Prologue – Raccoon City, 1998

The rain lashed relentlessly against the shattered windows of the abandoned police station. Raccoon City had long since fallen, swallowed by something no one could control anymore. In this world of blood, sirens, and shadows, Leon S. Kennedy moved cautiously down the dark corridor, his flashlight clutched tightly.

You walked behind him. Step by step, quieter than your breathing allowed. You had long since lost count of how many times you had almost died today. And yet, there was something else, something heavier than the fear.

"Stay close to me" Leon said softly, without turning around.

you nod murmured back but your gaze had already slipped past him. Because there she was.

Claire Redfield stood at the end of the corridor, exhausted but determined. Blood on her jacket, her hair disheveled, but her eyes…they were calm. As if there were still room for something like hope in the midst of this hell.

And that was the moment something inside you tensed. You didn't know when it had started. Maybe with the first glance between Leon and her. Maybe even before that, when he had first said her name, a little too softly, a little too attentively.

"You're hurt" Claire said when she spotted you. Her gaze immediately went to Leon, not to you.

"It's okay" he replied. And then, after a short pause "We have to get out of here." You laughed. Very quietly. Without humor.

"Of course" you said. "We have to get out of here. Always us."

Leon looked at you briefly. Questioningly. "What do you mean?" You looked away from him, into the dark corridor behind Claire, where the shadows moved as if they were listening.

"Nothing" you said. "Forget it."

But you didn't mean it. Because while Leon took a step toward Claire to help her, you stopped. Not because you couldn't. But because you suddenly weren't sure if you still wanted to follow him.