I'm sorry it took me so long to post this next section. But it's here now. So enjoy.
All Resident Evil characters do not belong to me. Isabella however does and my imagination.
It was the castle guard area. The walls and stairs were made of the same stone. On the immediate right of them was a small building, a shed or a guards house. Leon stared at the small building for a moment before entering. Isabella on the other hand, decided that it would be best to scout on ahead. The stair case circled around to a heavy metal door. Up at the very top of the steps Isabella stood up as high as she could. Making an attempt to look over the draw bridge. The darn thing was too high and she couldn't see a thing. Hearing the tapping of footsteps beside her, she turned to see Leon walk up with a large metal case. First instinct was to ask what was inside, but knowing Leon it was something they needed.
"Just in case?" Isabella asked oblivious to the horrible pun she just made.
"That was really bad." Leon smiled, attempting to suppress a chuckle. Ashley was giggling.
"What was?"
"Just in case." Leon stated as he walked passed, a smile obvious on his features. No point in hiding it.
"Oh great." Her hand went to her forehead and slid down over her face. She was trying to hid her embarrassment. Only to fail in the end.
Without further delay, Leon opened the door. Allowing Ashley and Isabella to go through. As soon as they walked in, they could hear low chanting. Silently moving around the corner, they could see two very pale men in black robes. They were walking back and forth on a stone wall chanting. The only thing blocking the hooded men from seeing the group, was a huge wooden box that sat against the wall. On top of the box was what looked like an white ammo box.. Leon turned around and motion for Isabella to come to him. She hadn't even noticed he left. All the same, she obeyed and quietly went to him. He bent down and opened his metal case. And pulled out a long wooden rifle and what looked to be a scope. Handing it to Isabella, he gave her the bullets he got off the box.
"You want to help me. Then shoot." He pointed to the men on the wall.
"What? I've never even seen one of these before." Isabella said examining the gun. "Well besides in movies… but that's not the point." She said shaking her head side to side. Leon sighed and grabbed the rifle. He held it up to his shoulder, showing her how to hold it. He attached the scope and even showed her how to load the gun. "Does it have bad kickback like the Red9?"
"No." He said, handing the rifle back to her. He stood silent, waiting for Isabella to get situated. "Are you ready?"
"What if I miss?" She asked feeling self conscious and unsure. She didn't feel that her abilities were good enough for her to pick up the rifle. At least not as fast as Leon wanted her to.
"Don't worry. I wont let anything happen to you."
This made her feel a little better. Lifting the rifle to her shoulder, she used the scope to zoom in and out. She adjusted to get a feel for the gun. But at the current moment, she didn't have the luxury of time. She aimed for the one on the right. Having his head in view, she fired. A Hit!
"Good girl." Leon said, bringing a smile to Isabella's face.
Her victory was short lived however. She had another Ganado to kill. She aimed for the one that still stood. Her finger on the trigger, she aimed. She fired, but at the last moment he ducked down. She couldn't figure out whether or not he dropped on purpose. When the Ganado stood, he pointed and shouted something at her. Something she couldn't quite understand. Then he went, he took off. Or so she thought. Almost as quickly as he disappeared, he reappeared. He came running down the stairs from the right. Leon's gun already drawn.
"What if I alerted the others?"
Leon glanced at Isabella, with a worried look. He turned back and fire his gun, hitting the monk in the leg. It quickly fell to it's knees. He ran up and kicked it, sending it flying back. When it hit the ground, he followed up and pulled out his knife. He let no time pass as he stabbed it in the chest. The body died and bubbled away. It all happened in a matter of seconds. Isabella was amazed.
"They already knew we were here." Walking away from the remains of the body, Leon took in a good look of Isabella. She didn't look so good. She was covered in sweat and her skin was beginning to pale. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah. I'm fine." Isabella fidgeted a little bit.
"You don't seem fine." Leon looked at Ashley who didn't seem to be fazed by the killings anymore. Turning back to Isabella, he looked her over one last time. "Maybe you should rest."
