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

Chapter 35

Madeleine's violence was not something Ada or I predicted. The punch impressed a part of me. Nevertheless, despite tensions being high between the two women or not. Especially after what happened between the owner, Kendo, his daughter, and us. Madeleine was not in the right to do it.

Her fixing the dog collar in the kennel or hugging the little girl by the name of Emma, tightly in a want to make it last... All before crying in my arms to mourn made me believe she's someone who isn't like that. The soul-stripping stare she gave me alone as she held Emma in her arms was of a person who knew it was the last goodbye. I'd prepared for the moment that door slammed shut to give her a minute to grieve because we weren't exactly pressed for time anymore in a way she couldn't at least cry somewhat then and there.

As that fist connected with Ada's jaw though, she was not who I saw when we met on the road. The woman who'd flinched when I went to wipe the tears from her eyes or continuously brushed my hands away until she trusted me enough to allow it. The woman who stands in front of me now is...

"'Trishi," the little girl had called her multiple times. A nickname that reminded me nothing of anything to do with Madeleine. It almost makes me think of...

Patricia.

Now Ada's telling us after that she's here to bring down Umbrella, with Madeleine and I willingly joining.

I said nothing about the nickname to the woman I've been walking besides all night when I heard it. Determining I'll ask at a different time. Not when we're following after the agent into the unknown. Ask why I didn't see her own nameplate, didn't hear her name as a member of the team from Raymond, and why she was referred to as "'Trishi". Ada pushes through the gate, heels clicking on the pavement. "Just how much do you know about Umbrella, Leon?" Ada inquires as she struts away with us closely behind.

Madeleine had told me about the mansion and what happened to S.T.A.R.S., she said there was a virus and it leaked... "Enough," I answe after an internal debate of what to say.

"So, you know the company is making bioweapons?" she doesn't stop to acknowledge if I'm replying to her. "They made the T-Virus in that laboratory you spoke of Madeleine being in. It's what's causing these people to turn into zombies, but now they've also made a new one."

"The G-Virus," Madeleine blurts aloud the name we heard on the tape recorder in the parking garage.

Ada gives a once over her shoulder at the brunette walking beside me before averting her eyes to the steps leading into the scaffolding I saw earlier. "Correct."

"Do you know something about it?" Madeleine probes.

"I know who's behind making it: Annette Birkin, I was sent here to find her. She's the one at Umbrella responsible for unleashing the T-Virus."

"Okay, wait," Madeleine announces, her footsteps stopping and so do we to regard her. The expression on her face: furrowed eyebrows and wide eyes says she's baffled. "So, the F.B.I. has known this entire time who's behind this outbreak? Meaning you've also known what Umbrella was doing all along. Why hasn't anyone put a stop to it?"

Fair point. If the government's known this for what sounds like it's been a while. Why are they only taking steps to end it now?

Ada takes a firm step towards us, leaning just slightly with a sly grin on her face like she knows more, "Because..." she tilts her head at the woman, "breaking into Umbrella would see the government's loss of several billion dollars, along with outing any politician involved with the company. We needed time to figure out who knew, and who didn't, and then we needed evidence to bring them and the company down." She pivots, "But first Annette, I'm going to bring her down."