Gone by Dawn


Part One:

-Downfall-


Chapter 3: Gone Girl


Raccoon City


The ladder was just down the corridor. The puff of her breath in the acrid and cloying smoke was still loud in her ears. Jill raced like she was running for the gold and there was no rest for the weary. She could hear her high school track coach shouting encouragement from the sidelines.

Jill cut a jagged left through the boiling hallway and felt like she had a good lead on her nemesis that seemed relentless in his pursuit.

It was an arrogant, stupid, and nearly detrimental assumption.

He punched clear through a burning wall that divided them. Jill went to her butt on the floor, backing up as he came for her, dripping fire and fury from his garbled face. She grabbed for the launcher, tried to roll over, and he caught her by the back of her head. She thought - oh jesus chris-

He threw her through the wall beside them. The drywall broke and rained around her, the world fractured in sound and pain, and Jill rolled as she hit the ground on her side. She lost the launcher, she lost her bravado, and fear turned her breathing ragged as she scrambled in pain to her feet. She staggered, she limped, she whimpered and ran for the ladder beside her. She grabbed the wrought iron and threw herself up as a stream of fire lit the ground where she'd stood moments before.

Not just a goddamn gun...a goddamn flamethrower.

How the hell did she fight something like that!?

Her head throbbed as she reached the top, propelled by sheer will and adrenaline. She raced over the rooftop, eyeballing the distance to the next level down. She couldn't wait. The second she considered aiming for the fire escape, the goddamn monster exploded through the roof top to land in a shower of concrete and fear. Jill just...jumped. She soared, airborne for a handful of terrifying seconds, before she plummeted to the second story below. She angled her shoulder, rolled and skidded, and ripped up her arm in the process as she landed. Blood spilled wet and hot as she shoved to her feet and ran for it.

The minigun made a sputtering kick as it roared to life. She whimpered, feet flying, and the bullets tore up the ground behind her as she went. She reached the edge of the roof, a bullet grazed her neck on the left, and she didn't jump this time so much as simply fall over the edge. She tumbled, she fumbled for something to grasp, and caught the edge of a windowsill to dangle. The thing that wanted her dead roared, "STARZZZZ!"

And she knew it was only a matter of time before it simply aimed that gun over the edge of the roof to end her for good.


"Are you sure!?"

In his jacket, Katherine looked small somehow. She stood in the rain beside her boyfriend, a rather nerdy fellow named Bertolucci. The ponytailed love child of Jim Morrison and Buddy Holly encouraged, "Come with us man...come on...there's room."

There was. The squad car was big enough for all three of them. He could jump in there and drive off to safety. He'd freed Bertolucci from the cell when the reporter had seen his girlfriend waiting and ready. He was willing to take the story to the press and shed some light on the horror here.

He needed to live.

The world needed to know about Raccoon City.

The bad news was that Jill hadn't shown up.

She was still missing.

If he just left with them, what would become of her?

Was she already dead?

He had to know. He couldn't leave her. He just wasn't built that way.

So Leon backed up and told them, "Go...go on. Get out of here and don't look back. I have to find Jill."

Katherine nodded sadly, "...You're right. Go find her...good luck...and thank you."

They hurried toward the squad car. Bertolucci clicked the keys and they climbed in. Leon watched them roar off into the rain. It was on them now. They were on their own. He'd done all he could for them.

He turned back toward the orphanage and watched in horror as the whole building erupted in flame. He backed up, the rain slicking his face in the firelight, and he roared, "JILLLLL!"

He turned and was tackled to the ground before he could stop it. He came up swinging but the gun fire nearly took his face instead. Hunkering down, Jill gasped, "GO!"

They half squatted, half ran through the courtyard before them. Jill was limping badly on one side. She let him sling her arm over his shoulders and support her. It made them move faster.

She told him, in a shout over the storm, "I twisted my knee falling to the ground!"

She was singed in places like fire had touched her too close. Her beautiful face was black with soot and red with blood. She looked terrified, but determined. Leon slung her around the side of a building and she kicked from the hip to send the door flinging wide open. They ducked inside, finding themselves in a gun shop.

