A/N: Chapter 3 is here! Thank you, reviewers! Okay, okay, another one said that he wasn't blonde but he isn't a brunette either, me and my friends looked up some cutscene clips from RE2 and say it looks red but I'm gonna keep it blonde. Okay? Sorry. *shrug* Anyway, here we go.....

Resident Evil: Simply Murder

Chapter 3

With a groan, Chris opened his eyes. Getting to his feet, he looked around, taking in his surroundings. They were in a prison cell. A barred window on the far wall let in the moonlight and there was a bunk set in the corner which looked like someone had operated on it. Slashes and blood stained the pillow and sheets, causing Chris to shiver a bit. The air was stale and a bit of squeaking of rats or mice could be heard. Though still dizzy, he leaned down, shaking Claire.

"Chris...." He looked over, seeing Carlos rubbing his head.

"Hey, how you feeling?"

"Dizzy." Claire leaned up at this point.

"Me, too. Where are we?"

"A prison cell. Still, its a good thing we're still together. But they disarmed us of everything."

"Even the lock pick?" Chris checked his vest breast pocket.

"Yeah...."

"Damn...." Carlos muttered. "Well, now what?" Chris bit his lower lip, shaking his head.

"Ah, good morning. How are you all feeling?" They all turned to see Mitch's smug face. "I do hope you're all comfortable. Being my new guests and all." As he spoke, he walked towards them, stopping about two feet away from the bars. "Oh, yes. And don't worry. We'll take good care of Leon for you." Chris waltzed up, grasping at the bars.

"What're you going to do?" Mitch held something up, looking past Chris at Claire.

"Thank you for returning this. I'm going to need it to finish what I started before." Her eyes grew wide, seeing the syringe.

"What is that stuff?" Carlos demanded.

"A masterpiece! This is a sample of the G-Virus. The amplified version of the T-Virus. I've made my own modifications to this and need to test it." There was silence. The trio staring at the crazed scientist who held their friend's fate in his hands.

"Why?" Came Claire's quiet voice.

"Why what? Why do this? Because I can! That's the beauty of it!" He gave a short cackle, further proving his insanity. "Well, Leon's waiting. I wouldn't want to keep him." He then turned, climbed up the few stairs and went out the door.

"No, wait!" The loud thud of the door was Chris' only response. A few minutes passed by, the three just staring at the man's retreat until a quiet voice broke the awkward silence.

"Is he gone?" From the corner of the room, emerging from the shadows came --

-- Jack.

"What're you doing here?" He walked over to the lock, pulling out a key and opening the cell.

"That." Chris carefully walked out, eyeing him.

"Why?"

"I told your friend, Leon, I have nothing to do with this. And Mitch..... the man is insane....." He reached into his lab coat, pulling out a key. "Here."

"What's this?" Claire peered over her brother's shoulder down at the rusted key.

"Right out that door and pretty much across the hall is a room where they put your stuff. That will open it and --"

"Why are you doing this?" He held up his hands defensively.

"I already told you. This whole thing is insane and has to stop. When they hired me I had no idea about making any viruses or serums. I am just the programmer, you know. Now go. Before they find out."

"I like this guy...." Carlos said, smiling.

"What about you? Come with us." Claire watched as he took a deep breath, exhaling it slowly. Nerves.

"I'm going to prevent Mitch from finding out as long as I can. Just go. Don't worry about me."

"Thank you."

"Yes, thank you," Claire said, giving him a peck on the cheek. Carlos patted his shoulder, giving him a small grin.

"Give 'em hell, amigo." He nodded to each, watching them leave.

---

A small shriek escaped Saki's lips as she realized what was in the giant tank in the middle of the room. They'd entered a large circular room with two levels, the second level being a steel platform that circled the entire room. Two ladders on either side led up and there was one door on the second level. One other door on the lower floor was on the opposite side.

"Holy shit....." Leon whispered, staring into the clear tank at the giant great white. "That thing is huge. Must be -- I don't know -- about half the size of a bus. Maybe bigger."

