Chapter 2

Leon and Ashley exited the diner.

By now it had become dark out; the pale moon cast an unsettling white glow against the imposing buildings that were all about the city.

Leon shivered.

Throw in some fire, a few dead bodies, blood, and some infected monsters out to eat you and you have good old Raccoon City all over again...

"Leon what's wrong?" Ashley asked, probably having felt that small tremor since she was standing so close behind him; not too unlike she had been before just a few months ago...

This sudden outbreak of nostalgia made Leon's stomach crawl.

"Nothing," he then smiled, "Jeez, relax Ashley, already trying to make my shadow jealous?"

She slapped his shoulder and eased off him slightly, "Shut up and let's go!"

"Yes ma'am." he chuckled.

They both crossed the street, neither one looking back at the diner.

There was no need to. If those guys back there had really been following Ashley, then they had no choice but to let their intentions be known sooner or later.

So for now, Leon decided it was just best to head to the motel.

It only took them two blocks to be able to see the place; a gaudy blue and gold brick structure with an equally stomach flipping neon sign that flashed "Comfort Zone".

Like the diner, it wouldn't be the fanciest of places, but their intentions for it didn't exactly necessitate for a grand suite.

"Leon," Ashley suddenly whispered, "We're being followed..."

Leon slightly turned his head, peering out of the corner of his eye.

Ashley's time in peril had definitively made her sharp. Indeed they were being followed. And what a surprise, it was their buddies from the diner.

They were talking quietly amongst themselves, trying, and failing miserably, at making sure it wasn't obvious they were following them.

Sorry boys, but the jig's up, Leon thought.

They were a good distance away still, and Leon began reaching for the Blacktail.

He'd catch them by surprise, there was no way they could reach for their own weapons before he'd quickly manage to take out all three of them, and neither he nor Ashley would be standing here right now if he wasn't a good shot.

He gripped the handle of his firearm, and eased back the safety...

Alright, let's make this quick...

He'd almost turned and unloaded before suddenly a thought occurred to him...

If he were to fire right now...

Damn.

He looked around. It was late, but still quite a few people were out and about on the streets.

Shit. He'd almost gotten use to how things usually worked.

Normally, if he saw a threat, there was no need to hesitate; all he had to do was shoot it.

There would be no questions asked, or more importantly, no sudden mass panic when three seemingly innocent guys had there heads blown open by an apparently overly paranoid boyfriend. No risk of being imprisoned with no hope of seeing the light of day for quite some time. His status in the government wouldn't even become a factor just simply because of his current activities with the Head of State's pride and joy.

Double damn.

Not once did he ever think he'd lament no longer being able to have an itchy trigger finger; especially when it had saved his life so many times before.

If he was gonna do something, it would have to be somewhere where they could get these goons all alone... but where?

They were almost at the motel.

Their tailers were starting to walk faster now, slowly closing the distance between them. Leon felt a slight bit of sweat make its presence know on his forehead.

Damn it! Please let one of your heads burst open or something! Come on, give me a reason!

No chance. These were entirely human adversaries.

The worst kind.

Suddenly there came a relief. Up ahead he saw that the sidewalk they were on now dipped off into a spacious, blind alley between two large apartment buildings.

Perfect.

"Ashley come on, were going in the alley." he said.

She stared at him incredulously, "What!? Those guys-"

"Can't just be gunned down in the middle of the sidewalk." he countered before she could finish.

He could see her consider this, but she was clearly still apprehensive about this situation. Leon still smiled, "Don't worry. I've gotten you through worse right?"

Ashley sighed, but nodded. "Right..." she agreed.

They turned into the alleyway, and walked all the way down to the end of it.

"Now what?" Ashley asked, looking back towards the corner for their stalkers.

Leon pulled out the Blacktail. "Now, things might get a little loud, I suggest you hide."

"What!? Where!?" Ashley burst.

"You know where." he said simply, and looked at something behind her that they had passed as they'd walked down the alley.

Ashley slowly turned, and her eyes widened when she saw exactly what he was looking at.

He was sure she got his message now.

"Oh no...not again..." she mumbled, and turned to give Leon a serious look. "This is the last time got it!?"

Leon almost laughed. "Duly noted, now get in."

*

The three stalkers walked around the corner to the alleyway.

Unhurriedly, they reached for the silenced weapons under their shirts.

This would be too easy. Taking out that nuisance Leon Kennedy and the President's daughter.

