A/N: extended and corrected.
Chapter Four:
Gone.
Claire could have cried if not for the amount of people watching her. She took one careful step towards Jill. The other woman was frozen in place as Claire slowly approached her, "Jill, oh god…oh," Claire breathed as she picked up pace and wrapped her arms around the other woman. Jill stiffened slightly before pushing Claire back.
"What…the hell were you thinking coming here," Jill hissed as she held Claire at the arms, her grip firm. Claire's happy expression suddenly changed the one of confusion as her mouth tried to find the words.
"I…I just…Chris," Claire mumbled and shuffling her feet uncomfortably. Jill sighed and released the younger woman from her grip.
"Oh Claire…" Jill whispered her tone sympathetic.
"Is he here?" Claire asked, the colour draining from her face. Jill's face changed from angry to upset in an instant and she placed a hand on Claire's arm.
Jill cleared her throat and brushed a bang of hair out of her eyes before looking Claire in the eye, "A few days ago before things really went to hell I went to his apartment to check up on him," Jill explained, watching Claire's reaction for any sign she might break down.
"And…?" Claire whispered her biting her lip.
Jill sighed once more, "He wasn't there…I found his knife and it looked like he had been packing, no note or explanation he was just gone,"
Claire was silent for a long moment before she gasped and put a hand over her mouth and turned away from Jill. "Was…was he okay…before he left?" Claire asked a tear falling down her cheek.
Jill shook her head, "Tired, frustrated…he started drinking when the tabloids hit," Jill said, crossing her arms.
"The Arklay mountains thing?"
Claire and Jill turned, remembering they weren't alone and Claire wiped furiously at her eyes and turned to Leon who had spoken.
"Yeah, If people had listened to what we said about Umbrella then none of that shit outside would have happened," Jill hissed bitterly.
There was a collective sigh from the other survivors apart from Leon, Alex and Claire.
Alyssa who had crept out from behind the lobby desk walked down to the central fountain and scoffed, "I covered that story, Umbrella's a good clean company, they sent out their own soldiers to try and deal with this rioting bullshit!"
Jill laughed bitterly, "Yeah, you know nothing goes through the local paper without Umbrella knowing, they can do what they want and if it means covering their own backs at the expense of human life then they do it, The evidence is filed in the S.T.A.R.S office," Jill explained growing more frustrated with every smug pout Alyssa made.
"I don't get it either,"
Jill turned to see Alex limping down the steps, "I've always thought Umbrella has helped people I mean…Raccoon city practically has…had its own economy thanks to them,"
Jill sighed, "I don't think the whole company was involved in this…the civilian branch most likely handled what you see on the T.V but they didn't make their trillions selling Pain killers and nail varnish,"
Alex was thoughtful for a moment before grimacing and his leg buckled causing him to fall to the ground.
"Shit!" Claire hissed before rushing to the boy's side.
The boy gripped his leg and saw that blood was beginning to trickle around the belt.
"Oh shit! He got bit!" The railway worker screamed.
Alex gasped when he saw Jill's hand twitching just above the handgun in the waistband of her jeans.
"It's not a bite!" Leon yelled, rushing forward to kneel by Alex, "We were in an accident on the way into town,"
The blonde waitress who up to this point had been trying to remain inconspicuous walked up to Alex, "How long has his leg been like that?" She asked, looking down at the wound.
"About an hour…It's burning," Alex grunted as his leg throbbed.
The waitresses Lip's spread into a small O before she unfastened the belt and looked at the wound. Through the dried and fresh blood she could see that the skin was red and puffy.
"We might have an infection here sweetie," She said, her eye's narrowing.
Alex tilted his head back against Leon's chest and whimpered softly.
"Hey, Cindy didn't you guy's bring some Medical supplies with you?" Marvin asked before leaning against the wall and Letting the sub machinegun rest against his leg.
Cindy looked over to a door on the right side of the main hall, "Yeah…I think we have some sutures and antibiotics left…"
Alyssa stepped forward, "They were Georges!" She hissed angrily and somewhat defensively.
"Yeah, and he said to help who we could, you could at least try to honour his memory!" The brown haired cop yelled.
"Would you people just stop!" the rail worker cried hysterically.
