The sound of incessant dripping and flushing of pipes as water trickled down the wall in translucent waves of blue light, footsteps grew louder as a silhouette slowly mushed and waded through knee high pools of the cities flushed filth. It was Elaine, who herself had somehow managed to escape the police station and out into the sewer system directly beneath it, looking somewhat worse for wear she pushed her fringe back, wiping the sweat and grime from her face with a gloved hand. The precincts system was a labyrinth of blackened twists and turns which, she knew due to extended delays of construction contracts and electrical con job phone calls. They all lead back into the main waterways but trying to figure out which wasn't much of a task as she remembered the routes we're illustrated on a large map on the end of the wall. Water slushed around as Elaine waded over to the other end of the tunnel where light seemed scarce, irony much?Elaine thought before pausing in shock at the sight of a corpse floating past her.
Despite everything that happened so far, despite all the horror she'd been witness to, the sight of death never grew old but a rather powerful aphrodisiac for survival. A stench rose from the lifeless floater so foul that it made Elaine want to vomit uncontrollably, though raising the hind of her right hand to cover her nose and mouth, she pulled a small service torch out from her police belt to highlight the maps layout "I remember it was two lefts, one right, one left and then a c-turn …or was it one left, two rights, a c-turn andthena left?"
Elaine wondered as she muttered to herself, noticing the torches light had grown dim she was forced to shake it just for a little extra light again, her face became focused as she directed the torch light across the route she thought was the correct one but suddenly heard a noise. She looked back for a second distracted while still holding the light up to the map, and seeing nothing she continued trying to retrace directions. She whispered repeating turns and checks to herself but paused suddenly hearing another noise, her aim was directionless for a moment as she tried to decipher what it was before the torches light went dim and eventually fizzled out "Shit". Trying to shake it back to life but it was no use; she suddenly perked up from an abrupt sound of a strange deep wail which, bellowed through the sewer tunnels briefly. A silence followed, broken only by the sound of flowing water soaking her legs through to the raw bone and much to the female officers' disgust, Elaine could only imagine what disease and filth ran through it Whatever's around that fucking corner, is getting a lead breakfast! Elaine thought trying to convince herself she wouldn't just be mauled and gutted by whatever her mind could fathom; shaking out of it she put all her focus on the task of getting out of the sewers and to any possible escape route out of the city.
Finally deciding to move onward after taking templates from the map, Elaine waded further down the miserable black wet tunnel trying to stay within the rusted service lights environs, the stench from the water bloated corpse followed her all the way around the corner before finally dissipating into the atmosphere much to her relief. Water trickled endlessly down the wall beside Elaine as she waded further down the dark tunnel, with the aid of just her service torch which, luckily had mustered enough pizzazz to power itself up to a golden glow even if it was for a brief period she was glad.
Unaware of something hidden in the blackest corners watching her every move, her gun sight alternating from left to right as she motioned further, suddenly she spotted a silhouette just pass the corner of her eye "What…" the officer thought sharply jolted by the cold sensation of fear as she dared follow the mysterious figure. Silently she bound around the corner flashing her light in the direction of the lumbering figure that turned around barely batting an eyelid at the revelation "Marvin…" Elaine gasped in surprise, at first keeping the barrel of her gun firmly in his direction "Say something!" she ordered "I'm…not dead yet!" A deathly ill looking Marvin replied, clutching his chest with his right hand "What…are you doing down here?" he asked "The station was compromised sir, those things are everywhere. What the hell are you doing down here?" she wondered the same about Marvin "By now you probably guessed those zombies, aren't the only things inside the station. Tearing apart the whole precinct… surely you've seen it." Elaine gave him a look of comprehension "I found more survivors, there was a girl, one of the security guys from James's place, Kevin and one of the new transfers, Leon but, we got split up. I saw Rebecca just before that thing found me." Marvin perked up a slight, looking up for a moment "She's still here." He uttered reassuring himself, through all the shit, somehow the few S.T.A.R.S members were fighting back, tooth n claw to stay alive and out of Umbrellas grasp. Vigilant as Umbrella were, in their efforts to tie up a very dangerous loose end. It didn't matter, if only one got out, Umbrella were finished. "She saved my ass, I'd be dead if she hadn't shown up. Shit, they could be all dead by now..." The young officer began to contemplate, what if Rebecca had succumbed, what if they all had. If even the slimmest chance meant any of the people she'd found tonight were still breathing, they'd be low on ammunition for sure, up against it and their breathing space slowly stifling. "This looks bad Sarge" Elaine had noticed the fatal wound he'd suffered, his shirt covered in blood and perspiration from the night's events, clung uncomfortably to his skin "Elaine, listen to me…" Marvin stressed as she proceeded to aid him "This thing is …bigger…than, we thought. They didn't plan on just putting the city into, quarantine…they're planning to destroy it!"
