Carlos Oliveira

Nathan took the point with David, Alex and Sam right behind him. Followed by Vanessa and John, with Jarred picking up the rear. With the constant flickering of the lights from the damage the explosion did, Nathan wasn't sure if the shadow's were creatures or just shadow's. Every step they took echoed like an army marching. The silence was more from fear that they would lead Nemesis to them rather then lack of topics. Nathan paused and lifted his hand signaling everyone to stop. He jogged a few meters ahead and checked out the tunnel. David turned to Alex and broke the silence.

"Have you remembered anything else yet?"

"No...it's all kinda fuzzy. I remember some things but the rest seems like I just dreamt it up or something." she replied.

John took the opportunity to sit down and rest for a bit. He was tired as hell and gettin' pissy from all the walking.

"So do you think we're gonna make it?" Vanessa whispered her question to Jarred.

"Sure we are. We've made it this far haven't we?" said Jarred encouragingly.

Sam started walking towards Nathan's direction. Lifting her weapon slightly and seeming to listen to every sound.

"Hey! Sam! Where ya going? Don't you think Nathan can handle himself?" asked John with a chuckle.

"Oh I know he can handle himself John,...unlike you." she answered with a sneer.

"Oh my god! She made a funny. Stop it I can't take it the inner laughter is killin' me." replied John in retort.

"John, your such an fucking loser sometimes you know that? There's assholes and then there's Fucking asshole's! Guess which you are? Moron." Sam spat back.

"I'm rubber, your glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you! Ha! I haven't used that one in ages!" answered John.

"I'd love to continue this battle of wits with you John, but your obviously unarmed!" answered Sam with a chuckle.

John answered with a glare as David burst out laughing. Sam new that he didn't expect that one and it bugged him that he couldn't think of anything else, so the glare was his best defense. Jarred spoke up as David's laughter died.

"What the hell is taking him so long?" he muttered as suddenly the sound of gunfire echoed through the tunnel. Sam was running before the rest, but they were all right behind her. Taking the turn she saw a few dead zombies and some piled cars. Nathan was no-where to be seen. John looked over and saw Nathan's rifle laying on the ground.

"NATHAN!" shouted Jarred as the others fanned out.

Their voices echoed throughout the tunnel as they searched for him.

Alex heard him first. A weak reply from Nathan rang out in the tunnel. David reached him first and started to help him up. It appeared that something had knocked him down.

"What the hell happened man?" asked John first as Sam stepped close to him, helping to support his weight as he was in obvious pain.

"You really don't want to know." he replied.

"OF course we do! Are you ok?" asked Sam.

"My pride is hurt, but I'm fine." he answered.

"I was walking ahead and thought I saw a hunter behind the car. So I figured I'd get the drop on it. I unslung my rifle and decided to use my D.E.'s but when I came around the car, I slipped and fell. Go ahead laugh it up." he answered as he rolled his eyes at himself and shook his head.

David and Alex both started laughing along with John. Jarred and Nessa both started shaking their heads at his misfortune but Sam looked worried.

"Nath! You're bleeding!" she said.

He looked down and saw that his stitches had popped and the wound had re-opened, but not as bad as before.

"I'm alright." he replied as he held a clamped hand over the wound.

John handed him back his rifle and they started out again.

---------------------------------------------------

Ryan was lead through the factory by Luke. After a brief walk they retrieved Ryan's weapons and started for the nearest exit.

"I'm not going with you." he said flatly.

"You should really get out of here Ryan. Your too young to be playing hero to the world ya know." answered Luke.

"Yeah? Maybe, but I can still make my own decisions and as long as I can, I'm going after Piers." he replied.

"Alright. Good luck to you. I hope th..." Luke was cut off by the crack of a pistol and the bullet that followed as it tore into his head. Ryan ducked and retreated around a corner.

"Come on kid! Give up or you'll only make it harder on yourself!" yelled a voice.

