RE8IDENT EVIL: RISING

Chapter 02:

Descent

Once the gate was sealed, they were shrouded in complete darkness. All that remained was a cold silence; Leon activated the flashlight connected to his handgun lighting up the darkness around them. The second he did, what he had seen was far worse. Blood was smeared along the walls; corpses were scattered on the floor some piled together like a feeding ground. Claire checked a corpse recognizing the damage; the soldier was torn to shreds his limbs scattered. The bite marks, it was the Cerberus they had faced earlier; they came from here. They were surrounded on both sides by heavily armored steel walls. Leon and Claire proceeded stepping over the corpses as they walked. It was so quiet; they could hear their breathing even their footsteps. They jumped as loud noise echoed throughout the hallway, Claire pulled out her handgun prepared to face what lied ahead.

"Stay behind me," Leon readied his handgun to fire; Claire nodded letting him take the lead seeing as he possessed the light. The two of them walked cautiously down the halls as the gore on the walls seemed grow more gruesome. The hallway split into two, it reminded them of a maze. Leon noticed the blood formed the Umbrella insignia as a corpse rested next to it having made the drawing before his death pledging loyalty to Umbrella until the very end. "They never stood a chance." Leon actually felt bad for the guy even as enemy. His loyalty deserved respect. Claire closed his eyes for him seeing as he died with them open; she wasn't going to admit it but Claire was afraid.

"I have a bad," Claire's words were broken as coughing was heard. "Leon this way," She pursued the noise hoping to find the person lucky enough to survive this massacre. Leon followed her as he chased after her. He observed the corpses; one of them had their stomach ripped out. There were claw marks on their bodies. This creature; he knew it but was scared to admit for if it were here then no doubt it too was special. He rushed to Claire's side refusing to leave her alone in case his fears were correct.

"Hang in there," She kneeled down as the solider clung to his life; Claire had brought over to the wall to rest. He was in bad shape; no matter where you looked on his body there were deep gashes. He was bleeding badly and soon if not treated; he'd die. He was their enemy but even so they wanted him to live. Just being here was enough. "I'm going to-," Claire went to reach for one herb mix she made. This was to stop the bleeding. He refused her pushing her away but having no effect; he was so weak.

"No, you have to get out of here," He warned as blood seeped from his lips. "It's not safe here," He started coughing clinching his stomach. Claire ignored him still trying to save him before it was too late. "Get out of here now," He pointed his handgun at her head.

"Let me-," Claire tired to reason with him but Leon placed his hand on her shoulder. He shook his head knowing even if the herb mix he was going to die. "The truth is even if we wanted to escape. We couldn't the exit has been sealed shut." She explained. "We are looking for a girl by the name of Natalia or maybe you know her as Alex Wesker. Have you seen her?" The man started laughing at her like it was some funny joke.

"You are both fools," He replied. "Alex has no desire to be found. Don't you get it?" He laughed. "This is all a game to her and we're her mice." He coughed up blood. "We may have come down here to find her but the truth is we only want to get the hell out of here. That gate that let you in here was our only chance or my only chance." He smirked. "I'm all that's left of us, only me," He clinched his stomach forcing himself to stand. "She was right; death is the only way out." He leaned towards the wall using it to help him stand. Claire went to stop him but before she could reach him. He was grabbed by something and neither of them could see it but it ripped him apart right before their eyes. In mere seconds the man was dead.

"What was that?" Claire got behind Leon. He readied his handgun pursuing whatever had claimed the life of that soldier. No matter where he looked he saw nothing even as the creature took the man and tore him apart. He saw nothing it was almost like it was cloaked; invisible even. If that were the case how was he was supposed to shoot what he couldn't see?

Claire had her handgun ready just in case but in truth she had desire to face this creature. Leon walked beyond the corpse of the man who had just spoken to them. Claire kneeled down her hand shaking as she checked his pockets. She noticed a lock pick, she carefully took it; the second she did. She felt a long tongue wrap around her neck choking her, in quick motion the creature slammed Claire's head into the steel wall. Leon started shooting at it but it disappeared eluding the bullets that were fired. She grabbed her head as ringing pulsed there from being slammed into an armored wall.

