The roar of the helicopter blades thudded in my ears like a distant drumbeat as I blinked awake. My vision was hazy at first, but it sharpened quickly, and I found myself staring at the figures around me.
Black armor. Gas masks. No insignia except for the unmistakable red and white Umbrella logo. I felt a heavy weight on my own body, and my hand instinctively rose to my face. My fingers brushed against the cold, hard surface of the same black gas mask.
What the hell?
The dim light outside the helicopter window caught my eye, the horizon burning with the last of the setting sun. The sky was a wash of orange and deep purple. We were flying, and the world below us was getting swallowed by darkness.
"Recruit, ready to die?" A voice came from across the cramped cabin. Low. Taunting.
I jerked my head toward it. Rain. She sat across from me, her body relaxed like a predator waiting to pounce. The glow of her eyes behind the mask was unsettling, almost amused.
I swallowed, forcing down the sudden lump of panic. "I don't have a choice, do I?" The words came out quieter than I wanted, but steady.
JD, seated near Rain, snorted. "Don't mess with the new recruit."
James, our squad leader, cut in before Rain could respond. "Focus on the mission."
I felt a sharp hit against my arm. Kaplan. He grinned under his mask, though I couldn't see it, I knew it was there. "Don't worry about Rain. She does this to everyone. I'm living proof." His voice carried a mocking edge, but there was a hint of warning there too.
I leaned back into the seat, my mind racing. [Resident Evil?] This felt wrong, like a nightmare I couldn't wake from. The faces, the gear, even the damn Umbrella logo—it all pointed to one terrifying conclusion. [I've been transmigrated into Resident Evil.]
I glanced at the others—Commando One, Commando Two, and the medic whose name I still didn't know. [At least give me a system,] I thought, half-joking, half-desperate. But there was nothing. No sudden voice in my head. No helpful screen with stats or skills.
[Damn. I hate when this happens.]
James' voice cut through the noise of the chopper. "Get ready for the zipline. We're approaching the mansion."
The mansion. Of course. [This is the beginning of the first Resident Evil movie.] I couldn't stop the grim thought from settling in. [Looks like I'm going to die.]
Rain leaned in closer, her mask almost touching mine. "Don't worry," she purred. "I'll have fun with your corpse."
I gave her a flat look, even though she couldn't see it. "I think that's a little much."
She laughed, leaning back. "Yeah, maybe." Her hand reached out, shoving an M4 Carbine into my hands. "Don't waste bullets."
I stared at the weapon, feeling its weight in my hands. "I'll try."
"You're interesting," Rain said with a chuckle, her eyes still gleaming.
Kaplan handed me a combat knife next. "You'll need this." Then JD tossed me a sidearm, a combat pistol. My fingers wrapped around the weapons, and suddenly—like a floodgate opening—memories, techniques, and movements flashed in my mind. I knew exactly how to use them, as if I'd been trained for years.
I slumped back into my seat. [Great, I got instant mastery. About time something went right.]
"Get ready to land," James shouted, his voice cutting through the cabin.
I looked out the side of the helicopter as it descended, the mansion looming in the distance, dark and foreboding. JD, Rain, and the others were already prepping their gear. The chopper hovered low, and one by one, they zipped down the line, smashing through the mansion's windows with grenades blasting open the way.
James turned to me. "Your turn, recruit."
I stood, adrenaline surging through my veins. My hand gripped the zipline, and just like before, the mastery kicked in. My body moved on instinct. I flew down the line, wind howling around me, and the moment my boots hit the floor inside the mansion, I rolled forward, coming up into a crouch. Professional. Clean.
I stood there, heart pounding, watching the rest of the team take position around me. Rain gave me a nod, her expression hidden but her approval clear.
And just like that, I realized: [I'm in this for real.] There's no going back.
---
The smell hit me first—mold, damp wood, and something metallic in the air, like the scent of rusted steel. My boots made a dull thud with each step across the hardwood floor of the mansion's hall, my M4 carbine ready, my hands sweating inside the gloves, despite the armor's cooling system.
