Chapter 7: Shadow of the Hunter

The low, mechanical hum of the city's infrastructure—faint whispers of a once-thriving metropolis—was drowned out by the growls and snarls echoing through the dark streets of Raccoon City. Sienna Wolfe moved like a shadow, silent and swift. Her every step was calculated, her every breath deliberate. The Glock 17, still warm from her recent encounter with the Hunter Gamma, hung loosely at her side. It was a strange comfort, the familiarity of a weapon she had mastered long before the outbreak began.

But even now, in a world overrun with the dead, Sienna's mind wasn't on the weapons or the fight ahead. She wasn't even sure what she was fighting for anymore. With each passing day, the weight of her purpose in this place—this nightmare—became harder to shake off.

Objective Complete: Secure the Armory Keycard.

Bonus Objective Failed: Alarm Triggered.

Reward Lost: Silencer Mod (SMG).

The system's messages flickered in the corner of her vision, but they felt like background noise. No, she wasn't in this for the rewards. There was something darker at play. She could feel it—something had brought her here. She was a pawn in someone else's game.

The streets of Raccoon City were unrecognizable. Buildings that once housed memories of normal life were now gutted, charred husks. A thick fog hung in the air, mingling with the acrid stench of decay. The city had become a hunting ground, and Sienna was its reluctant predator.

Her mission was clear, or so it seemed. She had to survive. But that wasn't enough anymore. The discovery of Umbrella's secret files, the encrypted documents that hinted at her role in the outbreak, had changed everything. She wasn't just trying to escape anymore. She was trying to understand why she was here, what Umbrella wanted with her, and what, if anything, she could do to stop them.

She paused at the edge of a street corner, peering around the crumbling building. The Kendo Gun Shop was only a block away. She had been there before, once. It was a safe haven for survivors in the early days, a place where those who could fight gathered and armed themselves. But it had been months since she last set foot inside. Now, it was likely overrun with zombies, if not worse.

Her system pinged softly again, the familiar icon of a mission objective flashing in the corner of her vision.

System Mission: Scavenge Kendo Gun Shop for Ammunition and Supplies.

Bonus Objective: Avoid detection by zombies.

Time Limit: 30 Minutes.

Sienna's lips curled into a slight smirk. The timer was a joke. If she didn't get in and out quickly, she would be dead long before it expired. And as for the bonus objective? In this city, avoiding detection was a luxury few could afford.

Sienna approached the gun shop with the kind of focus that only a true survivor could manage. Every window was boarded up, and the front door was ajar, but a thick layer of dust told her no one had used it in some time. From inside, she could hear the soft shuffle of movement—the unmistakable sound of the undead.

System Tip: Zombies are attracted to sound. Move quietly to avoid detection.

Sienna rolled her eyes. If she wasn't so desperate, she might've made a sarcastic comment. She was already well aware of the danger. The system wasn't wrong—every groan and shuffle would attract more zombies, but at this point, it wasn't just zombies she had to worry about. The mutated things—the B.O.W.s—were worse. They were faster, stronger, and far more unpredictable.

She crept inside, staying low and making sure to stay out of the view of any broken windows. The shop was dark, with only the flickering light from the street outside casting long, twisted shadows across the walls. Sienna's eyes scanned the room for anything useful. Boxes of ammo lined the back shelves, and she could see a few handguns behind the counter, their price tags still attached as if the world hadn't already gone to hell.

System Tip: Inventory space is limited. Prioritize essential items.

She crouched behind a display of rifles, her fingers moving expertly over the shelves. A few rounds of 9mm. A tactical knife. A box of shotgun shells. Not much, but enough to keep her alive a little longer.

Her mini-map flashed briefly—red dots. Zombies. Lots of them, and closing in fast.

With a steady breath, she grabbed the last of the ammo and moved toward the back of the shop, near the storeroom. That's when she heard it.

A scraping sound—loud, deliberate.

Sienna froze. Her instincts kicked in as the world seemed to slow down. Her vision narrowed, and the familiar feeling of dread crept up her spine. It was the unmistakable sound of claws against concrete, the sound of a Licker.

System Tip: Lickers are blind but highly sensitive to sound. Move slowly and carefully.

She didn't need the system to tell her that. Sienna had learned quickly that sound was as deadly as any weapon in this new world. Her breath steady, she crouched lower, flattening herself against the floor as the creature's guttural growl vibrated the floor beneath her.

Her pulse raced as she slowly turned her head. Through the cracked door of the storeroom, she could see the grotesque shape of the Licker—its skin stretched tight over its bones, its elongated tongue darting in and out like some grotesque, predatory serpent.

Sienna's thoughts were a blur, calculating options. The Licker was focused on something else. There was a chance. She could make it. But moving would be risky, and one wrong step would make her a meal.

Then came the most unwelcome sound—the thud of a footstep, heavy and deliberate. Another zombie, right outside the shop.

System Warning: Zombies approaching. Licker has detected movement. Prepare for confrontation.

"Shit," Sienna hissed under her breath. She pushed herself into a crouch, edging toward the side door. Her fingers brushed against the cold metal of the crowbar tucked into her pack. It wasn't much, but it would do.

The Licker moved with terrifying speed, its claws clattering against the floor as it came closer to her hiding spot. It was a race. A dangerous game of inches.

Sienna held her breath. The Licker's tongue flicked out, brushing past the shelf she had just been crouching behind. She could feel the heat of its breath on her neck.

One wrong move. She couldn't afford it.

The zombie outside groaned louder, its hands scraping against the window. The noise was enough to make the Licker hesitate, its head snapping toward the sound. This was her moment.

Sienna didn't hesitate. She moved in a blur, grabbing the crowbar and swinging it hard. The Licker screeched as the blow landed, but it wasn't enough to kill it. The creature recoiled and lashed out, its claws slashing through the air toward her.

But Sienna was faster. She dove beneath it, the Licker's claws missing by inches as she rolled to her feet. The zombie outside groaned again, and Sienna knew she didn't have much time before more would follow.

Sienna rushed through the back door of the gun shop, adrenaline fueling her every movement. She could hear the Licker's angry growls fading as she pushed forward, but she wasn't safe yet. The streets were a maze of alleyways, every corner potentially hiding another horror.

Objective: Escape Kendo Gun Shop.

Sienna moved through the streets with precision, using every scrap of cover and every abandoned vehicle to her advantage. Her Glock was at the ready, fingers lightly brushing the trigger as she calculated every move.

Her system pinged again, and this time, the message was clear.

System Warning: Nemesis detected. The Target is in pursuit.

The words sent a chill down her spine. Nemesis.

The Umbrella Corporation's ultimate weapon was coming for her, and this time, there was nowhere to hide.