Chapter 12. "A nightmare revisited."

Leon watched each and every little corner of the rooms and hallways he passed, time seeming to move ever slower, and the shadows even more daunting and suspicious as as he moved through the corridors. Only once he was reunited with Jill did he finally breath a sigh of relief.

They checked one another over quickly with their eyes and once they were satisfied that neither had procured any new life threatening injures they made their way up behind the golden clock.

The door swung open and the two agents came in, weapons drawn and to their surprise they found the ginger haired FBC agent known as Raymond. He glanced their way and sighed, "Looks like both of us are late." Leon furrowed his eyebrows at the sight of broken machinery.

"You've gotta be kidding me." Leon grumbled and he went in to check, hoping to find something still working. "Both of you...look." Raymond stated the gestured to the monitor.

The screen showed a masked man… talking. The same one who sent the video. "It's our masked friend, what does he want?" Leon asked. Tense silence filled the room as the three agents listened to what he have to say.

"Is that the fugitive that worked for Umbrella?" Leon looked over his shoulder to Jill. "HUNK right?"

"No, he's a mercenary, this is way too far out his standard motivations. Plus, the BSAA in South America is following a potential lead." Jill stared into the monitor.

The Unknown figure immediately raised his leather glove to the back of his head then removed the strap of the gasmask. He revealed his face. Caucasian, with a shaved head and goatee, the man had a stern expression. "We are Veltro, Vengeful messengers from the depth of the inferno." The man stopped to take his breath. "Abandon hope all ye who enters here."

'A little melodramatic don't you think?' Leon noted.

Both Leon's and Jill's PDA received a message. For a moment they exchanged confused looks, before they checked their devices. The screen showed a small boat expand twice in size with a orange afterglow. Several bits of scrap rained into the ocean.

"That's the tugboat!?" Jill grimaced with a hint of panic.

Leon punched the machine, ignoring the pain that flashed throughout his body as 'they' reacted to his stress, too annoyed by all of this to really give a damn. "Damn it! Fucking terrorists, any ideas of how to get off this Titanic sequel?"

'And what does HE have to do with anything?' Leon thought, he could feel heartache, at the memory of what happened earlier. 'Enjoy your time here because you'll never leave this ship.'

"We killed these bastards already." Raymond stated coldly, his eyes hard as the steel deck beneath their boots.

"Well it looks like you missed a few," Jill said dryly and hooked her PDA up to what remained of the machines, in an attempt to boost her signal, but to no avail. "And they're on this ship."

Leon heaved an annoyed sigh as he realized how their moves were planned for them, just like a rather one sided game of chess. "Now they want to use the virus to stage another attack, another tragedy for us to clean up." He theorized and looked back to Raymond for confirmation.

Raymond shook his head, and looked off towards the distant glow that had been their ride up until a few moments ago, though he seemed to be looking at something even further off, something only he could perceive. "They seek the truth about Terragrigia with diluted vengeance." Raymond clicked his shoes and walked out of the room.

Leon huffed, "Well he's a big help." he muttered darkly.

"Leon check this out." Jill called. She read a number of papers in her hand. "It seems the whole ship is out of power. The ship is currently on the emergency power generator but the system needs the main power. Communications are down without it, so it's the best course of action we have at the moment."

Leon nodded, "Sounds like a plan to me." He patted himself down, and grunted. "Gonna need to stop by whatever passes for an armory on this ship," he growled, "I'm running low on ammo."

Jill sighed, "Yeah me too, so we're gonna need to really make our shots count." Leon grinned, "I always do."

Jill had to suppress a shudder as they moved along the corridors. Something about the aura of their surroundings felt oddly familiar, and she despised this feeling.' They're not going to take me again. I won't let them win.' she vowed silently to herself, and tightened her grip on the pistol.

Together they made their way past the doors and back to the clock tower hall. The light dimmed for several seconds and neither agent liked that sign at all. Jill double checked clips for her pistol & submachine gun as they walked for the staircase to the next section they needed to go. They were met by Raymond who waited in front of the stairs, he was holding something in his hand. "Take this Kennedy, you might need it."

Leon stared at the key in his hand, not sure what to think of this. It was an iron anchor key, "Alright." he said shaking his head and took it. Why is it that weird shit like this always comes along for the ride with Umbrella's bullshit!?

Raymond went on. "That key will get you through the casino on the first floor. Then you'll find a lift to take you to the bilge." He crossed his arms and looked at Jill. "Tell me something first. You didn't see any other FBC members here, did you? I can't reach my partner Rachel ever since she went to the bilge."

