***** CHAPTER TWO *****

"...of Raccoon City." The breaking news coverage was ending as Kai regained consciousness, but he heard nothing. He had been screaming at the top of his lungs without knowing about it, even less hearing it. As he began to focus on the door at the far end of the room, he saw several patients from his wing and from below gawking and snickering at his childish panic. Yolanda appeared in the doorway, having a hard time squeezing through the murmuring crowd.

"How long did you plan on making that ruckus? I heard it sending another patient off ... OUTSIDE!"

"Sorry. I had... never mind. I really didn't--"

"No excuses, now! Just eat! You haven't touched anything on that plate!"

Kai glanced at the heaping plate of steak and gravy. It smelled wonderful, but he couldn't eat anything. He just sat on the edge of the soft bed and exchanged glances from Yolanda, to the plate, and back.

"You wouldn't dare give that back! You ate NOTHING from that tray!"

"I'm tired. Go away, Yolanda. I need my sleep."

Finally, the nurse discovered the crowd outside the room. "Oh! Go away; you know better than that! Ms. Gilbert, go back to the cafe. I'll be with you soon. All of you, shoo!" And she was gone.

Silence filled the room and the air was easier to breathe. 'Well, at least she's gone. I sure am glad this is my last day dealing with her.'

He flopped backward, making himself perpendicular with the bed, his arms and legs free-hanging from the edges. He breathed a deep sigh and decided to get dressed. He rose and opened the closet door, searching for his only pair of clean jeans and the t-shirt with the Raccoon City Police Department logo on the back. He found them and dug out a pair of grey socks from the drawer and slipped the outfit together. He turned and entered the bathroom and was stricken with the vile memory of last night and immediately shut the door. I don't think my hair is that bad today, he lied to himself. The tub's cleaning had not been finished up and the odor of a mix of old vomit, coagulating blood, and tub cleaner penetrated his nostrils. Yolanda had managed to clean the floor before becoming sidetracked, but nothing more. How did she even become a nurse? She can't clean anything, she's evil, and she has the build of a walrus!

***************

The air outside was very pleasant. The sun beat down on Kai warmly as he exited the taxi. He had just signed his final forms and was forced to walk three blocks, since his wallet was back home and his pre-paid mile limit was reached.

"Thank you, sir. Perhaps we'll meet again. Have a good day."

"Uh-huh. You too."

Arlington was very beautiful with all the flowers beginning to climb upward toward the sky. His new apartment was within view, but only just. He waved on the taxi driver and began walking.

This is not home, he thought as he reached the building. This is only a place to stay for a while until I can get back to Raccoon City. He cringed, knowing that it would never happen, but removed the nasty thought. His family was gone, his virus was gone, and his value of life was diminishing.

He unlocked the door and stepped into the clean, fresh- smelling apartment. The sunlight dripped in from the windows on both sides of the living room and flooded the floor. There was very little furniture here, but enough to suffice; a recliner and couch on opposite ends of the room under the windows and a small square table with a cable TV hooked up in the corner. It was homey enough, but Kai was not impressed. He walked across the new white carpet and into the next room: the kitchen. A small stove was against the far wall with cabinets and a microwave inside. A few dishes were neatly placed in the cabinet on the left of the stove. Again, not impressed. He finally reached the bedroom; it was the only room he was interested in at the moment. He crashed on the soft foam bed and lay for several minutes. He reached up, closed the blinds, and, last, the door. He was then asleep.

***************

She was dead. Kai's six year old daughter lay limp on the floor, her eyes frozen open with fear. The jugular was spewing blood all over her murderer, who was now fixed on the young boy. The boy had dodged the creature's first attack and then leaped into his mother's arms. She hefted him onto her shoulder, grabbed Kai, and vanished out the back door.

Once the downtown Darcy Repair Warehouse was reached, all three of the Hunters began to break down. Tears flowed from the woman's eyes, landing on the young boy's head.

"Jacob, you'll be fine. I won't let anybody take you away."

The young boy shot an evil and resentful glance at his father. "Protect me? You couldn't even save my baby sister! What makes you think you can keep me safe!?"

Kai was stabbed through the heart by his child's words. He tried to speak, but no words would come to his tongue. He's right. I let my daughter die. How can I try to have him forgive me if I have no reason to forgive myself?

"Jacob, honey, Aly's fine. She's in heaven now. She's happy and she'll watch over you and make sure we all will be okay. Aly didn't. . . die, sweetie. She's just. . . just. . ." Her words completely died out.

A rough pounding on the door suggested that someone was alive in this mess. Kai motioned his family into the office above and peered through the keyhole. Nothing of any value was seen, so he took the chance of cracking the door open. A young man burst through and shouted to Kai to close the door. He quickly obeyed and locked the four locks and bolts on the door.

"Who are you?"

"Brad Vickers, S.T.A.R.S. Likewise?"

"Kai Hunter. My family is above in the office." He motioned to the dark window above their heads.

"Glad to see more than one person is alive at a time."

"Cut the crap. If your 'S.T.A.R.S.' care so much, why haven't they solved the problem? You guys supposedly found an Umbrella laboratory, right? Did you not find anything to stop this. . . this. . ."

"Stop. Just stop. You KNOW we would stop the infestation if we could. But we can't, so I'm getting what's left of S.T.A.R.S. together to see what can be done. Hell, for all I know, we are the only people alive in the city. All anyone can do is pray that they find a way out."

Kai was silent. He felt remorse from his outburst and considered apologizing, but reconsidered. He did not know this man, nor did he want to. Friends are useless now.

A beastly roar echoed from the door Brad had just entered. Brad quickly whirled around to be sure the lock was secure, and just in time. A visible pound on the door showed something, besides those zombies, was outside.

***************

Kai woke in a cold sweat. He slowly sat up in the bed and pressed his palm against his forehead. He felt as though he had obtained a hangover. He slid off the bed and waddled out to the kitchen for a glass of water. Why do I have to live through this dream every time I sleep? He drank the water down in a single gulp.

The couch was a bit small for size, but the soft comfort made up for it. The searched for the remote, located it, and clicked on the television. Bacillus-Terminate reports were on every channel. Naturally, his instincts forewarned him to keep it on, but he disobeyed. The TV snapped off and he lay on the couch with one arm over his face and one leg off the couch.

The only sound blocking his path from conscious to unconscious was the gentle pounding at the door. He startled, falling off the couch. He speedily reached his feet and unlocked the front door. He opened it and a woman with light brown hair welcomed herself into the doorway.

"Can I . . . help you?"