Okay, there's not an excuse for why this has taken so very, very long. I'm sooo sorry for all who actually care! : But…It's here now, so… enjoy! 3

Disclaimer- I don't own Claire or Leon, or Resident Evil, Umbrella or the zombies.

I sighed. "You're lost." I accused Leon, who glared at me, clenching his teeth. "No I'm not Laya. Stop accusing me of these things. I know you're worried about Rachel, Taigun and Claire, but there's nothing that I can do about it, so stop complaining!" he growled angrily, then turned away and continued walking through the desolate buildings on both sides of them. I glared at the ground. He had hit the reason for my impatience perfectly. I exhaled loudly, angrily, from between clenched teeth. This was annoying, not knowing the condition of my sister, and the other girls with her.

Until now I had been fairly optimistic, but now that was leaving. I could feel my throat constricting with my terror and anger. Everything was suddenly pressing on me, and I knew I wouldn't handle it well. I would snap soon, do something I'd regret. I kept walking, my footsteps soft and almost inaudible. Leon was slightly louder, but not by much. His presence wasn't even comforting, it was annoying. I didn't like having people see me in such emotional turmoil. I tried to keep calm when in public. My unknown past terrorized me constantly here.

Shaking my head I desperately tried to clear it of my horrid, depressing thoughts. I kept my ears straining for anything, wanting nothing more than hear the sounds of Rachel, Taigun and Claire, and to hear that they were okay.

We kept walking, and I started to hear something. It wasn't loud, and I couldn't really hear it very well, but it sounded roughly like Leon's name…or mine. I started jogging, signaling to Leon to follow, then stopped dead, turning to something I could hear that was a lot closer. Shuffling and groaning. It was just another zombie.

I sighed, and motioned to Leon to just keep going, it was behind us anyway. We jogged on, and my stride lengthened with anxiousness as I realized that it was our names, and that they were being idiots enough to yell for us. I cursed their idiocy under my breath and started running at full tilt, Leon just behind me.

We raced past stores, zombies, apartments, the apocalyptic city in general. The shouting was getting louder, and I turned a sharp left…and stopped dead, Leon nearly running into me with the speed of my halt.

In front of me was Claire, holding a shotgun pointed at something a few feet taller than her at least. It was huge, with a mutated, gigantic arm which was poised to attack. Its head whipped toward us, and I realized that Taigun had been calling for help from us, the reason for the yelling. Claire looked terrified, Taigun even more so. Claire took the opportunity of its distraction to take semi-careful aim, and pulled the trigger.

The bullet entered the monster's right shoulder, the one I couldn't really see, and I heard Claire curse before the thing roared. It swiped its huge claws at Claire, who dove out of the way just in time, and was able to drag Taigun down with her. I jerked into action and ran towards Claire, sure that if I got the shotgun I'd be able to shoot it in the head, which, with any luck, would kill it. It turned toward me, noticing my advance, and raised its monstrous appendage. It roared, and I grunted, jumping as it swung the arm down. Leon and Claire both shouted my name, but I barely noticed, to intent on timing. I landed on top of the thing's arm and started running up its limb, noticing the huge, inhuman eye implanted on the shoulder just before it swung its arm, agitatedly trying to knock me off, successfully. I fell, but managed to extend one arm; catching on with my hand and dragging my body back up in a matter of a few seconds, running again. I jumped over the protrusion-like eye and pulled out the switchblade out of my boot. Claire shouted again, but I didn't notice, too involved in what I was doing. The blade seemed to plunge itself into the creature's head. It didn't seem real, like I wasn't in control of the knife.

It probably wasn't even possible.

The thing started to fall, and I jumped off, not sure what to do, but I didn't pay attention; I didn't see that its unearthly extremity was coming towards me. I saw Leon running at me, and Claire shouted, holding out a hand like she could push it away. I saw it then, out of the corner of my eye, and I saw as it collided with me. My foot had just touched the ground; I didn't have my balance yet. My arm reached towards Leon, who was reaching towards me as well, and he was gone. My sight caught the details of the buildings I flew past, and I could feel the wind blowing around me, chilling me to the bone, and I felt the bone-crushing impact as I crashed into a building at least twenty feet away, part of the wall crumbling from the force of my collision.

I barely registered a gunshot, and assumed that Claire was shooting the thing, making sure it was dead. A moment later, agony erupted through my bruised body, and I realized that I should've been grateful that no huge chunks of concrete fell on me.

I groaned, and felt weight removed from my body. I cracked one eye and saw Leon pulling chunks of building off of my stomach and right leg, which was the only part of me that anything really heavy fell on, and the hunk wasn't that heavy, my guess was about eight pounds. When the larger chunks (ranging from three to five pounds) were off, he picked me up. I shrieked in torture when my right leg moved, the mass had broken it. I groaned, and Leon's anxious voice was close to my ear when he asked, "Laya? What's hurt?"

I groaned in pain, his every movement shifting my broken lower limb, "It…broke my leg…" I panted my breathing heavy from the pain and exertion of running on top of a man-made creature.

