RESIDENT EVIL: The Time is Now (Story board)

Berina growled a little, the modifications having left her hollow and somewhat bitter, she still had more than enough strength to end this foreigners life. Yet she chose not to, there was something about this man that she felt in her bones that was different. He knew something that she didn't...something that would end this nightmare for good, she looked to Drake and followed Tao, passing him by several metres and taking up almost a pose in the damaged wall of the mall that led out into the infected streets of Racoon City, looking back at Tao, she finally spoke, "Coming or not?"

“Oh gee, well if we ever get out of here and you happen to take a bite out of someone, maybe it’ll mean something then,” Chrys lowered her Desert Eagle, the woman’s sarcasm a nice change from any sort of forced friendliness along the strangers. With a small twirl, she holstered the nickel-plated gun, walking out through the window display of the store.

With a small grunt of effort, she got through, glancing back to Travis. “By the way, hate to break it to you but Malconin’s dead,” The clip fell from his hand’s, he almost in a shock. Chrys sighed. “Yeah, it’s a long story…but how about we head to the source. You can ask him about it, eh?”

A half smile across her face, with Travis and Liana in tow, the trio headed out towards the entrance of the mall, Berina and Tao walking off, Drake standing with a look wondering if he should follow after. Chrys pointed to the ninja. “If you want any answers regarding how the hell someone killed Valious, look no further than him.”

Patting the stranger’s shoulder, Chrys walked over to Paul and Raine, hands on her hips with the broadest smile the two had ever seen on her in their little times together. They both started to back up apprehensively, Chrys dropping the chipper façade and looking out into the distance, through blood splattered streets, past the burnt out buildings, and in the direction of the risen sun onto a plain cypress mansion looming in the distance, windows dark and dusty, glass still in it’s frame.

Narrowing her eyes, Chrys held a hand over her forehead to better see it. “Paul, Raine, hope you guys got all your stuff in order. I have an idea of where we can search for this anti-virus,” She said it oddly, suspicion at the word. “Serum, gas thing.”

Raine followed Chrys’s gaze, shaking her head. “You’re finally gonna get us killed, aren’t you? The pharmacy and the police station AND sending us off with Malconin wasn’t enough? Plus there was that crazy electric blue eyed guy-”

At a coldly fierce look from Chrys, Raine zipped her mouth, turning away from the murderous glare. Smiling nervously, Raine brushed a hand over her gun for comfort. “What I meant to say was…um, I couldn’t imagine anything better than heading off to some foreboding mansion lurking in the distance.” Raine closed her eyes after her sentence, figuring she’d ask Chrys about the man later on.

Not noticing the exchange of glares between the two femmes, Paul focused his eyes to the mansion. “So I take it we have no choice but to go with you,” Turning to Chrys, he smiled knowingly. “Right?”

Chrys gave a quick nod of her head. “Correct, though anyone else is free to follow, can’t be completely tyrannical in such times, ya know?” She glanced to the others. Deciding not to wait for any commentary, she placed an arm over Paul and Raine’s shoulder, smirking all the while. “Well, time for a hike!”

“Surprised you’re not taking a final smoke,” mumbled Raine, arms crossed in disdain at the mandatory adventure.

Letting go of the two, Chrys started ahead, a somber expression on her face. “Can’t even if I wanted to. Lost my cigs and that’s too long of a story…” She sighed, looking upwards to the thin strips of white forming through pure blue.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Several hours before; Fifteen minutes before sunrise

Standing on a relatively low rooftop, darkness shrouding their features, the stranger observed an orange yellow mass rising up from the east, the hopeful feeling in their gut slipping away with each increase of daylight. Cigarette resting naturally between two fingers, the stranger took an unusually long drag, closing their emotionless eyes, shaking off the unsettling thoughts creeping through their head.

It was less than a minute after paranoia had started to grab hold when a barely audible whirring was heard, a faint hum in the distance. Looking up, the character saw a black copter, strictly meant for stealth, the heli hovering above silently through the night, moans of leftover creatures covering the noise.

A man with a headset, a black swallowtail coat, and silk white gloves to match leaned out of the now open helicopter door, hand fixed across his waist as he gave a small bow. “Apologies for being late, Master Rosewood.”

The cigarette gave off a pale orange, Kaseus taking a long cynical drag. “Four days is a little more than late…that’s ‘let’s hope he’s dead by the fifth day’ irresponsible,” Dropping the Salem, he burnt it out on the chosen rooftop. “Drop down a ladder, I’m not willing to risk finding a licker hanging on the underside of my heli…especially considering the lack of weaponry.” He grimaced, missing the weight of his ‘borrowed’ Desert Eagles. Forcing away the small feeling of defenselessness, he grabbed hold of the metal rung ladder, skillfully climbing his way up as the copter began to fly out over the city. Once he managed to safely get himself inside, he allowed his legs to dangle over the edge, a heavy rancid wind blowing into the heli.

The man in the swallowtail stood nearby, observing Kaseus carefully as the pilot flew them off. His attention went immediately to the two inch slit in his leather jacket, a little to the right of impaling his heart. Swallowtail frowned, tapping his upper lip daintily with a forefinger. “Master Rosewood, if I am not mistaken, that is a stab wound through your chest, no? So how exactly are you still alive?”

Kaseus leaned against the opening, staring out into the horizon in a daze. “Correction, katana wound. Explanation, I may still look human on the outside but I’m still a BOW,” Turning to his associates expression of confusion, he elaborated. “Bio Organic Weapon…the only way Mistress Stonewell, as you call her, would have been able to kill me is if she shot me through the head…or torched me.”

Swallowtail took in the information, making note to keep that in mind. “And why would you let Mistress Stonewell believe you dead…?”

“Simple,” Getting up with a struggle, Kaseus released a heavy breath, elbow pushing into the open door entrance. Taking out a second Salem, he lit up from a golden lighter, letting out a stream of smoke before he said. “Closure. Chrys…she has this paranoia thing, has to see in order to believe. She sees me dead, she’ll think I’m dead, and that way, she can live out her life however the hell she wants without having to constantly look over her shoulder in fear of my return.”

“I see…” Swallowtail, try as he might, couldn’t hold back a curious musing. “So why did you not just kill her? Spare her from such thoughts…?”

Kaseus almost looked frustrated, brushing a few strands of stark white away from his forehead, breathing out smoke as he spoke below a whisper. “Because she has something of mine that’s of the utmost importance to me…” Fingers squeezing the helpless cigarette firmly, his gaze lingered on the sun. Or rather, she’s having my child. He looked down to the Salem, holding back the urge to toss it over the city, glad such menial things could distract him from the idea.

Not bothering to ask what Chrys had, the helicopter now over the mountainous region, Swallowtail held a look of melancholy. “Knowing what you do, would you not go back for her? La donna amavate…?” He finished eloquently in Italian.

