Got Smoke?

Killing Salazar

I awoke to the sound of someone muttering something. I tried to move, but the pain in my upper shoulder made me groan. I struggled to open my eyes but when I did, I saw a relieved Luis smiling down at me.

"Amara, you're awake!" 

"...Good morning to you too, Luis," I joked, trying to sit up. He helped me up carefully, his gentle hands supporting my weak body. I gritted at the pain that shot through my upper shoulder again.

"Easy there, mi amor. I've just finished treating you."

"Thanks, Luis. I thought for sure I was a goner."

He smiled softly, pushing my hair out of my face. "You're strong, and all of us know that. I knew you'd pull through."

I returned back the smile. I remembered Ada helping me earlier, but I didn't know for what purpose. She didn't exactly nurse me back to health, but she helped me to stay alive. She still needed me for whatever she's doing, but I'm just thankful that I was still breathing. I got up, but not before falling clumsily into Luis' arms. I apologised.

"Amara, slow down. We'll get to Leon and Ashley soon enough."

"I know, but we can't waste any more time here, Luis. Come on, let's at least get away from here."

He nodded. He looped his arm around my waist to support me as we walked out of the mezzanine. Luis suggested that we should look for Leon and Ashley at the east tower since that was nearer to the exit of the castle. I struggled to keep myself from stumbling, but Luis' gentle yet strong grip around my waist helped me to walk with ease. We decided to use another of Luis' secret tunnels, and this time it was a mine. When we entered, the villager Ganados all laid on the floor dead. Leon must've came through here, so at least we were on the right track. We pushed forward, eventually meeting up with Leon at the base of the tower.

"Amara!" he exclaimed, a relieved smile forming on his lips. "Oh thank God."

He immediately ran to hug me but decided against it when he saw me wincing.

"I'm alive," I said with a smile, leaning away slightly from Luis to stand properly. "I don't see Ashley. Is she still not with you?"

"Salazar's got her. But he's not going to get far. Come on, we should go in," he said but stopped himself. "Are you alright to continue on?"

"Don't worry about me, Leon. We've made it this far, and I'm not backing down. If anything, I can always count on Luis, right?" I asked, looking up at Luis who cleared his throat before looking down and smiled.

"No problem, mi amor," he mumbled.

"...Okay," Leon said, grabbing onto his handgun. "Let's go!"

He ran ahead of us, entering the tower first. We were soon faced with Salazar and two of his cultist bodyguards by his side. Salazar clapped as we entered. "So nice of you to join, Mr Scott Kennedy. Mr Luis Sera, how wonderful it is to see a traitor amongst us but no matter, we'll get rid of you soon. And I believe this is my first time meeting you mi amor," he said.

"No thanks, bro!" I yelled, frowning. I was fine with Luis calling me that but coming from Salazar sounded gross as hell. I could feel Luis holding me closer towards him.

Salazar ignored my comment. "The sacred rite that is about to begin at this tower will bestow the girl with magnificent power. She will join us, become one of us."

Leon scoffed, "This is no ritual. This is terrorism."

"Isn't that a popular word these days? Not to worry, we've prepared a special ritual just for the three of you," Salazar laughed, inching towards a switch on the wall.

Before he could get to it, Leon threw his knife at him. The knife stabbed Salazar's right hand, pinning it to the wall and he screamed in pain. Leon had a proud smirk on his face. One of the bodyguards yanked out the knife and threw it back at us. The knife sailed past our heads as we dodged it. By the time we got up, Salazar had gotten on board the lift and went up.

"Stop!" Leon yelled, but there was no way we could stop the lift.

"Stairs, now!" I yelled next, motioning for Leon to follow. 

Luis and I helped to clear the incoming cultists coming from above while Leon shot at the ones attempting to follow us up the stairs. We pushed our way until we reached the very top. Leon opened the doors to another room and all of us entered through it. We found ourselves in front of a huge organism stuck onto the walls, like a man-eating plant. In front of it was an altar where Salazar and his two bodyguards stood. Salazar stepped onto the altar with his back still turned and said, "Ah, you've just missed her. The ritual is over. She left with my men to an island."

"What?" Leon asked.

"I think it's time I paid my due respects towards your impressive and stubborn wills," Salazar said, finally turning around. "Mr Kennedy, Miss Rollins and Mr Sera... welcome!"

The same tendrils that Saddler pierced through me grew out of the organism on the wall and wrapped itself around Salazar and his bodyguards, pulling them towards its mouth. The mouth closed for a few seconds before opening again. Salazar and his bodyguards had been merged with the organism, forming a new being. The bigger tendrils slammed onto the ground, blocking our point of entry and exit.

Leon sighed, "Monsters. I guess after this there'll be one less to worry about."

I looked up at Salazar who was laughing. The tendrils then wrapped closed around him, almost like a protective barrier. I scowled, pulling out my sniper rifle. "You boys ready?"

"Yeah," both of them replied at the same time.

Salazar, now infused into a plant and insect hybrid, used his tendrils to attack us. We rolled out of the way, trying to get a clear shot at Salazar. Luis shot at its huge red eye while Leon aimed at the tendrils. Once the tendrils surrounding Salazar opened up for a brief moment, I used my rifle to aim right at him. I shot a few clean rounds right at his face. The pain on my shoulder caught up to me, but I continued to fight. The tendrils quickly closed, shielding Salazar again. We did this for a few more times before I landed the final shot. My bullet shot through his heart. The huge tendrils dropped heavily onto the platform we were standing on and crushed it. Leon remained on the top floor while Luis and I dropped to the bottom.

"Amara! Luis!" Leon called out from above.

I had landed on top of Luis who broke my fall. I tried to stand up on my own, but the pain prevented me from doing so. Luis got up from underneath me and helped me up. I heard Leon calling my name again.

"We're good!" I yelled, leaning back into Luis' chest. "Go, Leon! We'll catch up with you!"

"Leon!" Luis yelled next. "Once you get Ashley, we'll head towards the lab! That's how we're going to get the Plagas out of you!"

Leon nodded, giving me and Luis one last look before leaving. I turned back to Luis and thanked him.

"You need to stop thanking me, mi amor," he whispered, holding onto me as I stared up at him. Something in his eyes had changed, a look that showed how hungry he was. Despite that, he shook his head slowly. His hands held onto mine as he led us out of the place.