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Alice's eyes widened as she listened to the voice on the telephone. Her complexion paled. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice tight with suspicion.
"I can help you and your group of five leave this place," the voice replied, distorted through the static. "But first, you must sign an agreement. Are you prepared to accept the terms?"
Jill's gaze immediately shifted toward the ceiling, noticing the small, blinking cameras. It seemed as if every movement they made was being monitored. Many other cameras dotted the surrounding area, silently tracking their positions.
"Do we even have a choice?" Alice asked, her voice cautious.
"If you want to survive tonight, you have no choice," the voice said, cold and unyielding.
After a tense moment, Alice ended the call, hanging up the receiver with a snap.
"Who was that?" Jill asked, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the area for threats.
"We'll discuss it somewhere safe," Alice replied, already moving forward with decisive steps.
Jack pointed toward a row of parked public transport vehicles. "The one up front. Looks like no one's there."
Alice nodded in agreement. "Seems suitable."
When they reached the gate of the vehicle, it was in the process of closing. Jack took the lead, stepping forward with confidence. "Let me push it open. You, stay close by," he instructed.
"Could Jack be dangerous?" Teri asked anxiously, glancing at him.
"Some things can only be done by certain people," Jack replied, his expression calm, almost indifferent, as his hand moved slowly toward the vehicle door.
The door yielded gradually under his effort, a narrow slit opening at first. Jack applied more force, and the gap widened until the interior of the carriage was clearly visible.
He stepped inside slowly. The carriage was empty. No zombies, no immediate threat—but Jack's senses were sharp; he could detect even the faintest movement and the slightest sound. His eyes scanned upward, and a small, confident smile crossed his face. "Hasn't attacked yet?"
"Roar…" A Licker perched on the vehicle roof lunged at him with terrifying speed.
Jack calmly lifted the spear-gun. "So, if anyone asks how you die, tell them it was fast," he muttered under his breath.
Bang!
The Licker, mid-leap, froze as a bullet pierced its brain. Its pained roar echoed violently as the body flew upside down, crashing to the ground in a spray of blood.
Alice and Jill immediately moved into the vehicle, their movements precise and swift. The narrow space made it difficult to fight in, but Jack's rapid reflexes and skill ensured that the Licker was neutralized without harm to the group.
"Come on up," Jack called, gesturing toward the carriage.
Teri stepped inside, a slight cry escaping her lips when a fallen Licker stirred nearby.
"It's dead. Don't worry," Jack said lightly, his tone reassuring.
Alice regarded Jack with new respect. "Now I believe it. The Licker in the church… you were the one who killed it. You are truly formidable. What else can you do?"
"He's a hunter," Teri said quickly, standing slightly taller as she defended him.
Alice smiled faintly. "A hunter… yes, a truly fierce hunter." She clearly didn't believe Jack was merely a hunter in the usual sense.
"Even I couldn't have done that," Jill admitted quietly, her tone admiring.
Jack shrugged nonchalantly. "If you doubt anything about me, remember: what's most important among people is trust."
"Agreed," Alice said with a nod. "Now, let's handle business properly."
"Wait, I need to record all of this," Teri said, carefully adjusting the camera. "Ready?"
Alice nodded. "The man who called earlier… that was Dr. Ashford. He manages the Genetics and Virus Research Department at Umbrella Corporation."
"What does he want from us?" Jill asked, lighting a cigarette and drawing closer, curiosity evident in her eyes.
"To save his daughter, Angela. She's stranded in the city. Umbrella Corporation planned to extract her, but she can't move. She's hiding in the school. If we rescue her, Ashford will help us leave safely," Alice explained.
"Impossible," Peyton said, skepticism clear in his tone. "We should just find a fortified location—tall walls, thick gates—and wait for someone to rescue us."
Jack shook his head, a hint of sympathy in his expression. "You're dreaming. Since the gates closed at the bridge, everyone in the city was abandoned. If you stay here, death is inevitable."
"Hateful," Peyton muttered, clenching his fists.
"Some people won't come," Alice said calmly. "Umbrella Corporation knows they can't control the virus spread. This morning, at sunrise, Raccoon City was already condemned."
Teri frowned. "You said 'cleaning up'… what do you mean?"
Alice's eyes were steady. "Tactical nuclear weapons. High-precision."
"Big?" Jill asked, incredulous.
"Equivalent to 5,000 tons of TNT," Alice replied.
Jill's eyes widened. "FUCK!"
"What does that mean?" Teri asked, voice shaking.
"It will prevent the virus from spreading further and destroy all evidence," Alice explained, her voice calm and factual.
Jack shook his head. "The virus itself won't be eliminated."
"Hateful! They won't escape punishment. The media will go wild," Peyton shouted, anger in his tone.
"They'll cover it up," Teri said matter-of-factly, her experience as a news anchor showing.
"Already prepared. If it's a nuclear strike, it's simple for them to control the information," Alice said.
Peyton's face darkened. "Even Umbrella Corporation can't hide the full truth."
"Underestimating Umbrella Corporation is dangerous," Jack interjected. "This company has power in this world that you can't comprehend."
Jill nodded. "We shouldn't hope for miracles. What do we do now?"
"I think we need to flee the city before dawn," Alice said, determination in her tone.
"Then Peyton, find a secure place behind tall walls and thick gates," Jack said, giving a small, reassuring smile.
"Hateful," Peyton muttered, clenching his fists tightly.
The group descended from the public transport vehicle and headed toward Raccoon City Junior High School, its looming silhouette in the dim morning light casting long, foreboding shadows over the empty streets. The city around them was eerily quiet, except for the occasional groan of the undead or the distant crash of debris. Broken streetlights flickered weakly, and abandoned cars littered the cracked asphalt, their windows shattered and doors hanging ajar.
Every step was careful, every sound amplified in the unnatural silence of the city. Jack kept Teri close, eyes constantly scanning, while Alice and Jill led the way with practiced precision. Peyton followed, his anger and fear coiling tightly within him. The school's towering gates promised a temporary refuge, but the path ahead was still fraught with danger—every shadow could conceal a lurking monster, every corner could hide a new threat.