Chapter Text
It was a stormy night.
Rain hammered against the windshield, forcing Leon to keep his eyes locked on the road as the faint glow of distant lights struggled to pierce through the darkness. The wipers moved back and forth in a steady rhythm—almost hypnotic.
Leon S. Kennedy had been driving for over six hours.
Alone.
Raccoon City was getting closer.
He had read everything he could about the city before accepting the transfer.
Historic architecture. Quiet community. “One of the best places to live in the United States,” according to one of those magazines no one really cares about—until they need to convince someone.
It sounded… perfect.
Too perfect.
His fingers tightened slightly around the steering wheel.
Because that wasn’t why he was here.
It was the reports.
The first ones mentioned missing hikers in the Arklay Mountains. Nothing unusual. Accidents. People getting lost… things that happen.
Until they found the first body.
Leon exhaled slowly.
He remembered every line of that report.
Human bite marks.
Multiple attackers.
Flesh torn away… while the victim was still alive.
His jaw clenched.
Then came more bodies. More reports. More official silence.
And then…
The family.
An image crossed his mind without warning—a photograph.
Three people smiling. A father. A mother… and a little girl.
Nine years old.
The neighbors said she disappeared first.
Her parents went into the woods to look for her.
They never came back.
By the time they were found… it was already night.
Leon swallowed.
The report said the father had fired his weapon. Several times.
The bullets hit something.
But it didn’t stop anything.
They never found the attackers.
Only blood.
Too much.
Leon tightened his grip on the wheel.
That’s when he made his decision.
Not for the city.
Not for the career.
For them.
For that family.
For the idea that someone had to do something.
The sound of the rain filled the car once again.
Twenty-one years old.
Fresh out of the academy.
Top of his class.
A promising future, they said.
Leon let out a quiet breath.
It didn’t feel like it.
Not tonight.
There was something else.
The transfer order never came.
Two days without communication from the station.
Too long.
Too quiet.
So he stopped waiting.
Packed his things, got into his jeep… and drove.
Because if something was happening in Raccoon City…
he was going to see it with his own eyes.
A sign appeared through the rain, illuminated by his headlights:
Welcome to Raccoon City
Leon stared at it for a second longer than necessary.
Then he kept driving.
The exhaustion was starting to settle in. His shoulders were tense, his stomach empty.
That’s when he saw the lights.
A gas station.
Small. Isolated. Still open.
Perfect.
Gas. Food. A chance to rest before heading into the city.
He turned the wheel without thinking twice.
He didn’t know it yet…
but that detour would change everything.
Meanwhile, at the gas station, rain hammered relentlessly against the glass of a phone booth.
The sound was constant. Closed. Like the world outside was being dragged away by the storm.
Inside, Claire Redfield smiled.
—The important thing is I made it… —she said, adjusting the receiver between her shoulder and ear—. My ass is completely destroyed from sitting so long, but hey… I’m alive.
Her tone was light. Almost teasing.
—Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re going to say… —she rolled her eyes, smiling faintly—. But I can take care of myself. My brother didn’t raise some helpless kid.
She paused, listening.
—I’m just a few miles from the city. I’ll get there, find Chris’ apartment, and call you back, okay?
Another pause.
Her smile softened.
—I know… me too. I’ll call as soon as I get there. I promise.
She hung up with a quiet sigh.
For a second, she just stood there.
In silence.
The rain kept falling.
Claire pressed her forehead against the cold glass.
Two weeks.
Two weeks without hearing from Chris.
That wasn’t normal.
Not for him.
—Something’s wrong… —she murmured.
She stepped out of the booth, the cold night air hitting her face. The smell of gasoline and wet asphalt filled her lungs.
She walked back to her motorcycle, finishing tightening the fuel cap.
Then she heard it.
A dull thud.
From inside the store.
Claire froze.
—…What was that?
She looked up.
The sheriff’s cruiser was still parked outside. She hadn’t paid it any attention before.
Now… she couldn’t ignore it.
Another sound.
Louder.
Something… falling.
Claire frowned.
—Great… —she muttered—. I’m sure nothing weird is happening.
But she was already moving.
Slow at first.
Then faster.
She pushed the door open carefully. The bell didn’t ring.
The lights were off.
The air inside felt different.
Colder.
Heavier.
—Hello? —she called out—. Anyone here?
Nothing.
Just the distant rain… and something else.
A groan.
Claire tensed.
She moved between the aisles, her boots barely making a sound.
The smell hit her first.
Iron.
Blood.
And something sour… like meat left out too long.
Then she saw him.
A sheriff.
On the ground.
Blood slipping through his fingers, soaking his uniform.
—Oh my God! —Claire dropped to her knees beside him—. Stay with me, stay with me… we need to call an ambulance—
—My… partner… —the man barely breathed—. Help… my partner…
He lifted a trembling hand, pointing deeper inside.
