Resident Evil Dark Files: Raccoon's Shadow (with OG character)

Hidden secrets

My tongue darted across my lower lip as I tried to find the right words. Chris's gaze followed the movement, and an odd look flashed across his face. "I...I don't know where to begin."

Chris shook his head and fixed his mouth into a tight line. "Well," he stated, "I'd actually like to know how and why you are here?"

"Billy Rabbitson."

A mixture of confusion and recognition flashed across his face. "H-How do you know Billy?"

I took a calming breath, focusing my attention on Chris. His eyes stared into me, swirling with so much emotion and fatigue it was hard to keep eye contact. "He contacted me after the first attack on my life--"

"What?" They said in unison, and their eyes widened.

"H-He wrote to me," I stuttered, trying to remember every detail I could. "He told me things weren't what they seemed with the case of the cannibal killers. No one was to be trusted--not even the R.P.D." I raked a hand through my hair, unable to meet their gazes any longer as images of Billy's mutilated body bombarded my memories. "That night, the night my brother and you found me in the forest, that was the night I went to go see Billy."

Chris shook his head, his face slacking with every word I spoke. "Billy was reported dead in the plane accident a few months back--"

"It was a coverup," I cut in.

A weak smile barely curled the corner of his mouth, crinkling the corner of his glossy eyes. "I know...he told me."

My shock froze me to the spot. How was it Chris knew about Billy? Billy never mentioned anyone else knowing about him. And why come to me if he had Chris?

Rebecca's face mirrored my own shock as she stood to the side, watching the both of us. "I...I don't understand. What does this have to do with the case?"

Chris stared for a moment before he sighed. "Billy is--was an old friend of mine. He contacted me not too long ago about something, but he never mentioned what. It was too dangerous to talk over the phone--he wanted to meet me in person. The only thing is, though, I never got the chance," he waited for Rebecca and me to catch up before continuing. "Billy worked for Umbrella. There was an accident with the company plane a few months ago while he and a few other employees were flying down to the Chicago headquarters. Everyone was pronounced dead. But," he turned his eyes on me. "What does this have to do with you?"

"My story--the story I was working on--was about the cannibal killings in Raccoon. I guess my persistence in asking too many questions," I caught the smile on Chris' face, "started to catch the wrong people's attention. I was attacked--numerous times--"

"What?" His smile fell off his face in an instant.

I nodded towards Chris. "I didn't want to alarm anyone, so I kept quiet about it."

"You should have said something," he snapped.

"I tried to tell Joe--and you--but both of you blew me off!" I hissed through clenched teeth, my earlier anger rising once more. "Billy knew what was going on; that's why I saw him that night." The horrible memories and his screams filled my ears. Closing my eyes did nothing to shut the memory off. His cries, haunting my dreams, sounded just as clear now as they did then. My voice trembled. "He told me about the project Umbrella was conducting, the very one he was a part of."

"I don't understand--"

"Umbrella is responsible for everything you see!" I cried. "Billy is dead because he tried to warn me. Joe is dead because I didn't tell him--" My voice choked off with a cry.