𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞'𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞| ᴀ ʟᴇᴏɴ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ

3. Temporary Reprieve

Leon and I begin our search through the cinema, only encountering a few undead on the first floor. It soon becomes a tiring job, always being on alert and unsure whether there will be a bioweapon around the corner. I'm beginning to think that I'm not cut out for this job. I've been on numerous missions but none as gruelling as this, I can easily protect someone and gather intel, but surviving the constant threat of zombies is something I know will wear me down in the future. I look at Leon who's walking down the hall with me, and I wonder how he even keeps it up? 

The light begins to fade as the sun sets outside, and we're running out of time. "This place is dead." I mumble, slightly disappointed that my assumption was wrong. Since the zombies were outside crowding this place I thought there must've been something here, but there isn't. 

"We need to keep looking, if someone is here they won't trust some strangers, they're probably hiding." Leon replies, sounding tired. We pass a gaming room filled with retro arcade machines and old looking food stalls. There's still nothing around, not even the undead at this point. As if sensing my lack of hope Leon nudges his shoulder against mine, giving me the smallest smile. 

"We'll find something, I'm sure of it. Even if it isn't the survivors, we're still here for a reason. We still need to find out where the zombies came from, because I'm pretty sure they don't just turn up one day unless someone or something infects them." 

I nod, understanding his point, but still..."I think I need a breather for a sec." I sigh, looking down at the faded red carpet. We're approaching the few cinema screens now, which isn't going to be fun, because being in a giant dark room that could be infested with the undead? Definitely not my idea of a party. Leon makes a noise as if not happy with my choice, but doesn't complain. We enter the first auditorium, but the place is trashed, the seats are all ripped and fallen over and the screen ahead is demolished. Rays of the fading sunlight peek through the ceiling which looks like it's about to cave in. "Hello?" I call out, "I'm with the government, I'm here to help!" 

There's no reply, so I back away, letting the door close as Leon walks to the second auditorium. This one looks good, so we head in, letting the door close behind us, then we're immersed into darkness. Leon switches on his flashlight, looking around as I follow, one hand on my knife. The air is stale, and everything looks dusty, but my legs are killing me so I don't whine when I sit down and plumes of dust fly up. I cough, then beside me Leon sits gently down, avoiding the cloud of dust. He gives me an amused pointed look, then sets the flashlight on the floor between us, casting a shield of light that only goes so far, all around us might as well be the night sky for as well as I can see. "We can't sit here long, there's still a chance someone is waiting to be rescued." Leon tells me, resting a hand on my knee. I nod, not exactly relaxing but my feet throb at the temporary reprieve. We stay like that for a few minutes, ears pricking for any noises, which there aren't. Leon looks uneasy, ready to go, which is a massive contrast to how I feel. 

"Maybe you've been right this whole time." I whisper, allowing myself this pity party. Leon looks at me, eyebrow arching at my words. "I don't think I can-" I don't get to finish because a sudden noise interrupts me. It's like a high pitched growl, followed by a series of click clacks on the floor, like claws. I swallow, stiffening as Leon tenses up. All of a sudden the monster bursts through the cinema screen in front of us, racing over the seats as Leon and I part ways, with me diving left and him going right. When I sit up, I can see Leon giving me a 'really?' look, as if I should've known which direction to take. I can't refrain myself from narrowing my eyes at him before reaching for my gun. The monster-a licker- races towards me, so I run towards the cinema screen as fast as I can with it on my heels. It's catching up, so I skid to a stop and roll just as it leaps for me, claws swiping at air where my head was seconds ago. 

"Y/N!" Leon shouts. I can barely see him since we're away from the light, but my eyes are beginning to adjust to the darkness. A series of gunshots fill the room as Leon shoots at it, some gore flying at me as I crawl to my gun that's skittered across the floor. In the meantime the licker changes meals, deciding big, strong and handsome is his preference. I watch as it runs at Leon, jumps, then lands on him. Leon grunts as he grabs its arms, holding the claws away as his feet kick its head away. I scream his name, getting to feet as I let the bullets of my gun fly. Chunks of flesh and meat come away from it, but the damn thing isn't backing down. I finally reach it and jump onto its back, my knee between its shoulders as I fire rapidly into its brain. With a final screech it falls dead onto Leon. 

I climb off, kneeling on the floor as I help him roll the licker corpse off of him, then I wrap my arms around my boyfriend as  shake. Leon pants into my ear, his own arms pulling me close for only a second until he stands, helping me up to. He cups my cheek as my lip wobbles, that was a complete near death experience and I'm fucking terrified. "I'm okay, it's okay." He murmurs, wiping away some stray tears that have rolled down my cheeks. I nod, but then Leon adds "That was a shit movie."

I can't help but to let out a mix between a laugh and a sob, knowing he's joking for my benefit just makes me love him even more. Hand in hand we leave the auditorium and head back to the doors of the cinema, but the undead still linger outside, blocking our hopeful escape. "Shit, what now?" 

"There's gotta be a fire exit somewhere, we'll use that." Leon confidently says, looking around for the signs. I do the same, pointing at the green signs that lead upstairs. We follow them until we reach a metal door at the side of the cinema, that presumably leads back out into the street. I try the door, feeling some kind of resistance. Huffing I try again, but no luck. Leon gently grabs my arm, pulling me back until he swings out his leg, kicking the door open. Low and behold, it swings open revealing the dim street, the sun now gone and the sky a hazy purple. "Nice work macho man." I smile, earning a wink from Leon. He reloads his gun with one hand as the other holds the door open for me. I do a little curtsey then head out back into the monster infested streets of Grimhurst, wondering what the fuck is going on and who released all the monsters? Why didn't the government take notice of the odd witness reports? Something feels off about this whole mission, and I'm beginning to think that it has something to do with the people who sent us here...