Chapter 4

Chris tagged behind, he had to admit he couldn't help but watch Clio take control when it was deemed necessary. She had a decent grasp on the things going on around her, she found Agent Kennedy, knocked him around when he deserved it and she made sure they regrouped as a team. He watched her dirt, and dust covered face look between him and Leon. She looked good covered in grime. Leon kept his head hung low giving her a sorrowful look. He wondered what that was about.

"Could be anything really. Former collogues, former friends possibly even former lovers. Who knows." He gave Leon a questioning look. He only looked at Chris, he seemed to want to speak to him, to tell him what was on his mind. He didn't give him a chance.

"Get in there. Now." He ordered. Leon followed. Clio was right behind him, pushing him through the doors of the station. Piers's face lit up as he saw her walk through. Chris couldn't help but wonder what that was all about. Clio couldn't possibly be interested in Piers could she?

"Why am I thinking about that now? In all situations…" He walked through the doors of the station, Piers slamming it behind them. His back leaned heavily against the doors, Clio pushed Leon down into a sitting position.

"Stay right where you are." Leveling her gun at Leon's face she waited.

"Chris." Leon opened his mouth to speak, he turned around to look at Leon. His bottom lip fat and bruised. He chuckled at the thought of what Clio did to him.

"What?" He snapped. Leon leaned forward, Clio cocked the gun back.

"Easy Cadet, it's alright." He placed his hand on Clio's shoulder, she visibly relaxed. The little girl Fayth came into the picture somewhere from behind the statue that stood in the center of the station. Chris couldn't help but look at his surroundings, seeing how much a like this room was to the main floor of the spencer estate. He had a cool chill running down his back. Clio stepped away from Leon, giving him another cold look.

"Chris…you have to listen to me, there's something in that theater you have to see." He moved uncomfortable.

"Could you please take these bindings off? I'm willing to help and cooperate. I just need my hands free." He looked at Chris, hope in his blue eyes. Chris tightened his jaw.

"From the looks of it, you have a lot of explaining to do." He moved his assault rifle to his left side staring him down.

"Chris, it's Jill. She's alive and she's helping Ada spread this virus throughout the world." Leon spat out the words as fast as he could.

Chris's stomach dropped, he felt as if a thousand bricks landed in his chest. He brought the butt of his assault rifle down upon Leon's temple.

"Lair! Jill's dead!" He shouted, Clio, Piers, Jameson and Snow all looked over at Chris. He had a thin sheet of sweat on his body. Leon's chin touched his chest, moaning slightly.

"Who are you working for?!" He screamed. Leon lifted his head, he looked directly at Clio.

"Please…please listen to me Clio. I swear to god it's her. She's taken over where Wesker left off. I don't understand why either." Leon's temple throbbed as he got to his knees.

"I'm working with an agency with Helena Harper, to go out and find those responsible for this outbreak. And I swear to you Chris Redfield, Jill's name came up in the report. She hired Ada Wong to handle the dirty work for her, and the Mayor was just a pawn in the game. I swear to god." He shook his head slowly, he felt the trickle of blood from his temple.

"I'm not the one who started all this, I'm here fighting bioterror just as you are." He stared at Chris and Clio. Clio's violet eyes grew darker, he turned to watch her fight back emotion's that he himself had with Jill. The answer to his question was quite obvious at this point. They had to have been an item, and he had done something that hurt her, deeply.

He looked back to Leon, he wasn't looking at him he was looking at Clio. Hoping against all odds she would side with him. He could tell, he saw that look before. A last minute ditch effort, Chris still couldn't get the idea that Jill, his life partner and the one he had wanted to spend the rest of his life with, was fighting against the greater good. She was now on the reverse side of good…Chris looked at his hands, they were trembling.

"Captain?" Clio's cool voice brought his head back up, he looked at her. Her tranquil eyes caught him off guard. She had a look about her that made him realize, he brought a kid on to the BSAA. She reminded him of Rebecca Chambers, back at the mansion. With her bright, glistening eyes…but the toughness of Jill…she reminded him of her in so many ways, it hurt his heart.

"Was that why I brought you on Clio? Because you're a spitting image of her, in almost every way?" He gave her a light look, Clio's hand touched his shoulder.

"Sir, we should give it a shot. Maybe for once, Agent Kennedy isn't lying. We could figure out who's behind this attack, take them in and allow the BSAA to handle the rest." Her calmness surprised him, however the hurt within her eyes didn't. He closed his eyes taking a deep breath in. She gently nudged him. When he opened his eyes she nodded to a lone corner of the room. He followed her.

