Third POV

Ethan sighs as he makes his way towards the village. It's been a good hour since his little...setback from his little 'meeting' with Alex. The fresh revelation of his infection of the Blacklight virus gave Ethan a feeling of strong resentment and fear.

After finding out what he had- or what he is- Ethan can't really wrap his head on the thought. It is the most shittiest, unbelievable experience that he had the unfortunate luck in knowing. Ethan knew that back at Dovey would be more than enough for him to handle, and he barely managed to survive. But now things are starting to unravel. His life is not what it used to be and he somewhat knew that.

Before he had been tested by the BSAA, Ethan knew that he felt somehow different than he was before. He felt better, stronger, and rejuvenated. He always thought that it was the adrenaline coursing through his body, and the fact that a simple software engineer managed to survive a hell on earth that is in the shape of a house with a murderous family.

But it wasn't the case. Not anymore when he finds out the truth on that night.

You're part of the Mercer virus…..You're not human anymore….

Mercer's words sent a wave of fury and denial in the blonde man's core, gritting his teeth as he grip on his handgun tightened. Mercer is basically toying with him at that moment, knowing the fact that the changes are irreversible and that he was a part of him.

A part of him…

Ethan stops momentarily at the thought when he remembers what he saw in 'Alex's' memories. Alex Mercer died in Penn station years ago, leaving only the physical appearance of him that is the virus had taken form of. So what does that make him?

A vessel?

A temporary carrier?

Or was he what happened to the original Alex Mercer when he got infected, just a form of Ethan Winters that has the mind and soul that the virus had taken form of….

Ethan didn't know anymore. Nor that he wants to, either.

"The more I thought about it, the more this becomes confusing and frustrating this becomes….fuck." Ethan muttered to himself as he felt a headache come in. He needs to get to the village. He needs to find out if Rose is anywhere there or at least some of the townsfolk knows some general idea on where she is. Once he gets her, then he can find a way to deal with his….'condition'.

As he made way through the forest, Ethan couldn't help but feel that something was off. The feelings of paranoia, anxiety, and suspense are steadily consuming his being. Making his grip on his handgun tightened a bit as his eyes shifted left and right, for the danger that lurks by in the woods.

His movement slowed down a bit, when he searched through the thick snow-covered woods. He continued to walk towards the area, only to stop when he heard a little rustle around the bush.

SNAP!*

Ethan whirled around to the source of the sound, his pistol drawn out as his eyes focused on the bushes. He remains still for the moment, while he securely grip his handgun while his attention is towards the bushes. His finger twitches once and twice on the trigger, waiting for whatever that causes the sound to come out.

After a few moments, an object leep through from the bush, scaring Ethan, but he didn't pull the trigger once he saw what the creature was.

It was a snow-white rabbit.

Ethan's shoulders visibly relaxed as he released an exhausted sigh, feeling his frustration and anxiety, slowly fades away as he looks at the curious stare of the rabbit. The rabbit looked at Ethan for a good moment, tilting its head a bit, before sniffing him and running away. Ethan just shook his head as he lowered his gun.

"All that by just a little rabbit." Ethan mutters in slight frustration and exhaustion as he rubs his face. Feeling rather ridiculous that he was so worked up by just a small, innocent animal that he needs to point a gun at it.

"I need to get to the village." Ethan said to himself, turning back to his main destination and not noticing that the rabbit itself was looking at him walking away. It stares at the blonde man with fascination before it's eyes shifted into a familiar black and red tendrils.

At the Village

After a few minutes, Ethan had managed to get to his destination. It took him a while since there were a lot of twists and turns that he had to make, until arriving at the back of one of the houses. But he was grateful that he managed to get here without any more compilations.

The area that he was in was a good clearing. With an old wooden fence, a small stack of barrels on the side, and an old tractor. Ethan let out a smile across his face. Finally some good news after what happened in the past few hours.

Soon, as he was about to knock on the back door of the house, Ethan couldn't help but stop in his tracks as the same feelings from earlier had resurfaced. Ethan grunts as he tries to shake it off, seeing that there isn't any point in it, and that he was just being paranoid.

But he couldn't.

They were embedded in him like a plague. Ethan couldn't shake them, couldn't ignore them. He stood there for a good moment, trying to get rid of the feelings, but they were stuck, and were growing more and more by the minute.

Finally, Ethan managed the courage to find his legs again and went to one of the houses.