Leon just shook his head. "Sorry, but you're the only living person we met thus far."

Raymond swore, "Damn it, I hope she's okay."

Leon nodded sympathetically, he knew all too well how it could be worrying over lost partner, and a female one at that, in a situation like this. "We'll keep an eye out for her, can't promise much else though, sorry."

Ray's already grim expression, soured even further but didn't say anything. He knew the business just as they did, and knew that it was the best he could reasonably hope for.

Leon walked on passed him to the stairs, Jill following close behind. She paused on the first step down and turned back to the ginger agent. "I'm sure she's okay," she murmured to him gently, "if your people recruited her then she has to be one of the best. We'll find her Ray, or hell maybe she'll find us." Ray smiled slightly, though much the same as her own blonde partner, it didn't really touch his eyes. Appreciating her words even if he didn't believe them.

"Thanks," he nodded towards where the aforementioned blonde had disappeared to. "Better get on the move on, before you lose your partner as well, good luck."

They went down Leon in the lead, and Jill keeping a near constant watch on their rear, so that nothing could sneak up on them.

More than once Jill swore she could hear something organic sliding across the metal corridor, or even something slithering in the vents overhead. But when she turned her light on where the sounds originated, she found only cold metal and dust.

"That must be the lock he mentioned," Leon sighed, "god I hate all this odd-ass Umbrella paraphernalia." and Jill glanced back down his way and saw what he meant immediately.

Before them was a heavy metal door, with a strangely shaped lock.

Leon dug out the anchor key, Ray had given them, slid it into place and twisted. He was only mildly relieved when the lock gave, and the doors swung open.

Once the door opened, darkness welcomed them. Jill reached for her lower back and pulled out a right angle flashlight then strapped at her left shoulder then clipped it place. Once she finished, Leon did the same but his flashlight was a headband flashlight then placed it above his left ear. Once that was the case, Leon entered the darkened area first.

Everything was out of power, even the escalator they walked down to the place.

They could hear an obvious sound of dripping water. Leon shined his light in front and he saw the source, a stony water fountain that contained several fish, it was in the middle of the place.

"Hold on." Jill said and ran to the other side of the fountain. "There's a breaker,"

After a moment he heard the sound of something clicking. Red emergency lights begin to fill the place, the fountain started to flow some water while only a handful of slot machines activated.

Jill came down the stairs, smiling. "Well it looks like you're going to have a time after all. We need coins to open the door up there."

"Nice." Leon joked. "I could use a nice cocktail and try my luck."

"No such thing as luck there Kennedy." Jill pointed out as she checked a row of machines for hostiles.

"Ah well that's no fun. What are you, a Murphy's Law fan?" Leon said as he took out several coins.

"Not exactly, luck is just how people construct a way of understanding a specific moment in time. We make our own outcomes."

"Like you did back in Raccoon City?" Leon quipped back as he tossed a smaller coin back in the water. Several fish scattered about.

"Somewhat like that. I don't like to think many subjects can be explained simply. Like this mission." Jill crossed her arms.

Leon rotated his head around the dim casino. "Agreed." Leon fished out a rather one of the shiner coins. "Seriously It feels like we're trapped here on purpose."

"Sweet, there is some on the water." He was about to bend down, but something happened and the water slowly started to turn red. He instinctively took his arm out of the fountain.

"Oh no. Whoever thought that a red wine fountain was a good idea, really needs to learn originality." Leon stood up by reaction and flicked some water off his hand. Jill watched from across the room with her back leaned up against a wall. Leon shrugged as he walked toward her and immediately, several grumbled sounds spewed out of the fountain.

Leon and Jill set their flashlights at the fountain to see several football sized piranha lunge out with exposed fangs. Four in total and each of them flipped about but main the effort to move toward them.

"Infected?" Leon asked.

"Infected." Jill replied then quickly drew her handgun. The two opened fire on the incoming threat.

A large looking fish jumped out of the water. Whatever noise they made, it was caused by it constantly expanding gills and spewing out red water. It wasn't bloody since there wasn't a potent smell of iron. The agents were all too familiar with such a undesired perfume. Leon fired his handgun, not giving it a chance to lay on the ground.

Jill was next and her aim caught another fish. "I saw these in the video." she commented.

"Remind me later." he replied. Two fishes jumped out of the water, leaving a tiny bite scars at the two of them.

"Arrgh." he was able to hold one and kicked it far to the side. Jill struggled a little with the fish attached to her, it hurts while trying to blast it away. The fish wiggled about on the carpet and eventually, one of them got close enough to jump at Jill. It embedded itself on her left forearm and she grunted at the pain.

