8 Chapter 8: Houses of Argument

Chris Redfield reclined on a worn-out couch inside a deserted residence. Before him lay a glass and an unopened milk carton. He twisted the cap and attempted to pour the milk into the glass, only to be met with an unpleasant odor.

"Damn," Chris muttered, clicking his tongue in annoyance. He sealed the carton and tossed it aside. Rising from his seat, he sauntered over to a nearby drawer. Opening it, he discovered a bottle of wine. He seized it and struggled to uncork the bottle, eventually filling his glass with the intoxicating liquid. Just as he was about to take a sip, an unexpected visitor entered the room.

"Really? Drinking? In a time like this?" Chris turned towards the source of the voice, revealing his sister, Claire.

"I'm thirsty," Chris replied simply.

Claire scoffed. "Well, good luck dealing with those infected out there after downing all of that."

Upon hearing Claire's words, Chris halted, grumbling as he placed the glass on the table. "What do you want?" he questioned his sister.

"What do I want?" Claire laughed as if the question were a joke. "An explanation would be nice. You disappeared for a year, Chris, not a word from you. Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

"I was on a mission that required me to cut off contact," Chris sighed, "I told you that the last time I called. And now you're here, doing the dumbest thing possible."

Claire snorted. "Excuse me? So, you'd rather have me stay where I am, not knowing whether you're dead or alive, worrying myself sick about you?"

"Yes. Yes, Claire. I'd prefer that," Chris replied. "Because if you had done just that, you wouldn't be here, and your life wouldn't be in danger. You should have stayed in university, studying business like you've always wanted. And if I never return, find someone you like. Don't keep jumping from guy to guy every month, someone you don't even care about. Build your own family."

"Wow, that's a strange sentiment coming from you," Claire rolled her eyes.

"What? I'm telling you not to cling to me for the rest of your life," Chris continued. "My job is dangerous, Claire. I'll mess up at some point."

"Seriously?" Claire raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. Seriously."

"What's gotten into you?" Claire frowned. "Chris, you're my only family. I don't want you to die, period."

Chris gazed down at his wine. "And now that you're here, both of us are at risk."

Claire scoffed. "What does that even mean?"

"Do you think the government will spare us after seeing the mess they've created here?" Chris shook his head. "At best, they'll use us as lab rats."

Claire tensed up, her thoughts racing.

"Even if we manage to escape safely, you might not be able to return to your studies," Chris continued. "We'll be fugitives. Prepare for that..."

"At least we'll both be alive," Claire stated calmly.

Chris sighed deeply. "I appreciate your concern. But sometimes, you're just too much."

Claire chuckled. "That's what sisters do."

Chris shook his head in amusement. "I suppose you're right—"

Suddenly, a thunderous explosion shattered the walls around Chris. The force propelled both Chris and Claire across the room.

A groan escaped Chris's lips, but he quickly recovered and turned to Claire. She appeared injured but not severely. His attention then shifted to the source of the explosion: a humanoid monster, standing ten feet tall, covered in black and red biomass.

"Damn it!" Chris scrambled to his feet, reaching for the handgun holstered at his side. The monster turned toward him, advancing menacingly. Chris aimed and fired, emptying his magazine, but it was futile; the creature's skin appeared tougher than steel.

Chris was cornered, with no window in sight, his only escape through the colossal creature.

"Shit." Chris cursed. He was about to make a run for it through the monster's legs, but then, the sound of gunshot could be heard. It was Claire, she had shot the head of the monster, and weirdly, the monster turned to her. The monster seems… to be thinking… and before Chris could do anything, it moved towards her, targeting the woman.

"Claire, run!" Chris yelled, his eyes widening.

But it was too late. The monster's hand shot out, gripping Claire by the waist, crippling her movement.

"Let go of me!" Claire struggled, attempting to break free, but it was in vain. Chris continued firing, his shots ineffective, desperately seeking a way to free Claire from the monster's grasp.

Chris watched in horror as the monster's hand generated tendrils that slithered toward Claire's body, a sight he had seen before with Jill.

"No!" Chris discarded his handgun and retrieved his combat knife, rushing toward the monster. The tendrils pierced Claire's skin, tainting it black. She fell unconscious, her body convulsing.

"fuck, fuck, FUCK!" Chris leaped onto the monster's back, stabbing its right eye from behind. The monster roared in pain and dropped Claire, but she continued to convulse, leaving Chris in despair.

With its other hand, the monster seized Chris and hurled him against the wall. His chest struck the concrete first, agony coursing through him as he felt his ribs crack.

In pain, Chris glanced at the approaching monster, which steadily closed the distance.

But suddenly, a figure appeared. The newcomer appeared human but moved with such speed that even Chris couldn't follow. The man's fist struck the monster's face, sending it hurtling through the wall and into the street outside.

The man who had just arrived dropped to his knees, then stood up. Slowly, Chris observed black and red tendrils spreading from the man's right arm, which grew larger and sprouted a blade.

Chris felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see a woman he had thought was surely dead.

"Chris, come on," she said simply, assisting him in standing.

Chris couldn't hide his disbelief. "Jill?"