Hello my freaky darlings. Well, here is chapter 2, I enjoyed writing this chapter so I hope you enjoy reading it. For those of you who know me on DA and have seen the pictures that go with this story, I hope it fits with the theme. Curious, how many of you have played both Resident Evil and Tomb Raider? :D
The Tomb Raiders Resident
Evil Endures
Chapter 2:
Boeing Flight 727.
Destination: Europe.
Passengers: 200. Staff passengers: 21. Pilots: 4.
Survivor Count: Unknown.
Current location: Unknown.
Current date and time: Unknown.
Mission Details:
Target: Felucha Marriest. Terrorist.
Assigned Agent: Leon Kennedy.
Operation: Dark Friday.
- 2 weeks and four days: in.
Leon ran through the dark woods, breathing with the flight of his escape, the hands of trees snagging at his shirt, tearing the material and at skin. It seemed even the woods were against him from leaving, and Leon gasped when he stumbled on a log he didn't see, the nature of this place giving his pursuers a few extra feet of closing distance, catching up slowly but surely, booted feet sounding on the forest ground. Regaining his dignity, Leon took off again, picking up his pace with difficulty as he continued his run for survival. He didn't know this place, and his enemies did.
Because one thing he now knew, was that these people were out for his blood, and as far as Leon was concerned, they were now on opposite sides of the field.
He wasn't sure what time it was, for it was still dark, but he guessed it couldn't be too far off from the time of the crash, maybe a few hours, which means it will be dawn soon. Though as he ran, Leon knew that a sunrise probably wouldn't be seen anyway, not with storm clouds covering the moons rays, leaving him little light to navigate with through the rough terrain.
He couldn't see not but a few meters in front of him, and ducked immediately at the last second when a low hanging branch came into view, bringing a hand up to brush the leaves aside, his breath sounding in his ears. Though when a snap sounded under his boot, he knew that his shitty day just got a whole lot worse.
Leon fell with a startled shout, landing roughly on the leaf covered ground as his hands failed at putting a stop to the impact. The source of his trip was causing sharp bolts of pain to shoot up his leg, and Leon turned on his side, catching sight of a faint silver glint locked around his left ankle. A bear trap. Well, he hoped it was set for bears, and Leon didn't know whether or not to take that as a comfort or a warning. Rolling onto his back and sitting up, Leon took both hands and tried forcing the device open with pained rasps, though his fingers slipped and came away sticky, and of course this particular trap had teeth which were berried in his calf.
Twigs snapping in the distance sounded and Leon's head snapped up, catching the small dots of his pursuers red torches moving through the woods like fire flies, and he cursed, looking around quickly. He didn't have a choice, spotting the large trunk of a tree a few meters away, Leon knew that he couldn't pry open the device that was currently locked around his leg, not in time. Another snap of a twig, this time a little closer spurred Leon into moving, and he dragged himself along the forest floor, glade that the trap hadn't been nailed down in any form as he made his way closer to the large tree, stifling his grunts behind clenched teeth.
Leon moved behind it, pulling his leg and the hunk of metal with him, the tree's width being large enough to hide him completely and out of sight. The sound of men running in his direction grew closer, and Leon hoped that in their hast they'd miss the trail of blood he no doubt left on the floor.
Foot falls reached the location, shouting and cursing, the warm glow of the torches lit up the woods but leaving more shadows in its wake.
Leon stilled and forced his breathing to quiet shallow breaths, back pressed up against the tree he was taking shelter behind, hearing his pursuers run past the area, obviously thinking that he'd gone further up, others tracking a little slower behind the runners, and Leon cursed at that. They weren't as dumb as he was hoping they'd be. The glow of the fire was still there, and Leon stayed as still as possible, knowing they were mere meters away from his location, swallowing as he gripped his leg at the pain flaring, he could see the fire light flicker off the blood that coated the metal on his ankle. Damn it.
Gruff voices spoke in Russian, and Leon was glad that he took up the lessons on the language, even if it came with the job.
"He can't have gone far, not with that concussion, I hit him pretty hard."
"Father Mathias won't be happy when he hears of this, not when that girl is running around as well."