"Are you okay?" Leon checked her for any sign of infection.

"I'm fine," Claire shook her head to quiet the ringing. She gasped as the tongue of the creature reached out for Leon. "Look out," She prepared to shoot it only have her handgun snatched by its wicked tongue. She watched as her handgun was tossed on the floor out of her reach. The creature jumped at her with its claws ready to end her. Leon swiftly kicked it before it could touch her; it shook off the kick clinging to the wall. Leon started to shoot it; the creature launched its tongue out grabbing his handgun devouring it and their only source of light.

"What do we do?" Claire whispered as they were now trapped in the middle of hallway in total darkness. This creature lived for stealth and now they had no way to detect it. Leon tried to focus hoping to at least hear the creature but it was so quiet. Sooner or later it was going to strike but who was it going to kill him or her? There was no way to know unless he forced its hand. He had an idea,

"Claire," Leon whispered. "Listen carefully," She nodded. "I want you to get your handgun back." She was confused by this order if she went for it. The creature was going to kill her; it wanted her to do that. It was a trap; she knew that. "Trust me on this,"

"Alright," Claire forced out a deep breath to calm her nerves. She had no way to see her handgun so she had use touch to find it. She crawled on the floor trying not to think about the corpses she may or not be climbing over. She reached out slowly to where she remembered seeing it last. Her hand was shaking knowing the second she touched it; she could die. Claire grabbed her handgun suddenly just she thought the creature jumped at her. Leon shot it directly in the stomach with his shotgun hitting pointblank. The shot splattered the creature's blood on the walls and floor. Leon's handgun rested there; it wasn't fully digested yet. He picked it up, cleaning it off, and resumed using the light on it to guide them.

Claire stood up as both their eyes stared at the corpse of the no longer cloaked creature. They had seen it before in Raccoon City. It was a Licker except this time it was modified to include invisibility as one its traits. The lights started to kick on one by one; they followed these lights as they were leading them somewhere. Finally, they arrived in a circular room with a huge metal door.

A hologram emerged in the center of this room; the second they arrived. It was of Natalia or otherwise known as Alex. "I hope you have enjoyed the presents I have left for you. For this is only the first of many," She smiled as if she were a child a toy store and they were the new toy to play with. "It's been awhile Claire," Her eyes stared directly at her as if her presence were nothing but a challenge. "You are very brave for coming here to face me yet again; though this time. You won't survive so easily; I underestimated you once, it won't happen again. Now that you are here and were even gracious enough to bring a friend." She motioned towards Leon. "I hope you fare better than my other playmates. I could use a challenge. I wouldn't get too comfortable after all," Her eyes flared red followed by evil smile. "You're both going to die down here." She threatened as hologram disappeared. The electronic lock sealing the door behind the hologram unlocked.

"This is," Claire walked over to the monitors that displayed a map of facility. Leon followed her checking the monitor. "Here," She touched the map displaying a red area at the very bottom of the lab. "That's where Alex is hiding. It's the only area marked on the map; it as if she daring us to find her." Leon smirked.

"We could use a challenge," Leon tried to store the map on his cell but it had no signal and no connection. The facility had them blocked; if he wanted his phone back he had to find some way to override it. Claire checked her phone as well faced with the same problem. They were on their own; they took a picture of the map saving it.

The two of them entered the room that was opened up to them by Alex. The room was shrouded in complete darkness. They heard moaning and footsteps approaching slowly. The lights kicked on revealing that they were face to face with a horde of undead. "One death trap after another," Leon readied his handgun. "We must be in an Umbrella facility."

"This sure brings back memories," Claire readied her handgun. This was just like Raccoon City just the two of them surrounded by undead. She was eager to show Leon just how much stronger she is compared to back then. First, they needed an escape route. They could kill all of them but they needed to conserve their ammo. Her eyes searched the area but there so many undead she couldn't make it out. The numbers needed to shrink first. She shot one of the undead in leg making him trip causing those around him to fall as well. As they fell, she shot them in the head.

