Chapter 2

My palms were slick, and my heart was running a million miles an hour. I wasn't even a week in my training and he pulled me from basic, and forced me out on the field. I disappeared, took a shower, and quickly had gotten dressed when he told us there was an attack. I sit here, in the debriefing room, digging my nails into my palms, trying to calm myself. Piers sat beside me, and he kept giving me knowing smiles.

"I know this is your first mission and you're not even out of training. However, what I've seen, you can kick some serious ass. I promise, everything will be fine." His words did little to sooth the ache in me. I felt the sweat drip down my breasts, and I knew, that I was in deep shit now. Even if, this is what I had wanted, ever since Raccoon. Ever since my father went missing…I had to figure something, anything out. Even knowing that my dad was dead. Just something. Not MIA. My knee kept bouncing, as I stared at the giant table, filled with people I haven't met. All…so new.

"Hey newbie." A man, about the same age as Chris said, waving over to me. I nervously waved back, and went back to my rapid leg bouncing. Piers placed his hand on my knee, and squeezed just hard enough for me to look over at him. Brown eyes, stared at me, his jaw tight and showed obvious strength.

"I said, calm down. The more your nerves are shot, the more likely our brothers lives would be at stake." The seriousness in his voice, stalled me.

"Take a deep breath in Clio, and let it out slowly. You'll be fine." That cheeky smile was back, and I felt my shoulders relax.

"Do you know anything yet Piers?" I asked, and he shook his head.

"News to me. So far, as of what I've heard, possible remote jungle accident again." He shrugged his one arm.

"I'm not too sure. It could be a new strain; it could be the same." He shook his head.

"There's really not much I can tell you kid. Other than keep your head cool, and keep it on straight. Aim for the head, and you'll be good." He turned back to the door, and he grumbled.

"He's late…again." He sighed.

I looked at the door, and then back at Piers. Placing my hand on his, he looked at me.

"Everything, will be okay Clio. I promise. You have all of us on your side, newbie or not. You're a sister. A comrade…" He chuckled, and gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

Letting out a soft sigh, I gave a nod.

"Everyone in here, will protect you."

His words were encouraging. And yet, I still feel the dread filling up.

…

Chris kept pacing, he was flipping through the file, unsure how to approach his team. New York was hit, and hit hard with a new strain of C-Virus. Chris kept rubbing the back of his hand against his forehead. Sweat dripped down his face, how was Clio going to do? She didn't even complete her training. Gritting his teeth, Chris stood up straight, and looked to the framed picture of him and Jill, smiling, holding up peace signs. They were so happy at one point…what happened? She sacrificed herself, to save him, at was cause? He went on drinking binges. And when he wasn't drinking, he was working out, trying to forget everything, and anything they had done together…but it was to no avail, Jill was in this girl Clio. All in her, inside and out. Her fearlessness, her pride, and the way she had carried herself.

But Clio wasn't Jill, he was just hoping to find, something inside his new partner that had reminded him of her…and he found it. It was wrong. It was really really wrong to want someone simply because they reminded you of your dead lover. He straightened up, grasped the file in his hands, and braced himself. This was going to be a long extraction, and he knew it. Clio would have to hold her own, even if his crew could back her up, she's going to have to go in, and show her strengths.

"This isn't what I wanted to do, for your first mission…something simple, but…an entire bioterrorist attack? On New York? This was the big apple…who would have the balls to attack an entire city?" He shook his head, and nearly kicked his door open. He had kept his team waiting long enough.

Chris stormed down the hallway, and through the first door, they were sitting at the tables, and when they looked up at him, his chest swelled with pride. This is what he was born to do. To lead these people, his team, and fight for freedom. Clio, her sterling eyes stared at him, glistening with nerves. He lifted his chin, and stood at the front desk. Slamming the folder down, he sighed.

"There's been a known attack, in the Bronx." He opened the folder and held up a picture. He looked this through many times. And he still cringed at the sight of the malnourished, deformed body. Each limb melting and turning into solid bone. Easily able, to cut a man in half.

"This is a new strain of C-Virus. Where the hosts muscles, turn to bone, skin melts and forms into a weapon or a harder outer shell. There are a few other known cases, of rabid like victims." He tossed out another picture.

"Gangrene sets in around the mouth, cracks the corners, their eyes are glossy, but they are able to speak, and talk." Chris, tried to hold back the shudder. This was the worst case he had seen yet.

"The most frightening part is; you can get infected in any way. Blood, spit, kissing, scratching, and or biting. It is a level five contagion. You must take all precautions possible. There are no vaccines, that we know of. These types of infected have long nails, and attempts to bring you in. Telling you they need help. We call those 'weepers'." Chris, looked at each of his teammates, and saw the determination.