Knock, knock, knock*

Ethan knocks on one of the doors of the building, waiting patiently for a moment, before doing it again.

knock, knock, knock*

"Hello! Is anyone there?" Ethan called out, but was then greeted by silence. Nothing can be heard except the gentle winter breeze that passed through him and into the house. Ethan looks into the window to get a good look if there is anyone in the house. But thanks to the dark interior along with the low lighting from the break of dawn, it didn't help at all.

Ethan then looks to the neighboring building, to see if he can find anyone. The feeling of dread and anxiety were getting stronger as he went on to the next house. When he looked, he found out that it was the same as the first house that he knocked on; Empty and seemingly abandoned. Curiosity and uncertainty took his mind and body as he wondered if there even were people at all.

Ethan walked for a bit and saw a small passageway between the houses that led through the other side of the building.

With no other choice, he went in. Turning his body sideways as he squeezed between the gap. Ethan grunt a bit at the space between the houses as he went in, but thankfully, it wasn't narrow enough for him to get stuck on. But that doesn't mean that it was a bit of a snug fit.

As he made his way through the passageway, Ethan grunted, dusting off a bit of snow and dirt on his clothing. Once he looks up, Ethan can only drop dead silent as he sees next.

The entire area is what he can describe as desolated ruins. Several small, and abandoned moss-covered brick houses littered the area. Featuring broken metal and wooden fences that divided them. Several empty barrels of god-know-what are visible beside some of the houses, as the snow covered both them and the barrels. While he looked further into the area, he saw several bed wagons filled with dead animals that are slowly decomposing and/or semi-frozen, thanks to the winter climate. He then recognizes that some of the animal's heads are hanging from several branches. Giving him a shiver down his spine.

"My god…" Ethan said, as he slowly found movement in his legs while he took in the sight of that he was in. He recognizes that some of the houses are boarded up, from inside and out. As he continued to look through, he saw that some of those boards were torn in half. Several pieces of wood and sharp metal shards were littered throughout the area. While destroyed windows, walls, hell even the roofs are all visible holes for him to see.

"What the hell happened to this place?" He muttered to himself, feeling a bit off when he made eye-contact with one of the dead animal heads. Giving it the illusion of it staring back at him.

Ethan's feelings of paranoia, dread, anxiety, and uncertainty grows the more he looks around. He finally stops when he spotted something on the wall.

It was a symbol.

Written what appears to be dried blood.

Ethan gagged a bit, but ultimately looked at the symbol with a sense of familiarity.

Squinting his eyes, he managed to get a good look at what the symbol looks like..The symbol is what appears to be a shape of an X with an outer border and a middle line. The center of it was a series of squares that became smaller in size. It was hard to tell thanks to the stain of the wall, the size, and the very crude shape of it, but he managed to make it out.

The symbol that he is seeing is 'The Eye'; an old Romanian symbol that was buried deep in history. But nevertheless, Ethan vaguely knows it and the meaning. The Eye is a Romanian symbol for protection.

Ethan's fingers gently glide over the wall and onto the symbol. Feeling a heavy weight on his shoulders as he took a glance at the house and the rest of it. He didn't know why he felt that way. The way that this place gave him fear, anxiety, and dread all over where he looked.

He shifted his gaze onto the rest of the road that leads up to the other parts of the village. He looked back at the houses, hoping that this was the only one that was abandoned. So he grabbed his pistol, and went deeper into the village. Not noticing that there were several pairs of eyes looking at him from a distance, growling in hunger as they locked their sight on Ethan.

Deeper in the Village

Ethan didn't say anything ever since he left his previous checkpoint. It's been a good few minutes since he left and that little flicker of hope when he saw the village continues to dwindle as he sees more and more of the village's condition.

He was wrong when he thought that the area that he previously left is the only one.

But no, it wasn't.

As he made his way through the village, the village's condition continued to become worse and worse as he moved along. The deadly silent atmosphere, followed by the haunted appearance of the buildings and trees, while the familiar stench of decay gave Ethan an all-too familiar vibes into his spine. His ragged breath came in the form of a short fog from his mouth, while he held his pistol tightly in his hands.

He sometimes looked back over his shoulders, every now and then. Feeling as though he was being watched from the shadows. Ethan released an uncomfortable and shaky sigh as he then stopped at what appeared to be a marketplace.

