Chapter 12:
The tape ended there. Leon scoffed softly as he set the recorder in one of his pockets and grabbed the keycard from Ben's lanyard. He hummed curiously as he walked over to Veronica.
"What are they after?" he thought aloud.
"I don't know! What's that G-Virus thing they were talking about?"
"No idea. Maybe Ada knows if it has to do with her investigation."
"We'll have to ask when we see her. Now that we have the keycard and all."
"Yeah. What's that you got there?" he nodded to the paper in her hand.
"It's a memo that Ben wrote. 'The station's swarming with monsters. Even here I can hear their cries. But it's not the zombies I'm afraid of. Codename: Tyrant. The ultimate bioweapon, developed by those bastards in the utmost secrecy. To think that that thing might be wandering around here. Chances are they've ordered it to wipe out the witnesses.'" She paused before looking back up at her friend with worry in her eyes. "My god! Leon, that thing is literally out to kill us!"
"A bioweapon? Who are these people?!"
"I don't know, but I don't want this 'Tyrant' thing to get us. Let's go!" Setting down the paper and picking up a first aid spray, they quickly made their way out of the cell only for all of the other cells to start opening. An alarm started blaring and the hordes of zombies that were stuck in the cells were unleashed.
"That's not good."
They ran over to a switch and pulled it, unlocking a door that led them a separate way from the cells. Just as they rounded the corner, however, Mr. X, the Tyrant, came stopping towards them.
"Gimme a break," Leon grumbled as they backed away. It took a swing at them when it got close, arm whizzing over their heads. They were able to dodge it in time and ran around either side of it. They were about to reach the exit when the zombies began walking toward them. "Grenade!" he shouted before tossing a flash grenade at the horde.
It went off, stunning the zombies long enough for the couple to bulldoze through them to the exit. They ran out into the garage, relieved to see no dogs around, but didn't make it far as the Tyrant busted through the concrete wall in front of them. Before either of them could run away, it reached out and grabbed the both of them with its giant hands. One enclosing around Leon's neck and the other lifting Veronica by the front of her shirt. It held them high above the ground and its expression remained neutral even as they tried to fight him off. It's eyes were grey and blank even as it stared at them.
"Let me go!" she cried trying to kick at it, her attempts futile. "Let go you ugly grey asshole!" She could hear Leon choking next to her, his hands trying desperately to pry the giant ones away from his neck.
Suddenly, an engine roared and car lights flashed on them. They all turned their heads to the giant S.W.A.T. car that sped towards them, tires squealing against the pavement. The Tyrant threw the survivors to the side to try and stop the truck only to be plowed right back into the wall.
Veronica sat up quickly and crawled over to Leon who was coughing and gasping for air. She sat him up to help him breathe and watched as a familiar woman climbed out of the driver's side of the truck. She looked unscathed despite the crash she had just pulled off.
"Ada!" they both said in unison. She frowned at them then began to walk away.
"This is getting old...Saving your asses- that's twice," she pointed at them. The pair got onto their feet, the young girl helping her partner up, then followed her.
"Thank you for that," Veronica told the agent, only getting a small nod in return. They caught up to her realizing she was heading towards the shutter.
"I didn't realize you were keeping score," Leon retorted at the agent. Ada spun angrily to face him.
"Look, this isn't a game!" The sound of metal scraping from the truck stopped them, the two taking out their guns in preparation for anything. They weren't surprised that it was still alive.
"You gotta be kidding me," he hissed.
"Nothing dies down here," Ada groaned while taking out something from her pocket. The truck was just beginning to be pushed forward when it suddenly burst into flames. The couple looked over at Ada as she closed a device in her hand before putting it away. Impressive! She looked over at the pair.
"I take it you guys have the key card?"
"Yeah, and this," the officer replied while taking out Ben's recorder. He tossed it over to her which she caught easily. "I was hoping you could explain what's on it." She looked at it then at him with a small shrug.
"Maybe," she paused. "After I hear it. Let's get out of here," she said while heading towards the exit. Veronica and Leon looked at each other, at the flame engulfed truck then followed the agent. "We might want to open the shutter."
Leon nodded and put the key card into the machine. It beeped as it accepted the card then the shutter began to slowly rise up. The trio waited till it rose high enough to crouch under then walked out into the deserted city street. It felt simultaneously freeing and frightening being out in the open.
