SCOTT WESKER (MONOLOGUE)
After the realisation that I have a momentous amount of blood on my hands, I have slowly started to accept a brisk and ignominious end once I leave the doomed city. I was taken advantage of, but that doesn't even nearly justify my actions, and I accept that too. But, despite that horrific acceptance of mortal affairs, a burden has been lifted, along with that Tyrant that's been stalking us for some time.
However, time was never on our side, the Tyrant was just an obstacle in the way of the main pressing matter ahead of us. Sherry was still in dire condition, and only the research notes and the lab where I used to work can save her now. If she dies after everything we've been through, then we'll be living in a world that isn't worth saving...
Claire and Leon stood at the molten iron pool room's entrance, climbing back up sure was a hassle, that, and picking up Scott along the way. Apart from some blunt trauma on his chest, he was still alive and able to help.
The blaring alarm or siren was much more noticeable without the Tyrant lurking around, and the P.A. system was still going on strong. It was stating a warning in a loop in that dreadful woman's voice. "Warning! A safety hazard has been detected in the power core! All employees proceed to the emergency cart at the bottom platform, immediately!"
Claire huffed. "Leon, we're really out of time."
"Yeah… Let's go get Sherry's vaccine."
"Alright, shall we?"
"Let's do this."
Claire followed Leon back the way they came, along with Scoot who was a little worse for wear. "Are you sure you're okay, Doctor?"
Scott nodded. "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, you got decked by the Tyrant and sat out most of the fight," Leon added.
Scott sighed. "I was hoping to put that out of my mind..."
"I'm glad you're okay, Scott," said Claire, "I don't think time is on our side, and we could really use the helping hands right about now."
"Well, thank you both for coming back for me. Probably would've bled out back there."
"Wasn't hard; you're always bleeding out somewhere…"
Scott felt his humour sucked out by Claire's harsh joke. "Ouch…"
"Let's change the subject." Leon was the first to enter the A-2 elevator. It went back up as everyone got comfortable. Out of the blue, he got a call from his radio. He just had to answer. "Hello?
"Leon, it's Parker. Where the hell are you?"
"We're nearby."
"That's not a very reassuring thing to say, Leon. You guys should be back by now…"
"We got a little sidetracked, but don't worry; we're on our way to the lab."
"You mean you haven't even made it yet? Bloody hell, we're running out of time..."
The elevator reached the B4F level and the three carried on down the corridor. It was a bit weird using a radio to talk to someone in the next room but that's how it was. "Let us worry about the vaccine; there's nothing left to stand in our way now."
"I should hope so; only a matter of time before this dump blows, with us along for the ride."
"Yeah, we can hear the alarm too." Leon walked faster into a quick jog, both Claire and Scott were right behind him. As they were about to turn the corner into the main shaft, a zombie appeared; he was a complete pushover with a couple of shots to the face.
"Is that you outside?"
"Yeah, that's us. Listen, we really need to focus now. How is Sherry holding up?"
"Hard to tell if she's asleep or unconscious. She looks stable but I dare not bother her."
"Okay, I'm hanging up now. As soon as we get the vaccine we're coming back."
"You guys got this; get it done." Parker hung up.
Leon put his radio back into the pouch along his waist as the three came to the main shaft. They stopped for a quick breather, hearing the P.A. system blare out the same warning in a loop. "We're running out of time…"
Scott nodded. "P-4 lab. We can make it."
"Let's go."
A few zombies were on either side of the catwalk, both the left and right. They weren't worth the bullets, nor was the giant, hairy spider crawling up the shaft's walls. Zombies were fine but big, hairy man-eating spiders were a no-go.
"Let's see what's back there," Leon suggested. The three jogged through the middle and around the main core, taking the single door with a glowing red light.
Slumped against the wall opposite the door was Annette. Her body ached as she her whimpers caught the attention of Leon. "Claire!" he called before he hunched over to Annette. "Annette…"
Annette's breaths stuttered but her voice was clear. "G's... growing even stronger…" She sat up a bit more soundly but even the slowest movements hurt her deep within. Bleeding was a bitch. "If you don't stop this… Sherry will..." She struggled to breathe.
Scott looked up at the ceiling, noticing that there was a large hole near the door they all just came through. Couldn't be using the air ducts, could he…? He lowered his eyes back at Annette in deep thought.
Claire joined Leon and knelt down beside him. "Annette, please…" she begged, "we need to make the vaccine."
"Everything you need… is in the P-4 lab..." Annette looked at Scott. "In your locker… Scott, please… help them undo our mistakes..."
Scott nodded. "I'll do my best."
Annette slid something off her wrist and held it out to Leon and Claire; it was a rubber bracelet with something orange inside. "This will start up the train on the bottom floor… Please… Help Sherry and get yourselves out of here…" As Claire took the bracelet, Annette held onto Leon's arm. "Tell her… that even though I have failed as her mother… I have always... loved her…" Tears ran down her cheeks, the tears tasted of remorse and regret. Her hand went limp right as her body did the same. "Sherry… Sherry…" Annette was about to say something again, but it was too incomprehensible. She died in a small pool of blood.
"Annette…" Scott murmured.
"What did Annette give you anyway?" Leon asked, checking out the band on Claire's wrist.
"A wristband with an orange chip inside." Claire turned her head to Scott. "Almost looks like yours."
Scott shrugged. "The colour dictates the authority. Our purple chips are level four, only William's was level five. His clearance will save us a lot more time than if we were to use mine or Annette's."
Claire stood up with Leon. "As long as it gets us all out of here, I'm game. Scott, take us to the lab."
"Yes, ma'am."
Claire took off her new wristband and handed it to Scott. "I feel you're more qualified to use this, Scott."
"That we can both agree."
