Surviving Raccoon City

X gon give it to ya

After running down to the cooling room and back to the greenhouse in record time, I let Leon do the honors of dispensing the Herbicide. The screen flashed yellow before our computer friend spoke. "Dispensing solution now" This time the plants began to wither and die, the body that was on display dropped down, the purple wrist band falling a few inches away. "That did the trick" Leon spoke as we jogged inside. I hopped over a particularly thick vine and picked up the chip, sliding it into my own bracelet. "Shit" Leon called out from somewhere behind me in the greenhouse. "Leon?" I called out when I heard a familiar stomping, which suddenly stopped making me uneasy. My blood turned to ice when I noticed something move behind the cracked glass. Slowly looking up, I was met with the beady eyes of the Mr trenchcoat himself. Fuck. He titled his head, his frown deepening as I slowly crept away from the glass. How was it still alive? Didn't Birkin kill it? His chest was sliced apart for crying out loud."Uh, Leon?" I called out nervously, when gunfire rang out, busy with his own threat. I turned around alarmed for Leon's safety when the glass broke.Before I could react, his gloved hand wrapped around my neck as he jumped down, the heavy impact shaking the metal grates as he lifted me up. I wheezed, clawing at his arm as I desperately tried to free myself, as his grip tightened, completely cutting off my airway.I faintly heard Leon call out as black dots began to fill my vision, my head began to pound, a ringing in my ears. In a last-ditch effort, I fired my gun, successfully shooting it in the chin. It grunted as it released me, the action stunning it. I fell to the ground in a heap, clawing at my bruising throat trying to breathe. Tears obscured my vision as I blindly began to backcrawl away from him, harshly coughing as I struggled to fill my lungs with precious air. Someone grabbed my pack and hoisted me up, their arm wrapping around me as mine hung around Leon's neck. I struggled to walk as Leon pulled me along, my feet tripping over themselves. "Come on Lara, stay with me" Leon urged lunging to the left as one of those plant things attacked. One of its vines wrapped around my ankle, yanking me down and out of Leon's grasp. My vision went black and the next thing I knew Leon was frantically grabbing my wrist to scan the bracelet. I helped him, feeling him relax when he noticed my responsiveness. "Oh thank god" he breathed out as we waited for the bridge to form. "what happened?" I rasped out, my throat burning which each word I spoke. I wanted a drink of water so badly. "You black out when that thing grabbed you. But I got us out of there before that thing could get us. I'm so sorry I couldn't get to you sooner" he spoke, pulling me into a tight hug. "Uh, no biggie" Was all I could say, my brain short-circuiting by him hugging me, my cheeks flaring red. We parted, Leon, placing a tender hand on my chin to tilt it upwards. I bite my lip, looking anywhere but him as he studied my neck. "Shit, it's bruising badly" he commented as I stepped back away from him, unable to stay calm when his breath tickled my ear. "You okay?" he asked surprised by my sudden outburst. I cleared my throat, wincing from the pain but nodded my head. "Come on, we got work to do," I rasped out, a cough tricking up my throat as we walked to the west wing. I bit down on my tongue, causing saliva to build up in my mouth, helping to moisturize my throat. "Think the cures up here?" I asked swallowing as the door slide open. "Better be" he spoke flicking on his light.Another signal modulator was up ahead so I got to work on matching the right frequency. Placing the device in I leaned against the wall as a wave of dizziness came over me when the power turned on. Leon rested a hand on my shoulder, giving it a light squeeze, leaning down to look me in the eye. "Sure you're okay?" "Yeah," I answered nodding my head and pushing off the wall. "Just want to get this over with" I added heading over to a door mark bioreactor room and through a room full of hazard suits.We walked through a sterilization room, some type of solution spraying down on us, reminding me of all my wounds as they burned. I groaned in discomfort as did Leon but hey, at least that means its working. The bright blue lights at the end, helping dry us off before we walked across another bridge. It almost looked like one of the rooms from a video game, you know when your fighting against