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===Harvest Moon: Resident Evil===

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Chapter Seven: The Merchant, Returned

Danny went out first, looking around cautiously before leaving the house. Next came Sebastian, then Celia. Gustafa covered the rear with his double barrelled shotgun. Slowly they made way towards the Inner Inn.

Danny knocked on the door. "Hello? Is anyone there?"

Just beyond their noticing view, a small figure ran up the hill to Romana's Villa.

There was no responce to Danny's knock. He tried again before opening the door.

The hall looked deserted. There was a single line of blood scraped against the left wall, and the kitchen door was ajar.

"He must be in the kitchen..." Sebastian muttered.

"Let's find out." Danny slowly moved for the door, and then kicked it open!

The kitchen was a mess, certainly differant than the hall. What they found were pots and shattered plates everywhere, blood on the walls and floor, and the body of Ruby.

Celia looked around. "Nobody's here... living, at least."

At least that was what she thought. There was a sudden growling. Gustafa readied his shotgun.

"Who's there?"

He looked up, and found his answer. Rock was on top of one of the plate cabinets, glaring at the four. Everyone turned and saw him. His flesh was rotting off his bones, scars were cut along his body, and his face and clothes were stained with blood.

"Rock? Not him, too!" Danny said.

Rock jumped off the cabinet at Sebastian. The old butler fell to the ground, as Rock began biting at his flesh. The pistol went off, hitting Gustafa as he tried to help him.

Danny raised the shotgun and pointed it at the back of Rock's head. Rock stopped moving, and looked at Danny.

"Surprise." The shotgun went off, and the battle was over.

Gustafa leaned against a plate cabinet, holding his leg and panting. "Oh, man, getting shot for the first time hurts!"

Sebastian stood up. Rock wasn't able to bite him good enough to infect him. "I'll be okay," he assured Celia. But she still bandaged him with Doctor Hardy's bag, which she had taken from Muffy after her death.

Danny looked around. "We still haven't checked upstairs yet," he pointed out.

Gustafa stood up slowly, trying to avoid hurting his leg. "I'm out, man, there's no way I'll handle a shotgun with this leg.

As Celia bandaged his wound, he gave the shotgun to Sebastian. "You know how to use this well, right?"

Sebastian nodded. "Sure."

The old man turned to Celia, offering the pistol. "Here. Take it. You might need it."

Celia took and pocketed it. "I'll remember I have it once that time comes."

---

Danny and Sebastian slowly made for upstairs. They reloaded their shotguns as quietly as they could.

"Which room should we check first?" Sebastian asked.

"Let's try Van's," Danny suggested. "We did see him come back here, after all."

"Good point. I'll cover you."

Danny stepped towards Van's room. As he did, he heard a noise. Someone was eating inside...

He grasped the doorknob, and pushed the door open to see Van eating what used to be Nami.

"Dear lord..." Sebastian said. "Nami?"

Van turned to see Danny and Sebastian. He growled.

"Uh oh..." Danny aimed his shotgun, but Van was too fast.

Van got up and charged at Danny. Danny fired, but hit Van's body because of his overwhelming size. Danny was pushed aside and hit the wall, and Van made for Sebastian. The old butler gasped before his sudden dimense.

Danny looked up. "Sebastian!"

Sebastian was rammed into the wall. His head had gone through the wood, but not without concequences. Blood had spurt and stained the walls. He was clearly dead.

Danny stood, and readied his shotgun again. "Bring it!"

Van had fallen down the stairs, because he had fell through the railing onto the stairs when he had charged at Sebastian. He rolled down to the first floor, right before Celia and Gustafa.

Danny heard screams. He quickly ran downstairs to see the kitchen door slamming and Van pounding on it. This was his chance. He aimed the shotgun at Van's head, and fired!

---

Celia was silent. Gustafa was still panting, but from exhaustion.

"Danny?" Celia eventually called out.

There was knocking. It soon grew louder.

"Thats not Danny!" Gustafa said.

The knocking suddenly stopped. Then, suddenly-

BLAM!

A hole in the door suddenly bursted, and then the door was kicked and pounded until it broke. It was Danny.

"Danny!" Celia said.

"Next time, ask 'who is it?'" Danny muttered. "Come on, let's-"

There were footsteps coming from upstairs that had cut him off.

"When you checked upstairs, did you check both rooms?" Gustafa asked.

"Shit!" Danny said. "I forgot!"

The footsteps were going down the stairs. Danny quickly ran out of the kitchen and hid behind the counter, reloading his shotgun.

The person making the footsteps reached the bottom of the stairs. Danny turned to get a clear look...