"Leon. I'm okay… really." Isabella didn't really want to talk anymore. "Don't worry so much." He sighed in defeat. She didn't feel hurt… just a little confused and a little nauseous. After a moment of awkward silence, she walked over to Leon handing him the rifle.
"Hang on to that. We're going to need it." Leon said as he gently pushed it back to her. His eyes never leaving her for a second. "Let's go." He said as he turned on his heel. Quickly he jogged up the steps where the monk descended. Both the girls followed behind. "Wait!" Leon said as he raised his hand. Stopping Ashley and Isabella in their tracks. He cautiously stepped out. Straight across from where he stood, was a pavilion that was instantly destroyed. Sending Leon back to the girls.
"Are you kidding me?" Isabella couldn't hold back the surprise in her voice. Causing Ashley to look over to her. "Was that a fireball?"
Leon smiled. Isabella seemed to be doing better, or so she was letting on. He paused for a few seconds before quickly running across. He hid behind a wall where the Pavilion was destroyed. Once he was safely behind the wall, he looked where the fire ball had come from. When he stuck his head out, another came flying in his direction. It went off course and almost hit the two girls. Instinctively Isabella grabbed Ashley and pinned her to the wall nearby. Shielding the blonde from the explosion. She could feel her body becoming weak. When nothing hit them, Isabella looked over to Leon, who sighed in relief. Again the Ganados launched a fireball, but it was no closer than the last. Ashley was still against the wall when it exploded. No matter how hard they tried, the fire balls couldn't even graze them. That's when Leon realized that it took some time to load the balls onto the catapult.
"Come on!" Leon shouted making Isabella focus on him. She quickly grabbed Ashley's hand and pulled her across. As they got to cover, she dropped Ashley's hand to catch her breath. It felt like she wasn't getting enough air.
~It was only a few feet. Why am I out of breath?~
Leon looked over to Isabella. She was bent down and her hands were on her knees. Now he knew something was wrong. He just didn't know what. Now was no time to waste. Waiting for a few seconds, Leon pushed Ashley.
"Go!" He shouted. Ashley took off running. Leon grabbed Isabella's hand and pulled her to the next cover area. It was her turn to be dragged. When in cover, Leon walked over to the left. From what Isabella could tell, it was the area where the hooded men were standing. She watched Leon closely. He walk along the edge of the short outside hall, and into a small room. He circled around something big, causing him to disappear for a second.
"Looks like it still works." Leon said as he motioned to what Isabella thought to be a cannon. He circled around it once more and looked up. When Isabella caught her breath, she walked over to the small room. Only to be greeted by an old cannon. Looking up she saw that there was a huge hole in the ceiling.
"How are we going to get it up there?" Ashley asked pointing to the giant hole.
"It's an old castle. So maybe there's a crank or lift or something." He walked out the room to a small arch way. Isabella walked up beside him. The fireballs becoming more persistent. "There." He pointed to a man in a red robe, and ram skull mask.
Isabella took aim and fired hitting him dead on, but the skull protected him. Staggering, it pointed at her shouting, and ran off in another direction. Following him with her scope she managed to stop him before getting away. Leon smiled, being confident in Isabella's quick learning skills. But now was not the time to congratulate her. They reared the corner to the right, rushing up the steps. All the while fire balls never seeming to cease. Hiding behind a wall, Leon pointed to Isabella's next target. Across the way on a roof was a single Ganado loading a ball onto a catapult. Using the wall for cover, she took aim. Her view was obstructed by a stone roof, and she couldn't get a clear shot. Moving over she tried to the get a better view, but it was still blocked. Not too far away from the catapult was a red can. Through the scope she could read the word 'flammable' written in Spanish.
"Flammable huh?" Isabella said as she shot the barrel. Like she had expected the can exploded killing the Ganado. When Isabella put down the rifle, Leon was gone and already across the way. She heard two explosions, both coming from behind. She turned her head to get a better look. On top of the roof behind her, were two separate catapults. Both of which were now destroyed. She only assumed that it was Leon. Looking back to him, she saw that he was standing over the cannon hole, a small shelter behind. On the left side from where Leon was standing, was a hand crank. He already had it in his hands, didn't waste any time cranking the cannon up. Isabella ran over, seeing Ashley inside the little shelter.