Leon followed her lead taking out his second handgun shooting down the undead as they approached. Claire plunged into the crowd of undead kicking a group of them into those behind them. One tried to bite her from behind she lifted her leg kicking it in the head throwing it on the ground. Leon slid underneath her legs shooting a couple down in the process. He reloaded striking another with a deadly kick. "Get down," Claire ducked; Leon shot an undead in the head. "Just like old times."

"Move," He moved aside as a knife was thrown directly at the head of the undead. Leon grabbed the knife handing it back to her. "Exactly like old times." Claire winked at him; Leon nodded. Two executioners appeared joining in on their fight. One tried to cut them in half; they moved out of the way. They kicked him in the head with two deadly round house kicks making him fall to the floor. While he was down they both shot him in the head.

A Licker jumped at Leon being cloaked by invisibility; he caught it at the last second keeping from touching him being pinned to the ground. Claire went to help but was stopped when an infected tried to bite her. She grabbed it throwing it over her shoulder then jamming her knife in its head. She turned to shoot the one behind her only have her handgun snatched by another Licker. The undead went to grab her and pin her to the wall.

"Claire," Leon tossed his second Handgun to her. She caught it as she kicked the undead trying to grab her. In same motion she shot down three infected; the Licker jumped at her. She switched to her grenade launcher loaded with acid rounds shooting it before it reached her. Leon pulled at his knife jamming it into the Licker's head killing it in the process. He kicked it off him getting back on his feet. Claire picked her handgun handing Leon back his. An undead tried to grab her from side; Claire tripped it as it was falling Leon wrapped his arms around its stomach slamming its body into the ground; head first. As Leon tried to get on his feet; Claire noticed his back facing her. She sprinting at his back jumping off of his shoulder and tackled another infected stabbing him in the skull with her knife.

Claire took notice of a gap in the wall; their way out. "This way," She pulled out her handgun clearing a path for Leon. He nodded running towards her. The second executioner started walking toward them. "Go, I'll cover you." The executioner swung at her; she evaded it retaliating with a couple shots to the head. "Leon, I said go." He nodded figuring she could handle it. Leon pulled out both handguns clearing the gap of the undead blocking it. He squeezed into it seeing as it was tight fit.

The executioner swung Claire again; she moved back being caught by surprise when he threw his giant axe with spikes at her. She ducked it as it jammed into the wall. He charged at her with shoulder tackle afterward. She gasped moving out the way. He slammed his shoulder into the wall appearing by his weapon. While he was trying to retrieve she ran towards the gap. She squeezed through shimmying over to the other side with Leon only a couple inches ahead of her. The undead gathered reaching for them but they were out of reach. Lickers appeared entering the gap; taking notice of this. They moved faster. Leon forced his body through to the other side.

"Claire, come on," Leon called out; a licker's tongue emerged grabbing hold of her arm. It tried to pull her closer to it. Claire's eyes shot open as the Executioner stood in front of the gap with his axe. "Shit," Leon grabbed her by her jacket pulling her over to him. He pulled her through as the axe came down nearly splitting her in half. Claire had just barely escaped that attack. The licker that grabbed her resided there cut in half by his attack. She started shaking as that could have easily been her. The axe began react to the vibration of the slam of the axe. This reaction confused her; Leon caught notice of the spikes that were shaking with the weapon about to fire out at them. He covered her as the spike shot out in every direction. Leon endured the attack as these spikes pierced his jacket wounding him.

"Leon," Claire eyes filled with worry as she watched him bleed out from the attack. Lickers gathered pursuing them. They couldn't stay here any longer. "We have to go," She draped him on her shoulder entering the elevator pushing the down button before they caught p to them. "You're hurt," She pulled out a first aid kit she had taken with her. She removed his jacket throwing it on the floor so she could treat him.

"I'm fine," He assured her. "It was just a scratch." Leon ripped the spikes from his back tossing them on the floor. "I've handled worse." Claire refused to accept this answer. She lifted his shirt to view holes on his back created by the spikes. It looked really bad and deep those spikes were intended to puncture and even pierce through to the other side of the flesh. If not for the protective vest; it would have. "You have nothing to," Leon winced as she poured alcohol on his wounds.