"How big is the radius? Any containment breaches?" Clio asked, Chris looked over when she spoke, and saw her hand on Piers. Chris's jaw tightened up and he sighed.

"It hit too fast, too hard for anyone to even try." He straightened his large shoulders, and looked over the faces each one, nervous, straight, or calm. Too calm.

"We've all been through this drill before." He thought.

"Now, Clio is new. She hasn't even completed her training. But that's fine, she's more than capable of holding her own. She was in the S.W.A.T and had some military training. However, if she needs help, I need to count on you guys to back her up." He looked at the folder flipping the page.

"Another thing we need to keep an eye out for, is any new B.O.W's. The only ones I know of, that had been reordered, were the Weeper's and the newest mutations. C-580. We need to get in, grab the governor, Andrew Cuomo. And try, to rescue as many civilians as possible. Do I make myself clear?" He watched the entire room, nod. They were silent, and very, very deadly.

…

I watched him, he was a large man standing up there holding himself with so much confidence. I knew, I just knew, that he was a perfect leader. He would, get us in and out without too many casualties. Piers's hand was warm against my knee, and I felt comforted. I felt protected. And honestly, with these hardasses around me, I knew that I would be taken care of.

I lifted my head and I looked at our Captain, I had to open my mouth.

"What about a Doctor Lucian? Do you believe he might be there?" I asked.

Chris gave me a look, then back down to his folder.

"Nugatory Clio. There have been no names come up." He looked back at me, his eyes cold.

"Why?" He asked. I tilted my head, gave him a smile.

"I was wondering. I heard he was a scientist who worked side by side with James Marcus." That name, I watched his jaw tighten. And a small beads of sweat appear on his upper lip.

"There has been no names brought up Clio." He looked around his team.

"Get suited up. It's time for action boys." Chris, spoke loud, clear. As everyone was standing, I was following.

"You, Cadet stay here." I looked around and he nodded at me.

"Yes Clio. You." I sighed.

Shit, first mission and I had already fucked up.

I lift my chin, and gave a big smile. As people around me dispersed.

"We leave in forty-five minutes Clio. I need to speak to you before you gear up." He was walking over to me, and my eyes went wide.

"Yes Captain?" I replied.

He reached out, placing his hands on my shoulders and gave a gentle squeeze.

"Everything will be alright. I will take good care of you on this mission. This is big, people will die. People will get hurt. Whatever you do. Don't panic." I had to look up at him, he was so tall. I gave a nod.

"How did you know about James Marcus?" He asked. I wanted to laugh.

"I knew there was more, other than comforting me." I placed my hands on his wrists. Gently pushing them off.

"Look, that's a talk for another time. Right now, we have lives to save." I gave another smile; turning from him, I headed for the door.

"You're just like her Clio. And at the same time, you're not." I faltered, but pushed the thought away.

He's only interested in me because I'm just like Jill…

I sighed.

…

He looked at Clio, she was looking her handgun over, and over. She was nervous. The woman he had met, wouldn't crack under pressure. And he hopped she wouldn't. She showed how calm she became while she was shooting at targets. Non-moving targets. Now, she was working at her gun, and breathing slowly. Piers was sitting next to her, and Chris kept feeling a pang of jealousy. He didn't want to start feeling anything for her, his heart belonged to Jill. His entire being belonged to that violet eyed blonde. No matter what had happened to him, he refused to love another, or have relations to another. But, this woman, acted like her, talked like her, even walked like her.

She had skills on the training ground, she could handle a gun, and she was a spit fire. And Piers was sitting next to the new girl, trying to calm her down.

I'm just…too old for this dating thing. And working with the BSAA made things that much worse. I don't think I could ever settle.

He leaned back, trying to close his eyes and relax. The hum of the helicopter made things much easier, he was going through his mind, he had MRE's in case things got too sticky, he had several bottles of water, plenty of ammunition. If things were as bad, as the file said…they might be here longer than a few others. He had also, packed plenty of first aid packs. He couldn't take any more risks.

Chris! Help!

It was Jill, crying out to him. He squeezed his eyes tighter, trying to listen to the thumping of the helicopter, but her voice kept him from relaxing all over again. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. There are just too many things. Her voice, her touch, the soft smell of vanilla. The things he would never have again. His neck muscles were starting to tighten, and it made him groan.

So many gun shots, so many dead bodies…when she fell into the black ocean below…the BSAA said they couldn't find her body, they searched and searched. For hours, going onto days, and still they didn't find her. They presumed her dead. For the last three, god damn years...she's been gone. Chris, didn't believe it. He refused to.