Ancora amore… Kaseus, to swallowtail’s surprise, let out a weak laugh, smile accompanying it as smoke left his nose and mouth, he shaking his head. “Salems…out of all the cigarettes it had to be these…” Blatantly ignoring the question, he looked back to Swallowtail with a cold authority, a severe enough glare to keep him silent for the rest of the journey. “I might answer that question…” Flicking the cigarette out into the distance, he pocketed the package. “If you can spare a Newport…”

"My apologies." Tao held out a hand to Drake, watching Berina out the corner of his eyes as she gave him a rather wide birth in passing. "My name is Tao," he said simply, "And you are Drake," he added as Drake shook his hand firmly.
Tao glanced at Berina, who was glaring at him intensly. "Coming or not?" she asked, causing Tao to start in surprise.
"Ah, yes, I..." he trailed off, not used to feeling awkward and turned his gaze to the others to hide his embarrasment. He followed their gaze to the MAnsion, and nodded as the woman...Chrys, he remembered her being called, told her companions that that was their destination.
Tao nodded. He too, had a hunch about that place and it seemed a logical choice to start their search. Shaking his head and focusing his mind to regain his lost composure, Tao started off after Chrys and the others.

Berina took a place at Tao's left, ever vigilent, she made sure each of the party members was present as they continued. There would be no trust between her and Tao, he would atleast realise that much.

“Well, time for a hike!” said Raine, mocking Chrys’s earlier words with a sneer as a once white sneaker sunk almost knee deep through the slimy, pale green water beneath the streets of Raccoon city, a pungent smell coming from whatever was making up the liquid, natural light coming from circular gaps courtesy of the manholes making up the town.

Holding a hand over her nose, beretta cautiously peering through any spare tunnels making up the left and right of the main one, Raine glanced sideways to Chrys. “You know, when you said ‘hike’ I assumed you meant through…oh, I don’t know, an actual forest. Why exactly are we trudging through the sewers…? With the rats?” Raine finished her sentence weakly, shuddering slightly at seeing a dirty grey rat scatter across the walkway.

Making up the front, Chrys held onto her magnum in one hand, a flashlight in the other, scanning the front of the seemingly lengthy tunnel. She made a face. “First of all, don’t ever assume. Second, I never said how we’d get there and this happens to be the most convenient path, leading directly beneath the estate, hopefully zombie free. Third, if rats make you shudder and zombies don’t even make you flinch, you need to check your priorities.”

Raine held back a mocking comment, rolling her eyes instead as she focused on the tunnel openings. Chrys stopped in her footsteps, trying not to grimace at the water running along her bare leg. She turned around, taking a look at the group. Behind her was Raine and Paul, Paul holding a second light, looking around cautiously. Behind that pair was Lianne and Travis, followed by a very watchful Berina and Tao, Drake making up the rear. With everyone looking to be in order, Chrys focused her eyesight forward, continuing on the hour long trek.

Uncomfortable with the tunnels silence, the only sounds heard coming from rushing water, tiny droplets forming into pools and puddles, the occasional loud yelp of a rat, and the chilling unearthly moans coming from Raccoon city’s less lively inhabitants, Raine decided to break the silence. “So out of all the places in the city…why the looming mansion in the distance? Thought that place burned down…”

Chrys sighed heavily, holstering her magnum and holding the flashlight ahead with her teeth. Hands now free, she fixed her hair into a tight bun, two strands hanging free in the front as she shrugged. “The media makes you think a lot of things…”

“What do you know?”

Glancing back to Raine, she wondered if she should divulge in any details. The whole story would take far too long and required more than an hour of explaining. Forming a short synopsis of what she knew, Chrys spoke in a rapid whisper. “It was actually an explosion. The mansion was before the Hive –an underground research facility for Umbrella- and was the birthplace of the T-Virus, along with others. An outbreak occurred around the mansion a few years back bringing in reports of grisly murders happening around the area. A team was sent in, the leader a traitor…of course. Heard the team made good test subjects. From there, second team was sent on a rescue mission. The few survivors out of the crew returned with stories of zombies and tyrants, Umbrella being heavily involved, etc….but they were seen as stories and nothing more-”

“Time out,” interrupted Raine deep in thought. Her look turned curious. “Alright, so far I get the idea that the mansion was some sort of experimental facility. But what's a tyrant?”

“That’s what happens to every one in a hundred million infected with the T-Virus. They bypass the undead phase and become a force to be reckoned with. A premature version of what could be perfection…at the expense of one’s soul. Though…I really shouldn’t say anything, I didn’t study the latter too much…” Chrys decided to spare the others her thoughts on enhancements, it just wasn’t her place. Plus, for once, she wasn’t in the mood to start anything.

“Hmm, so we’re going to the mansion because you think what with the rebuilding of it Umbrella’s started on secondary projects/experiments?”

A brief smile appeared on Chrys’s lips, flashlight back in hand, magnum in the air. “Raine…‘don’t ask, deduce’.”

Before any deducing could be done, a loud scratching noise could be heard, echoing around in the vast darkness of the interloping paths and tunnels. The group listened intently, guns being readied almost simultaneously. After realizing the sound was coming from behind them, Paul asked quietly. “About how far away are we from the manor?”

Looking ahead, eyes narrowed she murmured. “Two minutes tops…if we break off into a run at this point,” Increasing her pace, she already started on a hasty jog, the others following after.

“Why don’t we just fight whatever’s approaching?” shouted Raine as Chrys fled ahead.

“Cause I don’t want to attract the attention of anything else prowling beneath this hell-, whoa!” Chrys halted in her steps, waving out her arms for balance as she stared, surprised at the sudden nothingness. Opposite her and an estimated twenty yards away stood one of seven ladders on a slime covered platform, only one lacking the small roost of rats that had made themselves comfy at the bottom. However, ceasing all progress was from what she could tell was a fifteen foot fall into a vast sea of polluted water, the water being twenty feet at most.

Not noticing that she had stopped, Paul bumped into her from behind, Chrys completely losing her balance and tilting forward. Shit! Slipping from the edge wide-eyed, Chrys placed both hands over her face as she plunged jackknife style into the sewage, closing her eyes in the sour nausea inducing waters.

Beneath the surface, breath held tightly, six more barely audible drops into the stagnant pool was heard, everyone experiencing the domino effect with the exception of Drake, who in the back, had no worries of being tossed into the pool. Instead, he calmly slid down a ladder, the rest of the group popping up from the water coughing and gagging.

Holding back the urge to puke, Chrys spat out a large quantity of water, tears streaming down her eyes from the taste and smell. Squeezing her nose and regaining her bearings, she quickly started to swim forward, the pool of water becoming shallow as she approached the center ladder.

The others behind her, Chrys started on a mad dash upwards, the dew built up on the ladder causing her to almost fall twice. Reaching the top, she started to unbolt the manhole, the loud scratching noise from earlier growing prominent. Risking a glance back, she noted not more than two lickers starting to climb around the water and to the eight person group.

