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

The Laboratory

A cold, damp chill raced down the length of my body as I glanced over the fountain's rim. The narrow staircase ran along the inside wall, stopping at a platform.

With a sigh, Chris turned to face Rebecca and me. "Rebecca, you mentioned a heliport, right?"

She nodded, pointing to metal doors across the small courtyard. "Over there."

Chris spared the doors a glance and nodded his head. "I want you both to get to the heliport and contact Brad. You should have better luck with the radio in the clearing. I'm going to check the lab."

"What?" I gawked.

Rebecca shook her head profusely, her eyes wide. "We need to stick together, Chris. It's too dangerous to go alone."

"Exactly," I agreed. "The labs are probably in the worst shape. You can't go alone. We go together."

His eyes lowered, and he was already shaking his head before I could finish. "I don't doubt either one of you; heck, Addison, you got up here on foot with only a sidearm," he met my stare with one of admiration and something close to pride. "I'm not saying you can't; I'm saying, if what we assume is true, then Wesker could very well be down there already. We might be the only survivors. If I don't come back, you two must escape all this and tell the authorities." His hand rested on my sagging shoulders; a reassuring smile touched my lips. "You and Rebecca are the only ones able to expose this story if something happens to me. Twenty minutes—that's all I'm asking. I need to check and see if any other S.T.A.R.S. made it out."

Rebecca sighed, and with a dejected nod, I agreed. "Be careful, ok?"

The tension on his face melted away to a genuine smile, making my chest hurt. "I always am. I'll be back. I promise," he said, giving me a pointed look as if reading my thoughts.

With a final nod to me and a quick smile to Rebecca, he turned to the fountain and started down the stone steps. I watched his form disappear, and my stomach dropped as I heard the groan of the elevator kick to life.

Better keep that promise.

The light tapping on my arm startled me. Rebecca's tense eyes turned to mine, and she jutted a hand toward the heliport. "We better get a move on. We need to get into contact with Brad as soon as we can."

"You're right," I finally tore my gaze off the fountain. "Let's go."

It wasn't a far walk to the heliport gate. But, when we pulled on the handle, the door refused to budge.

How the hell are we going to get out of here now?

Rebecca was preoccupied with her handheld radio. The idea of a setback didn't seem to faze her, but I know it must have bothered her to some degree. I am trying my best to hide my inner anxieties. But right then and there, I wanted to scream and kick something-

—The radio's static cleared briefly, and both of us jumped. "This is Brad from S.T.A.R.S. Alpha team. Alpha or Bravo, if you can hear this, try to signal!...out of gas....Repeat.... S.T.A.R.—" The signal cut out.

"Brad! Do you copy?" Rebecca fumbled with the radio, her head flicking one way and another to try and catch a glimpse of Brad. "There is a heliport at the estate near the back! Brad, do you copy?"

I got one step in, then stopped once a choppy voice answered her. "Copy-" Whatever he said or wanted to say was lost in the static.

"Brad? Do you copy?" She said, but no one answered her. "Brad? Shoot! I hope he heard the message."

Rebecca fiddled with the radio, contacting Brad with no response. I stood before the gates, trying to pry them open, but it was useless. If only I had something to break the lock open. I stalked back and forth, my eyes glancing back towards the fountain with every other step. My heart clawed inside my throat, and my nerves were fried. We've been waiting a long time; Chris should have returned by now. I knew we should have stuck together.