the main villain. "Are we there yet?" I spoke, earning a laugh from Leon as we entered another room. The walls were black, the red circles glowed brightly against the dark contrast, to be honest, it looked pretty cool.Further, up ahead were experimental tubes, each filled with what looked like different types of failed G-virus attempts. I covered my mouth, feeling bile rise up my sore throat as I examed the creatures."Lara, over here" Leon called out waving me over to a locked case. "We need a key" he explained. "Why not just break the glass" I offered. He knocked against the glass with his knuckle pondering the idea when I spotted a familiar symbol on the keyholder. "Glass is too thick" Leon spook as I pulled off the necklace. "the necklace is the key" I mused turning it over to see I was right. "What?" Leon asked in disbelief.Ignoring him, I placed the locket into the slot and it beeped. The thick glass sliding apart, giving us access to the two vials inside. I took one, keeping it firmly in my grasp when Leon took the over. "What? why are you taking that one?" I questioned, we only needed one. "Ada, remember?" he said securing it into one of his hip pouches. I grimaced wondering why she needs it, still not trusting this FBI agent. "Okay? but did she say why?" I asked as we headed back towards the exit. "She said we can stop this from happening to others. I can't let that happen" he said rather defensively."Alright," I said holding up my hands, jeez relax. "Attention: unauthorized removal of a Level 4 virus detected. Facility lockdown initiated. Self-destruct sequence will begin when the lockdown is complete" That's are cue to GTFO."Shit we gotta hurry," Leon said pulling me along as we ran across the bridge. "Fuck this place is gonna self destruct?" I wheezed out struggling to keep up with him. Behind us, something crashed through the ceiling cause Leon to stop abruptly. "Keep running!" I urged not wanting to stop and fight whatever was behind us. Turning around we came face to face with Birkin. He grunted as he walked over to us, Leon pushing me behind him. Before we could attack, a blonde woman came running past us- Annette. "Move, he's mine." she ordered. "This has to end" she spoke aiming her gun towards Birkin. She fired, the bullet sending a large amount of what I assumed was liquid nitrogen all over him. He cried out in pain waving his arms around. "What the hell is going on?" Leon asked as Birkin fell to his knees. "Sorry, William. You left me no choice" Annette spoke, ignoring us, something she seemed to excel at. She fired again coating his downed form. His groaning off pain stopped as Leon slowly went over to investigate with Annette. "Did you get it?" she asked turning to look over towards me. "Yes," I answered nodding my head as well as she released a content sigh. "Thank you," she said surprising me, she really did care. If only Sherry was here to witness it. "You called this thing William. Why?" Leon asked crouching down to look at Birkin closely. I instead kept my distance, not wanting to go near it. "Leon not to close" I called out like a worried mother. "It shouldn't have been like this... Its umbrellas fault, this whole mess" Annette spoke. "You're umbrella too, you're telling me you weren't involved in this?" Leon questioned, frowning. "Yes, but we never meant for this to happen" she cried out defending her actions. I narrowed my eyes at her, remembering she was the one to make this virus, William included."Yeah, never meant to happen to YOU" I spoke up. She turned to look at me applaud by my words. "Then tell me everything- right from the start" Leon ordered standing up and heading over to Anette. Annette spoke up, retelling her story to us, telling us how the dying Willaim injecting himself out of spite. "So you made this monster" Leon spat motioning to Birkin as I crept closer, refusing to believe it was actually dead. Nothing dies down here."We made the G-virus, but we never intended this to-" Leon cut her off "You can spin it any way you want" A weird squish noise faintly sounded alerting me of the coming danger, the other two too busy arguing. "Your still responsible" Leon spoke, as the bulging eye opened, revealing a nasty red as Birkin roared grabbing Annette and rasing her into the air."Annette!" I cried out worrying for the doctors well being. He squeezed her tightly, multiple cracks sounding as she screamed in pain. He threw her, sending her crashing into the wall, her body slumping to the floor. Worried for her well