Drake lifted a magnum, killing one incoming from the left. Raine took care of the right, Chrys wincing as the shots went off. Now why’d they have to go and do something like that…? The scurrying of countless claws scratching along walls could be heard clearly, a knot of fear building in Chrys’s stomach. Screwing over her earlier decision, she took out her magnum, pumping the manhole with the leftover bullets in her clip.

Pushing upwards, it flew off flimsily, pale sunlight flooding into the dank sewer, momentarily blinding. Taking a risk, Chrys climbed into the light, followed closely after by Raine, Berina, Lianne, Travis, Tao and finally, the still firing Drake. Travis and Tao pulled him from the ladder, Chrys kicking the cover across the entrance.

The mansion… To Chrys’s surprise, they were less than a few feet away, soft lighting from golden chandeliers visible from outside the huge dusty mahogany framed windows. Stepping through the tall, overgrown grass populating their surroundings, Chrys pushed open the entrance, breathing calm at the deceptive innocence of the manor.

As everyone reached inside, the door shut quickly, an invisible force sealing them inside the overwhelming setting of the hauntingly beautiful abode. Leaning against a tapestry, Chrys stayed on her guard, glaring to the rest of the group. “Well, that went swimmingly,” Forcing away her sarcasm, she sighed, looking up to the ceiling, arms crossed.

“Considering I doubt the anti-virus…thing would be in plain view, I take it we’ll have to access the sub-basement. But taking into account the convoluted mind of the constructer the only way to do so is to find three pendants…amethyst, lapis lazuli, and topaz hidden in the basement, first floor, and second floor, respectively of course. Insert those into the statue in the head of the stairs and we have ourselves a ticket downwards. To save time, we should split up, 2 groups of three take the 2nd floor and the basement, the two leftover takes the 1st floor. Choose your comrades wisely…” Finished Chrys ominously, the chandelier flickering to set the mood.

A loud clatter was heard from somewhere within the mansion, just to let the group know it wouldn’t be as easy as it seemed. Raine closed her eyes, shaking her head as the grip on her beretta tightened. “Please tell me I’m not the only one who saw something like that coming…”

Travis looked up at the mansion and to the others. "Well it seems that you three will stick together, as will you three." Travis said motioning to the groups of Raine, Paul, and Chrys: Berina, Tao, and Drake. "That leaves me and Lianne for the first floor." He finished as he ejected the wet mags from his AK-47 and Desert Eagle, reloading them with dry ones.

(OOC. Is the layout of the mansion similar to the one in the first game. If it is i have it memorized. If not i'll have to improvise)

(OOC: To be completely honest, I do not remember the layout for the first game, lol. I remember some rooms that stand out in my head, but thats about it. So...a little bit of improvisation and memory oughta do)

Tao glanced at Berina, who nodded her head downwards, indicating she wished to check out the basement. Tao shook his head, turning to Chrys.
"We'll take the second floor. There are some," he glanced at Berina again, "some things I wish to find out about Malconin and his operations before I use this thing," he finished, rubbing the sword/key at his waist.

-Sorry, had to delete something...

Chrys led the way down a pair of moist wet cement stairs, echoes of leaky pipes and the occasional undead moan and abomination hissing, sounds reverberating in the distances, quiet footfalls being made by the trio as they descended down into darkness, the only light visible being dimming yellow emergency lights, the generator in need of activation on the floor.

She didn’t worry too much about any confrontation they might receive on the floors considering each level was meant to be a ploy to deceive the public eye from the operation running deep below ground. They had already rebuilt the lab in the sub-basement, the remaining floors the only places in need of a renovation and organization, pieces of fine art and sculptures hidden by dusty dirtied canvas, furniture needed to be put into its proper place…

Ignoring a faint wave of nausea, the darkness unsettling…no, what could be lurking on the musty floor starting to unsettle her, Chrys gripped tighter onto her Desert Eagle, the only thing keeping her from going off edge being Raine, who over the course of several hours had grown rather moody in nature, her face holding crankiness as she motioned her beretta out into the shadows, Paul following after.

Raine groaned miserably, keeping her voice low as to not attract any unwanted attention. “Out of all the places we get the basement…the dark, dirty, creepy, basement. At least if we got one of the aboveground floors and worst came to worse we could jump a window but the basement…I’m betting anything just when we think everything’s all safe something’s gonna jump down from the ceiling in class horror film style and bite our heads off-”

“How about I save you the suspense and blow yours off?” questioned Chrys coldly, a glint of silver pointed in Raine’s direction, she having paused in her step. She turned around fully, readying her gun. “At least it would shut that mouth of yours.” It was Chrys’s way of forgetting her apprehension, reverting to her cold, mean-spirited semblance.

To her surprise, Raine aimed her beretta in her direction, unperturbed by her threat. “How about you try? We’ll find out who’s the better shot.”

At this point, Paul worked his way between the girls, lowering both of their guns simultaneously as he spoke, the voice of reason. “Calm down, if anybody will be shooting anything, it’ll be at whatever we find down here,” He sighed, bemused. “And you two were starting to get along so well…” It sounded like sarcasm but before his tone could be questioned, he walked past Chrys into the basement, throwing a warning over his shoulder. “On second thought, just don’t kill each other. I’m not going to drag your bodies up and down the stairs.”

A smirk formed across Chrys’s face at Paul’s currently black sense of humor. Holstering her gun, she shook her head as she started to follow after, descending down lightly into the darkness, Raine brooding behind her. Now in the beginning of the basement, Chrys found herself coming to a halt to avoid smacking into Paul, he staring into the center of the hall in a morbid interest.

Chrys peeked around his shoulder, holding no emotion at seeing a fully clothed construction worker, body not yet having decayed. Though what stood out the most besides old fashioned blue overalls and his checker plaid yellow and orange short sleeve shirt was the man’s head. Or rather…the lack of one, a dried puddle of blood in replacement for his skull.

Raine brushed past the couple and to the very dead man, squatting down next to his corpse, removing from his neck two keycards on a flimsy silver chain. She felt a hand around the area, tossing back an object in Paul’s direction. He caught it, looking at what appeared to be a Samsung color phone, the platinum color tarnished from a nasty fall.

Her head was starting to hurt, Raine’s take charge constantly brood image muddling her thoughts. Paul put an arm around her shoulders, bringing her close as he turned on the cell, the starting screen briefly flashing, vivid colors casting pale light across their worn faces. Squeezing in between each whilst handing both a keycard, Raine watched the phone display, motioning in silence to the flashing camera icon.

Paul clicked on it, three words appearing in bold print. “Save Last image?” Clicking yes, he quickly looked through his other options, finally landing on “Preview Image?”

Again, he clicked yes, the camera instantly shifting onto a photo of tanned man, a hint of a mustache growing, calm brown eyes training the camera on himself. To their surprise, a voice started to loom out from the miniscule speakers, a 15 second recording.

