*Amara POV*

Leon pulled the Jeep out onto the road and turned to head back to the hotel. Amara sat in the back of the vehicle with Chris, her arms wrapped around her legs as she curled in against the larger male's side. His arm was wrapped firmly, comfortingly around her shoulders and her head rested on his chest. She could hear his heartbeat and, despite feeling numb inside, it was a comfort. A small comfort, but a comfort nonetheless.

Thankfully, despite feeling so cold inside, she wasn't exuding frost again like she had earlier. She wasn't a danger to them. Didn't want to be a danger to them. If anyone looked at her face just then, she imagined that they would think that she was some sort of doll. Chris gave her a small shake, kissing the top of her head and looking down at her before looking toward the front of the vehicle.

"Hey," he said, tapping Leon on the shoulder. "Turn up the heat. Her skin's still cold to the touch."

"Got it," Leon reached over and flipped the switch back up to max. "Any frost?"

"Not at the moment," Chris responded with a shake of his head. "It's like she's put herself into a small trance."

"Need me to pull over?" Leon asked, glancing over his shoulder at Chris briefly.

"Nah, keep heading to the hotel," Chris started running circles over her back. "Amara? Come on, Firebrand, it's gonna be okay. Talk to me, please?"

"What is up with you and Leon giving me strange nicknames?" she asked with a huff of weak laughter.

"There you are," Chris said with a relieved sigh. He kissed the crown of her head and then shrugged. "And because they suit you? And we tend to give people nicknames. You know how things are. Nicknames are just… what we do. Unless you don't like them and want us to stop?"

"No, no, you're fine," she said with a rough chuckle, leaning into him. "I just... it amuses me that you're comparing me to a brand of whiskey, and Leon thinks of me as a snow woman that feeds on weary travelers. But... it's unique, and... and it makes me happy."

"Wasn't thinking of the alcohol when I thought of that," Chris said with a laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.

"And I was thinking of a story I heard while in Aomori," Leon said over his shoulder. "They have a legend about the Yuki-onna there where she comes to the village on the third day of Shōgatsu and then returns to the mountains on the first day of Rabbit. Whenever that is. Supposedly, depending on how late the 'day of the Rabbit' is will affect how well the harvest goes, so the later, the better, from what I understood. So…?"

"Uh-huh. Regardless, I don't mind the nicknames," Amara responded with a faint smile. She had to stifle a yawn and then frowned at how full she felt. "Ugh... I feel fat…"

"Why in the hell-heck would you say that?" Chris asked with a surprised jerk of his body. "You're fit as fu-heck!"

"Now he's learning how to censor himself," Leon muttered from the front seat. "I scold you for years about that mouth of yours and the trouble it gets you into, and yet Amara gets you to behave?"

"Fuck you, dude," Chris shot back with a pout.

"Later," Leon laughed, winking at them in the mirror. "Once we're off the clock. I'm sure Amara would love to see us having fun."

"Y-you can cuss around me, Chris. I don't mind," Amara said, feeling her cheeks heat up. She met Leon's eyes in the mirror and let out a huff. "And I'll plead the fifth to that comment, Mr. Kennedy."

"Oof, harsh. I think we have our work cut out for us trying to impress our gal," Chris said, grinning at Leon.

Leon shot her a saucy look in the mirror that had her ducking her head against Chris' chest. She coughed into her hand.

"And as for why I feel fat... well, I guess I just feel like I ate too much," she said in a self-deprecating tone. "I know I'm as fit as I can get. I just... I know I'm a little bigger than other women."

"Firebrand, Amara, I need you to listen to me," Chris said, looking down at her and giving her side a gentle poke. "You're healthy and fit and hot as fuck. Don't go thinking otherwise."

"I'll try," she said, meeting his earnest gaze. She smiled again, a faint twitch of her lips. She wanted to believe him.

"Good, now-" the police radio on the dash interrupted Chris, and they all tensed.

"-anyone here me!?" a female voice, desperate and panic-filled. "We need help! Now! There's a BOW attack ongoing at the NYPD station! We need help! Some-"

There was a staticky cry, and the radio went silent. Leon cursed and slammed his foot down on the gas, causing Amara and Chris to jolt back in their seats. They both let out startled yelps. Amara could feel the increase of speed and began to shiver in fear as she clung to Chris's side. She could handle high speeds when she was the one driving. When she was the one in control. But this...? Chris' arm tightened around her in response to a small whimper that spilled past her lips, and he kicked the back of the driver's seat.