"No, he won't be. This guy can fight no doubt, pulled an ID off him. He's Government."
"Shit, really? What, like James Bond?"
"Shut the fuck up, if we don't get this guy, then we'll all be thrown in the pits. I'm not going to make the same mistake that Nicholi did."
"Hey... look there, what's that?"
"Looks like blood, and its recent."
Three voices argued amongst each other, and Leon tensed at the mention of blood, his questions on this 'Father Mathias' and 'that girl' fleeing his mind as footsteps sounded closer to the tree he was hiding behind, and Leon held his breath. He was injured, unarmed, and there were three men closing in on his position. The fire light was lighting up more of his hiding place inch by inch, the steps coming closer still and Leon heard metal sheening, a shadow descending closer.
Leon glared up when the torch shone down on him, the glow of the fire now illuming him for his pursuers to see.
"No one escapes." The man that knocked Leon out at the crash site stood over him, a machete drawn, its metal sheening in the torches light. "Stand up." The man barked in English, though the Russian accent was heavily evident as the other two flanked the survivor.
When Leon didn't move immediately, the one holding the machete reached down with violent aggression, pulling him up by his shirt and causing him to stumble, his balance wavering as he adjusted his feet, taking weight off his injured leg. The man holding him shoved him into the tree before throwing back a fist suddenly, and Leon doubled forward as it made contact with accuracy into his chest, a breathless grunt sounding at the pain, a moment later he fell forward when the man released him, collapsing onto the forest floor again and prone as Leon struggled with breathing.
"Look here, did you step in a bear trap?" One of them barked laughter, giving a kick to the survivors injured ankle, delighting in the moan that came from him. "Might as well call in the group. This one's not going anywhere any time soon." The man said, kneeling down and took out some rope to proceed and bind Leon's hands behind his back.
Through the pain, Leon felt the movement, and looked to his side from his position as he layed on his stomach, spotting a boot next to his face, with a very familiar and promising item strapped to the leather. He figured that the first man he killed after the crash would teach these guys a lesson, but it seemed that to his luck, they didn't learn as fast as he would think.
"I wonder what Father Mathias would want to do with this one?"
"I don't know, maybe try to recruit him."
That didn't sit to well with Leon, and just as the man over him reached for his arm, he acted. With lightning speed, he reached out at took the dagger from the mans boot, the steel coming to life with a sheen, and not even hesitating, be buried the blade into the mans foot, who in turn yelled at the pain whilst stumbling back. Leon withdrew the knife, rolling as the second moved in and he kicked out with his good leg, tripping the man, seeing an opportunity Leon didn't waste it, raising the knife again and sliced it into the second mans throat, gurgling as blood spilled forth.
A yell sounded to his right and Leon rolled on his instinct's warning, missing the machete that cut into the ground next to his head as dirt flew up. As he rolled, he threw the knife with dead accuracy at the man who was recovering from the knife wound to the foot. Leon knew he was getting rid of his only weapon, but as the man fell dead, the knife buried in his throat like the second, Leon knew that it was one on one now.
They were messing with the wrong person.
Pulling himself to his knees as he eyed the first attacker, Leon knew that he couldn't fight sitting down like this, and so did the other as the man stood there confidently, advancing slowly despite two of the others being dead already. With a yell, the man attacked.
Leon forced himself to move, and jumped up to the right as the blade swiped at air, his jump had him stumbling into the tree from before as he couldn't gain his balance fast enough for the sudden movement, his calf screaming at him with the weight on the injured muscle. Leon looked up just in time to move again to the side, the weapon in the Russians hand coming to get stuck into the thick bark of the tree where he'd been just a second ago, and Leon acted fast. Grabbing the man's hand, Leon threw a right hook into the others jaw, causing his attacker to stumble with the force behind the blow and released the handle of the machete.
Seeing a few very short seconds to spare, Leon took hold on the swaying handle with both hands, pulling with all his might as the Russian regained balance, before charging at him with an almost inhuman growl.
At the last possible moment the blade came free of its kiss with the bark, and Leon twirled the weapon skilfully in his hands, grasping the fist aimed at his head with one hand and driving the machete through the stomach, home to his attacker with the other hand.