“I hate this job…why build what’s already gone? Worst part is they only intend on paying us when we’re done…but the noises down here are really startin’ to freak me out. And with Carlos not showin’ up for work again, lights out down here and in some parts upstairs, I have to activate both of those screwy generators, all in coordinates with feng shui…” –The man stopped talking and looked up, scratching heard in the background. His eyes widened, hand dropping the phone as he screamed, a blitz of red flying across the field of view, darkness settling in on the image-

“Licker…” observed Chrys bitterly, turning off the dead man’s phone. She looked around, card dangling weakly in her hand, trying not to grimace at the intersecting path up ahead. “Guess we’ll be splitting up from there but-”

“Shotgun.”

“What?” Chrys gave Paul a strange look, his eyes resting on the Remington across her back. Motioning out his hand, he repeated himself, Chrys finally understanding and giving him her newfound weapon in replacement for the old one she had managed to get sliced.

Readying his weapon, Paul brushed his lips across her cheek, motioning to the right path. “I think I can handle whatever comes along on my own from here. You can take care of Raine, right?”

“Yeah, because I can’t do anything for myself…” muttered Raine in disdain, arms crossed.

Chrys gave a forced smile, grabbing Raine and wrapping an arm around her neck in a chokehold-esque hug. “Of course I can!” She dragged the struggling Raine to the left path, dropping her fake grin, worry blooming in her eyes. She gulped. “Paul…just take care, alright? I can’t have you dying on me too…” The last word had slipped out, but before Paul could interrogate what she could’ve meant, she stole a quick kiss before running down her path with Raine close in tow…

OOC\\: It took me forever to catch up on all I've missed since I left but it was well worth it, you guys build a hell of a story together. I like the million plot twists and I'm just sorry that I wasn't here this whole time.
I read the whole thing from where I left off but I'd still apriciate a bit of a summary if any of you are up to it. I'm back for the time being, thanks a million for taking care of my character while I was away, I was worried he'd just dissapeir while I was away. Midnight I see you want to make things complicated for Chrys and Paul, I always love a good chalange. Decomp, you killed your character! I like...
Well anyway I could use a few fills in the huge gap since I left and I'm glad to be back!

Paul Watched as Chrys and Rain disappeared around the dark corner, he was alone for the first time in a long while. Something was wrong, it was driving him crazy, up until now he had other worries on his mind but now he was free to ponder on his troubling thoughts. Chrys wasn't herself and everything els around him was overwhelming. It felt like he was in one of those movies where the worlds fate was in the hands of a few "normal" men and women and he wasn't sure he was ready to save the world or how exactly they would do it; stopping the virus from spreading was only a temporary solution.
He wanted more than anything to be alone with Chrys far away from this city and away from all the troubles of the world but he was no fool, he knew that what he wished for only existed in a fantasy world.
We're all born doomed to the same fate, the fate of humanity.
He rubbed his face with his grimy hands and took a deep breath, something that always cleared his mind.
'So where do I go from here?' he said aloud to himself, the sound of his exhausted voice echoed slightly off the dark and cold walls. He gave a weak smile at hearing his own worn out voice, "Time to save the world" he said with a grin as he started down the right path leading into the darkness.
His hands firmly gripped the Remington (shotgun), he admired the quality of the wooden handle on his tired hands. He suddenly stopped walking and listened, there was a steady drip coming from the darkness ahead of him, the thing was, it didn't sound like watter dripping into a puddle, it sounded more like watter trickling into a large pool of water. He continued at a slow but steady pace towards the noise of water, all his senses at their peak, "Paul…just take care, alright? I can’t have you dying on me too…” the words floated back into his mind. He didn't intend to die just yet, "dying on me too", what did she mean by that, it was just one of the million things that were on his mind, one of the things that were bothering him although he didn't know why yet.
Paul walked passed an open doorway, the air felt cold, he could tell he was in a large room and the sound of the watter was now clearer than ever. Unless he was greatly mistaken then this room had a large pool in the center, Paul reached into his bag and extracted a flare, now seemed like a good time for some light. He struck the flare it gave a red glow to the room, sure enough there was an Olympic size pool in the center of the room.
"Why am I not surprised to find a pool in the dark corridors of this creepy basement?"
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of something moving in the water, 'Great...' he pumped his new shotgun as he approached the pools side. Without warning Paul hit the floor and felt himself being dragged down into the cold murky water, he tried to gasp for breath but instead of air he felt his lungs painfully fill with cold water, he struggled to get free of the thing that was wrapped around his leg while coughing and choking on the water that filled his lungs. The katana that he took from Malcolin's boddie was attached to his belt and without thinking he pulled it out and slashed at the tentacle that was wrapped around his leg. The water made it hard for him to give an efficient blow and the fact that his head was swimming in a sea of pain due to lack of oxygen wasn't helping. he made one last frantic attempt to slash the tentacle away and to his surprise and great relief the tentacle gave way. He kicked with all his might and bursted out into the open air, he struggled to the side of the pool and just as his hands fastened around the side railing of the pool, he felt his leg being tugged again. Waisting no time he slashed out and this time cut the tentacle clean away but the tentacle stayed wrapped around his leg despite the fact that it no longer had a boddie. Paul lifted himself out of the pool, gasping for breath and coughing up water. He layed on his back for a moment while reaching out around him for his shotgun. As his fingers clasped around the barrel the surface of the water erupted outwards and several large tentacles made their way towards him. It was some kind of mutant squid or something, it the red light emitted from the flair it was hard to tell. He rolled away from the pool and the tentacles followed. They grasped the railings on the pool side and the creature pulled itself out of the water, it had strange crablike legs on a squid-like boddie and a thick looking boddie armor. Paul dashed away to the far side of the pool and slipped on the wet floor, 'Today is not the day I die!' he yelled at the creature as it charged towards him. He fired at the creature who seemed unmoved by the powerful blast, 'Why can't you things just die!' he yelled while firing three more shots, the third shot seemed to have done some kind of damage but it would only be a moment before the creature would be on top of him. He reached for his side and took out both berreta's and emptied his clips on the creature while backing away. It happened so fast that Paul didn't have time to consider his luck, he came in contact with the wall and leaped to the left just as the creature came crashing into the wall. The collision made the mutant fish loose its balance and it toppled to its side. The sight almost made Paul laugh, the squid, crab thing was flopping helplessly on its side trying desperately to get back on its legs. Paul was out of reach from its tentacles, he reached into his bag and took out a handful of shotgun shells, 'Now you die...'.
It took several shots until the creature stopped twitching and it emitted a toxic smell, Paul covered his mouth in an attempt to keep the contents of his stomach inside, he bent down and replaced his useful katana back on his belt, "never again do I underestimate the usefulness of mealy weapons".
He went back to retrieve the flare when the surface of the pool started moving again, "the pool must be filled with these things" he thought as he ran to the opposite side of the room towards the exit. He stopped at the door and reached in his bag, 'something for you to remember me by' he said as he tossed a grenade into the pool. The explosion ripped through the water as he left the room behind him.
The next room had large pipes and machiens, it looked like the water cleansing room, Paul waisted no time in the silent room and opened the door to what looked like another hallway. As he walked deeper into the darkness with only the sound of his feet and his heavy breaths to acompany him, he became aware of a faint light ahead of him, the light was coming from behind a glass door, he twisted the knob but the door was locked so he smashed the glass with the but of his gun and opened the door.
"What's so important about this room that they went through the trouble of locking it." he wondered as he entered the dark room.
It was the electric room, he held the flare up to get a look at the room, the far wall was full of levers and curciuts. 'You never know' he said to himself as he approached the main lever, he tried to lift it but it wouldn't budg, it didn't look like anyone had tried to lift it in years. He looked around the room and spotted what he was looking for, he grabbed a metal pipe and wedged it under the lever. With a bit of muscle he managed to lift it, for a moment nothing happened and Paul was about to go back and continue the search for what, he did not exactly know but he was sure he'd know once he found it, when suddenly a hum of electricity filled the room, he heard noises coming from the direction of the machien room that brought him to the hall and suddenly the room was filled with a bright florecent light, 'That's better'.
He left the room back into the now lighted hall, 'where to go where to go...' he didn't have many options so he continued down the hall. The sound of an explosion came from a distance followed by a slight rumble, 'Now what?'.
Paul didn't feel like walking amlessly alone in this freak joint anymore, he wanted a shower, a big mac and to get layed. He ran the remainder of the hall and opened a door that lead to a room that looked like a interogation observory. There was a table with a microphon and speakers standing against a one way mirror, the other room was grey, it had chains on the wall and 2 metal chairs in the center of the room, one with strapps on the arms and leggs and the other plain. As Paul wached the room he noticed the handle moving, he instictivly ducked out of sight after a moment he realised they couldn't see him anyway so he got up and saw none other than Chrys and Rain, they were dirty and Rain was bleeding from the side of her head. Chrys seemed to be annoyed with Raine but Paul couldn't hear them, it wasn't something he would normaly do but Paul swiched on the speakers.