"I have an idea! How about you give up and I'll take it easy on you!" answered Ryan.

He was answered by a hail of bullets and some chips of concrete as the bullets riddled the wall beside him. Taking off he ducked around another corner and waited for them to come into view.

---------------------------------------------------

As they reached the exit they saw that the sun was setting fast and they still had a little ways to go before they reached the factory. Jarred decided that they should try to get some sleep for a bit before heading out again and everyone except Nathan agreed, but after seeing how tired everyone was he nodded and started looking for some shelter.

David and Alex found an old van and decided that they'd catch some sleep their. Jarred, John, and Nessa saw an R.V. and broke climbed in very relived to find some real bedding. Sam walked over to Nathan who was sitting on the hood of a car having a smoke as he watched the darkness grow.

"You ok?" she asked.

"Huh? Oh sorry. Yeah I'm alright. Just worried about Ryan that's all. He's like a younger brother kinda." he replied startled.

"I may not know you well Nathan, but I do know when people are lying to me." Sam said.

With a small laugh, Nathan answered, "Sorry. I'm just not used to people asking me that question. I'm just worried about where we all go after this is done. I've never been so alone before. I always had my dad ya know. Now I've got no-one," he sighed.

"You have me," she said cheerfully.

Nathan turned and looked at her carefully. He seemed to be peering intimately into her very soul she thought. When he spoke, his words melted her defenses a little more.

"I don't ever wanna lose you Sam. You're all I have now and losing that scares me more then anything. I'm not getting mushy or emotional ok? I just wanted you to know that incase something happens."

Sam pulled him to her and hugged him tightly. She felt his warm hands come around and return the embrace. She whispered softly to him.

"Your not going to lose me. I'm not an open person and you know that. I have trouble talking about my feeling let alone showing them. I've never felt this way about anyone before Nathan and I swear I never intended too, but I do and I can live with it. Don't talk about something happening ok? We'll get Ryan and get out of here. Then it'll be just you and me after. I'm sorry if I act like a bitch but that's who I am, if you can live with that then I'd like to see where this can go."

Nathan looked up into her eyes and smiled. For the first time since his father died, he felt like there was a reason to live. He knew that she hated this kind of talk and silently thanked her for being open with him. He cared deeply for her and needed to know she felt the same.

"Sam I love you for who you are. Don't ever change ok? I can live with it if you can. If I can't kiss you in front of the others I'll wait! I don't care! As long as I'm with you I'm happy. Nothing else matters." he replied.

Silently they stared out into the night. Both thinking about what was said and what it meant to them both. Sam fell asleep after a short time and Nathan gently carried her to the R.V. making a bed out of pillows as he returned to the car outside and continued staring into the darkness. After a while he found himself singing quietly to himself. A song he listened to a lot.

I've never seem you lookin' so gorgeous as you did tonight....I've never seen you shine so bright...you were amazin'....I've never seen so many men ask you if you wanted to dance....lookin' for a little romance...given haaaaaalf a chance. I have never seen that dress your wearin' ...or the highlights in your hair that catch your eye's...I have been blind..the lady in reeeed...is dancing with me...cheek to cheek...there no-body here....it's just you and me. That's where I wanna be. And I hardly knowwww...this beauty be my siiiide. I'll never forget...the way you look tonight. I've never seen so many people wanna be there by your side...and then you turned to me and smiled...it took my breath away. I have never had such a feelin'...such a feeling of complete and utter love....as I do tonight....the lady and reeeed. Is dancing with me...cheek to cheek. There's no-body here....it's just you and me...that's where I wanna be....... slowly Nathan drifted off to sleep. His last thoughts of the woman who would break his heart, or make his life complete. Either way all he wanted was for her to be safe.

Claire Redfield

Winsor was sleeping peacefully by Nathan until she heard someone talking. She slowly opened her eyes and realized that the background was different.

No, no I'm in a car or something.

