The inside of the warehouse seemed to swallow their flashlight beams whole. Metal shelves rose like the pillars of an abandoned temple, covered in dust, ripped boxes, and shards of a past corrupted by Umbrella. Every footstep echoed like muffled gunfire, and every shadow seemed to twitch when no one was looking.
Claire was the first to notice.
"There's something... off. More than usual."
Erick already felt it. The animal instinct inside him buzzed like a silent alarm. But unlike before, now it felt more... alive. As if the darkness itself was breathing.
Leon took a step forward, weapons raised.
"Zombies. Hiding. Bet they're trying to ambush us."
"I bet a sandwich there's more than just zombies," Erick muttered. "Maybe zombie dogs, a Tyrant, or a lab coat scientist who literally lost his head..."
Claire shot him a look, one eyebrow raised.
"You talk like you know what's coming."
Erick grinned, feigning mystery.
"Let's just say... I played a lot of video games."
Before they could respond, a metallic clang sliced through the silence, followed by dragging moans. Zombies emerged from the shadows, stumbling between the shelves, lifeless eyes fixed on them.
"Shit," Leon growled, already opening fire.
Claire moved fast, toppling a box to knock down a zombie lunging toward her. She drove her screwdriver into its forehead with a grunt of effort.
Erick backpedaled, kicking off a creature that came too fast. He tapped into his Snow Leopard reflexes subtly. The world slowed for just a second—long enough for him to duck, spin, and slam a metal rod through the thing's skull.
"This never stops being freaky," he muttered, panting. "It's like turbo mode... with a hangover."
Leon fought with surgical precision. Three clean shots, three dead.
"Stay in formation!" he shouted. "Don't let them group up!"
Claire fought with surprising ferocity, screaming as she kicked one straight in the chest and stomped its skull in.
"Since when do you fight like that?" Erick asked, dodging rotten teeth.
"Since my life depends on it—thanks for noticing!"
The fight lasted just over two minutes but left a trail of bodies and heavy breathing. Erick wiped blood from his hands with a torn cloth as he said:
"Considering a three-meter monster with a rocket launcher could show up any second, that was... chill."
Leon gave him a sharp look.
"You know way too much. That's not normal."
Erick raised his hands.
"Just being pessimistic. Let's say I'm a fan of worst-case scenarios."
Claire crossed her arms, still catching her breath.
"And if you're right?"
"Then you two better get used to it." Erick's grin turned grim. "The game only gets harder from here."
Leon narrowed his eyes. Claire exchanged a glance with him, but said nothing.
The flashlights kept flickering. At the far end of the warehouse, a steel door waited for them—locked, thick, and ominous. Erick could feel something behind it. Something big. Something that would make them wish they hadn't opened it.
He turned away from it and muttered to himself:
"Hope this reward's worth it."
(Author's note: If you enjoyed the chapter, don't forget to leave some stars and add the story to your library! It helps a lot and keeps the chaos going.)