The market was probably the largest area he'd seen since his arrival here. Packed with several large carts that were either toppled over, destroyed, or damaged. Six to seven stalls that were meant to hold a fresh variety of food and ingredients, were now empty and fragile. The fruits and vegetables that are there were rotten, inedible, and decomposed while the meat was swarming with mold, flies, maggots and bacteria, giving off a pungent smell to Ethan, making him cover his nose.

As he looked on, he saw that several of the stalls have blood-stained trails that lead off in a random direction in the village. The mixture of various shades of red and black were spilled throughout the stalls and onto the ground, staining the old gravel ground and white snow, making the blonde man look at it with a near hallowed look. Ethan couldn't find the words on what he was seeing. After his attack from earlier, he thought that this village was a silver lining after what he had been through for the past hour. That this was a time where he can get some rest and some leads on where his daughter is.

But there was nothing.

Absolutely NOTHING…..!

"God-fucking... DAMNIT!" Ethan roared in anger and frustration, letting his repressed feeling go as his voice echoed throughout the area. He thought that he had fucking break when he saw this village. That he had some leads to where his daughter is, that he can finally have some good news after everything that has happened!

But life couldn't be that fucking easy, now can it? He was stuck in the middle of fucking nowhere, in the middle of a fucking winter, finding out his infected, his daughter going missing, his wife killed, and now he's in a village that is his only saving grace is nothing but a fucking GHOST TOWN!

What more can a human-being take!

Ethan felt his anger rising up as he gritted his teeth. His grip on his handgun tightened as soon his biomass started to act up. Black and red tendril seeped out from him, moving rapidly as if reacting with his emotions he has right now. He groaned as he then took deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, as he tried to keep his emotions under control.

Pretty soon, his biomass resided back into the body as he posture became less tense. Ethan had to remind himself that being pissed off wouldn't get him anywhere in his situation. That he needs to find his daughter no matter the cost. But as he looked around, what other leads that he has now? His only chance of finding ANY chance on his daughter's whereabouts are second to none.

No people.

no other clues

And the only chance he had was back at the crashed sight and the footprints on the snow.

Ethan suppressed a growl as he wondered what his next move would be. Obviously the village is out. And he didn't have any other clue where to look next.

As he was deep within his thoughts, Ethan's head snapped back up as he felt something. It wasn't a sense of dread, anxiety, and paranoia that consumed him earlier, but it is a feeling of familiarity. Looking around the area, his feet automatically went towards one of the blood-stained trails that leads to one of the village's passageways. Ethan narrowed his eyes, understanding that he hadn't moved his spot since arriving. But nonetheless, Ethan followed the familiarity of the area, still being oblivious to the ever-so growing number of eyes that look at him from the distance and in the shadows.

In a Short Passageway

Ethan made a left turn to a short, but narrow passageway that was made by two of the metal fences. Still not understanding the feeling, Ethan decided to follow it. So he made his way into the gap of the fences, feeling cold, some-what muddy liquid hit his feet as he continued to move. He then made a right turn as the feeling became stronger as he continued to walk. He eventually saw an old metal gate that was slightly open before going didn't take long for Ethan to reach his destination; which is a short clearing with various houses and a well in the center. Ethan was confused as to why he was led to this area. He looked around the area and saw that it was like the other houses.

His eyes scanned throughout the area, stopping as he set his eyes on a particular house that was a bit smaller than the rest. Feeling his curiosity got the best of him, Ethan went to the house before stopping as he saw flashes in his head.

"IN HERE, XAVIER!" Josiah yelled as he and Xavier went into the house. Josiah quickly shuts the door as he barricades it with the heavy bookshelf. He then heard a rustling noise from outside, followed by several growls that sounded like it belonged to a pack of wolves.

"Father-" Xavier said, but Josiah quickly covers his son's mouth, as he drags him and hides underneath the corner of the wall of the house. They didn't say anything for the moment towards each other as they froze in fear as they heards several rustles and growls from outside. It was silent for the moment, giving an uncomfortable silence as fear and terror consumed their entire being as they waited for whatever it was outside.

Josiah looked over the window, sighing in relief as he released his grip on his son.

Suddenly, the other window in front of them burst open as a beast, man-like creature burst through, making Xavier scream in fear and Josiah rapidly shoot it with his gun. The shot made contact with the wall next to the window. Shattering several chunks of brick, but effectively scaring the beast off.

"Stay here…" Josiah said to his son. Arms tightly held onto his gun as he looked for any signs of the beast. He raised his shaking hands, looking around the house with evident fear and panicked eyes.