Claire approached us then, Taigun her little shadow, and I gasped "Where's Rachel?"

Taigun burst into tears, and Claire's face fell. I groaned again, letting my head fall back over Leon's arm. "We weren't gone that long…how could…?" I moaned, even though I knew full well that every second counts in these situations. Tears gathered, but I refused to let them fall. It was pointless anyways, considering that we were still in Raccoon City, and Leon, Claire, and Taigun were still alive. They needed to be my first priority.

"I can't walk…" I realized suddenly, looking at my handicap with horror. Claire looked up, gaping, and Taigun stopped crying, looking at me as well. "My-my leg's broken…how…" I started stammering hysterically. I couldn't protect them if I couldn't move.

"Set me down." I ordered, unexpectedly calm again. He gaped at me.

"Laya… your legs broken. You screamed when I picked you up. You honestly don't think you can stand on it, do you?" he asked incredulously.

"I know I can't, but I have to try. Set me down." I ordered again.

"You're insane!" Taigun exclaimed, gaping at me widely.

"So? My sanity isn't the issue here Taigun. The fact that I can't rely on my sister anymore," she flinched, but I continued, "Means that I have to be able to walk. Understand?" I spat angrily. She nodded numbly, but Leon interjected, "Wait, what do you mean have to. Claire and I are fully capable of taking care of ourselves. I'm a cop Laya!" he exclaimed, taking offense at my comment.

I sighed. "Leon, I am aware that you are a rookie cop and that Claire knows how to handle a gun, but you and Claire aren't the only ones here." I indicated Taigun and myself. "I promised myself that I'd see you through this. I'd keep you alive no matter what it took." I explained calmly, and then added, "Now put me down." He glared, but did as I said, starting to gently set my legs on the ground.

I gasped when my leg touched the ground, being forced to support my weight. Pain ripped up my leg and I nearly fell over. My breathing increased again, and I automatically grabbed Leon's shoulder to steady myself. A second later I was back in his arms, glaring at him.

"I hadn't even taken a step!" I accused, furious with him for picking me up. He looked at me like I was insane. Maybe I was.

"You were planning to?" Claire asked dryly, and then added, "Come on, let's go. We've got company." Leon glanced over his shoulder and started jogging. I gritted my teeth, and then pointed at the body of the thing that I had just killed. "Wait! My knife! I need my knife!" I shouted. Taigun was the one who reacted. She nodded and veered off of our path. Her long blonde pigtails bounced as she ran, the hood of her orange sweater bouncing on her back. Leon stopped, turning and shouted "No, Taigun! Come back!" and I saw why.

There were dogs standing by the body of the thing. I hadn't noticed them because of their black fun, but I saw them now. I cursed myself, then gaped as the stupid girl kept running towards them. "Taigun! No! Don't, come back!" I screamed as Claire started running, pulling the shotgun off of her shoulder and starting to aim it at the dogs, who lunged.

I turned my face away, and heard three shots in quick succession just after an ear-piercing scream. I groaned, and then whispered, "Leon is she okay?"

I didn't take his lack of response as a yes. I groaned and opened my eyes, looking up at Leon's darkly handsome features. Claire approached us, and whispered, "Let's go. I…don't want…" I knew what she meant, even if she didn't finish her sentence. She didn't want to have to shoot Taigun. I nodded, feeling that my legs wouldn't hold me up, even if I tried walking.

Two. Two of five were dead within an hour of each other. I felt hollow in my chest. I had failed in my vow…twice. Now I had a broken leg, how was I supposed to even pretend to protect Leon and Claire like this? Why hadn't I heard the dogs…? I didn't realize I was crying until Leon whispered softly, so only I could hear, "Laya…we're gonna make it out of here, okay? Don't worry… you're gonna be okay." His voice was softer than I had heard it the entire time in Raccoon City. I looked up, my eyes accusing him angrily. "I'm pretty sure that someone said that when Rachel and Taigun were still alive. Now they're not… don't bother with the survival lies…Not all of us are making it out of here Leon." My voice was harsh, and sounded angry even to myself.

"Do you have a knife?" I asked suddenly a few moments later. He looked at me and nodded slowly, "Yeah…why would you need one?" he asked cautiously. "I have a theory. I heal, right? So maybe if I slice my leg open, it'll heal the break along with the external wound." I explained.

He gaped at me, and I sighed, realizing he probably wouldn't let me. "You're crazy Laya!" he exclaimed angrily. I nodded, and responded "Maybe, but my sanity isn't what's at stake here. I have to be able to walk. If there's a chance of it with this…I need to try Leon. Besides, even if it doesn't work, the cut will heal anyway, and it'll be like it never happened." She gestured at the boot, which was growing with her swollen leg. He frowned, and then sighed. "Let's get somewhere other than the middle of the street then. Somewhere more…secluded. He raised his head to talk to Claire. "Hey, Laya's had a brilliant idea. She's gonna cut open her leg and see if that'll heal the break. We need to get out of the middle of the road.

