Dr.William Birkin
The wall next to David exploded, a .44 round smashing a lamp, shards of glass flying outward, one cutting him slightly. Jumping behind an overturned table, David stared in amazement at the assassin sent with the cleaner troops. Oh god..what the HELL did I just get myself into... David thought, crouching even lower as bullets flew past, splintering the table, shattering into the floor and walls. The report of the handgun echoing louder, closer, with every shot. "So...THIS is the David Sunderland I've been told to kill..you really are nothing more than a whiny little coward.." laughed the assassin "Once I put a bullet in you...my mission in this hell hole is half over...1 down....7 to go..or however the hell many of you survived....oh who cares, I'll count the bodies once I'm done....". David looked up to see the assassin standing above him, the slide on his desert eagle locked back, as he reached for another clip. In a split second, David was backing up, and firing wildly, bullets flying past the assassin in an inaccurate blaze, David's eyes filled with absolute terror as the leering killer finished reloading...death had finally come for him...
Or so he thought...the man stopped, his eyes wide with panic, looking down and rubbing a hand against the site of the searing pain he felt, he wiped blood from the lung wound. One of the 9mm rounds had pierced the cleaner agents lower lung, coughing for air and spitting blood, he fell to his knees, spasm slightly in a growing pool of blood. "No....no....." the man said, pain twisting his face. "This is impossible...you're just a stupid kid...a stupid lucky kid...how the...". David stood above the man, Beretta aimed, "You're probably in a lot of pain right now..I guess the kind thing would be to just shoot you..". he said quietly. The assassin nodded quickly, hopefully...his hope died when the look of concern in David's face died with perfect timing, revealing a cold, satisfied smile. The smile of a winner, the smile of someone so hell-bent on revenge that nothing else meant anything to them, and now it was being directed at him, by his victim, the sheer irony of the situation made the killer groan in pain. "Maybe....but first...its interrogation time...question one...who are you working for." David said coldly. "This is bigger than any of you people can know..this goes beyond Blair..beyond Isis..this goes to people so powerful they could have you killed in their sleep.." the assassin groaned, squirming in pain. "Wrong answer...ok...question two...where's Piers...". The man looked puzzled "I thought your big problem was with Markenson...Piers is the guy with the vendetta against everyone else..why would you care where he is?". "Markenson may be a maniac, but he's at least partially sane, when he wants to finish this hell probably have me dragged back to him by his goon squad, the melodramatic asshole....Piers, on the other hand, is a sick motherfucker, and cant be counted on not to try and butcher the prisoners he's taken.." replied David. The dying man's laughter echoed back at David, "How touching, you're concerned for the well being of those bastards..awwwwwwwww..". David silenced the man with a kick to his head, jamming the gun closer to his face, taking the safety off. "Maybe...maybe it's just beneficial to me if they don't die yet....in any case..you won't be alive long enough to find out...". Three gunshots echoed off of the walls, the bullets striking the man in his head, David reloaded his pistol. The latest setback was over... He walked off to find Alexandra, trying to suppress the nagging doubt at his competency to be fighting these people. All he knew was he needed to get Alex out of there, and that they had both better be long gone when the cleanup squad found its "lieutenants" body...
The elevator slammed to a stop, the doors opening smoothly. Three guards walked out, followed by a very irate Markenson. The door to the cell area slammed open, and Markenson pulled his m1911 a1 .45 from its holster, aiming it at Piers. "YOU! HOW THE HELL DID YOU FIND ME HERE...aren't you busy playing with your little cleaner troops?" Markenson grabbed piers by the neck. "LOOK YOU LITTLE SHIT...it's time you gave me some explanations...such as WHY you reactivated the augmentation project, why you're up here in the damned mountains, AND WHY YOU HAVEN'T TOLD ME HOW TO KILL THAT DAMN LIZARD, WHICH IS TEARING UP THE ENTIRE DOWNTOWN AREA..WE HAD TO VACATE THE PRIMARY COMMAND CENTER THANKS TO THAT THING...". Piers looked at Markenson..his eyes developing the one noticeable attribute of the augmentation...a swelling of the veins, and a strange intense focusing of the pupils, almost mechanical. "I wouldn't go doing this if I were you....I'm not the person you knew me as..." laughed piers, wrenching Markensons grasp from his throat. "LOOK, DON'T GO BITCHING TO ME ABOUT THE PROJECT, I KNOW ABOUT IT OK? THE EYE TRICKS AND OMINOUS SPEECHES DON'T MEAN SHIT TO ME OKAY?" yelled Markenson, lowering his pistol. "NOW LOOK...you had better make DAMNED sure all of them make it here..I'm getting very tired of having segmented forces crawling all over this damn town just to track down 8 MISERABLE LITTLE BASTARDS, OK??? THIS IS ALREADY FAR BEYOND CONTROL, AND IT'S GOING TO END PRESENTLY....because if it doesn't..and they come after me..I will make damn sure you are given the painful, slow, depraved death you DESERVE, YOU STUPID SHIT BAG...." Markenson turned and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Carlos Oliveira
Nathan lost track of where he was. He turned down so many streets that looked the same he didn't know where he was heading. All he knew was that some big dino was about the kill him if he didn't get outta here. Whizzing by another street he saw the path to the industrial section. Turning he saw the barricade. His car slamming into it sideways.