They both feel to the forest floor, though Leon maintained his grip on both the weapon and the man, who was choking and coughing up blood. The sight of the man dying didn't worry Leon as he sat on his side with his injured leg straight, but he wanted a few answers first.
"Why did you attack the crash site?" He demanded, staring intently into the others face, but the man continued to cough up blood, not making an effort to speak. "What do you want? Where am I?" Leon asked again, pulling the man up by his jacket, knowing that if he wanted answers he'd need to be quick."Where am I?" Yet again he got no answer, and Leon growled in annoyance after a moment. The man was stuttering, shaking with deaths grip, mouth opening and closing a number of times, blood trailing past pale blue lips.
"No...one.."
Leon frowned, pulling at the man's jacket to redirect attention. "What?" He stared intently at the man, the head ache in his temples making him easily angry and impatient, for good reason.
"No one... leaves... this island..."
"Island?" Leon questioned, only just making out the choked words of the dying man.
"...alive."
A last cough, and the man stilled, eyes becoming distant. Leon cursed, through all of this he didn't get much, but then maybe there wasn't much about this situation at all. An island... Leon wasn't sure on what to say about being stranded in hostile territory, and the constant uttering of those same three words keep eating at him. No one leaves. He heard those exact words in his head just before impact on the plane, and again those words were written on the wall in his cell from where he woke up after being taken captive, and now they are a dying man's last.
Leon felt uneasy.
With a frustrated sigh, he got up painfully and limped over to one of the dead bodies, dragging his ankle behind him as he carefully sat down, pulling the dagger free of the man's neck, coated in crimson. He took a moment to analyse these men, hoping that some form of information will be on them that might tell him in a little more detail as to where he was. They were dressed in torn and tattered clothing, some even wearing army issued clothing. They were armed with all sorts of gear, though non of it was of any use to him at the moment, boned necklaces decorated their necks, spiked gloves and packs made of animal skin, one of them had a bow strapped along side a quiver with hand made arrows. Leon frowned, this looked like a civilization that relied entirely on their own resources, cut off from the world. An Island.. full of these hostile men. Leon was starting to like this situation less and less, as if he liked it in the first place.
"Tell me something." Leon muttered at particularly nothing as he checked the man's pockets, pulling out random old coins that looked ancient and well passed their time, proceeding to another pouch and opening it, though he withdrew immediately when what appeared to be severed fingers were stuffed inside, causing him to curse. Just what kind of people are they? With a glare, he proceeded hesitantly with the man's torn jacket, hoping he won't find something else like that. Nothing in that one, so he checked the next one, pausing when his fingers grassed what felt like paper. With a partly curious and weary look, Leon pulled it out. folded, dirty and torn around the edges, he opened the note and began to read.
"For better or worse, I now follow Father Mathias. If I'm going to be stuck on this island, at least I have the best possible job. He calls me his first Solarii. Mathias might be insane, but he's smart and dangerous. He knows things about this island. I believe he's our only chance of ever getting out of here.
Mathias keeps us happy. We control the guns and the food. Anything the storms bring to this island is ours and we decide the fate of any new survivors. Any who defy us are killed. We're masters of this fucked up island."
"The Solarii..." He re-read, not familiar with the term or name. When he joined the Government, they had him familiarise languages, cultures, other countries and law, ancient habitats and history. While there was allot he learnt, allot he read about, there was also a great deal he didn't know, a great deal of information that had layers and layers trailing back many years and no longer modern time. Leon was usually very good when picking apart words and their meaning, but this one held no meaning to him at all. He'd never heard of the term 'Solarii.'
Father Mathias. Leon heard one of the men say that before, it might even had been this particular man. By the sounds of it, he's cut off, trapped on an island run by an insane 'leader' who's too much on the intelligent side, and intelligence mixed with insane does indeed make one extremely dangerous, means they are capable of many horrible things. 'Anything the storms bring to this island is ours...' Leon's heart clenched at that, something really wrong about those words. Then what does that mean? Also, the scene after the crash came to mind, the way those men attacked the survivors, killed some of them, dragged others away. 'We decide the fate of any new survivors. Any who defy us are killed.'
