"You're a funny guy." Leon grinned as he breathed in deeply. "So now what?"
"We can get to the STARS office and get some more ammo." Chris answered. The brunet helped Leon to his feet. "There might be other survivors in the station."
"This place looks more like a museum." Leon murmured as he took in the reception hall of the police station.
There was a statue of a woman holding a water jug directly in front of the men. A door was to their right and within the hall where doors to the left entrance of the station. Up a small ramp was the reception desk and a door that lead into the recreational room for the officers. Chris ran towards the desk to check the computer. The doors in the main hall would be locked unless an RPD card had been used to release the locks.
Times like this made Chris glad he carried his old card around just in case. He hoped that his card was still valid. If not they could blow the doors open. Hitting a few keys Chris brought up the screen then slipped his card into the machine. He almost laughed when the locks in the hall released allowing them access to the quiet station.
Chris noticed that Leon was walking towards the single door near the desk. He was holding onto the pistol with a death grip before pushing the door open gently. If there were survivors here then it wouldn't hurt to just take a look inside. The blond felt his breath catch in his throat when he saw the room. Tables had been overturned to be used as shields. Blood stained the floor, walls and tables. The place stank of blood. Papers and books were scattered all over the place. It looked like a bomb had been detonated within the room. Leon peered around the corner from the door only to see a dark skinned man leaning against the wall. He was wearing the RPD uniform.
"Chris, I found someone!" Leon called before running to the man. The officer had blood covering his lower torso.
"Hey, what's your name? I'm Leon." Leon knelt down when the man stared at him with wide eyes.
"My god...you survived the outbreak?" the man choked out.
"I'm here with Chris Redfield." Leon explained. The man looked shocked for a moment then sadness overcame his features.
"We should have listened to him and the others." The man moaned out. At that moment Chris came into the room.
"Alex?" Chris knelt down before the man.
"I'm so sorry Chris...you were right all along." The officer cried out.
"Take it easy." Leon placed a hand on Alex's arm. "What happened here?"
"About two months ago there was this incident involving zombies located in a mansion on the outskirts of this city." Alex struggled to move. "Chris and the other STARS members discovered that Umbrella was behind everything."
"Umbrella did this?" Leon whispered in horror. What the hell had Hayden gotten into? Was this what he was talking about?
"They risked their lives to reveal the truth but no one believed them. Not long after that all this started to happen." Alex moaned in pain again.
"You're gonna be fine Alex." Chris squeezed his shoulder.
"Don't worry about me Chris. There are survivors in the other rooms. You have to save them." Alex pleaded. "I saw that officer...Kevin Ryman. He's here somewhere."
"I'll find him Alex. Can you move?" Chris asked. The dark skinned man shook his head.
"I was bitten Chris...you can't help me." Alex said sadly. The brunet lowered his head. "Take Leon and get out of here. If anyone can get out of the city you can."
"We can't leave you here!" Leon protested vehemently.
"Please just go!" Alex pleaded again. "Get out of the city."
"Leon, we have to go now. There's nothing we can do here." Chris said firmly. The blond looked like he wanted to protest then he glanced at Alex's wound again and nodded his head sadly.
Chris left the room with a sombre Leon on his heels. The waiter felt sick and cold, his arms going around his body for warmth and some kind of comfort. Chris sighed; he knew all too well what it was like to watch his friends die. He motioned for Leon to follow him towards the double doors. They didn't have time to mourn; they had to find the survivors and a way out of the station then the city. After passing through a small room Chris pushed open a door into a hallway that connected with the corridor leading to the STARS office on the second floor. As they turned a corner Chris stopped when he heard something dripping onto the floor.
"Chris...what's that sound?" Leon murmured when a clicking noise came from above them. "Is that blood?" the blond man gulped.
Both men looked up at the thing lurking on the ceiling. It was skinned with large talons on its hands and feet. Its brain was visible, teeth were sharp and bloodied and then the worst part of it emerged. A long tongue covered in blood and bits of flesh flicked out, saliva dripped from its mouth as a horrid moaning sound came from its throat. The creature flipped from the ceiling then landed on the ground before Chris and Leon.
It sat up on its hind legs with its front talons stretched out on the floor. It was only when the creature was on the ground did Leon notice the decapitated body on the ground. The creature lurked closer and looked ready to pounce. Chris brought up the shotgun and fired at the creature. A scream tore from the beast as it moved across the floor. Leon backed away then fired at the beast. The recoil on the gun made him fall back slightly.
The weapon kicked violently in his hand but the bullet hit its intended target. The creature screamed harshly as it swiped its claws at Chris. The brunet jumped back then fired another round into the skinned creature's exposed brain.
Blood and brain matter went everywhere as the beast slumped to the ground. For a few moments neither man moved. The smell of gunpowder made Leon's nose twitch as he slowly lowered the gun. When the creature didn't get up Chris moved towards the door and pushed it open.
"What the fuck is that thing?" Leon gasped out when they entered into the empty hallway.
"Haven't a fucking clue." Chris shook his head. "Umbrella must've made some new beasts to play with."
"Oh god Hayden..." Leon rubbed his face.