Hitting his head on the wheel he felt dizzy. Looking around he saw as much as heard the dino bearing down on him. It smashed it's giant claws fist through the roof tearing metal into Nathan's shoulder. Screaming in pain he tried to get free. The dino's foot came crashing down on the top crushing Nathan inside. He felt the sheer weight of it crushing the metal into him deeper. There was blood everywhere. He managed to get loose from the metal in his shoulder but found himself on the floor of the car while everything came crashing down. He knew he was going to die but hoped that it would've been after he had killed Piers.
"I'm sorry I failed you dad. I'm sorry for everything."
He silently wished everyone the best of luck as he watched the creature bring it's foot down for the killing blow. Blood draining from his face through the open wound on his cheek from the breaking glass. He closed his eyes and said his final words.
"Samantha,...I love you."
The foot came down and crashed onto the car for the final time crushing him inside. Soon he would think no-more.
Jill Valentine
A beautiful golden light beckoned her to approach the heavenly gates, that were built of pure silver, and lined with magnificent balls of pearls. A soft mist whirled gently underneath her, and Vanessa felt as though she were flying; away from Gaines, away from Jarred and the others, and away from her life...
In a quick glance, her life flashed back before her, leaving her breathless with emotions, memories, and experiences over come by her during her 16 years. A small white figure emerged from the misty clouds that surrounded her, revealing an old, yet warm, smiling face that she knew she recognized as her grandmother.
"Granma-ma?" she whispered, tears filling her eyes with wonder.
"Vanessa, my grand daughter." the old woman replied, encircling her arms around Vanessa in a warm embrace. "It is not yet your time to go."
Vanessa looked completely confused, dazed, and uncertain of what her grandmother was trying to say.
"I am not dead?" she asked.
"No." her grandmother replied."your mind and spirit still lives inside you. It is your body that has been weakened, my child."
"But Granma-ma, I don't understand I thought-"
The old woman smiled at Vanessa, her face beaming with light, warmth, and love, as she ran her fingers through her golden auburn hair.
"You haven't changed a bit since the last time I saw you. More beautiful perhaps, but still that innocent, loving nature, which was that of your mothers."
The rose-burnt wrinkled skin that formed her lips curved up gently, as her entire body frame glowed wonderfully, as though she was an angel sent by god.
"I love you, Vanessa." Her grandma continued. "But it is not yet your time to go. You must stay here. You must stay here and look after him."
Vanessa widened her eyes in amazement.
"You mean...Jarred?"
"Yes."
Before Vanessa could respond, the light was vastly disappearing, although it was being sucked into an unknown black hole. The figure that was once her grand mother had disappeared, and Vanessa awoke, finding herself alone in that very same room she left in. No blood stains. No bullet wound. No pain. She felt as though she had been re-born and given another chance to live; and that was a moment she would never forget.
"Jarred? Where are you?!"
Claire Redfield
Winsor could only stare at the hall and back at the room where Vanessa's corpse laid. John walked to the side of the wall, putting his head on it. Then without warning he started to punch it.
"Son of a bitch!" he yelled. "Everything is fucked now! Everyone is gone or dead!"
Winsor didn't know what to do. For the first time in her life she was scared to death. Vanessa was dead and despite everything Winsor did to antagonize her and piss her off, she was afraid to admit it, but she thought that she had made a friend. No matter how many times Winsor pushed the others aside, they still helped her. The only thing that she returned in favor was sarcasm.
But you did help, didn't you? You helped Alex with her arm...
One thing. One goddamn thing that she could remember doing that wasn't selfish. It was eating her from the inside. She kept thinking about how she should be dead instead of Vanessa. Vanessa didn't deserve to be killed.
