I'll go ahead and let you guys know, this won't follow any events to the games. This is kinda like a fantasy based off a dream I had a while ago… So, let's just say the Raccoon City incident happened roughly, two years ago, for the sake of the story line. If you do like this thing, (which would surprise me if you did…) please hope that I have enough coffee/tea to keep me going without writing complete. Total. Shit. With that said, here is Chapter 2 of Hell Rising.

Disclaimer: If I owned Resident Evil, Leon would have been with a computerized version of me.

ANYWAY…

For a while, I was dumbstruck. Not just because the man before me was amazingly good looking, but because he managed to survive among those freaks outside.

I felt a blush begin to creep onto my cheeks, "How long has it been like this?" he asked.

"Almost an hour." I replied. Jesus… only an hour and this became a total shitstorm…

He nodded, "It's even worse three blocks over. This Raccoon City all over again…" he muttered.

Miles nodded, "It is."

Minami looked at him, "Wait, you knew what was going on?" she asked with a shocked expression.

He nodded, "Leon and his friend Claire helped me get out. I was there for a photo-shoot."

I remembered that… Well, not the flesh eating monsters. But I remembered how reclusive he became after coming back. For days, he would stay in his house, until Minami and I nearly broke the door down and dragged him to a bar to get him wasted. He was in a much better mood after that. But he never told us what happened at Raccoon City. Eventually, Minami and I left it at that. If he didn't want to talk about it, there was no point in badgering him into telling us.

"What exactly happened?" I asked.

Leon sighed and sat down in the dining chair. "Elizabeth, right?" I nodded and motioned for him to continue. "Two years ago, I was beginning my job for the police department at. But I overslept on my first day, and that probably saved my life. When I tried to go to work, I noticed a body on the ground. I hadn't known what happened yet, at least until that body and several others tried to attack me. Eventually, I met a woman; Claire Redfield. She was looking for her missing brother, Chris…"

I listened closely as he explained everything to us. I couldn't help but be fascinated in what he was telling us. I mean, who wouldn't?

"UMBRELLA created the virus. It's called the T-Virus, and it has a cure; the Anti-Virus. But the possibility of living when you're cured after being bitten can depend on how long you wait to be cured. Sometimes, when you've been exposed to a large amount of the T-Virus, the probability of living is slim to none."

"What exactly does the T-Virus do?" Minami asked.

"It reanimates the deceased."

"You mean it brings them back to life?" Her face showed nothing but disbelief, but in her eyes, I could tell that she did believe it.

"That would make sense…" I mumbled. Miles seemed surprised that I could make sense of something so… so… insane. I felt my cheeks burn, "Well…" I stuttered, "When Mrs. Young was bitten by her husband, the virus killed her. But then when that man tried to help her, right then, the virus may have brought her back. It's a possibility that the virus stripped her of everything except instinctual habits. Like… eating." It was difficult for me to say the last part. It brought back an uncomfortable memory of watching her tear his throat out. "And then, when the virus killed him, he came back and reached for the closest person."

Leon nodded, "Exactly."

"Well, it's a good thing that we understand what's going on. But what do we do now?" Minami sat on the floor and leaned her back against the wall.

"I suggest that we get these ones," he motioned towards the children, "Out of the city. I'm gonna find the source of the virus."

"We can help." I replied.

Leon shook his head, "This is something I have to do alone."

Minami stood, "Elizabeth is right, we can help. Besides, no offense, but you're only one man. Wherever the source may be, you'd probably need a hacker. And while you're kicking a-…" She stopped, not wanting to swear in front of the kids. "UMBRELLA and infected tail… I highly doubt you'd be able to screw with the security." She cracked her knuckles.

Leon sighed, "Alright, but whose gonna go with them?" he asked, again, pointing at the kids.

Miles raised his hand, "I've got no talent other than modeling, and I highly doubt that will come in handy. But I am good with kids."

Leon seemed as if he were in deep thought, still unsure. He then looked at me, "What can you do?"

"I can shoot, and I can also fit into small spaces. I've also got a really good eye." I felt inferior. To be honest, when can those talents come in great handy? I mean, it's not like Minami's insane computer skills or her ability to charm others instantly.

He nodded, "That can come in handy."

I was surprised, but then again, it wasn't the first of the day, nor would it be the last, I was sure.

"But before we go anywhere, does anyone have the slightest idea as to where the virus is coming from?" Miles asked.

"There is a facility near here." Minami answered.

"We should start there. Miles, does your car still work?" I asked.

He nodded, "I got it fixed last Saturday. I think it could fit all of us. Minami, where is the facility?"

Minami shifted her weight to her other foot, "Raccoon City…" she said.

Leon cursed under his breath, "I should've known…"

"Well, the closer we are to danger, the farther we are from harm." Miles shrugged.

I sighed and rubbed my forehead, "Miles, we aren't Hobbits, nor are we going to Isengard." I muttered. Great. We're going into the heart of this shitstorm, and it certainly wouldn't be easy. Raccoon City would be crawling with infected and trying to find the facility there could take forever. We didn't have unlimited ammo, and we had two children to watch out for.

I bit my lip, "Miles?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you still have that van, the black spray painted one?"

