Resident Evil: Blacklight

"I believe you." My words broke the silence like a knife through tension. "You haven't done anything to make me think otherwise." I met Billy's gaze, a serious expression etched on my face.

"So I hope I'm not making the wrong decision." At my words, Rebecca gave me a light shove.

"Seriously? Can't you say something nice without ruining it seconds later?" She rolled her eyes, exasperated.

"I just wanted to make sure." I replied, a wry smile tugging at my lips.

"It's fine. I get it." Billy said with a chuckle, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "Not being treated like a wanted man after telling you all that is already more than enough."

"Well, if it helps, I'm with Alex on this one. You don't strike me as the cold-blooded killer type." Rebecca added, hands on her hips.

"Thank you. Both of you." Billy let out a quiet sigh, a small but genuine smile breaking through.

"Alright, if the sappy stuff is done, shall we?" I rose from the barstool, gesturing toward the secret door ahead.

"Right…" Rebecca's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of hesitation crossing her face.

"Hey, I get it." I teased, unable to resist. "Staying behind two capable people, protecting you—it's truly a burden."

Rebecca frowned, clearly taking the jab a little too seriously. "I've been helping you two a lot. I'm not acting like some damsel in distress."

"I know." I softened my tone, flashing her a reassuring smile. "So stop feeling so distressed, because if you do, we'll be losing a major fighting force."

She blinked, surprised for a moment, before a small smile curled her lips. "Right!"

"Next time we fight, I say you go give one of these motivational speeches." Billy quipped, already approaching the hidden door. "Who knows? Might work better than bullets."

I smirked, shooting back, "I'd rather not. Plus, I'm pretty sure you'd do a better job at it than me."

For a moment, Billy and I locked eyes before bursting into laughter, the sound echoing through the quiet room.

Rebecca, clearly unimpressed, walked past Billy. "Yeah, we should get moving before you two start losing it completely." She muttered, throwing us a bewildered look.

Clearing my throat, I focused back on the task and followed them into the next room.

What greeted us answered a few questions we didn't particularly cared about.

"So, they were actually watching from here…" I muttered, scanning the room.

A large metal table dominated the left side, cluttered with monitors connected to camera feeds of the combat room. Numbers, equations, and unintelligible notes adorned the scattered papers.

At the far end of the room, a small elevator stood, connected to the upper floors.

"They were studying those creatures' anatomy here." Rebecca murmured, flipping through a file with growing unease. "Not just their efficiency but also how their bodies and minds reacted to different scenarios."

"Why here, though?" Billy questioned, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. "What was the point of that piano room then?"

"Well, Umbrella does seem to like keeping secrets. Desn't surprise me that they'd have hidden operations like this even within their own facilities."

A heavy silence fell over the room as we continued looking around. Interrupted only by the familiar robotic voice echoing through hidden speakers.

"Combat data analysis complete. Extract the information?"

A prompt appeared on the screen, flashing between YES and NO.

I glanced at Rebecca and Billy, who exchanged unsure looks before shrugging. Without overthinking it, I pressed YES.

The dust-coated machines whirred to life, gears grinding and paper shuffling, the sudden noise startling in the quiet room.

Finally, a long, detailed list rolled out of an fancy printer with Umbrella's unmistakable logo.

The three of us huddled together, skimming the document.

"Hunters?" Billy raised an eyebrow as he pointed at the creature designations. "That's what they're called?"

"Doesn't sound too threatening after beating one." I remarked with a chuckle, though deep down, I hoped we wouldn't have to face another anytime soon.

Rebecca's gaze lingered on a particular section of the paper, her expression unreadable. "Though you got pretty lucky back there, huh?" She said, her voice light but her eyes sharp.

"Yeah…" I replied, forcing a smile. The memory of barely concealing my claws earlier gnawed at the back of my mind.

"Elevator access granted. Please report to the chemical analysis lab." The voice announced. The elevator at the far end flickered to life, its lights glowing green in invitation.

"Well, what do you guys think?" Billy asked, his hand resting on the grip of his weapon.

"No reason to stay here." I replied casually, already stepping toward the elevator.

"Mhm, let's move on." Rebecca agreed, nodding firmly.

