PART ONE: GROUND ZERO
Prologue: The Ecliptic Express
The night was colder than it should have been on a summer night. A full moon hung in the sky, illuminating a quiet Arklay Forest below. It's beautiful, the man thought, watching the forest from atop one of its many hills. It didn't seem too long ago that he stood in that very spot, at the height of his career, taking in the scenery. A breeze rustled the woodland. A light shined between the trees as the Ecliptic Express charged down its tracks.
Just on time, as usual.
It's time, my children, he thought.
Just keep focused, Jeffery thought as he scanned the stack of financial ledgers in his lap. The numbers started to merge and he edged his fingers under his glasses. After rubbing his eyes, Jeffery took a deep breath and continued reading.
God, it'll be good to get home. Not to mention the relief of getting out of his suit.
Something struck the train's roof, causing a thump to resound through the car.
"That's strange," a man said to his wife a seat over. "I didn't think there was supposed to be rain today."
Jeffery could have laughed. The Raccoon City weather woman, though easy on the eyes, couldn't tell the difference between a hurricane and drizzle. That's what happens when a medical corporation tries to run an entire town. Another thump hit the roof, though this one sounded louder than the last. He glanced out the window. Not a drop to be seen.
Something about that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
"Excuse me," he asked the passing conductor. "How much longer till we reach Raccoon?"
"Oh," the elderly man said, licking his lips. "I'd say…maybe another twenty minutes."
"Oh, thank you," Jeffery said. The conductor tipped his hat before continuing on his way. Stop being so paranoid, he told himself. Two morestrikes against the roof. Jeffery glanced up as though he could see whatever was landing on the train through the second floor.
Suddenly, it was as though hail assaulted the roof.
"What is that?" the woman asked, to which the husband shrugged. Something smacked against his window. What looked like six leeches—each the size of an apple—clung to the glass. A thick residue smeared against the window as their green bodies slid across its surface.
"Wha-," Jeffery said, letting the ledgers fall to the ground. The leeches' stomachs opened simultaneously as if they were all one organism, revealing mouths filled with needle teeth. "Jesus!" Jeffery yelled, leaping back.