Disclaimer: I do not own Resident Evil or any of its characters/settings.
Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock.
Rebecca gritted her teeth as the second-hand on a clock continued to vex her. The majority of the six survivors waited in fear, the rest of them in boredom. Rebecca was in deep regret. Another hour of her youthful life was wasted sitting in a hospital lobby. "I'm never going to a hospital again…unless it's some kind of emergency…" Rebecca thoughtfully vowed in her mind. Carlos stood near the reception desk, leaning on it and looking somewhat impatient himself. Kristen and Matt were sitting comfortably on the black leather couch, using their eyes to flirt immaturely with one another. Mark had been standing up like a post. Rebecca wondered how he could take being so uncomfortable. Cindy sat patiently in the receptionist's seat, twiddling her thumbs. It seemed like another hour in the lobby would drive them all crazy.
"We need to do something…anything," Carlos stated desperately. "Oh!" He marveled at an idea that popped up, "Let's search for survivors!" He seemed almost excited. Almost like it was all a game to him. Rebecca knew he was right, though. There had to be someone else in the hospital.
"You're right. I volunteer to go," Rebecca replied casually.
"I'll go with her," Mark suddenly said, drawing his handgun and popping in a clip nonchalantly. Rebecca was quite surprised. She was pretty sure she had never heard Mark's voice before. She threw him an appreciative smile, then turning back to Carlos.
"All right, then," Carlos said with a slight tone of jealousy. He was just jealous because he didn't get to go with the cute S.T.A.R.S girl. "I'll go with Cindy," He then stated as if it were his ultimate revenge. As if Rebecca was even remotely interested in Mark!
"Um, Carlos," Cindy's innocent voice called out, "I'm not sure if I want to go. I'm a little scared, and tired."
"Nonsense!" Carlos disagreed loudly. He knew he was about to lose his only ploy for Rebecca's jealousy. "You'll be fine," He then said confidently, wrapping an arm around Cindy's shoulder. She looked at his hand and somewhat grimaced. "We'll take the left wing, you take the right," He said, walking out of the lobby into the doctor's station.
"I apologize for him," Rebecca said to everyone. She hardly knew him, but she felt it was kind of her fault for his behavior. She got a few grins from Matt and Kristen; while Mark's serious expression was completely unbreakable.
They spent at least another half an hour searching the first and second floor, but it was when they reached the third floor that things started to go out of control. It all started with room 301…
"I don't think there's anyone left in this hospital," Mark clearly stated. Rebecca was crushed by this reality. Billy definitely wasn't here. She had managed to pick up a few first aid sprays for her kit, but that was all she got from her trip to the hospital. Then, it struck her…that zombie parade came from the direction Billy's apparition went. If Rebecca had followed it…she might have died…
"Oh my God," was all that slipped out of her mouth.
"What's wrong?" Mark asked in worry, "You look like you just saw a ghost." Before Rebecca could answer, the door to room three hundred and one swung open. The two jolted their heads towards the direction, and they were somewhat suspicious and relieved.
"Oh, I'm sorry if I frightened you. I'm a doctor in this hospital,"
It was a survivor! A doctor, nonetheless. He could have been a very valuable aspect to the group. "It is not wise to take shelter in this hospital. I plan to get out of here as soon as possible," He explained, then awkwardly leaving the room.
"W-wait!" Rebecca called out to him, running after him. Mark sighed and followed.
They chased the doctor down a short corridor into what appeared to be the nurses' station. The pale white walls were almost out of view because of the immense clutter. Suitcases, kits, a set of drawers, and other junk had been stacked upwards. It certainly stretched at least a foot over Rebecca. That doctor had somehow managed to climb over the blockade, and he had begun fiddling with a metallic control panel in the corner of the room. He seemed rather disapproved with the current situation, tapping a few buttons and then sighing with frustration. He turned his head to the left for a moment, and he gasped as if scared.