being I ran over to her, helping her up as she coughed up blood. She pushed me off her and before I could stop her she slammed her hand down on a button, sending the bridge Leon was on downward. "What are you doing!" I asked trying to get down to Leon but she held me back despite her injuries. "We can't let him get away!" she answered she called out when Leon looked over alarmed at what was going on."I have to help him!" I fought trying to get down. "No, we have to help Sherry" Annette counted her grip on my wrist tight as she collapsed to the ground in pain. "But he'll die" I whispered watching Leon dodge an attack firing a couple of rounds into Birkin's pulsing eyes. "No, he's smart he'll fine, I can't help Sherry without you," she said standing up and pulling me along. "GO! SAVE SHERRY ILL BE FINE!" Leon shouted as Birkin fell to the ground, the grenade Leon threw stunning him. "DON'T YOU DARE DIE ON MY KENNEDY!" I warned, looping one of Annettes arms around my head as we left Leon reluctantly. "Over there, there's a lab where I can treat her" Annette groaned pointing towards the doorway on the right. "I'm gonna go get Sherry, here's the virus," I said giving it to Annette before running out to the office Ada, Claire, and Sherry were hiding.Claire was seated next to Sherry, her injured leg stretched out as she tended to Sherry, Ada was nowhere to be seen. "Wheres Ada?" I asked when Claire noticed me a smile forming on her face. "Lara!" she greeted standing up, wincing as she walked over. "she left, said you guys were taking to long. Wheres Leon?" she asked her smiling disappearing as she noticed the blonde cops disappearance."He'll be fine," I reassured Claire and mostly myself as I scooped up Sherry and heading for the door. "Come on, I got the virus. Annette is working on a cure," I explained heading across the hall to the lab Annette was in. "Put her on the cot" Annette ordered as she concentrated on her work, not even looking up to see who it was. I nodded, gently laying Sherry down as Annette swiveled around in her chair and hooking an IV to Sherry's arm."Administering the drug now" she spoke aloud, inerting the needle into the line. We waited in silence, waiting for the drug to work, Annette was passed out, her hand gripping Sherry's. The color slowly returned to Sherry's face, the infection that spread from Sherry's eye slowly retreating. The drug was working. Sherry stirred, groaning as she turned her head to look over at us. "Hey" I greeted, a smile spreading across my face, as her crystal blue eyes met my own, the infection completely gone. "I knew you'd make it" she whispered, completely drained. "Is mommy okay?" she asked noticing her mother's current condition. Before Claire or I could answer Annette stirred sitting upright with a pained groaned. "Sherry... How are you?" she asked scooting closer to her, concern written across her face. "Okay, But you don't look so good" she continued as Annette stood up, almost collapsing from her injuries but luckily Claire caught her. "Mommy?" Sherry called out, springing up from the cot. "Hey, look at the screen," Annette said, as Claire helped her up all of us looking. "Oh, thank god" she breathed out reading her daughter's vitals, relief spreading across her features. "So, Sherrys gonna be alright?" Claire asked."She'll be weak for a little while but... yes, she's free of the G-virus" Annette answered as Sherry grabbed my hand gaining my attention. "I'm gonna be alright?" she asked, smiling up at me. "Yeah," I answered, giving her hand a light squeeze. Annette cried out again, collapsing to the floor Claire trying to help her. Sherry jumped down from the cot, letting me go and fell to her knees next to her mother. Anette rolled onto her back, clutching her bleeding side as she panted."What happened to her?" Sherry asked, grabbing my arm and shaking it, demanding an answer. "She was attacked by a monster-" I answered when Annette spoke out. "Don't... don't worry about me." she breathed out, her face a ghostly white from all the blood loss. "Take my daughter... to safety" she ordered taking out a small chip from her pocket and handing it to me. "I'm sorry sherry... for everything," she said, weakly taking Sherry's hand. "Your life is what is important now" "We can't just leave her here" Sherry spoke turning to Claire and me. I was at a loss for words, my mind going blank on what to do. Claire, on the other hand, stood up looking around the room for anything useful. "You're right, we can't-""Attention: Unauthorized removal of a Level 4 virus detected. Facility lockdown initiated" the AI called out as a rumble shook the lab. "Self destruct sequence will begin when the lockdown is complete.""What does that mean?" Claire asked as my blood turned cold. "Its the self destruct code. In case the G-virus leaves the building. Please, save my daughter" Annette begged, grabbing my hand as gasping as she struggled to breathe. "No!" sherry cried out hugging her mom as she began crying. I bite my lip, trying to stay strong as Annette died, Sherrys cries filling the room. "Sherry, we gotta say goodbye to your mom. Come on" Claire said, as I gently rested a comforting hand on Sherry's shoulders. The whole lab began to shake as mini-explosions went off. "Please say goodbye" Claire urged. "Please, Sherry listen, she loved you, okay? She would want you to leave" I said as she kissed her mom one last time before holding out her hand. I took it and she wrapped her arms around me tightly. "I know" I whispered knowing what it was like to lose a mother. "We gotta hurry" Claire urged as we ran out of the room. I inserted the chip Annette gave me into my band, the purple screen now flashing pink. We ran for the elevator as the AI's voice rang out. "Attention: Self-destruct sequence initiated." Up ahead Leon and Ada were talking, both having their guns drawn at the other. I watched blankly, Annette being right the whole time. "Leon!" I called out catching the two's attention when a rather large explosion sounded above, the tremors shook the bridges we were on making us stumble. Looking over at the two I noticed a piece of there bridge missing as well as the two of them. "Oh, no." I breathed out letting go of Sherry's hand running over to the broken bridge. "Take Sherry to the elevator!" I ordered Claire coming to a stop at the broken ledge, desperately looking around for Ada and Leon. I spotted them up ahead, Leon resting on his stomach as he clung on to Ada who was dangling over the edge. A small part of the walkway was still connected, giving me access over to the section Leon was on, If I could get over to him I could help pull Ada up. Each step I took made the metal groan, fear coursed through my veins as I waited for the metal to give underweight. "Ada hold on!" I heard Leon yell as another termor shook, his grate shaking loose. I stepped on a particularly loose piece, my foot breaking the metal and causing my leg to go straight through. I yelped, pulling myself up, a part of the metal cutting open my pants and leg. I ignored it though as I noticed Ada's hand slipping. "No!" Leon cried out as Ada fell from his grasp, disappearing into the dark abyss. He laid there in shock as I reached him, his arm still outstretched as if he was waiting for her to magically reappear. "Come on" I urged, tugging him up and onto a sturdy part of the bridge as his grate plummeted. He looks up at me, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. "I know" I whispered, wrapping an arm around him as I lead him over to the elevator, silent tears streaming down his face. The guilt of not being able to save Ada no doubt haunting him for years to come."Ada, did she?" Claire whispered into my ear as we descended down, Sherry tightly holding onto Claire as Leon looked out the elevator, trying to compose himself.I nodded my head, yes, feeling bad for Ada as I slipped my hand into Leons, giving it a small squeeze. Sure she lied, but that doesn't mean she deserved to die. He returned it, his grip tightening as we looked out the glass windows large reactors all spinning as the fire encasing it grew. The elevator came to a stop, the doors opening to reveal a hallway. "Let's go" Leon spoke, releasing his hand stalking off the elevator with his gun raised. "Come on," Claire said holding on to Sherry's hand and pulling her along as I brought up the rear. We headed deeper down into the lab as the AI reminded us of how much time we had left which wasn't much. We climbed down a ladder, Leon helping me off on the last rung when I slipped. Claire ran ahead of us through the service tunnels when someone jumped down in front of her. The lovely Mr. X greeted us as he stood from his crouched position, his menacing glare sending shivers down my spine. I reacted quickly, grabbing Claire's hand and yanking her and Sherry away from the beast and down the left corridor."Uh. Is this a fucking joke?" Leon yelled, pissed off that he wouldn't leave us alone. "Just run!" I ordered as we walked into a new room, machinery