Ethan blinks his eyes several times after witnessing the memory. He shook his head, realizing now why he was so familiar with the passageway and the area.

It was the same one that Josiah accidentally killed his wife and his son being abducted by some...werewolves? Were those really werewolves Ethan couldn't tell as he was getting to grips with seeing someone else's memories.

But nonetheless, Ethan wondered why he was drawn to this place in the first place. Sure, he saw the memory, but being drawn into the same house that Josiah had lost everything? Now that doesn't make any sense. He wonders if it was the memories and the emotions that he felt from Josiah that leads him here, or that Ethan is a father himself and he understands (In some way) why he was led here. So, Ethan went into the house. He already knew that the door was a no-go, so he took the alternative route and went into the broken windows. He removed his coat, placing it over the shard glass, before using his arms to remove the excess shards. He went in and quickly realized that it was the same as the memory had left it.

Grabbing his coat from the window and putting it back on, Ethan slowly wanders around the interior of the house. Feeling the sense of familiarity with a dose of anger, sorrow, hopelessness. His feet accidentally hit a foreign object on the ground, making Ethan look down and see that it was the same gun that Josiah used before.

Picking it up, it was an old M44 Co2 rifle. Ethan bent down to pick up the rifle and saw that it had a few bullets left in the chamber. He then looked at the side and saw that there was a trail of blood leading from the inside and just disappeared a few feet from the house. He then noticed that there were several footprints that looked like it belonged to a person, but were several inches wide, and were formed into more of that of a dog than man.

Ethan's eyes stared at the spot for a bit, quickly coming to the realization that it was Xavier's blood that was spilled onto the ground when he was taken. Ethan closed his eyes as he felt anger, sorrow, and remorse. Xavier's cries for help ring into his head as Ethan grip the rifle tightly into his hand. Ethan felt that he should've done something, but how can you do something that you weren't even there to begin with?

As he goes into his thoughts, Ethan snaps back as he hears something fall down in the other room. Standing up, grabbing his pistol, and aiming it at the other door, Ethan carefully put down the rifle and made his way to the door. Which is the same door that Josiah accidentally killed his wife.

But Ethan knew that he couldn't dwell at the thought any longer as he readied his pistol. His eyes focus on the door, not making a sound as he focuses his sight on the target. His breath was careful and slow, while his movements were steady and cautious.

But before he could do anything, he suddenly sensed something was coming at him. Something fast.

He turned to where the feeling was coming from, before the glass of the window shattered as a figure of a creature burst in and grabbed the shock blonde. Ethan felt himself being thrown on the wall, the back of his head made contact to the wall, making him disorientated. He groaned before looking at his attacker.

His attacker was a humanoid-like creature. Dark grey coat made of fur covered the entire body, while a mop of hair that is the same shade as the fur partially covered it's eyes. Sharp fangs are protruding out from its mouth as it gave a snarl to the blonde. Its worn out and torn long-sleeve was tainted with blood, mud, and snow, along with its pants, while sharp claws digged deep into his shirt.

Overall, the feature made Ethan think that it is a werewolf as the beast gave him a snarl in hunger, before throwing him outside, via through the wall with impressive strength. Ethan groans as he tries to get up. But as he turned, he quickly saw the beast lunging at him with intent to kill, making the blonde automatically use his arm to block it.

The beast's fangs sank through the fabric and went deep within his forearm. Ethan screamed in pain and terror before the beast rips out a chunk of his flesh. Blood flying out, along with Ethan's screams of agony as he looks from his arm towards the Lycan. Who just chewed the flesh wolfishly before swallowing it. Ethan stared in horror, before seeing his biomass go to work. Replacing the flesh and fabric, making the wound good as new.

But he didn't care about that. His mind was too much in shock as he instinctively took out his pistol, ready to fire rounds at the beast but he stopped as he heard another growl. Ethan whirled around and saw two more Lycan on the roof of the houses. He pointed his guns at them, but quickly saw that another pair of Lycans popped up from the alley.

Then another.

Then another

And then another.

It kept going until the area was swarming up to the brim with Lycans'. Forcing Ethan to back up in fright as he was overwhelmed by the numbers.

