Chapter 20:

So far all her attempts to get free failed. She couldn't leave through any of the doors because they were electronically locked and she couldn't take Peter out because he used the remote against her. This was the first time in her life that she was truly stuck and unable to do anything. She wondered where and if Tripper had survived. For the first time since the explosion, she needed help.

She looked away from the window and down towards the bones on the floor. It was a shame for the individuals who were innocently killed by whoever ever committed the crime. Did they all come down here together and get killed at the same time, or did they come in spurts and somehow fell victim to an unknown murderer? She took a breath and looked back up to where the creature was. To her shock, an individual was out there wrestling with the monster. She saw him throw the creature over board. Arynn strained to see who this person was. She recognized the face, "Hernandez" she questioned in a small whisper. He looked at her through the glass and she held her breath. It was impossible for him to be alive after what Dorus did to him. She tried to be careful not to say anything. He pointed to the exit and she nodded. When she turned, she saw Tripper stealthily making his way towards her. He put his finger to his lip signally for her to be quiet so she sat still. With his gun drawn he walked past her and up to Peter. Without hesitation he balled up his fist and drove an uppercut to the young man's side. Peter took the hit and crashed into the side of the control panel. He brought out a gun and aimed it at Tripper's chest. To the scientist's dismay, Tripper already had a gun aimed for his head. They stood locked in their positions ready to fire and take one another out.

"Arynn get out of here," Tripper called.

Peter started to laugh. "She can't go unless I tell her too…"

Tripper narrowed his eyes. Peter started to reach for his remote and Tripper's hand flinched on the trigger.

"Easy, boy," Peter called out. He took out a small black remote, pointing it in Arynn's direction, "I control her. She doesn't move unless I tell her to."

Tripper darted his eyes to Arynn then back to Peter. He was faced with quite a dilemma.

"Now, Joseph, if you don't mind, I do have a destination to reach."

The commando allowed the scientist to standup, still with his gun ledged into the young man's cranium.

"How do you know my name?" Tripper asked.

"It's simple really." Peter replied with a snicker. "Everyone should know the name of the man who single-handedly bombed a small mountainous town off the face of the earth."

Arynn suddenly felt her heart race and saw numerous flash back images of her life growing up in Raccoon City. It all came crashing to a halt when she saw the jet overheard heading for the small town. Then the tremendous vibrations of a large scale earthquake and loud crackle of a missile flying through the air had her pushing the gas pedal to get to safety. She could feel the on-coming of tears as she looked away, resting her eyes on the Umbrella remains. The last time she cried was when her boyfriend turned into one of those things and she had to leave him behind. She thought she would never have to shed a tear like that again…but she was wrong. Firming herself up and wiping away the tears, she didn't pass judgment on Joseph Tripper, she had already made up her mind of who she would pass judgment on…Umbrella. The corruptive corporation was the blame for the outbreak and the blame for the nuke not to mention the blame for allowing the experiments to continue to thrive and escape the imprisoned tomb of Raccoon City. It was time to take a stand no matter what would be sacrificed in the process.

Arynn stood up and walked over to Peter. She wasn't going to let that damned remote control her life. The scientist pressed the button as hard as he could. Arynn could feel the pain shoot up her abdomen but she kept coming. Peter then pressed the button on the side and Arynn fell down. She felt a disturbance in her stomach that made her drop down to her knees. Tripper head butted Peter, making the scientist fall back. He dropped the remote and Tripper caught it before it hit the floor. The commando put it in his pocket and gave the scientist another pounding.

The rear door opened and Hernandez entered. He saw the fallen Arynn and quickly came to help her. She flinched when she saw his disfigured face. He pulled her arm over his shoulder and helped her.

"What happened to you…I thought you were dead…" she asked as the pain still throbbed inside her stomach.

"Nah, I guess there was another path meant for me…" he said as he picked her up with his new found strength.

Arynn was amazed. She remembered the soldier screaming before being slaughtered by Dorus and now here he was revitalized and assisting her.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

"Don't mention it." The young soldier replied, "You're a part of the mission and there's still a mission to be completed."

"Yes, of course, a mission…" Arynn trailed off.

Tripper was finally done beating the scientist into unconsciousness. He turned towards his two companions with relief.

"How is she?" the commando asked dragging Peter's body over to the rear end of the subcar. He pushed the body onto its stomach then took out some wire cuffs and tied them tightly around the man's wrists. Tripper then propped the scientist up against a nearby wall.

"She's fine. She's in some pain though, Joe," Hernandez called. He put the young woman on some chairs and Tripper came over to check on her.

"I'll check the control panel—see where this baby is headed," Hernandez said.

"I didn't think you would make it this far," Arynn said with a slight smile.

"At times, I doubted myself." The commando stated, "but I realized that I couldn't die out there without finishing up what we all came out here to do."

"You know," Arynn started, "I don't blame you…"

"I was following orders…" Tripper said.

"Well, sometimes you have to choose when it's right to follow orders and when it's time to do your own thing."

"Yea, I'm learning that now."

"I think you have more to learn, Joseph." Arynn said as she put her hand on the commando's arm, "thank you for helping me."

"Anytime." He quietly replied.

The young woman gave the commando a simple smile.

"Hernandez!" Tripper called out as he stood up looking out the windows. The train was riding at a faster pace now.

"Yea!" the soldier called back.

"Any idea where this thing is going?"

"No on the location but ETO says 15.25 miles—10 minutes tops!"

Outside the windows, were still the dark cut outs of the cave. Light was starting to show the closer the train got to the end of the tunnel. Arynn saw the daylight and almost cracked a smile when she saw that the sun was finally out. Tripper breathed a sense of relief. Hernandez shielded his dilated pupils from the oncoming raises wondering what the next day would bring. Would he finally turn and become one of those hideous zombies roaming the scorched earth for food or would he evolve into something worse—either way he hoped for a peaceful death.