"(They're here!)"
Isabella turned around to see a couple of Ganados coming up the stairs. She aimed her rifle, firing two shots, both hitting they're targets.
"One shot, one kill." Leon said, as the crank clicked. This let them know that it was all the way raised. "You're getting good at this." The cannon was facing a solid steel red door. The door that led them towards their way out. "Let's see if this work." Lighting the fuse for the old timer, it fired, blowing up the door.
Going down the pathway, Leon decided to take it slowly. Seeing that Ashley and Isabella were both tired. At the end of the path was a door, leading inside the castle. Fear struck Isabella, she didn't know what to expect. When they walked through the door, Leon's communicator went off. Catching his attention he lifted it up to his ear. Isabella decided to scout on ahead. As she went upstairs she didn't really bother to look around, considering she didn't really need to. To the immediate left was a dinning table and some chairs. To which she sat at, placing the rifle on the table. Behind her she heard Leon and Ashley come up the steps.
"What do you need that for?" Ashley asked as Leon held a platinum looking sword.
"Don't know yet." He said as he entered the upstairs section. He walked over to the stone tablet door that was blocking they're way. The stone tablet held a golden sword that Leon removed. Only to replace it with the Platinum sword. He went downstairs and did something that made the stone tablet lift up. Revealing a red door behind it.
"It worked." Ashley shouted to Leon down stairs.
When he came back up, Isabella stood up. Seeing that it was good enough rest for the time being. The three of them walked out of the room into another section of the castle.
"Leon!" The group of three turned around to the familiar voice. Leon was the first to speak.
"Luis." Surprise heavy in his voice.
"I've got something for you guys." Luis's hand went to his pockets, searching from his pants to his vest. When he couldn't find what he was looking for, he groaned. "What? Oh shit." While looking back, Luis spoke again. "I must have dropped it while running away from them."
"Dropped what?" Ashley walked forward to Luis.
"The drug that will stop your convulsions." Leon stepped uncomfortably to the sound of that. Luis glanced over to him then Isabella standing to his side.
"Look, I know your carriers. You've been coughing up blood right?" Ashley and Leon looked to each other.
"Yeah." Leon spoke, kind of unsure.
"And you?" Luis turned to Ashley.
"Yes." She placed her hand up over her chest. Isabella could tell she was worried. Stopping his foot slightly, Luis turned around facing the way he came.
"Damn it. The eggs have hatched already. We don't have much time." Isabella thought about when he saved her from the Ganado, after Mendez took Ashley away. They were in the woods, when she began coughing up blood.
~Maybe he's talking about the pills. Those huge nasty pills.~
Thinking about the pills made a little bile come up. Isabella didn't even notice Leon taking a few steps towards Luis. "What are you talking about?"
"I have to go back and get it." Ashley ran up beside him.
"Let me go with you."
Isabella raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"No. You stay here with Leon. He's better with the ladies. I'm sure." With Luis stepping away Leon spoke.
"Why are you-"
"It's just makes me feel better." Luis waved his hand to Leon and Ashley while walking away. "Just leave it at that." As soon as Luis was out of sight Isabella pulled the rifle to her chest. She was worried for Luis.
"I guess we should be going." Leon turned to Isabella who at the moment had her back facing him. "Why don't you go with him? He could use some help." Isabella turned to Leon. "And you…" He decided not to go on with it.
"You're worried too huh?"
"Yeah a little. But don't take too long. We'll be waiting for ya."
Isabella smiled, feeling a sense of relief.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Yeah, Ashley and I will be okay." Walking over, Leon placed a hand on Isabella shoulder trying to encourage her.
"Thank you." She looked at Ashley and then to Leon, imprinting their faces into her mind. With his hand on her shoulder, she turned to him. She placed her hand over his own. Leon lightly squeezed her shoulder in response. She didn't really want to go, feeling that Leon may need her help. But seeing Luis and him being alone made her worry for his safety. She couldn't just let him go like that, and apparently Leon thought the same. Or so she thought. Pulling away, she felt pressure on her shoulder. Almost like, Leon didn't want her to go. Smiling sweetly at him she walked over to Ashley.