John punched at the wall again until there was a small crack growing on the plaster. Winsor slowly staggered toward him. There was still pain in her back, but she ignored it just like her feelings, but now things would start to change. Slowly at the most. She grabbed John's arm before he could punch the wall again.
"Listen, things are bad now, but they will get worse if you can't control yourself," she said.
"Really? When did you give a damn about anyone? Nathan?" he snapped. She was expecting him to say something like that.
She slowly thought about what to say when John glared at her and opened his mouth again. "Surprise me. Because all you care about is yourself. Do you even care about Nathan? I think you're using him-"
"You want to be surprised," she spat, "I care about everyone! I care about Nathan! I care about Ryan! I care about Alex, Jarred, and Vanessa! Hell, I care about you and David! The only reason why I am selfish and alone all the time is because I don't want anyone to cry if I die! I don't deserve it! You think that you are angry and confused and feel all that emotional shit right now, but try feeling that twenty-four-seven!"
John just stared at her in awe, but she knew she had to continue to make it clear that she knew what everyone was going though. She took a deep breath and started again.
"Your friends died and you were close to them. That was good; you were close to them. Me? I feel close to people when I push them away the most. Because if anything happened to them, I would lose it and probably commit suicide. I am confused and angry too. Everyone you....we care for are gone or dead and if we don't control these emotions and feelings and all those mentally confusing things we'll end up dead like them. I don't know about Nathan or Ryan or David or Alex or Jarred, but emotions are a bitch and sometimes it's best to hold them back at times. If it was between me and Vanessa, I would want to be the one who got shot instead."
"If you got shot, you would be surprise at how many people would miss you," said a voice coming behind them.
John's eyes widened in shock as his mouth began to drop. The voice was horrifyingly familiar and Winsor turned.
Vanessa walked out of the doorway. She walked perfectly normal and looked healthy despite the bloodstain on her blouse. John walked past Winsor and went up to Vanessa, his gaze looking everywhere on her body.
"You're-you're alive, but how?" he asked, his voice stuttering a bit.
Winsor felt herself go pale, her thoughts muddling together for an explanation for it herself when she remembered about the vial. She swallowed hard and fought the emotions growing inside her. Happiness and relief, two things that would make herself happy to show to everyone, but she held it inside her.
"The vial, dumbfounded John," Winsor said in a slick tone and also trying to be herself. "That or she's the first ever zombie to look normal and speak like an actual person."
Vanessa smiled. "I heard everything."
Winsor scowled and turned her head away. She mentally smiled to herself in happiness that Vanessa, her friend, was alive.
"I-are you alright?" John asked and Winsor had to fight the urge to make another sarcastic remark.
"Yeah, I guess the vial does work on bullet wounds. Where's Jarred?" Vanessa said.
"He took off. We thought you were dead," John said.
With all the emotions being shown, Winsor sighed and then slowly added to the statement.
"And if we don't take off, we'll be the ones who are dead."
City of the Dead
Nathan braced himself for the final impact....But the blow never came, instead, it was a barrage of gunfire, all coming from automatics.
"Bring it down" Nathan heard a voice yell over the blazing bullets, followed by a deafening roar, obviously from the beast.
In a matter of minutes, the battle outside was over with a huge rumbling. Whoever it was that had fought the beast, had won. All of a sudden, Nathan heard voices all around him, and boots hitting the pavement. He was surrounded. He knew the Blair cleaners were outside, he was as good as dead, until a piece of sheet metal was ripped off the top of him, and he came face to face with Keel.
"I've got him" Keel yelled with a smile on his face. It was now painfully obvious which side of the fence he was on. Nathan groaned in pain as Keel gripped his shoulder, pulling him out of the wreckage.
Nathan looked around to see several cleaner troops gathered around the body of the creature, all cheering wildly at its defeat. Keel shoved him forward, directing him into an alley. Nathan was a little disoriented, and a little too weak to put up a resistance, weakened both physically and emotionally. Keel put him against the brick wall and then spoke.
"Listen Nathan, you and your friends need to get out of here in a hurry" Keel said to him.
"What?" Nathan asked out of complete surprise.
"Turns out, there are a few executives in Isis that were working with Blair the whole time, and my entire unit was wiped out by the cleaners, I joined up with them so I could protect you guys, we've been told to kill all of you, but I won't let that happen" Keel said.
"Why? Why are you helping us? What's going on?" Nathan asked.
"Because, I'm not a cold blooded murderer, I wasn't sent here to kill a bunch of innocent teenagers, I was sent here to help, and that's what I'm going to do" Keel said glancing towards the alley's entrance, making sure the coast was clear.
