Shaylin POV
It was hard to stay awake, my eyes drooping. Relaxation was the one thing I needed later... and a long awaited sleep. Maybe a nice heater and cocoa in front of a tv screen? School wasn't going to be an option for a while...so why not? Timmy and Miley would be with me, and it's not like we couldn't get money from somewhere. Timmy could easily get a job at a fast food place; Miley and I have been talking about babysitting for months anyways, so why change the plan now?
After settling that, all I could think of was sleeping at this point and my vision began to fade.
Leon and Claire's voices shot out of the vent beside me, along with a little girls. A peaceful smile spread across my face, happy that they had saved the little girl from the tunnels earlier. Its a wonder how she survived so long on her own with that thing going after them. Hell, it's even a surprise that I survived!
Beside me there was a door slam, followed by voices shouting. Leon and Claire's voices sounded strained and worried, giving me a sense of worry. Tonight had taught me that when a trained adult gets worried...you should be fearing for your life and be prepared to enter into a long phase of mortal terror. Standing up I leaned against the door trying to hear what the three were saying. A faint scream came from outside the cart making my skin crawl.
The train jerked forward and threw me into the side of the control panel. The levers and buttons jammed into my rib knocking the wind out of me. Landing on my scrapped knees I winced and quickly got off the ground feeling the bruises emerge already. Gunshots were going off left and right making my ears pop repeatedly and a gust of air blew at me from under the door. There was a small vent cut into the bottom of the door and gave me something to look through.
Once I saw the other side, the wall between Leon and Claire's cart and the one behind there's collapsed. On the other side nothing was left except for a monster that looked like a giant worm. It's teeth were sharp as they led down its throat. I let out a scream, but luckily covered my mouth in time. "We're screwed!"
The arms from it slithered around the trains outer layer, pulling the monster further forward. I gasped. "IT'S EATING THE TRAIN WHOLE!"
Backing up I looked out in front of the train to see the tunnel getting lighter. Hope filled my eyes as I repeated over and over in my head, "Just a little bit longer, come one guys, just need to last a little bit longer." The panel I just looked through popped out and blond hair shoved its way through. Sherry had crawled through and shouted out to Claire.
Immediately after looking up she saw me, and a little shocked expression appeared on her face. Claire yelled at her again, her voice sounding muffled. With a nod Sherry walked over to the control panel, then started pulling and pushing random buttons. The monster cried out her name in terror and she froze. Leon and Claire began shooting again, screaming at it and everything else.
"Watch the tentacles!" Leon shouted. I froze, trying to process the warning, Watch for the tentac...-Wait, what?
The window on the drivers side of the control room shattered as something charged through into the small room. I covered my eyes while Sherry ran to take cover behind the seat. A tentacle had made it past the two and found us. One peaked its head throughout the air vent and I quickly kicked the cover on it closed, hoping to buy us some time.
"Get back!" I ordered and she gave nod while backing up behind me. I pulled my gun out and aimed at the worm-like thing, trying to get a good shot. The gun in my hand was given to me by Ada, and I hadn't had the chance to use it yet. Eyeing the gun I tried to see how to use it quickly, the tentacle wrapped tightly around my leg and pulled me to the ground.
Holding the gun up, I fired at it repeatedly. My arm jerked every which way as the force from the gun traveled through me and the knock back pushed me back. It was louder than my other one and seemed to have a greater effect on the monster as it inched back at every blow. The other limb broke through the panel in the door, gripping my arm. There was a shout from the other end and the tentacle screeched, letting go of me and retreating. The other one did the same, leaving me and Sherry alone.
The train suddenly picked up speed and the monster screamed for her one last time. She covered her ears and crouched to the floor in fear, mum merging to herself. I rushed over to the control panel and gave it a check, trying to find the brakes. A lever with a red coat stood out immediately and I hurriedly pulled it down. A loud, shrill drone came from the wheels and sparks flew up in from in front of the train. This time I covered my ears and closed my eyes, the light from outside blinding me.
The train finally slowed to a stop and I heard the doors from the other side open up. Sherry crawled back through the door to go meet up with Leon and Claire, leaving me behind. Blinking to clear my vision, I looked out the window and saw them walking ahead on the train along the tracks with Claire and Sherry jumping around with joy.