The group continued to bicker in the background while Cindy continued to look at the wound, "Take him to the waiting room, I'll see what I can do," She said, smiling warmly.
Leon looked down at Alex who was still resting against his chest, "Can you walk?" he asked.
"Hurts…" Alex whispered.
Leon shook his head before gently lifting the boy into his arms with a groan of protest.
"Hey Leon!" Marvin suddenly called causing the other man to turn to him.
"Vending machines still work, get yourself a snack but don't go crazy,"
Leon smirked briefly, "Will do," He said before walking through the door into the waiting room with Cindy.
The main hall was silent.
"So…" Kendo said, breaking the silence, "What's the plan from here,"
Jill's eye's widened when she saw the man approach, "John!" She cried before rushing up to the man and giving him a hug.
"Hey, Valentine," The big man rumbled, returning the hug with a heavy pat on her shoulder.
"Almost didn't see you back there…did you help them?" Jill asked gesturing towards Claire who was standing up and watching the pair.
"Kind of helped each other and I lost my store…" Kendo admitted sadly before lifting up the bag of weapons he had managed to scavenge before the creatures broke the window, "I think we can all still benefit from it though,"
Jill smiled in response and reached for the weapon bag only to be interrupted by a large hand that grabbed the weapon back.
The brown haired cop had grabbed the weapon bag and was peeking inside.
"See anything you like?" Kendo growled in annoyance.
"I see we need to ration out this ammo," cop replied with a sarcastic edge before he walked away with the bag.
Jill sighed, "Don't mind Kevin…He's just trying to make sure we have enough…to last us,"
"Until when? Is this place even safe?" Claire called from the middle of the hall, arms crossed.
Marvin leant away from the wall, "Most of the first floor is secure, we had a break in last night but we managed to barricade the broken windows and lock some of the doors," He explained.
Claire turned to Jill, "Anymore people,"
"You already met Marvin, Alyssa, Kevin and Cindy and the weedy guy cowering by the statue is Jim,"
'Jim' Let out a weak chuckle and waved at Claire before she turned back to Jill
"There's a few more people, The Chief and the mayors daughter, Bev…she isn't doing so well, he's put her up in his office until she calms down, and there's another S.T.A.R's officer, Brad Vickers," Jill explained.
"Chicken Heart Vickers?" Claire asked with a smirk.
Jill laughed once and she heard Marvin and Kendo snicker.
"Yeah, Well not so Chicken at the minute, He's doing a supply run, he insisted," Marvin said.
"Okay…" Claire breathed, "Look…I need to do something if it's okay,"
Jill raised an eyebrow and Claire stepped towards her, "I need to go to the S.T.A.R.S office, maybe pick up some of Chris's stuff…Closure you know," Claire admitted her head dropping.
Jill walked up to her and touched her arm, "Don't say that like he's already dead... you know him… to stubborn to die," Jill said with a confident smile. It did little to cheer Claire up but she felt a swell of relief knowing that he could be safe…or at least out of the city.
"I'm coming with you, we didn't clear out some of the other floors," Jill offered, pulling out her pistol from the holster.
Claire noticed the design of the weapon, a customised Beretta, samurai edge, she could remember an Email sent by Chris the day the S.T.A.R.S members got their own custom handguns, he was so proud of it…she smiled to herself.
"Beauty aint she," Kendo remarked eyeing the weapon, "Made them myself especially for the squad,"
Jill chuckled, "They served us well Ken," She said with a wink.
"Let's get going, you going to be alright here?" Jill asked.
Kendo nodded, "Yeah, I'll make sure Tom Cruise over there doesn't break any of my merchandise,"
Jill gave him one more smile before walking over to the double doors on the left hand side of the main hall.
"The office is this way…so long as we're quick we won't have to waste ammo," Jill explained. Claire nodded before following, weapon in hand.
O
Leon winced as Alex dug his nails into his thigh, the boy lay on the leather sofa , his arms looped under Alex's to stop him from squirming as Cindy stitched his leg. He had to hand it to the kid…Having stitches without anaesthetic and not screaming was a big accomplishment, he did whimper occasionally though.