Leon felt like he had fallen into hell again. Crash landed, literally.
With an uneasy swallow past his suddenly dry throat, Leon glanced down at the dead man. "Who are you?" He wondered out loud, the question was underlined with many more, but asking a corpse wouldn't get him anywhere. Pocketing the crumbled paper for now, eyeing the bloodied dagger in his hand. It was a well cared for knife, though old it was, it was a strange cut, etched with symbols and markings covering both the hilt and the blade, looking more like an ancient artefact than a weapon, and Leon stared in realisation. It was an old Japanese dagger from the world war.
Though his dead man was Russian.
Leon shook his head, frowning at the blade, though forcing down the thoughts and questions he knows he won't get answers to. With another look at this dead 'Solarri', Leon eased his injured leg into a better position, eyeing the cruel device locked around hit ankle, before bringing the knife over and picking at the bolts with the tip, wincing a little as his movements caused the teeth to bite in a fraction. It took a little longer than what he liked, hoping that the others ahead won't trail back in realization that their tale is a few guys light. Another wince and the pressure around his ankle eased, now setting the blade down, mentally praising at how strong it still was, Leon placed both hands on the traps jaws before prying it open with force. A moment later, his leg was out and he released the trap as it clamped shut again with a snap.
Leon eyed the device then his leg, cringing in dismay at the blood that saturated his jeans, the dark denim torn and ripped, showing nasty cuts and puncture wounds beneath. It looked like a shark nearly had his foot for dinner, and in a way that sounded more book worthy than what stepping on a hunk of rigged metal did.
Knowing that sitting and staring at his foot wouldn't do him any good, Leon stood up carefully, easing his weight onto his leg and bit his lip. Walking was going to be a pain, but he wasn't going to camp out here, no, Leon needed to cover as much distance between him and these men as possible, find a reasonably safe place to take residence and find out just where the hell his was at sunrise.
Tucking the dagger between his belt, Leon limped over to the torch still lit on the floor, bending down carefully and picking it up, looking at the direction he came from to the opposite at where his pursuers ran off to, Leon knew they'd be back very soon, and he didn't want to wait around any longer. If he couldn't go forward or back, then he could go left or right. The moon was to his right, and thinking for a moment, Leon turned to his left, towards the sunrise that will no doubt glow in a number of hours. A final look at the area, Leon left the scene.
=tTRR=
"No my lucky day..."
Leon stood amongst the woods as he drew the knife he'd taken from this pursuers a number of yards back, the torch he held lighting up a few meters in front of him in every direction, piercing but not breaking the darkness of the dense shrubs and plants that covered the forest floor. A moaning howl sounding close by and causing Leon to tense.
Wolves.
He should of guessed that the dead bodies of the three men would attract attention, but he'd been careful and left the scene, making good time between him and them. Though it looked like he'd run into trouble no matter which way he went. Leon had faced off such creatures before, infected creatures, but the experience was one he never liked facing and he'd avoid it if he could. Another howl sounded, this one too close for comfort, and a growl rumbled in the darkness. The wolves had found him, caught his scent, the blood that covered him, and Leon knew that he can't outrun these animals, looks like he's fighting.
Twigs snapping to his left and Leon turned around with lightning speed, waving the torch around to the location of his hunter, blade held in a tight grip and steady as the silence followed. Leon knew the wolf was still there, he could feel the eyes on him in hunger. More rustling followed a second later and he adjusted position, turning to the source, using the flames and hoping it would scare the wolf off, though as another growl sounded, accompanied by more twigs snapping, Leon tensed even more.
There was more than one.
He cursed mentally, of course they hunt in packs, and he was in their territory. Now he really should have known better. Eyes glinted in the fire light amongst the darkness of the bush, and Leon moved into a fighting stance as those eyes locked onto his. This one was going to make the first move.
With a growl, the wolf lunged, its large black form springing from the darkness with startling speed, and Leon ducked, skilfully bringing up the small blade as the hunter sailed over him by inches and cutting into the wolf's under belly. The dark creature stumbled with a yelp on landing as Leon turned to face another area where more eyes glinted. Leon knew that the first one would hold back a for but a moment, and he focused his attention on the next one.