"Fuckin' slow down!" he barked at the other man.

"Not when there's a chance we can get there to save someone!" Leon snapped back.

"This isn't Raccoon City, Agent Kennedy!" Chris snapped, back in full 'Captain' mode. "We aren't going to be saving anyone if you make us crash!"

"Please slow down a bit…." Amara whimpered, trying to keep her voice level.

"I…" Leon glanced at them and swore, forcing himself to slow down a bit. His hands were tight enough on the steering wheel that his knuckles had gone white. "Sorry. Both of you. I just…"

"Bad memories," Chris said, his tone more conciliatory. Soothing. "I get it, man, but don't panic. You know better."

"Thank you for slowing down, Leon," Amara said with a tiny, thoroughly relieved sigh. She looked up at Chris and mumbled softly. "Sorry for squeezing the life out of you."

"That's okay. It takes more than that to leave me winded," Chris said, giving her a reassuring squeeze and an absolutely lewd grin.

"For fuck's sake Redfield," Leon groused from the front. "Can you focus?"

"We're ten minutes out!" Chris whined playfully. "Let me have some fun teasing you two! I'm stressed too, you know!"

"You can make with the dirty talk later, Captain," she said, giggling and blushing at their antics. She leaned up and placed a quick kiss on Chris' cheek. "Keep focused."

Amara frowned abruptly. If they were heading into a fight, it was best to get an inventory of their gear before arriving at the precinct. She pushed away from Chris and unbuckled before leaning over the back seat. She dug through the neatly stacked cases, muttering under her breath as she examined what ammo they had.

Chris let out a choked noise, or maybe it was Leon because the car swerved to the side briefly. She yipped, and Chris caught her around the waist before she could move more than an inch. She heard the distinct sound of Chris kicking the back of the driver's seat again.

"Eyes on the fucking road, Kennedy!" the brunette shouted.

"They were!" Leon barked back, sounding annoyed. "Or did you NOT just see that police cruiser almost plow into us on the right?!"

"Uhhhh…" Chris responded eloquently, and she glanced over to see that the brunette had gone bright red.

"The fuck are you 'uh'ing about-OH!" Leon broke off and let out a strangled noise. "Okay then! Not looking back again. Eyes on the road. Right."

Honestly, those two. Even when barrelling straight for a threat, they could still find time for banter. Well, she could play that game too. Amara let out a faint groan as she turned to look over her shoulder.

"Are you both alright?" she asked in an innocent tone. "I was just checking our supplies. It looks like we have enough for the fight ahead of us, but we probably want to resupply afterward."

Amara grabbed her replacement body vest and pushed back to slide back onto the seat, wincing as her chest caught against the top of the seat. She winced and rubbed at her chest briefly before slipping into the vest and fastening it into place.

"Why the fuck am I cursed with such big tits," she cursed as she carefully arranged the girls so they weren't pinched.

"They're nice tits," Chris countered immediately, staring at her with a blush painting his cheeks a charming pink.

"Chris. Gutter," Leon scolded from the driver's seat in a strained voice.

"Dude!" Chris said in a 'you know I'm right' tone.

Giggling softly, Amara finished settling the vest into place and leaned forward to wrap her arms around Leon's shoulder from behind. Leaning in over the back, she placed a quick kiss on Leon's cheek. As she pulled back, she nipped at his ear, making him shiver.

"Amara…" Leon said, his voice strained. "N-now isn't the time. We're on the way to an emergency."

"I'm sure as fuck enjoying the show," Chris said, leaning against Amara's side and kissing her neck in turn. "But he's got the point. We can save this for after we save the day. Yeah? Reward for all of us."

"Sorry," she said, not sounding sorry at all as she ran her fingers through his hair before sitting back.

Amara leaned in to give Chris a quick kiss on the cheek before sitting across from him and glancing out the window as the streets zipped by them. A wave of melancholy hit her. Why the hell was she acting like a woman starved of attention on such an important mission? Why was she- Chris growled next to her and leaned in close, lips brushing against her ear.

