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The van rattled to a stop, its wheels crunching over broken glass scattered across the street. The ruins of Raccoon City loomed all around them—buildings blackened by fire, windows shattered, the distant moans of the dead echoing through the urban graveyard. The air itself seemed heavy, filled with the faint stench of ash, smoke, and decay.
Inside the vehicle, Jill leaned forward, her sharp eyes settling on the man slouched near the door. His clothes were dirty, his face slick with sweat, but his skin bore no bite marks. She studied him carefully, then recognition flickered in her mind. She remembered him—back at the police station, she had used her sidearm to shoot open his handcuffs, freeing him when no one else could.
"Come on," Jill said firmly, her voice clipped but calm as she gestured for him to step out.
"Thanks, thanks." The man grinned, though his grin was more nervous than confident. "Name's Lloyd Jefferson Wade, but you can call me L.J. Everyone does." He puffed out his chest, trying to make his introduction sound important. "L.J.—the initials say it all."
Jack leaned back against the seat, his expression unreadable as he regarded L.J. The guy seemed out of place here. Survivors usually carried a hard look in their eyes, weighed down by everything they'd seen. But this one? He carried nothing but bravado. Somehow this fool's still alive? Luck like that doesn't come cheap, Jack thought.
L.J. caught Jack staring. "And what's your name, brother?" he asked warmly, as though the horror outside hadn't happened at all.
"Jack," the man replied with a faint smile.
That was all it took to encourage L.J. He brightened immediately, the exhaustion on his face fading as he launched into his next performance. "Jack! Man, you know, with so many people either dead or turned into those freaks, it's gotta be fate I ran into you all now. Blessed, right?"
"Because you're flamboyant," Jack answered dryly, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Exactly!" L.J. snapped his fingers, leaning forward, thrilled at being validated. "Man, you wouldn't believe the kind of crazy stuff I've survived out here. Dreadful, terrifying things. But me? I made it out. You're looking at the real deal, my friend. I even escaped from a monster's hand once. Big bastard—scary as hell. But those STARS team members weren't so lucky. All of them? Gone."
The moment he mentioned STARS, Jill stiffened. Her jaw tightened. She had worn that insignia on her own shoulder; she was STARS. Hearing their deaths turned into some survivor's tale made her skin crawl. "You said STARS," she muttered, eyes narrowing.
"Yeah!" L.J. waved his arms as if painting the scene. "That monster was insane, girl. It had a Gatling gun, a rocket launcher—everything. Bullets flying everywhere, rockets blasting. In seconds, thirty STARS members were wiped out like they were nothing. Only me—I hid, slipped away." He leaned back proudly, convinced he'd impressed them.
"Gatling… rocket launcher…" Jill whispered. The image was unmistakable. Her stomach sank. "Nemesis…"
The name itself was heavy, a shadow that stretched across her memory. She could still picture the massive figure she'd seen before—the relentless creature created only to hunt.
Jack chuckled softly, shaking his head. He thinks he's bragging. Nemesis spared him only because killing him would've been a waste of ammunition. If Nemesis wanted you dead, L.J., you wouldn't be sitting here running your mouth.
Teri, sitting opposite, folded her arms. She wasn't impressed either. "You really expect us to believe you're that tough? I didn't see it," she said flatly.
"Hey, beauty, of course it's real! You gotta believe me," L.J. replied quickly, desperation creeping into his tone.
"You looked terrified just a minute ago," Teri countered sharply. "If you're so strong, what were you so scared of?"
Jack laughed, unable to resist. "Because he's bluffing. Talking big doesn't cost anything. There's no tax on lies."
"You—! You…" L.J. stammered, words failing him. His dark face couldn't show a blush, but the embarrassment was written plainly in his awkward silence.
The van came to a halt once again. Outside, the imposing silhouette of Raccoon City Middle School rose before them, its brick walls stained with soot, its tall windows cracked or shattered. The once-busy campus was now shrouded in silence, the playground gates bent and twisted, the faint metallic smell of dried blood drifting in the air.
The group stepped out cautiously, boots crunching over debris, their breaths visible in the cold, stagnant air.
