~Thanks very much to my loyal reviwer Mimi! Also, thanks so much to my new reviewers!

darkshadowwarchfiend

kitkatthevampirelover

katkoneko

darkzeblock

AmoraPyra

This chapter is for you guys!~

It was late into the night. Leon had found an old spare room with a small lumpy bed for Ashley to sleep in. She had passed out as soon as she laid down, exaustion sagged in her form. She needed the rest. Leon sat against the wall by a window. The waning moon illuminated a small section of the room, giving him just enough light to examine his arms.

His arms...

They were the unspoken worry. Ashley hadn't mentioned them and neither had he. He supposed it was because they just didn't know what to say. The lines were moving up slowly, but they were noticable now. He could no longer try and hide them beneath the folds of his gloves. Ashley assumed it was simply a reaction of the plagas. It could very well be, but Leon didn't mention that the higher the marks climbed, the more he felt himself change.

He was losing his carefully honed skills. His observation, sense of direction...they were all failing. He had no idea why. He was trying his hardest to remain focused on the mission, but in reality, he was beginning to want to just give up. The stress of being trapped in a castle, of constantly being on the move, the weight of another trying to force into his mind...it was trying.

Saddler was persistent. Leon had managed to keep him out of his mind before, but he could feel the older man pushing his way back in. Leon's mind had nearly collapsed last time. There was no telling what Saddler would do to his mind again. Deep down, Leon knew it had something to do with the junk Saddler had shot into his neck. Whatever it was, it was winning.

step...step...step...step

Leon heard the footsteps. His eyes shot open and faster than could be followed, he had his gun in the face of the creeping person.

"L-Leon?" Ashley squeaked.

Leon quickly lowered the gun. "I'm sorry Ashley."

She let out a breath. "It's okay. I'm actually glad you managed to doze off. You looked like you needed the sleep."

Leon managed a small smile. "I did." But inside, he was scolding himself. He had let himself fall asleep while watching Ashley?

He got up out of the chair. Ashley walked out into the middle of the room. "So, where to now? Are we going to try for the basement?"

Leon nodded. "Yeah. Hopefully there will be a way out."

Leon stepped in front of her and pressed himself aginst the door. He listened intently for a few seconds. When he was certain that there was no one in the hall, he opened the door. He quickly stepped out into the hall, weapon raised. There was no sign of movement. He nodded to Ashley and she came out too.

"We're clear."

They started off in the direction of the nearest stairs. They were on the second floor. It was taking them longer to move through the castle than he liked. He hated to admit it was partly his fault for his lacking sense of direction. Despite his lacking skills, he had enough of himself to make an oberservation.

"Doesn't the castle seem...empty?" He asked.

Ashley looked around. "You're right. I haven't seen or heard anyone."

"That's odd. These walls are made of stone, some marble. They reverberate sound easily and far. We could hear someone from aways over. I don't understand why we're not."

Ashley shook her head. "Me neither."

Even as they approached and descended the stairs, there were no sounds aside from their own footsteps. It was beginning to unnerve him, although Ashley considered it a good sign.

"Maybe they've given up on finding us and we have a clear getaway now." She said optimistically.

Leon learned the hard way: never be an optimist. From zombie hordes to untrustworthy allies to current insane villagers, something always happened. There was no such thing as coincidence. He didn't have the heart to tell Ashley this. He let her have her misplaced optimism. It probably was the only thing that kept her going.

The first floor dumped them into another hallway. Leon followed it down till he came to a pair of heavy metal doors. Ashley pressed in close.

"Why are these doors metal?" She asked.

"I don't know."

Leon listened carefully for any sounds on the other side. When none echoed, he pushed open the door. He knew immediatley it was a mistake.

His entire body suddenly erupted in white-hot flames of pain. They crippled him, bringing him to his knees. His eyes watered and he clenched his teeth. He must have bitten into his tongue because soon after he tasted the coppery tang of blood. He groaned out as the pain increased, shooting up his spine.

His ears pounded, he could barely register that Ashley was screaming in his ear for him to get up. He opened his eyes to see nothing but the white floor, blurring through his watery eyes. He opened his mouth to try and gasp in air. He could make out the blurry form of Ashley's brown boot when it was suddenly taken away.

He heard her scream out and new sounds entered his head. The absent mumblings of robed zealots were now thick in the air. He knew what was happening. They were taking Ashley away, and she was screaming for his help. But he couldn't move. This pain was paralyzing him.

"No." He said to himself. "Help her."

He drew in a ragged breath and forced himself to move. Each movement was laced with pain. He gripped the wall as he struggled to his feet. He felt weak. He looked for Ashley. Panic erupted in his chest. She was gone. He could hear her echoing screams but they had taken her. The remaining zealots were surrounding him. He pushed himself off the wall to face them. One arm was clutching his middle and the other hung limply to his side. The pain had not gone away.

He jumped, startled, when he felt a hand from behind graze his side and reach for his gun. He tried to get his gun from the holster but it was already gone. Leon turned to face the thief.

"Hello Leon."

Everything clicked into place at once. The empty halls, the sudden horde of zealots. The realization of the plan cleared everything. A hand graced his fore head and Leon was out with a final thought, the face of Saddler smiling down.

He had ambushed them.

Alrighty! There will be slash in the next chapte, which will be posted Friday morning. Poor Leon, I feel sorry for him. Thanks for reading!