The drive from the gas station was done in silence, and BJ was thankful for it. It gave him time to wrap his head around what had just happened a few short minutes ago.
As much as he wanted to deny it, to find some other answer for what he had encountered, the Marine couldn't help but accept the obvious. No matter how strange and unbelievable it was.
Zombies.
He had been attacked by the living dead. Proven when the only way he was able to drop them was a shot to the head. Their bite turning others into more of them soon after death...he still couldn't believe it. But the evidence spoke for itself.
Grip tightening on the steering wheel, BJ took a couple deep, calming breaths. Remembering the mantra one of his superiors taught him while he was overseas. Something that helped him through a lot of rough situations when he needed to clear his head;
"Inhale, count to four...Exhale, count to four..."
The anxiety clawing at his chest dulled, allowing him to think better now and come up with a plan.
He needed to find Sherry, that took priority. He would also try and find their parents. Despite their differences, he still cared about them and wanted to see them safe as well. He only hoped that things within the city weren't as bad as he was starting to believe...
But as the Blazer drove down the streets of Raccoon City, both he and Claire were greeted with the sights of cars left derelict, debris strewn about, and a handful of fires burning.
Stores and other businesses that lined the streets were either boarded up or broken into, blood painting the glass windows or the sidewalks outside.
Not a single soul could be found. And the only sound that could be heard other than the rain pelting the vehicle was a broadcast that was echoing from somewhere nearby;
"Attention all citizens: Due to a 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." the message continued to play on a loop every few minutes.
"My god, this is so unreal." Claire said, her eyes looking out her window as they passed a line of empty cars on her side.
BJ nodded in agreement, "The police station is our best bet. It was made one of several safe areas in the event of an emergency. Someone there will know what's happening."
Claire looked over at him, "How much further is it?"
"Not too far, just up the road here." the Marine answered.
"What if...what if we're the only ones?" she asked, "What if there aren't any other survivors-"
"There will be others." BJ cut her off sharply. Even though he had thought something similar, he wasn't going to give up hope about others making it through this...including Sherry. "Raccoon is a big place. There's gotta be someone making it through this."
Realizing that she may have upset her new companion, Claire went to say something when he suddenly pulled the car to a stop. Ahead of them was a set of concrete roadblocks sealing off the street, and a literal parking lot of cars beyond that making any further advance in the Chevy impossible.
"Look's like we're hoofin' it from here." BJ said as he put the car in park. "I know the way, as long as we avoid any trouble, we should make it there no problem."
Claire went to open her door when she caught sight of movement outside. Several feet from the car, she saw a couple of bodies hunched over another, even through the rain and darkness she could tell that there were two zombies eating a corpse.
"More like running." she said, making BJ follow her line of sight as the two undead looked up at them from their current meal.
"We need to get moving before-" the Marine was cut off when another zombie slammed into his window, bloody handprints smearing the glass. "Fuck!"
Two more slammed into Claire's side, making her scream in alarm. Before either of them knew it, the whole car was surrounded by the undead. Their rotten hands banging on glass and metal as they tried to find a way inside.
"BJ, we gotta back up!" Claire said over all the noise. BJ nodded, shifting the Blazer into reverse and looking back...freezing in his tracks when he saw a large pair of headlights heading toward them.
"The hell...?" he said, getting his companions attention as she saw what he was as the form of an eighteen-wheeler barreled down the street with no sign of stopping.
With the zombies surrounding them, and no way to go forward or even turn out of the way...
"Claire, BRACE!" BJ shouted as the large truck suddenly swerved right, crashing through the parked cars in its path before jack-knifing and slammed into the back of the Blazer. The force sending them through the roadblock and into one of the cars on the other side. The tanker attached to the trailer of the rig flipped over on its side as it finally came to rest.
Several seconds passed before the doors of the Blazer slowly opened. The dented metal groaning as bits of glass clattered to the asphalt under it.
BJ stepped out of the driver's side, holding his head and trying to shake the cobwebs of the impact. Aside from a small cut on his forehead, he was fine.
Looking over the hood, he found Claire was alright as well. Shaken up and a little sore, but other than that she seemed to be in good health.
"You good?" he asked, coming around the back of his wrecked car.
"Yeah...you?" she asked back.
The Marine rolled his left shoulder a bit, "I've had worse." he paused when a particular smell reached his nose. The heavy rain around them not able to mask it completely.