James was ahead, his back rigid, tension rolling off him in waves as he paced towards Matt. JD and Rain flanked him. Matt sat hunched, his hands fidgeting, eyes darting like a cornered animal.
"Oliver," Rain called out. Her voice cut through the thick air, sharp and commanding. "Get over here, recruit. Point on him."
I walked over, my boots grinding against the floor as I leveled my carbine at Matt. The cold, weight of the gun steadied me. Rain pulled out a pair of cuffs, the metal glinting under the dim light. Matt's eyes flicked to me, then back to Rain. The second she reached for his wrists, he lunged.
Before his teeth could sink into her arm, I brought the butt of my M4 crashing down on the side of his head. He grunted and slumped sideways, dazed but conscious. I didn't wait for him to recover.
"Cooperate or die." The words came out harsher than I intended, but I didn't regret it. My finger hovered over the trigger. One wrong move and I'd end it.
His face paled, terror creeping into his eyes as Rain tightened the cuffs.
"Recruit," she barked, her own weapon trained on Matt, "care about me." Her tone suggested I better not make her regret it.
I tuned out, catching JD's approach from the corner of my eye. I stepped away from Matt, keeping my weapon trained on him as I made my way over to James, who was now standing over Alice. His voice dropped, firm but expectant.
"Report, soldier."
Alice's face was blank, her eyes wide but distant. "I... I don't know what you're saying." She sounded confused, almost mechanical.
James didn't miss a beat, stepping closer, almost in her face. "Report, soldier!" he repeated, his patience fraying at the edges.
Alice blinked slowly, her head tilted to the side as if she was listening to something only she could hear.
I kept my distance but leaned in. I scanned the room, the weight of the mansion's dark corners pressing down on us.
"Something's up," I muttered. The words left my mouth before I could stop them.
James turned sharply, his glare cutting through me. "Good thinking."
Good thinking, my ass. I could feel the tension rolling off him, like he was barely holding it together. He nearly gave me a heart attack with that stare. I bit my tongue, forcing myself to keep it together.
Kaplan's voice broke through, drawing our attention. "The mansion's primary defense mechanism is active. She—Alice—could be experiencing side effects." He gestured toward her.
James' brow furrowed, and without another word, he moved towards Kaplan. I followed, sweeping the room with my M4, every shadow suddenly feeling like it could hide something worse than Matt.
"What about the cop?" James snapped, eyes narrowing.
Commando 1 shifted uncomfortably. "Still no match. No results. Might be a fake."
Rain stepped up to Matt, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Who are you?"
"I'm... I'm new," Matt stammered, eyes wide and desperate. "They don't have me on file yet."
James didn't even flinch. "Not possible. Locals don't pull this kind of crap around here."
Rain smirked, lifting her gun slightly. "So I can shoot him?"
James didn't even blink. "We're taking him with us. To the Hive."
At that, everyone moved at once, removing masks like we were taking off a layer of our defenses. My helmet came off, and the cool air hit my face, though it did little to calm my nerves. Kaplan had found the hidden door, and it slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a staircase leading down.
JD and Rain hauled Matt to his feet, his wrists still cuffed, dragging him towards the open door. The commandos started down the stairs ahead of us, their boots echoing against the stone.
I paused, watching Alice. She stood a few feet away, her red dress catching the dim light of the mansion's hall, contrasting sharply with the darkness around her. She looked fragile, breakable, but there was something about her eyes that made me pause.
Rain nudged me with her elbow as she passed. "Hey, recruit," she said with a sly grin, her eyes gleaming with something I couldn't quite place. "You look handsome."
I blinked, momentarily thrown off by the sudden shift. "You too," I muttered, shaking my head as I followed James and Alice down the stairs, M4 raised and ready for whatever came next.
---
I tightened my grip on the M4 carbine, scanning the rows of crates, feeling the weight of danger lurking just out of sight.