*To be continued...

'...Who the man with the blue eyes was!' Paul caught Rain in mid sentence.
'No one I tell you, he was no one!' Crys answered angrily.
'Then how did he know you?'
Chrys let out an angry breath in response.
'Well?'
'Do you always have to know everything!?'
'Yep' Rain answered stubbornly, 'I think I have the right to know, not only did he scare the living hell out of me, I mean even with all the freaky stuff going on it this hell hole of a city, it's not every day you see someone with glowing blue eyes but he also asked specifically about you, I tolled him you were at the TV station and he-'
'You what!?'
'Well he seemed to know you and I don't know, I just blurted it out...' Rain said quietly, turning slightly red.
'So you just pointed him right at me, thanks a lot!'
'What does it matter if you say you don't know him?' Rain said protectively.
Chrys approached the mirror and punched it forcefully, causing it to crack slightly. Paul backed up, afraid he would be caught eavesdropping but Chrys turned away back to Rain.
'We were a couple, is that what you wanted to hear!?'
'oh well then what's the big deal, why didn't you say so?'
Paul felt a mixture of curiosity and a hint of anger for her not telling him she saw anyone after him, it wasn't like he expected her to wait for him but he didn't see why she couldn't tell him.
Chrys seemed like she was debating something, 'It's complicated' she said slowly.
Rain's eyes were locked on Chrys, waiting for the rest of the story, she really did like to stick her nose into other people's business, Paul thought with a smile.
'You can't tell this to anyone, if you do I swear I'll personally put an end to your annoying little existence.'
'Yea yea, ok I won't tell anyone, I swear.'
'He's the father of my unborn child...' Chrys choked on the last words and Rain looked at her blankly and surprised.
'But...Paul' Rain stammered.
Paul felt as if his heart was pierced by a bullet, he didn't know how to handle what he had just heard, he wanted to just die and melt into nothing, he had no reason to live anymore. Chrys was in love with someone els, she was carrying his child, this was all just an act. Maybe she still hated him for their past and this was her way to get revenge.
Paul was to shocked to hear the rest of the conversation, the part where Chrys said how she killed Ice and how she needed time to break the news to Paul. He didn't see the tears in Chrys's eyes either, instead he hit the mike button, 'Hi girls, it's a two way mirror...' He said in a emotionless tone.

OOC: I'm really sorry for taking control of your character like that, I was away for so long that I needed to do a thing or two to get myself back in the story. Hope you don't mind what I did, I'm eager to see what you do from here...

OOC: Holy Hell, haven't been here in a good while, lol! Nice, I had a little something like that up my sleeve as well, just not with Paul finding out so soon but it does makes things interesting! Well, i'll possibly post late night tomorrow for this, i just have to 😊 Would be earlier but community service, etc, yadi yada...Until later, ciao!

Oh, and I'll give ya a bit of a summary on the other story in a while, hope you can wait 🙂

“Hi girls, it's a two way mirror...”

Chrys stopped mid-speech, just starting to wipe away a trail of tears. She recognized the voice instantly, it was Paul, it had to be Paul. But why did it have to be Paul…? She stood in place, hands and legs growing numb, a coherent thought unable to form, gaze now turned to the glass. He wasn’t supposed to know…she hadn’t wanted him to find out. Chrys balled up her fists, blue eyes glossy. Not yet...not like this.

Cringing, Chrys did everything in her power to hold back a sob. She had to be strong, she wouldn’t cry twice in one day. Gulping heavily, her eyes fell on Raine as she stretched her palms over the thin cold glass. “Girl, pass me the plain chair.” It was suppose to come off aloof, but she couldn’t hide the hint of malice she held towards the youth, the incident partially Raine’s fault in Chrys’s mind.

Complying silently, Raine dragged the chair from the center of the room, keeping her gaze to the floor to avoid looking the almost bitter adult in the eye. Chrys gently pried the chair from Raine’s hands, examining the cypress wood in scrutiny. Without much effort, she lifted it up to about waist level, tilting it carefully in both hands. Then, with suddenness, in an unforeseen move, she slammed the legs of the wooden chair into the glass, the two-way mirror shattering into multiple shards, glass spraying over the area.

Panting slightly, Chrys stood with the chair still in hand, crystal pieces of glass decorating her black mesh top. Her eyes were forward to the grey walls but with a heavy reluctance she turned her attention into the new room, Paul looking to her in shock at the attack. The chair slipped from her hands, falling clumsily onto the floor. Facing him, she found no words of explanation or defense could form.

Glancing back and forth between the couple, Raine started to back up until her palm was wrapped around the handle of the door. Pushing it open quietly, she coughed, briefly getting their attention. “I’m going to go out. Give you two a minute?” Without waiting for either to comment, she briskly walked out.

Paul and Chrys stared at each other for what seemed an eternity, a million thoughts streaming through Chrys’s mind, the words escaping her for what to say. “I’m so…” She attempted to apologize, but two words weren’t enough to make the situation better. A hand brushed unconsciously past her stomach, she uncertain as she started to walk forward, stopping inches from his face.

