Heaven or Hell

Chapter 6

June 29, 2013
Tall Oaks, U.S.A.

I am Cassandra Ji. 33 years old. I've been with the F.O.S as long as Leon has. But right now that's not the most pressing matter to worry about. I just heard a gunshot from outside and a body got up. I raised my weapon, pointing at his head. He was groaning and stumbled towards me with his hands reaching out to me. I saw the person and it was a close friend of mine. I tightened my grip on my gun. "Just pull the trigger Cass. Kaylee didn't waste years of teaching you." I did and his body fell to the ground. I slowly lowered my gun and leaned on the table, sighing. "Babe?" I heard a familiar voice and I ran to him and engulfed him in a hug which he returned with a relieved sigh. "You're alive." His breath was a little shaky. "So are you." I said. We let go of each other and he faced another person. "This is Helena Harper. She's with the secret service. She may know something about the one behind all this." I looked at her, "Helena, this is Cassandra Ji. My girlfriend." We shook hands, "So you really have a lead on who's responsible for all this?" We got out of the room. She nodded and I looked back at Leon, "And Adam?" He looked down and shook his head. "Is that so? Then let's get going then. We can't waste time." I cocked my gun and they nodded. We proceeded slowly knowing the risks of the possibility of attracting an entire horde. "There's no power. Looks like we're gonna take the stairs." I informed and kept walking. We got down a few set of stairs and the clock ticked. I reached a door and called them. We prepared ourselves for what could be behind the door. "You see one of them, aim for the head. It's your best bet." He told Helena. "Got it." She acknowledged and we pushed the door open and aimed at both sides.

We looked down and it was a mess, "This was where the reception was gonna be." Leon informed. "They'd be here eating dinner by now if..." I added. "You think anyone survived?" Helena asked. "I hope so." Leon answered. "I can't believe this is happening again. Its just like Raccoon." He said in a worried tone, "The Raccoon City incident, you were one of the survivors." Helena acknowledged. "Yeah. I'll never forget it. We're going to this cathedral of yours but if you really did have a hand in this, you can kiss your freedom goodbye." Leon warned. "I know." Helena said in a low voice. "You mean Tall Oaks Cathedral?" I asked. We cautiously went down and she nodded. "That's where my evidence is.." I merely nodded at her and saw a figure once we reached the bottom of the stairs. "What was that?" Helena asked startled. "Well, only one way to find out. Let's go!" I jogged my way around the tables and fallen chairs that blocked my way and eventually made it to the kitchen. I heard a sound like something metallic and heavy fall. "Whoever that was, even a stupid person knows that they're in the back." I sweat-dropped. We slowly advanced, "If it even is someone." Leon laid his own comment. I rolled my eyes at him and we passed through the door. The trash bin tipped over and we aimed at it and at the turn as well. We saw a red door by the end of the hall and heard someone uncontrollably coughing. Leon and I prepped to burst through the door. We looked at each other and went in. "Wait! Don't shoot!" A man got out with his hands up, only to fall onto his knees. We immediately lowered our weapons and I helped him up. "You alright?" He looked at me, "The fog." Wait.. "What?" Helena asked. "The fog. It came out of nowhere." Then a scream was heard. "Liz!" He ran but Leon stopped him, "Wait!" The man struggled, "Let me go!" He dropped something and Leon picked it up. The man snatched it, "My daughter! She's all alone! If we don't so something-" Leon covered his mouth, "I get it. But if you don't keep it down you won't live to save her. Understand?" The man nodded and Leon let him go. He looked at his phone and whispered, "Liz." I sighed, "Is that your daughter?" He faced me and nodded. "All right let's find her." Helena frowned, "We don't have time-" Leon cut her off by saying, "We're making the time."

"Liz, where are you?" The man quietly asked. "Let's go." I said taking the lead. "What was that sound?" Helena asked. Leon held my shoulder and gave me a look which made me smile. Something fell startling us and we aimed at its direction. "Oh god!" Helena exclaimed. We followed the man and reached the reception but the lights were off. "Who turned the lights off?" I asked, "Stay sharp." Leon warned. "Of course." I commented to lighten the heavy atmosphere. He chuckled and we just walked silently. But then the chandelier fell and some of the shards it possessed flew and it somehow caught itself on fire, Leon shielding me in the process. "That's quite a draft." He let me go and we walked further. "We need to find her." The man said. "We will, just stay close." I walked towards the door and slowly opened it. "Thank you." He stayed behind us. "That squeaking doesn't help at all." We got through it, "I wonder how much bodies are left beneath our feet." I didn't comment on that one knowing what he's been through. I turned the doorknob of the next room but it was locked. "Can you open this?" I asked him and he took out some keys and unlocked it. We got in and inspected the place, but I started to worry since he was now gasping for air. "You all right?" Leon asked. "I will be once I find my daughter. I called her cell but we got cut off. I know she's here, somewhere." He proceeded to the next room and made a left. We saw an elevator but the power was off. "We need to get that elevator working if we're going to get out of here." I informed. "Its locked, but I work here, I got the keys. Once we're in, we can take my car." He offered, "Thanks. Now let's find Liz and get the hell out of here." Leon pushed the rubble out of his way and continued. We proceeded down the hall and was blinded by the sudden flash of lightning. We groaned and quickly recovered. We made another left and saw a bloody door. The man was about to open it but I gently placed my hand on his shoulder. He looked at me, "Careful" Leon went to the door as well and he opened the door slowly as I aimed my gun. We entered and lowered out guns. But a person appeared and we aimed at her head. She dropped to the ground and the man ran to her, "Liz!" I went ahead to ensure nothing is ahead of us, "Dad? Where are mom and Liam?" She weakly asked. "They... they already got out. They're waiting for us at home." He supported his daughter and we went back to the elevator.