"Just a few more…" Cindy cooed as she pierced the skin on his leg with the needle and pulled the suture through. She wiped up some blood that spilled from the jagged gash, fortunately it wasn't deep enough to worry her but she could see muscle tissue and it took all her determination not to feel queasy.
"You know…" Leon huffed as Alex grunted and stiffened in his grip, "you're pretty good at this for a…"
"Blonde?" Cindy said with cute smile.
Leon chuckled, "I was gonna say waitress,"
Cindy laughed then her face dropped slightly, "I've always wanted to be a nurse but I couldn't afford the college fees…when all those things started flooding the street I had to help out all I could…George was a doctor…he showed me a few things,"
Leon turned away from her for a second before looking back, "You lost friends?"
Cindy nodded, "We were in a bar downtown when they broke in…David and Yoko went down first buying us time to get to the streets and Mark and George…he got bit…he made It to the station but…he turned and Marvin had to shoot him…I never want to have to see that happen again," She explained before pulling the last stitch.
"You're doing…a good job," Alex whispered as the sharp pain in his shin throbbed when Cindy tied off the stitch.
Cindy smiled and nodded appreciatively, "Thank you, I'll get you those antibiotics," She said before standing up and walking up to the wooden help desk that divided the wall and started rummaging through a brown satchel.
Alex let out a sigh as he leant back onto Leon's chest.
"Feel better?" Leon asked.
Alex's lips quirked into a brief grin, "Sore…but at least I won't die," he admitted.
Leon sighed and looked down at Alex, "I'm sorry you had to come here...we should have turned back...escaped when we could,"
Alex opened his eyes and tilted his head back to look up at Leon with a frown, "I didn't want to go back," He mumbled before getting comfortable once more and closing his arms. Leon narrowed his eyes for a moment, staring ahead.
The sound of the door opening and a following chuckle caused Alex's eye's to open and Leon to turn around.
Claire and Jill were standing by the door watching the couple on the sofa.
"You guys on row-boat…how about a smooch?" Claire said before blowing a kiss.
Leon gasped before shifting his legs off the sofa and sat bolt upright with Alex slowly following.
"Where are you two going?" Alex asked with a quick glance at Leon.
Claire's smile faded, "The S.T.A.R.S office… I just need to pick up some of Chris's stuff," She explained.
Alex and Leon nodded.
"Be careful," Leon said simply.
Claire smiled, "We'll be fine…anyway don't do anything I wouldn't," She said with a wink at Alex who blushed in response earning a laugh from Cindy who was holding a prescription bottle of antibiotics.
"This way," Jill said, walking around the corner of the help desk, followed by Claire.
Leon looked at Alex, "Did she mean what I think she meant?" He asked.
"Don't be a prude, I was comfy" Alex sighed rolling his eyes with a small smile.
Cindy burst out laughing once more, the three of them forgetting their troubles for the moment.
.O.
Jill opened the door and peeked through the gap before turning back to Claire, "I'll take point, you follow behind and stay quiet, those things hear a pin drop and they swarm on it," She explained before opening the door.
She pushed the door open and a foul smell wafted through the opening, thick and metallic. Claire retched before the sight of the hall in front of her hit her. Blood was smeared down the walls and floor in drag marks and puddles. The lights were dim and the reflected dully on the blood.
Jill Stepped forwards first with Claire following, her breathing hissing past her teeth.
"You said you had a break in?" Claire asked, cringing as she stepped in a puddle of blood.
"Yeah…up the next hall, they broke through the windows, and we lost some of the officers…we had to throw the bodies outside…Jesus… Me, Marvin, Kevin, Brad and Chief Irons are the only officers left and pretty much the only people who can use a gun…we managed to board up the broken windows but we could only lock the dead out," She explained, looking around the hall with her weapon readied.
"Maybe we can get some of the stragglers?" Claire offered as she stepped around another puddle of blood.
"Maybe…we should try and save ammo though did your group take any out?" Jill asked over her shoulder.
Claire thought for a moment, "Hit them in the head right, I haven't had to kill one yet but Kendo and Leon took a couple down on the way here…Alex got one too…I know what to do,"
Jill nodded, "Okay but be careful, those things are slow but they can lunge faster than you can react…the fresher they are the faster,"
Claire grimaced at the thought of one of the creatures grabbing her…touching her with that cold clammy skin.
