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The ruined church stood in eerie silence, its broken stained-glass windows allowing slivers of moonlight to cut across the dusty floor. The smell of rotting wood mixed with the faint copper tang of dried blood. Every creak in the rafters sounded like a warning.
Jack's eyes tracked the Licker scuttling along the beams overhead. Its claws scraped and clicked against the wood as it darted back and forth, its grotesque body twitching with barely contained hunger. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Looks like it doesn't even realize who it's dealing with," he muttered, his voice calm despite the danger above.
Teri clutched her arms around herself, shivering. Her voice cracked as she whispered, "Jack, don't say things like that. You're making it sound even scarier."
Jack turned his head, meeting her gaze. His eyes softened. "Relax. If it comes at us, I'll stand in front of you." His tone carried a warmth that contrasted with the nightmare around them.
Something fluttered in Teri's chest. She swallowed hard, eyes trembling. "Jack… why are you always so good to me?"
Jack tilted his chin upward, gazing at the ceiling from a forty-five degree angle, his expression unreadable. The dim light carved shadows across his face, giving him a strange and mysterious aura. "Because, Teri… everyone has someone in this world they feel destined to protect. The moment you see them in a crowd, you just know. You don't need a reason."
Teri's lips parted, her heart pounding. A realization—small, fragile—began to take shape. "Jack…" she breathed.
But before the moment could deepen, Peyton's voice cut sharply through the tension.
"I told you, stay alert!" His shout rang out as he opened fire at the Licker above. Bullets sparked against the rafters, but the monster darted away with inhuman speed, screeching.
"Move, now!" Peyton barked, bolting toward a side passage.
Without hesitation, Jack grabbed Teri's trembling hand and pulled her along. Together they ran after Peyton, boots echoing against the church floor. The heavy wooden door slammed shut behind them with a thundering bang, muffling the sound of claws above.
---
Elsewhere in the church, Jill Valentine advanced with careful steps, her pistol raised. Sweat trickled down her temple as she replayed what she had seen earlier—the priest, twisted into a corpse, feeding on his own sister. The image gnawed at her mind. Kinship, corrupted by the virus. If family bonds could be shredded so easily, what hope did strangers like them have?
A sudden crash! rang out. A chair toppled in the shadows. Jill's heart skipped. In this place, even the smallest noise felt like a gunshot. Her nerves tightened, every instinct screaming danger.
Her eyes darted to the ground. A pistol lay abandoned near the altar, half-covered in dust. In this nightmare, a firearm was worth more than gold. Jill crouched, picked it up, and checked the chamber with trained precision. A few rounds left—it would have to do.
Bang!
Something slammed down from above. Jill spun around, heart hammering. "Who's there?"
From the darkness, a mutilated corpse lurched into view. Its skin was torn and chewed, its features barely recognizable. She realized with horror—it was one of the missing survivors. The body groaned, mouth widening into a guttural roar.
"Dammit…" Jill hissed, stepping back.
Her gaze snapped upward again, and her blood ran cold. Crawling along the upper walls was a creature unlike any she'd seen before—its skin peeled back, brain tissue exposed, claws glistening. A Licker.
She didn't hesitate. Bang! Bang! Her shots echoed as she fired, then turned and sprinted. Boots pounding, she burst into the front hall. But Peyton, Jack, and Teri were nowhere in sight.
"Peyton! Jack! Teri—!" she shouted, desperation cracking her voice.
Before she could call again, a hand clamped firmly over her mouth, dragging her back into the shadows. Jill thrashed, elbow jerking, but then froze when she recognized her captors. Peyton, Jack, and Teri stood before her.
"Mind moving your hand?" Jill growled, eyes flicking down to the arm still wrapped around her waist.
Jack blinked, startled. "Ah—sorry! My mistake." He quickly pulled back, scratching his head with a sheepish grin.
Jill clenched her fist, fighting the urge to punch him across the jaw. This guy… in the middle of hell, and he dares—! Endure it, Jill. Endure it.
---
A guttural roar split the air. All four looked upward.
Three Lickers clung to the ceiling, drool dripping in long strands from their toothy maws. Their claws clicked against the stone as they spread out, circling above like predators ready to strike.
"I counted three. They've surrounded us," Peyton muttered, his face grim.
"I see them too," Jill said, her voice cold and sharp.
Jack exhaled slowly, almost amused. "Looks like they won't let us walk away. Guess we've got no choice but to deal with them."
"We fight together," Jill declared, stepping forward. She raised her gun and charged.
Peyton followed at her flank. Jack pulled Teri close behind him, shielding her as they advanced.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunfire erupted, muzzle flashes lighting up the darkness. Jill and Peyton unloaded into the darting figures above. But the Lickers were blindingly fast, crawling along the walls and pillars like shadows. Bullets chipped stone and wood but hit nothing vital.
"I'm running out of ammo!" Jill called out, ejecting her clip.
A Licker suddenly dropped from the ceiling with a heavy thud, saliva trailing from its gaping mouth. Its grotesque tongue lashed out, slicing the air like a whip.
The group braced themselves, weapons aimed.
Jack stepped forward. "Let me handle this one," he said, voice steady, carrying a reckless edge.
"Don't be stupid!" Jill snapped.
The Licker leapt, tongue darting straight for Jack like a spear.
"Jack, move!" Teri screamed.
"Get out of the way!" Jill shouted.
But Jack didn't move. He stood his ground, eyes locked on the monster. The tongue lashed forward—only for Jack to sidestep at the last instant, his body twisting with uncanny speed. In a blur, his arm raised.
Bang!
The shot rang out point-blank. The bullet tore through the Licker's skull, punching out the back of its head in a spray of gore.
The monster shrieked, body convulsing before slamming to the floor. It writhed a few times, then lay still.
Silence hung heavy for a moment.
Jill's brows furrowed. That speed… he's faster than a Licker. This man isn't just some survivor. Who exactly is he?
"Pretty impressive," Teri whispered, awe lighting her eyes.
Peyton's jaw clenched, a wave of conflicted emotions crossing his face. He had dismissed Jack as weak, unremarkable. Now, reality had hit him like a hammer. Jack was nothing like he'd thought.
The remaining Lickers shrieked, their roars echoing through the church. They lunged simultaneously, claws tearing at stone, tongues snapping like blades.
And then—
Crash!
The stained-glass window above exploded into shards, scattering across the floor like deadly rain. From the night sky, a motorcycle burst through, engine roaring like thunder.
The rider, clad in black leather, helmet concealing her face, launched through the air with terrifying grace. She aimed the bike straight at one of the lunging Lickers. The machine slammed into the creature mid-leap, sending it flying in a screech of pain.
The motorcycle landed hard, skidding across the stone floor. Tires squealed, spinning the bike in a sharp arc before it stabilized. The rider swung her leg down, boots crunching against the shards of glass.
She stood firm, presence radiating authority. Even through the chaos, her entrance was flawless—like a blade slicing through the nightmare.
For a heartbeat, the church fell silent. Jack's lips curled into a faint smile. Jill tightened her grip on her gun. Peyton and Teri stared in shock.
The game had just changed.