I never knew how fun it was to write a fanfic. But this is great. It almost writes itself sometimes. So this is it, the next chapter. I don't know how long it'll be in the end but who knows. I just hope I don't get stuck. And well if worse comes to worse I'll just mosey around the net looking for ideas or asking others to help. I'm hoping to add more guts and gore in the next few chapters. Cause right now it's just kid's stuff. Okay, okay that's enough for me.

Chapter 6: Brutal Truth

April 2, 2004 Night

The sound of barking and wet padded feet filled my ears. The first hell hound turned the corner and skidded in full view of us. It wasn't a dog anymore but a corpse of what used to be a very beautiful and sleek doberman. Umbrella was famous for using animals for testing despite all the animal protestors.

It barked a loud unfriendly greeting. I glanced over at Leon who was still looking at his map. Sophia leaned against the wall looking a lot more ghastly than before. Her skin was getting paler.
Dark circles appeared around her eyes adding years to her young face. She didn't even look up when the beast barked again. I gripped the stick in my hand tightly.

"Leon, how many rounds do you have?"

"Not enough, regretfully. We need to get to the main control room without using them all. Sophia?"

My gut instinct was screaming for me to get out of there. Sophia's movements were too unstable. The dreaded moan uttered from her lips. Then she spoke thank God. But her slurred words and broken english were sign enough that she didn't have a lot of time.

"Need...anti.. Leoooon...too lattteee. Kill...me..pl..ease."

And even though tears were forming in her eyes, they had a sense of intense hunger that only occured in murderers and the living dead. Leon denied the signs. He reluctantly pointed the pistol at her.

"Hey!" I cried and pushed the gun back down.

"She still has time left. Is there a short cut through the Hive?"

"There's no way to get there without encountering some horrendous danger."

"Okay Sophia, let's go."

"But..."

"Don't argue. Leon take this. Just tell me where to go and I'll get her there." I said and handed him one of walkie talkies from my bag.

"You don't have a weapon. You'll be killed within a few minutes and what if she turns."

I sighed. He was right. And then I noticed something sticking out from the wall. Something that wasn't there the last time I was here. Easily enough I pushed it in with no resistance. A door opened. Leon looked at me amazed. I stepped into the room that had been an add on. It was an armory. I didn't know my guns real well but I knew enough to pick out a shot gun and two pistols. You'd think I'd realize it wasn't going to be that easy. Suddenly the door was closing and another door was opening behind me. I clutched the pistol in my hand. A corpse came at me, but it wasn't a zombie.

"S.T.A.R.S." was all he said and then he fell into me.

He was skin and bones. He must've been some kind of scientist because he was wearing a lab coat. He gave the appearance of nice gentleman. His breathing was getting shallow and then it stopped. There wasn't anything I could do. Suddenly the door opened again and Leon entered.

"Are you alright?"

I moved the body off me and shivered.

"No, but that doesn't matter now does it? Sophia?"

"She's sleeping...but not for long."

"Damn, I'll go alone then. She'll only slow me down."

"Holland, quite trying to be a hero. We have to accept...losses."

"...Umbrella." I stated through clentched teeth.

"Leon, I'm not giving up on her yet. Besides what happens if we come across others who need the antidote?"

"Fine, go. But this place is history. Umbrella's history. You've got 6 hours before this place is completely destroyed by Umbrella. This and the Neo-Hive."

"Neo-Hive?"

"The dogs?" I cried.

"I fixed that." Leon smiled.