The two women kept walking through the bloodied hall until they came to the door at the far end.
Jill placed her back against the wall and raised her gun, she signalled for Claire to do the same.
She then turned the handle and pulled the door open a crack before something on the other side crashed into the door and sent it slamming against the wall.
One of the creatures, a man, big and muscular dwarfed Jill as it lunged for her.
Claire fired once, the shot going wide and shattering the glass pane on an emergency fire extinguisher.
Jill cried out as the creature grabbed her shirt and pinned her against the wall and began snarling and snapping at her.
Claire fired again the shot managed to hit the dead man in the side of the chest, causing it to lurch sideways and in a flash of blue Jill managed to grab the creatures arm and twist it with a sickening crunch and pin the man against the wall. The creature struggled violently, snapping it's teeth and snarling before Jill lifted her gun to the back of its head and fired. Blood and brain matter splattered the wall and the creature slumped headfirst down the wall.
"Jill! Jill…I'm so sorry I didn't want to hit you," Claire panicked.
Jill walked up to her and put her hands on her shoulders and squeezed, "It's okay…But I'm telling you now…If anyone gets bit you shoot them…no question, understand?" Jill explained her eyes stern yet understanding.
She then let go of her and turned and carried on down the hall and into the next, kicking the downed man on the way.
"Looks Clear…he probably got in through this gap," Jill called, tapping on a makeshift barricade on one of the windows "I'll radio Kevin once we clear the area,"
Claire nodded and looked over Jill's shoulder at the hall. There was blood but much less, and all the windows were barricaded and glass littered the floor.
Jill walked slowly, the glass crunching sharply under her boots, she kept close to the wall and Claire followed, copying her movements. She could hear groans around the corner and Jill Stiffened against the wall.
"What…" Claire began but was silence by Jill, the younger woman flattened herself against the wall before Jill readied her gun and turned the corner, two shots rang out followed by two dull thumps.
Jill turned to Claire and signalled for her to follow. Claire rounded the corner with Jill and she saw two of the creatures on the floor, both their heads were blasted open and dripping dark fluid and brain matter, their mouths hung open vacantly as blood dripped into their eyes. Claire couldn't take it anymore.
Jill shuddered as Claire doubled over and vomited. She sputtered for a moment before straightening, "Sorry…It's hard to forget they aren't people anymore," she admitted, shuddering at the taste in her mouth.
Jill sighed, "Don't worry about it, we'll get you a drink when we get back,"
"Something strong…god," Claire mumbled as they began to move again, edging around the corpses.
They walked past a pair of double doors and Claire took notice, "What's in there?" she asked.
"Meeting room, we don't have time to sightsee Claire," Jill said over her shoulder.
They kept walking and found that there were thankfully no more creatures in the hall.
Jill flattened herself against the wall next to the door at the end of the corridor, "You're turn, open the door and check the front of you behind, don't let them get behind you," Jill explained.
Claire nodded in agreement before opening the door and stepped into the next corridor. She held her weapon out and saw the area in front of her was clear and could make see stairs, the area looked cleaner than the others...as though untouched by the creatures. A noise behind her caught her attention and she span around to see two of the creatures advancing from the far end of the hall, arms outstretched, one of them was a cop, bloodied with chunks of skin ripped from him.
"Jill!" Claire barked before stepping forward and allowing the other woman to step out from behind the door and raise her weapon to the creatures who lumbered towards them, arms outstretched with hungry soulless groans.
Claire fired first, she could have cheered when the shot hit the cop in the eye and it hell back with a loud thump when its head hit the tiled floor. Jill shot the other one with expert marksmanship its head snapping back and then falling to the floor. More shuffling caught their attention and they turned to see three more creatures advancing.
"Shit," Jill Hissed before opening fire along with Claire.
Some shots hit their bodies before Jill managed to take two of them down before Claire took out the third, a woman who sagged to the floor like a puppet with cut strings.
Claire was breathing heavily as she lowered her gun.
Jill turned to her, "Looks like we've got more places to go…for now," Jill said before walking towards the Stairs.
.O.
"Looks Clear," Jill remarked once they reached the top of the stairs.
Claire lowered her weapon and looked down the long hall.
