Chapter I: "I'm your guide."
"It was two weeks after the day she turned eighteen
All dressed in white
Going to the church that night
She had his box of letters in the passenger seat
Sixpence in a shoe, something borrowed, something blue
And when the church doors opened up wide
She put her veil down
Trying to hide the tears
Oh she just couldn't believe it
She heard trumpets from the military band
And the flowers fell out of her hand..."
Just a dream by Carrie Underwood played on my IPod and I wrapped the headphones on my head as I reloaded a new set of magazines. I clicked the safety off and dangled my legs over the edge of the wooden chair. I was supposed to be waiting for someone... or some people...
Two agents from the United States government; sent by the president I guess.
Their original guide was uh... a bit wounded at the moment. I guess the lovely Manuela had something to do with it, but then again... she fled before I even knew what happened. My original plan was to protect her, but well that turned around when I lost her out of my sight.
I tapped my foot on the wooden floor impatiently and sighed.
What is taking them so long?
I pulled my scarf over half my face and snuggled in my navy jacket.
Then I heard a chirp.
I didn't fully hear it from the music from my ears, until it chirped two more times. I cocked my head to the side to see a yellow baby bird chirping at me. On his ankle was a note.
I stood up and walked over to him in my denim jean shorts and ankle-length combat boots. The yellow bird hopped into my palm as I leaned against the window frame and untied the ribbon. I opened the note as the birdie flew to my shoulder.
'Manuela is in the town's church. Be careful. Mr. Boss is there'
I sighed and wrote on the back on the piece of paper with my black ink pen.
'Roger that.'
After I retied the note onto the yellow bird and tossed him up in the air. I watched as he flew away, leaving me to myself again.
Company was good while it lasted.
Then I heard gunshots in the distant.
Good god, they're near.
A frustrated sigh left my lips as I walked over to the table and strapped my assault rifle on my back, while my leather messenger bag was tightly strapped around my right shoulder so I could flip and jump easier.
I sat on the window sill and waited as the footsteps got closer.
I heard a gun pointed at my head and I sighed.
"If you hadn't heard," I turned my head to glare at the big guy with a crimson red tight shirt on. "-I'm your new guide, not one of those flesh-eaters."
"Why're you just sitting here so casually?" he asked me, scowling.
"Well, I was waiting for you," I looked behind him to see another man with blonde-brown hair and light sky blue eyes. "-two. So, did you shoot down the welcoming committee?"
"Apparently, they wanted to have us for lunch, not welcome us," the brown-haired man chuckled.
"Can't blame ya. They were nice people two weeks ago, until this shit broke out."
"What broke out?"
"The T-virus. Anyways, we better get going if you want to find Manuela."
I hopped off the window sill and landed on my feet swiftly.
"How do you know the girl?"
"I was supposed to protect her," I answered, looking over my shoulder slightly. "But she ran off and I lost her."
"Do you know where she even is?"
"Yup," I nodded. "The town's church. And a surprise is waiting for us there, so let's get moving boys."
I started walking when I heard the big man say something about me.
"Isn't she a sweet pea?"
"She doesn't look as sweet as I thought."
I smirked and opened my mouth.
"I'm Jordan by the way. Jordan Everhart. What about you two?"
"Leon Kennedy," I heard the brown-haired one say. "This is my partner, Jack Krauser."
"It's a certain pleasure," Jack said with sarcasm in his voice.
"Well aren't you the lively pair."
I stopped when I heard chirping.
"You sure took your time bi-"
I turned my head when I heard splashing and two piranhas jumped into the air and grabbed my birdie. I scowled as the note landed a few feet away from me.
I groaned and brought out my handgun.
"Stupid... son-of-a...little bastards!" I growled and shot at the piranhas that tried to take a snap out of me. Once they died down, I bent down and reached out. "Come on... come to momma..."
When I heard bubbles, I pulled back swiftly and shot the lurker frog in the jaw. Blood splattered everywhere and I closed my eyes, gritting my teeth.
"What's that?" Jack asked pointing at the note.
"My partner's sending me notes on information he found. He's hidden in some cave right now. God dammit, they killed my bird..."
"I'll get it for you."
Leon bent over and easily grabbed the note out of the water.
"Thanks," I nodded and he helped me onto my feet. I unfolded the note and was so glad the water didn't ruin most of the writing.
"Something came into the cave...I'm going to check it out... Be careful, Jordan. Something's not right here... Just hurry up and find Manuela, and get the fuck out of there, stat!"
I sighed and stuffed the note into my pocket.
"What the hell is going on?" I muttered.
"Where's this church?" Jack asked.