The city's lights were still on, but it was void of any life. Under normal circumstances, the place would've been nice to walk through on a summer evening. As they walked, Ada took a listen to the recorder while making a right at the top of the driveway.
One side of the street was blocked off by a large blockade of vehicles and trash. The lonely road was dotted with abandoned cars that reflected the streetlights on its metal hoods. The rain lightened up a little bit and there didn't seem to be any zombies or monsters wandering around, much to their relief. Once Ada was done listening, she sighed and set the recorder in her pocket.
"Is that the intel you needed?" Leon asked.
"Unfortunately, no. Ben, didn't come through."
"Well, what exactly are you looking for?"
"More info on the people responsible for this mess."
"And who would that be?" Veronica asked curiously.
"I'm afraid I can't say. Not yet at least." She looked ahead then began briskly walking towards the end of the street. The road was cut off, leaving only an exposed construction site of pipes and a deep gorge in its wake. Looking down into it, she thought for a moment before turning her head to the building to their left.
"Road's out...Going through that gun shop looks like the only way," she pointed out as she walked towards it. It looked like it was the only store left with a lit sign reading, 'Gun Shop Kendo' with a gun symbol in the front. Following the agent to the door, the other two looked at each other and shrugged unsure of what to do as she knelt down and began to pick the lock.
With a click, she unlocked it then stood up to push the doors open wide. The room was littered with garbage and knocked over shelves. It looked like the city ransacked the place when the outbreak happened. Not that they could blame them.
"What a mess," the agent mumbled while walking in and crouching down to search for supplies. The other two brunettes followed suit by walking around the mostly empty store looking for anything useful. Leon found a long barrel for a shotgun and quickly added it to their own.
"This will help let you shoot 4 more bullets and it will help make each shot extra powerful," he explained as he handed Veronica back the gun.
"Great! Thank you," she smiled as she added the extra bullets in the gun. They also found another grenade and more handgun ammo lying around, both for Leon to take. There was also a note on a register that was addressed to the owner of the shop by a lady named Jill. They didn't know if it was the same Jill from Chris' letter back at the station, but they didn't think too much about it since it was sad to think that this person went through this hell. They both began walking towards the back area that led outside when a shotgun was suddenly pressed against Leon's shoulder.
"Don't move," a man in a yellow plaid shirt warned him. His face was scratched up and his hands looked like they had been badly singed. Veronica raised her gun immediately in protective mode while trying to remain calm even though her heart was beating at a million miles per minute. The man wavered his aim between the two then decided to keep it on the officer. Leon froze and remained calm during the whole ordeal.
"Vee, don't shoot," he told her before addressing the stranger. "We're not going to hurt you-."
"I said DON'T MOVE!"
"We're just passing through. I'm going to ask you to lower that weapon."
"Like hell you are! You're going to turn around, and go right back out the way you came in."
"And go where exactly?!" Veronica scoffed, not taking her eyes or her gun off of him.
"Anywhere but here," he growled. Leon glanced over the man's shoulder and was surprised to see a little girl standing in a doorway to the back part of the shop. Her hair was a mess, her breathing was wheezy and there was blood around the collar of her blue and white striped shirt. Even in the darkness, he could tell something wasn't right.
"I think your daughter needs help, sir." The man cocked his gun and pressed closer only for Veronica to do the same in warning. He glanced at her then at Leon, slightly backing away.
"Don't tell me how to deal with my daughter."
"Drop it!" Ada demanded, suddenly walking into view with her handgun aimed at the man. When he went to aim his gun her way, Leon took out his. He was outgunned now for sure. He continued to wave his gun between the three of them as his daughter began walking towards them with a small limp. Seeing her coming forward, Ada switched her aim over to the young girl and began to walk toward her. The man jumped in front of her waving his hand to stop her.
"No! Wait!"
"Step aside. We need to terminate her before she turns," she told him coldly.
"'Terminate'? That's my fucking daughter!" Looking at the kid, the trio could see one of her eyes was white, but the other remained brown. She hadn't fully turned yet. Veronica and Leon looked at each other with sad eyes then nodded before lowering their weapons. He turned to Ada and waved his hand for her to do the same.
"Ada...Just let them be." She looked at him with a neutral expression before lowering her gun. The man kept his gun raised and his eyes on them.
