As Cold Blood Runs

by Fuuraibou

(Complete Prequel to Eyes of the Beholder) In a short matter of weeks, Leon Kennedy's life will be shattered as he discovers love, hate, fear, and even himself in a struggle for his own life.

8. Falling of Angels

As Cold Blood Runs

Chapter Eight: Falling of Angels

Seth:

Back on the road: 2:00 PM, Stone Lakes, MI. 45 miles from Lansing.

"...so in the end, I was the only survivor of Bravo team, and Chris, Jill, Barry, and Brad Vickers, our pilot, were the only survivors period," Becky told me as the SUV barrled down Highway 110-C towards the Michigan border. She was sitting in the back seat, next to me, and had told me basically her life story. 19 years old, a college grad at 17, assigned to the Racoon S.T.A.R.S. Bravo team at 18, and was kidnapped by the Bio-Port RAID team at Wesker's orders.

"What about you?" she said. "I want to hear your story, Superman."

I heavily sighed, and began mine. My adoption (yes, I didn't mention that before, but I was adopted at 6 months of age), the murder of my family, and the injections up to when Leon and his friends rescued me.

"Oh my..." she said. "I'm so sorry..."

"Yeah, it was tough," I replied. "But I'm with a new family now." Which was sorta true, especially in the short time Barry and I had known each other, we had become real close.

"So what ever happened to Brad?" Becky asked Chris. Chris and Jill looked at each other with a sorrowful look, and I knew what happened. But so did Becky.

"Oh..." she said, in a little period of mourning. But she quickly regained her bright composure, and turned back to me.

"So where are we going now?" she asked.

"Manhattan, to pick up our gear," Leon answered. "Then we're getting the hell out of there." I nodded in agreement.

"So where we gonna hide?" I asked.

"We're meeting my parents at Albany," he replied, and I remembered. We sent the Kennedys to Ark's ranch home in Albany to protect them from RAID.

"Good idea," I said. I leaned back, and closed my eyes. Today had been a rough day. And it was about to get worse.

"Hey, you asleep?" Becky prodded after a few minutes.

"Trying," I replied. I felt a warm mass up against myside.

"Hmmmmm...." I heard Becky whisper. "Smart idea." In a few minutes, I felt her breathing soften and level out. She was asleep.

Leon:

"Where we at?" I looked at the passanger's seat, and saw that Claire had waken up.

"About an hour from the house," I replied. "Sleep well?" I asked.

"Somewhat," she said as she looked back behind us. Chris, Jill, and Barry were in a heated discussion; Carlos and Ark were in the middle of a game of Blackjack, and the most suprising was Rebecca, the Bravo team member we rescued from the HQ and Seth both asleep, leaning on each other. "But it looks those two are doing much better."

"Hey," I mentioned. "If someone rescued you from being raped by an old guard, wouldn't you feel safe around him?"

"You've got a point," she answered, and curled back up and went to sleep.

(I told you it would work.)

You again?!

(Yes, you again.)

Dammit, how am I going to get rid of you?

(You have a mission to accomplish, whether or not you accept it.)

And just what is that?!

(I'll see you tonight...)

WHAT?!

(I'll see you tonight...)

See me tonight? Dammit, now I am really confused. I leaned back in my seat.

What's going on? I asked myself. What the hell is wrong with me? What kind of freak am I?

BBBBBBRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNG!

"Holy shit..." I breathed.

BBBBBBBBRRRRRRIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNG!

"Hello?" I asked as I picked up my cell phone.

"Mr. Kennedy, nice to hear from you," Mick Stevens. Shitshitshitshit! "Nice work today," he said.

"How did you find out?!" I shouted. "This was kept confidential!"

"Oh really? You forget you have one of my agents in with you," he said, irritated.

"Ark..." I whispered. "How much did he tell you?!"

"Enough," he said. "What the hell possessed you to blow the damn thing up?!"

"I had to, all right," I said. "I had to get Wesker out of the picture so we can turn our focus back to Umbrella."

"Leon, how stupid are you?!" he shouted. "This just gives Wesker ammo! You are legally considered terrorists now!"

"Terrorists?" I asked.

