Shadows dance along the aged tapestries, flickering in the dim light of a few scattered torches. The air is heavy with an oppressive silence, punctuated only by the distant echo of the rain and thunder outside the castle. His mind races with fragmented thoughts, moments of relief when he saved Ashley, followed by the gnawing dread of the Las Plagas infection coursing through his veins. He feels a darkness creeping in, a malevolent whisper that makes him question his own actions and motives. Every day, the infection visibly grows worse, his veins darkening beneath his skin, and each time he passes a mirror, he catches a flash of red in his eyes.

Though he should be relieved that Ashley is safe and far from this nightmare, Leon is haunted by the knowledge that he remains trapped in this nightmare. The infection clouds his thoughts, urging him toward a darker path he struggles to resist. He glances at the door, half expecting a threat to emerge from the shadows, but it’s the growing fear within him that grips him the tightest. His heart races, not just from adrenaline, but from the terrifying possibility that the monstrous part of him might break free. Leon knows he can’t let that happen.