This one ran at him from the side before changing course suddenly and coming from his front, large paws swiping at its prey. Leon felt those claws slice into his thigh as he dodged only enough to avoid the teeth riddled jaw that wanted to clamp around his leg, he stepped to the side whilst bringing the torch around with speed and catching the creature across the face, fire flaring on impact. The wolf barked and stumbled back, paws swiping at the burns heating its fur.
Leon caught another warning as a third wolf jumped from the darkness, and he turned just as the heavy body crashed into his, not having any time to avoid the attack, he lost his grip on the torch and fell to the floor, the weight of his attacker on top of him.
With a grunt he pushed at the wolf's chest, arms straining as the hunter's snapping jaws coming to breeze by his nose, and Leon knew he needed to act fast. The blade had been dropped on the impact, its weight teasing Leon as it rested on his chest, but he couldn't risk freeing a hand from its grip in the wolf's thick fur, not unless he wanted his face to be dinner. Growling and snarling sounded as the animal on top of him fought, its paws pinning his shoulders and upper body to the floor, saliva dripping onto his neck and chin causing Leon to cringe. "So.. not in the mood.. for a kiss.. right now." Leon grumbled breathlessly behind clenched teeth as his arms strained at keeping the animal at bay.
Another howl sounded close by, and Leon knew he really needed to to something. With a thought on that he's gone mad, Leon got his legs to move and wrapped them tightly around the wolf's back, and when the wolf made another lunge for his throat, he let his hands go of their vice grip and moved his head to the side, just missing the jaws that bit down on air with a clap of teeth. Wrapping one of his arms around the back of the wolf's neck, he seemingly hugged the creature so that it couldn't go back for another attempt at biting his head off, his other free hand reaching between them at the blade that rested on his chest. With a yell, Leon got his fingers around the hilt and brought the weapon free before driving it into the side of the animals head, below the ear.
His thought on this was that he should have taken the machete, the wolf continued to fight and Leon pressed the blade in further as the animal fought with the pain, its last attempts still of decapitation of its prays head. Leon tightened his hold and twisted the knife, causing the creature to give a final yelp before its fight died down along with it, stilling. Leon sighed, laying there for probably a split second too long, then pushed at the weight of the animal with a tired groan, its body rolling off him.
The sound of snapping twigs and more grows reminded Leon that he still had two, if not more wolves to deal with, and he sat up quickly as one appeared not but two meters in front of him, growling and glaring with yellow eyes. Leon's hand itched carefully to the blade buried in the dead wolf next to him, but at a growl he froze, eyeing the one currently eyeing him. The torch was a few meters away, lighting up the area in a orange glow that flickered the shadows, another wolf stalked up next to the second, snarling.
Leon moved, ever so slightly, but the wolf barked a warning, and he stayed as still as possible, eyes never once straying from the creature in front of him, because he knew that if his eyes so much as blinked, he was dead. The wolf's yellow eyes flickered to the dead one, before back to him, and Leon knew that it was another battle now, though of a different kind. Alpha on Alpha.
The woods were quiet with the tension, and eery huddle settling over the crickets and owls. Leon was sitting in a forest, covered in blood, dirt, wolf drool and god knows what else, having a stand off with a Alpha wolf, something he never thought of doing in his life time, but then he's done stranger things. It was life or death now, any stray mistake would cost him dearly.
A twig snapped behind him. Followed by a guttural growl.
Leon knew he was dead this time, swallowing at the movement behind him, his eyes still locked onto the first wolf as the animal growled dangerously again, taking a step forward. Another growl and a snap behind him as he felt the presence of another wolf getting alarmingly closer, a mere meter away, its breath brushing at the back of his neck. Leon closed his eyes.
When nothing but more growling happened, Leon pried his eyes open again hesitantly, seeing the the first wolf in front of him had actually taken a step back, eyeing the one behind him. Another guttural growl sounded from the new comer, barking and snarling at the other two wolves, and Leon watched in confused amazement after another tense moment as the two wolves in front of him took more steps back, before disappearing into the darkness of the woods, running paws becoming more distant before fading.