Chris…please, don't stop. I need you. I…I love you…

She had a nightmare, the day before their departure. She drove over to his apartment, he was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, for some reason he just couldn't sleep. The thunder, sounded too much like gun shots. He was laying there, watching nothing. Hearing the ticking of his clock on the wall.

Key's inserting into his front door. Chris sat up in bed, reaching underneath the empty pillow beside him, and held the gun aimed at the door. When his bedroom door opened, Jill stood before him, shivering, soaked from the storm. Her eyes wide, and frightened like a doe in headlights, her gown was plastered to her beautiful curvaceous body. And Chris put the gun down, and walked over to her.

"Jilly? What's wrong?" He asked, reaching for a clean towel from a basket.

"I had a nightmare…about the Spencer estate and I couldn't go back to sleep…so I drove over here…" She replied, he could hear her teeth chattering, over the rain crashing against his window. He turned back to her, wrapping the towel around her body, drying her off. Gently touching her skin, he lifted her chin, and placed his lips to hers.

"I'll protect you, nightmares, BOW'S, mad scientists…everything, if you never leave my side Jilly…" He felt the smile…he felt the fear melt away from her.

"I love you Chris…"

"Chris?"

"Chris!" She was screaming, fading.

Fading away from him again.

"No…Jill." When his eyes opened, it was Clio who was gently shaking him.

"Captain were getting close." She nodded to the door, and he stood up, speaking into the headset. Clio went back to her seat, her knees trembling.

"Kirk, what's our E.T.A?" He had to yell.

"Ten minutes' captain. Over." Kirk replied. Chris stretched for a moment, he turned to look out the window, and all he saw was a soft fog over the city. He couldn't really see anything. Everything looked…dull. As the helicopter moved in close, he was surprised to see…there were was no destruction. No over turned cars, no burning fires. Just…nothing. The lights were shut off…no building lights were on. Street lights were off, Chris watched as they flew over Times Square…and still, nothing. He turned back to Clio, Piers, Jameson and Snow. All were as dumb founded as he was.

"Even Raccoon was nothing more than burning remains...Terragrigia, completely ruined. This, this is nothing…" Piers whispered, looking out and over the city.

"Coming to extraction point. You guy's are going to have to jump down. I can't see anything to land." Kirk shouted. Chris tossed off the headset, he reached over, tossing each one of his teammates a mask.

"This is to keep you safe from any airborne virus, and or bacteria." He screamed.

The dream was fading as the realism of the situation sunk in. This was something different…what if the masks won't help them? And they turn as soon as they land? He looked at his team, and prayed that this won't be the first, and last for them.

As they placed on the masks, Chris was working at the ropes. Tying himself on first. He looked at Clio, who didn't even seem as nervous as she did earlier, gave him a nod. Piers, as well gave a nod. Jameson and Snow were too busy clipping the rope on their belt. Lining up behind him, Chris jumped down, holding onto the rope. Breathing evenly through the mask, he landed with a solid thud. Clio followed, Piers, Jameson, and Snow. He could hardly see through the dense fog. As they unclipped, the ropes, each one of his teammates drew their main weapon. As the helicopter faded off into the distance, they listened. The sheer stillness of the city drew them into uneasiness.

"Captain…" Clio whispered, and he raised a hand.

"Shh." He hushed her.

He still waited for a moment longer, before taking the first few steps, into the dead of New York city.

…

I couldn't believe we made it off the helicopter…and looking back on Raccoon and then this…? This was clean, not a single drop of blood…no bodies strewn everywhere. No moaning of zombies…everything was silent. I held a tighter grip on my gun, and held it close to my side. Piers was by me, Snow was following behind, and Jameson was taking the rear. I kept looking left to right, my nerves were getting shot just by the stillness. The worse thing was, the quiet. The fog was too dense, and I couldn't see even a foot in front of me. Chris's bulky frame blocked out anything. The sunlight, couldn't even break through…I reach for my flashlight, and Piers grasped my wrist.

"Don't. We don't know what these things are attracted too." I gave a nod and placed it back onto my belt. We kept walking, and I had to look up at the large television screen. Showing nothing but static…I could hear the static coming from it, and all the other televisions…but that was about it.

"Do you think they already evacuated Captain?" Snow asked. Chris shook his head no.

"It was already too far in advancement to Evac…I don't know where they are." He replied.

We all stood in the middle of times square unsure what to do. I pulled out the data pad, that held the information on the governor.

"Okay, he's being held at the empire state building. We need to head over there." I kept switching through each page, looking through the maps of the city.

