needed more ammunition. Being a petty thief had its beautiful perks, lock picking, hotwiring, and safe cracking. If I had to, I would break every lock, hot wire every car, just to get to my father's work. I had to make him make an antidote for this shit…even if I had to put the gun, he and my mother bought for me into his mouth and force him to make it. I would. I tossed the .50 cal onto the bed for the moment only to re-tie my combat boots. The military fatigues were going to help me carry extra ammunition when it came to it. And with the fanny pack on as well…it would help.
"I'm going to be a survivor. You knew my determination…I will win at any battle…" Only glancing at my mother's corpse, I couldn't help but feel hatred to her.
"I hope god isn't happy with what you did…I tried to stop you and dad from making that shit…just because you think it's good for the country…you should've listened to me. Now look at you, you ended up dead. Somehow…" I snapped. Spitting in her face.
"You were a royal bitch in life, I hope you love hell." Clenching my teeth, I snatched the gun, loving the comforting weight in my hand. Then finally…I had realized…
"Fuck…if she's just one…I wondered how many more there's going to be out there…" Looking outside, pressing my face to the glass, already some of the buildings were raging with fire. I sighed. Holstering the gun, stepping over my mother's body. Tossing the backpack over my shoulder, I went downstairs, rummaging through the cabinets finding as many non-perishables and bottles of water. Grabbing the few first aid items we had. It wasn't much but it was enough to get through the night, if not a night then possibly a little over 48 hours. After that, I was going to have to stop and look around a store…hopefully I wouldn't have to kill too many people tonight.
"Zombies were just going to be ONE obstacle in my way…" I groaned tossing my head back in annoyance.
"Guess it's time to get this shit going…."
…
Using my shoulder, I shoved a man in a business suit back grunting in the process. His stomach, hanging out of his business shirt, making a disgusting squishing sound when my combat boot connected to his stomach. Once he fell, another came back in his place. My wrist throbbed, the stitching already coming undone. Grunting, I kept my hand at my side, willing to grab the gun at any moment, but just for these ass holes? I have a combat knife, ready to draw blood.
Knowing, I was immune what's another bite, a scratch or two worth saving a million more? Grunting twice, I pulled the knife out.
"Come at me you son of a bitch!" I snapped, lashing the knife out cutting into a woman's jugular. The blood staining my black tank top and combat fatigues.
My skin was getting cold from the blood that touched it. I chose mobility over comfort, being able to move freely was much more important than not being able to get out of sticky situations. This being one of them. Turning around, doing a complete 180, more and more were swarming from the back alleys.
"Fuck…" I whispered, already out of breath.
"Think Lu…think of a way out of this. You escaped the police how many times…?" I thought.
Keeping my eyes at the dark corners, trying to count.
At least ten, fifteen…?!
"F…Fuck…!" I sighed, trying to keep another eye out.
Finally, Coleman street, just down there and to the left was Kendo's gun shop…maybe, just maybe I could get out from there, and if Kendo was still alive, have another expert with a decent aim…but, if I couldn't get out this situation what the hell was I going to do then?
"So what will it be? Sit here and become zombie chow? Or shove through them and keep running?!" It was true, I had no real choice here…
I closed my eyes, sent up a silent prayer, and went for it. I kept my head down, hoping the baseball cap was held tight against my head, to save myself from hair pulling…the next, was the zombies were so smart to grab onto the loose tank top.
And I was right, only one grabbed the tank top, and already I felt the cold fingers of death brushing against my shoulder and I shuddered. The smell of fecal matter, urine, and vomit made my stomach turn.
I shoulder rammed the zombie, not getting a good look at its face to tell if it was male or female.
"This is about you, not them. You've gotta think about yourself girl…you just might be the only one who can save millions at this point…" I grunted, as I kept running. No one was going to stop me…I was going to get to Kendo's shop, get ammunition and get the fuck to my father. And if he doesn't start working on antidote, then I'll put my mother fucking gun into his mouth and make him do something about it.
My calves burnt, my lungs ached. I wasn't much of a runner, but I loved the elliptical. And at this point, I was beginning to regret not taking up track. Brick zoomed past my face, till I almost face planted right into the metal door connecting to the next alley.
I reached down, the handle wouldn't move. I felt the blood rain from my face.
"S…Shit…" Rapidly I kept looking around, back and forth. Side to side…and my prayers were answered. A beautiful crowbar welcomed to my eyesight. I wasted no more time grabbing it, and slamming it down on the handle of the door.
"Uhh…" A zombie moaned. Turning to look over my shoulder, I stuck out my tongue.
"I win this one, you go to bed hungry." I laughed slamming the door closed; leaning my back against it and sighed. Secretly I thought I was fucked.
"Hehehe…" I giggled, closing my eyes. Sweat dripping down my face. I looked up, when I caught a whiff of something…not pleasant.
