"𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧."

- 8 -

Footsteps on cold metal bridges echoed through the underground of the station. A massive and winding place unknown to the residents of Raccoon City.

Two young men traversed across mysterious boiler rooms and hallways. Eventually ending up in front of a ladder. It reached up to a manhole in the ceiling.

"I'll head up first." Leon brushed past. Our shoulders rubbed against his police uniform against his jacket that I still wore.

The familiar sting in my shoulder was back. Only worsened. "Yeah, maybe it should be your turn to get brutally attacked this time...?" My thumb rubbed into my shoulder. I didn't even notice I was tending to myself at first.

"No kidding..." Leon nodded. Turning his back towards the ladder. His gloves met with the ladder, and he began to hoist himself up.

The click and clank of Leon climbing went quieter the further he went up. Everything went to a standstill met with grunting and metal dragging. Leon had moved the manhole cover.

From above he shouted down to me. "Looks pretty safe. I'll wait for you." He finished climbing. All I saw as I looked up were his boots disappearing until he got up and leaned over the cover.

Looking back down I held onto the ladder. Beginning my travel upwards. Soon enough in short time I reached the top.

Leon offered his hand out. I grabbed on. He tugged.

"Fuck!" I hissed in pain, recoiling my arm back down. "Bad arm..." I winced. Pulsing pain stretched down my arm. Fuck, I seriously messed my arm up. All because it was sore?

"Shit! Sorry..." Leon bent down and grabbed my other arm. Tugging me up this time with more ease.

"Damn this arm. Cut it off." I groaned with gridded teeth. My brows furrowed in discomfort. Leon stood still for a minute. "Leon, I'm joking." My hand rubbed against the shoulder.

"Here... we should—"

Cut off by the sound of low growling came from behind Leon. I felt my heart sink. This night couldn't get any worse.

"You've got to be joking..." My eyes met with the most heart breaking sight. A Doberman, bloody and chunks of its flesh hanging on by a thread.

It was disgusting yet sad. I couldn't help but feel sorry and some guilt, like I had been responsible for its current state. The poor thing didn't deserve what happened. Such a scary ending to his story. I just hoped deep down my story didn't end with blood and tears.

"Stay behind me..." Leon ushered with his arm outstretched to push me behind him. Quickly both his hands returned to his shotgun.

The Doberman barred its teeth. It's bloody paws inched closer to us. One final growl before it took action, running forward. Leon loaded the shotgun before blasting it back. The pup whined out as shrapnel pierced its skin.

A bark erupted form the parking lot. I felt my throat run dry as I turned around. My eyes fell onto another Doberman on top of an abandoned car. "Leon!" I cried out.

The officer looked over his shoulder. His voice caught in his throat. The same beast he had shot earlier leapt forward. Leon yelled as he tumbled backwards. His back slamming against the ground as the dog nipped at his face, it's teeth only a few inches from the blondes.

My heart was racing. Leon was pinned to the ground with a dog biting at his face while another was ready to tear me to shreds.

I still held onto Leon's handgun. I had the upper hand here.

The Doberman leapt forward, it's jaw unhinged as it ripped into my right shoulders sleeve. My arm left like it was ready to completely fall off. Adrenaline began to pump into my body. The pain bearable, but if I said it didn't hurt? I'd be lying through my teeth.

Without really thinking or feeling I screamed out unloading three maybe even six bullets into the blood thirsty animal. Looking over to Leon I ran up, kicking my boot into the ribs of the infected Doberman. It yipped in pain.

I felt horrible but I knew it had to be done. Three, four bullets shot into the neck of the now dormant corpse. It's lips twitched before completely losing the last bit of "life" it had.

My knees fell before I could even recollect myself. Leon helped himself sit up right. His hands were at my shoulders, one hand a little lower on my injured shoulder.

"Christ... maybe there's a medical station or something around here." Leon looked at my arm. The crimson blood seeping into the sleeve of Leon's jacket that I had been wearing.

"Guess I'm a blood magnet..." I shrugged. Our eyes met, and I found myself back to when I first met Leon. "Sorry to ruin your jacket too."

Leon paused before shaking his head with a laugh, "Don't apologize. I'm glad you're still in once piece."

"Doesn't feel like it." I added with my own laugh. Even in such a shitty situation I found myself laughing.

We were laughing even if I wanted to cry at how bad my arm hurt. I wanted to laugh until I cried just to make it seem like I was laughing that hard. Although it really was the pain.

"Yeah I think we have to find something for my arm... this hurts sooo bad." I looked around the parking lot. Hoping there would be one of those wall shelves that would be full of every bandaid you could imagine.

"Here c'mon. Let's have you rest and I'll go and grab something for you." Leon gently and slowly grabbed my other arm, wrapping it around his neck before lifting me up slowly. It was like I was glass, so fragile I could crack and shatter.

The officer hoisted me along. Resting me onto the hood of a police car. I wish we had the keys, Id love to lay down in the back seat. And it'd be my first time in the back of police car so that'd be cool.

Leon clicked his tongue. Looking around the parking garage before seeing a few doors down the way. His attention went back to me, his hand reaching down to mine as he held it. Giving it a light squeeze.

"I'll be right back. If anything happens, just run. I'll come and find you." Leon let go of my hand. He turned back towards the garage but stopped, the palm of his hand tapping his thigh.

Leon turned about around, leaning down to my level. His lips pressing into my cheek. Halfway through he I could feel his lips curl into a smile which made me smile.

"Stay safe!" He said before jogging off into the parking garage. The last thing I saw was the RPD of his outfit disappearing into one of the doors.

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