Leon sealed the door, tossing a shelf over it to hold it shut.

Jill went right for safe. She jerked it open, grabbed a shotgun from inside, and jacked a shell into it in a single smooth move. Leon caught the barrel as she turned it toward the door, wrenched it out of her hands, and shoved her sideways into the office there. She started to argue and he pushed her backward into the closet. Almost gently, he sealed the door and pinned her to the wall.

His mouth breathed heavily beside her ear. She gripped his back with one hand and the gun in her other. There was a ruckus from the front of the shop as her determined nemesis forced its way inside. She eyed the crack in the closet door, heart hammering.

She could see the front of the shop as it moved through.

Leon hunkered closer around her, a wall of vests and hunting jackets marring her clear shot through the crack in the door. He was hiding. He was hiding her. She'd tried to fight but Kennedy wanted to hide.

Why?

The nasty monster bathed in blood and black charred skin grumbled and beckoned her from the lobby of the shop, "Starzzzz..."

It sounded almost calm now.

It wasn't roaring for her blood...it was what? Wooing her? Did it think she'd just come out because it sounded softer? Could it be smart enough to think it could trick her into showing herself?

That spoke of a level of intelligence that scared her.

After a moment, it listened to something she couldn't hear. It paused, it paced a little, and it turned to leave the way it had come. She heard it's step increase as it started running. It was chasing someone. Who?

Chris?

Impossible. He wasn't in the city. She was the only S.T.A.R.S. member left in Raccoon. She was relatively sure of that. Not completely, but relatively.

When the silence was around them, she whispered, "...thank you."

He nodded. He leaned back and gripped her chin. With a tsk tsk sound he eased open the door to the closet and escorted her into the office. She perched on the edge of the desk, wincing with pain as she let him treat her arm and bind it with a part of a jacket. She replaced her damaged vest with a new one, securing a hunting jacket over the whole of it to protect against future flesh being ripped off while rolling.

They both outfitted in jackets and the chill of the night was suddenly cloaked in warmth.

While she loaded up an assault bag with rounds for the shotgun, Leon helped himself to an assault rifle on the wall. The ammo was scarce, raided by angry hands long before now, but there was enough he could assemble a few magazines. Armed and ready, they went through the shop and headed for the back exit.

As they reached for the door, a hammer dropping on a gun made them both freeze.

Leon turned with his hands up, stepping just a little in front of Jill like he'd shield her. Jill, amused but grateful for the gesture, already had her gun aimed at their attacker. She hesitated when she saw who it was.

Quietly, she urged, "Robert...it's me...Jill."

Robert Kendo, the shop owner, was a former marine turned avid gun salesman. He had once been in fine shape but let age and good food turn his belly to fat around the middle. His gray hair and mustache bobbled as he instructed, "Guns down...now."

Jill tried again, "Robert...we just want to go...we don't want any trouble."

"I said put my fucking guns down!" He shouted it.

Jill looked with horror at the front of the shop. It wasn't far enough away. It would come back if he didn't shut the hell up.

She hissed, "Shut up! Fool! We need them."

Leon shook his head and she fell silent as he encouraged, "Mr. Kendo? I'm Leon. I'm just trying to help here. I'm a cop...see?" He showed him the badge cutely clipped to his belt. Jill smirked. He really still thought he was a cop. It was sweet, if misguided. "I'm here to help. Can we help you? I know where to get a car to head toward the mountains."

Kendo lowered his weapon a touch and looked heart broken, "...it-it's too late. It's too late for me...for us...don't you understand? I just want you to go...leave my guns, ok? And go."

There was a quiet sound from the room behind him. A small voice whispered, "...who is it, Daddy?"

A little girl poked her head out of the door. She was young, maybe seven years old. She was adorable, with dark hair and big blue eyes. When Kendo waved his hand at her, she encouraged, "...you're not gonna shoot them, are you Daddy?"

Kendo made a sound of frustration and lowered his gun. "...no...goddamnit...please...my wife-" He shook his head, "...she's been bitten...we just-I can't leave her. I just need to protect her...maybe..." He made a sound of pain and remorse, "Maybe she'll survive the fever...ya know? Maybe?"

