The 0714 Files: File #1 Inferno (Remake 2)

Chapter 34

"Don't move."

"I'm not gonna hurt you—"

"I said, "Don't move"!" my eyes flash to my right where I see Leon's back to me, the bold white letters of R.P.D., and his hands up in the air facing nothing means someone's at his side out of sight. Someone who sounds a lot like Kendo, and by the bark in that command for Leon to stay still and Leon's hands up like that. He must have a weapon pulled on the unarmed rookie—

I stop. I never told him my real name. He's only ever known me by Patricia...

Leon hangs his head, struggling to appear like he isn't shaking from either nervousness or being chilled. "I'm just passing through. I'm going to ask you to lower that weapon."

There's a scoff, "Like hell you are," Kendo threatens. "You're going to turn around, and go right back out the way you came," he instructs and Leon's arms lower. Kendo is a lot of things: the occasional hunter and fisherman, a respected citizen among the officers in the R.P.D. and friends with S.T.A.R.S., especially Barry, but he is not a murderer.

I think I hear a rasp, subliminal like it's coming from something, or someone small.

Leon's head turns more to his left now before looking away. "I think your daughter needs your help, sir," and I stand, as if shocked, at the mentioning of Emma the same time Ada does from the shelf she'd been inspecting. Retrieving her gun while at it and stepping swiftly out from the corner to approach them.

I hear a shotgun rack, "Don't you tell me how to handle my daughter," and I pull out my gun next. Suddenly worrying he'll take a drastic measure to keep Emma safe.

Ada, however, beats me to it. Fluidly pointing her gun at Kendo and warning in a serious tone that says one wrong move and she won't hesitate. "Drop it." Leon aims his gun next, and I start forward slowly. Hesitant. Afraid to see what might be waiting around that corner.

Her gun's focus shifts to elsewhere, "No, wait!" Kendo yells in response.

"Step aside. We need to terminate her before she turns," Ada's head tilts at the demand like it's as easy as breathing air. Terminate... she actually said terminate. And at the sounds of harsh breathing from out of sight... No. Is Emma... Is she sick?

My question is answered, "'Terminate'?" her word spit out from his mouth as the vilest thing he's ever heard, and I'm not far from the feeling. "That's my fucking daughter!" I've never heard Kendo this angry, at the horrendous term, and the way she keeps her gun focused without wavering...

"Daddy?" like a punch to the gut, harder than that thing chasing Jill ramming me. Harder than crashing my car into the tyrant in the garage thoughtlessly destroying our only way of escape... I hear her voice. So small, so youthful, so innocent and sickly. Oh god...

Ada referred to her like she's a fucking cockroach to be squashed under a boot. Not a child who is only nine years old, whose birthday was just last month and she'd even begged me to attend despite not knowing anything about what a party with children was like. Nobody ignores her pressure on the little girl's father. Leon's head snaps in her direction and fury I have never felt on this level towards another human being outside of Umbrella's hold blooms in my chest. It takes all my strength to not focus my gun on her.

I step out from behind Leon and I see the scene that has been unraveling for the last minute. See Kendo. See her.

I offhandedly take in Kendo's haggard appearance: the bags under his eyes that no doubt match mine, the unshaven jaw with days' worth of scruff and grime covering his skin that says he hasn't been able to take care of himself like I have. That was another thing about him, he took his cleanliness and duty serious to keep his appearance professional.