"Looks more like a museum that a police station," Claire noted as the two began to walk slowly down the corridor.
"Yeah, it was remodelled into the station around thirty years ago, all they really added were cells and some of the lesser artefacts are still in storage in the basement…Irons kept a few for himself god forbid anyone touches them," Jill explained with a scoff.
Claire raised an eyebrow, "So the chiefs a hoarder?" Claire asked.
"Among other things,"
Claire clicked her tongue and decided not to press the issue, she didn't want to have to worry about crazy cops aswell as zombies…zombies, Claire shuddered. Most people would call her crazy if she ever mentioned that word, but considering that the creatures were obviously dead it seemed somewhat appropriate.
Eventually they came across a statue of what could only be described as a greek Adonis. But what caught Claire's eye was the massive ruby the statue was holding in the skywards pointing arm.
"Is that real?" Claire squeaked as the dim light caused the gem to glint.
Jill sighed and followed her gaze, "No, the real gem and statue were taken when the museum was cleared out, Irons wanted a replica to keep in the station to satisfy his love of shiny things," Jill explained with a roll of the eyes.
Claire's face dropped for a moment, "Shame," She admitted.
Jill turned towards the partially open door next to her, "Come on, no distractions, the office is just through here," She said before pushing the door open and walking into the next corridor.
.O.
Fortunately the corridor leading to the S.T.A.R.S office was clear from the dead. Claire and Jill stood outside the office. Claire let out a deep breath she had been holding in the moment they had arrived.
"You okay?" Jill asked, giving the younger woman's arm a comforting squeeze.
"Yeah, let's just get this done," Claire sighed before pushing the door open.
The office was clear…still tidy aside from a few of the desks which were piled with paperwork and various sentimental objects. Claire spotted Chris's desk immediately and walked up to it, brushing her fingers across the wood before collapsing into the chair in-front of the desk.
Jill watched her for a moment before sitting at her own desk that was parallel from Chris's desk. She hadn't even had time to clear it. She smiled as she brushed her fingers over her old lucky blue beret. Something else caught her eye, a picture taken a few years ago. It was a picture of herself and Sitting on the fountain outside Raccoon City town hall her arm wrapped around his much larger one and her head resting on her shoulder.
She smiled at the memory and the sight of Chris's boyish dimples and messy spiked hair, she remembered their short romance when she first moved to raccoon city, six months of kissing, being inseparable, promises of a life together only to be ended by duty to the squad and worries of one of them being hurt, or killed. She was somewhat glad they weren't together for him to see her trapped in a dead city, pretty much their worst fears after the mansion come to life so to speak.
She sighed before turning the photo frame over and as she did something caught her eye, the panel on the back had been pulled back slightly, she pulled the loose panel and it came free easily.
"Claire…you might want to see this," Jill mumbled when she saw the writing on the back of the photo.
Claire swivelled the chair around and saw the photo in Jill's hand, she handed it to her, "On the back,"
Claire took the photo gingerly before turning it over. It was Chris's unmistakable handwriting, elegant and even, she had always teased him about his girly handwriting as she called it but the sight of it now was heart-breaking, she began to read it out-loud.
Jill.
I could only hope you would find this…I know you have an eye for small details.
I'm sorry I couldn't just Email but I was tipped off by Rebecca that Umbrella is tracking all remaining S.T.A.R. S members contacts communications and I couldn't Guarantee your safety if I didn't leave something for you and you only to find.
I'm going to Europe with Barry to investigate Umbrellas Paris facility. If the T-virus was indeed mass produced there then we have to destroy it so that what happened to us at the Arklay lab won't ever happen again at an even larger scale…at Any cost. In case I don't make it back I just want to you to know that you are my best friend and I love you.
Take this Letter to Claire When you can
… Sis…I know you're going to be pissed, But I'm doing this for your safety, Jill will take care of you and keep Umbrella from getting to you should the worst happen.. I love you so…so much baby Sister…and I always will.
Chris.
Claire let the photo fall on her lap and couldn't stop the tears from falling, "I love you too, god…I love you too," Claire sobbed.
Jill's heart wrenched at the sight and she leaned forwards and wrapped her arms around the girl, stroking her hair as her own composure started to slip and tears pricked like thorns at her eyes.
