RADICALISATION, resident evil [1] ✓

⤿ xx. might need a gardener

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𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒: 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑜𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑜𝑚

𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑦: 𝑚𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑎 𝑔𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟

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Umbrella Laboratory (NEST), Raccoon City — September 30th, 1998

     The second that they step into the lobby of the East Area, Mason swears up and down that his anxiety peaks and the damn virus scorches his veins. Stomach revolting, he barely makes it to the empty trash can before he's throwing up, abdominal muscles clenching and forcing the contents of his stomach out of his body. It burns worse than it should, the stomach acid mixed in with the few bits of chocolate and crackers that he has eaten since sunset, which doesn't make sense. It also tastes strange — metallic, in a way — which is also rather baffling.

     And then he blinks the tears out of his eyes.

     It's not normal vomit in the bin, not in the slightest. It's bloody and tainted with some strange black substance that makes him panic. What has Umbrella done to him...? Surely they didn't inject him with some kind of fail-safe that kicks in after a few days without some kind of antidote, but, then again...

     "Jesus Christ..." Leon's frantic voice over his shoulder has Mason's wide, still teary eyes flying to him. "Mase, that shit can't be normal..."

     Mason cannot help but agree. "None of this is normal, but... You're right, this isn't normal. I'm running out of time..."

     "Are you... Is this going to kill you?"

     "Right now, I have no idea. But I have a feeling it's going to make me wish I was dead." His lips curl into a rueful smile. "Got an answer for me yet? Because I think we're getting close to needing one."

     The rookie swallows harshly, fingers shifting around his gun. "If... If there is nothing else that I can do to help you, then... I'll do it."

     "And here I thought you wouldn't have the balls." Mason discards the bin and rummages through his pockets for the chewing gum he found earlier. "Do you still have that—"

     "Here." Leon places the chewing gum into Mason's half outstretched hand, an irritated furrow between his eyebrows. "You weren't lying when you were talking to Ada earlier. You don't think I could kill you."