There was nothing for miles, saying that this was the desert side of town. Ignoring my sore muscles I crawled onto the seat and out the window. Landing with a thud I accidentally made the wrong move and put all my weight on my injured ankle. My foot made a loud cracking noise and pain shot through my leg. Loosing my footage my legs gave out sending me to the ground on my side.
I took in a sharp breath, holding back a scream. Letting it out with a sharp sigh, I closed my eyes and felt the warm sand-like dirt. "I made it..." I whispered, my gaze falling on the trio.
Leon crouched down to Sherry's height and began to talk to her. At first, she did nothing. Then Claire held her tightly as she suddenly grabbed her into a hug. I could hear her crying from my spot on the ground, her voice coming out muffled and shaky. Claire hugged her even tighter, letting Leon continue. His words were soft, but got more loud and hope filled by the time he finished.
"...She loved you very much. Always has, right up till the end."
Sherry lightly shook her head, "No...that's a lie! Mommy never..."
Claire got down to her level and hugged her tight, while I held back my own tears. She was too young to see this and have her parents both die in one night. Good God, how old is she...twelve-ish?
Picking myself up I watched the group talk for a little while, not sure whether to go with them or stay here. My friends should be out soon, and their exits not too far from here. If Dads map was correct. My ankle popped over and over as I stood up and made my way secretly around the back of the train. I was shocked after seeing the damage it took, and the smoke coming from the tunnel didn't lighten me up either. I must not have heard the explosion throughout the trains breaks and the monsters screams.
Not looking back at the damage, I trudged up the mini hill towards their exits direction. "Let's not keep them waiting." I said to myself, walking away from the sight.
Timmy POV
By the time she was fully gone, I had been crying for what felt like forever. I couldn't face the fact that she was gone, no matter how bad I wanted to, and now the alarms have gone off, and the facility is fixing to self destruct. I looked down at her body that was still in my arms and sighed as more tears fell. Wrapping my arms around her I begged her to wake up, to get up and walk out of here with me just as we had all hoped. But she stayed like she was...silent, still, and gone. Slowly I closed her eyes for her, not wanting to see the vacant stare her eyes held.
I stood up shakily and looked down the already brighter tunnel. With my sore knees I bent down to pick her up. Once she was in my hands safely, I whispered to her. "I promised you that we would make it out of here... and I'm not going to let this change anything."
With Miley tightly in my arms I carried her down the tunnel, her body already stiffening. The area I was in split into two, giving me a choice. The alarm in the facility became more loud and frequent. Alarm spread through me and freaking out, I looked down one tunnel and saw the slightly lighter tint from outside. I took off down the hall trying not to slip on the way. We were eventually greeted by sunlight and the towns sirens came on by whoever was still working them. Easing myself out of the tunnel I saw a tiny object flying above the city.
Miley's body had gotten heavier and more limp, giving me a hard time when running. And after running for a couple of minutes, my pace began to slow down to a jog. Winded and tired I checked the sky again, only to see the object getting closer. I came to a fence that, by the looks of it, the government had set up for this. My hands dug at the soft ground, trying to make a hole deep enough to crawl through.
The sound of a screech came from a mile north-west of us, smoke rising from the same area. I grabbed the dense wires and pulled them up, trying to buy us more room. A shock wave was sent through my body and my breaths became short.
An electric fence, seriously?
Tightening my grip, I kept pulling up. Once it was big enough I pushed Miley's body to the other side, then I slipped through. I felt a tug on my pants and saw that they had been caught on the wires. The missile went into the city and disappeared behind a building. Yanking my pants away from the fine wire a sting went up my leg. The wires had been caught on something more than cloth.
A shock went throughout me as I hurried away. Picking Miley up I ran in the direction of the smoke from Shaylin's exit, blood running down my leg. Behind me there was a flash of light and my hearing stopped. Everything went into slow motion as I suddenly became disoriented and tired.
"Don't stop." I ordered, picking up the pace. The ground beneath me shook and I lost my balance. Hitting the ground hard I closed my eyes as the wind blew around me.
Then everything went still.
There was a loud ring followed by a thud. Glancing up I saw a helicopter in the sky go down in the little patch of green several miles away from here. It soon disappeared, giving me a sense of dread. There went option one. Taking Miley in my arms I got up and walked towards the train exit that was just in view.