"Destroy it?" Elaine asked curiously "S.T.A.R.S we're right all along but…they got too close. Umbrella…wants all evidence of their screw up, erased by any means necessary". Marvin explained looking at Elaine who wet her lips gulping at the news "How do you know all this?"she asked"There was word of an evacuation team…I overheard on one of the channels, just…outside the city. We need to get the hell out of here, but those things are all over the goddamn precinct. I figured the quickest way out would be the old waste system, ironic we escape one shit hole… just to end up in another!" He exclaimed with humour, even talking seemed to take the energy out of him
"Alright, let's get moving, here, on me. You don't look like you can make it much further on your own" Elaine interjected as she took one of his arms resting it around her neck before the two waded slowly through the shallow brown disease ridden rivers of raccoon's sewers. Furthering toward the end of the tunnel, Marvin began to witter and babble deliriously, joking through the pain of his wound with Elaine "Just another after hours, down at Jays tavern, huh?"Elaine joked but her face dropped spotting another shape standing at the far end, struggling with one of the doors to- maintenance"Hey!"she barked just as the figure turned back to see the two, it was Grahams "Wait…" Elaine cried before suddenly flinching as a bullet ricochet off the mossy decaying brick work; Marvin dropped helplessly splashing into the pool "Stay down!" Elaine snapped as she did the same "What the hell are you doing? We're Alive!"Grahams paused trying to assess their position before making a quick exit through the large sturdy metal door "Wait…wait damn it!" Elaine's pleas were met with a loud slam as the door was pulled shut and quickly locked from the other side. She went back for Marvin who groaned as he was helped back to his feet, Elaine staggered at his pace soon reaching the door "Don't…don't bother, I think…there's another way into the plant around the next tunnel." He said "You're sure?" Elaine asked hoping her mortally wounded employer wasn't just making random decisions from delirium "Yes!" she nodded in comprehension to his answer before the two struggled further down the tunnel, suddenly met by another lurking shape.
The zombie reared its ugly face around the corner, a limp bloody hand slapping the walls curvature, clasping moss and rotted brick work between its fingernails. Elaine stepped back in surprise about to pull her gun out before two hungry additions lurked behind the first, flinching and struggling to retain their balance as they pursued the cop and her wounded partner. Hesitant in wasting what little ammo her police issue had left, Elaine merely pointed the barrel in their direction as they staggered and swayed "Any ideas?" A sarcastic Marvin asked just as a single zombie cockily flanked their position, blood infused spittle ran down the side of its badly torn cheek and atrophied flesh covered in bile clung to bone protrusions in the man's rib cage, he'd been dead a while. The two zombies behind the first pushed and struggled past one another, reaching out desperately for the female officers exposed neck and pert cleavage; she backed up checking her rear momentarily and just managed to avoid a fatal grope.
Suddenly there was a strange clicking coming from behind them, Elaine stepping backward, wound her neck around barely able to make out an inhumane silhouette peering around the wall what the hell was that she wondered as the shape made no attempt to come any closer, but merely observe "Through, here!" Marvin exclaimed "OK, hang tight." She replied swinging her gun arm around with a single bullet for the flanker, at point blank range the impact was enough to knock the creature off its feet leaving the other two confused. A metal door creaked loudly as she pulled it open leading Marvin through the other side before pulling it shut again and tying off the torque bar to seal it shut again. The two officers paused for a moment sparing a second to glance round and gather their bearings "Straight across the reservoir leads into the treatment plant." "Are you sure?" she asked "Yes" Marvin added before she waddled across the waterway with Marvin in arms, their shadows stretching across the shallow waters as something continued to observe them hidden well within the dark corners of the passage ways.
The sandy coloured jeep rumbled and creaked from rusted springs in the suspension, as tires scraped across the asphalt roads before gradually coming to a halt; multiple doors clicking open as an eerie silence resumed course. Kevin took point looking around cautiously while the others followed, watching each other's backs, Leon glanced up at the hanging sign on the side of the travel office which, squeaked as it gently rocked from the ominous breeze. He motioned for Kevin to check the area ahead "No activity...it's clear" Kevin replied before the team eased off "Alright, let's move". Leon hurried toward the tram, rustling in his back pocket for the key card quickly taking it out, Leon sniffed nervously as the ticket outlet pinged and lit up ready to serve passengers, despite being a rural county, the city had obviously undergone some much-needed updates.
The card had belonged to a staff member who worked at the stations office, Leon had noticed from the photo id on the back before pushing the it into the slot. A resounding beep indicated the card had been accepted before it was suddenly ejected for Leon to take back "Hurry it up" A rather agitated looking Kevin said breaking the silence, the night time skies had turned a murky brown almost blotting out the greyish clouds adding to the already horrid atmosphere. Looking back, Claire saw thick black smoke rise from the burning buildings it almost reached all the way toward their direction as they had only drive half miles to the back end of the city "Claire!" her long ponytail swung as she turned to see Leon toss his shotgun over to her, just barely catching it "C'mon" he urged for his comrade to stay close; multiple pairs of boots and shoes stepped inside the tram which, began powering up on their arrival. The carriage interior seemed dated with cushion padding and newer looking fine brass bars supporting the internal fixtures, but the thing was clean and looked safe enough to travel in none the less. Carlos together with Mark were last through the door while Kevin made a last check of their position. "You're good" Kevin assured Mark warmly, as he was aided into a seat and placed the gun down aside Mark's legs. went to assist Leon in the driver's den, Claire stood observant for a split second before running her hand through her smooth thick fringe and let out an exhausted sigh as she took one of the comfy looking seats "You okay?" Carlos asked looking down at her "I'm fine… I think. I just…can't believe this is happening. This is too much!"