Not bad at all for their first assignment.

The ensuing chaos of the First Daughter's death would make it all the more easy for Umbrella's inevitable reemergence. An added bonus to the fact was that this would be yet another loose end Umbrella would have effectively tied up...

The man that stood in the middle of the trio smiled confidently at this notion...only for his look to turn into sudden shock when the crimson beam of a Blacktail's laser sight suddenly settled on his forehead.

Shit...

This was not a part of the plan.

"Hiya fellas." Leon greeted, and pulled the trigger.

**

Ashley jumped when the first shot rang out, and she was momentarily able to forget about the current repulsive situation she found herself in.

If anyone had told her that being under the constant protection of government agents meant she would frequently have to hide in dumpsters, then she and her father would've had a long talk about if he should have served his current term.

The stench was humid and unbearably foul, causing her eyes to water.

Just how the heck did she always manage to get into these God-awful predicaments!?

She was the President's daughter for crying out loud!

Something moved within the disgusting contents of whatever the hell was within the confines of this trash she was surrounded by, and Ashley thanked God she couldn't see exactly what was within this stinking putrid waste.

Another shot.

A man screamed.

A body hit the ground.

She was scared then, the memories of her kidnapping and the horrible events afterwards sending a chill up her spine.

Quite suddenly she heard Leon cry out and her heart did back flips.

This always was the worst part, she could never know how badly he was hurt, if at all, or if he even was still alive. It's hard to imagine how terrifying it is to know that your life was completely in someone else's hands. To know that if they died, you mostly likely would follow.

There were the sounds of struggle and then she heard, "Goddamn you! Where's the girl!?"

So they were after her...

"Sorry," this was Leon, sounding just fine, and using that smug tone she knew so well, "but Miss Graham is on a date this evening, perhaps you could try this half-assed little scheme some other time!"

"I'll kill you!!" the other man shouted.

There was more struggling, then the sound of harsh blows landing.

Ashley shrieked when suddenly something slammed mightily into the dumpster she was in, the force so powerful it actually rocked it, causing a chorus of squeals to erupt from all around her. Stomach contorting, Ashley put a hand over her mouth, trying again for the second time tonight not to loose her greasy meal.

Then, it was quiet...

She hated this part to.

Who had won? Was Leon still alive? And if he wasn't, was she next?

There was an abrupt knock on the dumpster, tearing out of her fearful thoughts and she thought for a second her heart would simply stop from all her anxiety.

"It's alright," came a certain someone's voice, "You can come out now Ashley. Unless of course you've actually gotten used to being inside these."

Feeling absolutely disgusted, yet incredibly relieved at the same time, Ashley almost gave herself a concussion she rammed open the lid to the dumpster so hard.

"Damn it Leon!" she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly; completely unaware that her short time in filth had been rather unkind to her clothing, and even worse to her scent.

"Whew, I don't think that's how high prestige should smell." he lightly quipped.

Ignoring him because it had been his suggestion to get in here in the first place, she looked over his shoulder as she hugged him, and saw two bodies.

One man lay face up on the ground, a smoking hole blown perfectly into the center of his forehead. Another man lay in a puddle of his own blood, a gaping hole in his throat.

Ashley shivered, but at least their heads hadn't been completely creamed like she's seen so many times before.

But where was the--

A pained groan rose from the ground at Leon's feet.

Ashley looked down and gasped.

Now she knew what had slammed into the dumpster.

The third man that had been following them lay crumpled and broken, his face an absolute mess; but incredibly, he was still alive, as haggard gasps for air every once in a while left his toothless mouth.

"Jeez, Leon..."

"If you think this is bad you should've seen him before the fight."

Ashley shook her head. "Real smooth Leon...

He helped her out of the garbage, making sure she didn't touch the incapacitated would be assassin.

"Thanks." she said.

"Not a problem as always." Leon replied.

Ashley again stared at the surrounding carnage. "Who were these guys?"

"No idea, I have a few guesses but its nothing to concern ourselves about yet."

Ashley was surprised by Leon's calm. Having to worry about being stalked every time she was out wasn't exactly something she was ready to be unconcerned with.

"Uhm Leon, are you saying this isn't a problem?"

Leon chuckled. "Oh its problem, we just don't have anything real to worry about yet."

Before he could go into more detail the distant wail of sirens caught both their attentions.

"Well...I'm ready to head to motel now, how about you?"

Ashley nodded vigorously. "Yeah, that sounds good."