RESIDENT EVIL • Assignment Ashley: Rescue Condor One (RE4)

Little Mouse

"Whoa," that's all I could say as I took in the scene before me, my face flushed profusely. The first thing I noticed was that the tunnel we came through had led us into a gothic cathedral, but it was far from a holy place.

Everywhere I looked, I saw a world of unrestrained debauchery, a sea of burning appetites. Nude figures, concealed only by elaborate masks, moved in a feverish frenzy, surrendered to the pounding music and primal ecstasy. Their glistening skin, drenched in sweat, reflected the tainted crimson shade streaming through the stained glass windows, casting an eerie, blood-red glow over the cathedral. The air was thick and suffocating with the scent of incense and sweat.

Amidst the maelstrom of unbridle chaos, we stood as outsiders, clothed and wary.

"Haven't we descended into the very pits of hell," Aaron muttered, his voice barely audible over the cacophony of the crowded place. We remained rooted to our spot near the cellar door, observing the unfolding affairs in the enormous chamber up ahead.

"First things first," he began, his voice low, "we need to familiarize ourselves with the layout of the cathedral. We can do that by steering clear of well-lit areas."

I was still busy gaping at the scandalous exhibition when the cellar door began to groan open. Aaron reacted swiftly, pinning me against the nearby wall, his body pressing into mine. Do as I say, he mouthed, his grip tightening on my waist as the women from before emerged, laughing. Most of them passed by, paying us no heed. However, one amongst them stopped abruptly, her gaze fixed on us with unsettling intensity. She didn't wear a mask, probably because I had taken hers.

"Aaron, one of them has stopped," I whispered urgently in his ear. He responded with a silent nod, his eyes flashing with a warning. "Stay calm," he
murmured, a bead of sweat trickling down his inked neck, where a tattoo of a cyclops with serpentine locks lurked.

As her eyes bore into us, Aaron leaned in, his lips brushing against mine in a pretence of passion. The false kiss sent a shock through me, but I continued to play my part, wrapping my arms around him as if lost in the moment. Beneath the surface, I couldn't believe that this was how my first kiss was happening. Let alone with Aaron.

I always imagined Leon would be the one...

I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but I couldn't deny the sensation of his soft lips, the faint scar on them tickling against mine as he toyed with the delicate boundary between reality and deception. He tasted like salt from sweat, mingled with a faint smokiness that was strangely intoxicating.

What became of the movie star they left behind? I diverted my thoughts, Aaron's masterful illusion almost ensnaring me within its web too.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the woman close the short distance between us. Like a prowl of a predator, her steps were nimble but deliberate, each tread landing softly on the stone floor. I could make out flowing auburn hair which framed her hourglass figure, swaying with each graceful movement. As she drew nearer, I held my breath, knowing that our charade was about to be put to test.

"Newcomers," she spoke huskily. "What brings you to this sanctuary?

As the woman's sultry voice washed over us, Aaron kisses grew more intense, each movement betraying a hunger that seemed to consume him. His hands, tracing the contours of my waist, conveyed a sense of urgency that left me bewildered. Was this part of his ruse or was he truly lost in the moment?

This needs to end now, we're crossing a line that wasn't meant to be!

"Such passion," the woman cooed, her tone dripping with venom, as if she couldn't stand the very sight of us. Her animosity only deepened my confusion, it felt...personal.