Claire looked over at us, her eyes wide with surprise as her reddish ponytail bounced around her head. "No. Laya, you're underwear's red." She added, discreetly letting me know that my skirt was being affected by gravity since Leon was holding me. I rolled my eyes, and Leon looked away from me. "Thanks Claire, that matters a lot in this situation. Can we please get going?"

"Laya, wounding yourself more isn't going to help!" she insisted angrily. I growled under my breath. "It might Claire." I responded. "Leon, put me down." I ordered calmly. He frowned, but I repeated my command before he could protest, my annoyance and suppressed grief making my tone sharper than necessary. He gently set my feet back on the ground, and I winced, a hand on his shoulder. I suddenly wished I hadn't given in to my flashy tendencies and had worn something a little more practical. My boots had crimson stains, as did my clothes and hair. The gold arm band wrapped around my bicep was coated in more blood than faux gold, and I knew that my green eyes were dark. In short, I looked like an extremely dangerous, maybe misfortunate slut. My chestnut hair was tangled hopelessly, but it was still possible that I looked powerful, even with a deformed, lumpy-looking leg, tangled hair and slutty clothes.

Claire sighed. "Laya, we need to go."

"Leon, give me the knife." I bent down and started to unzip the thigh-high boot. Leon gaped at me, and I glared back, but looked away as I winced, carefully unzipping around the swelling.

My leg was purple, dark purple, with blotches of different shades. It hurt like hell, and was swollen to almost double its size. I winced at the sight, unzipping the boot the rest of the way and pulling it off. "Leon, your knife." I asked. This time he numbly passed me a small switchblade. I flicked the blade out, and pressed the sharp tip into the swollen, discolored part of my leg. "Wait, don't!" Claire tried to stop me, reaching out, but I ripped the blade down to quickly, tearing my leg open. It refused to hold my weight now, and I started to fall. Blood splashed over the ground, my blood, staining the asphalt beneath our feet. It was warm, and ran down my ankle and foot, squished warm and wet between my toes, and I gasped at the pain that flared. It was harsh and burned like I had set my leg on fire. I had cut deep; I could see the ivory colored bone. I groaned, and Leon held me up, his arms around my waist. I leaned on him heavily, pain keeping me from thinking clearly.

After a few moments, blood pouring from the self-inflicted wound, the flow slowed, and started to slowly stop, until it altogether ceased. My leg was covered in blood, and there was a puddle of the crimson liquid surrounding it. The wound slowly, so very slowly, started to close itself. It was slow enough, if you just glanced you couldn't see, but if you watched, you noticed the skin pulling together, millimeter by millimeter. After about ten minutes, the pain had subsided to a dull aching that throbbed horrible in my leg, and I could hear something.

"Zombie…behind that café…" I grunted, indicating the café with a nod of my head. Claire readied her shotgun, and ran up to the café. "No!" I shouted, but she shot from a distance, and was safe. The shuffling stopped, and, besides the resounding, ever present but far-off song of the infected, it was quiet. Her footsteps echoed off of the buildings surrounding us, loud in the quiet atmosphere. I glanced back at my wound; it wasn't half-healed yet. "Damn…" I muttered, wishing it would close faster.

It hurt. A lot, and it wasn't healing all that fast. At all… Suddenly I wasn't an asset, but a liability. I gritted my teeth. This was the last thing I wanted. "Leon…Carry me. Let's get out of here." I whispered, giving up." He nodded, and a second later I was back in his arms. I sighed quietly, hating myself more than I ever had. This loathing…Rachel would've called in 'unhealthy' and frowned at me, wondering what she could do to help. I smiled wistfully despite myself. Whenever she got that frown I got angry at her, knowing she wanted to help when all I wanted was to wallow. I had always been selfishly angry, expecting everyone to let me hate myself. It was pathetic.

The rage crawled up my throat, and my hands, the previously discarded boot clutched tightly in their pale grip, tightened more around the stiff black material. Leon glanced down, and gave me a questioning look, and rolled his eyes when I pretended I didn't see it. "Laya…which way are we supposed to go?" Claire asked suddenly, looking around.

I turned my eyes up, looking around us. "How am I supposed to know? I don't live here…wait…you don't know?" I asked, feeling the blood draining from my face. Claire turned to me, alarmed. "No…I'm just here looking for my brother…" I turned to Leon, who shrugged. "I just got here today…" he defended himself. I groaned angrily. "I was here visiting Rachel… So the two of five of us who actually lived here are dead…" I groaned. I was trying to keep the agony out of my voice, not wanting to completely freak anyone out…even though I probably already had…

Leon groaned angrily, and Claire seemed to sigh. With that, we were completely lost in a city filled with zombies' intent on eating us…and we had no way out.

Okaaay… I like to think that was a good re-introduction chapter! Lolz, anyway, I'm so sorry for the long wait… : I have no excuse, only apologies. In theory, you shouldn't have to wait as long for the next, and I will continue to work very hard! Thank you for reading, please review with comments and suggestions to make my work better! :D