"I can see your expression in the window," he murmured softly. "None of that now. You're hot as fuck, and that was hot as fuck. We're going to ask you later to join us in the bedroom or wherever we have a chance to let loose… and god damn, I hope you say yes, but it's your choice."

Amara laughed weakly and turned to face Chris, her lips mere centimeters from his own. Warmth flooded through her, though it had nothing to do with her powers.

"How could I possibly say 'no' to the two of you…?" she asked, a little breathless by the close proximity. "I find it a bit unfair…."

"Amara," Chris leaned forward, pressing his forehead to her own with a serious look in his eyes. "You can always tell us 'no,' and we'll back off. I need you to understand that, okay?"

"I know, Chris. You and Leon are a rare breed of men," she began, pulling away and tracing a kiss across his cheek and to his ear. Her voice fell into a velvety whisper. "But it's not fair that I have to fight back images of you and Leon having your way with me and having to constantly feel wet while you both can look oh so calm and unaffected…."

Chris groaned low in his throat, turning to nip at her nose playfully. She pulled back with a soft laugh, but he leaned in and pulled her into a tight hug before releasing her.

"Firebrand," he purred softly, his voice a low, grave sound that made her feel tingly. "If we weren't on the way to a fire-fight, I'd be showing you just how 'affected' I am by your sass."

"Tuck it away, guys," Leon called from the front as the vehicle started to slow. His voice still sounded strained. "We're a minute out, and there's a roadblock ahead we're going to have to walk past. Pretty sure I see your friend by an abandoned cruiser, Amara."

Leon parked the Jeep, and she was quick to hop out to loop around the back of the vehicle to grab some spare ammo for her gun. Letting out a hum of sound, she gave Chris one last quick kiss before pulling back. Chris followed, doing the same. As Leon stepped around the back to also load up, she quickly seized her chance and grabbed him, pulling him down into a quick and heated kiss for good luck. Amara pulled away and ignored his flustered stutter, and grabbed her spare gun and holster before darting for Tsukiko.

"Ah! Garcia-san! I'm glad you and your… boyfriends? Which, by the way, I want all the details later," Tsukiko whispered to her with a small grin. The smile faded as she continued, tone growing serious. "You'd best be quick. Brea-San, Dollis-San, and Onii-san entered the building. Eve attacked while the four of us were speaking to Dr. Klamp, and we rushed over here as soon as possible. Dollis-San would have stayed out here with us to wait for you, but he heard that his son was inside from another officer. Brea-San followed him shortly afterward."

"Alright. Will you be okay out here? I don't want you to get hurt," Amara asked in a concerned voice.

"Yes. I'll be fine," Tsukiko said resolutely, patting her leg. "I still have my combat knife, and I know how to stay out of trouble after the last time."

"Good to hear," Chris said, coming up beside them. "Regardless, I'm going to have to ask you to withdraw to a safe spot a few buildings back. I'd rather there not be any incidents with friendly fire. We have no idea what's inside the building."

"Speaking of, were you able to see what we might be facing before Officers Brea and Dollis went inside?" Leon asked, expression blank.

"I am afraid not, Kennedy-San," Tsukiko said, looking apologetically at Leon. "Maeda-san should be inside by the front desk. He might have more answers for you."

"Thanks for the information," Chris glanced at Amara, tilting his head toward the entrance. "You good to rumble, or do you need to stay out here Firebrand?"

"Let's go. I have a very bad feeling, and I don't want to leave Officer Brea alone," Amara said before glancing back at Tsukiko. She gave the other woman a nod before heading toward the entrance.

"Same feeling from before in the park?" Leon asked, keeping pace with her, gun ready in his hands.

"Yes. Though slightly different? I don't think Eve is actually here, like last time, but something is happening," Amara replied, readying her rifle.

She moved to the side of the precinct door and paused. Chris nodded, passing her and taking point as they started into the main entrance of the building. Their rapid-fire movements to breach and clear the room startled Maeda. The man let out a high-pitched squeak and froze with his hands held up in the air as they darted around him.

"Are you alright, Maeda?" Amara asked as Leon and Chris continued toward the next set of double doors, past the destroyed receptionist desk.

"Y-Yes, Garcia-san! M-may I put my hands down?" he asked, voice trembling.

Amara nodded and lightly patted his arm as she moved past him. Maeda dropped his hands to his sides and let out a relieved sigh. Before she could join the others, Maeda grabbed her arm.