"Captain, I think we should try to at least look into this lead." She whispered, Chris gave a side glance to Leon. Snow was leaning down, patching the wound on his temple up.

"How do you know he's not lying?" He asked her, she bit her bottom lip looking up at him.

"I don't. But there is one thing I do know about Leon, is that he has the same amount of love for this country as we do. I acted a bit too rash when he told me he killed the Mayor…" She blew out a raspberry, raking a hand through her head holstering her sidearm.

"How much can we trust his word?" He pushed Clio, she scratched the back of her head.

"As long as it's not about relationships, his word is decent." She replied. Chris was staring down into her eyes, he couldn't help but enjoy the way they were looking at him. It made him feel comfortable in his decision. Still…he couldn't understand this underlying feeling in his stomach.

"Jill...it couldn't possibly be you…could it?" He looked away from Clio before giving a nod.

"Alright, but first thing's first. We have to get Fayth into the nearest evac so we can get her out of here." Clio nodded with him just as fast as he spoke.

"I agree. I can't stand the thought of her going through what I went through as a child…" Clio looked over to the little girl, standing next to Piers looking up at him. He felt his heart warm, that little girl had gotten attached to Piers. Any woman would…he didn't want to look away at the little hope he had left for the world. Clio grew up in a world of destruction in Raccoon, here she was fighting alongside the best of the best in the BSAA. Fighting B.O.W's and she could obviously fight if she brought Agent Kennedy to his knees.

Clio brought out her combat knife, forcing Leon to his feet. He towered over her, just like everyone else did. It didn't seem to bother her one bit. The knife cut through the plastic like butter, he brought his wrists from behind his back, rubbing them.

"Did you have to put them on so tight?" He complained. She gave him a look.

"Yes. Knowing you, you'd find a way to break out of it." She pocketed her knife. Leon chuckled.

"Not with you on guard duty." He mumbled.

"Did it save us? No." She snapped walking away from him. Chris watched Piers's eyes stare at Leon. Clio was pissed. Everyone could tell, even Fayth.

"You're getting emotional on a mission. That could kill your team." Leon snapped at her, she turned around bringing her gun up.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't shoot you? Right here, right now?" Her face contorted in anger, her eyes filled with hurt. Piers placed his hand on top of her gun.

"Lower your weapon Clio." He whispered into her ear. She stared directly at Leon, her finger slowly moving away from the trigger.

"Let it go. We have a mission. We have a survivor. We have reasons to keep moving. Don't allow the past to haunt you like this." He pushed the gun down. Her chin trembled.

"I swear Leon…if you kill my team, I won't hesitate to put a bullet in your brain." She brought it down, putting the weapon away. Chris believed every word she said, he exchanged a glance with Piers. He too, saw the pain radiating from her. However, when she looked at Piers there was something…something he saw within her and him, that made him worry…he didn't want Piers to loose Clio like he lost Jill…

"Or like I thought I lost Jill." He didn't quite believe Kennedy on that part. That Jill was still alive…they didn't find a body, but that didn't mean that she was still alive…

"Did it…?" His heart skipped for a moment, just to see her face again…to know she was just alive. The sound of Clio speaking again, brought him out of his revere.

"My father better had been there Leon…I swear to god…" She stepped away from Leon, who looked just as deflated as he possibly felt.

"Piers, where is the nearest Evac? We need to get this little girl to safety. The sooner the better." She looked at Chris who felt her stare down to the bottom of his chest.

"Nearest Evac is by the Memorial Twin pools." Christ watched her nod.

"Alright. Piers it's you and me with the girl." She looked to Chris who gave a nod.

"We'll secure this area before heading out to the theater. Be safe Clio." He watched her nod before putting the child on her back, piggy back style. He watched them leave the station. He was standing next to Leon, who was silent.

"Leon, are you sure it was Jill?" Chris asked, Leon nodded.

"I'm positive." He reached into his pocket, pulling out a rather large looking phone. He pushed a few buttons before the screen came to life. Within the picture, Chris again felt the weight of bricks pushing down onto his chest. Jill was standing in front of a pharmaceutical building, in business attire. Her hair was blonde and her eyes were blue. But it was her. He recognized her body build, and how she was standing. She didn't smile, and her hair was pulled back into a tight bun. She was standing next to a man, he didn't recognize. He did however have auburn hair, and brown eyes. He was built like a wrestler, and had on a white jacket. Chris could only assume that gentleman was a scientist.