"Better to be safe," Claire cleaned the wounds for him; she grabbed stitches from the kit to seal the holes in his back. Leon ignored the pain remaining still letting her take care of him It wasn't like he had a choice in the matter. "There," She clothed his wounds with bandages. "You should be fine now," She lowered his shirt and handed him back his protective vest.

"Thanks," Leon put on his vest and rose to his feet. "It feels better now," He admitted; She smiled at him putting away her kit.

The elevator stopped at the next floor. They braced themselves for the death trap that lied ahead. The doors opened as heat seeped into the elevator. It was hot like sauna; no it was worse than that. It was like being trapped in a pit of fire. They stepped out of the elevator observing the area that surrounded them. The entire room was dome shaped; there was a huge hole in the center of the room. They walked over to the railing looking at the area below. It was hard see but hot gas was pouring out of the pipes below; flammable hot gas.

The other side of the room had an elevator; Leon tried to operate it but it was out of power. It needed to be charged but how? He thought for a minute as Claire checked around. "Down there," He looked where her handgun was pointing. On the floors below there was four levers scattered on each floor. The gas created obstacles making them hard to reach; if that gas touched them it would burn them. If they shot that gas it would explode and kill whoever was down there. It was a risky task, "Leon," Claire walked over to the valves on their current floor. "I think this operates the gas." She observed. "One of us can go down to the lower floors while the other uses these to clear the way." Claire pointed at the gas mask that would allow one of them to travel down into the gas filled floors below. This was a set up; Alex was testing them. They had no choice but to play her game.

Leon tried to think of another way but nothing came to mind. He just knew the second someone went down there; it was going to be crawling with infected. The person wouldn't be able to fight them without getting blown to bits or burned alive. Also the gas wasn't breathable so it would be difficult to help them. Dangerous but, it had to be done. Claire or him; who would brave the gas and who would deal with the valves, tough call.

"I'll take care of the levers," Claire offered; Leon went to refuse that was the most dangerous of the tasks. "It makes more sense, you have more firepower than I do besides," She smiled. "I've handled worse." Leon nodded as she broke the glass to get the gas mask.

"Be careful," Leon advised; she nodded putting on the gas mask. He watched as Claire climbed down the ladder to floor below.

He walked over to the valves to operate them reading the instructions. The gas was operated like a maze. This wasn't going to be easy; you shut one gas tank off another one started in its place in a different location. It could range from one to six added sprays of gas. He was glad there were only four valves but they were several combinations that could be made. Each affected the flow differently.

"Figures," He groaned not sure where to start; if he wasn't careful Claire could get hurt. "It's a good thing I like a challenge." Leon noticed her way was blocked; just as he was about to clear the way for her. The room began to fill with enemies. One in particular that Claire told him about was the one of concern. The creature carried a pot that shot flame; if he directed that anywhere near Claire. It would create a massive explosion that would kill her. The infected targeted his flames at Claire it was as if he knew he could kill her.

"Challenge accepted." Leon switched to his machine gun shooting at it trying to get his attention. The other infected ran at his bullets acting as shields for his target. "Damn it," He reloaded trying to shoot passed them.

"Leon," Claire backed up as the Executioner appeared in front of her. "I think we have a problem." He swung at her; she evaded as his axe cut the pipes creating more gas. The gas met with her skin burning her arm. She couldn't dodge him without him damaging the pipes in the process. This was going to be hard. She kicked him trying to push him into the gas. It was either that or knife fight him. This attack angered him; he swung at the pipes intentionally burning her again. Claire noticed that this attack left her a weapon; a sharp steel pipe dropped at her feet. She quickly picked up as he tried to split her in half. She moved and jumped at him. The gas burned her in the process; she ignored the burns stabbing him multiple times with the steel pipe until finally he stopped moving. Claire painted heavily noticing a fire ball coming toward the gas.

"You have to be joking," Claire removed her jacket dropping it on the floor. She sprinted as fast as she could to get away from it. She rushed passed the gas as it burned her lightly due to her haste it wasn't able to inflict dire injury. The area behind her started exploding out of control as flames chased her. The floor began buckling as the steel began to break under her.