"Can we stop admiring it and leave?" Leon looked back, seeing her inch away.
"Yeah, sorry. Let's go." She went next to him as they walked around. As the shark rounded into view again she grabbed his hand, looking for comfort.

"Well, isn't this cute...." Freezing, Leon freed his hand and spun, earning a back hand that sent him flying into the glass wall, hearing it crack.

"Leon!" A boot came into his view. Looking up slowly, he can face-to-face with a tall man with blonde hair and a pair of shades. He crouched down, becoming level with Leon's face. A small grin was on his features.

"I take it you're Leon?" The man's grin turned into a smile as Leon felt something warm on his lip. Bringing his hand up, he discovered that his lower lip was cracked, blood dripping.

"Who are you?" The man looked to be in his mid- maybe late-30s. His eyes, though hidden, were searching him.

"Wesker. Albert Wesker..... ex-"

"Ex-Captain of the S.T.A.R.S. unit!" Leon finished getting to feet, eyes wide. Wesker glared, getting up as well.

"How do you know that?"

"Chris --" Before he could finish, let alone blink, Wesker grabbed his throat, slamming him against the glass, breaking it further.

"What about Chris?" He hissed, showing Leon just how much he loathed Redfield. "He's alive?!"

"O-of course h-he is," Leon choked, attempting to gasp for breathe. He was suddenly dropped as Saki hit Wesker over the head with the butt of her handgun, pissing him off more than hurting him.

"Hello, dear. Is there something you wanted?" He went to hit her but she dodged, grabbing his arm and flipping him over her shoulder. On his feet almost immediately, Wesker attempted another hit. Saki, however, landed a blow to his gut, then turned, slamming her shoulder and back into him. Balancing himself, Wesker tried another blow but she back flipped out of the way. He growled in frustration as she took a stance.

"Watashi wa Saki. Kore wa T'ai Chi Quan." [1]

"I don't know what the hell you said," he opened the door they were heading for, "but you just signed your death certificate." With that, he drew his handgun, fired into the tank, and exited through the door, locking it. Water began coming through, the glass giving. After a quick glance around, Leon spotted the ladder.

"Saki." Her head snapped in his direction, worry clouding her eyes. This was different for him, though. He was kind of used to this and besides, he was a trained cop. He knew how to deal with pressure. He pointed towards their new destination. "Come on!" They both raced towards the ladder, Saki giving a small squeak as Leon lifted her up by her waist, helping her grab the rungs considering her 5' 2" frame. Once she was up, Leon jumped up, grabbing the bottom rung, grunting as his fingers suddenly had to hold up his body weight.

Meanwhile, the glass gave, all its contents flooding the room, including the shark.

"Leon! Hurry!" Finally able to use his feet, he scaled the rest, collapsing on the floor when he got up. "You okay?" He nodded, still breathing hard. Down below, the shark explored its new territory, unaware of Saki's frightful gaze. She couldn't take her eyes off of it as swam around, under them, and around again.. Leon looked down through the grated floor at the great beast in its watery home, thanking God that he or Saki weren't down there. Getting to his feet, he looked over at Saki whose gaze hadn't been broken.

"Saki?"

"Can we leave?" He took a deep breath.

"Yeah."

"Leon? I'm afraid to move....." He came up from behind her, grabbing her from around her waist. He looked down, seeing her knuckles white from gripping the rail too hard. She then put one of her hands over his clasped ones. At this, Leon could feel his face burn up.

'No! Don't get attached! Wait till this is over! Something ALWAYS happens when you're attached!!! Come on, Leon, keep your hormones in check, for chrissake!' Telling himself that wasn't working, though. He was quickly falling for the girl. She must have been about two years younger then he was at least. Just like Claire. 'Claire.... We have to go. We have to find them.'

"Leon?" He shook his head, blinking repeatedly.

"Y-yes?"

"Let's get out of here." He nodded, pulling her away from the edge. As they turned to leave, a voice stopped them in their tracks.

"Nobody's going anywhere unless I say so!"