I pointed straight up and looked at the water to see yellow feathers floating around.
"I can't believe they killed my bird..." I gripped my fists together.
"Once this is over, I'll buy you a new one," Leon smiled.
"That's kind of you, Leon. But you don't have to. Thanks anyways."
"Did you just get all soft, Miss. Bad-ass?" Jack smirked.
I rolled my eyes and started walking forward.
"There's a boat neat that Church anyways. We'll be able to make it out once we find Manuela," Leon said.
"That's the best good news I've heard this week," I chuckled.
"You've been here all week?"
"Yeah. My other people turned as well, and there's... only me and... maybe my partner. We were here because there had been numerous disappearances lately. I just happened to be by when Manuela was wandering around."
"Do you know anyone by the name of Javier Hildago?"
"Javier Hil-... Ah, Mr. Prime Suspect," I chuckled. "Are you here for him?"
"Somewhat," Jack replied. "He's a drug lord. We're just here to find him."
"There must be more to it though," I chuckled. "Anyways, if you find her, you might find something about Javier."
"We'll be following your lead then."
"Alright," I shrugged and noticed some undead popping out. "Oh lovely! We got company."
I shot one in the head while the guys covered my back. Another got too close, so I kicked him hard, then elbowed him in the face before blowing his brains out.
"Hurry."
We were soon met with areas of water with jumping piranhas and lurkers, while behind us were more undead.
"Over here!" Leon said. I jumped in last and laid low for a while. I didn't hear them though.
"Let's go through there."
Leon opened the door and followed him out.
"There," I pointed at an almost sunk cabin.
Jack and Leon jumped in and Jack cursed under his breath.
"Watch out Jordan, it's deep," Leon held out his hand and my brow arched.
"Aren't you a gentleman?"
I took it and hopped in.
Yeah he was right, it was deep.
The water came up to my breasts and I had to take Leon's hand as we went through. Jack shot the door open and we went in.
"Nothing here," Jack muttered.
"Don't jinx it, big man," I sighed.
Just as we took three more steps forward, Natalia Kills' 'Zombie' song came on.
That's when some undead appeared from the water.
"My IPod predicted that would happen... see Jack, you jinxed it!"
I got out my handgun and shot the nearest one.
"Sorry about' that sweetheart," Jack scowled.
Once they were finally re-dead, Leon shot through the next door and we got onto wooden floor again.
"If we go over that roof, the church should be there," I said.
Leon took the lead and cursed to himself as a lurker shot up from the roof.
"Leon!"
I shot at it and all of us hurried into the large cave-like area. The church was definitely there. But as we were on the wooden boards, something splashed around us and I saw lurkers, piranhas and... some sort of mutated creature.
"What was that?" Jack scowled.
"Must be Mr. Boss," I scowled. "We better hurry."
I ran off first, but a lurker appeared and I stomped the sole of my boot onto it, killing it instantly.
"I don't have time for this, prince frog," I scowled and shot more of them as they appeared.
As Jack and Leon got my back, I unlocked the church doors and opened it. There sat Manuela... she was singing.
Then I noticed something next to her.
It was... Mr. Boss.
I scowled.
When she saw us, she stopped singing and collapsed. That triggered the creature's instincts to kill.
"Get away from her!" I shot at it and dodged it as one of the tentacles tried to swipe at me. "Manuela!"
I sprinted for her and tried getting her into my arms. But one of those tentacles appeared and I yelped. It swiped at me, and I held Manuela in my arms as I shielded her. We went flying across the room and I felt a static-like pain on the back of my left shoulder.
"Jordan!" Leon called out.
I groaned and saw the droplets of my blood on the ground.
I brought out my assault rifle and shot at its joints. It worked effectively. The creature couldn't move and Leon and Jack took it down. I put my assault rifle away and carried Manuela in my arms. She didn't weight much actually.
"Leon, what the hell is going on?" Jack scowled. "Have you fought with these things before? If so... I need to know everything."
Leon nodded and looked at me.
"I'll take her," he said and I nodded.
Jack was already outside with the boat started. There weren't any more piranhas or lurkers around.
Once in the boat, we drove away and entered the jungle-like area.
"Let me see your wound," Leon said.
"I'll be fine," I sighed.
"Jordan."
"Alright, alright."
I slipped off my messenger bad, the assault rifle and got out of my navy jacket. Now I was sitting in a black tank top.
I turned around and I felt Leon's cold fingers against my skin. I shivered a bit and stared straight ahead.
"Where are we heading to?" I asked Jack.
"To Javier Hildago's mansion. Now, fill me in, Leon."