She realized that Nathan must have moved her while she was asleep. She looked around and seen Jarred and Vanessa sleeping next to each other by one of the walls. Winsor was laying on the floor.

They looked so peaceful, yet Vanessa slowly moved her head side to side. She appeared to be dreaming. Vanessa let out a small whimper-like sound and Winsor laid her head back down on a pillow.

She couldn't stop thinking about it. She was actually softening up and even told someone her true feelings. It was strange. She never even thought about considering to probably be with someone. She was always abandoned or she just refused, but Nathan had changed all that. He cared for her. He even wanted her to be with him and though she wasn't sure to admit it, but she would probably want too.

Vanessa let out another whimper and Jarred put his arm around her. She went quiet again. Winsor had to hold back laughter.

Oh...how pitiful...

But she even knew that if it was Nathan and herself in Jarred and Vanessa's place, he would have done the same.

Winsor looked around alarmed and wanting to kick herself mentally in the ass. Where was Nathan? She sat up in a sitting position and out of a window saw him. He was sitting on the hood of a car. He wasn't moving maybe awake or asleep.

Vanessa let out another whimper and Winsor couldn't take it anymore. She picked up the pillow and threw it at Vanessa's head. Vanessa woke up alarmed and looking around madly at what hit her.

"I can't believe that he can stand being next to you when you are sleeping," Winsor whispered and walked out of the car(which she noticed was a van). She quietly walked up to Nathan.

He was asleep. His breathing slow and peaceful. She looked at his wound which had stopped bleeding.

She just acted without thinking. She got up onto the hood of the car, feeling a small stretch of pain coming from her back. She should have looked for a painkiller when they were at the hospital.

She suddenly remembered leaving the room when he had asked her to talk to him. She had never felt so much afraid in her life and she just left him. She just left the person-

-who I love.

Winsor put her arms around Nathan's chest and nuzzled her head on his shoulder. He didn't stir once. It was a little cold, but she knew that after leaving Nathan in the hospital room this is what she deserved.

She slowly closed her eyes and welcomed the darkness as she had always did when she fell asleep.

Piers looked at the files in his hand. They were the ones he had been asking for and after nearly killing a man in a chokehold, he had received them.

David the traitor and Alex..They escaped. Ryan is here. Nathan escaped, but he won't survive the family reunion. Let's see...

He continued to read. There was a John, a Sam, a Jarred, and a Vanessa. He wasn't sure, but he thought that he had already made acquaintances with some of them. Did he? Ever since the spill it seemed that days and people were starting to blur together.

He scowled and placed the files down. They weren't enough information. These children were surviving somehow and somewhere right now-

-the door of his office opened and a shaky nervous man entered. He was short and skinny as hell; what an excellent person to yell at and see him shit his pants.

"Mr. Piers..I, uh, have the rest of the files that you requested," he said, trying not to stutter. "And I found something and I have a question-"

"Sir," the intercom spat. "Ryan Bartlett has escaped from his cell. We-"

Piers growled and slammed his hand onto the intercom on his desk. The intercom cracked and static was only heard.

They're children! Why can't we hold one in a cell?! ONE!

Piers lost it and before he knew it he was choking the skinny employee with one hand.

"I am going to finish this. Tell the scientist to ready the Tyrant for a second time and tell them to add something new to it. Something unpredictable, yet known. Something old, yet new," Piers spat.

The skinny man looked confused and terrified at him. "Y-y-yess sir!"

Piers let his grip go on the man and snatched the file from his hand. He mentally counted to ten. He was starting to lose it. He was tired of losing as well. He looked back at the man who was already at the door. "You said there was something else?"

The man stopped and turned around. "I recognized two names on the files. David-"

"I KNOW!" Piers shouted.

"-and a Samantha Winsor. Although I don't know her or the first name, but wasn't there a couple who worked here about fifteen or something like that years ago. Married and their last name was Winsor. I don't know."

