In the split-second between the shuttered announcement and the stampede, Takashi grabbed both Rei and Hisashi. Right across from the classroom they had just left was a door that Takashi knew led to a storage closet. With one hand grabbing Rei and the other grabbing Hisashi, he did not bother to open the door. In lieu of this, he kicked the door open, shoved his charges through the opening, and slammed it closed even as the stamping of shoes seemed to split the air open.
Takashi grit his teeth. Rei and Hisashi had fallen on top of one another, but they would be okay. Even as it was now, it was hard to imagine what things outside were like. By now everyone would be in a panic, with the school's hundreds of students running through the halls. He knew better than to think that all of them would survive the trampling, and he was already searching his mind for what horrors they would have to face in such a situation. Perhaps worse than all of that was that he understood that the invisible threat could not be fully determined for some time.
He knew all he needed to know about the viruses that struck Raccoon City and Tall Oaks. But even that only provided so much information. If the monsters outside the gate were B.O.W.s, there was a strong possibility that the virus that spawned them could create evolutions, perhaps beyond what even he could handle. What if…
"Takashi!"
Takashi snapped back to reality. His eyes finally came back to focus on the confined spaces they were stuck in. It was perhaps ten five feet long and five wide. On each of the three remaining walls were shelves filled with liquid compounds, mopheads, and towel boxes. In the center of the space were Rei and Hisashi, having both struggled to their feet and trying hard to regain their composure. Takashi himself had not left his spot at the closed doorway.
"Do you know what's going on?"
That was Hisashi's voice. The boy was standing tall, pushing his silvery hair out of his eyes. Rei was by his side, clenching and unclenching her fists as she bit down on her lower lip. She watched Takashi raise and drop his arms.
"Yes and no."
Takashi sighed. "The only explanation I can think of is that there's been another of those B.O.W viruses...and it's hit us this time."
"Oh, no…"
Takashi watched Rei, noting her putting all her strength into forcing her knees into obedience and keeping her upright. He shook his head.
"I have no idea what the monsters this virus makes are capable of. But it shouldn't be impossible to get out of here and find someplace safe." He let his eyes scan the shelves. Stepping over to the one to his right, he reached out and slowly pulled a mop that had been laid horizontally on the shelf. Rei and Hisashi watched him as he moved it vertically, put the mophead on the floor at an angle, and gave it a good stomp. The wood splintered, leaving the end with a sharp enough point. He held the broken pole out to Rei.
"You've been keeping up with your sojutsu classes, right?"
"Y-yeah," Rei took the pole with her own hands. Takashi turned to Hisashi, who went to a corner of the space and came back with a small red fire extinguisher. Hisashi hefted the cylinder in his hands. It was just heavy enough to cause some damage. Good.
Takashi flexed her arms. "I've got experience of my own. I can go without a weapon for now." He took a deep breath. "Let's go."
Chris Redfield turned around to look at the park square. He was taking cover behind a police kiosk which, of course, was unoccupied and left with papers strewn outside the openings. He held his M4 a little tighter in his hands. The bayonet at the end was glinting, but not so much as to attract attention from vigilant eyes. But despite himself, his body was starting to sweat from beneath the camouflage fatigues he was wearing.
He had already broken the procedure. He was supposed to stay in the helicopter for a few minutes before the initial intelligence was certified and ground intelligence was collected. Moreover, he was not to leave the aircraft without all three of his crewmates by his side. To think a single phone call would be enough to break his cool….
But it had, and he had rushed straight out the second his feet had hit the cement, even as the rotors were locked in a dying spin. Remembering how his crewmates had called out to him, he shook his head.
His phone had gone off fifteen minutes before the touchdown. He had snapped the burner flipper open and hit the button. His blood had gone cold when he had heard the voice before he could even say "Hello."
"Welcome to Tokonosu."
Wesker? Albert Wesker?
He could not think of what to say.
"It's been too long, Redfield. Far too long."
Chris did not bother to ask how the bastard had survived what he had been put through.
"What game are you playing now?"
"Not a game, Chris, not a game. I have an objective. To turn Tokonosu into catacombs."
Chris shuddered in disgust. "You did all this for me?"
The voice chuckled. "You too. But you have somebody nearby, do you not? A couple of somebodies, at that."
"You…"
"This may be the only chance the three of you will get to be all together again. Please….enjoy."
Chris Redfield shook his head again. Tokonosu High School was just about seven miles from here. This was doable. He could not imagine...rather, would not imagine...his son getting too far from the building.
But until then, until he got there himself, Takashi would have to fend for himself. He had the training, yes, and the experience, but that was cold comfort.
Chris let his eyes roam the park. There was a police car at the far end. There were some B. converging on it. But if his intuition was correct, they were nothing he could not handle.
Next up; Takashi finds the hallmarks of a team as Chris relives his memories.