It was burning flesh. It had to be. Squinting my green-blue eyes at the intense heat. Holding the crowbar close to my side. Palms sweating at anticipation. From the destruction in front of me, a tanker full of oil…maybe gas, crashed right into a cop car.
It was hard to make out, but what I could tell it was R.P.D…my hopes raised slightly, when I saw there were no charred bodies in the wreck. I nodded, turning and heading down the next ally to Kendell Street. I was almost there…almost to salvation.
"Hahn!" It was a man screaming. I picked up my pace. It was coming from Kendo's. My heart started to race.
"No…no! Not Uncle Kendo!" I whispered through clenched teeth. When I got to the front door, I took the crowbar ready to smash any undead assholes heads in. What I was greeted with, surprised me. The handsome face, of a police officer, blonde hair cut into a bob, bright blue eyes and a square set jaw. My heart stopped, as the gun was pointing at Uncle Kendo…and…the dead zombie that was eating him.
Before long, the gun was pointed at me. His eyes set, jaw tight, ready to shoot at any sudden movement.
"Who are you?" He asked, lowering the gun slowly, only to holster it after a moment. Realizing I wasn't much a threat.
"So he thinks…" I thought lightly.
"Names Lulie. And you officer?" I asked, straightening my back, holding tighter on my crowbar. Yet leaning to the left on my hip. He nodded slowly.
"Officer Leon S. Kennedy. What are you doing out in this mess?" He asked, then chuckled shaking his head lightly.
"Better yet, what branch are you?" He asked, looking at the outfit I chose. I could lie, or tell the truth.
"Lying gets you killed." I tilted my head slightly and chuckled as well.
"Civilian." I replied honestly, he gave a nod and looked at the gun holstered at my side.
"I see you're well-armed. I'm on the way to the RPD building. I ran into another survivor her name's Claire Redfield." He said looking behind me.
"Seen her?" He asked. I shook my head.
"No sorry…" He was looking at my wrist.
"You've been bitten…" He was stepping back, and reaching for his gun. A simple 20mm Glock. I nodded but rose my hands slowly.
"Officer Kennedy, please understand, I'm immune." I said. He hesitated for a moment before considering.
"You're immune?" He asked slowly relaxing. I gave a hesitant nod. He looked over my blood stained fatigues, black tank top and the blood that stretched over my neck and chest. He lowered his head, sighing.
"Fine…but if you start turning I'm putting you down." He said giving me a cold look. I gave him one right back.
"Ugh…." A zombie groaned. Turning, I started to rise the crowbar. Till more started to chime in. Color draining from my cheeks again I took a sudden step back gasping.
"Uh…let's grab as much ammunition as possible and get the hell out of here…" I ran behind the counter, rummaging through the boxes.
"C'mon, someone had to have ordered .50 cals….HAD too…" I kept hoping, praying…till the last box on the far left behind the register granted me my wish. I laughed out loud, pouring the shells into the fanny pack. Not giving a damn about clips for the moment.
Crunch, crunch.
The zombies were starting to come through the glass windows.
"Out of time. Come on Lulie!" Officer Kennedy shouted from the other side of the store, aiming his Glock up and shooting once. Nailing one in the chest. I snapped him a look.
"Shoot the head. It knocks them down for good." I grabbed a few 20mm clips for him as well. My heart pounding from adrenalin. We HAD to hurry, if not…we both would become zombie chow. I gave one more look around before grabbing another combat knife with a decent case. I gave him a nod, following him to the emergency exit. I gave one more look at my Uncle Kendo's body before bowing my head.
"I loved you uncle, I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner." Officer Kennedy grabbed my wrist pulling me through the door, I watched it close as I sighed.
"You knew him?" Leon asked, walking ahead of me. Just from the way he walked he already seemed tired. And…didn't recognize me.
"Uh yeah…that's my uncle Kendo…he owned the shop, obviously…" It wasn't the time to be sad, in mourning. It would just…kill my chance of survival.
"Look I'm-"I shook my head at him.
"Don't tell me you're sorry…" I pushed forward, sighing softly, pushing the hat back down tighter around my head.
The stench was horrible behind the shop, like trash and dead people.
"So, do you know where you're headed officer Kennedy?" I asked, obviously he was my superior considering he was older than me. Had to be. He nodded heading up the fire escape. I could smell the decay even from here. It was worse than I had originally thought…much worse.
"Well, I can tell you now Officer Kennedy…I know these streets much better then you ever will…" I whispered, he turned around, looking over his shoulder giving me a strange look.
"Really now?" He said, finally a smile slipped across his sweaty lips.
"I take it you've lived here for a while?" He asked. I relaxed a bit and smiled as well, giving a light nod.