A punch followed, from Leon and the fish flow away and landed upon a slot machine. Once it was silent, they heard the sound of something metal fall on the ground. The two kept at it for thirty seconds and the each of the fish were dead.

At the corner of his eyes Leon saw a golden coin near the table. He bent down and held the coin carefully. "Ah great." Jill said.

"Stand aside my fair lady, I have a magic hand and I can win this easily." Even though his tone is serious, Jill couldn't help the smile that broke across her face.

"Alright, just hurry up jackass." She watched him put the coin in the first machine against the wall, he rubbed his hands together for a moment and pulled the stick. She checked her would and expressed some concern if there was something about this virus they don't know about yet. She applied a small dose of first aid spray on the bite, will saving the other for Leon, and kept an eye on the fountain.

The machine activated, and it stopped on three images. The slots had a faint light to them and Leon sat down and smiled. "Well with luck, maybe she'll smile at me for this."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night." Jill rolled her eyes.

Leon entered the several of the coins and pulled on the crank. The slots rotated proceeded to have several icons spin. "What influenced you to be so pessimistic?"

"Just from the daily grind of the crap misguided bad guys could do. I'm not part of STARS anymore but I can't help it, like I'm still doing police work." Jill somewhat winced her lips.

"I didn't do much in when I became an officer." Leon admitted as the three cylinders gave him three icons that didn't match at all. He shook his head.

"Being a casino bouncer doesn't sound that alluring as well." Jill smugly smiled behind Leon.

"The luck of the moment."

"So says the man using a machine that is designed to give you less of what feed it." Jill pointed out as Leon lost the second coin press. None of the icons matched again. Leon grimaced as tried again.

"I read what happened that time, as I read your report in Spain." Jill commented as she watched the icons spin around again. "Whatever happened to that man who sold you weapons?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Leon rolled his eyes as the slot machine cheated him out of coins again.

"Of course stranger…" Jill chuckled at the end as she watch Leon lose yet again.

"Do me a favor, for me, would ya?" Leon held his palm with several more coins. "Just humor me."

Jill shook her head then gently blew on the coins. She leaned back skeptical on the optimistic view of Leon. He had an expressionless face as he loaded the machine yet again. The lights flicked again as Jill glanced back to watch for danger. Leon turned around and thought about talking.

He opened his mouth.

DING DING DING!

Flickers of light appeared behind the pair and the two glanced back at the machine. It chimed, flashed and beamed the golden words of YOU WIN! Leon turned to Jill.

.

.

.

"Shut up." It was the only response Jill gave to the smug asshole.

Leon took the bundle of coins. The walked toward the staircase leading up to the VIP section. Jill stood in the front blocking his way, "Pass me the coins, it's my turn to work on the door."

"Fine." He chuckled and hand it over. The two walked up the stairs and stood before the door. "So any idea how does this work?" She said and put the coins on the pan, nothing happened and the door was still locked.

"Well according to this," he said and pointed at words written on the woman's collar bone. "We need one hundred and seven, upon the pan."

Jill put down 4 of the brown coins and the screen showed the number 28. "Good, try the silver one." 5 coins were placed and the number came close to their goal.

"The gold coins left, let's see." Jill said and placed 5, though the number was 158. She removed three and the moment she did that a sound of unlock can be heard coming from the door.

"Bingo." Leon said and opened the door. The well decorated Room was a place to play cards, while also watching the whole casino through the camera screens.

They saw a red box on a couch that the both of them accepted with grace. Red Hawk, one of the main manufacturers for pistol ammunition. Luckily for the duo, they had pistols that needed 9mm rounds. "Lucky me." Leon said and checked the magazine and what he had left. It felt completely heavy and that was a very good sign.

"I get it, now hurry up." Jill said and she put her foot down carefully, there was an entrance in the other side of the small room, it had a steel ladder." We should find the lift down there."

Leon carried the Red Hawk on his belt and followed Jill down, the path down had two ventilator, one was near them, and the other is at the end where they could see another ladder going down.

"Right into the depth of hell eh Jill?" Leon teased, as the made a jump for it this time, the force of their landing made their feet ache a little, but they managed.

"Yeah. Question, what is that?" Jill pointed at something green in the wall of both side.

"I don't want to know." He said and ran toward the ladder at the end, they had to climb up this time. Up there they saw their destination. "There is the lift," Jill said, the two of them were standing at the edge of the path, scanning the area.

Leon was the first to jump down, he walked around the railing and went through the way to the lift, the stick was heavy under his hand, but he was able to push it, there was no response.

