"What was that just now?"
Pete, teetering on the edge of a breakdown, suddenly saw a shadow flicker across the church's ceiling and screamed in terror.
Sergeant Peyton, who had been vigilantly scanning the surroundings, was startled by Pete's outburst. Then he, too, noticed noises coming from above and immediately raised his gun, using its flashlight to illuminate the ceiling.
Nearby, reporter Terri Morales captured the scene with her DV camera, her hands trembling.
The shadow darted swiftly across the stone pillars of the church, moving so fast it was hard to track. When it finally paused, they could see it clearly.
The creature was nearly three meters long, with a sleek, muscular frame that resembled a predator like a panther. Its limbs were equipped with razor-sharp claws that gleamed ominously. Skinless, its dark red muscles were exposed, pulsating with raw strength. Its gaping maw bristled with jagged fangs, and a long, barbed tongue writhed like a snake. It was an evolved Licker.
"Ahhh! What kind of monster is this?!"
Pete's fragile nerves snapped completely at the sight of the Licker. Screaming, he bolted toward the rear hall of the church, heedless of the danger.
"What are you doing? Get back here!" Peyton called, trying to stop him, but it was too late.
Moments later, a blood-curdling scream echoed from the rear hall.
Peyton shook his head in resignation. There was nothing he could do. His heart sank further as three more Lickers appeared on the church's ceiling, their intelligent eyes gleaming as they assessed their prey.
Meanwhile, Jill, who had been inspecting the rear hall, rushed back into the main hall upon hearing Pete's scream. She froze at the sight of his mangled body, torn in two, lying in a pool of blood.
Her senses on high alert, Jill scanned her surroundings for danger. But instead of relief, a wave of dread washed over her when she couldn't spot Sergeant Peyton or Terri.
Suddenly, Peyton emerged from a shadowy corner and quickly covered Jill's mouth to keep her quiet, pulling her into the darkness.
"Shh—it's me!"
"Peyton?"
"You need to see this," Peyton whispered grimly, gesturing toward the ceiling.
Jill followed his gaze and spotted the three Lickers perched on the stone pillars. She clenched her jaw, muttering under her breath, "What the hell are those things?"
"Stay calm. I've been tracking them. There are three—positions at three, seven, and eleven o'clock. They've surrounded us. These things are smart, like wolves hunting their prey," Peyton explained, his voice laced with tension.
"What are they?" Jill whispered, trying to calculate their odds.
"Doesn't matter," Peyton said, checking his magazine. "We need to deal with them now. But I'm almost out of ammo, and I'm slowing down. We've got to move fast."
Jill nodded, her eyes still fixed on the Lickers as she searched for a weakness. The two exchanged a determined look before signaling Terri to follow. They raised their guns and fired at the Lickers, retreating toward the crucifix altar.
The Lickers, agile and cunning, toyed with them like cats playing with mice, staying just out of reach but closing in enough to keep their prey terrified.
With only a few bullets left and their small-caliber pistols barely scratching the Lickers, Jill and Peyton grew increasingly desperate.
Suddenly, the roar of an engine echoed from outside the church. The vibrations caused the chandeliers to sway, and the noise grabbed the Lickers' attention.
The creatures crept toward the entrance, their movements tinged with curiosity and bloodlust, anticipating fresh prey.
Boom! Crash! Bang!
The church doors exploded inward as an armored vehicle plowed through, obliterating the doors and crushing one of the Lickers beneath its massive tires. The creature's skull shattered on impact, spraying blood and brain matter across the floor.
The vehicle rolled to a stop in the middle of the hall. Its side doors opened, and Kaplan, Rain, JD, and Matt emerged, armed and taking defensive positions.
Wang Ye stepped out next, a cigar clenched between his teeth, exuding calm confidence. Alice followed closely behind, scanning the room with sharp eyes.
Wang Ye smirked as he glanced at the crushed Licker. "Looks like we missed a few stragglers."
He raised his head and addressed the figures in the shadows. "Hello there. We heard gunfire and thought you could use some help. Congratulations—you're safe, for now."
Jill holstered her empty pistol and exhaled. "Thank you."
Peyton nodded in gratitude but immediately collapsed from pain and exhaustion.
Terri rushed to help him onto a nearby bench, her face etched with worry.
Wang Ye stepped forward and inspected Peyton's injured leg, noting the crude, blood-soaked bandages.
"You were bitten?"
"Yeah," Peyton admitted, wincing as he tried to stand. "Someone went berserk and bit me."
"How long ago?" Wang Ye asked, signaling Alice to retrieve a vial of green serum.
"Not quite two hours. Why?" Peyton asked, confused.
"You've still got a chance," Wang Ye said. "If treated within three hours, a bite doesn't have to be fatal. This is the antidote. You're lucky."
Jill frowned. "Even though you saved us, we can't just blindly trust that serum."
Before Wang Ye could respond, Rain scoffed. "If we wanted you dead, we could've just left you here. The boss is trying to help, and you're doubting him?"
"I trust them," Peyton interjected, rolling up his sleeve. "Let's give it a shot."
Wang Ye injected the serum, then instructed, "Clean the wound and reapply fresh bandages. You'll be fine."
He turned to the group. "We're leaving Raccoon City. You're welcome to join us. We've got weapons and supplies."
Jill and Peyton exchanged a look before Jill nodded. "We've got nowhere else to go. If you'll have us, we'll come with you."
"Good. Let's get moving," Wang Ye said, gesturing for everyone to board the vehicle.
As they prepared to leave, Peyton added a warning. "The city's surrounded by high walls, and the exits are heavily guarded by Umbrella forces."
Wang Ye chuckled, patting the armored vehicle. "How do you think we got this bad boy in the first place?"
(End of Chapter)
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