Piers held his breath for a moment trying to remember and then glared back at the man. "Tell the scientist what I want."

The man quickly left and Piers dropped the files on his desk. He was tired. He sat in his chair again and slowly smiled to himself. He was going to kill the children and those who interfere. He was going to torture them and laugh at their screams. He would experiment on them, making them horrific and murderous machines...

But now, he had to sleep.

Dr.William Birkin

David sat in the van, wide awake, staring out a window. On the seat next to him, resting against his arm somewhat, was Alexandra, sleeping peacefully. Sleep...yet another habit I guess I'm breaking.... thought David, despondently reflecting on the situation he was in. The calm, still night, only amplifying the sound of Alex's quiet breathing was a perverse joke to him, a big reminder of what was going on. "Dear god why can't I just die...Alex doesn't deserve someone as horrible as me..." he said to himself, noticing a quiet muttering from the unconscious form next to him. "Mm...huh? David?" Alex sat up yawning "What time is it....David? Are you feeling ok?" she said, noting his emotionless stare. "Huh? Oh..yeah..I was just thinking about how this is both the happiest night of my life and the worst...if only I'd known you before this all started...." he replied, closing his eyes and leaning his head back. "Well..I'm here now..isn't that enough?" Alex said, hugging him gently. David sat motionless, the still night calming him slightly, "Yes...but we don't even know how much longer well both be alive....hell...if we do get out of here..who's to say they won't just find us all and kill us?". Alex nervously bit her lip, trying not to share his concern, "Well...I'm sure if they did...that you'd find some way to deal with it....you've made it this far right? And I'm not worried about myself..you don't seem to be willing to let any harm come to me...I..I love you David..." she said, kissing him gently.

The calm, silent night was very different inside the secondary control center of the factory, phones rang, analysts walked about checking statistics and reconnaissance reports, and in a side office, one man planned the fate of the town itself. "God...this just gets worse.." Markenson growled, leaning back in his chair, his bloodshot eyes staring at the ceiling. "No reports on target status...they can't just die already...". Extinguishing his cigarette, he stood up and stared out of the window at the nearby forest. I should have seen it all coming...the minute the human efficiency augmentation project went into his control...the minute Piers became head researcher...god....why didn't I see.....why didn't any of us see..... "Brian...I have a question....why, haven't your finest black ops managed to capture children yet?" Piers' voice echoed into the office. "Because we underestimated all of them.. " replied Markenson "THE SITUATION IS STILL SALVAGEABLE....we still have judgment...". Markenson turned, a look of horror filling his eyes as he saw the look on Piers' face, "NO...WE ARE NOT UNLEASHING THAT MONSTROSITY ON THE WORLD...didn't you learn? The augmentation project..the suppression of the results of YOUR experiments..hell..EVEN THOSE LIZARD THINGS...all because of your mad obsession with power....I am still director of security, my job is to eliminate any possible threats to the security of our work, and YOU...doctor...are getting to the top of the list of threats...". Piers glared at Markenson, and yelled to the control room outside "PREPARE THE PROTOTYPE....we will do this again....." he said, hoping his second creation would fare better than his first...

Jill Valentine

The silent dwell of cicada's set a peaceful rhythmic beat for that early morning. Although it was still quite dark, Vanessa could tell it was morning. Because Winsor had thrown a pillow at Vanessa's head, Vanessa couldn't get back to sleep.

Damn bitch. I can't help making sounds in my sleep.

Vanessa sighed, getting up from her comfortable sleeping position, watching Jarred lay peacefully beside her. His breathing was so peaceful, and she was glad that, through such a nightmare, he was able to sleep; undisturbed.

Unlike me...

Vanessa slowly slid out of the Van, noticing Winsor and Nathan on the rooftop of the car, asleep, happy..

"How cute.." she muttered to herself. "I wish she wouldn't rag on me so much though. Maybe when I died in that room back there, I should of stayed dead."