"A key is missing." Jill said behind him. "Seriously our luck is down the drain. I'll go look for it."

"Oh no, you're not going anywhere without me, we'll go look for it together." he shouted and pushed her behind a few steps of him.

"God, again with this issue?" she didn't want to bother to fight about this anymore, this is the way he works for some reason. Though it is much better for them to separate, to be able to find the key faster. Jill stayed silent and went through the double door.

At the end of the corridor, they found a working elevator that could lead them somewhere. Leon studied the map, and it seems this one will takes them back to the corridor they went through, when they first arrived at the ship. "Do we really need to go back?" Leon asked, his eyes widened. "Hold on, could it be Rachel had the key to the lift?"

Jill paced left and right in deep thought." I think I might have an idea of where she is."

"Do you mean the woman you found earlier?" He pondered and pushed the button for the door to close.

"Yeah, it makes sense if it was her, although I hope not. She might be still alive somewhere." It took a second for the elevator to the take them back, the door opened and they saw the familiar corridor.

"Follow me." Jill said, and they continued through the hall in silence.

...

The sky has blend in with the gray color, it feels like she was enclosed in a dome of fog, the moon and the stars were barely visible, there was patches of clouds around, from the after storm. She could feel the cold air freeze her bones, but she didn't care. There is nothing she could do to pick up the pieces of her broken heart. Still thinking of that video they watched earlier, of the words that man spoke.

"Elizabeth, are you okay?"

"No I'm not okay," she responded in an annoyed deadpan tone. She felt Steven's left arm warp around her.

"Talk to me." he whispered in her ear. "We have good news from Chris, they're looking for the ship now, the masked man showed his face for some reason, he doesn't want to hide anymore, so the investigation is going greet."

Elizabeth allowed herself to sob quietly, she laid her head on his shoulder. "I can't take this anymore, I want my baby back...is that too much to ask Steve? Why don't you care much? I'm losing my mind here worrying about this, and what hurts me the most he is on his own, we don't exist."

Steven pressed a gentle kiss on her cheek. "You know me, I don't show my true colors on subjects, you don't want to see what I feel in my heart." He said and made her turn to look at him. The pain in her eyes was too much for him to handle, an aura of depression was written all over her face. "I'm suffering too."

Steven caressed her cheeks. "You know what, let's find a helicopter and go look for our son, we might reach the destination right after Chris Redfield does."

In mere seconds her face shined of hope and happiness. "Thank you." she said and the two shared a tender embrace.

"I hope you still remember how to use a weapon." He teased.

"Don't worry I'm still strong as ever."

Steve brought her hand close to his lips and kissed her. "Go get ready, we have a tough road ahead of us."

She nodded then jogged toward the stairs, out of the rooftop.

Steven returned to O'Brian's office, only to find the man talking to Quint and Keith. "Go already, the airport needs to be investigated."

"O'Brian, me and my wife will leave over the sea, we'll look for the ship and help them."

O'Brian couldn't hide his shock. "Sir, we're doing good, Chris and Jessica are doing their best."

Steve shock his head sadly. "It's not enough, our son in there and we have to go, can you help us?"

O'Brian knew he cannot stop a parent from such a quest, so no point in arguing. "Alright I'll be in contact with you through this."

"Thank you." Steve replied and went to the corner making some phone calls to prepare a ride for the two of them. "Hello this is Senator Kennedy speaking, It's an emergency can I speak with Ingrid Hunnigan?...

.

.

.

"Yes Mister Kennedy, is everything alright?"

"Hunnigan, I need a helicopter ride now, don't ask why."

"You got it, five minutes and it'll be there in the BSAA HQ rooftop, don't worry." she responded calmly. "I owe you one after all."

It is almost a hidden fact, Hunnigan, he was the one to put her there, to be the one to watch over him during his missions, now she was like the most helpful and reliable source, not to mention a good friend.

Steve hanged up the phone, and he saw one of the members coming his way with a vest and a weapon belt equipped with a pistol. Elizabeth was coming in behind him fully equipped and ready. He couldn't help but notice the look of happiness that painted her face, in spite the danger awaits the two of them. She strapped on several buckles in place of the career that she once dedicated her life to. Steven couldn't recall how happy she was back in her protection days. He knew very will now, from that look in her face, nothing will stand on her way to the reunion with her heart, Leon.

Steve took the vest from the young man and thanked him, "Our ride will be in the rooftop soon darling, we must go." he whispered and put on the vest.