"Wesker!!" Leon suddenly felt like he was hit by a truck as Wesker's fist connected with his stomach. At this, he doubled over, gasping for air. A small grin played on Wesker's lips.

"How 'bout a swim? You didn't get a chance to meet my friend down there," he sneered, shoving Leon over the railing.

"Leon!!!" Wesker grabbed Saki around the waist, hoisting her over his shoulder.

"You are coming with me."

"Kisama!!" [2] She tried pulling his hair and when that didn't work she elbowed him in the back of the neck, causing him to drop her.

"You bitch!" Obviously not out, he drew his handgun, aimed, and fired.

---

Leon hit the water, immediately going for the surface. His stomach was sore and had butterflies at the thought that that shark could come up and take his life at any given moment. Trent had said that they were testing on marine life and he didn't want to find out what might have happened to this specimen. Looking around as best he could, he spotted the opposite ladder that was now closer. Without many options and feeling something brush by his left leg, Leon started a mad dash towards the ladder. From above he heard Saki scream some Japanese word which by her tone could only be a curse and Wesker.

"You bitch!" As he reached his destination, he heard a gunshot.

'No!' It was then that Leon noticed the shark was about to charge at him. Racing up the ladder as best he could, the shark missed him by a hair. 'That bastard's gonna get it now." As he reached the top, he unholstered his Beretta, his hair dripping. Aiming it downward, he walked around, seeing Saki on the ground holding her right side. Upon hearing his boots against the metal flooring, she looked up, relief washing over her.

"L-Leon..... you're okay...." Holstering his weapon, he ran up, kneeling at her side.

"Saki, I heard---"

"It just scratched me. I'll be fine," she interjected. "Just a little blood...."

"So... he ran off?" He pushed his wet bangs aside, wiping the rest of the water droplets from his face.

"Yeah.... through that door... he got some call on his radio....."

"Well, he certainly didn't go down there," he said sarcastically. She looked up at him, taking his hand.

"You're okay? I thought you --"

"I made a promise..... I intend to keep it." He rose, helping her up. "Now. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Just a little blood and a nervous breakdown.... I'll be fine." He chuckled, closing the gap between them.

"Well, let me take a look." Lifting her shirt a bit, he could see a streak of blood. "Certainly could've been worse," he said softly, looking up at her. "If you're sure you're fine how 'bout we get out of here."

"Way ahead of you." She turned going through the door Wesker had disappeared into. Being the only door now they had no choice but to chance running into the ex-captain again. Laughing at her determination, Leon took one last glance at the creature that could've ended it for him before following.

---

"I feel terrible! We should be taking Jack with us," Claire whined. Chris didn't like it either. The man was risking his life for people he didn't even know.

"Don't worry, Claire. I'm sure he can take care of himself," Carlos reassured. They had gone to the room Jack had told them about, gaining their weapons back and more. Among more clips, Chris and Carlos now each had a Remington shotgun. Claire had also found a map, making their search for Leon and the girl a little easier.

"In any case, we have to find Mitch or Leon before its too late." At saying this, Chris shot a worried glance at Claire, remembering that similar thing had happened to young Steve Burnside in Antarctica. A crazed woman by the name of Alexia Ashford had kidnapped, infected, and used him to kill Claire. He died trying to save her from himself. However, an organization similar to Umbrella to which Wesker had said he worked for took him for testing of Alexia's T-Veronica Virus.

"Chris...." Her voice broke him from his daze.

"Yeah, Claire?"

"I'm not going to let it happen again. Not to Leon." He nodded, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as they continued walking. She rested her head on his shoulder, feeling him kiss her forehead.

"We won't, Claire. Don't worry."

"I suddenly don't feel loved..." Carlos murmured. Claire laughed, freeing herself from her older brother and moving back, grasping onto Carlos' muscular arm.

"Aww.... I'm sorry, Carlos."

"It's okay," he said softly. He suddenly jerked his head up, pushing Claire into an open doorway.

"Ca--" There was a hollow crash.

