The hallway to the warehouse was shrouded in shadows, lit only by flickering lights that buzzed with unstable energy. The air reeked of dried blood, rust, and the rot of abandoned corpses. The silence felt heavier here, as if the building itself was breathing along with the three survivors moving through its steel veins.
Erick still limped, but he refused to stop. His arm rested on Claire's shoulder more out of stubbornness than need. His body ached, exhausted… but something kept him going: the thought of what could happen if he didn't.
"You should be resting," Claire said for the third time. There was genuine concern in her voice, but also a hint of irritation. "I'm not a doctor, but even I know that 'almost died' means 'lie down and heal'."
"And let you two wander around with these... things?" Erick forced a smile. "Not even dead."
Leon, a few steps ahead, rolled his eyes.
"Nice choice of words," he muttered. "Let me make this clear—if you turn into one of them, I won't hesitate."
Erick laughed, even though it sent a jolt of pain through his ribs.
"Relax, cowboy. If I turn, I promise I'll start with you."
Leon stopped and turned to face him, the flashlight on his pistol briefly illuminating his hardened face.
"This isn't the time for jokes, Erick. You know more than you're letting on. What's keeping you alive isn't just luck or training."
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Claire also stared at Erick with narrowed eyes, but said nothing. Erick looked away. He knew he couldn't explain. Even if he could… they wouldn't understand.
"I can't mention the system. Not yet."
In his mind, that familiar silent voice returned:
[Mission: "Kill the Mutated Licker" – Completed.]
[Reward: New Skill – "Snow Leopard's Fury (Lv.1)" unlocked.]
[Catlike reflexes, extreme precision, and a drastic speed boost for short bursts. Overuse causes severe physical fatigue.]
Erick blinked, feeling the beastly presence within him. It was like a sleeping predator waiting to be unleashed. Dangerous… but now a part of him.
"Damn… This world is even crueler than I remembered."
As they moved forward, Erick reflected. He knew the timeline of Resident Evil—at least up to the seventh game. Thinking about all that was still to come made him shiver inside: the horrors of Raccoon City, Wesker's betrayal, the Las Plagas, global bioterrorism… and Evelyn, with her psychotic family in RE7.
"If I survive all this, I'll be a legend. Or a lucky corpse."
"What is it?" Claire asked, noticing his distant look.
"Just... thinking about what else this place might be hiding."
Leon stopped in front of the warehouse door. It was a heavy iron structure, partially bent by an explosion that had likely rocked the building days ago.
"This is it," he said, turning to them. "Umbrella used this place to store 'classified' materials. If there's anything useful, it's in there."
"Or something waiting to kill us," Claire replied, her voice darker than usual.
Erick caught the tone and looked at her for a second. Ever since he nearly died protecting her, Claire had been different. Quieter. More distant. And the look she gave him now… it wasn't just concern. It was guilt.
He gently touched her shoulder.
"You're not to blame for anything, Claire. I chose to act."
She hesitated, then gave a small nod.
Leon, growing impatient, kicked the door open with a loud metallic screech.
The stench inside was worse than the hall. Rusty, putrid, soaked with old chemicals. Moisture trickled down the walls. There were open crates, fallen shelves, and deep claw marks across the floor.
Claire gripped her screwdriver tighter. Leon raised his weapon.
Erick's neck hairs bristled. The beast inside him stirred. His senses sharpened. Something was watching them. Something hungry.
He turned to Leon and muttered:
"Do you feel that?"
"I do," Leon replied grimly. "But the question remains—what are you, Erick?"
Erick looked back at him, his eyes serious, but laced with a hint of irony.
"Let's just say... I'm someone trying not to repeat the mistakes of the past."
Leon didn't answer. He just stepped into the warehouse with his gun drawn.
Erick followed, Claire right behind.
And the darkness swallowed them whole.