Claire pushed Jill back, "I want to know everything…" She said in a low voice.
Jill squeezed her eyes shut and sat back in her chair, "Everything you heard in the papers was true…I mean everything Umbrella didn't cover up…The old spencer estate in the mountains was more than just a relic…it was a hive…an umbrella lab and... The virus Chris talked about was what caused all this, the T-virus," Jill explained, keeping her gaze away from Claire.
"T-virus?" Claire asked, her voice still cracked.
Jill scoffed, "Umbrellas pet project…I don't know much about it other than what Wesker told us…from the files at Arklay I know that it starts out as airborne but transmission changes depending on its environment…right now it's fluid transmission as far as I can tell…It created those things out there, Umbrella used it to create biological weapons for military warfare…creatures like the Tyrant," Jill explained.
Claire's lips parted momentarily, "Tyrant...what?"
Jill shook her head, remembering the pale lipless creature slowly advancing on her with its claws dripping with Wesker's traitor blood.
"It was grown at the lab…using the T-virus on a living person, just another failure and It turned out Wesker was working for umbrella and he released it and ironically it killed him…me and Chris managed to destroy it before the lab blew" Claire gasped and looked away from Jill
"Did…did Chris ever mention Wesker?," Jill asked, now looking Claire back in the face.
Claire only heard about him from Chris and from the sound of him in the background when Chris called her from the office the man had a major stick up his ass, always yelling at people to get to work, but he and Chris had served together for five years on the service and he had looked up to the man as a mentor.
"Because of that man only five S.T.A.R.S members got out alive…the bastard knew what we would find…for the sake of us being cannon fodder for Umbrellas pet's ironically he was killed by the Tyrant…his own little pet," Jill explained with venom.
Claire shook her head in disbelief…but the proof was out there…those infected creatures, and Jill wouldn't lie to her, she wouldn't.
"Why didn't you say all this downstairs?" Claire asked tonelessly, her head drooping.
"I didn't want to cause a panic…if the people downstairs thought for one second that the virus was airborne they would fall apart, Look at Jim and Alyssa they're cracking and I'm not cruel enough to add to their pain," Jill Explained taking her hand.
Claire pulled her hand away, not in anger but to hold the picture of Chris and Jill, "I won't tell anyone…yet, but if we get out of this in one piece we need to spread the word, find evidence somehow…for Chris," Claire said, conviction strong in her voice.
"For Chris," Jill replied softly.
They were silent for a moment before a distorted voice crackled out of nowhere.
"Jill...JILL come in!" The panicked voice said again.
Jill's eye's widened as she reached down and pulled a small two way radio out by thr antennae from her jeans pocket.
"Brad?" She replied, "Brad are you okay,"
There was a crackle of static before Brad responded, "No! I'm not fucking okay, There's something…" The voice was cut off by gunfire, automatic weapons by the sound of it before another voice was heard, a thick Russian accent.
"Move idiot its right on top of us, Carlos!"
There was another silence followed by gunfire before brad spoke again, "I found two guys, UBCS but you need to get the gate open, please for the love of god hurry!" Brad screamed before the radio went silent again.
"Brad?" Jill whispered quietly, unnerved by nothing but the sound of running footsteps which were followed by a sound that nearly jolted Jill into dropping the walkie talkie.
It was another voice…more of a growling hiss, "Stars…"
Then there was no sound…crackling died away.
"Jesus…" Claire gasped, now standing by Jill. She simply stood there frozen in place.
Jill suddenly animated and turned to Claire, "We have to go, get the gate open" Jill stated before going to walk through the open office door but was stopped by Claire's hand on her shoulder.
She turned to Claire, "I'm staying here for a bit, I'll be fine," Claire said before letting go of her.
Jill nodded and smiled before backing out of the door and closing it behind her.
.O.
Leon gulped down the last of his lukewarm coffee and shuddered before throwing the polystyrene cup in the trash can. He then turned to Alex who was sipping at a soda and grinned.
"So I'm comfy huh?" Leon teased, ribbing the boy.
Alex turned to him with narrowed eyes and a slight pout, "I was delirious and hurting and we are not talking about this," he said simply before placing his can of soda on the table by the side of the sofa.
