Chapter 1
1320 Words
Chapter 1: Raccoon City (1998)
I DON'T KNOW what came over me when I saw a man who was about to be devoured by infected dogs, unconsciously pulling out my gun and shooting them down when my only purpose was the serum.
When I came closer for a bit, I saw his clothes. 'RPD', huh? So he was a police. I didn't know him through my case report, probably still a rookie. I took my license from my pocket, just to be sure.
The man was still baffled, and who wouldn't be? "Hey!" I called his attention as I saw the infected creature gaining its consciousness. "Who is that?"
"Stay sharp!" The dog finally recovered its consciousness, allowing it to actively lunge at him. Luckily, he was fast and was able to shoot the dog in its head. I walked closer, still a gun pointed at him as he did with me.
"Lower it." I commanded and stopped walking as I let my license loose down. "FBI." He lowered his gun. "Thanks...for your help." He said quite bashful due to the situation.
I was able to get a clear look at him. He is quite good-looking, though predictable. I snapped out of it quickly and walked away. "Surprised you made it this far."
'Right, Mission first.'
I couldn't afford to linger. Not when the city was falling apart and the mission was still unfinished. The G-virus was my priority—always had been, always would be.
As the rookie cop stammered behind me, I didn't look back. But I heard his footsteps, hesitant yet persistent.
"You're not staying to help?" His voice had a note of disbelief.
I paused, just long enough to flick my eyes over my shoulder. "I'm not a paramedic."
The tension between us hung in the air, thick and palpable. I could feel his gaze, like he was trying to figure me out—probably wondering what a woman like me was doing in a mess like this. I didn't owe him an explanation. He was just another survivor, and at this point, that's all he was to me.
"Listen, I don't have time for this," I said, walking toward the messy staircase where the dim lights flickered, casting long shadows on the cracked walls. The sound of groaning zombies came from every corner, their hunger palpable. "You shouldn't be out here alone either, but that's your problem now."
He caught up with me, his gun held low but still ready. "What about you? You don't look like you're just passing through."
I gave him a look, a sharp, cold glance that let him know I wasn't in the mood for small talk. As I said, mission comes first. "I don't need a sidekick."
The city was crumbling faster than I anticipated. If I didn't find that sample soon, the entire city—and whatever was left of it—would be lost.
But this man... he was persistent, trailing behind me like a puppy that didn't know when to back off. It was frustrating.
"Look," he started again, his voice a little firmer this time, "I don't know what you're after, but I'm part of the RPD. Maybe I can help."
"I don't need help," I snapped, but something about his words made me pause. He was young, clearly out of his depth, but there was something in his eyes. A kind of determination I recognized.
I couldn't help but smirk, though I immediately wiped it from my face. "The RPD's already overwhelmed. Get out while you still can."
He didn't seem to heed my warning. Instead, he just nodded and kept his pace steady behind me. I wasn't sure if I should admire his persistence or tell him to run in the opposite direction. But either way, he was going to be a distraction—one I didn't need.
As we turned a corner and reached a more desolate part of the building, the tension in the air shifted. The scent of death was everywhere, mixing with the metallic tang of blood. But there was something else—a sound. A deep, guttural growl that was way too close.
I stopped in my tracks, instinctively drawing my gun. Leon did the same, his eyes darting around.
Then it appeared, lumbering from the shadows, its eyes glowing with a predatory hunger. A mutated monster—faster, deadlier than the others, yet it has no eyes.
"Stay behind me," I ordered, but there was no time for protest.
Leon's grip tightened on his gun, his knuckles white against the dark metal. His breathing was shallow, almost as loud as the growl reverberating through the street. I could see it in his stance—the fear. But then he stepped forward, just enough to stand beside me, not behind me.
"I can handle this," he said, though his voice wavered. Brave words, but bravery didn't stop claws or teeth.
"Handle it by not getting in my way," I snapped, keeping my gun trained on the creature as it stalked closer. Its grotesque form twisted unnaturally with every step, saliva dripping from its jagged maw and its long tongue.
"You need another angle," Leon muttered as if convincing himself as much as me. He broke into a cautious stride, circling wide to my left. I cursed under my breath but didn't stop him. Maybe he'd distract it long enough for me to get a clean shot.
The creature lunged, faster than either of us expected. "Oh s**t!" Leon muttered. I rolled to the side, firing twice into its flank. The bullets hit, but the monster barely flinched. Leon froze for a second too long, the beast turning its attention to him.
"Leon!" I barked, but he was already moving. He dove behind a burned-out car, his shoulder slamming into the door with a grunt. The monster snarled, swiping at the vehicle with claws that tore through metal like paper. Leon popped up, firing a shot that grazed its neck.
"Aim for the head!" I shouted, positioning myself for a clearer shot. He nodded, his resolve visibly hardening, and fired again. This time, the bullet struck true, splattering dark blood against the cracked tiles. The creature staggered, just enough for me to take advantage. I unloaded three rounds into its skull, and it collapsed with a final, guttural wheeze.
For a moment, the only sounds were our labored breaths and the distant moans of the undead. Leon leaned against the car, his hands trembling as he lowered his weapon.
"Still think you can handle it?" I asked, walking over and inspecting the creature to ensure it was truly dead.
"This is NOT how I imagined my first day." He gave a shaky laugh and I scoffed, quite amused. He wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Not bad for a rookie, huh?"
"You're lucky it didn't rip you in half," I shot back, though there was no real malice in my tone. Just exhaustion. He had guts, I'd give him that.
Leon straightened, his trembling easing. "You're welcome for the distraction," he quipped, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
I rolled my eyes, holstering my gun. "Don't let it go to your head."
He followed as I started walking again, a bit steadier on his feet this time. Despite his nerves, he'd held his own. Annoying as his persistence was, it was hard not to respect it—even if I still didn't need a sidekick.
"So, what's the plan?" he asked, falling into step beside me. His voice was calmer now, more determined.
I glanced at him. Rookie or not, he wasn't going to back down. "The plan is you stay alive. Don't slow me down."
"Noted," he said with a faint grin, checking his ammo.
And for the first time, I wondered if maybe...
Just maybe, having him around wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
- Writer