"It would take roughly three hours to get there on foot." I looked up, placing the data pad back into its case. Chris nodded.

"Let's take Broadway and Seventh avenue that should stretch to west 42nd and west 47th." Chris replied. I shuddered, a soft cold chill running up my spine. Dred, filling at the bottom of my heart.

"Something's not right…. something bad is going to happen Captain…." I replied, staying still. I started to refuse to move.

"Cadet, now is not the time-" Snow started.

"HELP! PLEASE GOD HELP ME!" It was male, a child, screeching from down the road. I felt the hairs on the back of my beck rise. Holding onto the grip of my gun tighter. I shook my head.

"No. No. That could be a weeper." I whispered, raising my weapon. All nodded.

"Good head on your shoulders Kid." Piers whispered.

Even with one arm, he was still holding strong. He wouldn't have let it hold him down…I could tell. With the easiest footing we could, we tried to stay quiet. I looked at Piers, and he nodded. Jameson, stood looking around. The fog was getting heavier, and he bumped into me. I turned, and he rose his hands.

"Sorry." He replied.

"Hard to see with this damn god forsaken fog." He sighed.

We all chuckled at that.

It was true, it was the small tension relief that we needed. Besides I was surrounded by a bunch of beef cakes. Even if I could handle myself, I knew I had protection.

The gear was heavy, and we set off at a trot. Going down each street. Apparently Chris had the time to study the maps before we left. He was fast, his endurance was high, and mine…was good, just not as good as his or Piers. A few times Piers started to pass me. We kept turning down random streets, it was getting difficult to breathe. Something, just wasn't right.

"Stop." I whispered.

All stopped, Chris turned to me, and I saw the sweat on his arms. I closed my eyes and I listened.

There was movement…it wasn't shuffling…it was…dragging. Something was dragging. When I turned around, there was nothing. Everything was being covered by the fog. I pulled out my flash light, and flipped it on, panning left to right.

"Help…" Whimpering.

"Help…" Sob here a sob there.

"I need to find him." Another soft cry.

"I'm so so lost…" It was getting closer, the voice…sounded gurgled, someone speaking underwater.

"That's not good…" I said.

All four men raised their weapons, and within the fog, it was what I thought it was. A non-human, twitching. Coming towards us. It once used to be female, the skin had a doll like appearance, eyes glass like, it's mouth was opened, and a green like substance dripped from her mouth. Covering the front of a former dress suit. She wasn't moaning, and it seemed like she didn't react to the light. Still, she looked at us, missing patches of her hair, like she ripped it out. Her nails were freakishly long, and tainted black. The skin clung to her, every bone was visible. Her teeth were sharp, pointed, her face angulated. She was walking closer, she lifted her nose and sniffed the fog around her. I was able, to get a good look at her mouth, she had deep cracks lining the edges of her lips…

She no longer made the soft weeping, or the crying. Her mouth opened, and she emitted a chirp. It sounded just like a grass hopper. Chirping for a mate. I took aim, and she stared at me. Making a louder chirp, before I pulled the trigger she was on me, three short dashes.

I pulled the trigger, three rounds bursts from my gun, nailing her in the shoulder. She spun around, and I could hear more chirping. They were getting close. They used the fog, to hide, disguise their porcelain skin in. I couldn't, I just couldn't. My body had gone numb, and as sighted her again, she was gone. There was no blood…no nothing. She disappeared. I knew I hit her, I heard her skin crack as the bullets smacked into her…

What the fuck? I thought.

Chris was barking orders, Jameson, Snow and Piers were on it. And he was speaking to me, but I kept looking around, trying to figure out where the fuck that thing went.

"CLIO!" He shouted, snapping me back.

"Did you hit it?" I nodded, and turned back around, the chirping was getting louder.

It sounded like there were a dozens of them coming out way. I looked at them, turned back around and took careful aim.

"I'll keep watch." I said. Chris gave a grunt, they were talking, and I just couldn't get her face out of my head. They were nothing like the T-Virus zombies. These things were coherent. They knew what they were doing…they're communicating….? What the fuck is this? I kept breathing, I kept watch.

It was a man, turning, looking around. He was blind, I could tell…their eyes were cataract. The one thing these people just couldn't get straight. They always take out the sight, and put in heightened sense of smell, hearing and taste. That at least they could get right.

"This…this is nothing like Raccoon…" I whispered.

