Author's Note: Whoohoo! It's up! Whew, sorry about that. I had to write this story through writer's block. Very hard indeed. I hope you enjoy it anyway though. Anyway, I know that at least one of you is probably going "WTF the Resident Evil hospital doesn't look like the way you described it!" or at least, you will say that with the next few chapters. Sorry about that, I'm kind of making my own layout hangs head in shame. Thanks for the cookie, enRAGEd! As for you, Lost Survivor, what idea did you have in mind?

"James…honey, I really think you should come with me. I'm worried about you."

"Debbie, I'll be fine. I promise I'll be up there in a few days."

"But you heard the news! That disease is spreading everywhere! We need to get out of town!"

"Debbie, you know how the media likes to exaggerate everything. It'll be okay. Go stay with your mother."

"James, you know I couldn't stand to see you in the hospital!"

"You won't. Nothing is going to happen. I'm sure this whole ordeal will be over in a couple of weeks anyway."

"But James…"

James sighed loudly. He wished that somehow he could have gone back to that moment, so he could get into that car with her, and get as far away from this city as they possibly could.

He was really starting to miss her. Hell, they barely had any time together before she decided to go stay with her mother. Now she was safe, and he was trapped in this hellhole with hungry, walking corpses. He couldn't help but envy her.

But he brought it upon himself. He was the fool who decided to stay behind. All because he wanted to have fun in the town where he was raised.

Having fun now, James?

He hadn't been able to find a crowbar anywhere. It didn't surprise him. He wasn't expecting it to be that easy. He racked his brain for a solution on what to use to wrench the doors apart.

I could try the basement again. There might be something down there that I can use.

He mentally shuddered. That would be his very last resort. Wading through more leeches wasn't a very inviting thought. The sounds they made as hundreds of them came out of hiding were still clear in his mind.

Not to mention whatever the hell was down there.

He walked into the waiting room. The floor was covered in blue carpet, a nice change from the tile flooring to which he had grown accustomed. Pictures and paintings decorated the otherwise lifeless, white walls. Some paintings he recognized as replicas of famous artwork. One was a framed picture of Van Gogh's Starry Night that was hanging near the recipient's window. There were also photographs hanging up on the walls. James guessed they were of the doctors that worked here.

He spotted a chair that was laying on its side. As he studied it, an idea popped into his head.

Would a chair be strong enough to get the elevator opened?

He wasn't sure. He never did this kind of thing before, but he had to try. He walked over to it and pressed one foot into the seat. He gripped a leg of the chair, and with all his strength tried to twist it off.

It took a great deal of struggling and swearing before he finally yanked it off. He tumbled backwards, the leg flew through the air and clattered next to him. He rolled onto his stomach and picked it up. It was a lot smaller than he had hoped.

It'll have to do though.

He stood up and began walking back to the elevator. The window broke behind him, shards of glass falling on the floor. He spun around and saw a dog leap through the window. It was covered in hundreds of squirmy-

Leeches.

It yelped and jerked its head, trying to tear them off with its teeth.

It's still alive?

It leaped about frantically, whining and snarling. He could only see its legs and small patches of its face, but by the looks of it he guessed it was a Doberman. He aimed his gun at the animal, hoping that he could shoot some of them off it.

The dog was moving too quickly for him to aim properly. His gun followed it, waiting for an opportunity for it to stop.

The dog paused momentarily to try to chew off more of the leeches. James fired, blasting some of them off its back. It yelped and he was afraid that he might have shot it. It was impossible to tell, because the moment some of the leeches came off, the ones that were left immediately spread out.

I'm not going to accomplish anything this way.

He ran over to the squirming animal, making sure he crushed the leeches that were lying weak on the ground. He reached to pull them off, and suddenly found himself reluctant to even bring his hand near them.

The dog's cries eventually snapped him out of his fear. He grabbed a handful of leeches, trying to fight the growing disgust as they wriggled in his hand. He threw them to the floor and grabbed another handful. Still afraid and realizing that something else was touching it, the dog whipped around and snapped at James' hand. He pulled back as the dog resumed struggling. There seemed no end to the leeches that covered its body.

The dog gave a loud scream, as if it had been struck by something. It wobbled and fell motionless to the ground. The leeches James had torn off immediately flocked to it. He cautiously moved closer.

What the hell? It died just like that?