"It is her…" He looked away from the screen.

"I'm sorry Chris. I really am." Chris shot him a look.

"And where's your partner?" He asked, Leon looked away.

"In the theater, they took her. I have to save Helena." He shook his head slowly. Jameson and Snow were off to the side holding their gear, talking amongst themselves.

"I take it, Helena was the woman I saw you with in China town?" He asked, Leon nodded.

"She's also your girlfriend isn't she…?" His grip grew tight on his assult rifle. Leon nodded again, sticking to his silence.

"You decided to hurt the one person, who gave a shit about you, to be with someone else…" Chris's voice dropped an octave.

"You're supposed to be a hero, not the enemy…" Chris turned from Leon, shaking his head.

"Clio is infected with G. The reason I couldn't stand being with her, is her unnatural ability to heal Chris. It's wrong. She should've been tested to see if they could use her blood, to stop this madness." Chris stopped, turned to look at Leon. Who stood straight.

"She should've died in Raccoon, but her father wouldn't allow it. Her father forced to her live." He looked at Chris.

"Another reason why, I couldn't be with her is because, that man in the picture? That's her father. He's infected with it too. He used to be scrawny…it gave him some sort of immune booster. And Ada…Ada has always been the double spy. Going where the money calls. She's been trying to stop Agent's coming in and trying to stop them. Helena was caught doing her job, and forced into the lower labs. They stretch from the theater to Wal Street. I'm not sure how far down they go…but from what I've seen it was pretty far." He messed with the device, pulling up blueprints of the lab. Chris took a sharp inward breath. Huge was an understatement. He couldn't believe how many levels there were. The blueprints showed seven, eight different levels with fifty to sixty rooms per floor. His eyes kept scanning over the blueprints, running his fingers over the screen to move to the next floor. The bright white and black screen flickered slightly. Chris shook his head slowly.

"I can't believe all of this, under Wal Street." His voice faded to a whisper. Leon nodded.

"I told you, there's more to this mission and this outbreak then what we all thought-"

BAM

BAM

BAM

"Captain!" Snow hollered, Chris lifted his assault rifle to his shoulder taking careful aim. The chirping, screeching and screaming by the windows were no surprise. The station doors were cracking at the sheer weight of the enemies. Chris tossed his side arm to Leon who grabbed it, both were carefully aiming at the door.

"Fall back!" Chris shouted, the men followed his orders. Moaning came from the front door, Chris aimed his assault rifle ready.

Their hands slapped, pounded and banged against the wooden door. He waited patiently, hyper focusing. His hearing toned out Leon and his other teammates, the door collapsed. He was faced with what he was faced at the mansion back in '98 in the Arklay mountains. They were moaning, drooling their skin pale and cracking. Teeth yellowed, gums black as their arms were raised; shuffling into the station. One's eyes landed on Chris, instantly he was snapped back as weapons were being fired beside him.

"Remember, aim for the head!" Chris hollered. The three men nodded.

Rat-tat

Rat-tat

Ra-tat

He kept his cheek against the stock, popping off headshots as if they were pimples. More swarmed over the bodies of the dead, Chris lifted his head jaw growing tight.

"Take it back, keep shooting!" Chris shouted, the guns echoed throughout the small entranceway. The smell of death and gunpowder overwhelmed his nose. Leon was carefully taking the chance by shooting them in between their heads. Snow and Jameson were popping them one by one. They kept filing in…

"We need to head further into the station." He looked at the small team he had.

"Backrooms, now!" He shouted, the men followed him. Still popping off rounds behind him. He had to think, and think quickly.

"Over by the receptionist desk, there should be a quick way to the break room!" Leon shouted, fast on his feet Chris ran at a full sprint to get there, before they become completely overwhelmed.

…

Fayth held onto me tighter than ever before, she was scared and I didn't blame her. She kept looking straight ahead, tilting her head every once in a while. The area was silent. Completely empty. As if the entire city packed up and moved.

"Which is wrong…" I thought.

Piers walked beside me, keeping a fair amount of distance. I was…more than happy to have him back by my side.

"So, what was that situation with you and Leon?" He asked, my mind refused to process the question that was just asked.

"Excuse me?" I looked over at him, his smile caught me off guard and made me melt. He had this look about him that I couldn't help but enjoy looking at. Covered in sweat and grime, it looked good on him.