Paul broke the silence with the same toneless voice from earlier. “When did you plan on telling me…? If ever?”

She was finding it hard to speak, hard to swallow. Her voice came out humbler than she wished. “I…Paul, I did plan on telling you. I just wasn’t sure when, I mean,” Chrys started to mumble, looking down to her shoes. “We are in a place reminiscent to hell, didn’t think just coming out with…that would be…” She closed her eyes annoyed, searching for the end to her sentence. “Didn’t think that would be the best thing to just come out with.”

Paul looked her up and down silently, the look on his face wondering if he should risk the next question. “So was it all just an act? The past three days…the proclamation of you loving me? Were you just stringing me along for the past few days, just so I could find you in love with some other guy, having his child even, is-” Paul stopped, eyes closed, face partially turned to the side, the distinguished sound of a hard slap still echoing in the air.

Chrys’s eyes were brimmed with tears, a fierce expression on her face, hand still in the air. “Don’t put words in my mouth, I never said I loved Kaseus. He is the father of my child, but I could never love him. I could never love anybody else…” A tear finally fell, Chrys’s voice trembling. “I could never love anybody else as much as I loved you, as much as I still love you. I’m a bit of a b*tch but I’m,” Her voice was starting to break, she doing nothing to control it. “I haven’t been stringing you along, I couldn’t do that, you’re all I…” Chrys stopped herself, taking a breath, forcing back tears, controlling her emotion.

Hands reaching out, she grasped onto his cheeks, cradling his face in her hands. “I’m sorry for hurting you Paul, I didn’t mean to slap you, I just-” He shook his face from her after a seconds hesitation, Chrys now holding onto nothing but air, her heart having stopped. “Paul…” She wanted to say more, but it was all she could summon, heart now racing, the realization that she might’ve lost him forever spiraling across her head. Vision swimming, her mind muffled the few words he had said before walking out of the room to clear his mind.

Chrys stepped out through the door Raine had left through, she bewildered. “What happened? What’s-”

“Go after Paul for me,” interrupted Chrys in a detached voice, eyes plastered to a golden doorknob down the hall. “Make sure he’s alright, I just have to go back for something, okay?” Not waiting for a response or a complaint, she drifted down the hall, eyes misted over completely.

Entering the room, she shut the door quickly behind her, shoulders shaking involuntarily. A gasp left her lips, a choked sob starting to come. Slapping a palm over her mouth, tears flew past her cheeks in a torrent, she trying desperately to hold back a cry, understanding what she’d done quite clearly. She f*cked up, she’d messed up on one of the few good things she had and she didn’t know what to do to help it.

Sliding down the frame of the door, Chrys sat on the floor, knees huddled up to her chest, face buried in her dampened jeans, tears falling uncontrollably. Sniffling, her crying started to die down, she stared down to the floor in reflection. She had no question as to why she had done what she did, how it came down to the current time and moment, what fate had in store for her. Instead, a horrible melancholy had claimed her at the state of her life, the things she wanted seeming forever unattainable.

I…want to have this child, I have to. I also want Paul…I want him to be with me. Hell, Raine could be with us too, that annoying youth that reminds me of what happens when my child grows up. She threw her head back, eyes on the ceiling. I just want to be happy, but maybe I never truly will be. Maybe I shouldn’t have been born, Her eyes blankly drifted to the barrel of Kaseus’s Desert Eagle. Maybe I should just die…

Shaking away her thoughts of suicide, the lack of a proper sleep screwing with her common sense, Chrys started to doze off against the door, the only thing interrupting her, the loud ringing of her cell phone…

Berina prowled the basement, looking across the basement cooly, she glanced back at Tao, "I must let you know now that my sole purpose is to find a way out of this hell which my departed husband and then dissappear. Understood?"

Holding back tears, voice still quavering, Chrys quickly flipped open her platinum Samsung cell phone, mainly in an attempt to not bring unwanted attention to herself. “Hello?”

The voice on the other end paused on a long rant. A loud gasp was heard. “Holy hell, Chrys, what’s up?! Did Paul die, you lose a limb, you found out you launched the nuke, no escape from the city, what???”

Chrys lowered the phone away from her ear, checking to see if she was speaking to the right person. Sure enough, the name Jade flashed in bold print, seconds she had been talking ticking past. Speaking back into the phone, she sniffled, shaking her head. “No…none of those things.”

Jade didn’t respond, breathing heavily into the phone, voice coming out testy. “In that case…” She took a breath. “WHAT the HELL are you crying for?!? That’s not the b*tchy Chrys I know.”

Annoyed at her response, Chrys got to her feet. “What, is it some unspoken requirement for me to be mean? Can’t I have a moment where I can seem emotionally attached i.e. human?”

“No…” stated Jade as if it were obvious. “No, you can not. Besides it being completely out of character, you’re in the middle of a biological outbreak if I understand correctly. No time for tears and emotions but you have to humor me…what made you so? Did wittle Chryssy stub her wittle toe?” mocked Jade, laughing quickly after.

Holding back a customary four word remark, Chrys wiped away the last of several tears, melancholy being replaced by the smallest bits of anger. “No Jade, my ex…Paul found out I was…pregnant,” She winced in dismay at her last words. “With Ice’s child.”

“Ooh…” Jade’s laughter died down at the circumstance, she making a face. “Ah, what, its only three or four months now, right? Not like you just, JUST, been with Ice so he’ll understand…maybe.”

“Yeah, may-” Chrys narrowed her eyes, blue gaze growing cold in thought. “Time out. I never told you I was even expecting, how would you know how many months?”

Jade smirked on the other end, taking a break from typing as she began to file emerald green polished nails. “Spare me, Chrys. As your best friend-”

“Associate.” Corrected Chrys.

“Whatever,” Snapped Jade. Clearing her throat, she continued. “As your best,” She adopted an abrupt, rude tone. “ ‘Associate’,” Reverting back to her normal voice, she said, “It’s my job to know stuff like that. But don’t worry, I’m sure only me and Ice knew-”

“You TOLD Ice?!?” shouted Chrys wide-eyed.

“Hell no,” Jade retorted instantly. “Please, I wasn’t even supposed to know you two were together. If I mentioned something like that, he probably would’ve killed my ass. I like my ass, thank you very much.”

Smiling, in better spirits than earlier, Chrys massaged at her face vigorously. “I’m sure you do. I’m still a bit screwed though.”

“How so?” Jade sighed as if she’d been in the situation a million and one times. “Okay, sweetie, here’s how it works. Wipe away those last tears, put on your kick arse b*tch shoes, find Paul, and talk to him. Simple, effective, and it has to be done. Just don’t do that teary, ‘please don’t leave me’ crap. It’s quite pathetic. Trust me when I say, being you will get you places.”