"This is definitely not what I was sworn in for, but if we can get this thing to work, and reach the labs, you can go home, infection free."
"We've all done our fair share tonight, and those things out there might be dead but they weren't always like that" Claire empathized "Umbrella have to be stopped, I don't claim to be the good guy and I'll pay my dues come the time but, I'm not a monster. This…is the work of monsters" Claire gazed at him momentarily, her blue eyes glistened from the ceiling light fixtures thinking about Chris suddenly there was a rising hum before the train pulled forward momentarily. An abrupt jerk nearly pulled Leon over the computer board gripping the cabins side bar "Alright, I think we're clear to go." Kevin spoke the rubber heels of his boots catching down the metal step "This should take us on a straight trip to their facility" Carlos added unstrapping his now empty rifle, the tram wheels creaked and scraped across the track slowly trying to pick up momentum as it moved; it seemed the mechanics of the thing were dated as well, Leon thought from the almost ear piercing screech of iron against metal "When did this thing last have an oil change?" Leon wondered. Gradually the iron and steel box began to move, the rollers picking up speed in a muffled clatter of gravel as rusty gears and grime covered pistons groaned atop the tracks. A sudden pop in one of the cog gears caused smoke to rise from the floor grill of the bloody great thing which, returned to a sudden halt. "Damn it!" Leon said being both angry and surprised at the same time, Carlos expressed concern "What the hell happened?" Leon coming down the steps "Not sure, sounds like the hydraulics." "Can we fix it?" Kevin asked "I don't know but there's something here that might help" Leon pulled out a large heavy book from inside the small compartment underneath the main controls, the front was covered in a thin layer of dust so it seemed the book had rarely been picked up.
The book opened with a leathery groan, almost immediately hit by the aroma of aged ink flicking through the worn extrinsic layers within, Leon guided his finger along the contents trying to find anything on repairs. Soon finding it he made a quick scan through some of the pages, as ancient as the vehicle was, the layout was quite involved and extremely detailed much to his annoyance meaning he would have to spend some time, to get to the route of the problem and fix it. Luckily there was a page on common engine problems and temperamental components, it was at least a quick fix; it was carrying out the job that was the problem. Carlos strolled into the door frame "Anything we can do?" Leon planted the book over the glove desk "I think it's just the oil radiator" Carlos understood but didn't know what else to say so he went back down into the cab, shortly followed by Leon "What's the problem?"Claire asked "Easily fixable but, we need tools" Leon crouched over a large panel in the cabs floor noticing a small iron handle either side "Help me with this" he asked as Kevin stepped aside while He and Carlos twisted the handles and pulled it open.
The trams internal organs were slightly rusted but otherwise seemed intact and functional, the engines hydraulics were nestled deep beneath a series of dark copper rods and wires, alongside several pressure gauges and a large oval shaped oil tank. This must be it Leon thought "Needs oil badly, and maybe coolant for the gauges" presumably and hopefully the tools they needed would be close by so they could sort out the engine and then haul ass, never that simple "This thing's old so they must have a garage or a maintenance shed for it close by, in case of breakdowns. It only needs the oil and coolant, so we'll start with the nearest buildings"
"We should check the travel office, might be something in there we could use or at least tell us where we can find something"
"Let's not hang around, we'll move in two's, Start with the travel office and the venues across the street. This shouldn't be a long thing so move quiet and fast, conserve whatever ammo you have and then regroup back here"
The group were all in agreement "Ok, Kevin you're with Claire, I guess that leaves you with me" Leon said as he glanced at Carlos who nodded in comprehension. They stood ready checking their weapons and moving to the exit doors "You might make a racoon police officer yet" Kevin retorted, somewhat impressed with Leon's ability to take charge in such a dire situation, but then desperate times always did bring out the best or worst in people, especially when a situation was critical. "You're gonna be alright?" Kevin asked looking at Mark for a second who nodded trying to tough out the pain of his bite "Just hang in there buddy, we'll be back" Kevin said to reassure his old friend. Opening the doors, they stood ready, prepared for the dangers that lurked deep in Racoon City's streets, returning glances, Kevin and Claire headed right while Leon and Carlos took left. Mark slowly hauled himself out of his seat and walked toward the main doors pulling the lock across, he observed as their shapes grew smaller. Somewhere unbeknownst to them nestled comfortably atop a street light and its whirring circuits hidden by the sound of cold eerie winds, a security camera followed their every move, snapped frame by frame still recording avidly.