Claire quickly flipped the first lever running faster. She ran towards the ladder to the lower level; the ground beneath her buckled and quickly slanted taking her with it. Claire collapsed to the floor below getting back on her feet as the floor above dropped on her. She jumped out the way running towards the next lever. Claire was shot back when the flames cut her off; she quickly got back up and sprinted taking another route. She pulled the lever; two. She jumped onto the ladder sliding down it. The floor above started to break; it would crush her at this rate. Lickers appeared beside her on the walls. She avoided them making her way toward the next lever. The area above started to fall; she plunged herself at the lever flipping it; three, one more. She noticed a chain hanging above the lever she pulled. Claire pulled the chain down tying it around her waist. She jumped off the railing hooking the chain to it; seconds before the area above crushed her. She swung her body over to the final lever pulling it.

"Done," She started panting heavily as the floor above began to fall as well. The place was falling apart; Claire looked below her; there was nowhere else for her to go. "Leon," She screamed stuck in place.

"Claire," Leon shot down the flame shooter finally getting close enough to blast it with a couple of shells. He checked the floors below there was fire everywhere; he couldn't see a thing. He was certain the flames had killed her. "Hang on," He screamed; Leon shot an infected in the head then quickly pulled out a rope that was hooked to his pants. Leon latched it onto railing and held his breath. He jumped off into the flames to get her. The ground beneath her broke and just before she fell into the gas pit he tackled her saving her from a sudden death. His tackle was more forceful than he had planned. He knocked the wind right out of her. She needed air; he removed the mask tossing sharing his with her.

Claire's eyes shot open seeing Lickers jumping out of the gas to get them. She reached into Leon's pocket retrieving a lighter. She lit it after three tries and tossed it at the gas. She watched as the flames doused the lickers and Leon took her somewhere less hazardous.

"So valves," Leon joked reminding her that they skipped that part altogether. Claire laughed climbing the rope to return to the previous floor. He followed her. Claire reached her hand out to him pulling him up. The infected charged at them; they shot them down entering the elevator before more arrived.

The lights on the elevator shut off as the explosion occurring from the previous floor. They were affecting the elevator. It shut off and started to shake with them trapped inside. It was going to collapse; Claire and Leon quickly tried to look for a way out. The elevator shook again; hastily they forced the metal doors open using every bit of strength they had to make a gap big enough for them. The chord holding the elevator snapped causing them to drop. Claire saw the entrance to the floor and grabbed Leon jumping to it. The elevator dropped loudly to the nothingness below.

"That was close," Claire rested against the wall; taking a breather. Leon nodded his eyes staring at where the elevator fell. He used the light on his handgun to check how far it had fallen. They still had a long way to go before they faced Alex.

"Let's go," Leon turned the light off.

The moment they set foot on this floor; a metal box opened next to them. "Please deposit any metallic items you have in the security box." The machine prompted. Claire's eyes motioned over to the area beyond the machine. Leon went to ignore it but she stopped him pointing at the cages that held crows in them. Corpses were scattered having been pecked to death for ignoring the prompt. Leon followed the instructions placing his items in the one of the right. Claire dropped hers off in on the one on the left. They proceed beyond being scanned by the cameras.

These cameras seemed to monitor their inventory. That way even if something metal were retrieved the crows could still be set free. A clever trick, most people wouldn't notice it. Leon observed as to tempt them a rocket launcher was placed on the table. This was a like resting room; a floor in between floors. It was safe here aside from the crows. If Moira were anywhere, she'd be here.

"Split up," Leon ordered. They checked every room on this floor. There items to tempt them everywhere. Several people had fallen for it. However Moira was nowhere to be found.

Claire walked into a room taking notice of special types of clothing. Each one brought back memories. These clothes she had worn them in the past. She smiled going over to male side seeing Leon's old police uniform; this brought back memories. "Leon," She called him over. "It's blue." He shook his head at her. She could tell he was annoyed by this. She browsed his clothes stumbling across a strange outfit with a hat. "What is this?" It reminded her of a hit man.