"Be careful please." Ashley said before hugging her.
Taking one last look at the rifle, Isabella walked to Leon handing it over. As she walked away, Leon looked down to his hands. A look of confusion. Following Isabella's footsteps he called after her.
"Hey!" She turned around. "Take it with you."
"I think you should keep it. Besides you could hold onto it for me."
Leon didn't want to take no for an answer, and tossed the rifle back. Isabella barely caught it on time.
"I don't want you to be defenseless."
"Leon…" Isabella smiled noticing his concern. "If it will make you feel better, than it goes with me."
"Yeah it does. Who knows, maybe you'll save my life with it."
"Maybe." With that said, Isabella waved bye to Leon and Ashley.
"Be careful!" Ashley shouted as Isabella headed for the door. When Isabella was out of sight, Ashley looked over to Leon. "She'll be okay right?"
"If Luis finds the pills, she will."
As she descended the stairs, her chest began to tighten. Her lungs felt heavy and the air thick. Once at the bottom, she began coughing. Her hand went straight to her mouth, covering the spittle that came out. The fit of coughing ended, and she dropped her hand to her side. She was tired. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea she leave. She reached for the door, something seemed strange with her hand. The bandage was a different color. Looking at it she saw blood dripping down. Her heart slowed, she knew what was happening. She shook her hand, getting as much blood off as she could. She didn't want to` lose Luis before getting to him. Opening the door she heard shouting. She ran down the open hall, hoping he'd be okay.
"Luis!" Isabella shouted. She was back at the catapults.
Two Ganados were chasing after him, shouting. As he ran, he glanced back to the calling of his name.
"Get out of here!" He shouted. He was standing at the cannon. "Hurry! Run away before the rest come." Isabella aimed her gun and fired at the Ganados. By the time she had killed one, Luis was at the bottom of the cannon's room. He had kicked the hand crank loose and fell with the big hunk of metal. Isabella shot the second Ganado running after Luis. From where she stood, she could only see dust floating out the hole. She was about to run down stairs to help Luis, when five hooded Ganados rushed upstairs. Their was more coming up behind them. If she fought, she would surly lose. Quickly she looked around only to realize that she had only one way to go. And that was back to Leon and Ashley. She turned around and ran as fast as she could. The Ganados spotted her.
"Get her!"
"Kill her!"
"Die!"
~Not a very friendly crowd.~
As she neared the door, her heart began to pound. With both adrenalin and fear. The Ganados closing in on her, her only hoped was to get to the door before they caught her. She reached for the handle, only for the door to swing open. She feared the worst. Not being able to stop on time, she dove head first into the room. Whoever it was stepped aside, slamming the door shut. She fell at the bottom of the steps. The Ganados pounded on the door with brute strength, in an attempt to break it down. All she wanted to do was run, but her curiosity got the better of her. She turned to take a look at her killer. Only for her vision to blur with tears. Her heart stopped for a second. Leon was pushing a table against the door. A tear streamed down her face. She really thought she was going to die. And here, just in the nic of time was Leon. Her savior. She felt like crying, she had never felt fear like this in her entire life. She was so happy she wanted to jump up and hug him. Instead she stayed on the ground, unmovable. He was done barricading the door. Reaching down he grabbed Isabella free hand and the two of them ran up stairs and out the second door. Leon didn't say a thing, neither did Isabella. But when they got outside she stopped. Causing Leon to halt.
"We have to keep moving." He said looking back. He was still holding her hand.
She was in tears but she managed a weak thank you. Leon was taken back by this, in the midst of all this commotion she managed to say thank you. She was still a little teary eyed. With Leon's free hand, he wiped away a tear that slipped down.
"I told you. I won't let anything happen to you." His thumb rubbed her cheek. "Now come on. Ashley's waiting for us." Isabella nodded her head in response.
"Thank you."
I hope you enjoyed the latest addition. I worked hard on this one, considering I didn't like the first three versions of it. So I finally decided this was the one. Thank you for the read, and please review.