He sounded so desperate.

The little girl whispered, "...my mommy won't wake up."

Jesus.

Jill felt her heart wrench. Leon smiled at the little girl and told her, "...are you Amy?"

What?

Jill furrowed her brow. Her gaze tracked toward the office and the picture on the desk. She figured he was just the type of guy who had a photographic memory or something. How could he know her name otherwise?

The little girl nodded, "...my mommy is sick."

He nodded and put his hand out to her, "Maybe we can help her."

Amy reached for his hand and Kendo snapped, "No! No goddamnit! Get out of here and just leave us alone!"

He shoved the little girl back from the door. Jill surged forward and Leon stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. He nodded, gaze flickering, "Mr. Kendo...we'll go. We'll go away...but think about your girl. If your wife...turns...she might hurt her. You don't want that to happen. Let us help...please."

Kendo hesitated. He considered it and finally nodded. He lifted his gun on Jill. "Amy...stay here with us...you...g-go. Just go in there and...just go..."

Go in there and finish his wife off.

Jill waited. Amy stood beside her father with her head bowed. She sniffled. She wiped at her eyes with her hands. She whispered, "...my mommy is dying."

Jill crouched down. The little girl moved over and wrapped her arms around the other woman. They hugged as Jill soothed, "...she is...your mommy is dying...I'm so sorry."

There was a moment of silence. Kendo prayed quietly, "...Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me..."

The muffled shot was still heard where they stood. The little girl jumped in her arms. Kendo whimpered sadly. He covered his face with his hands and whispered, "...Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."

Leon emerged from the room without a word.

Jill, softly, encouraged, "Robert...you should come with us. We can help you get out of the city."

Nervous about it, Jill kept glancing to the front of the shop. She gave Leon a long look and remarked, "The rookie came in through the mountain pass...it's not blocked anymore. God knows why...but you can get out that way..."

Amy sniffled and plucked at the soft teddy bear sandwiched between her and Jill, "...if we stay with mommy...we'll die too."

Not a question. A statement. A little girl growing up too fast in a necropolis without hope. She needed out, now, if she ever wanted a shot at a normal life again. Jill waited until Kendo lowered his hands and nodded.

Leon suggested, "I know this is hard...but we should go - now."

He was aware, like Jill was, that they weren't the best company with the thing chasing her. They needed to get these grieving people to safety. As it turned out, Kendo moved fast.

He gathered his daughter and didn't stop. They cut across town quickly, Robert Kendo making a fairly decent back up gun. He picked off the undead without batting an eye. His wife's death hung over them all like a shadow.

When they reached a workable vehicle near the clock tower, Jill hotwired it and impressed Leon who stood to one side keeping guard. She gestured and the girl climbed in the back seat. Kendo took the wheel and remarked, not looking at either of them but straight ahead at the road, "...thank you..Laura...she'd have wanted it to be quick like that. She-I..." He shook his head and finished, "...thank you."

Amy, in the back seat, told them, "...my mommy is in heaven now..."

Jesus.

If Jesus was real, Jill thought wildly, he wasn't in this city.

Amy turned her gaze to Leon and informed him, "...you were her shepherd...you made sure she made it there...she won't forget that."

Leon nodded, jaw tense.

The car revved, Kendo gave one more nod, and they shot off like a bullet toward the far road. He weaved expertly between downed cars and road blockage. After a moment, the crackle of fire and the cool breeze was all that was left behind.

Jill glanced behind her at Kennedy. He was watching the car head off toward the mountains. She breached the silence and told him, "...you did the right thing."

He said nothing.

She laid a hand on his forearm and his gaze shifted to her. She nodded, "...you did the right thing here, Leon. She was already dead."

He shook his head. His jaw flinched and he grumbled, gruffly, "...she wasn't. She was dying...she was burning up...she wasn't dead yet...but she is now. I made damn sure of that."

He turned away and Jill gripped his wrist. Hesitating, he finally turned his head back to her as she intoned, "...don't do that. Don't. You saved her in the only way you could. You made sure she died human...you see what I see long enough...you figure out sometimes that's the only thing left we can do."