"Clear," I muttered, more to myself than to anyone listening. My eyes darted around the entrance, where the rail tracks disappeared into the mouth of the hive below.
Ahead, Kaplan crouched near the platform stairs, his movements quick and practiced as he attached a device—a timer, maybe?—to the wall. He didn't look back.
Alice stood near the tracks, her eyes never staying still. James followed Kaplan, slipping into the train behind him without a word.
I heard Rain's voice next, sharp and commanding. "Hey, recruit! Over here!"
I turned just in time to see her striding towards me, motioning with her arm. Before I could react, she shoved me towards the train, her strength barely checked. I stumbled but caught myself, barely managing to stay upright as she and JD manhandled Matt into the compartment. He was in cuffs, his eyes wide with fear or rage—couldn't tell which, didn't care.
Rain shot me a glance, her eyes gleaming under the dim overhead light. "So, how's it going?" She asked like it was a joke, like we were at a bar.
I shrugged, forcing a smirk. "Happy you're here."
She chuckled, low and dark. "Me too."
Before I could respond, Kaplan's voice echoed through the car. "Power's down."
James frowned, his voice tense. "Fix it."
Rain cracked her neck, stepping forward. "Me and recruit will fix it." She tossed a flashlight into her mouth, the beam bouncing erratically as she leapt out of the train with a practiced ease. She motioned for me to follow.
I dropped down after her, landing hard on my feet. The darkness swallowed us, the only light coming from the beams of our flashlights. I kept my pistol raised, the mounted light cutting a narrow path ahead, but every shadow felt like a threat.
Rain crouched next to a rusted console, already pulling at wires and relays. I moved to her side, scanning the perimeter, but something caught my eye—a hole in the fence leading to the sewer.
My gut twisted. It wasn't just a break. It was a tear, jagged, unnatural. "Could be a zombie dog," I thought bitterly, the memory of those snarling, skinless beasts flashing in my mind.
"Find anything?" Rain's voice was muffled, still working on the power.
"See for yourself," I whispered, my voice tight.
She kneeled next to me, her face hardening as she took in the scene. "What was that?"
"I don't know," I answered, the uncertainty gnawing at me.
Rain stood, her focus back on the power lines, her hands steady despite the tension. I scanned the area again, a cold sweat creeping down my spine. Then I saw them—eyes, reflecting back at me from the shadows. Too high to be a dog, too close to be anything good.
My finger tensed on the trigger. "Eyes in the dark," I thought, a sick dread curling in my stomach.
Rain tapped my shoulder, snapping me back. "Stand up," she muttered, pulling herself from the ground as JD's impatient voice echoed from above.
"Hey, you two done yet? We gotta move!"
"Yeah, yeah," Rain shot back, irritation clear as she sealed up the power connections. She threw a quick glance my way. "Let's go."
We climbed back onto the platform, the tension coiling tighter with each step. Alice had finally joined us, her expression unreadable as the commandos hauled a black crate onto the train, its contents hidden but heavy.
Kaplan's voice cut through the static as he pressed a button, sealing the train's platform door. "Everything clear. We're moving."
The train jerked forward, the tunnel walls flashing past in rhythmic bursts of light and shadow. We were in the Hive now, deep in its throat, where the monsters waited.
And all I could think of were those eyes.
---
The train rattled beneath me, every jolt sending shivers up my spine. I sat on the cold metal floor, my back pressed against the wall, feeling the hum of the engine vibrate through my bones.
The dim lights flickered now and then, making shadows dance along the faces of those around me. Matt, hands cuffed, sat across from me with Alice beside him, her face unreadable, her eyes distant.
I could see the tension in Matt's jaw, but he kept silent, the sound of the train swallowing any words he might have said.
Rain stood near the door, her eyes sharp, fingers twitching as she fiddled with the handle. "Locked," she muttered under her breath.
She turned toward Alice and Matt, her lips twisting into something resembling a smirk. "You two having a problem?" Her voice was icy, but the venom wasn't aimed at them.