"Oh shit...Oh shit!" Ethan curses as he looks around, pointing his pistol to each Lycan that came near him, noting the hunger and animalistic looks that he is seeing in their eyes. Soon, one of the Lycans jumped at him. Ethan sees this and manages to dodge it by the last second, firing several shots on the back. Bleeding the creature, but it didn't put it down.

Then another Lycan manages to pounce onto his back, making the blonde man frail frantically as the Lycan clings onto him with it's claws.

"GET OFF OF ME!" Ethan yelled, knowing that he can't shoot it. Things got worse as he saw two more Lycans' stalking him, making him shoot them but the shots missed them before the one Lycan that was on his back bit his shoulder.

Ethan's screams of pain and horror echoed throughout the area, making the Lycans' growl in satisfaction and hunger. He looked around the area, frantically, before spotting a brick wall that was behind him. Ethan grabs the Lycan's legs before rapidly backing up and slamming the beast's back to the brick wall. Collapsing the wall and snapping the spine in half.

He groaned as he saw the Lycan was dead before looking at the bite mark. He saw that the biomass quickly fixed the wound up, making Ethan reluctantly admit that MAYBE it has it's uses.

Ethan's head quickly snaps back at the opening and sees another Lycan pounce at him, claws out, and teeth ready to rip his throat. Out of sheer instinct, Ethan raises his legs, managing to catch the Lycan by the stomach before he folds them back and kicks the werewolf back near the opening of the building. Ethan saw the Lycan head collide with the wooden post, shattering some pieces of wood, before it dropped dead on the ground. Head caved in and blood poured out from the cranium.

Ethan stared at the sight with bufflment as he knew that he didn't even put that much force. He looked and saw that the biomass started acting around him, making him snarl in disgust. He then looked and saw two more Lycans stalking him before charging in. Ethan was about to aim but looked and realized that his pistol wasn't in his hands and saw that it was a few feet away from him.

He turned back and saw one of the Lycans' tackled him down to the ground, forcing Ethan to raise his hand on the shoulders, keeping it away from biting his throat. Ethan grits his teeth as he struggles to keep the Lycan at bay. He then heard a growl and saw the other Lycan was holding what appeared to be an old axe as it approached him. Raising the axe above its head, before quickly slamming it back down. Ethan saw this and by sheer instinct, he turned his body to the right, while simultaneously shoving the Lycan to the incoming axe head when it thought that it had a chance.

Boy was it wrong.

The Lycans head was then cut in half, blood gushing out while the other Lycan stared at it for a moment. Ethan saw his chance, before quickly scrambling to his gun. The Lycan saw this and roared as he pounced on Ethan. The blonde shouted in pain as the Lycan digs its claws into his back before forcing Ethan face-to-face. The beast roared in anger, Nearly deafening the blonde, before Ethan heard several more growls and howls came from outside. So without thinking, he grabs the small article of clothing of the monster, before dragging down towards a headbutt. Breaking the nose/snout, while sending crack throughout the front portion of the skull.

The beast let out a cry of pain before Ethan grabs his gun and places two well-inserted shots to the head, scrambling towards the wall as the body fell down. Soon, Ethan gets up and starts firing round after round after rounds. Hoping that it would at least thin them out. Some shots made it though, successfully killing some Lycans, while some staggered back.

"I need to get out of here!" Ethan thought to himself as he is running out of bullets and the numbers are not thinning. He knew that if he kept shooting, then he would run out and the place would be swarming.

Ethan grits his teeth hard as he sees more and more Lycans are coming. They're numbers increased as they started to flood the house with malice and hunger. They're gold-yellow eyes, illuminating as they're numbers started to darken and enclosed the room. His eyes roam rapidly for a way out, but all he could see are Lycans after Lycans.

"Shit…." Ethan muttered as he looked around frantically.

A/N: Ok, so this took me a bit of time on doing, since I have to rewatch some of the footage of the game and some parts here. But with how my mind kept making possible scenarios with some of it, it was a bit of a doozy to write since I have to know which sticks to which.

But I think it turn out good. Not great but good. It all really depends on how you guys see it.

Honestly, this chapter would have been a little bit longer, since I planned on placing that old man from the start of the game, the survivors and Elena all in this. But I figured that would take a little bit more time, and how things are going on in this chapter, I decided to just leave the old man out of here since it wouldn't make much of a difference.

But anyway, I hope you guys enjoy the chapter, and if you guys have ANY criticism on it or questions then be afraid to place it there. As long as the criticism is honest, straight to the point, and NOT offensive in any kind of way.