Resident Evil 3: "Raccoon City's Last Stand"

Chapter 2: Deployed Into Chaos

Facing Carlos, with Tyrell and Murphy in the background, I prepared to spar with him. Carlos wore a smirk on his face as he taunted me, "You can give up already. I've got this in the bag."

Maintaining a confident smile, I responded, "You've got quite the vivid imagination."

Carlos swung at me, but I swiftly countered, deftly evading his punches. Seizing an opportunity, I landed a solid blow to his side, attempting to follow up with a punch to his face. However, he swiftly caught my fist and twisted me around, pinning me against his back. Determined not to be outdone, I retaliated by swiftly ducking and tossing him over me.

For a moment, I had Carlos in a vulnerable hold, exactly where I wanted him. But he utilized his leg and kicked me in the face, forcing me to back off, giving him the chance to regain his footing. Before our spar could continue, a blaring alarm suddenly interrupted the scene.

"Let's continue this later," Carlos suggested, acknowledging the interruption. We headed toward the lockers to gear up. I armed myself with a machine gun and pistol, joining Carlos, Tyrell, and Murphy as we made our way to a gathering of our fellow squad mates. At the front stood Mikhail Victor, the platoon leader, with Nikolai standing beside him.

"Gentlemen, I have just received distressing news. A virus outbreak has ravaged Raccoon City, and the civilians are under attack. Our mission is to secure the area and rescue as many people as possible," Mikhail explained, his words weighing heavily on my heart as thoughts of my mother and brother flooded my mind.

"You will be divided into different groups, each with specific orders. This mission is of the utmost urgency, and the dangers cannot be overstated," Nikolai emphasized, pacing back and forth. "Remain vigilant and watch each other's backs at all times."

Following the briefing, Nikolai approached me with a concerned expression in his eyes. "Are you ready for this?" he asked.

I straightened up, meeting his gaze with determination. "I'm ready for anything, Sir," I replied confidently.

A smile tugged at the corners of Nikolai's lips as he placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "You'll be with Delta Team. Stick together and stay safe," he advised before walking away.

Grateful for his guidance, I smiled, clutching my machine gun firmly in my hands. Throughout my time here, Nicolai had been a mentor to me, always there when I needed him. In a way, he had become the father figure I had never had.

Before joining my team, I stood alongside Carlos, Tyrell, and Murphy. We formed a tight-knit bond, knowing that each of us had a crucial role to play in securing Raccoon City's survival. "We've got this," I declared, a sense of unity filling the air. We performed a group handshake, reminiscent of ones seen in football.

I rendezvoused with Delta Team, consisting of myself, Hector, Jack, and Malcolm. The four of us boarded a helicopter, our nerves palpable as we prepared for the mission ahead. As we ascended into the sky.

My stomach churned with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. The sprawling city I once called home came into view, now shrouded in darkness and eerily devoid of life. It was a stark contrast to the vibrant place I remembered, bustling with hardworking individuals and their achievements.

Suddenly, an ominous sound resonated from the helicopter, signalling imminent danger. Panic ensued as the aircraft jolted violently, tossing us around. I held onto my seat tightly, my head spinning. The world outside became a blur as the helicopter made a turbulent descent. I braced myself, preparing for impact. In an instant, everything went black.

Few hours later:

As I slowly regained consciousness, I rubbed my eyes, wincing at the pain coursing through my body. Crawling forward, I grasped a handle and pulled myself out of the wreckage. Landing on the ground, I felt the dampness of rain-soaked earth beneath me.

Performing a quick self-assessment, I determined that I had miraculously escaped any major injuries. However, a deep cut on my arm caught my attention. I swiftly covered it with a bandage and rolled my sleeve back down, concealing the wound. Retrieving my machine gun, I took a deep breath and began to move forward.

I soon reunited with Jack and Malcolm, but the news they delivered was devastating. Hector hadn't survived the crash, his life had been tragically cut short upon impact. The weight of his loss hung heavy in the air. Additionally, Malcolm had sustained a broken leg, rendering him unable to contribute fully to our mission.

I urgently grabbed the radio, desperately hoping for a response. "This is Stryker Malone of Delta Team. Does anybody copy?"

After a tense silence, the familiar voice of Mikhail finally came through. "I read you, Stryker. What's your status?" he inquired.

"Our helicopter crashed, and my team is injured. It's just me, Jack, and Malcolm left. Malcolm has a broken leg," I explained, wiping the sweat from my forehead.

Mikhail's voice crackled with urgency. "Things haven't been going well here either. We're cut off, but you need to make your way to the train station. We're putting together an escape plan," he declared.

I knew the location of the train station well. "Understood. We'll meet you there," I responded, stowing the radio away. I turned to face Jack and Malcolm.

"How's the leg?" I asked, genuine concern etched on my face.

Jack glanced at me, his expression grim. "Not good. It looks infected," he revealed, revealing the wound.

With a sense of urgency, I retrieved a rag and carefully wrapped it around the injured leg. Malcolm winced in pain, but I assured him, "I know it hurts, but until we reach the train station, this will have to do."

Suddenly, the eerie sound of groans echoed in the distance, drawing my attention. I turned to see a horde of figures emerging from around a corner. At first, my instinct was to approach and help, but as they drew nearer, it became evident that they were not the living. They were zombies. I quickly took a step back, raising my rifle and steadying my aim.

"Jack, get Malcolm up and moving!" I shouted, my eyes locked on the approaching undead.

Jack swiftly moved to assist Malcolm, struggling to support him as we made a hasty retreat through a narrow alleyway. I unleashed a continuous barrage of gunfire, desperately trying to keep the zombies at bay. Adrenaline surged through my veins as we fought to stay one step ahead.

Reaching a temporary hiding spot, we were forced to pause briefly. Malcolm's cries of pain and fear filled the air, causing us to realize his injury had worsened. Time was not on our side. The relentless onslaught of zombies continued, pouring in from the direction we had intended to go.

In a chilling twist of fate, we found ourselves completely trapped, surrounded by the ravenous horde. Panic set in as a zombie burst through an opening, snatching Malcolm away and his agonizing screams pierced through the chaos.

Trapped in the narrow alleyway, Jack and I desperately searched for an escape route. My mind raced as I assessed our dire situation.

"Follow me!" I commanded, quickly making my way over a nearby fence. Jack attempted to follow suit, but in a cruel twist of fate, a zombie seized him, sinking its teeth into his leg. I watched in horror as the mob overpowered him, tearing him apart.

Fear and adrenaline surged through my veins as I frantically turned and ran, determined to find a way through the treacherous surroundings and reach the safety of the train station.

Seeking refuge, I barged through the door of a nearby bar, my heart pounding in my chest. I took a moment to lean against the counter, catching my breath, when suddenly, I felt the cold touch of metal pressed against the back of my head.

"Hands up!" a voice commanded, holding me at gunpoint.

My blood ran cold as I realized I had unwittingly stumbled into another dangerous situation. "Shit," I whispered under my breath, bracing myself for the unknown fate that awaited me.