—Please…
His hand fell.
And didn’t move again.
Claire froze.
Her eyes filled with tears.
For a moment, her mind just… shut down.
She had never seen someone die.
Not like that.
Not that close.
Not that… fast.
Then—
A crash.
Struggling.
The sound of a fight.
Claire inhaled sharply.
Her eyes snapped toward the cold room door.
The body was still there.
But his words…
“My partner…”
Claire clenched her jaw.
—…Damn it.
She stood.
And moved.
Not because she wasn’t afraid.
But in spite of it.
The cold hit her instantly when she stepped inside.
The floor was covered in fallen products. Broken containers. Liquids freezing across the tiles.
There were sounds.
Impacts.
Groans.
Claire quickened her pace.
She threw the door open.
And the world broke.
Two men.
One fighting for his life.
The other…
No.
That wasn’t a man.
Gray skin. Sunken. Rotting in places.
Empty eyes.
And his jaw…
Snapping.
Searching.
Hungry.
Claire stepped forward.
—Hey! Let him go—
The sheriff slipped.
Fell.
The weight crashed down on him.
And then—
The sound.
Wet.
Tearing.
The bite.
The man’s scream died in his throat as blood burst out.
Claire couldn’t breathe.
Her stomach twisted violently.
The smell became unbearable.
—No… no… no—
The thing lifted its head.
Flesh still between its teeth.
It saw her.
And moved.
Slow.
Dragging its feet.
Arms reaching.
Another groan.
Closer.
Claire stepped back.
This isn’t real.
It can’t be real.
It can’t—
She stopped.
Something shifted.
Not outside.
Inside her.
The fear was still there.
But it wasn’t freezing her anymore.
It was pushing her forward.
The thing stepped closer.
Claire reacted.
She grabbed its arm, twisted, used its weight—
Thud.
It slammed onto the floor.
Claire breathed hard.
Watching.
Something wasn’t right.
She had seen that before.
Not in real life… in movies.
People who shouldn’t get back up.
A cold knot formed in her stomach.
—…God.
It wasn’t like a zombie.
It was one.
And almost as if reality had been waiting for her to understand…
it moved again.
Claire jumped back.
She knew—without needing explanation—that this wouldn’t stop normally.
Her hand moved to her waist.
The revolver came out.
She aimed for the head.
—Don’t take another step… —her voice steadier than she felt— or I swear I’ll shoot.
It stepped forward.
Bang.
It dropped.
Silence.
Her breathing.
The cold.
The smell.
Claire lowered the gun slightly.
Her hands trembled.
—I… I…
Another groan.
Her head snapped up.
The first sheriff.
Standing.
Coming toward her.
Claire stepped back.
Bang.
Missed the head.
The chest hit.
It didn’t stop.
—No, no, no—!
Something grabbed her leg.
Claire screamed.
Looked down.
The other one.
Still alive.
Trying to bite her.
She kicked hard—freeing herself.
But the first one was already there.
Bang.
Bang.
The body collapsed over her.
Claire shoved it away.
Got up.
Run.
Don’t look back.
If she stopped… she was dead.
She reached the door.
Looked back.
They were getting up again.
Slow… but inevitable.
She ran.
But didn’t get far.
Two figures blocked her path.
Bang.
Chest hit.
No stop.
Closer.
She pulled the trigger again.
Click.
Empty.
The air caught in her throat.
The thing lunged.
Claire lowered her shoulder—
Hit it full force.
Crash.
It slammed into a shelf.
She kept moving.
Dodged the second one.
Ran.
The door—
Right there—
And then—
It burst open.
Claire froze.
A gun.
Pointed straight at her.
—Don’t shoot! —she gasped.
—Get down!
Bang.
The shot passed over her head.
The thing behind her dropped.
Bang. Bang.
The second fell before standing.
Silence.
Claire looked up.
And saw him.
A young man.
Gun raised.
Breathing controlled.
Blue eyes locked on her.
Concern.
Real.
He lowered the weapon slightly.
Extended his hand.
—You okay?
His voice softer now.
Still firm.
Claire hesitated.
Then took it.
Solid.
Safe.
For the first time… she could breathe.
—Y-Yeah… —she said—. Thanks…
He pulled her up.
—Don’t thank me yet.
She followed his gaze.
More shapes.
Moving.
Drawn by the noise.
Too many.
They backed up.
The door behind them—
Thud.
Thud.
The bodies inside were hitting it.
No time.
He decided.
—Move! To the cruiser!
They ran.
The door opened—
They got in.
A body slammed into the glass.
—Seatbelt! Hold on!
The engine roared.
The car shot backward.
Thump.
Thump.
Distance.
Turn.
Forward.