"Emma, sweetheart, I told you to stay put," he called out to behind him. She wheezed loudly before taking another step.
"Da...ddy?" she spoke, voice barely a whisper. He turned and walked over to her, kneeling down beside her.
"Yeah, Emmie. Daddy's here. I'm here, ok?" he tried reassuring her as he pulled her into a one-sided hug. The girl's arms were lifeless at her sides. It was hard to watch. Leon took a step forward, his expression softening. Veronica could tell that he wanted to help, but he didn't know how.
"Those fuckin' things outside...Look what they did to us," the stranger sniffled before turning his head to look up at Leon. "You're a cop. You're supposed to know something-how did this happen!? HUH!?" The only one who could have any possible answer was Ada. The other two looked at her almost expectantly, but she said nothing. "She was our sweet little angel."
"Mo-mmy?" Emma wheezed. Her father turned the girl to face him with tears running down his face.
"Mommy's sleeping, honey, ok? And I'm gonna put you to bed too, ok?... Emma." You could see at the moment that he realized that this was the end. It was enough for Veronica's eyes to well up and her bottom lip to quiver. It made her miss her own dad.
He stood back up and began to lift her up into his arms as she groaned in pain. Everyone else took a few steps forward watching as he carried her back to the open door where she came from. Then he turned to them visibly upset.
"Just go...Just give us some privacy," was the last thing he said before slamming the door closed. They all stood there in the rain for a moment watching the door intently.
"You know, it's one thing to keep the truth from us!" Leon exclaimed while turning to Ada. "But why him?" He questioned as he gestured to the door. Just after he said this, there was the sound of a gun cocking and a single gunshot coming from where the man disappeared. They all looked back at the door in realization as to what happened, almost expecting a second shot to happen. But it never came. Angry at the situation and determined to bring justice to the city, Leon turned back to Ada.
"I want to find out what's happening here. And stop whoever's behind it. Helping people like them," he pointed back at the door, "that's why I joined the force." Veronica watched in awe as he confronted Ada. She found his unrelenting care for people admirable and at that moment, she knew she fell for him.
She was just as upset at the entire situation, and if she could find out who did this to the city, including her best friend, she wanted in. She didn't know if they could save everyone, but she was damn well willing to try. He gave her the hope and determination to try to survive this and she'll be damned if anyone was going to stop her. As long as she was by his side and with Ada's help, she felt like it was possible. The F.B.I. agent walked forward and stood in front of Leon, seemingly interested in his help.
"My mission is to take down Umbrella's entire operation. We may not make it out," she told him.
"Whatever it takes to save this city...count me in," he replied without hesitation. Veronica walked forward filled with determination.
"I'm in too." He looked over at her, surprised by her action. His eyebrows furrowed with concern.
"Vee, you don't have to do this. You can still make it out of here!"
"I'm not about to let you two go through this alone. You're my partner, Leon. We gotta stick together. I have your back!" She looked over at Ada. "Is that alright with you?"
"Fine by me, but I did warn you. Both of you."
"I understand." Leon placed a hand on Veronica's arm.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" She touched his hand with her own.
"Positive. I'm not leaving this city without you," she affirmed before holding out her fist. He smiled softly and fist-bumped her. Despite being worried as hell for her, he was happy to see her stay. Her courageousness was there from the beginning and it strengthened his bond with her even more now.
"Then let's go. We have a city to save." The trio took one last look at the door before turning to a small gate that led out onto a different path into the city. Ada led the way with the pair trailing behind her. Despite their declarations of courage, they felt nervous at what was to come but pushed the feeling down as much as they could. They had to get through this together!
"So, who exactly did you say we're taking down?" Veronica asked while brushing the rain from her eyes.
"Heard of the Umbrella Corporation?" They nodded. "They're a pharmaceutical company secretly making bioweapons. They have a virus- it turns people into indestructible monsters." As if by fate, they reached a courtyard and looked up to see a billboard for Umbrella. It pictured the company as happy and picturesque, but Ada's explanation really made it look as fake as can be.
"That explains the horrible things we've seen," Leon replied.
"Like Mr. X and that thing we fought down in the basement," Veronica added. At the edge of the courtyard, they used the construction walkways leading into the gorge towards their destination.