"You mean the one I used to carry band equipment in? Yeah. It's also got a pretty good engine. Rod had been fixing it the other day."

I spoke before Miles could drool over his boyfriend, "I think that could offer more protection than your newer one."

Leon nodded, "I think I caught a glimpse of it as I was passing by. You live in the grey house right?"

Miles silently agreed.

"Well then, we have our mode of transportation." Minami clapped her hands. "Elizabeth, can you help me pack up my corner of woe."

I attempted to not laugh at her term for her computer area. She always hung out there when she was pissed off or terribly sad, not to mention every time she hacked into her ex-boyfriend's computer and crashed it.

Miles and Leon exchanged glances, "Let's go get the van while they're getting things together." I heard Leon say and heard him cocking his gun.

I looked at the two children who were close to tears. Minami motioned that she'd be in the other room. "So what are your names?" I asked.

The boy looked up, "Michael. This is my baby sister, Melora." He answered me quietly.

German names. They were cute, I nodded. "I'm Elizabeth. Where are you two from?"

"Mr. Kennedy's neighborhood. He taught Monika how to shoot." He replied.

"Who is Monika?" I asked.

"Monika is my big sissy." Melora finally spoke.

I smiled, but part of me ached. I was afraid for these two, I was afraid of what would happen to them if things didn't go back to normal.

I heard Minami curse in Japanese from the other room, "I'll be right back." I smiled at them, and stood to dash into her bedroom. "What is it?" I asked.

She tossed something to the ground, "I can't believe I didn't think of this before! Watashi no baka*!" she turned to face me, "Security will be ten times stronger at the facility. By the time we reach it, the officials will be long gone." She groaned, "We wouldn't be able to stop the infection, nor could we bring those who created it to justice."

"Well, surely there could be a cure of some sort."

"Yeah, but not enough fire power to keep those infected fuckers from spreading it. Jesus, who is stupid enough to think they could contain a biological weapon of this magnitude?" She furiously jammed things into suitcases that almost looked like gun cases. "Now, put these in the living room. Leon and Miles will be here any minute." She sighed and handed two of them to me.

I nodded and slung the strap over my shoulder. Sometimes I think my friend is just a little bipolar.

I set them on the floor and checked on the kids again. Melora had calmed down, and Michael was still silent. I couldn't really blame him, I'd be silent too.

I watched Minami struggle with four cases, so I grabbed a few and set them next to the ones I had carried. "Jesus, Minami. Did you pack up your entire corner?" I asked.

"Roughly."

I sighed, it seemed like quite a lot, but then again, Minami literally used everything she could when she got into her computers.

We all jumped at the gunshots in the distance and the squealing of tires. Looks like they got the van, let's hope they don't destroy it.

"Men." I heard Minami mutter. "They just love to make an entrance."

At first, I would have argued, but then I saw Leon jump inside, and saw that the car was two inches away from our front door. "I suggest we pack. Quickly!"

Minami and I rushed to get her things into the van. Leon carried the heavier things and picked up both children, "Let's go." I said.

We piled into the van. I almost panicked at the amount of infected swarming around our house. Leon closed the front door behind us and then the van doors, avoiding the grip of an infected woman.

Miles made a sharp left turn out of the driveway and onto the main road. He was a very good driver, I had to give him that. He maneuvered around the crashed cars and groups of infected as if he had done this before. Oh wait, he has.

"I didn't even realize there were that many people in our neighborhood!" Minami groaned.

"Most of them probably aren't from here. They may have come from Raccoon City." Miles retorted and turned sharply again, barely missing the large Hummer hanging completely out of its driveway.

He then stopped the van in a parking lot and Leon turned to him, "Listen, you guys stay safe. Hollow Lake should be safe. It's a gated community, and the chance that the infection had gotten in is very slim."

Miles nodded and began to open the door, until Minami shouted, "Look out!"

Heading towards us, was a flaming car, swerving uncontrollably and filled with infected. Miles slammed his door shut and stomped the gas pedal. We sped forward, missing the flaming car by what couldn't have been more than one inch. No more than fifty feet away from us, the flaming gates of Hollow Lake stood before us. I sighed, "Well, we may have to wait for you guys to find a safe place." I said quietly.

Safe? Where was safe? No one would be when this virus is in existence.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

I'll agree, that wasn't the greatest. A lot happened, and it probably confused the Holy Hell out of you guys.

By the way, Minami was born and mostly raised in Japan, so she's bilingual. When she said "Watashi no baka" that pretty much said "I'm an idiot" it's a loose translation, but it's the basic idea. I may be wrong. She'll tend to throw in some Japanese here and there, so don't fret if you don't understand. You can always read the author notes.

And I totally couldn't help the LOTR reference ^.^

With that said, I'm still debating whether or not Miles and the kids are gonna be with them or if they do find a city that's not been infected. The likely hood of the latter occurring is very unlikely, but shit happens.

Please leave your opinion in a review. Please don't flame my sorry ass.

Personally, I'm proud that I had the inspiration to make it to chapter 2. I'll be able to update next weekend and probably all of spring break. I don't have internet at my house, only at my Granddad's.

So, this is PhilosophicalZombie signing off.