Full throttle.
The gas station disappeared behind them.
Claire didn’t take her eyes off the rear window until the lights disappeared.
Then she exhaled sharply.
She hadn’t even realized she’d been holding her breath.
Her hand moved to her chest.
She was alive.
—What the hell is going on…? —her voice still trembled.
—I don’t know —he replied, eyes fixed on the road—. But the police station might have some answers.
Claire glanced at him.
—You’re a cop?
A faint smirk pulled at his lips.
Calm.
Almost automatic.
—Something like that… —he said—. First day on the job.
Claire blinked.
—You’re kidding.
—Leon Kennedy.
This time he looked at her briefly. Just enough to introduce himself… before returning his focus to the road.
—And you?
—Claire… Claire Redfield.
The name lingered for a moment.
Then the world came rushing back.
The rain hitting the windshield.
The darkness pressing in around the road.
Leon adjusted the wheel slightly, easing off the speed.
Visibility was bad.
Too bad.
—You from around here? —he asked, more to keep her grounded than out of curiosity.
—No… —Claire replied—. But I’ve been here before. My brother lives here. He’s a cop too.
—Then it was luck we ran into each other.
It didn’t sound casual.
It sounded real.
—Because I don’t think things are getting better anytime soon.
Claire studied him for a moment.
There was something about him.
Not just the calm…
The way he made decisions without hesitation.
Like even without understanding what was happening…
he already knew they couldn’t afford to let their guard down.
Leon didn’t say anything else.
But his eyes kept moving.
Scanning.
Measuring.
Waiting for whatever came next.
Claire watched him in silence.
Only now… she was really seeing him.
The gray jacket. The dark shirt. Worn jeans.
Practical.
Uncomplicated.
His posture was steady, hands firm on the wheel.
No hesitation.
No wasted movement.
Young.
But not inexperienced.
Strands of damp hair clung lightly to his forehead.
His jaw was set… not tense, but focused.
His blue eyes stayed locked on the road, constantly shifting—mirrors, corners, distance… always tracking.
Always thinking ahead.
There was something… grounded about him.
He was different.
Very different from anyone she’d met back at college.
And without realizing it… that alone was starting to calm her down.
Her breathing steadied.
Her thoughts slowed.
—We’ll be safe once we get to the station —she said finally, more to convince herself than anything else—. My brother… he’ll know what’s going on.
Leon glanced at her again.
This time, more carefully.
Claire Redfield.
Pale blue eyes.
Clear.
Focused… even now.
Hair tied back, loose strands framing her face.
Sharp features.
Young… but not soft.
A thin chain rested against her collarbone.
Simple.
Worn.
It rested against her chest, catching the light beneath the open red jacket.
And the revolver resting on her lap.
She wasn’t just a scared girl.
—Nice revolver —he said—. Hope it’s loaded.
Claire immediately looked down.
—…Damn it.
She reached into her bag, pulling out the rounds with hands that still trembled slightly.
—I forgot to reload it.
As she opened the cylinder, the memory hit her again.
The gunshot.
The blood.
The sound.
Her fingers paused.
A tear slipped free before she could stop it.
Leon noticed.
He didn’t say anything at first.
Just kept his eyes on the road.
Thinking.
Looking for something to say that wouldn’t sound empty.
—This isn’t over —he said finally, his voice low but steady.
Claire went still.
—And we’re probably going to face worse things tonight.
Not comfort.
The truth.
Leon took a breath.
—But you’re not alone.
Claire slowly lifted her head.
—And I know you can fight —he added, giving a slight nod—. I saw it.
A small pause.
—So watch my back…
His eyes met hers for a second.
—…and I’ll watch yours.
The silence that followed wasn’t awkward.
It was needed.
Claire wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
Took a breath.
And nodded.
—Thanks… —she said, steadier now—. I needed that.
A small smile formed.
—And don’t worry…
She raised her arm, flexing it in an exaggerated way.
—I may look small, but I can fight.
She glanced at him.
—Enough to kick your ass, officer.
Leon let out a short laugh.
Real.
Unforced.
—Then I guess I better behave —he replied, that half-smile returning.
—You better.
Claire couldn’t help but laugh too.
And for a moment…
everything felt lighter.
The fear.
The tension.
Everything that had just happened.
—I needed that… —she murmured between breaths.
Leon gave a small nod.
So did he.
But the moment didn’t last.
The road changed.
Lights appeared.
Shadows moved where they shouldn’t.
Leon slowed down.
His expression hardened again.
—We’re here…
Claire looked ahead.
The city rose before them.
Dark.
Sick.
—Welcome to Raccoon City… —she murmured.
It didn’t sound like a greeting.
It sounded like a warning.
Neither of them laughed again.
The patrol car kept moving…
straight into the heart of the nightmare.