"We have information that might b-be crucial to what's h-happening here," he began, letting her go and wringing his hands nervously. "B-but Aya-san and Dominic-san have already headed deeper inside, and there were things… giant spiders the size of dogs and rats, and actual weird-looking dog men things! S-some of the other o-officers… it's not good."

"That's why we're here. Go outside and wait with Tsukiko. We'll take it from here," Amara told him, giving him a reassuring look. He nodded rapidly and bolted outside.

"Clear!" Leon called from one of the side rooms while Chris watched his back. "Alright, that's all the front rooms. Amara, did Maeda say anything?"

"Giant spiders and rats, and weirdly shaped 'dog men things,' from what he said," Amara responded, her expression darkening. "No idea how many, though."

The guys shared equally dark looks and nodded. Chris again took point as they started down the main hallway of the station. Amara took the middle, and Leon brought up the rear. As they checked the hallway to the left, Amara signaled at the downed form of an officer. Chris nodded, signaling her to check as Leon and Chris moved to cover her. She nodded and darted down the hall toward the still form...

Only to freeze as a cold feeling hit her.

The air suddenly tasted wrong to her. It was a weird feeling. Like she could almost sense something, a threat, nearby. As Leon and Chris slowly advanced on her position, she felt as if there was something vile... above their head. Reacting on instinct, she spun about and shoved both men backward just as they reached her. Two large, gooey-looking spiders with blade-like legs fell from the ceiling as the men staggered backward.

Amara tried to dodge to the side, but one of the bladed legs clipped into the upper meat of her left arm. Leon had rolled with her shove, getting back to his feet and firing at the creature closest to him. Chris let out a curse, raising his rifle and unloading a series of controlled bursts of gunfire right into the face of one closest to him. Chris' spider fell with a death screech while Leon's darted for Amara, thinking her an easy target given the injury.

She quickly hefted her own rifle, ignoring the pain flaring along her arm as she fired at the one charging her. The shots hit the main bulk of the creature. It let out one last screech before falling down, curling up like most spiders do when dying. Warmth pulsed through her, and she winced, one hand raising up toward her arm. She could feel the wound closing up beneath her fingers, but it stung a bit.

Leon moved to her side, first aid spray in his hand, and he paused, tilting her arm this way and that to inspect the wound.

"You're healing faster than even the first aid spray would work," Leon muttered in a low voice. "This new?"

"That fast?" Chris said, moving over to glance at the wound before turning his attention back on the hall. "She's always healed quickly, but not that fast. It's new."

"I'm alright," she said, blinking. She felt a little drained. She shook her head and looked at the two men. "Are you two okay? Those bladed legs of theirs got pretty close to you when they fell."

"We're fine," Chris responded with a grin.

"Winded, but fine," Leon said, tucking away the first aid spray and starting down the hall. "Chris, keep an eye out above us. Amara, are you sensing anything else?"

"Sec..." she said, closing her eyes and focusing on the area around them.

It was so very strange, reaching out like this. Amara could feel several things around her. Wrong. Foul. Sickening. There was an oppressive feeling from beneath her as if there were several things just like the spiders directly beneath their feet. She let out a noise and pointed down and to the side toward the largest cluster.

"That way?" she said, tilting her head with a frown. "There's a bunch of them beneath us."

"Why the hell is it always the basements…?" Leon groused next to her.

"Basements and rooftops, Leon," Chris said in a conciliatory tone. "Basements and rooftops."

Amara let out a small laugh at the banter but promptly quelled it. They had work to do. She walked to the still form of the officer, expecting the worst as she felt for a pulse. She jolted with surprise at the feeling of a thready, weak pulse beneath her fingers.

"Chris! Leon! She's alive!" she called back to them over her shoulder.

"Well, there's some fucking good news," Chris said as he moved over to provide cover while Leon again pulled out the first aid spray and medkit.

Leon carefully looked the woman over, grimacing as he pulled away the armor enough to show a massive gash along the woman's side. Amara had to agree that the wound looked bad. The woman had been mauled by… something. Not a spider, no. The bites were more canine in nature. Leon was quick to patch the woman up, and Amara helped him get the woman settled over his back in a fireman's carry.

"I'll get her outside with the civvies," Leon said, looking up at them. "You two are going to wait here?"

