•Thicker Than Blood•

•Chapter 1•

Hand in hand, the pair of three walked together as the sun slid beneath the horizon. After the devastating events of Raccoon City, no one would have wanted to be alone. Especially given the three's situations. A man, woman, and child. None were previously connected, but they'd found themselves together during the tragedy. Leon Kennedy was only a rookie cop, late for his first day of work. Claire Redfield was on the hunt for her brother, who was also a cop. Then there was Sherry Birkin, child of two scientists from Umbrella, newly orphaned. All three were beaten and bruised from the apocalypse.

The Umbrella Corporation had been working under the entire city's noses. Creating bioweapons that would be used for the worst and sold to different countries for upcoming wars. Everyone was against one another in a way. Every country wanted to be on top. Umbrella Corporation would rather use the government's will to be on top for money. Meanwhile, knowing the effects that would have happened. They'd be able to take safe precautions while everything crumbled around them. Though, it didn't seem to work out that way. The infection killed most in the building which spread into the city itself.

The city was now in shambles. The town that at least two people in the party called home was destroyed. Everyone there was lifeless or purely undead. It would be difficult to turn a knowing eye away from the tragedy, but the adults in the situation had different priorities. There was nothing left in Raccoon City for the cop to protect. No brother for Claire to find. No family for Sherry to return to. The only thing they could take away from that city was each other. They would have to find a way on their own. Soon enough, Claire and Leon both felt another tug on their hand. Asking for their attention.

"Claire. Leon. Do you guys know where we're going?" Sherry asked.

The two adults seemed to share glances. As if they were trying to figure out what the other was to think. Claire hesitated before nodding her head, as if to say she was the one who had an idea.

"There should be a gas station down the road. I'm thinking if we could find a functionable car... I could hotwire it. We can fill it up there and see if there's anything of use there." Claire explained.

Sherry looked up and seemed to glance around, Claire's jacket now beginning to fall off her shoulders with the difference in size. Combined with the swings she would leap into when the adults swung their arms, the jacket felt more like a cape to the child.

"Let's not get our hopes up too high. Things still seemed to be relatively normal outside of Raccoon City. If we can't find a vehicle there, we'll have to find our way over to the next town. I'm sure any other survivors would have headed there." Leon said, trying to keep the sense of reality.

"Can you have the slightest hope? We survived a zombie outbreak... at this rate, we could do anything." Claire responded.

Sherry looked between the both of them, eyebrow raised slightly. She thought the two would end up bickering like her parents before they passed. It wasn't uncommon for her to watch them fight over work. Though, to her surprise, that didn't happen. She expected Leon to assume her optimism as childish. But he actually smiled at her comment. As a matter of fact, both of them had smiles on their dirtied faces.

"Can't argue with that." The cop said through a chuckle.

"Damn right.. Now, if I remember correctly, the gas station is about another mile ahead. Let's hustle."

Claire raised her hand that held Sherry's just a bit. Leon dipped his head in acknowledgement and raised his. Both swung their arms back and propelled forward into the air. Sherry didn't miss a beat, enjoying the game while she was lifted into another leap. This game would continue until they saw the station in the distance.

"There it is!" Sherry pointed, releasing both of their hands. "I'll race you there!"

And in a flash, Sherry was booking it down the empty road. Her childlike laughter fell quieter as she reached the distance. Leon didn't quite react at first. Not until Claire pushed him to the side with her shoulder.

"You heard her. Race you."

Then suddenly Claire was also running after Sherry, gaining on her fast. Leon couldn't help but stare out of pure wonder. Despite the situation, they both seemed to have hope. Claire still hadn't found her brother, but she was laughing and playing along with Sherry. Perhaps that was to give her a sense of security, he thought. He was most surprised about Sherry and her lack of reaction. Not only had she watched her father inject himself with the G-Virus, a more dangerous version of the T-Virus. But, she had also watched her mother die. Right in front of her. How could she not be reacting? She still seemed to have a warm child wonder. His best guess was that the shock would settle in later. The gravity of the situation would catch up to her down the road.

"Hey! Leon! Are you coming or not?" Claire suddenly yelled from down the road, snapping him out of his thoughts.

He shook his head slightly, before taking a breath and throwing himself forward into a swift sprint. Claire seemed to realize that he was closing the distance much quicker than she could. That was likely the training for his career talking. She swallowed hard, quickly turning on her heels and running to catch Sherry at the station. Claire and Leon ended up arriving at about the same time. The two crashed into each other as if playing into the game. His shoulder hit her, sending her to the side. Though, she quickly retaliated with her elbow. The roughhousing died down when they heard a light "ahem" from Sherry.

"Are you sure you guys aren't boyfriend and girlfriend?" She asked.

Leon crossed his arms now, rolling his eyes with a light grin on his face.

"Like we said, we only met last night."

"It looks like you've known each other forever."

"Hey now, that's enough. Let's get to work now, shall we? I see a pickup over there." Claire pointed out.

"Claire's right. Let's get started." Leon said.