"Chris, get down!!" Carlos dove, dragging Chris down in time as a giant claw swept across carving into the wall where Chris had just stood. A slight growl was all the two needed to their feet. Chris unstrapped his Remington, turning to see a familiar creature.

"No......" Narrowing his eyes, he unloaded two shots, watching the Hunter recoil at the hits. It hit the ground with a wet thud, twitching a bit before finally dying. Blood pooled around it's still form, the red liquid's smell filling the air. "H-he... he's here..."

"Chris.....?"

"I thought he was dead....." Carlos grabbed his shoulders, shaking him slightly.

"Chris!" He saw his eyes focus, a sign he was now back on Earth.

"Wesker's alive," he breathed. "I thought he was dead..... again. That man just won't die..." A small, feminine groan sounded, making Carlos' face flush.

"Oops.... Claire?"

"Right where you threw me." He walked over the dead nightmare into the room she was in. It was very dim and was filled with boxes. Mostly they had Biohazards signs on them. And there, in the closest pile of boxes was Claire. Thankfully, the ones she landed on were empty.

"Lo seinto. You okay?"

"What the hell happened?!" she demanded. Chris appeared in the doorway.

"Claire...." She looked over, seeing how upset he was.

"What's wrong?"

"Wesker's alive. He survived the explosion at Antarctica and he's here." Getting to her feet, she dusted herself off.

"Your old Captain, right?"

"The one who double-crossed us. Yeah...."

"I met him...."

"Okay. Claire, you're okay. Can we walk and talk? I don't want to run into more of those things," Carlos cut in.

"I don't care about the Hunters. It's who sent them that I'm worried about."

"Either case: let's get outta here," Claire interrupted, pulling both their arms.

---

After going through the door, Leon and Saki came to a two-way. As much as he didn't want to go left for personal reasons [3], they'd heard voices and didn't want to chance running into any security. They now entered a room that was mostly a giant pool. Looking through the water, they saw the hallway they had been through before. Both paths on either side were blocked, leaving the center path open.

"Somebody doesn't like me...." Saki groaned.

"It's not me..." They started walking across with no problem but as they reached the other side, the automatic doors slid open revealing several people either didn't want to see.

"Ah! Leon!"

"Mitch! Saki, run!" Leon drew his Beretta only to have it shot from his hand by one of the two soldiers accompanying the scientist. The gun slid across the catwalk and out of his reach.

"Don't move!" one commanded. From behind, Leon heard a small clanking and then bullets came flying past, nailing one soldier. He clutched his chest, falling forward into the water. Just as he hit, with lightening speed, a pair of powerful jaws came up, the shark dragging the man under, blood billowing.

"Leon! Come on!" The second soldier what looked like a sniper rifle but Leon's brain registered otherwise.

'Tranq gun!' He fired once, Saki hitting the floor. 'Saki!'

"I suggest you don't move," Mitch said, walking past. He stopped by the fallen girl, feeling Leon's deadly gaze on him. "Now are you going to come quietly or..... is Saki going for a swim?"

"You wouldn't."

"You don't know that." A smile crossed his lips as he heard Leon growl deep in his throat. His eyes darted between Saki and Mitch before finally relaxing, showing he was surrendering. "I knew you'd see things my way...."

"Cheap bastard...." Mitch ignored his murmuring.

"Restrain him." Leon felt his arms grabbed, handcuffs being slapped on.

'The cop's being arrested. Smooth.' Mitch leaned down, retrieving the handguns.

"Sleep tight, sweet," he said, following the soldier and Leon out the door they'd come through, leaving Saki behind.

---

"This hallway goes on forever. The only other door was to that room filled with water."

"And did you see the size of that shark?!" Claire shivered as Carlos spoke. The trio stopped as they heard gunfire up ahead.

"Leon?" Chris shrugged

"Only one way to find out." They broke into a run, their steps echoing through the empty hall. They came up to a small turn before seeing a pair of double doors. After listening for anything, Chris entered first with Claire following, Carlos trailing. It was a large pool room with a center catwalk, the side ones blocked by debris and equipment. Blood was lingering one the water's surface which hid what was beneath.

