~~~Chapter 2~~~

Six months previous, Leon Kennedy had been at a loss. He had helped stop what might have been the end of the known world, but in the end, he was left with more questions than answers. On paper, it was stated that the mastermind behind the whole ordeal was none other than Ada Wong. It was also on paper that she had been taken out. Leon had failed to correct this misinformation, and without being prompted, Helena had done the same. He did feel guilty for hiding the truth, but if it got out that Wong was alive, she would be on every most wanted list. He only wondered if that was what she deserved. According to documentation, she had planned on infecting the entire world, and nearly succeeded. The C-Virus had been distributed to so many victims. The damage was extensive. Chris Redfield himself was witness to several murders at Wong's hands.

Despite this information, Leon just couldn't bring himself to believe Ada was really the one responsible. He'd known her to be secretive, and sometimes even untrustworthy, but never had he seen her harm anyone (or thing) that hadn't had it coming. Not to mention all the times she had saved his life. Lying and stealing he could believe, but effectively destroying the world? It just didn't add up.

So began his personal mission to find the woman and ask her himself. Unfortunately, this was easier said than done. The woman was like a shadow. Every time he tried to shine a light on her, she became less visible. He used all his personal time, tracking leads and listening to whispers. It was all in vain. His most recent tip that had taken him to France had him nearing the end of his patience. This quest had become his obsession. He had to know the truth about Ada Wong.

o-o-o-o-o-o

The sound on several bodies slamming into the locked door snapped Leon out of his stupor. Coming to his senses, he noticed a large, wooden bookshelf against the wall, next to the door. He threw himself against it, but it barely moved. Ada clicked over on red heels and helped push it in front of the door. She wore a black pencil skirt and a white button-down blouse. A black choker circled her slender neck, with an oval ruby centered over her throat. Being this close to the woman he had been so desperately searching for felt surreal. He feared taking his eyes off her, knowing she'd disappear the second he did.

After securing the door, the mercenary walked back to where she had been previously, in front of a wall of security monitors, and removed a thumb-drive from one of the present computer towers. She placed it in her bra, as she turned to face Leon who had yet to find words.

"So, did you come all this way to see little old me, or are you here on other business?" She folded her arms and leaned against the wall.

"I'm here to find out who caused this mess," The agent took a step closer, "And I found you."

Ada let out a gasp, feigning shock and holding her hand to her heart. "Why, Leon, are you accusing me of all people? And, here I thought we were friends."

"According to a lot of people, you did a lot worse in China."

"What about you, hm?" She closed the gap between herself and Kennedy, "Do you believe I was responsible?"

It was hard for Leon to think with Ada so close. The faint scent of her perfume was enough to make him forget everything he'd wanted to say to her. Even the pounding on the door felt far away and unimportant. Forcing himself back on track, he locked eyes with the woman who haunted his dreams. "I don't know what to believe."

"The answer is simple." Wong sat on the edge of the security desk, "What could I possibly have to gain from spreading the C-Virus? Have you ever known me to do anything without reason?"

"I never know why you do anything!"

Ada laughed at the outburst, "Poor thing. You're just so confused, aren't you? I love that look on you. It reminds me of a lost puppy. So cute."

Leon clenched his fist, "This isn't a joke, Ada. I've been looking for you. I want to know the truth. About what happened. About what you are."

The smile left the woman's face. "What I am is out of time for your little Q and A session."

She got up and made for the unblocked exit of the room. Leon grabbed her wrist before she could escape.

"I saw a video," he began. She froze at the statement. "I saw someone being born… from some sort of cocoon. She… looked like you."

Ada turned to face the special agent, and responded nonchalantly, "Yeah, she did look like me, didn't she?"

Kennedy loosened his grip, a sense of relief washing over him. "Who was she?"

"Does it even matter?" shaking her wrist from Leon's grasp, she turned herself away once more. "She's dead now, and all evidence of her existence has been destroyed. It's over and done with. Let it go."

