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

Chapter 47

I observe the dark tunnel as we head through it for a few minutes, reeling over my thoughts. "You know what I'm thinking?" I speak up, regarding Ada as I do. "I can't wait for the F.B.I. to raid Umbrella headquarters and bring those bastards to justice."

Ada stares at her feet, fidgeting them in thought before giving a sharp nod. "I agree, but to be clear. You're not working in official capacity. This is a federal case, once we get the G-Virus... I'm back on my own," she clarifies, eyes on mine. There's a tinge of some unknown emotion to them, like she's sad but doesn't want to admit it. Seeing them only reminds me of another set of eyes, Claire, and now Madeleine, two people I might never see again.

If I'm being honest, which a part of me isn't, and almost doesn't want to admit. Just like Ada with whatever she's thinking, the loss of them is imbalanced. One saddens me more than the other.

Twisting back to the windows, "Hey, Leon!" Ada's voice draws my eyes to her. She leans forward in her seat, "Trust me?" her words calm and earnest in the reassurance she's seeking.

Huffing, I walk up the steps and stop in front of her, "You trust me?"

"Honestly... if I didn't, you'd be dead."

Well, I'd rather complete honesty than nothing at all. Nodding, both doubtful and bothered by the statement, "Right," I mutter and go to return where I was—

"Look, I thought I might need your help... and I was right," I face her with a perplexed look. "If you can secure the G-Virus, I can make sure what happened in Raccoon City never happens again." She promises and I understand that she's asking me specifically to find the virus. In her condition, with her leg, she's probably falling back on the only person she can for help. I'm more than glad to, but...

Shaking my head, "I-I don't know, I..."

My words cut off at the duffle bag sitting next to her, the one I saw upon entering, but it's now that I see the white bolded letters: "S.T.A.R.S.". My throat goes dry at the sight and when I don't finish my sentence, but continue to burn a hole into that bag, Ada looks herself.

She grabs it and drags it to her, "Is this..."

"Madeleine's bag," I cut her off, sitting in the seat beside it and unzipping the bag to inspect its contents. Feeling the cloth of the bag is wet like it'd been splashed or submerged in water a few times, I wonder why it's here of all places. Coming to the conclusion that unless whomever took this car robbed her, Madeleine found her own way onto this thing like I suspected and is in the labs where we're heading.

Digging through it reveals the shotgun I'd seen her toting around, but also a second one, and a spare flash grenade along with an MP5.

Ada peeks inside, "Looks like your friend was packing," she remarks. "Did she have all of this from the beginning?" I glare at her in response to the inconsiderate curiosity and snooping.

Then again, did she have all this from the beginning? I remember the one shotgun, specifically because it looked custom made. The Glock too from the small S.T.A.R.S. logo carved near the trigger on both weapons.

Removing the second shotgun I don't recognize. I turn it over to scrutinize it for the same logo to see if she'd simply owned a second I never saw. There's nothing carved into the stock like hers, "She must have picked it up somewhere, she was in the station for several days. I wouldn't be surprised if... she..." my words wander as I go to put the weapon away. Seeing a passport in the bag and a paper sticking from inside, resting beside a cassette tape in the bag.