He checked the ammo supplies, and the gun magazine, making sure everything is set well. "Check your weapon Lizzy." He not so subtly glanced at how she strapped a pistol holster to her thigh.

"Don't worry, I'm ready." She replied with a wink. Elizabeth held his hand and squeezed, a sign of support and comfort.

Steven kissed her hand one last time and signaled her to follow to the rooftop.

...

Leon and Jill crept down the hall, to the door she went through before, their steps this time sound wet from the stained hall of the left over storm, leading around a turn with their weapon, letting out a breath when he saw that it, was clear. So far, so good. Jill pushed the door open. "She's down there."

They sprinted down the sticky stairs, there he saw a large broken glass and stains of blood all over. Leon holstered his gun and carefully jumped inside.

"Oh my..." he whispered at the sight of a pool of blood, a sight he didn't see for a while and never wish to see ever again. Though the room was empty, the body of the woman vanished.

"She's dead." Jill stated."I'm sure."

The thick silence was interrupted by a creepy voice echoed. "Come play with me."

The two agents rotated to the window, they were met by a horrible sight of an ooze shaped woman. The wetsuit she wore was shredded as it was clear she expanded in size. Several veins pulsated over her grey skin and patches of moist blood seeping out. The blood didn't look like ti broke through the skin but rather seep out. Her right arm split half then scratched at the glass. "What the hell!?" Jill said. "How did she turn so quickly?"

A loud laugh echoed from her and she stumbled and ran away toward the stairs. "Hide and seek isn't my favorite game, but here, I'll do it." Leon said and ran after the dead woman. "Come on Jill." he called.

"Yes I'm right behind you, we must catch her."

The woman jumped out of an air ducts again, "Found you." she said clearly, her mouth gurgled a white liquid half of it was stuck on Leon's abdomen.

"I never liked searching hard for women." Disgusted, Leon drew his weapon and fired multiple times at her, but the woman seemed to be tough to break.

The bullets doesn't affect her strongly like the others, the woman raised her thick arm toward him, Leon was able to dodge a first strike, but he wasn't very lucky with the other arm and it hit his shoulder forcefully where he almost fell off the stairs. Jill's machine gun picked up the pace and the creature was halted from jumping on Leon to down the stairs.

"It hurts, iiittt huuurrrttts." She screamed and jumped on the air ducts.

Jill came up the stairs, toward him. "Wow, she must have the hots for you, huh?" she said in a calm tone.

"Very funny."

"I know." Jill reloaded his gun. "We must look for her. Not sure where the hell she'll jump down to."

"Maybe in the bathroom, let's go."

Back in the hall, they took a deep breath, after hearing the crazy woman's laugh, and Leon reached for his Magnum.

He no longer cared, he'll blow her brain out, the real woman died hours ago. Jill knew all too well of Leon's plan, they had no choice but to put her down mercifully as quickly as possible.

They went through the room with the bunk beds, once they were consumed by darkness, another crazy laugh echoed. "ttTaaAsStttyY."

Jill nodded and took out her last grenade, mentally prepared herself for the blow. Lightly they went through the room and gun first went through the bathroom door.

The flashlight immediately shined upon the ooze woman. "Found you." and she started trembling fast toward them.

"NOW!" Leon shouted.

The cylinder shape rolled on the bathroom floor as the two agents walked away. Once the creature came in content, the grenade exploded. Once the smoke cleared, Leon came in first with his magnum, Jill next to him ready with her MP5k.

The woman's body laid still, they couldn't tell if she's dead. A gurgling sound came from the creature. Leon didn't wait and he fired a bullet through her head, twice.

Though the creature-woman still tried to stand up, Jill continued and fired a number of bullets. A loud cry came from the woman and she fall on the ground sobbing for a moment, her leach organ was pulled inside and she moved no more. Jill took out the Genesis and started a reading over her body. "It was really Rachel." She said as the screen showed the key clearly. Leon looked at the side of the creature and saw the shiny small key.

"Not the end I hope for." He whispered and snatched the key from the thick Liquid.

They hurried out of the bathroom and down the hall, moving quickly. They hadn't gotten far in their run, more creatures came in their way and they had to shoot their way through them, until the elevator.

"Raymond should know about what happened to his partner." Leon said once the door closed.

"Yeah, once we run into him again, he'll know."

The door opened and they sprinted out through the corridor and out through the double door. "It's time to start with the power." Leon said and waked over the railing and inside the lift. Jill put the key in the place activating it, and Leon pulled the stick down. The lift began taking them down. Jill pulled back the chamber to her pistol.

"Into the depth of hell."