"And that's why I'm looking for Annette Birkin. She's the one at Umbrella responsible for unleashing the virus. I'm going to bring her down." They jumped down from a high landing to another walkway that ended at a large sewer entrance. "This is how we get to Annette."
"Why am I not surprised?" Veronica sighed.
"Based on what you've said, the sewer seems fitting," Leon said as they peered into the hole. It was dimly lit and the floor had been covered with sewage and broken piping. Clearly work was being done on the inside.
"Well said. After you," the agent gestured.
"Gee, thanks," he replied sarcastically as he walked in first. His partner followed behind him while Ada stayed in the back. They had walked down a good distance till they reached a fork in the road, with one way being blocked by its destructed pathway. "Can't imagine a real scientist being down here."
"According to HQ...this leads right into Umbrella's secret facility," Ada explained as they turned down the path to the right.
"Come on. Sewers are run by the city," he retorted in disbelief. "How could they have a facility...without the authorities knowing?"
"Welcome to corporate America. Umbrella's controlled Raccoon City for years."
"Shocking really," Veronica grumbled, stepping over a mound of sewage. They continued down the sewer drain, lights growing dimmer with each passing minute. "God, this place just gets worse and worse, doesn't it?"
"Feels like it, huh? I don't think I'll be able to trust my own plumbing system for a while after this," Leon replied.
"Same here."
They turned left at a corner and was about to reach another entryway when suddenly, there was a loud rumbling from somewhere on the surface above. It shook the room around them, dust crumbling down from the ceiling eerily.
"Jesus… That an earthquake?" the officer questioned worriedly. The shaking stopped, much to their relief, but kept them on edge.
"I sure as hell hope so," Ada replied.
"I don't like the way that you said that," the other girl responded as she looked up at the ceiling.
Turning down a dark corridor, they could only see with their flashlights and with a light that glowed through the iron gate at the other end. As they drew near it, something large, that they thought was a giant mound of garbage in front of it, suddenly moved with thundering footsteps and a loud roar. The group froze as they watched whatever it was disappear on the other side of the gate. Leon turned to the agent with a look of fear and disbelief on his face.
"What the hell!?" She merely looked at him with a neutral expression.
"Stay sharp! God only knows what's down here." Veronica turned with a similar look to Leon's.
"Seriously?! Why would you say it like that?!" Ada only shrugged then nodded the pair to move forward. They looked at each other in disbelief but continued walking nonetheless. Going through another room, they carefully walked out into the other side of the gate, finding it empty, but seriously damaged on the other end. Whatever was there, had crashed through the wall and disappeared into the darkness.
"Where did it go?" Veronica inquired as they passed the hole and moved forward to descend a staircase.
"Hopefully far away from here," the agent sighed. The stairs led them to a concrete hallway full of construction. Halfway through another rumbling occurred, this time it sounded like an explosion went off somewhere on the surface.
"Again!?"
"I really don't like this," Veronica whispered.
"It's not too late to turn back, you guys."
"No chance. You're stuck with us to the end," Leon affirmed, Veronica nodding alongside him. Going through an entryway, they crossed along a metal catwalk, but unfortunately, it dropped off down into sewage-filled waters. Piles of garbage lined the walls and the water ran a putrid dark greyish green. The air smelled of mold, rotten garbage, and shit. Everyone in the room tried desperately not to gag.
The pair of survivors looked back at the agent with a look of disgust. To say they all were not excited to get down there was an understatement. She merely gestured them to continue. They glanced at each other one last time before Leon decided he would go first. He crouched down and jumped over the edge. The water only reached his thighs, but that didn't stop it from splashing in his face.
"Ugh! You sure this is the right way?" he asked while wiping his face and looking up at the girls. They peered over the edge at him with similar disgusted faces.
"Unfortunately," Ada responded. Veronica crouched down, intending to go next, but was stopped by a loud booming coming from somewhere in the sewer line. Leon held up his hand at them.
"Wait there." With each loud thud, the room and the water shook. He warily walked towards the source of the noise, waiting for something to happen, when suddenly, out of the wall, came a ginormous alligator snapping its giant jaws hungrily against the walls. It was almost as big as the tunnel they were in and it was angry. The moment it saw Leon, it began to charge at him.
"Jesus Christ!"
"LEON! RUN!"
"GET OUT OF THERE!"