"Yes," he said. "Terrorists. Turn on your radio to 100.7, and listen to the news."

So I did. And what I heard shocked me.

"Earlier this morning, a band of terrorists struck at the headquarters of Bio-Port International, the manufacturer of several vaccines, including one used by the US military. Quoted CEO Albert Wesker at a late press conference this evening:

'This morning's incidents were extremely sorrowful, with the tremendous loss of life. We are taking all steps to apprehend the perpetrators, and I have made several phone calls. But we can't focus on the bad. Instead, I will say there will be good things to come...'

What good things, we don't know. But this reporter believes that it has something to do with rumors of Bio-Port purchasing rival corporation Umbrella, Inc. For KNVS news, this is Billy Gedd."

Holy shit. Wesker buying Umbrella?

"Listen," I said. "Can you help us?"

"You betcha," Stevens said. "The government is shaken over these rumors, and even on the outside you're looked at as a terrorist, those on the inside I've talken to see you as a hero. We'll move you to a nice place out of the public eye, and we'll fund your missions. We want to see both Umbrella and Bio-Port fall, just as you do."

"What about the kids?" I asked.

"They will be allowed to stay with you, but will be transported to an on-base facility when you're running missions," he said.

"All right," I said. "I'll meet you tomorrow afternoon."

"Cool," Stevens said. "And Leon...take care of yourself." I hung up the phone.

"Dammit guys, wake up, all of you," I shouted. "We got problems!" Everyone snapped to my voice, and looked forward.

"What's going on, now?" Chris asked.

"Well, for starters, Wesker ain't dead," I said, and I heard mumbles of suprise. "We've been labeled terrorists, although inside of the government we're heroes, and Wesker's buying Umbrella."

"WHAT?!" everyone shouted.

"Yes, rumors have been circling around now that Umbrella and Bio-Port are going to merge." I answered

"Oh no..." Claire whispered.

"So what the hell we gonna do now?" Barry roared.

"Easy," I said. "We're joining the army."

Lucky Strike: 4:45 PM

"All right, people!" Chris shouted as we piled out of the Explorer. "We got one hour, and we're headed for Albany!" Claire and I dashed into the house, followed by Chris, Jill, Barry, Carlos, and the kids. Seth and Becky were still sleeping, and because they really didn't have anything in the house, we didn't bother them. But elsewhere, Claire was upstairs in the room she shared with Jill, Ark and I were getting our junk sacked up in the living room. Chris and Carlos were also packing, and Barry had a duffel bag full of stuff. But back to me and Ark.

"Hey," I said. "What was the big deal with ratting us out to Stevens?"

"I had my orders, Leon. I'm still a government agent," he said.

"Look," I said as I walked over to him, and stared him face-to-face. "Screw your orders. Wesker's alive, and now we're fugitives. We're in this together."

"Just like old times, eh?" he said. I gave him a quizzical look, and we both bust out laughing. Agent or not, we were still best friends.

"Come on," I said as I lifted the heavy suitcases. "Let's get the hell outta here." We were met in the foyer by Jill and Claire.

"You ready to go?" Jill asked us.

"You betcha," Ark answered. "What about the others?"

"Amy and Sherry are loading their stuff with Rott and Lily, Barry's got his stuff out there, Seth and Becky are huddled up sleeping, and Chris and Carlos are..." Jill stated, but to be rudely interuptted by the sound of footsteps.

"...right here, chica," Carlos laughed as they came down the stairs.

"All right, let's get this stuff loaded up. I'll be right out, I'm going to lock all my parents' stuff in the downstairs safe," I said.

"Don't be long," Claire said, briefly kissing my lips.

"I won't," I said. "Ark, get on the phone to my parents, tell them to get everything together and that we're coming to get them. Claire, get the van warmed up, and everyone get ready to leave," I said as I took one more large sack, and headed downstairs.

Seth:

I heard a large commotion behind me, and I sat up to look, trying not to wake Becky up. Chris and Carlos were loading stuff in the back.

"Hey keep it down!" I hoarsely whispered. "She's trying to sleep!"