Leon walked over to her side. "What do we have here?" He flashed a cow girl outfit to her. Claire hid her face leaving the room. "I thought so." He followed her as she took a seat opening the first aid kit using ointment on her burns. "You really had me worried back there." He confessed.

"I'm fine now," Claire assured. "Just a few burns nothing major," Her eyes took notice of a steel door. Curious, she walked up to the door trying to open it. "Locked," Claire observed the inside from steel bars guarding the view. The room was filled with computers and camera footage. She checked the lock; it could be opened with the lock pick which was metal. But first, "Leon, help me out," He nodded; they kicked the door in unison but it was too strong. The door wouldn't budge. "Damn." Claire looked back at the security box.

"I hope you aren't suggesting," Leon pointed at the crows. They outnumbered by them; it would be hard to avoid that many birds attacking them. It was once again, a risky task. He checked inside the room; those computers. They could use them to deactivate whatever was blocking their signal. He could use his phone again. He needed to report to Hannigan.

"We have to get inside that room," Claire informed. "Have any better ideas?" She waited hoping he did but he came up with nothing. She quickly retrieved her lock pick from the security box. The second she walked beyond the box; the alarm sounded. She ran over to the door as the crows were released from their cages.

Before they could peck them to death; she unlocked the door pulling Leon inside. The crows rammed the door trying to get it open hitting that door like a machine gun of filled with birds. "Made it," Claire checked the cameras for Moira. Unfortunately they were damaged and were hardly of any use. This was the work of Alex probably so people couldn't use these cameras to predict the next floor.

Leon checked another computer using it to gather intelligence. He stumbled across a file that had detailed information about their enemies. "Claire," He called her over; she got beside him reading the file with him. This file listed all the viruses held in the facility. There were detailed descriptions of every creature and their behaviors. The viruses ranged from the T virus to C virus. All of them were here but there was one more virus. A new virus developed by Alex Wesker; the Hybrid Virus or H Virus. This virus was the combination of two viruses implanted into one subject.

The identified subjects were the Cerberus. Their ability was to divide into three whenever damaged by a non fatal attack. They traveled as packs and head shots proved effective.

The Lickers they could turn invisible at will. They were blind but used sound to hunt. Head shots were also the best way to kill them.

Alex even had experimented on creatures called Hunters. They could emit a loud scream that greatly hindered their attackers with sound that could greatly affect hearing. This sound also gathered more creatures like it. When killed; it naturally produced this sound as a way to strike back at their killers.

"Is that," Claire scrolled down discovering one more subject. They both recognized it and it made them nostalgic and scared. This monster resembled that of Mr. X though this one was more advanced than he was. He was dressed in protective armor; he looked more human than most. The notes on this monster said it could mutate at will and alter his body accordingly. He had a high tolerance to damage and naturally resisted ammunition. Bulletproof. "What could she possibly need this thing for?" She wondered.

"My guess," Leon glanced over at her. "She doesn't like visitors." He read more on this subject seeing as they might find themselves facing it. "I don't recall Mr. X being able to wield firearms." Claire followed his finger as she showed where it mentioned the types of guns it could use. This monster was like a super solider.

"She might have made a few more adjustments," Claire explained taking over the computer. She took notice of a sticky note with something written on it. She entered it as a password on the computer and suddenly their phones were operational. "There we go," Claire showed Leon her phone; he immediately checked his. "We have service."

Leon browsed his phone seeing he had several messages from Hannigan and Sherry. Sherry had called him several times trying to get a hold of him. "How did you know the password?" He asked deciding to deal his call backs later.

"It was written on this," Claire handed him the sticky note.

Leon recognized this writing but couldn't believe it. This was the work of one woman he knew all too well. Ada Wong; she was here. He had no idea why she was here. This had to be a coincidence there was no way. Ada was done with the Wesker family tree; she had no reason for being here. He was certain she intended to hide from that family. "Ada, what are you doing in a place like this?"

"You seem troubled." Claire wasn't sure what Leon was worried about. This note left for them; whoever left it knew Leon or he knew that person.

"It's nothing," Leon put the sticky note in his pocket. "I thought I recognized the handwriting. It's not who I thought it was," He saved the information on the computer to his phone. He sent the file to Hannigan as his report. Claire did the same for Terrasave.