"You and Leon? You two have history?" Piers pushed. I closed my eyes, for a second thinking of an answer.

"Yeah, we do…serious history." Pain throbbed throughout my chest. The heartache was still there…what he did to me…made me who I am today.

"Would you mind if I pray and ask?" He gave me another look, those blue eyes made my face flush. I felt myself start to feel more attracted to him than before. I gave a sigh, looking up. Carrying a twelve-year-old on my back along with my gear started wearing me down. I stopped for a second.

"Can you walk Fayth?" She followed my voice, nodding slightly.

"My ankle doesn't hurt that bad. I can do it." She reached for my hand, holding it tightly. Straightening my spine, I felt a bit better. She walked beside me, albeit slow and with a limp.

"Alright sweetie, if you need any help let me know." Fayth nodded. The fog that surrounded New York City was thick just like a smog, something I just didn't like. Enemies could come up around you at any moment and attack…

"Why don't you tell Mr. Piers about Mr. Leon?" Fayth asked, her sudden eagerness for other people's business was a surprise. I gave Piers a look and he shrugged lightly.

"I would like to know…you seemed like you were really about to kill him." He gave me another look that sent electric bolts down my body. His blue eyes were driving me crazy. I kept my side arm out and ready, however Fayth had seemed rather comfortable walking between us.

"He's my ex-boyfriend. I met him while I was training to become a soldier. Well, things hit off and like usual, he decided that a woman with…certain abilities freaked him out. So he left me for his partner. Helena Harper. That we now have to rescue apparently, thanks to her getting abducted by Andromeda." I stopped for a moment, realizing how I sounded.

"He left me because he didn't love me, for me. He didn't like the fact that I survived Raccoon city and gained abilities out of it." Fayth was silent while Piers kept walking beside me.

"So it's true, you're infected with the G virus?" Piers asked, I winced at the tone of his voice. My heart started to slam against my ribcage.

"Oh god, please don't tell me this is a deciding factor in how he looks at me…" I swallowed hard.

"Yes, mutated Birkin infected me when I was younger. Just like he did his daughter Sherry. I have the same abilities as her-" I stopped, movement ahead of us. I froze, keeping Fayth by my side. I looked at Piers, he had his sidearm up and ready.

"Fayth, stay by my side sweetie." Pulling her close, her grip grew tight.

"I'm scared…" She whispered.

"I know sweetheart, stay by my side. I won't let anyone hurt you…I swear."

I felt her nod against me, Piers gave me a quick glance. The creature wobbled where it stood.

"What should we do?" He whispered, I looked from Fayth to Piers…

"Gotta do something…gotta do something, think…think…" I pushed Fayth behind me, taking careful gunman stance. I waited. The thing shuffled and wobbled, a moan escaped its throat before appearing through the thick fog. My heart rolled with fear.

"Please just go away, I don't want to fight something right now. Not with a child in tow."

The creature stepped through the fog, it's eyes cataract, mouth cracked at the corners its teeth rotten.

"Hehehe…" It giggled.

"I smell fresh food." It cooed.

My skin went cold.

"It can talk…?" I looked at Piers who looked at me.

"I know you're there little one, where are you?" It whispered out.

"I can smell your fear…" It wobbled on unsteady feet. Fayth buried her face deeper into my lower back, her little body trembling. I wanted to reach back and hold her, to show her that everything would be alright. She was with us…I wouldn't let anyone harm her.

"Clio…" She whimpered, the head snapped over to us.

It's mouth wide the creatures jaw snapped open wide enough to break its own jaw, it howled. I switched to the three round burst, pulling the trigger as fast as I could. The creature laughed, taking the damage like I just poked it with a stick.

"Hold your fire!" Piers shouted, the creature looked like a pile of goo. I knew I hit it, I knew I struck its body in kill spots…

"Why wasn't it dying?" Lowering my weapon, the pile of flesh began to sizzle.

"Yuck it smells nasty!" Fayth rubbed her face into my lower back; my eyes didn't leave from the creature in front of us. Piers was standing at my side, arm raised to shoot. It was building itself back up, bubbling, emitting a smell of rotting flowers. Crinkling my nose, I waited. Sickly interested in what it was shifting to be.

In a single moment of blinking, I watched it turn back into a human form. It looked more human than before. My stomach started to revolt at the very smell, the disgusting blob turned to looked at us. Its body had a gray outer layer. I pulled the trigger.