"You can say that, I've been here for a long time honestly. Much longer then I would like to admit." I let out a light laugh and he nodded. He kept his gun at his side comfortably. I didn't want to give up my beautiful crowbar…but I also had another combat knife, and a beautiful desert eagle…I could give up at least ONE.
"Hey officer." He turned around, once we stopped at the top of the crossing. I handed him the combat knife.
"I know it's not much but it would work if you run out of ammo-"I stopped myself, reaching into my fanny pack and pulling out three extra clips for the 20mm.
"Here take these too. I have a .50 caliber. And don't worry, I got plenty of ammo from the shop." I gave him my best smile, and he seemed to understand.
"Thanks Lulie." He gave me another look, before looking back at me.
"Why did your parents name you Lulie?" He asked, I rose my brows and he turned away.
"I have no idea…if you want just call me Lu." I replied, holding the crowbar close for comfort.
The wind blew again, causing me to crunch my nose. It was foul...enough to cause my stomach to tighten. The smell…was going to drive me insane before the actual battle. That…wasn't good.
We continued down the flight of stairs that wound into another back ally. Already I felt bad, if Leon got bit, that means I would have to put him down. And fast. If not…then well, shit, I would have to end up protecting him.
"I hope Claire made it to the station safely." He said looking around.
"Great blocked in…" He mumbled, there was a small barricade consisting of a pitiful little dumpster. With enough effort, you could climb right up and over it. I sighed handing him my crowbar.
"Hold this." I ordered. He gave me a look, before realizing what I was doing.
"I don't think that's safe Lu." He replied following behind. When I jumped and pulled myself up I held out my hand. He gave me a look before handing me the crowbar.
"Stay right there. I don't know if you're immune. But there's three, possibly four zombie's down here and I don't need you getting bit." I turned before he could protest. I jumped down, landing with a solid thump.
The first zombie that noticed me, turned around, outstretched her arms groaning in agitation as I ducked underneath. Bringing my hand up, I wrapped it around her small throat and shoved her back. Only to bring the crowbar down on her head, smacking her hard enough to crack her skull open.
An instant kill.
"Mmmmuh…" Another groaned. When I turned, I saw it was a big black man. Half of his jaw clearly gone, skin a sickly pale, with a very pronounced forwarded necrosis settling in around the missing muscles. I cringed when I swung and hit him in the temple as hard as I could. He fell, and tried getting back up, with another solid smack, blood, and brain splattered up against my hands and wrists.
"Shit, what if their blood gets into mine? Wouldn't that make me get it too?" I couldn't allow myself to get distracted.
Too late.
The hands of the bigger white male zombie grabbed my baseball cap, and pulled it with a handful of hair. I gave a loud yelp trying to swing him off.
Th-thump.
It was a solid smack, it was the smell of gunpowder and blood mixture that did it for me. When the Zombie's grip let up, I pulled away and swung one good time, knocking the skin right off his face. The eyebrow and eye followed. I watched him fall with a solid thump, blood and gore dripped from his face. I panted, heart ready to explode from the sudden rush with death. That was twice now.
That I was careless.
If I was careless again, three strikes.
You're out.
"You alright Lu?" Leon asked, touching my shoulder. I shrugged him off, staring at the baseball cap. And stomped on it.
"Not wearing that stupid thing anymore…" I groaned, staring at the end of the ally. A simple gate, hanging open.
"If we go that way, we can go through a small shopping district, and then from there to Maypole Street we can get to the police station." I said, he gave a light nod. Something deep in my stomach made me freeze as I held onto the crowbar.
"Unless you want to go by the newspaper printing office…then we can get there through the back way…but if we go that way we have even more greater chance of dying…" He turned giving me an 'are you serious look.' I shrugged.
"A lot of people like to go there on Sunday's. It's the easiest way to go, but a greater chance of dying." I pushed passed him.
The metal gate creaked, and loud. I shuddered, froze and stopped, keeping the crowbar up, ready to swing at the nearest moving thing. It was the eerie silence that got me, for a small shopping center with cafés, bookstores and all the trimmings…there was nothing.
Not even the sound of the crackling fire, I just couldn't hear anything.
My ears were ringing like hell.
"LU!" Leon screamed, when I turned around to tell him to shut up, a canine…German Shepard looking…thing was growling at Leon. Baring it's teeth.
Apparently, it had been tailing us. And I didn't hear a damn thing.
"Could've been the lifesaving shot that Leon unloaded into that zombie that did away with my hearing." I thought. A thought, that's all I could afford till the dog jumped, trying to attack Leon. In a single movement and smacked the dog upside the head.
It let out a pained yelp; shaking its head it looked at me, barred its teeth and growled. Tossing the crowbar to the side I pulled out my gun, took my chance to aim, I only glanced at Leon to see him aiming too.
We both pulled the trigger.