I couldn't help it—a chuckle slipped from my mouth, quiet but enough to catch attention.
"Is there a problem?" James asked, standing a little too stiff for my liking. His eyes narrowed, scanning the situation.
Rain threw a quick glance at him. "The door's jammed," she said, her tone clipped.
JD, always eager to be the hero, stepped forward. "Let me try."
Without a word, Rain turned on her heel and stormed toward me. The next thing I knew, her boot connected with my shin, hard enough to sting but not enough to drop me. "You laugh too much," she snapped.
I raised an eyebrow, keeping my voice steady despite the pain shooting through my leg. "I don't think so."
Her glare could've cut through steel.
JD worked the door, muttering something under his breath before the hiss of air escaped as it finally slid open. The moment the gap widened, a man slumped out of the opening, hitting the floor with a thud.
JD and James wasted no time, pointing their guns at him. Every muscle in my body tensed, and I pushed off the floor, standing beside Rain.
She tilted her head, eyes locked on the unconscious figure. "Jumpy," she muttered, her lips curling into a sneer.
Alice's gaze lingered on the man, her expression shifting—recognition flashing for just a second. She looked at Spence, sitting nearby, her eyes dropping to the ring on his finger. He wore the same one as her. Strange.
The medic crouched down next to Spence, something in his scent catching her attention. She leaned in closer, sniffing the air, then abruptly jolted him awake. A flashlight flicked on, and she shone it directly into his eyes.
"How many fingers?" she asked, holding up her hand.
"Three," Spence replied, his voice groggy, like he was pulling himself out of a deep sleep.
James stepped forward, folding his arms. "So, what happened?"
"He's fine," the medic said, standing up. "Nothing physical, but—" She hesitated. "Memory loss, just like the girl."
I felt the weight of the room shift, the tension coiling tighter. I moved to the far wall, leaning against it, trying to disappear in the noise, in the space between everyone's concerns. I wasn't here to draw attention.
But of course, Rain followed. She always did.
JD's voice cut through the tension. "Hey, don't take advantage of the recruit."
Rain barely spared him a glance, her voice cold. "I'll put a bullet in your head if you keep talking."
Then, she turned to me, her gaze sharp. "So, tell me about yourself."
I blinked. That came out of nowhere. "What's with the sudden interest?"
She shrugged, her smile dangerous. "Or I can put a bullet in you, too. Your choice."
I swallowed, measuring her for a moment. "I'm an orphan. Recently joined. That's it."
She chuckled darkly, shaking her head. "I'm not new here."
I caught JD's expression—dumbfounded, like someone had slapped him across the face. Even James looked surprised, but he didn't say anything.
"Good," I said, trying to match her energy, but it felt weak.
Rain leaned in closer, her breath almost brushing my ear. "Come to me if you feel any danger… if you can't handle it." Her tone dripped with challenge, not kindness.
"I'll think about it," I muttered.
She straightened, eyes narrowing. "We'll see."
Kaplan fiddled with another door at the far end, and the metal clanged as it opened. Rain strode past me, the authority in her steps undeniable.
She paused just before the opening, staring out at the platform leading into the Hive. Behind her, James followed closely, eyes scanning the surroundings like a hawk.
I caught a glimpse of Alice and Spence again. Something wasn't right between them, that much was obvious. Too much history, too many questions.
I walked up to Alice, keeping my voice low. "Try to remember things faster," I said, meeting her eyes. "It might come in handy."
She nodded, her lips tightening as if she wanted to argue but couldn't. "What's your name?" she asked, almost an afterthought.
"William Oliver," I replied. "Call me Will."
JD's voice boomed from behind. "You shouldn't tell your name so easily, kid."
I rolled my eyes, a grin spreading across my face. "Ha ha, very funny, JD."
He chuckled. "You're learning from Rain."
I shot a glance at Rain, who was already halfway out the door, her back to me. "Maybe I'm just showing my real self," I said, the words hanging in the air longer than I expected.
JD laughed, the sound echoing off the walls.