"We should," Claire stopped before leaving taking notice of a locker. She unlocked it with her lock pick recognizing this situation. There was a fully upgraded assault rifle with grenade launcher attachment and next to it; a side pack that allowed more space. Leon took the Assault Rifle and Claire retrieved the side pack. She noticed a button on the computer reading three minute security override. Claire pressed it; the crows returned to their cages and they took those three minutes to gather supplies they couldn't gather before.

Leon picked up the rocket launcher, sniper rifle, ammo for his guns, and handgun upgrades. These upgrades transformed his handguns into Punishers.

Claire retrieved a Shotgun, ammo, recovery items, and Handgun parts. This upgraded her handgun to the M39R. Leon handed her his other assault rifle without the attachment on it.

The three minutes ended, they entered the elevator without sounding off the alarm. For once they left a floor unscathed. They just knew what lied ahead was going to be a lot worse. The elevator descended to the next floor as it did; Leon's phone began to ring. It was Sherry, "Hey," He entered face time with her.

"Finally," Sherry let out a sigh of relief. "I have been trying to get hold of you for days." She spoke. "Is Claire with you?" She asked.

"I'm here," Claire leaned in showing her face to her. "Is something wrong? Let me guess you want to talk about Jake." Sherry hid her redness.

"I already told you Claire, it's not like that." Sherry replied getting defensive. "I was told to keep an eye on him. His blood is the cure for the C virus. He is a valuable asset to all of us; he has to be protected. I may have volunteered to watch him but that doesn't mean I like him. Jake is my friend; I couldn't let some other woman watch over him." She explained. "You should have seen her; she was going to use her body to keep him entertained. Whatever that means, I had to do it Claire."

I don't see why you had to," Claire replied; Sherry blushed. "He's a young male; the plan would have worked." Leon nodded; he saw the girl she was an ex stripper going undercover to watch Jake. It was a genius plan. Hannigan set it up; Sherry ruined it.

"Sherry," Leon spoke sternly. "Do we need to have the talk?" He teased. Claire started laughing as Sherry's face turned dark red. They gave each other a high five.

"Quit it," Sherry countered. "It's not funny. I thought you guys were the adults."

"We're only teasing," Claire assured her. "What's going on?" They gave her their full attention figuring this had something to do with their mission.

"It's about Alex," Sherry left the room she was in. "We have been conducting research on her; you are aware of this," They nodded. "Jake's blood is the cure for the C virus. What if I told you there is a possibility that Alex or Natalia's blood could cure the T and G viruses? Based on our discovery it's possible that by combining Jake's blood with hers; we could create a cure."

"A cure," Claire wasn't sure what she was implying here. "What do you mean?"

"I'm saying that those two are necessary pieces in stopping the viral threat for good. We are at least thirty eight percent sure that with their blood and more research. We could put an end to all of this. No more viral experimentation and more importantly no Umbrella," Sherry explained. "You have to bring Alex back alive it's our only chance. I wasn't supposed to tell you any of this but considering what did for me back in Raccoon City. You deserve to know. This has to remain a secret so don't tell anyone else I could get fired. Be careful," Sherry hung up on them.

"There's a cure," Claire could not believe this to be true. Their lives have always been consumed by viruses. To think that it could end, based on the actions they take here and now. How could that even be possible? A thirty eight percent chance that this would be over; it was better than nothing. "Leon, you realize what this means don't you?" Unlike her, Leon didn't seem too pleased with the discovery.

"It means right now," Leon put his phone away. "Alex is Umbrella's greatest asset. Her blood may lead to a cure but using her blood. They could create more viruses, more threats; using her like that could bring a rise to Umbrella. Likewise, she could also bring a permanent end to it all based on who has her. That means,"

"We aren't leaving this island with Alex." Claire finished. If this were the case; Umbrella would stop at nothing to make sure she didn't end up in enemy hands. They would destroy her and the entire island before they let that happen. This raised the stakes of their mission; they had to bring her back alive or die trying. Everything hinged on their actions; they wouldn't fail.