Carlos coyly smiled at me. "Whatever you say," he smugly said. He and Chris started laughing. I just ducked my head, and tried to close my eyes again. But I was awakened again...this time, Becky shifted, and woke up.

"Good afternoon," I said.

"Same to you," she answered as she sat up. "I'm thirsty," she said.

"There should be some cokes inside," I said. "Grab one for me?"

"Sure," she said cheerfully.

"Thanks," I said as I layed down in the seat, and she got out and headed for the house. I closed my eyes, and although I wanted to sleep, Becky was on my mind, and I couldn't. Dammit, I had never felt so much in my life. I really cared for her, but heck, I didn't know what to do. Just as I started to settle down, I heard a banging on the window. It was Barry.

"Hey bubba," he said. "How's it going?"

"Fine," I said as I sat up, and he sat down next to me.

"Looks like it," he said, winking.

"Not you too," I moaned.

"Just relax, bud. I ain't going to be like those asses loading our shit. I'm tellin' ya to go for it," he said.

"What? Go for what?" I asked, playing dumb.

"You know what I'm talking about," he told me. "I'm telling you, tell Becky how you feel,"

"God, Barry," I said. "I don't know. How can I tell if she feels the same way?"

"Trust me, kid." Barry said. "I know Becky...I know she feels the same way."

"You sure?" I asked.

"You betcha," he said. "Something else, Seth. I want you to have this." He pulled a box out of his denim vest, and handed it to me.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Open it," he said. I did...and what I found suprized me.

"Your Colt?" I asked.

"One of them," he said, pulling out the matching pistol. "My dad gave me these when I was 16. He said I should pass them on to my son. But being I have two daughters, I want you to have this."

"Thanks," I said, gripping the ivory grip.

"Just keep it in good condition. I want you to take care of it," he said as he exited the Explorer.

Becky:

"Guys, I don't know what you're talking about," I persuaded as Jill and Claire acosted me in the in the kitchen. They somehow found out...found out my secret.

"Come on, Becks. You can't keep it in," Jill told me. "You gotta let him know sometime."

"Dangit, I've only known him for a few hours," I said. "And anyways, I don't even know if he feels the same way."

"AHA!" Claire triumphatly shouted. "So you admit that you do have feelings for him!"

"He saved my life," I tried to say.

"Uh huh, and you're in love with him," Jill said.

"Yeah, so what? You always told me that you liked Chris, and you never did anything about it," I said, and saw the look on Claire's face.

"Ohhhhhhhh..." she laughed.

"Claire, you say one word to Chris and I swear to allmighty God I will rip your intestines out," Jill growled. Claire shut up, probably because she knew Jill ment business.

"Becky, don't make the same mistake I did," Jill said as she walked out the door.

"You know, Becky," Claire said. "I think this time, Jill is right."

With that, she walked out the door leaving me with two cokes and a bunch of jumbled thoughts.

Seth

Time to move

I sat in the Explorer, a Colt .45 in my hand and Becky Chambers on my mind. I didn't know what to do, what to say, but I knew I had to. So I put the Colt into the holster on my belt and headed for the house to talk to Becky. As I opened the door and was walking in, I ran right into Becky.

"Uh, hi," I said.

"Hey," she said, diverting her gaze.

"Got the cokes?" I asked, trying to find the right moment.

"Uh....yeah," she said, acting unusually nervous around me. She turned, and headed for the door, but I had to stop her.

"Becky, wait," I said. "I need to get something off my chest." She stopped dead in her tracks, and turned around to look at me.

"What is it, Seth?" she asked.

"Well, I know I've only known you for a few hours..." I faltered, but I had to go on. "But I feel close to you. Close enough to say...I care for you, deeply." There. I said it. She stood there, looking at me, and then, I saw tears well up in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing," she said as she ran over and jumped into my open arms. "Nothing's wrong anymore. In fact, everything's perfect."

Well, questions have been answered. Seth decided to come forward with his feelings, and Wesker, the little worm he is, survived and will soon make the survivors' lives a living hell. Stay tuned for Chapter nine, in which all hell breaks loose and a final battle will be schemed. Will this be the end of Umbrella, or the end of hope for the world?!