She almost laughed at Jade’s talk. Rubbing away any traces of a smile, Chrys leaned against the wall casually. “I’m sure you didn’t just call me to give me this talk of inspiration. What’ve you found out?”

“Oh nothing really…” Jade said deceptively innocent, knowing grin on her face. “Except if you wanted to activate the anti-virus it’d be no problem…if you’re out of the proximity of the city, set it on a 24 hour timer, and happen to be made up of no flesh or tissue i.e. you’re not human or animal. What, you stand under the former? Guess you’re screwed.”

“Can you please get to the friggin point?!” Angrily, Chrys stomped her foot, pushing open the door.

Jade laughed ruefully. “My point? You’re little anti-virus/cure doesn’t reverse decomposition on a cellular level, oh no…it destroys it. It destroys everything…however, unlike you’re little nuke idea, it doesn’t devastate the environment after the effect. No, it just makes all matter of tissue –animal and human- along with bone disappear. Disintegrated.”

“That doesn’t make sense,” frowned Chrys, turning a corner. “Some chemistry rule, matter can be neither created nor destroyed. This…anti-virus can’t just make it as if nobody existed.”

“Yeah, just like zombies couldn’t overrun the city…” quipped Jade sarcastically. She sighed, making a circular motion with her fingers to her temples. “Listen, I can’t explain it. I don’t even understand it myself. All I know is you should be very far away once it’s activated.”

“I see…” Chrys stopped in the hall, fixing her hair into a tight bun. “Happen to know where the location of the anti-virus is…?”

“Yeah…because Malconin had a blog online where he wrote down the location of secret shit of import-, what the f*ck kind of question was that?! Don’t you think that would’ve been the first fu…”

Rolling her eyes, a heavy sigh left Chrys as she tuned out Jade’s heavy cursing. She should’ve known better than to risk such a question but she had to ask. A minute and not hearing repeated F words, Chrys spoke into the phone coolly. “Enough on that, how about the nuke situation?”

“Still under investigation,” said Jade rather worried. “Don’t worry, that’s my top priority right now. God willing and my redbull supply doesn’t run low, I’ll find that out. But before I go, a word of advice, make sure when you kill a zombie, ya kill ‘em properly.”

“Properly…?” Chrys blinked at the word, hand sliding down to a magnum.

“While searching through the database on the anti-virus, found a file on something called Crimson Heads…wouldn’t want to bump into one of those…” Jade finished, eerie tone suiting and out of the norm roar from behind Chrys.

Turning around, Chrys hurriedly said, “Call me back, Jinx!” Scowling, she closed her phone, whipping out a Desert Eagle to the ruby complexioned, mutated zombie heading her way. Feet away, as it attempted a swipe, her gun went off, bullet pummeling its way through bone and tissue, decayed brain flying across the walls.

Blue eyes holding a vindictive hue, no smile visible, Chrys blew smoke from her magnum, satisfied at its effectiveness. Deftly twirling it across a finger, she holstered back the Desert Eagle, turning back down the wall as two words played across her lips in confidence. “I’m back…”

The door closed behind Chris and not a moment later Raine came back in the room, looking at the ground, not able to bring herself to look at Paul, she said nothing, she just stood staring at Paul's feet.
He didn't know if he was grateful or angry with her coming, he needed to think, he needed a moment alone. He was confused he didn't know what to think, he couldn't help but believe Chrys was telling the truth when she said she was sorry and even more so when she said that she loved him. Was that what really mattered or was this crossing the line, the child, the secrets, the lies...Kaseus?
Paul shook his head in frustration, the whole time Raine just staring at his feet, not feeling comfortable to move.
A few minutes passed in silence and Raine was growing impatient, "How exactly did Chrys expect her to make sure Paul was alright?"
Raine hesitated for a moment, 'P...Paul you ok?'
Paul as if suddenly awoken from a trance, jerked into an upright position and looked down at Raine, 'Let's go.'
Whatever had overcome Paul didn't seem to be good in Raine's opinion, he had a strangely cold voice unlike his regular voice.
Paul himself wasn't sure what had overcome him, he felt a wave of anger flow through his body, it had been years since he'd lost all sence of himself like this. His anger wasn't towards Chrys, instead he focused all his anger towards everything els that was currently happaning in his life. He felt angry with himself for forgiving Chrys so easily and angry at the world for not stopping him. He knew that he wouldn't be able to stay angry at Chrys, he knew that he'd accept her and her child, the hope of one day being with Chrys again was the only thing that got him through the past four years, it was his reason to live, his reason to be happy, optamistic, he knew that nothing would change how he felt for her and it strangely angered him.

Raine followed Paul out from the door she had entered the room from, Paul stopped and listened. He heard Chrys's voice not far off, a gunshot stung the stuffed air, Paul unshouldered his shotgun and made his way to the direction of the gunfire. He saw Chrys's figure ahead of them, there was a time and a place for everything and this was niether the time or the place, he thought with a determined cold stare uppon his face.
'Let's get going!'

OOC: Kinda short (compared to our standard post length), my mind's busted for now.
I finally saw Resident Evil - Apocalyps, great movie but it brought up a few problems IMO with this RPG which is supposed to be occuring after the second movie. No worries, I like this story better 😉
I learned a few things though and I think I like this story even more than I did before after watching RE-2!

Bildo Jumped out of bed and went over to Shalimar.

((Hi guys long time no see how are we all?))

"mybe we should find the others"
~nah~

((Ah, everyone has their short days, Acrypt, no biggie! Doesn’t this RPG take place six years later in a rebuilt Raccoon City…or something like that? Blah, I dunno…

Hey Bildo, I’m fine, living life to the fullest 😊

Anyways…Sorry if this is a bit…out there, and sorta half assed but being out all day does that to a person 😬 Anyways, it’s all I could come up with for the moment, but maybe it’ll get better…?))

A familiar voice cut through the atmosphere, the smallest trace of chill heard in its tone. Frowning, Chrys turned to the source, feeling downcast at seeing the cold look on Paul’s face. She didn’t, she had hoped he wouldn’t be too bitter over the situation. But she knew she deserved everything that would eventually come to her and anything that happened couldn’t be blamed on anyone else but herself.

Such an idiota… Hiding her emotions behind her traditional coldness, Chrys pocketed her hands, wishing desperately to disappear. Sighing, she forced her voice not to reflect her despair, looking around before shrugging. “Go where? Through the walls, down the hall?”

Paul stared at her…no, stared past her, a vague expression in his eyes. Walking up to her, he brushed past, voice holding the same startling chill. “Let’s just go.” Grip taut on his shotgun, he strolled ahead with Raine, Chrys narrowing her eyes vindictively before going to his side.

Not daring even a glance, Chrys buried her fists uncomfortable into her jeans, taking a huge breath. In a calm voice, gaze ahead, she said. “Paul, it might not mean much, but I’m sorry for what I’ve done considering how I was riding on your ass less than three days ago. It’s actually more complicated than you might think. I’m not just some freelancing sl*t that grew bored in the UBCS…” Trailing off, she sternly glared at Raine. “However, I’m afraid I will have to save an explanation for another time…and another place.”