Snapping his attention back to the car, he saw a puddle oozing out from beneath it. And heading for a small fire a foot away, both of which within only a few feet from the big rig.
"Ah, Shit!" BJ grabbed Claire, ignoring her startled yelp, and made a b-line away from the Blazer. Making it only a handful of steps before it exploded, a second, larger explosion quickly following when the tanker's contents was ignited sending both of them slamming into the side of a sedan from the blast.
Ears ringing and groaning from the impact, both of them staggered back to their feet as flames engulfed the street around them. Flaming debris from the wreckage scattered about and lighting up the darkness in all directions.
"That was too close." the Marine muttered, glad that they managed to avoid getting blown to bits. Claire looked at the wall of fire infront of them before movement caught her attention.
"...BJ?" she said, pointing to the burning tanker where several bodies stumbled away from the wreckage. Oblivious to the flames covering their frames as they skulked toward them.
And they weren't alone. The explosion being so loud that any and all undead that were in the area heard it. Coming in and around cars and out of nearby store fronts as they converged on the duo that were now out in the open.
Looking at their opposition, BJ knew that there was only one course of action. "There's too many, come on!" he said as they turned the other way and started running up the street. Ducking down a nearby alley when more zombies cut them off.
One shuffled out from behind a dumpster, but was swiftly put down when Claire shot it in the forehead as they ran past.
"You sure this is the right way?" she asked, cracking open her small revolver and loading bullets into it.
"I know the streets here like the back of my hand." BJ called back, leading them both down a flight of stairs and under a walkway overpass. "This path here should lead us to the same street the police station is on."
Going up another series of steps, the duo stepped out of the alley and back onto the street littered with more cars. And directly across from them, behind tall iron fence, was the Raccoon City police precinct.
"And there it is, come one, we're almost there." said BJ as they jogged through the rain that started to steadily get worse. Several zombies that were milling around among the cars turned as they ran past, their hungry calls echoing as they reached after them.
Avoiding the undead that got too close, doing their best to save ammo before they reached the heavy gate leading into the station's courtyard. Pushing the gate open and closing it behind them, Claire grabbed the lock-bar and slammed it in place as the zombies that had been chasing them started banging on the other side.
"Think it'll hold?" asked Claire, the gate shaking as more undead gathered outside, reaching through the bars at them.
"It should. But to err on the side of caution we better get inside." replied the Marine. They went up the steps leading to the front of the station, both of them with weapons ready as they stood at the door. Preparing themselves for what could be on the other side before they each grabbed a handle and pushed...
The main lobby of the RCPD greeted them with silence. The large room spacious with stairs on either side leading up to the second level balcony above with a third floor above that. In the center of the lobby, a large Goddess statue stood overlooking everything, the sounds of rain filling the void and giving off a haunting feel.
Stepping carefully inside, boots tapping lightly on the marble floors, BJ and Claire took in their surroundings with careful eyes. Dozens of crates of supplies and cots were set up around the lobby with medical equipment, very much a staging area to shelter civilians during the outbreak.
"Where is everybody?" Claire wondered, taking in the lack of people who should have been there.
BJ gently nudged a curtain aside to see a makeshift hospital room set up beside the front door, the two cots set up on the other side covered in bloodstains.
Shaking his head, the Marine moved toward the oak desk where reception was set up. Claire already behind it at a small table where a laptop computer was set up. "Find something?" he asked, coming up beside her.
The Redfield clicked a couple of keys, causing the RPD logo on the screen to disappear and several windows took their place that showed CCTV camera footage.
"Looks like security cameras for the station. These are live feeds." said Claire, searching the windows and hoping to see signs of her brother in one of them.
Movement on the fourth camera had then both focusing on it. A police officer came from around a corner, firing his weapon at something off screen. A couple zombies making themselves known and chasing after him as he ran down another hallway.
"Shit! They're inside too!" Claire cursed. BJ remained silent as the officer appeared on another camera and grab the radio on his shoulder;
"David! Marvin! You there?!" he held out his hand toward the camera aimed at him which held a small notebook, "I found a way out! It's in here!" one of the zombies chasing him went for a grab but was shoved back and shot twice in the head. "Send reinforcements! East Hallway!"
The camera feeds were replaced by a map of the precinct's first floor, the officer's location being highlighted in red.
"He won't last long with those things on his tail. We better hurry." said BJ before making his way to the front left corner of the lobby where a metal shutter was closed, sealing off the corridor leading to where they wanted to go. A written sign on cardboard taped to the surface that read "Keep out".
