So we meet again! And instead of me bsing like I usually do, im just gonna get to the story! So thus, Enjoy!

Chapter 2 Deceit

Leon found himself astounded as he entered the misleading palace. From the small and gloomy look of the exterior, the magnificent Victorian interior was a definite shock. The only thing that Leon had guessed right about it was that the place did lead underground, or so he supposed since he found himself at the top of a grandiose staircase. It was the strangest thing he ever saw, entering a mansion from the top floor; although this was Umbrella we were talking about, so thus the strange architecture shouldn't be all too much of a surprise. The deep Mahogany wood only added to the beauty surrounding this bizarre place. As he looked straight ahead there was the railing with beautiful engravings. And on the empty wall was a large painting of an old man with piercing eyes. His gray hair seemed to blend with his seemingly gray eyes. As he moved forward to inspect the lower level he found a small plaque upon the railing. The commemorative inscription read: In honour of the glorious Lord Ozwell Spencer, Beloved father of Umbrella. Leon scoffed at the adjectives used to describe the old man. As he looked straight ahead he figured that the painting was of founder of the accursed Umbrella. As he moved along the railing, letting his fingers linger on the railings watching the eyes of the old man. He praised the lord above that the painting's eyes did not follow him. Instead they only stared straight ahead, almost longingly at the small intricate window above. The grand staircase hugged the walled and spiraled down to the floor below. As he walked upon the old steps he looked at the plain ceiling, this was definitely the top level. There was a small layer of dust that lied upon the railing. He wondered how long this place had been abandoned. The lights were magnificent. Obviously the place must have its own generator, similar to the Spencer mansion. Leon was happy with himself for researching about the first incident. He basically learned all there was to about employees, architecture, and as much shit as possible, which turned out to be only a small quantity. He reached the bottom of the staircase admiring the beauty of the scarlet carpet at his feet. Behind the staircase were two hallways leading into an unknown the darkness. Their musty appearance looked foreboding. He looked to the wall in the west direction. He came upon three even rows of portraits hanging on the elaborate wall. He slowly walked up to them. The first was the picture of the architect, George Trevor, sitting on a chair with his lovely wife Jennifer holding his shoulder, little Lisa upon his lap, smiling so happy in the black and white photo. Underneath the photo was a small gold plaque listing the name and relation to Umbrella, yet another honorable praise. He stared at them for a moment, thinking of what he had read on the life of this man. Nothing much came to mind except how Trevor was the architect and somehow moved up very high in the ranks of Umbrella Society. He soon disappeared sometime around when the Spencer mansion had been "abandoned". No information came to mind of women of the Trevor family except the simple names and their mysterious disappearances. He kicked himself for not asking Jill, Barry or Rebecca, more about that Spencer mansion. It was a long shot but he might have been able to learn a bit more information on the workers, as he desperately wanted. Yes it was hard, but they all needed to share the information, learn as much as possible to be ready. But how could he be so hypocritical? They all had been through the same hell, and he too had his share of secrets not willing to tell, at least not yet...

He stared at the portraits, all those smiling faces. If they knew the horror behind the walls, lurking within the shadows, he may never know. The scientist knew all too well. For now to him at least, most of them had been deceived; just like him. And then he saw another photograph that made his heart jump. It was the picture of William Birkin, Sherry's father. Annette, his wife, was in a separate portrait next to him. He looked into the eyes of both of them. "How did Sherry come from this?" The flash of the monster that had once been William Birkin flashed in his mind. The screams of Annette rang in his ears. He turned away from their happy faces looking once again at the walls. Emptiness is what he desired.

Trent was extremely vague on what this place was used for; actually Trent had been pretty damn vague on everything. Why did he listen to him then? "Because, he knows what is going on," Leon whispered as he looked to the ceiling once more. He wasn't positive, but ever since he had met Trent; he always seemed to know all the answers, only testing them to find them. Trent was hiding something, and he had some reason that dug into the very soul of him, eating him away to destroy Umbrella. It was if when Umbrella was destroyed, he would be destroyed, a ghost finding his final peace. He was brought out of his wandering thoughts by a sound. No, this was more than sound. It was a haunting melody that had once lingered in the halls of another mansion, a time that seemed an eternity ago. It was coming from one of the back hallways. He stood amazed at what he was hearing.