"Oh! You startled me," He began, taking a deep breath, "The bloody elevator isn't working. The power is out. See if this works…" The doctor pressed a few buttons and climactically tapped the enter key, holding his breath nervously.
The lights began to flicker on, and he threw Rebecca and Mark a grin. "Good work," Rebecca supported him with a smile. He began to walk back towards the blockade, but something caught his attention. A few artifacts were blocking whatever it was that had startled the doctor, but he looked horrified. He backed away in shock, then running towards the blockade.
"HELP!" He shouted, pulling himself onto his knees on a lower level of the blockade.
"Quick, grab my hand!" Rebecca replied, extending her hand. Her nerves had begun to race, and she could feel the sweat building on the surface of her delicate skin. The doctor reached for her hand, but something went terribly wrong. The poor man lost his balance, screaming before he fell back onto the ground. Then Rebecca saw what had made this man lose his mind. It was a terrible sight.
"Oh…my…God," Rebecca said quietly when she saw the creature. He…it was covered in-in leeches! Wriggling, slimy creatures were covering a human body! She could only tell because of the pair of legs extending downwards from the cocoon of bloodsuckers. "Get up!" Rebecca shouted rather impatiently, "Hurry, PLEASE!" That thing was going to KILL HIM! The doctor was rather slow, apparently having hit his head. He looked up when he remembered the reason he practically killed himself. It probably would have been better if he had died from the impact…
"AHHH!" He screamed as the monster lowered on top of him. Rebecca heard the horrifying cries as the leeches individually stuck into his skin, sucking the poor man dry…and it probably wasn't painless...
Rebecca whimpered, running out through the door and ramming her index finger into a button. The elevator button. She sure as heck didn't plan on sticking around. Rebecca realized Mark hadn't followed. The fearless man was firing at the approaching creature. The elevator doors spread open, and Mark continued to back away from the room. The goddamn thing took the shots…but it didn't stop. It didn't STOP! When Rebecca and Mark were standing right in front of the elevator, Rebecca noticed the creature draw it's arm back. It was going to do something…God only knew what…
Then she saw it…the arm was soaring towards them! It was elastic! Rebecca took a deep breath, nearly in shock at the sight of this. Everything around her slowed down to the pace of a dying heart. The arm was about three feet away when Rebecca finally reacted. She threw herself backwards, falling to the elevator floor as the arm missed her by an inch. SNAP! As quickly as it came, the arm snapped back. The two were prepared that time. Mark raced into the elevator, slamming at the 'close door' button frantically. Rebecca glared at the creature. There was no possible way she would let herself die right there! She drew her handgun, still laying on her back. She shifted her upper body upwards, just enough to see the creature. BOOM! From the handgun exploded one of the 9mm bullets, and Rebecca felt as though she was now connected. She was the bullet. Each spiral that bullet made, Rebecca could feel it.
The creature howled in horror as the bullet tore through an open area in the head. Apparently the leeches were using the doctor's body as a host. Damn parasites…
Before the creature even got a chance to attack, the doors slid shut and the elevator's movement began. The silence in the elevator was one of reflection. Without another word, Mark grabbed Rebecca's hand and pulled her to her feet. She nodded to him, but not with a smile. Oh how the city had killed Rebecca's beautiful smile. She herself questioned whether or not a grin would ever breach her face again. Something caught Rebecca's eye. The ceiling was made entirely from…glass. She could literally see up the elevator tunnel. How strange it was that she noticed such a strange thing at that time. No wonder it was so dark in there…
"Are you okay?" Mark asked with care. Rebecca didn't respond. Something felt…wrong.
"Do you think that thing could…get in here?" Rebecca asked, staring upwards with an almost blank expression. Mark's eyelids widened, but Rebecca was too busy looking upwards to notice. As if on cue, the metallic doors up one level split open with impeccable force…and there it was. The howling creature leaped into the vent, and the glass ceiling shattered as it broke through…
A/N: Please keep the reviews coming, and I apologize for having kept you waiting!