Looking back at Claire who had taken a stance a few feet away with her weapon trained on the shutter. Sending the Marine a nod, he flipped the switch on the wall and backed up with his MK.23 aimed forward as the metal door started to rise.
Only to stop roughly two feet off the ground.
"Shit." BJ walked over and knelt down by the small opening, taking out the flashlight he picked up back at the gas station and shined it into the darkness beyond. Finding a large amount of dried blood on the floor and on the wall across from the shutter.
For the most part, it looked clear. But given what has happened already, that meaning had little merit now.
Lowering himself flat to the ground, the Marine started to combat-crawl through the small opening. "BJ? BJ what are you doing?!" Claire called after him as he slipped under the shutter.
A couple tense seconds passed before a couple of knocks could be heard. "All clear." the Marine's voice came from the otherside.
The young Redfield sighed in relief before she crawled under the shutter like her partner had done. Entering the dark hallway it had blocked off and found BJ standing infront of a fuse box. "The fuse for the emergency door burned out." he said, removing the damaged component and tossing it aside, "It won't open the rest of the way without it."
"Do you normally go on ahead in a dangerous situation without warning people?" asked Claire, a little put off with his sudden action.
"Sorry, force of habit." BJ said, looking farther down the corridor and finding it flooded. His flashlight just barely able to cut through the darkness. "The East Hallway is through here, stay alert, no telling what's lurking."
His companion nodded, weapon in hand as they wadded into the ankle-deep water covering the floor. The Marine keeping his weapon aimed ahead with the other holding his flashlight crossed over his arm with the beam aimed i the same direction. Each step taken was slow and cautious, two sets of eyes searching every shadow for anything that might jump out at them.
Past a set of double doors that led into an empty press room and a small hallway where the restrooms were located, the woman's room being where the flooding was originating from, a metal cabinet laid across the hallway blocking their path. BJ made quick work of moving it upright to clear the way and allowing them passage.
Around the next corner, the duo was greeted with a gruesome sight. Beneath a still active light by the watchman's office ahead, four bodies laid sprawled out in different positions in a massive pool of blood. Two of them police officers, the other two civilians.
"Oh god..." Claire said, sounding sick at the scene.
BJ knelt down by one of the officers, not even bothering to check a pulse given how pale they were along with the smell they were giving off telling him they had been gone for a while.
"HELP!" the duo perked up when they heard shouting coming from the office. Both of them running inside when a loud banging could be heard behind another emergency shutter set up in the back. "HURRY! OPEN UP!" the shouting continued.
"We're here, hang on!" BJ shouted as he and Claire grabbed the bottom of the shutter and pulled up.
"OPEN THE GODDAMN DOOR! GET ME OUT OF HERE!" the officer on the other side continued shouting. When the way was open enough, his arms reached into the office and flailed around for purchase.
"Give me your hand!" Claire shouted, grabbing the man's arms and pulling while BJ held the shutter open. The officer's upperhalf came through, rolling on his back while the young woman grabbed his other hand and kept trying to pull him the rest of the way.
A splash of blood erupted from under the door, the officer screamed in agony as the sounds of ripping and tearing could be heard from the other side.
"I got you! Hang on!" Claire tightened her grip and kept pulling until the man came through...but only his upperhalf. A trail of blood, torn tissue and a line of intestines being left in his wake.
The young Redfield dropped the man's arms in sheer horror, BJ doing the same as the shutter slammed down on the pale, bloodied hands that were reaching after the remains of the officer.
The man coughed, shivering violently as his blood continued to flow from his torn waist, his life fading fast. "T-Tell...Marvin..." he rasped weakly.
"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry." Claire sobbed over him. But the officer had already passed on.
BJ lowered his head, wishing that they had been faster to save him. He reached out and gently closed the man's eyes, sending a silent prayer for him before looking down at his side where the notebook he had been holding onto laid just outside the pool of blood that was still spreading.
Picking it up, the Marine flipped through the pages. Finding most of them blank, but toward the middle he found a series of crude drawings that looked like a map with several key points marked and labeled. One of which was the Goddess statue back in the lobby with three circular objects above it with a question mark over each one.
The next page showed drawings of three different statues, each one with a series of three symbols underneath them.
Deciding to get a better look at the book later, BJ slipped it into his back pocket just as loud banging and hungry growls could be heard behind the shutter. "We should get out of here." he stated.
