With a bit of luck

“Claire! Over here!” Sam’s voice came from behind.

Claire turned around in surprise and saw Sam peeking from outside the back door and beckoning her to leave. She rushed through the door immediately and, after Sam locked it with a key, pulled a nearby dumpster to blocked it. They took a moment to relax.

“Thank God, Sam! I thought you...” She’s quite out of breath.

“When I heard the gunshots and the monsters slapping at the door...I was too scared to go into the basement, so I waited you outside...” Sam was frightened. But when she realized Claire was around and alright, she smiled with tears, “It’s so good that you’re fine.”

“A vampire was sabotaging the distribution box and...I was lucky to be alive.” Claire didn’t mention the lady in pink, Melina, as she feared that was the owner, which would only upset Sam more, “Well, we can’t stay here any longer.”

“Yeah...Looks like we should-”

Before Sam could finish the sentence, the vampire from the basement started to use his axe to slash the door, which made her scream in pure horror. Claire quickly grabbed her hand and ran towards the exit, planning to find some place to hide first. Sam calmed down a bit in a few seconds and guided Claire to run across the street. There were dozens of vampires wandering in the street, but they were too slow to catch them.

They were outside of the perimeter of the city’s power substation. It’s a miracle that the substation was still functioning in a situation like this, but they didn’t have the luxury of time to check if there were survivors hiding in it. Their best bet was to reach to police station before it’s too late. According to Sam, the station was about 2 miles away along this Flower Street. They could find a back door in the north-west corner of the station. Walking in a city full of vampires for 2 miles was a bad idea, but they didn’t have a choice.

After 10 minutes or so, they took a rest in the Eagle’s pet shop. With all the trainings she received from Chris in her youth, a walk like this was a piece of cake for Claire. But Sam was not physically as strong as her and was exhausted. Let alone the mental pressure she must have endured in a city of the dead. She was holding a fruit knife tightly to defend herself and sitting silently by the wall.

“Hey...It’s OK. I’m right here.” Claire sat alongside her with a comforting smile.

“Yeah...” Sam nodded lightly, “What are you gonna do when you find your brother?”

“Well...I’ll slap his face for not contacting me for such a long time, and get the hell out of this place together.” She thought for a while and answered calmly.

“Ha ha.” Sam was inspired by her optimism and laughed.

“So, what was your sister like?” She asked, with the hope of both easing the tension and getting more information.

“Stephanie was working at a medicine factory of Umbrella. She also did a part-time job as a health worker in the nearby orphanage. She’s so kind to the children and other people. My friends and I admire her.” Sam said proudly, “After she went missing, I went to the factory to look for her, but none of her colleagues knew where she went. The orphanage was closed a few days ago, so...”

“Don’t worry. We’ll find her.” Claire held Sam’s shoulder tightly, “We just need to keep moving.”

“Yeah. I’ll be fine. I’ll be fine.” Sam took a few breaths to cheer herself up.

Just when they were about to set off after the rest, Claire heard approaching sounds of footsteps outside. She was about to grab Sam to hide deeper in the shop, but the other guy outside also noticed their movements and rushed to the shop.

“Who’s there?” A man in a black combat suit with tactical glasses was pointing his pistol at them.

“Don’t shoot! We’re human.” Claire didn’t dare to make a move but raise her hands. Couldn’t believe this was the second time she was aimed by a gun tonight.

“It’s OK. Don’t be afraid.” The man lowered his gun as soon as he found out they’re not vampires, “What are you two doing in here? This area is dangerous and presumably has not many living people left.”

“We’re going to the police station to take refuge. I’m Claire and this is Sam.” She looked at the man and asked confusingly, “Are you a SWAT member?”

“No. I belong to the Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service. U.B.C.S..Name’s Dustin.” He said.

“Umbrella? Biohazard countermeasure? I thought Umbrella was just a pharmaceutical company.” She was shocked.

“We don’t know the details, lady. We follow orders, nothing more. We were sent here several days ago to help investigate the missing people cases.” Dustin kept explaining, “Yesterday, our priority was updated to help survivors.”

“Yesterday? The disaster happened today, right?” She was more confused.

“Like I said, I’m just following orders. Sorry.”

“My sister Stephanie was working for Umbrella, too. Do you know her?” Sam was a bit excited to hear that part.

“No, I don’t know someone by that name. However, before I was separated with my teammates, Captain Viktor decided to take the survivors to the St. Michael Clock Tower and make it a rescue station.” Dustin pointed to the north, “If they had made it, survivors across the city would have gathered there. If you’re looking for your sister, there would be your best chance. Are you two coming?”

Claire has heard of the clock tower, which was location at the north-east corner of the city. That was in a totally different direction. She had to make a choice.

“OK. Sam, I think you should follow him to the clock tower.” After weighing the risks and chances, she told Sam softly, “He’s more experienced and you may find your sister there...”

“But, what about you?” Sam’s worried.

“My brother’s a cop. I have to go to the police station.” She smiled, “I’m sorry.”

“OK...Please be careful...” Sam was holding back her tears.

“I will be.” She patted Sam’s shoulder gently and then looked at the mercenary, “Please take good care of her for me.”

“We may not have enough time to come back and get you.” Dustin responded seriously.

“It’s alright. I can look after myself. See you later.” She nodded and bade farewell to them before leaving the shop.

Passing by the vampire-infested Raccoon City mall, Claire arrived at the crossroad of Warren Street and Flower Street, and she could saw the city hall on the right and the police station on the left. A blood trail went straight from the stairs of city hall to the street. More than 50 vampires were stumbling in front of the building or licking the blood on the ground, which was one of the most horrifying scene she has witnessed tonight. Luckily, the monsters haven’t noticed her. Yet.

She swiftly ran across the street and found the back door Sam mentioned, but it was locked. A few meters away in a security post, a guard was grabbing the key and lying dead.

She carefully approached him. The moment she reached the key, the guard rose up from the dead and tried to bite her with his fanged mouth. But she was prepared and made a precise head shot to disable him.

However, the gunshot also attracted all those monsters on the streets. Claire rushed back to the back door, unlocked it, got in and locked it again in mere seconds. With all the vampires pounding on the door outside, she turned around to looked at the R.P.D., a beacon of light, and took a deep breath to collect herself.

Here we go...