"You said he worked for Umbrella right?" Chris asked as they made their way to the briefing room. "And he wanted you to come to the city?"
"He said that he wanted to make Umbrella pay." Leon answered. The briefing room was empty thankfully. "I haven't the slightest idea where to start looking for him. He could be dead for all I know!"
"He might be..." Chris muttered. "You've seen what's outside."
"I guess..." Leon had to fight the urge to start screaming again. Hayden had to be ok...he just had to be. He still had to yell at the bastard. Sniffing he moved across the room and looked around for anything useful.
"Here's some food." Chris handed Leon a few bags of candies from a broken vending machine.
"Man I'm hungry." Leon groaned as he tore open the bag. The blond went back to looking through the papers on the desk at the front of the room. "Look at this Chris."
"What the hell is this?" the taller man murmured as he examined a report concerning something called a Licker. "There were Umbrella agents within the police force...that doesn't fucking surprise me." Chris said bitterly as his thoughts drifted to Wesker.
Leon remained silent as he looked around the room. When they couldn't find anything useful they departed from the room with Leon following Chris to the end of the hallway. Once they opened the next door Leon instantly heard the moans of the zombies in the corridor. Chris shot the first two to his left while Leon ran towards the stairs. A zombie lingered on the steps and Leon took aim.
He managed to handle the recoil better but hit the creature in the stomach. The zombie shambled towards him, those putrid fingers reaching out for its prey. Leon aimed again and hit the monster in the head this time. He jumped aside when the rotting corpse fell down the stairs. Chris followed Leon up the stairs onto a narrow hallway with a statue of a man holding a red jewel on the other end of the hallway.
"Are you sure this place isn't a museum?" Leon questioned as he stared at the statue.
"It was converted into a library then into the police station." Chris replied.
"So where's the STARS office?" the waiter asked as he walked into another corridor that was dull grey in colour.
"Just down here." Chris stopped at a door with the STARS emblem on the right. "If there are survivors in the station we might be able to get a hold of them."
"Nice office." Leon commented when he entered a spacious if slightly cluttered room. There were three desks and one desk at the front of the office in front of a white board.
"Look around for anything useful." Chris asked as he went to the communications station. If he was lucky then Kevin would be carrying his radio.
"Is this your sister?" Leon asked while looking at a framed picture on a messy desk. "You look alike."
"Her name's Claire." Chris hit a few more buttons.
"So this desk is yours?" Leon grinned as he observed the mess all over the place. He spotted a lighter and put it in his pocket. It might come in useful.
"Can anyone hear me?" Chris asked into the radio. He got static as an answer. "This is Chris Redfield. If anyone can hear me please come in."
"Chris?" a voice answered after a few moments. "Holy shit man it's so good to hear you!"
"Kevin? Where are you?" Chris felt a smile bloom across his face.
"I'm near Iron's office. What the fuck are those skinned things?" Kevin answered swiftly.
"Listen to me. I have another survivor with me. We're in the STARS office. Do you know if there's a helicopter on the roof still?" Chris questioned. Leon held his breath.
"Yeah, last time I looked. I've got a survivor with me." Kevin sounded happy about something. "He's not a cop but he can handle himself."
"Listen, I'm going to check out the roof. We'll keep in radio contact. Go to Iron's office and stay there until I say." Chris ordered.
"You got it man." Kevin acknowledged. When the line went dead Chris turned back to his companion.
"So on to the roof now?" Leon cocked his head.
"I can fly us out of here id the chopper is still there." Chris nodded as he breathed out his relief. He stopped when he noticed the sadness on Leon's face. "I'm really sorry about your friend."
"It's not your fault." Leon shook his head.
Nothing more was said as they left the office behind. Leon had managed to find a lock pick and a first aid spray on the other desks. Chris knew a quick way to get to the roof. He felt bad for Leon but there was nothing he could do for him. Chris ran through the corridor back down the steps and into the hallway with the corpses.
They had to get back to the main floor. As they passed through the hallway the boards were splintered open and hands shot out. Leon yelled when something grabbed his hair and pulled his body towards the boarded up windows.
"Shit!" Chris yelled as he fired at the zombies trying to get inside.
"Get off me!" Leon clawed at the hand twisted in his hair. Just as he pulled himself free the door that exited from burst open.
"Fuck no..." Leon whimpered as he backed away. The Tyrant creature stood at the other end of the hallway.
"STARS." It growled.
"Run now!" Chris grabbed Leon's hand and pulled him away, all the while very much aware of the Tyrant chasing them. Neither of them had noticed a dark haired woman wearing a red dress standing outside the corridor just as the Tyrant burst through.
"We have a problem." She said as she pressed her ear piece. "Redfield is still alive and he has the package."
"If the Nemesis cannot obtain it then you are to take Kennedy alive. Once we have him Birkin will be obsolete. Do not fail me Ada." The woman switched off her ear piece before loading her gun. It shouldn't be too hard to get Kennedy to co-operate.
"Looks like you parents didn't do such a good job at hiding you after all." She murmured.
Note-The story may be slow at the beginning but it will pick up. So Ada is here and she's after our fair Kennedy. Stay tuned for the next chapter.