Chapter 3: The Hunter's Prey

The store was an eerie silence. A flickering bulb above cast warped shadows across the shelves, dimming the already grim interior. Sienna Wolfe crouched behind the counter, her breath shallow, her pulse hammering in rhythm with the low, echoing thud of the shambling undead outside. The shattered glass of the storefront let in the chaos, disorganized pieces of broken signs and litter scattered in the street. Groaning and scraping feet outside blurred into an indistinct hum of death, underscored by the distant growls of the infected.

Her heart raced, matching the panic of the approaching threat, and the faint glow of her system interface pulsed in her peripheral vision.

SYSTEM OBJECTIVE: ESCAPE THE AREA WITHOUT DETECTION.

PENALTY: RESOURCE LOSS (PRIMARY WEAPON AMMO).

Sienna gritted her teeth. Losing ammo was not a trivial matter; it meant running out of options when facing bigger threats. Her fingers clenched tighter around the Glock 17 she'd scavenged. The smooth, familiar grip gave her an anchor, even though it felt like the odds were stacked against her.

Outside, the screeching of claws dragged across asphalt, a sound that made her blood run cold. She didn't need the system's warning to know what was coming.

NEW THREAT DETECTED: BIO-ORGANIC WEAPON (HUNTER GAMMA). THREAT LEVEL: HIGH.

TIP: AVOID DIRECT CONFRONTATION. USE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGES.

The Hunter's silhouette loomed outside—a monstrous hybrid of predator and engineered monstrosity. Massive claws scraped the concrete, each step measured, deliberate, ready to strike. Its monstrous mouth hung open, dripping saliva, teeth gleaming like razors.

Her HUD flashed crimson, confirming the imminent danger. Sienna exhaled and evaluated the surroundings with sharp precision. The store was an impromptu maze of toppled shelves and overturned displays, but the back door still stood intact—her only route out.

She moved slowly, deliberately. Her fingers hovered over the Glock's grip as she steeled herself.

The Hunter's growl sent a tremor through her spine. She knew it was close. A scrape of metal on concrete—the sound of the creature drawing nearer—made her muscles tense in anticipation.

TIP: DISTRACTIONS CAN DELAY HOSTILES. THROW OBJECTS TO REDIRECT.

Her eyes quickly scanned the floor, landing on a can of soda. She picked it up, weighing it in her hand, timing her breath as she lined up her throw. With practiced precision, she hurled it across the room.

The can crashed loudly against a metal rack, setting off a cascade of glass bottles that shattered upon impact. The Hunter paused, its head snapping toward the noise. Its attention had shifted.

SYSTEM SUCCESS: DISTRACTION SUCCESSFUL. THREAT LEVEL DECREASED. XP GAINED: +20.

Without wasting a second, Sienna darted to the rear door, her hand pushing it open just enough to slip through. She eased the door shut, careful not to make a sound, and moved into the alleyway.

The world beyond the store was quiet. Too quiet. The stench of oil and decay mixed with the faint sounds of distant explosions and screams. The alley was a maze of rusting metal, broken dumpsters, and debris. Her senses were heightened—alert for every sound, every shift in the environment.

A moment of perfect silence was shattered by a thunderous crash from behind. The Hunter tore through the back of the store, demolishing the wall like it was paper. Its cold, feral eyes locked onto her as it lunged forward with terrifying speed.

NEW OBJECTIVE: ELIMINATE THE HUNTER GAMMA. REWARD: UPGRADE (MOBILITY ENHANCEMENT). PENALTY: CRITICAL DAMAGE.

Sienna muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing. "Of course, it never ends."

The Hunter's roar rattled the alley, but she was already in motion. She threw herself to the side, rolling behind a dumpster just as the beast's claws scraped the air where she had been standing. The power behind its movements was overwhelming—its sheer size was intimidating, but its speed was what truly terrified her.

TIP: UTILIZE ENVIRONMENTAL TRAPS. HUNTER SENSES ARE HEIGHTENED BUT CAN BE OVERLOADED.

The alley was narrow—too narrow for both of them to fight freely. Sienna's eyes flicked toward a fire escape ladder on the opposite side, then to a stack of rusted pallets leaning precariously against a wall. The plan came together in an instant.

Sienna vaulted over the dumpster, her Glock drawn. Two shots rang out, aiming for the Hunter's legs. Both struck their target, but the creature barely slowed.

"Figures," she hissed, immediately diving into the narrow gap between two buildings. The Hunter snarled in pursuit, its massive form squeezing through the passageway. She had a few seconds at most.

Her system pinged again:

XP GAINED: +30. STATUS EFFECT: HUNTER DISORIENTED. DURATION: 10 SECONDS.

The Hunter's senses had been overwhelmed by the cloud of smoke she'd dropped. It stumbled in confusion, buying Sienna the precious time she needed.

She moved fast, bolting for the leaking fuel pipe of an old generator. The ground was slick, but she didn't hesitate. She struck the pipe with her crowbar, sending a jet of fuel spilling onto the floor.

Just as the Hunter emerged from the smoke, Sienna flicked her lighter, tossing it into the puddle. The explosion was immediate—a fireball that roared through the alley, engulfing the Hunter in searing flames.

The creature screeched in agony, its charred body writhing in the inferno.

But even on fire, the Hunter was relentless. It tore through the flames, its body smoldering as it charged once more. There was no room for doubt—this had to end here.

Sienna sprinted toward the fire escape, leaping onto a stack of crates to grab the bottom rung. The Hunter's claws swiped at her legs, just missing. She hauled herself up, the ladder creaking under her weight. The creature was close behind.

At the top, she found an old air-conditioning unit bolted to the roof. The Hunter was climbing the ladder, inching closer, its claws scraping against the metal.

Sienna fired her last round into the base of the unit. The shot was perfect. The entire unit came loose, falling straight onto the Hunter, pinning it beneath the heavy frame.

The creature let out a final, desperate howl before it fell silent.

OBJECTIVE COMPLETE: ELIMINATE THE HUNTER GAMMA.

REWARD UNLOCKED: MOBILITY ENHANCEMENT (DODGE IMPROVED). XP GAINED: +200.

Exhausted, Sienna slumped against the roof, gasping for air. Her body trembled, covered in sweat and grime.

The skyline of Raccoon City stretched out before her—half in flames, half swallowed by the growing darkness. Distant sirens screamed, and helicopters buzzed overhead, but she didn't feel the rush of triumph. The weight of survival pressed heavily on her shoulders. The war was far from over.

Her system pinged again:

NEW OBJECTIVE: REACH THE RPD. RETRIEVE THE ARMORY KEY. PENALTY: LOSS OF SAFE ZONES IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT.

"Always another fight," Sienna muttered under her breath. She pushed herself to her feet, forcing the fatigue from her limbs as she descended the fire escape.

She glanced back at the smoldering remains of the Hunter. No triumph, only the stark reality of what was coming. She was still alive—barely—but for how long?

And what was waiting for her at the RPD?