The creature just laughed as the bullets pinged off its body. Eyes wide, I stepped back. Piers following.

"What the hell is that thing?!" He shouted, I shook my head.

"I don't know." I replied, the thing was quick on its feet, dashing at us. I grasped Fayth, bringing her into my arms. The creature extended its own arm out, sharp blades lined around it's hand. I closed my eyes ready for the impact when another body slammed into mine. An arm wrapped around mine and Fayth. We rolled onto the hard asphalt. Piers was holding us; the creature's hand had gotten stuck within the road. I lifted my head shoving the little girl to Piers. He held her without question. I reached for my only other weapon I had brought with me. My trusty Remington. At a sprint I used an over the shoulder draw; dropping to my knees I brought the shotgun out, to the creatures mouth and pulled the trigger.

Brain matter splayed around me. I was breathing heavily, feeling the adrenalin high. The strange creature collapsed into a pile of ash and smoke. I pushed myself up, feeling an ache coming in from my back. I took a chance, a singular chance and saw Piers holding Fayth. I gave a small wave offering a soft smile. Piers's smile faded into an open mouth scream.

As I turned, the creature's busted mouth was open wide showing broken teeth, and a shattered jaw. Its arm raised up high, the shotgun raised once again. The moment I pulled the trigger, its arm came down. Talons dug deep into my stomach. I felt it ripping through the body armor and into my flesh. The gasp that came from my mouth was followed by bubbling of blood. My eyes stayed onto the creature I pulled the trigger, again and again…

Till my gun ran dry. I watched as the BOW disappeared into a puddle of water. Watching, to be sure it made no other moves. Piers ran over, Fayth in tow.

"Clio!" He screamed.

I held my stomach together by my hand, I tried regulating my breathing. The adrenalin still pumped through my veins, I could hardly see straight.

"Clio? Speak to me. Please." I watched him double, before I collapsed to the asphalt.

Burning.

My stomach was burning.

Even through gritting my teeth, clenching my jaw as tightly as I could. The scream still came out. Louder than I had intended. Blood gushed through my fingers, yet the healing process was rapidly closing it up. I stayed on my knees, tears cut through the pain and I screamed again. Piers was watching in pure shock. He knelt down beside me, softly touching my shoulders. I couldn't help but look up at him, I wanted to beg him to make the pain stop.

"He wouldn't be able too, he couldn't…this…this hurts so much worse than I had ever remembered it being…" I tried breathing through it, nothing but choked sobs came out.

"Clio I'm here, it's okay…" He placed his hand on the back of my neck, gently stroking my throat. The gentleness made it a little easier to breathe through the pain. He was gentle, soothing…his voice calming me through it. The burning sensation finally ended, I lifted my head and took a deep breath of air, the tears piercing through my vision. I looked at Piers. There was nothing but concern within his deep blue hues.

"Clio…are you alright?" He whispered. Slowly I nodded, my forehead pressed against his. Fayth stayed beside us.

"I…I'm alright…this…this is what I was talking about…" I breathed out, my energy sapped. I started to wobble. My vision blurred, my stomach heaved.

"Do you think you're infected?" He asked, I shook my head no hard.

"No…no I'm not. I can't be…" I looked at him, his hand touching my cheek gently.

"We need to get…get Fayth somewhere safe." I leaned against his hand, rubbing my face softly against his skin. I sighed lightly.

"We need to make sure you're alright first Clio." Fayth spoke up, I gave her a gentle look.

"I'm fine. I feel better, I promise." I started getting to my feet, Piers reached out helping me back up. I looked at him, my heart stopped.

"Oh god…oh no…" The feeling came back, stronger than ever. Tears filled my eyes and I wrapped my arms around him, holding onto him. Being that close to seeing what those things could do…Piers held me and held me tighter than before. Softly he rubbed the back of my head. Piers looked to Fayth nodding her over. She walked over wrapping her arms around the both of us.

"We need to get her to safety Piers. We can't let her stay here anymore then we have too…" I touched his chest, Piers nodded quick.

"Then we have to get to that theater and take care of what's going on." I replied. He pulled away for a moment, I knelt down hugging Fayth close to me.

"How much further do we have to go?" I asked, he pulled up the map looking it over.

"Three blocks." He looked at me, I gave a nod. Fayth looked me right in the eyes.

"Are you going to be okay Clio?" She asked me.

"Yes dear, I'm going to be just fine. I promise." I rubbed the top of her head, standing up right. My stomach still ached…but I had to push on.