Nikolai Zinoviev X Meg (self insert)

Ticking Time Bomb

Work was a bit busier than usual leaving her little time to think about much else. After apologizing as much as she could and promising overtime she was back to the grind without pause. The news played on TV as it usually did everyday, this time talking about strange behavior in the poorer districts of Raccoon City. Unrest wasn't exactly new to the city as big as it was there was always something. But something about it was unsettling and made her manager change the channel.

"Be careful okay?"

He muttered in his own awkward way of caring. Meg nodded gratefully and wondered why people were rioting this time, they were also buying a lot more groceries than usual so she stocked shelves much more than usual. But it was a passing thought she didn't give much to. That evening she was with Lena watching the TV again in confusion. None of the men were there anymore making them wonder if they had something to do with the situation. It was logical that they would be sent to help diffuse things.

"Why is the world always so crazy?"

Lena said annoyed while switching off the TV and lazily leaning against the counter again. She looked off outside a bit forlorn.

"It's always unrest- this unsafe that."

Shaking her head she glanced around the now empty diner a bit sadly.

"Think the GI-Joes are dealing with it?"

Meg didn't respond completely lost in thought. She hadn't seen Nikolai again after that morning. She figured that would be the case as she wasn't that stupid and was well aware that he wasn't going for anything more than what he had gotten. But the hope that it wasn't still stuck around. If he was helping with the growing problems she was sure he could deal with it. What she didn't know was that he worked for Umbrella which apparently Michael's had told Lena when they were leaving. But why would a pharmacy company need military grade soldiers? It made no sense and had her at extreme unease disliking the paranoid feeling it brought.

Lena spoke up trying to change the mood.

"My cousin works on the force. Said a new rookie cop is joining and wow,"
She sighed loudly and took out her cell from her apron,

"Just look at him~"

Pulling up a photo from a message Meg was surprised to see a young and incredibly handsome blonde cop. Definitely stood out and didn't seem like much of a police type. Fresh faced and eager he stood tall and proud in a line of other cops, she made a face shocked at how pretty he was then gave Lena a weird look.

"Why does your cousin have his photo?"

Lena shrugged not really caring, "Publicity?"

They giggled at that and looked again to admire him and wonder if they would ever see him around, the conversation now shifting to lighter things.

Over the days rumors started spreading and walking home after work made her nervous. The news that night shared reports of a large fire which scared her, looters would be a problem and it felt like the problems were getting closer. She took to calling Lena once she got home so they both knew the other was safe.

Why did she feel like something bad was going to happen? When she asked Phil her manager he just called it all "Hoodlum bullshit" and told her not to think about it. They were a long ways from that side of the city. But most of all she missed Nikolai. Every night she worried and started to keep the news on while she cleaned and went about her apartment.

It wasn't until she was at work a week later that the first barricade went up and real panic among people set in. To her shock the streets filled with yelling people and what looked like troops. Rushing to the store window she peered out in shock as she recognized some of the men she knew from the diner, They seemed to be overseeing what was happening. Directing citizens and keeping them back they told them it was something about a sickness quarantine through megaphones. Phil quickly let a few people inside the store and walked out to demand an answer, none of them having heard anything about this on the news. Her stomach dropped as the way to Lena's cafe was blocked.