FLASHBACK: Leon had been walking down the hallways of the Bunker leading down to the lower level. It was probably around 11 o' clock. Rebecca usually worked hard down there in the labs, trying to figure out virology and other random worked she busied herself with. No one would bother her, but Leon decided he needed a break from Barry's barking and went down anyways. He heard a song, a very beautiful song. A piano's soft keys could be heard romancing the lonely hallways of the basement. It was obviously a recording there would be hell to pay if Barry found a baby grand in the labs. The beauty still remained. He had surprisingly heard Beethoven's haunting "Moonlight Sonata" before. It didn't surprise him that Rebecca was listening to this. A piano fan herself, also using the theory that it cleared your mind and helped you increase your intelligence; the thought of her listening to it didn't seem to be all that of a shock. As he walked closer to the last door of the labs he heard soft crying, Rebecca's soft crying. He slowed as he neared the door. He peaked into find her having one hand in her hair, the other holding on to something; perhaps a necklace of some type. Tears streaked her face young face, her eyes so red with remorse. She was whispered a few things, agony, curses, and a single name came out before she laid her head on the table falling asleep in the darkness. The metallic clang of her necklace that she held on to dearly hit the table as she whispered the name longingly once more. The piano soon lifted away, only leaving silence.

Leon had never forgotten that event. He only carried her back to her room, turning off the lights and shutting of the c.d. player. He didn't bother to ask Rebecca about it. As he once reminded himself before, they all had their secrets not willing to expose. He followed the trail of notes from the melody. He seemed almost feeling trance like, not caring which hallway he took. He found himself following the right; he believed this to be the way to find the source, if his ears did not deceive him. He passed one door, not bothering to glance much; he had to follow this music. He followed it down the hallway. Its crimson fog could be perceived through the gloom. He had finally reached the end of the hallway at a dark looking door. Leon found himself at the entrance of where the music could be heard, the ivory being struck down harsh as the sonata reached its high point. His heart was racing as his hand reached for the knob. As he slowly went to turn the knob, it wouldn't budge. Yes, Umbrella had happily locked this room away. He sighed as the piano slowed down it was coming to a close soon. He looked at the small crest above the gold knob. It was a Celtic design if he was right, but within in the intricate plating was some emeralds, neatly placed making the design complete. Quite odd having a Celtic design for a crest in a Victorian mansion, but lest we remind ourselves that Umbrella's puzzles have no limits to the boundaries of time and space. The beautiful green glittered against the gold. He sighed figuring he would have to find the keys or do some run around like the others. WAIT! The door earlier in the hallway, all hope had not been lost. He hurried down to the other door. In his excitement he crashed up against it and tried turning. No such luck again. Yes this one had the same golden crest above it, except instead of shining green there was stunning purple amethyst glimmering in its stead. As he slowly walked away out the right hallway, he looked to the left. He might as well investigate, maybe finding his missing link. Two more doors, symmetrical to the ones in its brother hallway. The golden crests proudly hanging above the knobs with rubies and sapphires filling the precious spot. He continued to walk down praying to find something and realized that he hadn't noticed that the two hallways connected. He felt like smacking himself in the head, but only continued to walk. As he reached the middle of the connecting hallway he turned to his right finding an elevator shaft. More Celtic design work shown. He sighed once more knowing that now he would enter the gloom of the labs, and probably finding his biological buddies hungry. The question rang through his head again, why did he come here? Did he need to prove something? Was it pride or just wanting to be useful to the others? Or maybe, yes it was something much deeper than originally planned...

Well that's that. I thought I should end it there. Not to bad for a second chapter. And what is with Leon's obsession with the workers of Umbrella? Hmmmmmmmm...I'll leave you to wonder. Also who is our mysterious pianist? Someone from the past, maybe... SOOO you'll just have to wait until chapter 3 and these questions should be answered...I think. Hoped you enjoyed I crave reviews like mad! AMP!