Mechanical Animals: Resident Evil 4

5

Rose watched Luis' retreating back with a heavy heart, feeling like he'd left her alone to reveal an awful truth to someone she had to admit, she cared about. "Leon," she breathed, unsure why she was so nervous. They'd been fighting for their lives since they first arrived, surely he couldn't be mad that she hadn't mentioned Ada or the plaga? They'd just been reunited, for Christ's sakes! Ashley looked absolutely terrified, and she hoped he wouldn't blow up at her in front of the girl before they'd even been properly introduced.

Leon faced her, worry breaking the shadows across his face and making the guilt feel heavier. "Rose, what's going on?" His eyes were searching hers, looking through her hesitation to see why she was acting the way she was. He almost preferred her fearful expressions to the one she was wearing now.

Rose took a deep breath, her eyes flickering to Ashley, who was clutching her arm nervously. "Leon, there's something you need to know...Ada Wong...She's here. They infected you, too. And I don't even know what's happened to me."

Leon's eyes had widened in surprise, and for once, he was speechless. Of all things to have come out of her mouth, Ada's name hadn't been something he had expected. He was piecing her words together in his head, trying to make them make sense. He had no idea how she knew Ada, but it instantly made him suspicious. There was never any good news when Ada was involved. Had he been tricked? What did he really know about Rosemarie Kidman? Nothing, he realized.

She'd just popped up one day with the twin to his mission folder and said they'd been partnered together by the DSO. While he knew this was true from his briefing, he didn't actually know where she came from. Leon's expression hardened, but he kept his composure. "We'll deal with it. But right now, our priority is to keep Ashley safe." He turned to Ashley before Rose could reply, obviously not wanting to hear her response at the moment. "Ashley, we're going to get you out of here, I promise."

Ashley nodded, her eyes wide with fear, but she had some hope. So far, Leon had done an excellent job, and though she'd known Rose for maybe twenty minutes, she wasn't uncomfortable in her presence. Rose felt the pangs of guilt, but she knew Leon was right. They had to focus on the mission. Whatever history he had with Ada was deep, and disturbed him. He had every right to be upset, particularly when they both knew that Ada was always working for the bad guys. Bad guys are paid better than the good guys.

Two Years Ago...

Rose was deep undercover on a mission in Eastern Europe. The night was cold, despite there being no wind. It bit into her skin and chilled her bones, seemingly ignoring the heavy winter coat she was wearing. The snow was thick, past her ankles, and despite what she was there for, it looked beautiful. Too beautiful for the air to be as thick with tension as it was. Christmas Eve was supposed to be cheery, but here she was, gun in hand and navigating through a dense forest. Her senses were heightened when she heard a commotion nearby.

Curiosity peaked, she crept low to the ground and tried to move silently through the snow toward the noise. As she approached, she could make out the figure of a woman in a red and black jumpsuit surrounded by armed mercenaries. The woman had short black hair, and dark brown eyes, of Asian descent. Her heels looked like their own weapons, and Rose wondered how the hell she was walking around out here with no coat and high heels.

"We cannot let her get away," said a man with a thick accent. Rose had trouble understanding every word and strained her ears to figure out what she had just walked up on. Her eyes searched for an advantage if she could safely intervene. One thing was for sure, she was sure these men were working for the billionaire she'd been sent to flush out, and this woman was, in her eyes, a random civilian. A crazy one, sure, but a civilian none the less.

"What did you take?" Demanded the same man, shoving his gun in her face. The woman smirked, tilting her head mockingly before she spoke in a voice that was very nearly a purr.