Author's Note: Sorry for the wait everyone. I've been really busy lately. Now, everyone knows these "creatures" are "lickers", but Claire and Leon don't know that yet-but they will..I'll explain that in the next couple chapters.. and how does Jill unknowingly save their lives? I'll explain that too.

Dead in a Rut

(Raccoon City, 8 Years Ago)

Walking on the balls of his feet to avoid any additional noise, Leon quietly passed by Chris's doorway and walked up to Kendo's front door.

He turned the knob. To his dismay, it was locked.

Leon shook his head and groaned. Terrific

Leon presumed that the most obvious solution-shooting the lock or breaking down the door-would only create noise and unwanted attention. After searching around and finding no spare key, Leon felt something shift in the pocket of his pants and suddenly remembered a valuable tool he picked up earlier that evening. He had found it on Chris's coffee table and figured he would borrow it in case they found themselves in a sticky situation.

Leon pulled a small plastic case from his back pocket. It was labeled "Property of J.V.". He opened it revealing various combinations of stainless steel lock picks. They were definitely well-made, expensive and possibly illegal.

It wasn't the first time Leon had ever used them. He made sure he left out that part out in his police interview.

Leon examined the dead bolt on the front door and found that it was a basic pin and tumbler lock. Using the tools in the case, Leon carefully picked at the lock until he felt the pins click and the cylinder go.

Still got it he thought.

Leon slowly turned the knob, pushed the door gently open and slipped inside.

"Uggggghhh!" Claire yelled. Her patience was wearing thin.

She had already entered in a number of other things—to no avail. The same message kept appearing on the tiny screen.

ERROR

Frustrated, Claire circled the store room, searching for any hint of meaning within the objects in the store which may give some clue to the password. Other than the various gun accessories and memorabilia that were displayed, Robert actually had some interesting Japanese artwork on the walls along with small figures of samurais on the shelves. It reminded Claire of her Art History course she had taken as an elective her last semester. The class had overviewed some of the art from Japan's feudal days. She breezed through it and passed with an A, even though she fell asleep for mostly half of it.

She thought back to the inscription and decided to split it up into segments and focused on the first half

those who serve.

The words sounded familiar-as if she had heard that similar phrase somewhere before. She stared at a figurine of a samurai when suddenly, like an on-coming truck, it hit her.

They discussed the meaning of the word samurai in her Art History class: Samurai-They were the military nobility during the pre-industrial age of Japan similar to knights during Europe's feudal days. The literal translation was "Those who serve…"

Samurai! That has to be it!

Excited, Claire ran over to the keypad and entered the word Samurai.

This time it gave her a different message;

Error: Maximum entry limitation: Please enter the correct pass code to prevent system lock out.

Claire read the message in disbelief.

"Uggggghhh!"

Leon felt a cool breeze filter through as he entered Robert Kendo's apartment. As he walked through the hallway's arched opening, he could smell a faint but distinguished stench of rotting flesh mixed with something fragrant, earthy and sweet. A thought came to mind, but Leon dismissed it right away.

The hallway opened up into the living room and kitchen area. Just like Chris's apartment, Roberts' was also large with tall ceilings. The kitchen lights were still on, allowing him just enough light to inspect the living room. Despite the clutter and papers on the floor, the room looked undisturbed.

Leon forced himself to relax, letting his guard down just a little to look around the living room hoping to find something that would give him some insight to the inscription on the safe. Just like Chris, Robert had some framed articles on the wall, but one article in particular caught Leon's attention.

Samurai Edge; Weapon of Choice for STARS

Raccoon City: Chief of Police Brian Irons has announced that the samurai edge, a modified 9 mm Beretta, will serve as STARS designated issued handgun. A statement released today from Irons states that this weapon will help "Serve as a means to fight the malevolence that plague our city."

Leon smiled to himself as he pulled his walkie out and spoke into the intercom.

"Claire?"

For a minute all Leon could get was static. Finally Claire's voice blared through the small speaker "Leon…can you hear me?"

Leon turned down the volume. "Did you figure out the puzzle yet?"

More static. "I thought I did. I thought it was Samurai." He could hear Claire sigh, "I only have one more try before the system locks me out"

Well, she was close

"Robert used the name of the gun he created."

There was more static that was coming through the walkie. Claire was barely audible.

"What did you say…Leon… I can't hear you…."

Leon spoke a little louder, "The pass code is Samurai Edge"

There was more static. "I didn't get all that" replied Claire.

Damn it! "I'll tell you when I get downstairs" Leon replied as he turned off the walkie.

He walked to the kitchen. Just like Claire had said; on a cork board next to the fridge labeled keys was a single key card.

Well that wasn't hard at all he thought to himself.

Leon walked out of the kitchen and headed to the front door but stopped when he heard a faint rasping, breathing sound.

Tense, Leon raised his magnum, his finger already on the trigger. His eyes scanned the living room.

Nothing

Am I hearing things?

Leon's gaze wandered to the wall right next to him. He noticed what looked like a trail of dried blood stains splattered on the wall leading up to the ceiling. Leon then noticed something dripping in clumps from above. It wasn't water. Instead the liquid was clear and thick.

