Sleeping Weapon

As Jill and Terri vanished into the chaotic streets of Raccoon City, my attention shifted. The System's interface tracked their movements in real-time, ensuring I would know if danger found them—or if Umbrella made its move.

But they weren't my only concern.

The Raccoon City Hospital loomed in the distance, its sterile exterior a haunting reminder of Umbrella's hold on the city. According to the timeline I knew, Alice was in stasis there. Major Cain, ever the showman, planned to release her at the perfect moment to showcase Umbrella's bioweapons. He wanted a dramatic spectacle: Alice against Project Nemesis, his prized creation.

I wasn't about to let him control that narrative.

Umbrella wanted a show, but I had my own performance in mind—one they would never forget. Alice wasn't just a pawn in their game; she was essential to me. Waking her early would disrupt Cain's strategy, and after my sacrifice in the Hive, I knew her feelings for me had deepened. Now was the time to solidify that bond—and take the next step toward making her mine.

The city was chaos incarnate. Civilians scrambled for safety, zombies hunted relentlessly, and Umbrella's Biohazard Countermeasure Service (U.B.C.S.) patrolled the streets, ostensibly to "contain" the outbreak. Their efforts were as effective as throwing stones at a tidal wave.

I landed silently on the rooftop of a nearby building, scanning the hospital below. Using Technopathy I quickly probed its defenses. Umbrella had fortified the structure with biometric locks, automated turrets, and surveillance drones. Impressive by conventional standards—but to me, they might as well have used paper walls.

"Access granted," EVE's calm voice informed me. "Pathway to stasis chamber displayed."

A smirk tugged at my lips. "Too easy."

I leaped from the rooftop, landing gracefully at the hospital's entrance. Zombies littered the halls inside, their bloodied forms staggering aimlessly. Drawing my sword, I moved like a shadow, dispatching them with quick, silent precision.

The hospital's interior was a macabre painting—blood smeared across white walls, the fluorescent lights flickering overhead. The screams of those who hadn't escaped echoed faintly in the sterile halls. Step by step, I followed the System's guided path until I reached the reinforced door to Alice's room.

As I approached, the door hissed open, obedient as a servant to its master.

"Biometric lock disengaged," EVE announced.

"Good girl," I murmured, stepping inside.

Once the door fully opened, bright white lights turned on. The room was cold and sterile, bathed in an icy blue glow from the lights and the white walls. Monitors displayed her vital signs, each reading steady and stable. Alice lay on the bed, with only a piece of cloth covering her front and back, connected by a few strings. Her face was peaceful, almost angelic. This serene appearance was a stark contrast to the chaos I knew she was capable of unleashing when provoked.

I approached the bed, my footsteps echoing softly in the cavernous chamber. The equipment was cool under my fingers as I traced the edge of the control panel, letting the EVE work her magic using Technopathy.

"Stasis disengagement sequence initiated," EVE announced.

Machinery whirred to life, the sound growing louder as Alice's stasis began to break. Her body reacted instinctively, jerking slightly as she gasped for air. Her eyes fluttered open—confused at first but sharp, like a predator awakening.

Her gaze locked onto mine, recognition flashing in her eyes. "Ryan…" she whispered, her voice shaky. "You're alive… Thank God."

"Easy," I said, raising a calming hand. "You're safe now."

Alice sat up abruptly, wincing in pain as wires and IV lines tugged at her skin. I stepped closer, gently helping her remove the attachments. She leaned into me for support, her breathing ragged as she steadied herself.

"Why are you here?" she asked, tears forming in her eyes. "You… I thought…"

"You thought I was gone," I said softly. "But I wasn't going to let Umbrella keep you—not after everything."

Her tears spilled over, and she clung to me. "You always show up when I need you most."

I cupped her face in my hands, meeting her gaze. "I'll always be here, Alice. Always."

She leaned closer, her lips brushing against mine in a tender kiss. Weak as she was, the gesture carried a depth of emotion that spoke volumes. I returned the kiss, holding her gently.