"Alright, then." Billy said as he followed, the three of us stepping onto the elevator together. The lift carried us higher into whatever awaited above.

…

The chemical lab stretched out before us, a maze of polished steel counters, glowing monitors, and towering shelves lined with vials of brightly colored liquids.

"Wooow!" Rebecca exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.

"This place is insane! Only high-end stuff! Never thought I'd see some of these instruments!" Her voice echoed as she dashed around the room.

"Rebecca—" I called out, but Billy's hand on my shoulder stopped me.

"She'll be fine. Doesn't look like there's anything alive here, anyway." He said with a shrug, though his eyes still swept the room warily.

I nodded, letting out a reluctant sigh as I turned my attention back to the room.

Billy and I started poking around, though it quickly became apparent that we had no clue what we were looking at.

On a nearby counter, I spotted a notebook. Its pages were warped, as though splashed with something corrosive, but I could still make out some of the text:

"Experiment #143: Stabilization of Progenitor Virus sample…Test subject showed a 90% rejection rate…signs of rapid cellular degradation…"

I shivered, flipping the page only to see sketches of humanoid figures grotesquely mutated beyond recognition. Notes in the margins detailed "unexpected aggression" and "increased regenerative capabilities."

"This… isn't science." I muttered, putting the notebook down with a grimace.

Rebecca, meanwhile, was still marveling at the equipment. She pointed excitedly to a glass enclosure at the far end of the room. Inside were shelves lined with what looked like chemical vials.

"Whatever they were doing here, it's like they had everything they needed to push the boundaries of human knowledge." She said, almost in awe. Then her tone shifted, tinged with unease. "But at what cost…?"

Billy leaned against a counter, watching her with crossed arms. "The cost is what's out there. Those things crawling around, turning people into snacks." He snorted. "Doesn't take a genius to figure that out."

"Yeah…" Rebecca lowered her head, but quickly recovered her spirit.

She then clapped her hands. "Okay, no more gawking. I've got an idea that might help us out."

"An idea for what?" I asked, curious.

"Combat." She replied matter-of-factly, already gathering materials. "We need to conserve ammo, and this stuff might give us an edge."

"Just don't touch anything dangerous." I warned, nodding toward the labeled vials.

"Who do you think I am?" She rolled her eyes.

"An overly enthusiastic rookie with a knack for finding trouble." I shot back, smirking.

"Look who's talking." She retorted, but there was no malice in her voice, only a playful scoff.

"Come on, Alex." Billy said, nudging me toward the reinforced door at the far end of the lab. "Let her work."

As we approached the console beside the door, its screen flickered with complex chemical equations.

"Do we have to solve this to open the door?" I muttered, frowning at the display.

Billy glanced at me. "You know how to crack it?"

I hesitated. "Honestly… I don't remember much from my school days—especially not chemistry." I shot him a hopeful look. "What about you?"

"Do I look like I'd know?" His raised eyebrow was answer enough.

I glanced over my shoulder. "Rebecca could probably—"

Billy stopped me with a firm hand on my shoulder. "Don't. You really don't understand women, do you?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

He sighed. "She's got something on her mind, that much is obvious. And if she doesn't want to talk about it, nothing we say will change that."

I turned my head toward her. Rebecca was crouched by a workbench, tinkering with what looked like a makeshift bomb. Her hands were steady, but her expression had shifted—her usual spark replaced with a distracted frown.

"She was fine a few minutes ago." I murmured, frowning.

"We'll find out when she's ready to share." Billy replied with a shrug. "For now, let's deal with this door."

He motioned for me to look through the small window embedded in the door.

"There's a…panel on the other side?" I noted uncertainly.

"Exactly." Billy said with a smirk. "The door's not locked—it's just electronically controlled by this console."

"So, if we destroy it…" I trailed off, already knowing the answer.

"The door opens." He finished with a chuckle.

"Lucky us, huh?" I muttered, relieved.

"At least give me some credit." He replied with a chuckle. "As a soldier, I had to learn to notice things like this. It's all about finding the simplest solution."

"Noted." I said, tucking that bit of advice away. "But how do we destroy the console?"

Billy scanned the room, his eyes landing on a nearby table. "This should do the trick."

He walked over and picked up a triangular bottle labeled ACID in bold letters.

