Fateful Nightmares (The Story Of A Raccoon City Survivor Pt 1)

Chapter 3 - Further Exploration

As Leon and I reached the upper floor, we turned down one of the side corridors. The hall was lined with dusty, black leather seats, each carefully spaced along the wall. Vibrant paintings and sculptures punctuated the otherwise plain space, adding a burst of color and creativity to the stark hallway.
My footsteps echoed lightly on the wooden floor as we moved toward a door at the end of the hall. I turned my head slightly to check if Leon was still behind me. He nodded silently, his eyes scanning the corridor.

I reached out to push the unlocked door open and it swung inwards with a slight creak, revealing a large waiting room filled with plush armchairs and a few low coffee tables adorned with dirty magazines.

There was also a modest front desk that had an old computer perched on top. The desk was somewhat cluttered with papers and office supplies. Behind the desk, tucked into the corner, was a small but solid safe. Spotting it, I motioned for Leon to come over.
"Did you see a code that might go to this?"
Leon shook his head. "No, but I'll keep an eye out." His expression was serious as he glanced around, taking in the room's details.
Beside the desk was a heavy wooden door with a spade symbol carved into it.  Leon reached into his pocket, retrieved the key, and carefully unlocked the door. The soft click of the lock opening echoed in the otherwise quiet room.

I sighed lightly, knowing that this door likely led to another unfamiliar area of the station. We were on a search, and every new area felt like a step into uncertainty.

Leon pushed the door open cautiously, his eyes scanning the dimly lit space beyond. He paused for a long moment, peering into the shadows. When he turned back to me, his expression was serious, but there was a hint of reassurance in his voice.
"Well, looks safe... enough."

I couldn't help but scoff at his remark. "Right. As safe as you can get in the zombie apocalypse, right?" I pushed past him to double check our safety.

Beyond the door, we found ourselves in a narrow hall that stretched in two directions. Directly ahead, a single door bore a label that read "Art Room." I reached for the handle, eager to see what lay behind it.
"Oh, an art room, I wonder if there's anything interesting in here."

As I stepped into the doorway, Leon came up close behind me. He leaned in slightly, peering over my shoulder. "Well, you'd know better than I would, I guess. Since you're the expert," he said, a hint of humor in his voice.
I shot him a small smile, grateful for the lightheartedness amidst the tension, and stepped fully into the room. The air was dusty, as if it hadn't been circulated in a long time. There were boxes stacked haphazardly, statues, an old clock, and things draped with thick tarps.
"Looks like nobody's been in here for a while," Leon observed, carefully stepping in behind me. The floor creaked beneath our feet, a reminder of the age and fragility of the station.

My eyes lingered on a king statue against the wall. Nearby, a small table caught my eye, so I rifled through the pamphlets that lay on top of it, until something caught my eye, a key card. I picked it up and read the text on it: "Safety Deposit Room."
Holding it out to Leon, I called him over. "Hm… here, you should hold onto this."
He turned quickly when I spoke, his posture straightening as he focused on the card I held out to him. "Sure," he replied, taking it from my hand. He slipped it into his jeans pocket, securing it safely.

I resumed my exploration of the room, drawn back to the king statue. I ran my fingertips along its textured surface, feeling the grooves and contours that made it seem almost lifelike.
One detail, however, stood out. The king's hand held a golden scepter, topped with a small, glittering ruby. Its vibrant red hue contrasted with the worn stone of the statue. Intrigued, I stood on my toes and tried to pull the scepter free, thinking it might be removable. After a few attempts, it became clear that the scepter was firmly secured.
"Stuck?" Leon asked, noticing my efforts.
I turned my head to look at him. "This? Oh, no. I just really enjoy the struggle. I could take it if I wanted to but this is just fun for me."
Leon rolled his eyes with an amused smile. "Alright. Ha. Ha."
A small sigh escaped my lips as I turned back to Leon. “Well, I don't think there's anything else of use in here, so... let's move on?”
Leon nodded, his easygoing demeanor a comforting presence amidst the uncertainty. He stepped back, leaning against the door to prop it open, watching me with a small smile. “Sure, after you, expert.”
I had to hold back a laugh, but a tiny snort still escaped my throat as I brushed past him, re-entering the hall. “Okay,”