When he didn't get an answer, he turned to see Claire frozen and still looking down at the body.
"Claire. Claire, look at me" the Marine reached out and shook her, causing the Redfield to jump and snap her attention to him. "Take a deep breath, count to four. Exhale, then count to four again." he instructed.
The brunette took a deep breath, held it then released, all while counting in her head like she had been told. Doing this several times, she felt her anxiety and stress of what had happened start to ebb away.
"How are you feeling? Better?" BJ asked.
Claire nodded, "Y-Yeah..."
"Okay. We need to go. It's not safe here." the Marine pressed gently.
Taking in a shuttering breath, Claire nodded again as she stood up. Doing her best to focus on what they needed to do and not dwell too much on what had happened. She turned to the door of the office with BJ ahead of her-
The door burst open, a zombified police officer growling as he lunged and caught the Marine by surprise. Cold fingers digging into his shoulders like vice grips, driving him back against the desk behind her as it attempted to bite into his face.
"BJ!" Claire was there in two steps and slammed the butt of her weapon against the zombie's head and knocking it away from her companion. BJ regained his footing and grabbed the undead from behind, his arms wrapping tight around the zombie's neck. Applying more pressure, the Marine wrenched the creature's head to the side with a sickening crunch.
As if a switch had been flipped, the zombie went still. Arms releasing the girl in its hold as it went slack in BJ's arms.
Overcoming his surprise at how his tactic had actually worked, he dropped the now completely dead body to the floor. "So severing the top of the spine works too. Good to know." he thought to himself.
"You good?" asked Claire
BJ nodded. "Thanks for that."
"You've been saving my ass a lot tonight. Figured I owed you a favor or two." she replied with a half-smile.
BJ sent one back, "Guess we're even, for now at least." They shared a light laugh, despite the situation. Both being thankful at the minor break in the tension. "We need to get back to the lobby, figure out our next step." the Marine said, now serious.
Claire nodded, her revolver ready as they left the watchman's office and went back out into the flooded hallway. Rounding the corner and stopping cold when a pair of zombies began lumbering toward them.
"Shit, they weren't here before." BJ cursed, raising his MK.23.
"Maybe we can-" Claire was cut off when the window behind them shattered, another zombie spilling into the hallway from outside with two others preparing to do the same as the first staggered to its feet.
Weapon registering twice, BJ put down the two undead infront of them and made an opening. "Run!" he shouted as they moved as quickly as they could through the water-logged corridor. Several more zombies appearing out of the woodwork trying to grab them as they ran back the way they came.
Rounding the last corner and making it back to the shutter, they turned and aimed their weapons back down the hallway. "You first, I'll cover you!" the Marine said as they heard the growing horde closing in.
"I'm not leaving you to fight by yourself!" Claire argued.
"Just go! I'll be right behind you!" BJ pressed as the first of the zombies came around the corner. "Claire, NOW!" the soldier fired and took down the leading undead as the others soon appeared.
Against her own instincts, Claire quickly crawled through the opening at the bottom of the shutter while BJ fired at the horde to slow them down. Three more falling under the barrage until the slide of his weapon locked back signalling an empty clip.
Quickly dropping to the floor, he crawled as fast as he could back out into the lobby of the station. Getting almost completely clear of the shutter until a rotting hand grabbed his left ankle and attempted to yank him back.
Rolling onto his back, BJ slammed his heel into the zombie's face in an attempt to get free. "Let go you bastard!"
"Get off him!" Claire screamed, firing a shot from her revolver and splattering the zombie's grey matter on the door. Giving the Marine a chance to get free and crawl away from the opening as another zombie poked its head out.
Before either of the duo could make a move, someone else appeared out of nowhere. Planting their foot on the handle of the shutter and slamming it down onto the undead's skull and crushing it like a watermelon.
"You two alright?" asked the man, who turned out to be an RCPD officer holding a hand to his bloody and bandaged side.
"We're good, thanks for that." said BJ as he got to his feet.
The officer nodded, "Good. You're safe...for now."
X
A/N: They've made it to the city, only to see how bad things have gotten. But it is still just the tip of the iceberg.
As you may have noticed, it's a Scenario A storyline, and for those that have asked me a couple times already Leon WILL be in this as well. Believe me, he's too damn awesome in the future to simple leave out. So no worries, our favorite rookie cop will be making his appearance sooner than you think.
Loving the support so far guys, keep it coming and I'll keep updating.