2

As the patrol car made its way through the empty streets of Raccoon City, the young passenger's ears caught a loudspeaker blaring an announcement across the streets as they made their way further into the city.

Attention all citizens. Due to the citywide outbreak, you are advised to take shelter at the Raccoon City police station. Free food and medical supplies will be provided to everyone in need.

Leaning back in her seat, Claire listened as the message started playing on loop. She sighed, "Oh my god! This is so unreal..."

Leon replied, "The police station's not much farther. They'll know something."

Claire looked at the empty streets, where there were plenty of signs of carnage, but no souls could be seen. She said absently, "Yeah, but what if we're the only ones? What if there are no survivors-"

"No", Leon suddenly stated, cutting her off. "There are survivors. It's a big city...there has to be."

There must to be...

Pulling himself from his desperate thoughts, Leon noticed a roadblock ahead and brought the patrol car to a slow stop. "Looks like we're walking from here", he sighed.

Claire looked out the passenger window, seeing more of the undead making a meal of whoever lay sprawled across the pavement. She silently hoped it had been quick for them and answered "More like running."

Leon leaned forward, seeing the gruesome scene. "Yeah, good call" he said.

The pair prepared to leave when they were suddenly surrounded by the undead, with their guttural cries attracting more zombies from every direction. Claire cried "Leon! We gotta back up!" and turned her sight to the rear window. But she didn't quite register the new danger from the bright light headed their way. "What the-!"

Leon quickly turned his attention to her obvious fear. A huge, semi-trailer truck was barreling towards them, plowing its way through the undead with minimal effort. "Holy shit!" Leon murmured, "Claire, get out. Get out NOW!"

Claire pushed with all her might against the car door, but the weight of the surrounding zombies trying to get at the pair made the task impossible. "I can't!" she cried in desperation.

Leon gripped the wheel and braced himself. "Hold on!" he cried.

The semi tipped, crushing several undead beneath it's weight, and smashing into the patrol car with a violence that the passengers felt right down to the marrow of their bones. Fires erupted around the devastation, and recovering quickly, Leon kicked his door open and stumbled into the road. He turned, trying to catch his breath, when he noticed the tanker leaking it's fluid... so very close to the open flames...

oh shit!

A sudden white flash blinded Leon, and he was thrown back wildly into the side of an abandoned car by an intense blast of air and heat. His ears were ringing from the explosion, and he gripped his painful ribs as he observed the carnage.

Claire...

Leon quickly got onto his feet, "CLAIRE! CLAIRE, YOU OKAY!?"

Tense seconds passed, and then Leon was filled with relief when Claire's reply finally carried over the roar of the flames.

"YEAH! I'M ALRIGHT! HOW ABOUT YOU!?"

Leon surveyed his surroundings, now aware of the danger as the undead made their way steadily towards him. "I CAN'T STAY HERE! IT'S NOT SAFE! I'LL MEET YOU AT THE STATION!"

"I'LL BE THERE!"

After hearing her reply, Leon made his way quickly to the dark alleyways, hoping Claire would stay safe until they found each other again.

Claire turned away from the carnage and headed towards the closest alleyway.

Shit, I hope this is the right way...

She turned a corner, and a moan surfaced from the hump blocking her path. Claire waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkened alley, and raised her pistol just in the nick of time to shoot the thing in the head, thankful that head shots seemed to do the trick. She lamented that she had wasted so much ammo back at the gas station on pointless body shots.

Claire rounded another corner, and as the bright lights of the Raccoon Police Department greeted her, she let out a breath of relief.

Leon said we were close...thank God.

Claire surveyed her surroundings. Cars were so tightly packed together that she could feel the desperation of the struggle that must have occurred only hours before. Fortunately, it worked in her favour. The undead didn't seem all that steady on their feet, so Claire decided to throw herself from the darkness of the alley and up onto the car roof, using all of the abandoned vehicles as a bridge that led right to her destination.

She jumped nimbly down, and threw herself through the mighty front gates. Seeing the hordes of undead turn towards the sound, she slammed the gates shut and threw the huge metal bar across, locking the gates up tight.

Claire scanned the carnage, hoping to glimpse Leon and realizing that she'd just locked him out, as well as attracting every zombie towards her location from the sound of the iron. The undead creatures threw themselves against the metal gates, with their rotting arms reaching desperately for Claire as she backed away.

She looked at each distorted face in sympathy.

How did this happen to you...?

Claire sighed and pushed herself up onto her tiptoes to see if she could spot Leon anywhere.

Where are you?...I hope you're okay.

She really did. Leon seemed like a nice guy, and she didn't want to see him harmed…and, he'd saved her life.

She shouted, "LEON! ARE YOU OUT THERE?"

After being met with no response, Claire then realized with a heavy heart that she would have to continue on without him. If anything, she was only making the situation at the front gates worse. The undead would not clear off while she stood there advertising herself.

Maybe when I go inside they'll clear off...then I can step back out and see if Leon's around...

Pulling herself out of her thoughts, Claire turned towards the massive doors, and made her way into the Raccoon City police station.