Rolling her eyes, Vanessa peered out of the tunnel exit, the gentle rays of sunlight warming her face as they inched over the horizon. The misty hills that surrounded the town in a distance looked absolutely beautiful as the sun shone over them.

"I would really like to pain that." Vanessa muttered to herself, smiling at the thought. It would bring back memories, when she used to sneak out of the house early in the morning, before school, and paint the sunset over the hills. It may of sounded a little pathetic to others, but she enjoyed being alone in such an array of beauty and tranquility.

A harsh rustle came from the bushes. Vanessa looked over, as the sound had disturbed her thoughts, wondering what it was.

"Hello? Who's there?" she asked slowly walking towards the bush.

As if they will answer me...duh...

"Screw it."

Ignoring the irritating sounds coming from the bushes, Vanessa turned and walked back to the van.

Before she could respond, a hand had grasped around her mouth, leaving her unable to cry for help. Another had pulled around her waist, pulling her back into the bushes. No matter how hard she kicked, punched and screamed, no one could hear her. No one.

Joker

The chips of concrete scattered across the floor at Ryan's feet. With all the small arms fire volleying toward his position, he couldn't get a single shot off to ward them back. Looking around, Ryan spotted another door. As the staccato rhythm of firing pin meeting bullet echoed loudly through the outside corridor, Ryan made a break for the door, hoping his footsteps would be masked by the shots.

As Ryan burst through the door, he flattened against the wall just beside it, Beretta high. As he clutched the 9mm handgun, he caught himself thinking... "I should have taken that assault rifle". The armory was almost completely empty. Not a rifle, flak jacket or submachine gun in sight. All he had found was his pistol and a few more clips than when he'd started. All in all, when confronting a heavily armed force, not the sort of thing you'd wish for, but better than nothing. Besides, firepower hadn't done that Baird guy any good. In fact, it had just contributed to the already morbid visuals of the complex by adding a "brain-matter gray" finish to one of the walls.

With all the mishagos of dodging bullets, Ryan hadn't even looked around at the room he entered.

It was a macabre freak show. Strange distortions of nature lining the walls in what looked like some sort of suspended animation. Creatures that appeared to be inside out, creatures that appeared to be almost human, yet impossibly tall with large menacing claws. Ryan used all his willpower to stop himself from screaming and, thusly, revealing his location. But that wasn't all.

The only visible exit was the way he came.

Ryan couldn't help but hear every possible expletive known to man erupt in his mind. He'd just gotten himself into a room with no exit.

As Ryan frantically attempted to formulate a plan, he could hear the footsteps of at least 4 people.

They had found him. Now it was only a matter of time before he was discovered.

Looking around the room, he saw a console with some buttons. In desperation, Ryan quickly hit a button and dived into the shadows, not daring to move lest one of the troopers spotted him.

The Blair troops came in almost soundlessly, alternating directions and setting up arcs of fire within the room. Not a word uttered by any of them, but a series of hand signals was made.

One of the troopers made a "snapping-fingers" motion followed by a spread hand pointing roughly in his direction. From seeing how the Gaines PD SWAT operated, Ryan knew what that meant.

They had found him.

He waited for the inevitable to come when suddenly, the sound of something opening was heard.

That sound was immediately followed by the scream of one of the Blair soldiers and the tearing of muscle and sinew.

The room once again erupted in a stroboscopic flash of lights and sound as the hollow thud of the soldiers' M4's reverberated around the room with an almost deafening roar. The only thing that could be heard over it was the roar of the creature slowly but surely dismembering every last one of them.

As Ryan watched from his hiding place, he couldn't help but realize how short-sighted he had been. So it ripped up the soldiers. Great. But he was more lightly armed, had less training (not that their training was apparent in this incident) and was losing his mind. Three distinct disadvantages these soldiers did not have and they were eviscerated.

However, one thought entered Ryan's mind.

"Going ballistic is not always a bad thing..."