Four
Leon stepped through the threshold and examined the small area inside the shack. The interior did not compliment the outside at all. Where the outside boasted a uninhabitable, unpleasant desert shelter, the inside was immaculate, a cool, clean reception like area the only objects in the area was three chairs and a desk with a bell on it, much like a hospital but with one difference a huge umbrella logo was plastered on the wall behind the desk.
Leon followed by Matthews walked ever cautiously to the desk, there seemed to be no other doors, no entrances to the labs. Leon then spotted a card lying next to the bell.
"What's it say?" Matthews questioned. Leon turned and smiled, boyish glee filled him up, a with a cheerful tone he replied "Ding the bell." And with that he hit the bell.
Without warning the floor began to sink, but not the entire floor just the section Leon and Matthews where standing on. Leon began to realise the mission wouldn't be as straightforward as he has liked, he turned to Matthews only to see him relaxing, enjoying the ride into darkness. Leon Couldn't help but think that Matthews was somehow accustomed to this kind of travel. Matthews then laughed at Leon's face, as it was full of confusion and worry.
"Leon if I have to tell you to lighten up one more time, I'm going to report you to the fun police." Leon abruptly replied "What? Oh, okay." Leon could help but think about his past, and how if it wasn't for the government forcing him to work for them, he would be somewhere else living his life and feeling the audacity of youth. He just didn't want to be reliving raccoon city in reality aswell as his dreams.
The lift finally came to a halt in front of elevator type doors. A loud voice announced "Welcome to Umbrella, please be careful." The doors then opened, Leon half expected to be attacked as soon as he walked through the doors, and the rest of him expected to wake up. But no such luck. Matthews tapped Leon on the back, signalling him to take the lead. Both men stepped out into the large darkened room the doors opened up to. The room seemed to be the only thing untouched by the outbreak from earlier. This time the room was empty excluding two lifts on the other end of the room.
"Where are we?" Leon questioned. Matthews stepped forward with an alarmingly extensive knowledge of their surroundings. "This is one of the many underground labs Umbrella has, this being one of the smaller ones, but it is one of the more important ones. For you see, human experimenting takes place in this lab, ranging from the creation of B.O.W's to an experimental healing facility for Umbrella Soldiers like the HUNK's. This lab is also a favourite of a U.S fugitive Albert Wesker, rumour has it that he helps on an experiment known as Project Ivy."
"What!" Leon was outraged that such a place existed. "So what happened here?"
"Biohazard." Matthews smiled. It was a smile that sent a chill down Leon's spine, how could a man take pleasure in the suffering and sacrifice of innocent lives. But then Leon thought, if they where working for Umbrella how innocent could they be?
"Come on, Leon." Matthews ordered. He was standing by the left elevator and had already sent for it. Leon started after him, but Matthews pointed to the other elevator. "You take that one, it will be a lot easier to search this place if we're apart."
"But.." Leon obviously thought it was a stupid idea. He had seen how difficult the situation could get if you split up. And he was in no hurry to loose his partner.
Matthews turned cold towards his younger comrade "That's an order!" Shocked by this sudden turn Leon nodded and went to his own elevator. The moment Leon called for his lift to arrive, Matthews entered his, he called to Leon "Oh and one more thing, you wanted to know why three hours."
Leon was confused "Yeah?"
"Cause in three hours I'm going to blow this place to hell." Matthews laughed erratically as the doors closed and took him off into the belly of the lab. And for the first time, Leon didn't trust Matthews, and he feared what Matthews might do if provoked. At that moment his own elevator opened up, he entered it cautiously, this was not a mission he wanted to have surprises on.
Once inside he looked at the key pad, there where only six floors, so he thought to himself, start at the bottom and work my way up. He pressed number six and leaned back against the cold metal wall. And sighed. A spark of realisation then burned through Leon like a firework "Did he say he's going to blow this place up!"