1

Leon Kennedy twirled the analogue on the digital radio in his jeep again. The last time he'd taken a drive towards Raccoon City, he'd chanced upon a radio station that was pretty good, and had decided it was going to be his daily entertainment, but now, to his disappointment, all he could pick up was white noise.

Leon sighed as he brought his eyes back onto the road, still slightly surprised at the lack of traffic. He figured then that perhaps the storm had put people off, the rain had been particularly heavy in the last hour, which had made visibility on the drenched roads poor- a reminder that he should keep his eyes on the road ahead.

Leon's eyes caught the neon sign of a gas station as it came into view, and after checking his all too low tank, he decided it was time to top up before heading into the city proper.

He checked his watch

Late as hell, but can't keep going on fumes...

He sighed again, but became distracted by a parked Harley Davidson when he pulled his vehicle up beside the gas pumps.

Leon looked over his shoulder at the boxes stacked up in the boot and considered whether or not to drop all of his belongings off at his rented apartment, or head straight over to the Raccoon City police department. Deciding on the latter, he climbed out from his jeep, and Leon felt a buzz of excitement at the thought that he'd soon be starting his first shift as a fully fledged, RPD officer.

He had been due to start the previous week, but had received a brief call instructing him to stay away. To say he was disappointed was an understatement, but at least he was on his way now, if very late.

Leon was pulled from his silent thoughts, and his eyes narrowed towards the main road when a strange sound carried on the wind from the surrounding forest. It sounded almost like a painful moan. He pulled his eyes back towards the gas station shop, suddenly realising the strangeness of it all.

No lights, no people.

What The hell was going on?

He heard a strange moan again, but this time it came from the alley beside the shop

"That's weird..." He stated aloud, and made his was towards the alley. As he rounded the corner, he suddenly stopped, and had to give himself a mental shake at the sight he beheld.

Three people were on their knees, crouched over another that lay on the tarmac. A moaning, gurgling, chomping sound heard clearly. One of them sat upright, and ropes of red guts and flesh hung from their mouth.

"What the fuck?" Leon gasped under his breath. Was he really seeing this? These people were eating...another?

The stories he had read about cannibals in the city suddenly came to mind, and he quickly raised his firearm

"FREEZE!" he shouted, when suddenly, he heard gunshots come from within the shop- were there more of them inside?- The three turned towards him, and steadily made their way up onto their feet with unnatural movements, moving towards him with a slow, menacing gait.

"Back up!" Leon growled, but the three continued to advance, forcing Leon to step back slowly. He swallowed back the nausea from the stench coming from the three, with one, impossible word, screaming in his mind.

Zombie.

He pointed his pistol at the kneecap of one, issuing a last warning in the hope that they would stop their advance, and pull off masks to reveal the worst prank ever.

No such luck, and the sudden realisation that he may have to open fire on something alive, hit Leon like a cold dagger to the gut.

He let them get close.

Too close.

But now, from the aggressors condition, there was no mistaking that these people, were in fact, undead.

Jesus Christ, am I dreaming?

The first bullet he let fly barrelled it's way through the monsters kneecap, the creature stumbled a little, but other than that, it seemed totally oblivious to the pain the bullet should have caused.

Leon raised his aim higher as the undead creatures raised their arms to grab at their prize.

Bam...bam...bam

Three perfect shots between the eyes stilled the threat immediately.

Leon dropped his aim breathing heavily, and realised that his legs felt like jelly. He suddenly threw his head Into the crook of his arm, fighting mightily against the urge to vomit. Every sense had suddenly become overwhelming, and he was convinced he could taste the rotten flesh of the closest creature on his lips, even though there was no trace of it when he wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand.

Leon was pulled from his trance when he heard a women's shout coming from within the shop. Someone was in trouble.

Probably from the same freaks...

Leon ran towards the shop entrance, and as the door shot open, Leon raised his firearm and a young woman threw her arms up in distress.

"Don't shoot!"

Leon immediately notice the zombie right on her heels.

"Get down!" he shouted urgently, and again, a bullet hit the undead creature right between the eyes.

Leon approached the young woman as she glanced at the corpse in the doorway, he noted that she looked about his age, maybe a little younger...

"You alright?" He asked.

The young woman's blue eyed gaze looked her saviour over quickly.

"Yeah, I think so...Thanks"

Leon's head quickly turned to a moaning sound that had previously been coming from the surrounding woodland...the owners of said moans were now much closer, and approaching quickly in large numbers...

"You can thank me later, when we're safe" Leon stated, as his eyes locked onto the oncoming storm. The young woman's eyes followed his.

"Holy shit..." she gasped.

Leon's jeep was too far away. His keen sight quickly spotted a patrol car just to his right, with its door ajar.

"Come on!" he called to the young women, as he threw himself towards the vehicle, hoping with all hope that it had its keys in the ignition. The young woman followed quickly as Leon launched himself into the drivers seat, glad to see the keys.

"Get in!" he called, and the woman threw herself into the passenger seat. Leon shouted at her to hold on. the woman slid the belt across her chest and locked it into place, feeling immediate relief as Leon tore through the gas station and onto the main road, not caring at all for the speed limit as he rode away.

The woman's heart rate started to steady, and she turned her head towards the young man who had just saved her life.

"What the hell is going on?" she gasped.

"I don't know...Hopefully, they'll have some answers at the police station"

The woman quickly looked over her saviour.

"Wait, you're a cop?" she queried.

"Yeah, Leon Kennedy. You are...?"

Jackpot! the woman thought, thrilled to have skilled help. He's a little young, but at least he's a good shot.

"Claire- Claire Redfield" she replied.

Leon glanced over at the young woman.

Small talk, that'll help her relax...help us both.

"Live around here?"

"No" Claire replied "I'm looking for my brother. He's a cop, too"

Leon returned his gaze to the road ahead, noticing that they were now entering Raccoon City.

"Well, it's a good thing we found each other. I don't know what to expect anymore..."

Claire silently agreed with the statement. Glad that she was no longer alone in the waking nightmare.