around us all ablaze. "Through there!" I pointed, making Claire go first when a pipe burst between us, a wall of fire separating Claire and Sherry from Leon and me. I shield my eyes, feeling Leon yank me back before the flames could engulf me. "Just go!" he yelled waving his arm. "But-" "Go!""Get to the train!" "We'll find another way!" Leon said when another explosion went off in the room, the grates below us rattling violently. Leon whipped around suddenly when something hit me from behind. I cried out, the blow sending me to the ground as Leon was grabbed, and hoisted into the air. Dazed from the hit, I rolled onto my back when the grate gave out sending us tumbling down. It was a painful fall, Leon landing on top of me. Least one of us had a cushioned fall. "Get off" I wheezed, trying to push him off as he crushed me. "Gotta keep going!" Leon encouraged apologizing as he rolled off me, struggling to get up himself. We both began running, more like limping when we found a large lift of some sort to take us down. I wasted no time yanking the lever down when the ceiling started coming down, a part of the wall a little way up broke apart revealing a mutated Mr. X. "What do you want!" I yelled, wishing for it to leave us alone. He casually walked across the catwalk above when a support beam crashed into it sending Mr. X down onto our lift. Very convenient for him, devastating for Leon and me. "Alright, come on," Leon said, pulling out his shotgun as I took out my handgun. We both shot at the bulging mess on its chest as he stalked towards us, each bullet making its mark into his chest. He swung a clawed arm towards us. We both dove out of the way, Leon groaning as he was knicked."Seven minutes until detonation" Running around the lift, we kept alternating our shots, one person would fire while the other reloaded and vice versa. A large piece of rubbled landed in front of us, almost crushing us as Mr. X roared in anger as he was unable to kill us.Another detonation went off, a support beam came loose, almost landing on the lift as a case fell landing in front of us. It hit a piece of debris, the jolt opening the case to reveal a rocket launcher. "Where did this thing come from?" Leon wondered as I looked up, seeing a flash of red. Was that? Before I could comprehend what was happening, Leon took ahold of the launcher and forced us back into a corner as Mr. X charged. He fired, hitting Mr. X right in the chest. Once the smoke cleared all that was left of him was his legs, his entire torse and head were blown to smithereens. "Think he'll get up?" I asked peering over Leon's shoulders as the lift came to a stop. My question caught the blonde off guard, making him snort as he dropped the empty launcher and grabbed my hand pulling me along. The door before us opened, revealing a stream of zombies, moaning as they reached out to grab us. We opened fire, my gun clicking as it ran out of ammo. I didn't have any more in my bag. Leon took out the rest, he only has a clip of ammo left, having run out of shotgun shells. "Let's hope nothing else comes at us," he said as we entered the railway tunnel. Just as we neared the track our ride out of here was passing by. We took off running, a beam falling in front of us sending us back. "Come on! We gotta get out of here!" Leon urged pulling me along as we raced after the train. Explosions rang out as the time limit reached the zero mark, each boom sending tremors throughout the building. I lost my grip on Leon as he jumped up, grabbing ahold of a railing, pulling himself up before reaching a hand out for me."Jump!" he ordered. Scared, I closed my eyes and jumped as hard as I could, one hand wrapping around the cold pipping as Leon took the other. Grunting, he hoisted me up, wrapping his arms around me as he collapsed against the metal wall bringing me down with him. I leaned back, unaware of our position until I felt his hot breath on my neck. My face turned a beet red, as I maneuvered out of his grasp, missing the feeling of being in his arms. Leon stayed seated, looking straight ahead with a look of forlorn. "I'm sorry. I know you liked her a lot" He let out a small laugh shaking his head. "No, I.. I looked up to her. Thought I could be a great FBI agent like her one day" he said, looking away biting his lip. "With all the shit you put up with today, I think you'll be getting a promotion" I joked, earning a smile from the rookie cop. "Haha," he said as I stood us pulling him along. "Let's go look for Claire and Sherry"