"Hey, it's that girl," Carlos said, running over and turning her onto her back. He noticed a small dart sticking out of her side and removed it, throwing it in the water. As soon as it hit, the shark dove up, hoping to score another meal. "Holy--- !!!" Carlos fell back, dragging Saki with him.

"That was fast."

"A little too fast. Must be some results from those experiments we heard about from Trent," Chris muttered. He looked down at his companion. "Carlos?"

"I'm okay. I'm good.... awake now...." He looked down, the girl in his lap. Chris crouched down next to him.

"Her name's Saki, right?" Claire walked up behind them.

"I think so, but where's Leon? He was with her."

"You guys don't think....." Carlos pointed to the water, the blood thinning.

"No! Don't even think that."

"I know Leon. He's got to be alive," Claire whispered, a pang of certainty in her voice. A groan from Saki drew their attention.

"Leon......" Her eyes fluttered open, Carlos in view. Startled, she screamed, causing him to grab her and clamp his hand over her mouth. A glimpse of the shark's fin went by.

"Shhh.... it's okay. We're your friends, remember?" He let go of her as she calmed down. She nodded, looking around the room.

"W-where's Leon?"

"We were going to ask you," Chris said gently. She stood, pacing.

"Mitch. He was here."

"Mitch? That loco scientist?"

"He was here with some men and they attacked us and ...... and ...." Chris came up, grabbing her shoulders.

"Hey, calm down."

"It's my fault...." He glared at her.

"No."

"Wh--"

"This is Mitch's fault, Umbrella's but it is not your fault."

"But he's gone...... I could've stopped them..." She looked the other way only to have Chris force her to look at him by grabbing her chin.

"Don't put this on yourself. Now we can either sit here and blame ourselves or we can find Leon before its too late." He pulled away, looking across at the other door.

"Too late? Too late for wh----"

"And we're off, amigos!" Carlos cut in. The shark surfaced a bit before going under. "That thing has like sensitive hearing or something. It's freaking me out."

"You and me both," Claire muttered.

"Let's get going. The longer we stand here, the further they get away."

"Sir, yes, sir." Chris rolled his eyes, grinning.

"Carlos? Can I hit you?"

"No, sir." The girls giggled a bit.

'Don't worry, Leon, we're coming.' They started across the catwalk.

---

TBC.....

Index:

1. I am Saki. This is T'ai Chi Quan style.

2. I'm not sure at the moment what it means exactly because some translators sometimes put in a curse or 'Why, you....' for that. Either way.....

3. In book three, City of the Dead (RE game 2), Leon is still trapped in the lab hallways while Claire and Sherry are getting the train ready. He comes to a two way and after thinking that most people pick the side that they write with he went the opposite, left and it turned out to be wrong. Later in book 4, he mentions his mistake again to himself.

And that would be chapter 3. ^_^ Not as long as I thought it would turn out but you shouldn't make it too long otherwise a person might lose interest. Anyway, tell me what you think and if you want me to continue. I do this for you. Also, if you want to check out some of my artwork go to www.blue-eyed-demon.deviantart.com . It's an art site kind of like FF.net but you put up artwork. DeviantArt.com is amazing. You should also check out Kache of Time (one word - they don't want spaces).

Oh, and I also wanted to note because there is probably a few of you going 'how' about Saki was able to fight Wesker. If you know his whole scenario then you know he has a virus and faked his death and is now a sort of super human. You may be asking how is a little thing like Saki is blocking his punches. Well, she knows the art of T'ai Chi Quan which even though she's Japanese is a Chinese art. I'm just going to give you a short run-down - T'ai Chi Quan is popular in Japan and the U.S. as a physical exercise but its main reason is for combat. It's a method involving the guidance of chi and doesn't rely heavily on muscle. It needs the proper form to work and takes a long time to master.

Well, the next chapter will be up hopefully soon. I hope to get a good amount of reviews before adding more but we'll see. Till then....

Ja ne,

Hotaru Sasaki