"At least they were nice enough to label it." I quipped.

"Lucky us, right?" He replied, flashing an amused smile.

Billy carefully poured the acid onto the console. The reaction was immediate—the surface hissed and bubbled as the corrosive liquid ate through the metal. A low hum sounded, and the door clicked open, revealing a cold, mist-filled corridor beyond.

The icy air rushed out to meet us, sending a chill through my body.

"Rebecca, we're heading further in!" I called out.

She gave a distracted hum of acknowledgment, still absorbed in her work.

Billy and I stepped into the frigid corridor, the mist swirling around us.

…

The room was a haunting sight, its dim green glow barely illuminating the large glass encasements lining the walls. Inside, grotesque creatures floated in a thick, viscous liquid—some appearing asleep, others unmistakably dead.

"Entrance to the breeding room malfunctioned. Immediate warning issued to higher personnel." A robotic voice echoed coldly through the space.

"A breeding room?" Billy muttered, his scowl deepening. "So, this is where the magic happens. Figures."

While he paced the room, glancing around with distaste, I stayed rooted in place. My gaze locked on the encased figures, the green liquid distorting their forms.

'They didn't deserve this…' My fists clenched at the thought. The glass in front of me reflected my own grim expression, and for a moment, it felt as if I was the one trapped inside.

"Alex." Billy's voice pulled me from my thoughts. "Take a look at this."

I joined him at a nearby console, positioned beside one of the larger chambers, filled with red liquid, unlike the others. The figure inside was human, or at least it had been.

"Something wrong?" I asked, watching as Billy navigated the computer's interface.

"Found some interesting files." He muttered, his focus unwavering.

"No password or anything?" I asked, raising a brow.

"None. Either someone got sloppy, or they weren't worried about visitors." He replied with a dry chuckle before stepping aside. "Here, take a look."

The screen displayed a file labeled: The Redlight Virus.

"The Redlight Virus?" I read aloud, the name leaving an uneasy feeling in my gut.

Billy crossed his arms. "Most of the other files were about experiments, but this one stood out."

I scrolled through the document as a chilling sense of foreboding settled over me.

"As the first discovered strain of the Progenitor Virus, the Redlight Virus demonstrated capabilities beyond my initial expectations." The entry began. "Its regenerative properties are unmatched, surpassing even my projections for physical augmentation. However, its instability proved problematic—cognitive degradation in hosts rendered them unsuitable for controlled applications. Still, its potential cannot be denied."

I frowned as I read further.

"The T-virus, however, presents a different set of advantages. It boasts a far superior infection rate and adaptability, allowing for widespread propagation with minimal interference. While it lacks the regenerative capabilities of the Redlight strain, its efficiency makes it the better candidate for global application.

"In time, these weaknesses will be addressed. A synthesis of Redlight's raw power with the T-virus's unparalleled infectivity is the logical next step. Such a creation would surpass all biological limitations—a new pinnacle of evolution."

Billy scoffed. "Great. So, he wasn't satisfied with one nightmare virus—he wanted to combine them?"

"Seems like it." I muttered, scanning the rest of the document.

"Tests continue to reveal unforeseen complications. Specimen E-04 displayed unanticipated aggression and growth, requiring immediate containment measures. Chamber integrity remains a concern, as evidenced by Incident 09-14. Reinforcements to containment units must take priority."

The file ended abruptly, and I glanced toward the chamber beside us, flickering lights starting to ominously appear around it.

Billy followed my gaze, his jaw tightening. "Let me guess. That's E-04?"

A low rumble seemed to emanate from the chamber, the red fluid rippling as the figure inside shifted.

"Containment integrity at 54%." The robotic voice announced.

instinctively reached for my weapon. "Think that's a good thing?"

Billy cocked his shotgun. "I appreciate your optimism, but let's not lie to ourselves."

Cracks began to appear across the chamber's glass.

"Containment integrity at 27%. Immediate personnel required."

"Rebecca, we should warn—" Before I could finish, the glass shattered with a deafening crash. Shards flew in all directions, and the creature inside stepped out.

The figure was tall and grotesque, its overgrown arm pulsating with huge, red veins. Claws extended where fingers should have been, with a large blade extending from his other shoulder.