The man was close, close enough I could smell the infection wafting off him, even through the mask. I stood absolutely still, before turning my flashlight onto him. The screech, was so sudden, so loud I nearly fell back. The LED light left a deep burn onto the creature's skin, the man already bald turned to look right at me. His teeth snapping at air, I took a step back as he tried to strike out with his claws. Nearly missing me. I lifted my gun, placed the barrel into his mouth, and pulled the trigger.

…

He watched her, with smooth movements place the gun into the creature's mouth and pull the trigger. She was ballsy, a little too ballsy for his taste. They finally had a run in with the B.O.W's and they were ten times more viscous then he had originally planned. Once startled they attack, and they attack fast. He was about to reach out and smack the Cadet, before she used the LED flashlight. The creatures skin, went up in flames, leaving deep charcoal in its wake. Chris, was stunned, running to the left, taking aim and shooting at another few of these things.

They were too fast, running…running.

She giggled, as I ran my fingers across her skin.

The creatures head snapped back as his M16 bullets smacked its skull. Piers working hard at data pad.

"Sir! We have conformation on Leon Kennedy." He shouted, and he watched Clio tense. She turned around, looking at Piers.

She didn't say a word, she pulled the trigger. Another creature fell at her gun. Snow was backed against the wall, grunting.

"Help!" He cried out, he was pinned against the wall, trying to push back. Clio, took this opportunity, to save her brother. She kicked her foot out, nailing the creature square in the back. Jameson kept shooting like a mad man, and they kept chirping, more and more of them.

"We have to hide somewhere!" Clio shouted, and Chris gave a nod.

"There's an internet café about five blocks from here." Piers had to scream over the chirping of the creatures. Clio gave Snow a hand and nodded. A hand touched his shoulder, and he turned. It was the female from before, the first one they had met, her eyes saw nothing, her jaws were snapping at him. He reached forward holding her jaws with his hands, and in one quick motion, broke her neck. Alpha team looked at each other, even behind their masks Chris could sense the fear, maybe these creatures could too?

Chris crunched up his nose, at a sound, of breaking bones. When he turned, he saw the woman's skin starting to bubble, he took a few steps back, not wanting to watch whatever was happening. Yet, her neck turned and she stared at him. Her mouth opened; a screech followed through.

"RUN!" Chris screamed, all five of them, turn and ran. This wasn't a battle he was willing to take. Risking his family was not an option.

…

He was behind them, turning every so often to make sure they weren't following. He looked back, and saw his team at a steady run, they were almost at the internet café. So close, he could almost taste it. They weren't even here for two hours, and already they ran into the creatures called 'weepers'. He didn't really like the name for them, considering they traveled in packs…and apparently had a 'leader'. A pack mentality? This he couldn't confirm.

"Turn here!" Piers shouted, opening up a door.

Each one of his members nearly slid in. And he, followed in last. Slamming the door shut, Clio and Jameson were already working on barricading the door. Snow was being looked over by Piers. And Chris finished by pulling another shelving unit against the door. The internet café wasn't too big, it had a few chairs, a small bar that held drinks, food, and of course extra gaming supplies. The posters were still intact, and the only way he could tell that something went down…was the fact that the chairs were knocked over. A few things were split here and there, and a small blood smear against one of the computers. There was a faint smell, of coffee being left in a coffee pot a bit longer than it should have…and a underlying smell…something he couldn't put his finger on. He looked at his team, and so far, it seemed that no one-

"It's just a scratch!" Snow shouted. Piers was looking it over, and grunted.

"I don't know Snow…this looks deep…" He was grumbling, and Snow sighed.

Chris walked over, and Piers stepped aside, he grasped Snow's arm, and looked the scratch over. It wasn't as bad as Piers made it out to be, it had almost looked like a cat scratch. A little red, and angry but that was about it. Clio was over there in a nanosecond and gasped, her neurons were probably firing a million miles a minute.

"In the debrief…it said that scratches are also highly contaminated…" Clio was quick, grasping her handgun and aiming at Snow's forehead.

Piers was even faster, grasping her wrist and forcing it down.

"Stop. We don't know this exactly." He said, she looked at him, and through the mask she could also see the hesitation within his eyes.

"He's INFECTED!" She snapped, forcing his hand away.

"We don't know that Leo..." He replied, looking at Chris.

"Captain what do we do?" He asked, and Chris placed his hands on his sides.

"Get in contact with Kennedy. We need to know what's going on in that building. He's still with the Governor right?" Chris asked.

Piers turned back to the data pad, and quickly pulled up the map.

"Right now Kennedy is in the broad way theater, about three miles from here…" He looked at Chris.

"Captain…the governor is supposed to be with him."

Chris groaned, forcing his mask off. Slamming it on the ground.

"Nothing ever goes my way…does it?"