Inside the school's hall, the air was worse—damp, stale, tinged with rot. Every step echoed far too loudly against the empty corridors lined with lockers, their doors hanging open, papers scattered like autumn leaves.
"We'll need to split up to cover more ground," Jill said, scanning the darkened hallways with her weapon drawn.
"No, that's not safe. I don't want to go alone," Teri blurted out. Her voice trembled slightly, her eyes darting to Jack, silently asking him to speak up.
"You'll search one building," Jill ordered, pointing at L.J. Then she turned to Teri, pressing a handgun into her hands. "You'll take two buildings. I'll handle the basement."
"I'll take three," Jack said casually, his tone as calm as if they were dividing chores instead of risking their lives.
"Jack…" Teri's voice softened. Her hands gripped the pistol tightly. She wanted to argue, to insist on going with him, but her heart knew he was right.
"Teri, nothing's going to happen. Trust me," Jack said with that calm smile again, the kind that seemed to shield him from fear itself. Sometimes they need to face fear on their own. It makes them stronger, he thought privately.
She took a breath, then nodded. "Alright. I believe you."
"Jill," Jack said, resting a hand on her shoulder, "let's have a smoke first."
Jill rolled her eyes. "Only two left."
"Stingy, huh? When this is all over, I'll buy you ten packs—hell, twenty. Just give me one now." Jack smirked, his tone teasing.
With a sigh, Jill pulled out her crushed cigarette pack. Two remained. She tossed one to Jack and lit her own. "Fine. But you owe me ten packs when we make it out."
"Deal," Jack said, lighting up. He exhaled slowly, the smoke curling into the air, mixing with the dust and faint scent of mold.
They smoked in silence for a moment. Even here, in the ruins, small comforts were rare enough to matter.
Finally, they split. The creak of doors, the crunch of glass, and the echo of footsteps faded as each moved into their own section of the school.
Jack headed for the third building. The stairwell groaned beneath his weight as he climbed. He found a dusty step, sat down, and took a long drag of his cigarette, the ember glowing in the darkness. For a moment, he let himself drift.
"Alright, enough slacking," he muttered, flicking the butt aside. He rose, his boots echoing as he moved deeper into the dark.
Meanwhile, in the second building, Teri crept through the hallways, pistol trembling in her hands. Her breathing was shallow, sweat dripping down her forehead. The silence pressed down on her, broken only by the faint rattle of a loose windowpane.
She pushed open a classroom door. Inside, overturned desks and scattered textbooks littered the floor. A faint scratching sound drew her attention.
On the far side of the room, a girl crouched on the ground, facing away.
"Angela? Are you Angela?" Teri whispered, her voice soft, almost pleading. She stepped forward slowly, each creak of the floorboards like a gunshot in her ears. "Don't be afraid—we'll take you home."
She reached out and gently tapped the girl's shoulder. "Angela…"
The girl turned. Her mouth was smeared with blood. In her hands, she clutched a severed arm, gnawing on it like a feral animal.
"Oh my God…" Teri staggered back in horror, her boot hitting something behind her.
She spun—and froze. Several small figures stood there. Zombie children, their skin pale and rotting, eyes glowing with hunger. Their mouths opened in unison with a sickening hiss.
"Ahhh—!" One lunged, teeth bared.
"Jack!" Teri screamed desperately, her voice cracking with panic.
Bang!
A gunshot cracked through the silence. The first child's head snapped back in an explosion of blood and bone. Another two were blasted off their feet by follow-up shots.
Before Teri could even process what was happening, a blur swept through the room. She was lifted suddenly, strong arms wrapping around her as the world became a dizzying rush. She could barely see—the world blurred, shadows streaking past her vision.
"It's alright," a voice murmured in her ear.
Her eyes widened. Jack's face came into focus. Relief hit her like a flood, breaking the dam inside her. Tears spilled freely, her body trembling.
"Jack… I thought—I thought I was going to die!" she sobbed.
"As long as I'm here, you'll be fine," Jack whispered, his voice calm and steady, grounding her.
"Roooaaar!"
The remaining zombie children shrieked in unison, their small bodies lunging at the intruders with claws and teeth, filling the ruined classroom with the echoes of hell itself.