July 22, 1998, 6:15 PM
The path that wound through the dense trees of the Arklay Mountains was almost swallowed by the shadow of twilight. The air was still, heavy, laden with an unnatural silence. Jill walked a few steps from Eddie and Lupo, her right hand instinctively brushing the grip of her Beretta. There was something wrong with this silence.
A dry rustle in the bushes to her left made her stop dead. Before she could even turn her head, a shout froze her in place.
"Watch out!"
Eddie's hand grabbed her arm, yanking her backward with surprising force. Jill stumbled, falling against his chest, just as a dark, snarling form leaped out of the vegetation, landing exactly where she had been a second before.
It wasn't a dog. Or rather, it wasn't anymore. The skin was in tatters, revealing necrotic muscles and yellowed bones. Its jaws were wide open in a silent snarl, its eyes glassy and lifeless. A nauseating stench of rotting flesh hit her full in the face.
Bang.
The sound of the shot was sharp, deafening. Lupo hadn't wasted a moment. Her pistol was already in her hand, the barrel aimed. A dark hole appeared in the center of the creature's skull. The body of the zombie dog collapsed to the ground with a dull thud, inert.
Jill stared at the corpse, her heart hammering in her throat. The breath was caught in her lungs. She felt her legs tremble, but her S.T.A.R.S. discipline kept her from giving in. "What… what the fuck was that thing?" she managed to murmur, her voice a choked whisper.
"I don't know," Eddie replied, his voice tense. His hand was still clenched around Jill's arm, a solid, reassuring contact in the sudden chaos. "But it smells dead. And it moves. Let's go back. Now."
Jill nodded, still in shock. Only then did she realize Eddie's proximity, the warmth of his body against her back. She pulled away abruptly, coughing to mask her embarrassment. "You're right. Thanks… for getting me…"
"We're a team, aren't we?" he interrupted, a tight smile on his face. "Or maybe something more. Shouldn't couples help each other out?"
"We're not a couple," she retorted, frowning, but her protest sounded weak even to her own ears.
"Details," he said, his gaze darting among the surrounding trees. "Let's get back to the villa. I'll take you back to your apartment. And Jill… if they assign you a mission out here, call me. Don't come alone."
The investigation had just shown its true face. And it wasn't human.
July 22, 1998, 8:30 PM
After dropping Jill off safely at her apartment, Eddie and Lupo stopped at a downtown coffee shop. The place was almost empty, bathed in a warm, soft light that contrasted sharply with the menacing shadows of the mountains.
"Let's get some coffee," Eddie said, more of a statement than a question.
"My job is to ensure your safety," Lupo replied, her voice professional and without inflection. "I will follow you anywhere."
They sat at a secluded table on the second floor. The silence between them was thick, heavy.
"You saw it," Eddie began, breaking the silence. His tone was serious, devoid of his usual arrogance. "That dog. It's a biological weapon. An accident or a deliberate release, it doesn't matter. There will be more."
"I suspected as much," Lupo replied, calm. "Rumors like that have been circulating in military circles for years. Lab-created creatures. Super-soldiers."
"As long as you're paying me, I've got your back," she continued, fixing him with her clear, penetrating eyes.
"Loyalty is the only thing I ask for," Eddie said. "And it will be rewarded. For twenty years, I've played the part of the fool, the spoiled rich kid. Now this crisis… this fucking biochemical apocalypse… is my stage." A bitter, quiet laugh escaped him.
Lupo watched him, her expression shifting from professionalism to curiosity. "What's the plan, then?"
"I want you to take command of the Triangle Team," he said, catching her off guard. "Consider it your squad. I'm not a field leader. And keep an eye on Bodrovski. He's an Umbrella spy." He paused, his gaze hardening. "One rule. Don't betray me. I hate traitors more than anything."
"Me too," Lupo replied, a dark flash crossing her eyes.
The waiter arrived with their coffees, breaking the tension. When he had gone, Eddie's expression softened again, returning to that of the provocateur.
"Anyway," he said, winking at her. "Now that business is settled… don't you think it's time to think about starting a new family?"
Lupo stared at him for a long moment. Then, a slow, almost imperceptible smile curved her lips. "Get some practice, kid," she replied, her voice low and hoarse. "Then, maybe, I'll consider your proposal."
"Don't underestimate me," he retorted, feigning offense. "I might surprise you. If you want, we can try right now."
Lupo's laugh, this time, was genuine. A rare and unexpected sound. "Don't play with fire, Eddie. You might get burned."