He couldn't see its face, but the dog wasn't moving anymore. The leeches probably drained it of every last drop of strength it had.

The dog suddenly convulsed, and he fell backwards. It struggled to get onto its feet. He thought at first that it was still alive, but it wasn't making any sound-

A snarl.

It was snarling.

Something dripped onto the floor from where he thought its mouth was. It wobbled towards him, as if it was barely able to control its body. It collapsed onto the ground again, and struggled to get up.

With each step it took, the dog seemed to regain its lost strength. It was coming closer to him, opening its jaws and exposing its yellow fangs.

Oh…shit!

James shot the dog, but it didn't faze it. The leeches acted as a shield. He shot again in an attempt to hit its legs, but the dog jumped and knocked him over. Before it could get its jaws around his neck, he grabbed its throat and held it back. He felt leeches crawl over his hand, the dog's hot breath on his face, the large paws that pressed into his chest.

He pressed the gun into its knee and fired. Blood spewed onto James' shirt as he shoved the creature off him. He quickly brushed himself off, trying to get rid of any leeches that might have fallen on him. His hands were shaking.

The leech dog staggered back onto its feet, seemingly not bothered by its injury. He swiped the chair leg and backed up. He turned and started running for the stairs, with the dog following after. Being faster than James, it didn't take long for it to catch up with him.

Just let me make it to the stairs! Please, just let me make it!

The dog leaped forward. He turned and watched as it quickly descended upon him. With the chair leg in his hand, he swung it as hard as he could.

It smashed into the dog's head, sending it flying. He didn't wait around to see if he had killed it. Instead, he swung open the door leading to the stairs and quickly closed it behind him.

"Elizabeth?"

…help me…

"Come on, Elizabeth. What's wrong?"

I'm so scared…

"It's okay. Don't be afraid. They'll be back soon."

I hate the dark…

There was a hand going through her hair. She didn't realize she had curled herself into a ball. She felt the warmth of her breath on her arm and noticed she was hiding her face, like a frightened puppy.

How embarrassing.

She eased her aching muscles, but didn't move from her position. Being confined in the small elevator still made her uneasy, stirring up memories she had almost forgotten. The floor was cold, just like her room had been. It was always cold. Why was that?

"I had no idea you were so claustrophobic," a voice spoke.

YOU STAY IN THERE UNTIL I TELL YOU TO COME OUT YOU LITTLE-

"Bethany?"

Bethany rose from her sitting position and moved over to front of the elevator.

"James?" she peered through the open space between the doors. Sure enough, his soft blue eyes were staring right back at her.

"It's me. I think I can get the doors open now," he said.

"Thank god! Hurry up, then!" she ordered, unable to hide her anxiety. He put the leg of the chair between the doors. She gave him an incredulous look as he tightened his grip on it.

"You're going to open the doors with just that?" she asked.

"Look, I couldn't find a spare jack lying around, okay?" he snapped, "but I think it'll work. Just trust me on this."

She shuddered at those words. She remembered the last time she heard them.

He grunted, pushing on the chair leg with all of his weight. The doors groaned as they slowly opened, inch by inch. Bethany placed both hands on one side of the door and helped him push. She pressed her foot against the opposite door to add more pressure.

Soon enough, they slid open and James caught Bethany before she fell out. He caught a glimpse of the girl lying on the hard floor. She was staring right at him, unmoving. Her eyes never left his.

"That's Elizabeth," Bethany said. He walked over to her and bent next to her.

"Hey there," he said, trying to sound as friendly as he could. "I'm James."

He could detect a slight trace of fear in her eyes. He never figured himself for the intimidating type, so why did she look frightened?

"I hate to interrupt, but don't you think we should-" Bethany was cut off as the elevator rumbled under them. It creaked loudly, as if it was going to-

Fall!

They all looked horrified at one another.

"Go! Get out!" he screamed. Bethany scrambled out of the elevator first and reached her hand out. James pulled Elizabeth roughly to her feet, ignoring her surprised gasp. He pushed her towards Bethany, she was inches from her grasp-

SNAP!

Bethany yanked her out of the elevator, and he suddenly felt the elevator jerk violently. In slow motion he watched as Bethany and the girl disappeared from his sight. The last thing he heard was the scream of the elevator as it plunged below into the abyss, and Bethany screaming his name.