"How am I supposed to 'let it go'?" The man raised his voice, frustration returning. "I just want to know what really happened. I can help you clear your name."

Ada chuckled, "And why would I want to do that? The world thinks I'm dead, and that works out just fine for me."

"Well, that's not fine with me," He spun her around, to look her in the eyes, leaving his hands on her shoulders. "I want to know more than just the truth about China. I want to know you. I can't do that if you're in hiding."

For a moment, the raven-haired woman was at a loss for words. It was not a familiar feeling for her. She met his gaze, taking in his face. The years had turned the baby-faced youth she had met so many years ago into a battle-hardened man. He had clearly missed a shave or two, and fine lines were beginning to form around his eyes. If anything, he was more handsome now than when they had met. However, she didn't have the luxury of entertaining these thoughts.

"What do you think this is? Some kind of soap opera?" She backed away, removing herself from Leon's touch. "Five minutes ago, you thought I was some freak, born in a lab. Now you want to live happily ever after?"

"Ada, I-"

"You can't be everyone's knight in shining armor, Leon," a loud crack, alerted them to the door breaking behind the bookshelf.

Kennedy looked from the door back to Wong. He didn't know how to respond, and it was clear that they were running out of time. Her eyes were locked on the bookshelf as she backed away, towards the rear exit of the room.

"Let's just get out of here, and-" before he could finish his sentence, the shelf came crashing down. The splintered remains of the door were pushed aside by the throng of undead fighting to get through.

Ada was already exiting the room, and Leon quickly followed. There were infected in this hallway, but far fewer than what they faced in the other direction. Kennedy pulled out his knife, holding it in conjunction with his gun. He tried to catch up to the mercenary, but she was ridiculously quick on her feet. Effortlessly dodging the undead in her path, she turned a corner and vanished from site. Leon not being as acrobatic, was left trailing behind, forced to deal with the zombies the spy left in her wake. He followed her path, but around that bend, there were several doors she could have taken. It seemed hopeless to continue chasing her. Taking out a nearby zombie with a knife to it's brain, he chose the nearest doorway, and hoped for the best. To his surprise, he was greeted by a vase, flying toward his head, accompanied by a familiar shriek.

Leon dodged the ceramic vessel and turned his attention to his attacker. Crouched behind a desk was a well-dressed black woman who looked like she had just survived a nightmare. Her lavender skirt suit was ripped and stained with blood. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she had little cuts and bruises all over the exposed parts of her limbs. The lady appeared to be in her thirties, with her hair pulled back into a large bun on the back of her head, and an air of authority to her.

"Are… you alive?" The woman asked in a shaky voice.

"Well, I don't want to eat you, if that's what you're worried about."

She slumped her shoulders in relief, supporting herself with the desk she had been ducking behind. "Thank god… I thought I was the only one left."

"Far from it," he responded encouragingly. "The B.S.A.A. is making their rounds, and all of the survivors are in quarantine camps outside of the city. Don't worry. You're getting out of here."

The woman teared up, finally seeing the light at the end of a long dark tunnel.

"At least one woman is happy to see me," he muttered under his breath.

The woman gasped, bringing Leon out of his pity party. Her eyes locked behind him, and he knew the drill. Spinning on his heel, he came face to face with a nasty looking B.O.W. In the chaos of his entry, Kennedy had forgotten to close the door behind him. How the zombie had managed to sneak up so quietly was another question entirely. He raised his knife up and slammed it into the monster's eye. Blood poured out of the wound, a bit splashing Leon's face as he removed his weapon. As his enemy fell to the floor, the wails of it's brethren echoed down the hall.

He held out his hand to the survivor as she crept out from behind her hiding spot, "Come on. It's time to go."

o-o-o-o-o-o

I decided to bust out this chapter instead of sleeping. I hope my tired brain was able to write this out coherently enough. I did a proofread, but I don't trust myself. Let me know.