"GRAAAHHH!" The creature let out an ear-splitting roar before lunging at Billy with unnatural speed.

"Watch out!" I yanked him back just in time to avoid a slashing blow.

Billy nodded in thanks, leveling his shotgun. "Why the hell does this stuff always happen to us?"

"No time to question it!" I retorted, keeping my eyes locked on the creature.

It growled, scanning the room with a predatory gaze. Then I noticed something—a slight tremor in its arm. Its movements were jerky, almost sluggish.

The cold…It's affecting it.

"Billy…" I whispered, and he nodded, already moving to lower the temperature further.

I turned my attention back to the creature. Its eyes bore into mine, and for a brief moment, we stared at each other in silence. My breath hitched as an inexplicable feeling washed over me—a strange sense of kinship.

Before I could process it, the robotic voice rang out again:

"Protocol Sub-Zero activated. All personnel must exit the breeding room."

Billy hurried back, Rebecca coming close behind him.

"What's happening?!" She asked, panic lacing her voice.

"Tell you later! Move!" I instructed as we ran toward the far end of the room.

The monster roared behind us, its grotesque body forcing itself to move despite the cold.

"I'll hold it–" Before I could finish, Rebecca intervened.

"I've got it!" She said, rummaging through her bag and pulling out a small bottle with a cloth stuffed inside.

"Is that a Molotov?!" Billy exclaimed, wide-eyed.

"Hmhm!" She nodded, lighting it before throwing it at the monster.

The glass shattered on impact, flames engulfing the creature.

"GRRRAAHHH!" It howled in agony, its movements growing more erratic.

"Let's go! The sudden heat will slow it down!" Rebecca urged.

We didn't need to be told twice. The door slammed shut behind us with a heavy thud, the metallic echo reverberating through the corridor.

"We're safe..." I exhaled, leaning against the cold wall to catch my breath.

"Not yet." Billy countered, eyes fixed on the door. "If that thing's still alive, this door won't hold. We need to keep moving."

I nodded, glancing at Rebecca, who looked shaken but resolute.

"Nice work back there." I said, attempting a smile. "That Molotov saved us. Is that what you were working on earlier?"

Rebecca managed a small grin. "Yeah, along with a few smoke bombs. Thought they might come in handy."

"Smoke bombs? Seriously, is there anything you can't make?" I chuckled, genuinely impressed.

"Yeah...so, what was with that guy? He seemed different from what we've seen so far." Rebecca questioned with an inquisitorial tone.

"Some kind of biological weapon, different from the T-virus." Billy explained, detailing our findings to her.

As they talked, I couldn't shake the unsettling feeling from earlier.

'Why did I feel that connection?' I wondered, the sense of familiarity fading as we distanced ourselves from the creature.

'The Redlight virus...' The name lingered in my mind. 'Is there a link between us?'

Lost in thought, I barely noticed Rebecca calling my name.

"You've been quiet. Everything okay?" She asked, concern in her eyes.

"Just thinking about this new virus." I replied, forcing a light tone. "Feels like we're in over our heads, huh?"

She didn't even react. I glanced at Billy, as if asking about her apparent weirdness, but he simply shrugged in response.

We moved on in silence, exiting the hall and arriving at a large platform, a black void beneath it with metallic walls surrounding the darkness.

"Is that a cable car?" Rebecca exclaimed, pointing to the cable leading somewhere underground.

"Would've been nice if it led to the surface." Billy muttered.

"Beggars can't be choosers. Plus, we haven't seen any zombies here, maybe it's the same down there." I offered, trying to stay positive.

"Not like we can use it." Rebecca noted, indicating the console with a keyhole. "We need a key."

"Great...so what now?" I wondered aloud, scanning the area.

As if in response, the robotic voice returned.

"Access granted. Welcome back, Doctor James Marcus."

A section of the metal wall slid aside, revealing a wide hallway.

"Did either of you do that?" Billy asked. We shook our heads.

"We'd better stay alert then." He cautioned, stepping into the hall.

We followed, passing rooms labeled 'Incubation' and 'Incineration'.

At the far end, a door marked 'James Marcus's Office' caught our attention.

We exchanged glances, sensing that answers—or more questions—awaited inside.

Without a word, we entered, bracing ourselves for whatever lay ahead.