Leon released the breath he'd been unknowingly holding, shaken as silence greeted him. blinking a few times, and when nothing changed he relaxed ever faintly before his tension renewed at the presence he could still feel behind him. What? Did this one want him for dinner all by themselves? Leon froze again as hot breath breathed at the back of his neck, sniffs sounded before a rough tongue scraped across skin, followed by a whine.
Leon frowned.
Swallowing thickly, Leon turned around ever so slowly, inch by inch and making sure he didn't do anything too sudden that would warrant the animal to attack, and what he saw caused him to gasp. A large light grey wolf sat behind him, yellow eyes staring into his with too much knowledge to be possible, the thick grey fur changing to white at the tips in various areas, and Leon stared hesitantly at the hunter in thought. "I know you..." He dared to whisper.
The wolf's ears perked, and the animal sat up suddenly, taking a few steps closer to him, and Leon couldn't help but flinch at the movement, edging backwards a little but stopped when the wolf barked at him, and Leon forced himself not to move as the hunter came closer, sniffing. He was face to face with a wolf, a natural hunter to the prey, though it seemed they were on even grounds. Leon looked into the yellow eyes, intelligence shone through the golden depths, and with hesitation, Leon held out his hand to the hunter carefully, palm up, flinching back ever so slightly when the wolf licked his hand, though not making any motion to bite down. A peace jester.
Memories surfaced, he was in a dead empty forest, it was cloudy and cold, the grey area showing little to no colour, and amongst the stillness and grey was a white form on the ground, a wolf whining, blood stained its white fur, the animals foot had been caught in a bear trap. He helped the animal, released it and it limped away. Further out his mission he would see a white blur, hear the howls as the wolf showed him in the right direction, distracting his enemies, helping him.
Leon blinked, now looking back into those golden eyes. "Hey you, how'r you holdin' up?" He asked it quietly, smiling despite himself, and the animal in answer yapped in a very un-wolf like way, sitting down again though closer this time. Leon chuckled in amazement, signing with relief. "You scared the hell out of me." He scolded the animal, its innocent eyes staring back at him, before the wolf lent down, sniffing his outstretched leg, coming to linger over his bloodied ankle before looking back up at him with a quiet whine. "Yeah, stepped in a bear trap. I'll be fine, just need to patch it up." Leon said to the animal, seeing its eyes linger over him. So much intelligence... Leon knew that this wasn't normal, but he suddenly frowned. He was talking to a wolf. That wasn't normal.
Leon signed. "I've lost it." He muttered. Rubbing tiredly at his head, hearing another whine come from the animal that was the source of his insanity. Opening his eyes again, he moved over to the dead wolf, grasping at the handle of the dagger and pulling the bloodied blade free, carefully standing up as he eyed the darkness, at ease when danger was no where to be seen or felt. Walking over to the still lit torch, Leon bent down and grasped the wood, glad that it was still alight, and he looked over at the wolf he met in Spain. "Do you know where we are?" Leon asked the animal.
The wolf just sat there, looking at him silently, making no notion if it understood what he was saying.
Leon shook his head, should have known better than to ask a wolf where he was, and he didn't know why he bothered talking to it in the first place. Well, first things first, Leon needed to again get away from this area in case the dead animal gathered more problems, he needed to find shelter until sunrise. With a hesitant glance at his savour, Leon started walking to where he was heading before he was attacked, not knowing where that was, but he figured that backtracking would only take him back to his enemies, so going in the opposite direction seemed promising.
He had walked a number of meters in the forest when rustling caught his attention, and looking to his left, he spotted the wolf trailing next to him at a distance. Leon didn't know what to think about that. "I guess your my companion now." He muttered, seeing the animal disappear, but Leon knew the wolf was still there, if not but at a distance, following him, just like the creature did in Spain.
Thinking for another moment, Leon resumed his trek through the land, this island, going into the unknown.
End of Chapter 2. Sorry for any spelling errors. Stay tuned for chapter 3, and Review your thoughts :D