Cindy chuckled, "It's good to feel so calm again, I haven't laughed in days," she remarked before sliding into an arm chair across from the two men.
Alex smiled, a proper honest to god smile, "It might be the antibiotics talking but I'm actually feeling pretty calm right now," he said pulling his legs onto the sofa and leaning against the arm.
"Yeah, that's the ecstasy I mixed with the meds," Cindy said with a wink.
The colour drained from Alex's face as he reached for his soda can and took a long swig.
Cindy laughed out loud again, "I'm kidding honey," she said between laughs.
Even Leon started to chuckle, earning a slap on the arm from Alex.
"Mean," The boy hissed.
Leon calmed himself before looking at Alex, "You know, I've been meaning to ask, you said you didn't want to go home…why?" Leon asked a brow rising in interest.
"Oh…no reason," Alex said simply and taking another sip of his drink.
"Come on, we're all friends here," Leon pushed with a reassuring smile.
Alex sighed, defeated, "I wanted to get away, I don't get along with my older brother and sister,"
Leon swallowed nervously, he regretted asking now.
"What about your parents?" Cindy asked softly.
Alex looked up at her and propped his head on one hand, "They died when I was three…I remember my mum very vaguely but not dad…I don't even have a picture of them," He explained as he tapped his foot on the floor absently.
Alex looked contemplative for a moment before shaking his head, "Anyway, that's about it for me what about your life Leon?" Alex asked his lips pursed together.
Before Leon could speak the door Jill and Claire had previously gone through was opened and a lone Jill jogged around the corner, Gun in hand and breathing heavily.
Leon stood up in an instant, "Claire," He breathed.
Jill raised a hand to silence him, "Safe, she wanted to stay in the office but I need you to follow me to the main gate now," She ordered.
"What's going on?" Leon asked, his hand hovering above his weapon holster.
"I'll explain in a minute but you need to come with me," Jill ordered once again before quickly walking past him and through the door to the main hall.
Leon began to follow but a small hand gripped his momentarily causing him to turn and see Alex looking up at him with concern, "Be careful," He pleaded softly, his eyes wide.
Leon nodded at him with a lopsided grin before following Jill through the door.
O
Jill was already at the top of the steps leading to the main doors to the station and was holding a set of keys while talking to Kendo.
"Ken, I need you, Kevin and Marvin know the others better than you or me we need them to stay calm," Jill pleaded.
Kendo was conflicted but in the end nodded, "I'll cover you Jill," he said before cocking his shotgun.
"Excuse me but just what the hell is going on," Alyssa suddenly barked.
Jill turned on her, "Just stay here, we're taking care of it," She hissed.
"Kendo open the door," Jill asked. The big man turned to the door and opened it, letting in a cold gust of air before Jill ran through.
Up ahead Jill could see Brad and the two UBCS officers he mentioned behind the main gate, one was a silver haired man with icy blue eyes, he held a pistol in one hand and was supporting a bloodied Brad with the other arm. Another man was behind them, she could only make out the back of him but he was younger, muscular and tanned with short black hair. He was pointing an m4 assault rifle ahead of him, covering the other men.
"Jill…please," Brad begged, blood spilling from his lips.
"Jesus," Jill breathed, running up to the gate and fumbling the keys.
"Hurry, its right behind us," the silver haired man snapped in a thick Russian accent.
Jill ignored him as the padlock finally opened and she slid the gate bolt open.
Leon and Kendo ran to join her by the gate and pull the heavy door open just wide enough for Brad and the soldiers to pass through. The Russian man pushed Brad through the gap who cried out in pain before Jill caught him in her arms and began to walk him towards the station. He was followed by the two soldiers who helped Leon and Kendo shut the gate and slide the bolt, locking it once more.
Brad gave a cry and nearly collapsed as Jill struggled to pull him upright. The man continued to whimper as Jill looked him up and down and saw a large gash across his chest was breathing profusely.
"It…It's after us, It spoke it knows us it's death!" Brad screamed incoherently, at the point adrenaline was the only thing keeping the man standing.
Jill gripped his shoulders to silence him then looked at the men who were with him over his shoulder. She could now see the younger man was in fact very young, barely twenty by the looks of it but she would deal with them later.
