We pulled up to a modest looking home with two stories. Actually, modest isn't the right word to describe it. Most of the dark blue paint coating the outer walls had peeled off, or were well on their way. Most of the building was brown, the color of the original wood underneath. The front door was nearly off its hinges and the porch just in front of it threatened to swallow any unaware visitor with its rickety planks. The place was a classic hole.

"It's not exactly the Hyatt," Chris admitted, "but it's our temporary hideout for now."

"Looks cozy enough," I said, trying to hide my disappointment. Then again, I didn't really know what to expect in the first place.

"Can I trust you to keep this location a secret?"

I looked at him, feeling a little insulted. "It's not like I go around telling people everything. I understand the situation more than you think I do."

"Alright, whatever," Chris said, holding up his palms in defeat. "Just get inside. Barry's in there. You remember him, don't you?"

"Oh, Mr. Burton?・I remembered him. He was a big middle-aged guy, teetering on overweight side, but he had a lot of muscle to go with his fat. I always thought of him as a teddy-bear type character, with his balding hair and a full goatee. It's as if someone shaved off his hair and re-attached it to his chin. He was a jolly man, probably due to the fact that he's a father. I've seen pictures of his daughters on his desk before … and the older one who's supposedly around my age is quite a looker. I don't remember her name, but I've seen her walking around the halls of Raccoon High before…

As we stepped into the rundown building, I could feel the floorboards squeak pitifully under my weight. I walked gently, in fear that they would break and I'd go plunging into the basement. And if the upper levels of the home were in this bad shape, I'd hate to see what kind of parasitic life the basement held for me. You'd think Raccoon City would've hardened me up. I'll deal with monsters and zombies, but rats … thinking about them gave me goose bumps.

Chris unfastened his green outdoor vest and threw it onto an antique coat hanger, but missed it completely. He glanced over at it, shrugged, and continued on his way inside the house. I picked it up and hung it properly, simultaneously removing my shoes at the door.

"You don't wanna do that," Chris advised, turning back to face me. "Some of the nails in the floorboards stick up. You can slice your foot up pretty well on those things." I immediately put my shoes back on.

"Who's there?!" somebody called from deep inside the house.
"Don't worry, Barry, it's just me!" Chris replied. I heard the heavy footsteps of somebody approaching. "We've got a guest."

"Oh yeah?" Barry's full form appeared from the stairway leading down into … the basement!

"I'm sure you remember Kenny," Chris said, motioning me closer. "You know, he's the kid volunteering at the precinct."

"Hello, Mr. Burton," I said, waving my hand.

"Barry's eyes widened. "You made it out of Raccoon?!" he said, sounding quite amazed.

"I was lucky," I replied. "I ran into a few people who helped me escape."

"There are more survivors, Chris," Barry said, his voice resonating with hope.

"And I ran into Jill," I added, successfully predicting Barry's next question.

"She's infected with the T-Virus," Chris continued, "and according to Kenny, they're trying to find a vaccine for her."

"They?" Barry asked.

"She's got a friend with her," I said, "His name is Carlos. But … he looked like an Umbrella operative. He had these army clothes displaying the Umbrella logo."

"That's crazy!" Barry exclaimed. "Jill would know better than to trust an Umbrella operative."

"I've been saying a lot of crazy things lately," I replied, "but I know what I saw. And Captain Wesker is alive."

"You didn't see Captain Wesker," Chris snapped.

"You think what you want to, but do not question what I saw. It was him."

"Look, Kenny," Barry said, approaching me and putting his broad hand on my shoulder. "You've been through a lot simply by managing to escape Raccoon City. I suggest you get some rest."

"You've got to do something about Jill," I insisted.

"You know we will," Chris assured. "But for now, you should listen to Barry and get yourself some rest. There's a spare bedroom upstairs, but you'll have to forgive its condition."

"Alright." I walked towards the staircase leading upstairs just a few feet from the entrance. "Oh, and Chris, I'm sorry that I told Claire about you. She's probably finding some way over to Europe to go get you. And if the Umbrella agents have a tab on her…"

"Leave Claire to me. Just get up there and rest for now."

* * *

I was awaked by a rapping at the front door. It was quite a distance away being downstairs at the opposite end of the house. But the house was so rundown that even such a weak force vibrated through the entire building. Whoever was knocking seemed to be pretty impatient. Or maybe I just didn't wake up that quickly.

Groggily, I got out of bed and slipped into my sneakers. It wasn't actually a bed … more like a grungy mattress with an even grungier pillow and no blanket. I don't think I would've even used a blanket if it was provided - knowing it would've been all over that filthy mattress.

The rapping continued. "Coming!" I yelled. Why weren't Chris and Barry answering the door? Hell, why didn't they just break the damn door down? I descended the stairs and looked around, but there was no sign of life. Perhaps they left the house? I walked over to the door and opened it, surprised at who was standing there.