"Alright, you know the subway station right?" Keel asked.
"Uh yeah, I've forgotten all about it" Nathan responded.
"Okay, there is an entrance by the hospital, that is where the subway train is parked right now, get it running and let it take you to the other side of town, you should be okay there, everyone is looking for you Downtown, you'll be safe over there" Keel explained.
"But what about Ryan? That bastard Piers took him" Nathan asked.
"I'll leave that up to you, all I can do right now is tell you how to get someplace safe, now, the industrial district circles all of Gaines, you can access it on the other side of town, and take the mountain roads out of town...or look for your friend, Blair's main factory is centered somewhere in the mountains" Keel said.
"Thanks" Nathan said with gratitude.
"Like I said, I'm here to help, do not trust anyone else" Keel said running out of the alley to join up with the rest of the soldiers.
Nathan ran the opposite direction, he had to go get everyone else. He began thinking how foolish he was to run off to city hall and leave everyone else, he was no good to anyone dead, and he started to worry about Sam, he had left her in an injured state and he had no idea if she was okay or not, he had to find her...
The sunlight had drained the park of all its darkness. Jarred sat in the main recreational area, where the bodies of several hunters still lay. He had given up hope, given up on leaving, on everything. He had failed her, and now he felt nothing. No reason to go on, no reason to do anything.
"I'm sorry Vanessa, I'm sorry I couldn't have done more to help, I'm sorry it wasn't me that took the bullet instead, I'm just sorry I was a disappointment to you" Jarred whispered to himself.
He leaned back in the park bench and looked up at the morning sky. It was filled with dark storm clouds, sunlight crept through their tiny crevices, but it wasn't enough to fully bask the park in sunlight. It always looked like it was going to rain.
He got up from the bench and stood against the metal railing that circled around the large fountain. It almost seemed like everything was normal again, the park was very peaceful, even the moans of the zombies had begun to die out.
Jarred stepped away from the fountain and paced around for a bit, until he was suddenly snapped out of his despair by the sounds of marching and moving vehicles. He quietly snuck over to the other side of the park and gazed through the bushes. On the other side, it looked like an exodus, hundreds of uniformed soldiers all marching down the street, It looked like they were either moving out, or heading into another area.
"That's odd," Jarred whispered. "What the hell are they doing?"
Just then, a black Helicopter with a Blair logo on the side, flew by, and it was heading towards...
"The Clock Tower? Why the hell are they heading to the clock tower?" Jared whispered.
This doesn't make any sense, it almost looks like they're...
"Are they really retreating?" He silently said.
And then without warning, a hand covered his mouth and yanked him backwards, he struggled for freedom, but was overpowered by his captor. He was dragged towards the other side of the park, he fumbled with his belt, trying to access his weapons, but couldn't get to them. Then the grip around him loosened and Jarred jumped up, aiming a pistol into his assailant's face.
"Keel?" He said, caught off guard.
"Shhhh," Keel motioned.
"What the hell is going on?" Jarred whispered, lowering his weapon.
"Long story, the Isis mission was a bust from the beginning, several executives are in partnership with Blair, and now they've ordered that both squads seek out and destroy the other survivors, but no, I wasn't sent here to kill innocent people, I was sent to help anyone I could, so I'm sticking to my mission plan," Keel explained.
"So what's going on with this movement here?" Jarred asked.
"We were all ordered for extraction, we're leaving and I think I know why," Keel said.
"Why?" Jarred asked.
"I think the outside is catching on to what's going on, and they want all their troops and higher-ups out of here, but Jarred, listen to me, you and your friends need to get out of here now, I ran into Nathan earlier, and told him about the subway train near the hospital, you guys should take that, and head to the other side of Gaines, as you know the industrial district circles the city, you can make it to there, and then head out that way, but be careful, Blair's main factory is around there somewhere, and I don't think its exactly vacant right now," Keel explained further.
"What are you going to do?" Jarred asked.
"I'm going to do what I was sent here to do, I'm going to help out everyone I can," Keel smiled.
"How are you going to do that?" Jarred asked again.
"Heh heh, lets just say the cleaners are going to make quite a mess," Keel laughed silently. "But get going Jarred, get out of here, good luck pal."
"Thanks for all your help," Jarred said, running off towards the park entrance and then heading out. Apparently Keel was on their side, but he still wasn't sure whether or not he should trust him or not. Jarred's mind shifted once more to Vanessa, the thought of leaving town without her was almost unbearable, tears already formed in his eyes, but he had to press on. He set his course for the crumbling News building, hoping to find John and Winsor still there...