Saliva….

Oh Shit…

"Hssssssss"

Leon slowly looked up at the ceiling. To his horror, something looked as if it was staring back.

Tired and frustrated, Claire banged the walkie on the store counter. Stupid walkie she thought to herself.

She couldn't quite understand Leon's full message. There was just too much interference.

Claire suddenly heard shots being fired upstairs and was beginning to realize that she was running out of time.

"Come on Claire! If Leon could figure it out, so can you!

With the sounds of gunfire in the background, Claire glared at the safe, her gaze fixated on the inscription. She focused on the words she was able to hear from Leon;

Kendo…gun….samurai

Claire began repeating the words in her head

Kendo…gun….Samurai…. Kendo…gun….Samurai…. Kendo…gun….Samurai….

A moment of realization crossed her face. She shook her head, How come I didn't think of that!

She had only one try left.

This better be it!

Claire felt a rush of excitement as she typed in SAMURAI EDGE on the key pad. She inhaled and held her breath as her finger touched the ENTER key.

A couple seconds went by and suddenly a message appeared on the screen.

Please slide keycard

Claire jumped up in excitement, "Woohoo!"

Claire yanked her browning from her waistband and was about to head upstairs when she turned around and felt her heart stop mid beat.

In front of her was one of the creatures. It opened its mouth revealing a set of large sharp teeth.

Leon finally had a good look at the creature-he just wished it wasn't so up-close. The creature's flesh was purplish and muscled, brain partially exposed and there were scar rimmed holes where the eyes should have been.

Headshots! Aim for the head!

As Leon soon realized, it was easier said than done. As he tried shooting, the creature released its grip from the ceiling, allowing itself to drop, its body twisting in the air like a cat so that it landed in a crouch position on the wooden floor.

Leon backed himself into the kitchen. He couldn't tell if he was hitting the creature or if the bullets just didn't have any effect on it at all. The thing was coming at him, it's long red tongue uncoiled from its mouth and was whipping back and forth. Leon continued shooting until he was empty. Leon reached for his second magnum. As he steadied it, the creature's long tongue whipped at the gun, knocking it out of Leon's hand and onto the linoleum floor a couple feet away from him.

Thinking fast, Leon's gaze turned to the iron skillet on the kitchen stove. Leon reached for it just as the creature pounced toward him. His hand gripped the handle and taking a step forward he swung the skillet at the creature's head. There was a large thud as the skillet collided with the creatures' head, forcing it to land on its back.

Leon reminded himself that if he lived through this he was going to thank his dad for all the times he took him out to the batting cages.

He watched as the creature flopped back and forth on the floor; its claw tipped hands flailing in the air. It was disoriented but not completely down. Leon dropped the skillet and began searching for his magnum until he found something else that he could use instead.

Lodged between the wall and the refrigerator, Leon pulled out a modified 12 gauge shotgun and raised it at the creature just as it rolled over to its side screeching and bellowing. Hoping that the firepower would be enough, Leon moved as close to it as he could and fired a shot at the creature's head. Swiftly cocking the shotgun, he fired a second round. The second shot resulted in an implosion of body mass, blood and brain matter.

"Suck on that!" replied Leon triumphantly.

After Leon found his other magnum, he headed out the doorway of Robert's apartment and had just stepped out into the apartment hallway when Chris's apartment door came crashing down and out came three more of the creatures. All three seemed focused on Leon.

Forced back into Robert Kendo's apartment, Leon frowned. "Awww, come on! How many of them are there!"

I gotta find another way to get out here Leon thought as he slipped into another room and slammed the door shut.

"Hsssssssss"

Claire stood frozen in place as she watched the creature slowly crawl toward her. She aimed but hesitated, giving it enough time to open its mouth and snap its long thin red tongue at Claire's chest. Seeing the tongue-like whip coming at her, Claire immediately side-step to avoid its attack. Unfortunately, it was not enough and the tongue still managed to strike her arm. Claire felt a sharp pain followed by warm blood trickling down her arm.

Reality finally seized control as Claire steadied her browning and emptied the remaining ammo in the clip. The creature jerked uncontrollably before flipping on its back side. Its body thrashed around for awhile before it finally stopped moving.

Claire winced as she edged herself towards the corpse. Trying hard not to look away, Claire took a moment to assess the bullet-riddled corpse and wondered whether or not the thing was once human. She shook the thought away and turned back around, unaware that the creature had slowly gotten up and was quietly creeping behind Claire.

Sensing a bad feeling, Claire pulled out her knife, pivoted around and threw the knife at the creature's head.

The knife found its target, lodging itself deep into its cranium. The creature let out a heart-wrenching cry and began to jerk violently, knocking over stands and displays.

"I guess I spoke too soon" Claire said to herself. Claire looked around for something that could put the thing out of its misery when suddenly a flood of weariness overcame her. She suddenly felt dizzy, her vision was becoming blurred.

What the hell?

Before Claire could process what was going on she felt her legs weaken underneath her weight. Claire immediately slumped herself up against the wall behind the front counter.

Claire wanted to cry out for help but couldn't.

"Leon…" Claire managed to say just as she heard more loud screeching sounds coming toward her.