"Ada?!" I nearly cried. "I thought you …"

"You thought I died?" she asked in her mysterious sultry voice. This was indeed the coldest woman I'd ever met. She kept the same level of temperament regardless of the situation. She was this calm and collected in Raccoon City and she was the same way right now.

"Well, yeah," I replied. "It's just that when you didn't show up outside the underground laboratory like Leon and Sherry had, I just assumed you died in the explosion."

"I'm not that easy to kill," she said proudly, but the pride from her cold face suddenly gave way to anguish  - the first sign of emotion I've seen out of that woman. She gripped her side and grimaced in pain.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.

"I got injured as I was trying to escape," she explained.

"You should get yourself to a hospital," I advised. "Leon's there right now, actually. He's recovering." Hmm … perhaps I should have told Chris about Leon and Sherry as well, seeing as how it was by pure luck I ran into him and he brought me back here.

"I don't want Leon to know I've survived," Ada said.

"But why would you want him to keep on believing that you're dead?"

Ada opened her mouth to speak but she just sighed instead. "It's a long story."

"Are you really a spy?" I didn't want to waste anymore time beating around the bush with her.

"What would make you say …"

"I know already. So just give up the innocent act. How did you find out where I was and why did you come to see me?"

And indeed the innocent act vanished into thin air. "I came looking for something you have that is of great interest to me."

"What?"
"No ordinary high school kid could take the beating you endured and still performed as well as you did."

"Elaborate."

"You were attacked by that giant worm and it gashed your leg pretty badly. Yet you can still walk. Before Billy took you from the clock tower, he told me he left you on the street to go find some help because you'd been knocked unconscious. But yet when he found you only a few hours later, your reflexes were good, good enough to survive the fight with the giant worm."

"I … I don't know how to explain that …"

"Then let me explain it for you," Ada said aggressively, pushing me inside the house while barging her way through the doorway. "I was sent into Raccoon to retrieve a sample of the G-Virus. But instead, I find something far more interesting - YOU. You are no ordinary teenager, Kenny. There's something inside of you that can resist the G-Virus – otherwise you would've turned into a zombie when that worm gashed you. And I believe it's that same power responsible for you exceptional performance in the field."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." This woman was crazy. It sounded like I was trying to hide something, but in all honesty, I had nothing to hide! How am I supposed to explain the functions of my body?

"I've done some … research," she said, carefully wording her sentence. "Your father was a scientist was he not?"

"He worked for a scientific corporation in Japan," I replied.

"Is that all?"

"As far as I know."

"Well I have evidence that suggests that he was working for one of Umbrella's Asian locations, one of which just so happens to be located in Osaka, Japan."

"One, I don't see how that has anything to do with me. Secondly, my father is dead. So if you want to see him, you're outta luck, lady."

"Your father created something powerful, something called the Shadow Technology before he ever got involved with the Umbrella Corporation. This captured their interests and your father agreed to sell them this technology for a hefty price. However, shortly after the transaction went through, your father was murdered by the agents of crime syndicate that goes by the name of Shadowlaw. And the only sample of the Shadow Technology left is inside of you."

"How did you know my father worked for Shadowlaw?!" I asked, suddenly becoming extremely alarmed. This woman knew things about me that I hardly told anyone.

"My boyfriend John was the Umbrella scientist that helped with the payment for the Shadow Technology from your father. Since he's dead, and because you hold the only specimen left of the Shadow Technology, I have come here to see you."

"No," I started backing away. I tried to call Chris and Barry, but I was so stunned that my vocal chords refused to work for me.

"Why do you think Captain Wesker came by the hospital to see you today?"

"But Wesker says he no longer works for Umbrella," I said.

"And neither do I. But that doesn't mean our present employer isn't interested in the Shadow Technology. I want you to come with me."

"I'll never go with you," I spat. "You may have helped me survive Raccoon City, but you know, I never trusted you from the start."

"Kenny, I helped you and Billy escape from the underground laboratory with your lives. Is this the thanks I get?"

"You were probably only keeping me alive so that you could harvest whatever it is I have."

"Then perhaps this will persuade you." She drew a gun from her red cocktail skirt and pointed it at me. "I suggest you co-operate, Kenny. If you don't care about your own life, then at least think about Chris and Barry. I've got this place marked, you know."

"Chris and Barry have nothing to do with you! Their problem is with Umbrella!"

"If you don't give me what I want, I will tell Wesker about their whereabouts. I hear he's aching for revenge for what happened at the mansion."

I gave up at that point. I'd caused enough trouble for the S.T.A.R.S. members already. It was time to take this bitch off their back. With a lowered head, I walked over to the kitchen.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm going to write them a note. You haven't won, Ada. Keep that in mind."

"Oh, I will," she said smirking.