They held gazes. After a long stare, he finally nodded. She nodded back.

He started to say something else and his gaze shifted over her shoulder. He grabbed for her, slinging her to the side, and his body jerked, jerked, jerked. It did that, she thought as the world slowed down and she tumbled to the ground on her hands and knees where he tossed her.

The human body jerked like that when it was taking gun fire.

The vest on his body would save him.

The vest on his body would save him.

The vest on his body had to save him.

She grabbed for him as he fell backward. She pulled him with her toward the cover of a car close by. Bullets thunked and clunked and threw metal. Her attacker? Not exactly. Someone shouted in Russian.

She froze, her ears tuned in. After a second, another voice roared, "HE WAS HUMAN! YOU FUCKING FOOL! Didn't you see them!? They weren't monsters!"

Jill grabbed for Leon's jacket and ripped it open. He was pale and panting, but the vest had done it's job. He was unharmed, if a little bruised. Jill's hands cupped his face. She blew out a hard breath and shook her head at him.

He jerked a shoulder in a shrug. Jill tugged the shotgun up and called out, "I'm armed! He's armed! We're not looking for trouble! Turn around and get the fuck outta here!"

There was a quiet conversation and a voice called, laced with a latin accent, "We're not here to hurt you! He was overzealous, ya know? Thank god you are alright! He wounded?"

"...no." Jill eased around the edge of the car to sight down the gun. She saw the bobble of heads over the rise. They were in cover too. Good. She didn't want an accidental shoot out to start. "We're trying to escape the city."

Actually, they were trying to stop the thing chasing her. She needed a goddamn bomb or something to do that. Her brain was trying to find anything that would guarantee it's destruction.

She kept picturing the tank outside of the National Guard Museum. Was it operational? Was it overkill?

Did it really matter?

If she could get it to run, she was going to blow that bastard sky high.

The man shouted in fear. Jill jerked when she saw the thing in question come over the rise. They just started unloading on it. A rain of bullets from all those men. After a moment, she was frozen in horror as the slaughter began.

The nemesis opened fire. He burned, he blew them apart, he bisected limbs and whipped them with tentacles. He took bullets and roared. She should yell at them to stop. She should let it chase her. She should offer herself up to bait it away again.

She started to rise and Leon grabbed her to him. He put a hand over her mouth and shook his head. She gave him horrified eyes and he grunted, "...look at their goddamn body armor."

She leaned around the car and squinted: U.B.C.S. - Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service?

Her teeth flashed in a sneer, "...Umbrella."

She ignored the fight as she gestured with her head. They crouched and ran for it while the screaming peppered the sky. Umbrella fighting Umbrella...a travesty of its own making. The guilt over the dying men chased her like the nemesis into the night.

Jill ran for the far side of the street and apparently, battle or not, the nemesis didn't give a shit about the men anymore trying to kill it. It whipped a tentacle. It tossed a car at her like it weighed nothing.

She went flat, the world narrowed down to avoiding that damn carcass of metal, and another one grabbed her ankle. Leon shouted, he started firing. The men fired on it. She turned around to blast it with the shotgun as it jerked her along the ground like it was reeling in a fish.

It lost half its face and it didn't even care.

When Jill shot it again, it finally had enough. It thrust one of those tentacles right through her goddamn shoulder. It went in, she screamed high and loud in pain, and it ripped free in a swirl of blood. She lost the gun in the rush of pain.

It lifted her off the ground and someone shouted, "Hey, hijo de la chingada, suck on this!"

There was a whoosh and an RPG came for the thing trying to kill her. It threw her up and away and Jill spiraled through the air. There was a clatter of commotion...something exploded in a burst of fire and screaming metal. She crawled over the ground as she bled everywhere.

Leon grabbed her up into his arms and soothed, voice frightened, "...holy shit...I've got you..."

She swirled with pain in a dark void and a voice demanded, "Come with us...come on...it's safe this way...it's safe..."

DON'T LISTEN...her brain shouted...her body jerked in pain and a seizure. Leon shouted in fear and dark, dark, dark shroud surrounded her in a final blanket of death.