When the train got bigger I put her body down and searched for Shaylin. The train doors opened and a child stepped out along with a man and a woman. They began to walk away from the train, the lady and little girl walking happily. But no Shay. Clenching my fists I braced myself for the worst, wondering if she had made it or her body was by a zombies in the rubble of Raccoon City.
Jake was supposed to stay with her! If I see him I'm gunna-
The mans voice broke the silence, getting louder and more hope filled. "She loved you very much. Always has, right up till the end."
The little girl cried in the woman's arms and hugged her tight, "No... That's a lie! Mommy never..."
Standing there I looked around for Shaylin, the girls voice not leaving my mind. So... that's how...Shaylin felt.
The woman talked to them for a while then waved goodbye, not that the girl would let her leave. She wiped the tears off the girls face and gave her and that guy a hug. The guy turned around and began to talk to the little girl, following the train tracks while the woman walked away from the train in my direction.
Seeing her coming towards us, I looked around to see where I could go. I stupidly but honestly would've hid, but we were in a desert...and the train was now behind her...
When she looked up her eyes met mine and confusion came across her face. Looking back at the train then to the city, her eyes widened as she took in our features. With a nod she began to walk towards us. Maybe she could help us. Her eyes fell on Miley and she stopped in her tracks, shock spreading across her face.
"You must be Timmy..." Good Lord, did Shay tell everyone about us? "And that...must be Miley."
"Did you come from the train?" When she nodded, my questions came out all at once. "Did you see her? Was she in the tunnels? Last we saw her she was with a man by the name of Jake, about this high and kind of sickly looking, did he show up-"
"Woah, slow down there. No, I'm really sorry but I haven't seen her since I first got here."
"B-but," I stammered, tears filling my eyes. "That can't be! Jake promised they would make it out. I trusted him...SHE TRUSTED HIM! Where is that fucking bastard cause I am going to murder-"
There was a cough that came from down the hill out of sight. The figure came over the hill in a quiet limp and moving slower than a turtle. Squinting to see past the sun, I watched the figure get more clear and visible. The person suddenly stopped in shock, their eyes widening.
"...Timmy?"
"Shaylin!" I ran with all my might towards her and tackled her in a huge embrace. Screaming thank you over and over to all who was listening. "Oh God, thank you! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!"
Claire smiled joyfully and walked towards us, "You made it!"
"It wasn't easy!" Shaylin laughed, smiling up at us. "Oh boy, I am so glad everyone made it out safely. I was hiding in the control room on the train, those tentacles were coming from every which way weren't they?"
"Yeah, but we got William in the end!" She shouted victoriously, I gave them a puzzled look. Shaylin giggled, "I'll explain later."
Letting her go, I let her give Claire a hug. Her clothes were covered in blood, and it wasn't hard to believe that it was all hers even though it most likely wasn't. The girls legs were cut up along with her stomach, arms and back. When I looked closer I also caught her ankle injury and how it was even worse than before. Thinking about that... Man, I am such a pansy!
While I was looking at the train and the damage that was taking in awe, the sound of Shaylin's laughter disappeared. Glancing over I saw her freeze and worry spread across her face.
"Timmy..where's Miley? I don't see her anywhere..."
I sighed, " Um...it's..well, you see...there was-" before I could get it clearly out, her gaze met mine then Immediately found the body laying approximately fifteen feet away from us.
"M-M-Miley?" She asked with a shiver. Slowly walking over she collapsed to the ground beside the girls body. I watched as her shaking hand raised up and moved the hair out of Miley's face.
Claire kneeled beside her and reached out to touch her shoulder. Jerking away she eyed the body and a tear rolled down her face. This is unbearable. Lowering my gaze to the ground I waited for her to cry and scream. And it didn't take long.
Shaylin's hands lifted and jerked back and she tried to touch the body. "M-Miley...You can wake up now." She sniffled. "We made it! Come on and get up, Miley. We-" her voice broke and she began to cry. Claire tried to pull her away into a hug in an attempt to separate them, but she shoved her aside. "Stop faking, Miley, PLEASE! I can tell your faking...I just know it!" Her scream became frantic and brutal as she shook her head repeatedly. "STOP FAKING IT DAMMIT!"
Immediately she threw herself into Claire's hug, burying her face into her shoulder. Giving her time to relax, Claire wrapped her arms around her and stroked her hair with a calm shush.
"I'm sorry...Shaylin."