Lifting her into my arms, I carried her out of the hospital. With zombies already dealt with, there was no resistance.

I soared through the skies of Raccoon City, Alice held securely in my arms. Her breath was warm against my neck, her body still weak from stasis but clinging to me with quiet trust. Below, the city burned—a chaotic landscape of fear, desperation, and destruction. But up here, above it all, there was a fleeting serenity, as if the world itself was holding its breath.

Her fingers tightened slightly on my neck. "You always show up when I need you most. And how are you flying?"

I chuckled. "That's a story for another time."

When we landed on the balcony of a penthouse suite, she looked around, surprised. Inside, the room was warm and lit softly the bed freshly made, and a tray of food waiting on the table. I had prepared this place in advance, knowing we'd need a safe haven in case the power grid gets shut down.

I set Alice gently on the bed, pulling the blankets over her. Her gaze never left mine, her expression a mix of exhaustion, gratitude, and much more.

I sat down beside her, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face and putting the tray filled with food that I prepared before leaving to get her. "You're not just anyone, Alice. You're someone I care about deeply."

She reached out, her hand found mine, her grip stronger now. "Ryan… you mean that?" as I was feeding her.

I could feel strength in her hand. The T-virus seems to be revitalizing her body and giving her strength.

I leaned in closer, my voice low. "More than you know."

She pulled me closer to her and her lips met mine again, this time with more urgency. The connection between us deepened, a shared understanding passing silently between our gazes. For the first time in what felt like forever, the horrors outside seemed to fade, replaced by the warmth of her touch and the intensity of the moment.

"Alice…" I whispered, cupping her face gently, my voice filled with both affection and longing.

She silenced me with a finger against my lips, her gaze unwavering. "You're now mine, Ryan. That's all that matters."

What followed was an afternoon where we found solace in each other, the chaos outside serving only to remind us how precious these fleeting moments were. As the fires of Raccoon City burned, we created our own sanctuary—a connection that transcended the death and despair surrounding us.

Time passed unnoticed, the storm of emotions and vulnerability binding us even closer. For those hours, we were just two people finding love amidst the apocalypse, an unspoken bond tying us together. From now on she is mine.

As the sun set over the smoldering ruins of Raccoon City, the quiet of the penthouse was a stark contrast to the chaos outside. I stood by the window, gazing at the cityscape. Smoke billowed from distant fires, and faint echoes of gunfire and screams filled the air. Time was running out. Umbrella's machinations were unfolding, and Nemesis would soon be unleashed.

Behind me, Alice stirred, her presence grounding me amidst the storm of my thoughts. She sat up, the morning light catching her features, her strength visibly returning. The T-virus coursing through her veins was a double-edged sword, a source of power for those compatible with it and a curse for the rest of the living.

"You're already planning our next move, aren't you?" she asked, her voice steady but soft.

I turned, offering her a small smile. "Always"

Alice swung her legs off the bed, standing with a determined resolve. "Then let's not waste any more time. Umbrella needs to pay for what they've done—to me, to this city, to everyone."

I walked over to her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll make them pay. But we need to be smart about it. Cain will release Nemesis soon, and when he does, the city will become a battlefield."

Alice's eyes hardened at the mention of Nemesis. "He's the one they turned Chad into, isn't he?"

I nodded solemnly. Chad Kaplan, her former companion, had been transformed into Umbrella's monstrous enforcer. It was a cruel twist of fate, one that fueled Alice's determination

"But first, we need to regroup. Jill and Terri are out there, and they'll need our help soon. Umbrella's tightening their grip on the city, and it's only a matter of time before they block every possible escape route." Right on cue I heard gunfire at the Raven's Bridge exit and orders for the closure of the exit and the bridge. 

Alice walked over to the table, where the weapons I'd prepared were laid out—firearms, blades, a combat suit for Alice, and other gear that I pulled out from my inventory. Once we were ready we set out to rescue Jill and Terri.