The girls watched in horror as Leon made a run for it, the alligator not too far behind. They could barely make out the "HOLY SHIT!" Leon shouted over the sound of the roaring. How is he possibly going to survive this!?
"We have to go after them!" Veronica was about to jump but was stopped by Ada's hand on her shoulder.
"We need to find another way! C'mon!" The brunette followed the agent back the way they came and through some passageways that they didn't notice before, all while following the sewer line from where they could see. As they ran, a loud explosion coming from a room not too far ahead caught their attention. Please don't be dead! As they neared the doorway, they could hear Leon's voice.
"Chew on that...you overgrown son of a bitch." He's alive! Running through the door, they looked over the catwalk to see him trying to catch his breath. Floating in the filthy water behind him was a giant chunk of what was left of the alligator. Right above it on the slope was a busted gas pipe and they simply put two and two together on what had happened. Veronica couldn't help but smile as relief filled her being seeing her friend alive down there.
"Leon, up here!" Ada called, catching his attention. At the end of the catwalk, she let down a ladder for him to climb.
"What the hell was-?"
"Just get up here!" As soon as he made it to the top, Ada began to walk away, but Veronica couldn't help but wait for him. The moment he was safe, she tackled him into a tight hug.
"You're alive!" she said, her voice muffled into his shoulder. His arms wound themselves around her and squeezed, careful not to touch the middle of her back.
"I'm ok, Vee. I'm ok."
"Oh! And you smell," she pulled back with a crinkle to her nose. He merely shrugged with a tired smile.
"I had to run through a lot of garbage. A LOT of garbage." She opened her mouth to say something when someone cleared their throat from behind them. Ada was watching them at the entryway, growing a little impatient.
"Sorry to interrupt you two love birds, but we have a mission to finish." The two survivors dropped their arms with a light blush in their cheeks before catching up to her.
"Sorry," Veronica muttered.
"Can't say I didn't warn you," Ada said with a nod to Leon as they crossed the threshold into the hallway. Leon grew agitated at her tone.
"You said the virus turned people into monsters, not reptiles."
"Fair point. I'm just impressed you made it in one piece." Leon didn't respond as they turned down another hallway full of construction tools. At the end of it was an elevator, still working by the looks of it. Ada looked at it curiously then walked in, the other two following suit. With a push of a button, the doors closed and the car began to slowly descend.
"So let me get this straight: Umbrella sells monsters like that to who? Our military? Somebody else's?" the young man inquired.
"They don't sell the monsters, they sell the viruses that make them. And Annette is who makes the viruses." Ada looked up at him, her expression entirely serious. "Scary as that alligator was...Annette is far more dangerous." With that said, the elevator stopped and opened its gate. Leon carefully walked out first into a room full of pipes and electric machines.
They passed through it and then another room until they reached a metal door. As they grew closer, they could hear a lady's voice talking on the other side. Leon peeked it open to find a blonde woman crouching over a dead body. She was writing something in a small handbook as if she was studying the corpse.
"Definitely William's handiwork," they could hear her mutter to herself. Opening the door for the girls behind him, he walked forward and raised his gun at the stranger.
"Identify yourself!" The lady looked up at him annoyed, but not too bothered if anything she ignored him. She was wearing a white lab coat over a red blouse and white pants and her hair was lying over her shoulder in a braid. She looked like a scientist. Ada walked in with her gun out, Veronica following suit behind her.
"Annette Birkin." The other pair looked at her in surprise. This was Annette?
"She's who we're looking for?" Leon asked.
"Not much time," the scientist muttered as she stood back up, her gaze still on the zombie. "Need to dispose of it." Ada stalked forward, the other two watching cluelessly but with guns still aimed.
"We're here for the G-Virus!"At Ada's statement, Annette finally looked up and scoffed.
"That's not going to happen."
"I'm warning you, doctor!"
"Oh yeah?" Without tearing her gaze away, Annette pulled out a lighter and tossed it onto the dead body on the floor. The corpse immediately ignited into flames as she made a run for it.
"Hey!" the young man tried to say, but Ada beat him to it and began to run after Annette.
"STOP!" The scientist turned a corner and as soon as Ada was in eyesight of it, gunshots went off stopping her in her tracks.
"ADA!" Leon ran at the agent and tackled her down to the other side of the hallway. He grunted in pain as he hit the ground, blood beginning to pool on the concrete. He was hit!
"LEON!"