RESIDENT EVIL: A New Nightmare

2.2 HAVEN

Rushing to her was the man, a slight distressed look on his face. She stood without a word, her eyes keeping a close watch on him. There was something different about him, something she couldn't quite decipher. From what she could gather from his appearance, he could very much be some psychopath looking for his next victim, or some crazy inmate who by some rough luck, had found a way to escape prison. Yet she felt his presence without risks, she somehow knew she wasn't in any immediate danger.

"I don't really know my way around here-" He needed to proceed very carefully, to remain hidden as a shadow of his former self. "I just need to know how far to the next city?" His question waved both a surprised and inquisitive expression across her face.

"Nothing for miles..." She answered truthfully. All she could do for the moment, was to play it safe, and stay on his good side. "There's Stoneville to the east, but the road leading there has a restricted access due to some incident, making it a nuisance to travel to." His eyes frowned.

"Any other city?" He wondered.

"Kant City via Raccoon Bypass, with heavy construction for about ten miles-" She paused. "How did you come here?" She inquired for something didn't add up. Is he actually from Douglas? Or did he come from somewhere else..? He can't be one of Irons, can he..? He remained silent, his mind rushing to think of an evasive explanation.

"You don't have to answer." She could read his expression, she could see his inner struggle. Everyone had its share of secrets, as she concealed many herself. She gave him a soft look in hope to ease the unsettling atmosphere. "You should to do something about those cuts." She commented, as she took a closer look at his arms and hands. "Might get infected if you leave them untreated."

"It's nothing serious." He simply replied, brushing off any concern.

"There's a hospital about three miles from here-" She suggested; she could see however, his silent but clear declination, most likely wishing to remain unseen for whatever reason. "Or not." There was one other option. "There is a small pharmacy though, few blocks from here." His expression remained dubious. "And closed on week nights."

"I'll manage without." He declined again.

"I could clean up those wounds-" She insisted. Best keep an eye on him... he wouldn't be the first suspicious person in city... especially not lately. "It's the least I can do for you; I'll fix you up, and then, you can be on your way." Her words were kind, her eyes filled with gratitude. After some reflection, he eventually nodded in agreement, and gestured for her to lead the way. A short walk out of the parking lot, they proceeded down Staeds Drive, all the way to a one way avenue near Lynn Valley. Having reached their destination, she pulled out a set of keys, and unlocked the gated door.

"The owner's not around, so you can relax." She had noticed his avoidance of the few people they had encountered on their way here; his tense demeanor while walking, and his constant scouting of the surroundings. He was clearly hiding something, that, she knew for sure; however, he had saved her, and thus, she owned him as much as to not question him, and simply treat his injuries.

She gathered the necessary items, and gestured him to follow her to a backroom. A disheveled couch, a small fridge and an old television was all the room contained. A small lamp as the only light source, it offered nonetheless a tranquil and cozy atmosphere; a immense contrast with the living Hell he had escape from.

"These are some nasty cuts..!" She commented, as she took a look at his hands. "Where have you been?" A thought flashed in her mind. "Never mind- I forgot... you came back from Hell." She gave him a small teasing smile, for he replied with a mirrored smirk. But seriously, some of these injuries looks like scratch marks... possibly from some animal- a dog maybe. She assumed. What the hell did he crawl out of?