"No. We'll cover your six as we backtrack," Chris said in a firm tone. "Let's go, Kennedy."

Chris and Amara backed up slowly back the way they came, Leon carrying the officer quickly but carefully to safety. Piers and Dominic darted into the building as they reached the main area with several BSAA soldiers on their heels. Thank goodness. Backup. Amara wanted to hug Dominic but firmly quelched the desire. Veronica darted in last, helping Leon set the injured officer in as secure a spot as they could make.

"Bloody hell," she said, looking over the quick patch job Leon had done. "Not good, but not bad either. Go on, the boys. I'll handle things from here. You find any more survivors, bring them out here, and we'll get them triaged and routed as needed."

Chris let out a huff at the older woman's briskness before nodding and leading Leon and Amara back into the building. Chris once more took point while Piers and Dominic flanked them. Amara felt a small line of tension drain from her shoulders. Knowing that she had the other two at her back helped ease her nerves.

"We got any idea what to look out for?" Dominic asked.

"Giant spiders confirmed," Chris called back over his shoulder. "Possibly giant rats and then 'dogmen,' whatever the hell those are."

"Fuck, dude. Spiders? Really?" Piers asked with a shudder. "Can I call out sick, boss?"

"Hold your post, Piers," Chris responded with a snort as he led them to the hallway that had the basement entrance.

As they slowly made their way down the stairs, Amara could feel that pressure growing in her skull. That acrid taste upon her tongue grew stronger, and she contained the urge to spit to the side. The group kept their weapons on a swivel as they moved deeper down the hall to the basement entrance. There was an open door with a cabinet on its side, partially blocking the entrance, and as she passed it, she felt that pressure flare...

She tried to spin to the side, but something slammed into her.

Hard.

Her left shoulder hit the far wall, forcing a tiny wheeze of pain past her lips. Looking up at what hit her, she was greeted by a horrid sight. The thing indeed appeared to be dog-like, yet, it was walking upright like a Human on its hind legs. Unlike a werewolf of legend, the thing before her was a twisted amalgamation of man and beast. The head alone was as if someone had jammed the bottom halves of a human face and a dog together. Its muscles were bulging and overly large and bloody patches of human flesh and animal fur.

Amara managed to scramble to her feet, rolling out of the way of a clawed attack as the others opened fire on its back. A whining howl of pain, sounding like a twisted mix of a dog and a human, filled the air. Leon got to her side, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her back and to the side around cover as Chris and the others unloaded their weapons into the thing.

She might have taken aim herself, but she was frozen in shock at the sight of an upside-down Human face appeared right in the center of the creature's chest.

"Jesus! Put it down, Chris!" Leon shouted in her ear.

Through the haze of fear, she noticed the twisted remnants of a human officer... and a K-nine's uniform. A wave of sorrow and rage filled her, followed by a wave of heat. A heat that she'd gotten used to over the years ever since that first incident shortly after she turned twenty-nine. Fire bloomed on the limbs of the creature, forcing it to let out another, unholy dual-toned screech of sound. The fire spread quickly, engulfing it entirely within moments until finally, finally, it fell silent. The poor creatures, likely a paired team who had tried to fight off Eve's creatures or Eve herself, were put out of their joint misery.

"Amara!" Leon's voice came to her as if from down a tunnel, and she felt him shift her around to look at her arm.

He used the first aid spray this time, and she could see why. Her body was healing a wound deep enough that she could see bone. The pair watched nervously as the first aid spray did its job and boosted her healing even more. Leon let out a relieved sigh as the wound healed to a rough series of gashes, the bone no longer visible. He bandaged the area and then leaned his forehead against her own.

"That was a little too close for comfort," he said. "You good? Do we need to fall back?"

"No, I'm fine," Amara said with a weak smile. She leaned into him for a moment before forcing herself back to her feet. That sickly feeling was still strong... and growing stronger? No. Just more concentrated. Like they... Like... "They are converging on something. They… it's like they're hungry."

Chris looked at her, concern in his eyes, and she nodded to him. He nodded back and then turned, leading the way to the doors marked as leading to the basement. The group waited for a moment as Chris eased the door open from the side, shining his light down the stairs. He swept the ceiling before starting down the steps. Amara, Leon, Dominic, and Piers followed the brunette into the darkness below.

The vileness in the air worsened...