October 31, 1998, 11:00 PM, Luxury Apartment, Raccoon City
On the other side of the glass, Raccoon City stretched out like a grid of dying lights, an organism unaware of its own illness. Svetlana Belikova watched the metropolis, her hands clasped behind her straight back. It wasn't nostalgia or sadness she felt. It was cold, professional analysis. She sensed the rot beneath the surface, the tension in the streets, the unnatural silence that sometimes descended from the mountains.
One month. One month shaping cops into soldiers, a task as tedious as it was necessary. The real mission was another: protecting Eddie Cai. A task from Alex Wesker, payment for a future debt. Svetlana didn't believe in alliances, only in transactions. And this was a transaction she intended to honor.
---
October 31, 1998, 11:45 PM, Jill's Apartment
Ding Dong!
The sound of the doorbell cut through the night's quiet like a knife. Eddie stirred from the couch, where he had been relaxing with Jill, a cold irritation crawling under his skin. Who the hell comes by at this hour?
He opened the door. The woman standing there wore a bright pink blazer, a vivid island of color in the dark hallway. Short blonde hair, a strand falling over her right eye, and an almost aggressive air of determination.
Alyssa Ashcroft. The journalist.
"Good evening, Mr. Cai. I'm Alyssa Ashcroft from the Raccoon Press." Her voice was firm, professional.
Eddie studied her, his mind racing. What does she want? "You were at the bar earlier, right? It's late. How can I help you?"
"May I come in?" It wasn't a request. It was a challenge.
"Sure. But don't do anything 'unnecessary,' okay? I already have a girlfriend." He said it jokingly, but it was also a warning. A line drawn in the sand.
"I don't mind, even though you already have a girlfriend," Alyssa replied, with a smile that was a weapon. If he wanted to play, she knew the rules.
Inside, Jill rose from the couch. Seeing the newcomer, her expression became neutral, but her eyes, now sharper, were assessing her. It wasn't jealousy. It was evaluating a potential rival.
"Jill, this is Alyssa, a journalist. Alyssa, this is Jill, my girlfriend." Eddie made the introductions briefly.
"Pleasure." The two women shook hands. The grip was firm on both sides, a professional assessment, not a greeting. The air between them crackled.
Eddie handed Alyssa a coffee. "Okay, Alyssa. Can you tell me why you're here?"
Alyssa pulled out her notebook. "I've gathered data on every incident in the Arklay Mountains. I've spoken with citizens, survivors. The stories are messy but consistent. Dogs attacking passersby. And one human figure… terrifying."
Jill listened, impressed by the woman's tenacity. Reckless, but courageous.
"And I've heard of a man living in an abandoned hospital in the forest," Alyssa continued, her expression growing serious. "He carries a massive axe. He chases anyone who comes too close."
"If that's true, then the incidents in the Arklay Mountains are connected to this man with the axe," Jill said, looking at Eddie.
"I want to see him with my own eyes," Alyssa concluded. "But I know it's dangerous. I can't go alone. I wanted to ask for your help."
"I understand… I'll try to consult Chief Brian," Eddie nodded.
"You're not trying to lie to me, right?" Alyssa's tone was skeptical. She had heard too many empty promises from the police.
As Eddie's lover, Jill wasn't pleased that his honesty was being questioned. "Don't digress. Eddie is a very responsible man. He will keep his promise."
Alyssa crossed her arms, her expression suspicious. "Really? Then I'll wait and see…"
---
November 1, 1998, 9:00 AM, Sergei Vladimir's Office
The next day, Eddie went to see Sergei. "I received information from a journalist. There's an abandoned hospital in the Arklay Forest. It seems someone still lives there. Most likely linked to the T-Virus outbreak."
"And what do you intend to do?" Sergei asked, twirling his knife. His relationship with Eddie was neutral. As long as Spencer could still use this young man as a pawn, Sergei wouldn't touch him.
"I plan to go there with the S.T.A.R.S. team. And at the same time, I want to find out if there's a new type of biochemical weapon."
"Oh… seems you really want to go to that dangerous place. Why such effort?"
"To gather data, of course! Data on new weapons will significantly help the company. Plus, I want a higher bonus for my future wedding expenses." He paused, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "By the way, Uncle Sergei, what do you think about polygamy?"
The knife stopped. The air in the room turned icy. Sergei's eyes were shards of ice. He knew. That damn kid knew about his condition, the side effect of the imperfect serum that had left him impotent. It was a provocation. A calculated insult.
"Don't speak of things you don't understand," Sergei hissed, his voice a low, deadly growl.
"Of course." Eddie remained unfazed. "Uncle Sergei, could you call Chief Brian? Please, let him know I'll be taking the S.T.A.R.S. team to explore the Arklay Forest."
"Fine. I'll inform him later. You can leave now."
Eddie nodded. The mission could distract the public, easing pressure on Umbrella. Sergei approved the request.
As Eddie left, Sergei's gaze fell on the knife in his hand.
"Marcus… With me, you have nothing to fear or worry about. Anyone who dares provoke you, I will deal with personally…" he hissed.
His hand tightened. A screech of tortured metal rang out. When he opened his hand, the sharp, hard blade had been reduced to a twisted ball of iron. His skin was torn, blood spilling from the wounds. But the injuries healed almost instantly, the flesh stitching itself at an unnatural speed, consuming the blood, leaving not even a scar. A perfect monster. And an angry one.