Resident Evil: End of Days

Reminiscence

Chris and I leave the building where we hid for the night and make way through the city. Crossing over rubble and passing by old cars that had seen better days before the nuclear explosion, we both silently look around...at least anywhere or at anything but each other...

I hate this awkwardness. I wish he'd say something, anything to just break this unsettling feeling in my stomach. Since he...I guess the best way to term it would be "professed" his love to me (I still doubt that to be truthful because I know Chris is more prone to say things to encourage his men and shows his charisma), he remained quiet, not a word, not even a glance from him. But yet he still walks close to me, every once in a slowing down to listen for my steps.

We stop at a police station, and at once I feel something tug into my heart, a feeling of sorrow weighing on my shoulders. 

The Police Station of Raccoon City...my first encounter with the undead. The memories, instead of flashing through my head, seep into my mind as I reflect on back then. I was the brand new kid on the block, my first day, and of course I would come across the undead out of sheer chance. Not how I imagined my first day, then.

Even now.

Chris watches me, and I find myself reluctant to go inside. I don't want to relive those memories as they haze through my head. I don't want to feel that fear again, but I know that I have to push through them.

With Chris at my heels I push the doors open.

And all it takes is one step into the building...

The visions flash through my head. Visions of every cop that was on call, every armed man at the department hurrying to gather their gear, others responding to calls from frantic victims begging for help. Cries tear through my ears as the dead on the other end devour the living, and the look of horror on the cops' faces the minute they hang up and join their fellow man out on the streets, never realizing that this would be their last stand.

I hear everything, see everything, feel everything.

I stumble back, and Chris grabs for me.

"Whoa whoa whoa!" He yelps and looks at me. Unbeknownst to myself, my breaths are rapid and strained, like my lungs are compressed. My heart thunders from all the fear that pulses through my body. It hurts...

I'm going to personally strangle that Grim Reaper for making me feel like this...

Leon?

I hear a voice calling for me inside the department. Deep and worn, like a tired old man.

Leon? Is that you...?

My head rises, and I look towards the reception desk. I see the silhouette of a spirit lingering at the reception desk, hand to his side as if to stifle a profusely-bleeding wound. I recognize that lean build, his gaunt jaws, and bright eyes of a dying light.

The lieutenant...

I walk over to him, and his smile brightens. He recognizes me.

Leon. The rookie cop. Look at you, all grown now.

I can't help but smile and nod. I respond, "Yeah, all grown up."

He smiles and looks at Chris. He asks, And who's this?

"My partner," I answer him, and he smiles and nods. He tells me, Leon...there are others like me here. We've been here for years, waiting...waiting to move on, yet we haven't been able to. We don't know what's happened or why...

I frown. I then explain, "...it's all right now. I can help you move on."

He tilts his head at me, and behind him I see the flicker of silver of other spirits forming behind him. I see them too, spirits of the majority of the cops who never returned to the department.