Paul didn’t respond, didn’t comment, didn’t even seem to care. He only shrugged, increasing his brisk pace and making a right down an intersection.

She sighed once more in the gloom of the illuminated mansion, shadows dancing along the walls from furniture and the occasionally swaying bush giving an illusion of deformities lurking in the distance. On guard, Chrys attentively focused on her surroundings, a glimmer of curiosity seen in her eyes at 8’ by 8’ metal platform near the wall, an extendable 5’ tall gate across it, the wall itself holding a symbol of two people lit up in red, two more symbols below it.

Chrys pushed past Paul, stepping onto the platform with a raised brow. The LCD lit symbol changed from red to green as she did so, the arch of her brow growing more prominent as she put her forefinger to the green two people symbol, soon realizing it was a button. But two people? I’m not…

At feeling something in her gut, she held back the urge to slap her forehead from her temporary lapse of intelligence. Duh, Chrys, think for a minute. She was seriously starting to hate Umbrella’s technology, no equipment should be that accurate.

Melancholy blue eyes staying on the button, she spoke with her back turned to the two characters. “Since I’m considered as…more than one person, I’ll take the first ride down, you two can follow after. Though, in the event that you don’t see me at the bottom, assume the worst.” She didn’t wait for a comment, or even a complaint, instead, pushing the button swiftly, sending herself plunging down into the tepid darkness beneath the mansion.

After a descent reminiscent to a coaster plunge, the old fashioned elevator slowed, coming to a halt in a small murky area. A shiver left her, the area cold. But it was even more than that, some unseen menace warning her away. She took a step back to the elevator, pressing the call button. But a frown only appeared, the symbol below the original illuminated in red, three people required before it would work again.

Chrys held back a chuckle, knowing it would turn into a delirious laugh at her luck, or rather, her lack of it. “Lovely, just freakin’ great.” Clenching her left fist, with her right, she took out a Desert Eagle, creeping to the only visible door warily. Pushing open the rusted metal door, she relaxed a bit at the light flooding out from the room.

Noting her new surroundings amused, Chrys blew a stray strand of hair from her eyesight. “Looks likes its riddles times, Chrys!” In the center of the room was an expensive black and red roulette table, to the left of it were two hands of poker, both hands holding a royal flush, the only flaw being each hand held an ace of spades. Finally, to the left of the blindingly bright room was a black marble table, a puddle of blood marring its perfection, a crimson beretta on display.

Engraved into the roulette table, a message was visible along with a keypad. “All the qualities of _______.”

“A good casino?” She smiled to herself slightly at the idea, knowing that couldn’t be the answer. Scowling, she gave the roulette wheel a spin. Know all the numbers on this add up to 666…but the devil has nothing to do with it, Her eyes turned to the poker game. Then a game of poker gone awry, both players cheating but that connects to a bloody beretta how…?

Massaging her temples, Chrys brought out the keywords from her thoughts. “Devil, Cheating, bloody weapon, the qualities of an…assassin?” She scoffed. “Doubt that, even I do those things from time to time. Though the word devil could easily be replaced for something else I’m use to being called,” She exhaled in exasperation. “Christ, any man-”

Her eyes lit up, she cutting herself short. Any man. No, it was even more specific than that, man itself. Humankind…corrupt, cheaters, murderers, workers of the devils, only a few out there who showed humanity wasn’t a mistake. “Or maybe I’m seeing this from a cynical point of view,” Shrugging, she keyed in the password a.k.a man. “Either way, it’s the only thing I got.”

Up ahead, a brightly lit glass panel slid back, an italic message on display.

“You’ve gotten so far, hope that you’ve had fun
Though despite this first riddle, the games just begun.”

“Cute,” responded Chrys to the blue computer monitor. A door was soon revealed to her far left. Figuring she had not much to lose, Chrys entered into the new area to meet her new challenge, darkness greeting her first. Thoughts of turning back crept into her mind, the door sealing behind her destroying that idea.

“A new challenger…and a female no less.” A male voice echoed in a scary resonance through the dark room.

“Surprised?” Her voice came out cold, no fear heard in her tone. “Beating on someone in the dark is hardly a challenge.”

“I never said I was going to do such a thing. I do have a sense of honor…Chrys.”

Brows furrowing in her frustration at not being able to locate the stranger, she drummed her fingers along her raised Desert Eagle. “What are you, psychic?”

“No. I just happen to have very acute hearing. They say it is a sign of craziness when one speaks to themselves.”

“…Only when you answer yourself back.” Explained Chrys venturing deeper into the unsettling room.

“Loophole, very nice,” With a snap of fingers, lights beamed down from the ceiling onto a tall cloaked figure, face covered in shadow. He cocked his head. “I have an order to kill any organic being that ventures too deeply underground and I fear you have done so. Though, I find you all too easy to defeat by conventional means so I allow my…victims to choose how we will fight.”

Chrys trained her Desert Eagle to where she hoped the stranger’s eye would be. She smirked. “Can I get a free shot?”

The man nodded. “As you wish,” The words barely left his lips before Chrys fired but to her astonishment, his hand whipped up, catching the bullet inches from his face. “I never said I would not defend myself…” His voice started to change into a more feminine tone. He removed his hood, black hair transmuting into a chestnut blonde, an eerily recognizable face staring back at Chrys. “Foolish child.”

Struggling with not fainting, Chrys’s eyelids fluttered in her disbelief. “Its official, I’ve reached the Twilight Zone,” The figure ahead of her shook off their cloak, a leather jacket covering their form. Beneath that was, a dark olive green stretch top and a currently oversized pair of black pants. But what struck Chrys was the face. It was hers, everything about the figure was her, the only fault being red irises. Wondering how it was possible, Chrys asked tiredly. “Let me guess, Umbrella made an enhanced doppelganger of me?”

“Not quite,” responded the red eyed Chrys, hands running down to her curves and chest. “Damn, I do not think I will ever get use to this female form, hate that feeling of missing something,” Attention on Chrys, the false Chrys smiled. “This is just a cover-up, a disguise if you will. I can convert my eyes to the same shade but I do not wish for you to lose your sanity so early in battle,” They changed into a fighter’s stance, an amused curiosity in their eyes. “They say, that ones worse enemy is themselves. Do you believe so, Chrys?”

Chrys braced herself for whatever he/she might do. “I’ve believed that long before you came around,” Deep in thought, she arched her brow to the false Chrys. “Three rounds, hand to hand combat. No stomach blows…” She wasn’t in the mood for a spar, especially considering circumstance, but if she had no choice, she’d at least make the effort to try and protect her child. “Do you accept the conditions?”

“As you wish.” repeated the stranger, pure calm in their eyes. Without another word, he/she charged towards Chrys, she countering with a knock to the forehead, preparing herself for what could be a long night…

*TBC