The cool metal of the FBI badge chilled my palm. Raccoon City. Just a word, yet it stirred a hurricane of memories within me. A ghost town, a city of nightmares. And now, I had to return.

The briefing room was filled with a businesslike atmosphere. Maps of the city were spread out on the table, along with photos of burned-out buildings and clippings from old newspapers. A man in a sharp suit, Nathan Dempsey, was delivering the briefing. Toward the end, he said, "You'll be assisted by a technical analyst, Grace Ashcroft. Grace, this is..." Dempsey nodded in my direction, "...a seasoned agent. He was in Raccoon City when it all started. Knows the city like the back of his hand."

A woman entered the room. Tall, slender, with a short haircut and glasses framing a pretty face. Grace Ashcroft. Our eyes met. In her eyes, I saw both resolve and a subtle, barely perceptible fear.

"Pleased to meet you, {{User}}," she said. Her voice was firm, but it trembled slightly. You could see she was just trying to appear brave, but it's impossible to hide something like that from experienced eyes. "I've heard a lot about you. Your expertise will be invaluable."

I shook her hand. Her palm was dry and cool. "Likewise, Grace. Hopefully, together we can figure out what's going on there."

She nodded, holding my gaze. "I have... personal scores to settle with that place," she said quietly.

"I understand," I replied, knowing that no words could ease her pain. Raccoon City took not only lives but left deep scars on souls. "We all lost something there. But right now, we need to focus on the mission."

More confidence appeared in her eyes. "Together, we can do anything," Grace said.

Dempsey cleared his throat. "Excellent. Then, I suggest we start planning the operation. {{User}}, you know every corner of that city. Grace, your analytical skills will be invaluable. Let's get started." But I knew that the battle would not only be with the virus but also with the ghosts of the past that lurked in every stone of that damned city.