She looked back at Brad and held his face in her hands trying to soothe him, "What, is coming?" She asked softly staring into his fear crazed eyes.
Brad panted before speaking only one simple word, "Death,"
Something slammed into the ground behind Brad with enough force to shake the ground they were standing on. Jill let go of Brad with a cross between a gasp and a scream as what hit the ground behind him began rise, a shapeless mass, a man…a monster.
Brad turned slowly to see the dark figure behind him raise a massive arm and let out a roar that shook the very foundation of the earth.
Jill was frozen in place as she got a good long look at the monster before her. Standing at nine foot it dwarfed her; it was impossibly thick with muscle and seemed to be dressed in a thick leather trench coat and boots. It's skin looked burnt and flaky and she could make out what looked like thick red worms erupting from its skin around the shoulders and burrowing under its flesh but it's face was what hit her the hardest. It only had one milky eye, the other either removed or sown shut, it was nose-less and lipless, bringing back memories of the tyrant's lipless grin…but this creature wasn't grinning it was snarling…a pure evil, bloodthirsty snarl.
Time resumed its normal pace for Jill as Brad ran to the left screaming wildly and sobbing, begging for mercy. The creature's one good eye followed him with a sickening sticky wet sound as it turned and began walking to him with loud heavy footsteps.
It had only just occurred to Jill that the others had begun to fire at the creature. It hit the young soldier first with a nonchalant flick of the wrist sending him crashing into the Russian man and they both slammed into the front gate hard enough for Jill to hear a break, probably a rib. Leon was next to be brushed aside and slid across the ground sliding to a halt at the front door of the station.
Brad was cowering in the corner of the courtyard with nowhere to run.
He fell to his knees before the creature begging as its heavy footsteps, growls and fixed stare caused him to grow hysterical.
"Brad!" Jill screamed and went to run to him but a strong arm gripped her around the stomach and she was pulled into a much larger form.
"There's nothing you can do!" Kendo growled in her ear.
Jill continued to scream and struggle until the creature finally reached Brad and with a sweeping motion grabbed the man by the hair and lifted him three foot off the ground.
Brad's shrill shrieking stabbed at Jill like a thousand knives as she watched the creature cock its head and let out a soft growl before turning so all could see what was coming.
It raised its free arm which began to shudder and Jill could see something writing under the thick leather coat the creature was wearing.
"BRAD!" Jill screamed desperately, "KEN LET ME GO!"
Brad's eyes began to roll back in his head as blood trickled down his forehead as the skin began to tear. The creatures arm stopped shuddering and whatever was squirming under its coat exploded through the leather coat at the arm. Three tentacles, each one a dark red and violently whipping around began to snake towards Brad.
"NO!" Jill screamed once more before the tentacles shot forward and impaled Brad through the eyes and mouth and silencing his screams to wet bloody gagging.
Jill's screams from that moment chilled Kendo to the core, Leon looked close to vomiting and the two soldiers could only watch in horror as the creature let out one more almighty roar before tearing Brad's off in a messy upwards pull of the arm. Most of the spine came free and his still twitching body fell to the ground
The creature eyed the severed head before gripping the spinal column and pulling the tentacles free and letting the head hang in its hand by the partial spine before raising it out in front of itself.
Kendo let Jill go and she stood slowly, backing away with tears in her eyes.
The creature then looked at her before tossing the severed head at her feet. What was left of Brads face rolled towards her, his face frozen in an expression of agony even without eyes she could see his pain.
She looked back at the creature whose gaze was now fixed on her as it had once been on Brad. It opened its mouth and one word came out that would be forever burned into her memory.
"Stars," It growled in a deep rumbling voice that shook them all to the core as it began to advance once more.
End of chapter.
A/N Ok hope you all enjoyed…whoever may be reading. I just thought I would explain the story a bit. It is a combination of Resident Evil 2 and 3 set in the same time frame with added extras which I won't spoil. I was hoping to add the Licker in this chapter but I decided to save it for "Chapter Five: The Hunter and the Hunted" aswell as introducing another character and fleshing out Nicolai and Carlos, and the outbreak survivors. Btw Leon and Alex were tooootally necking while Cindy filmed it while Claire and Jill were the focus…only joking lol, see you all next time.
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