Resident Evil: Blacklight

The station buzzed with activity, officers moving purposefully, preparing for the day ahead. I stepped through the doors and scanned the familiar faces, my gaze settling on one in particular.

"Lt. Branagh!" I called out, raising a hand in greeting.

Marvin turned, a smile breaking across his face as he strode toward me. "Mercer! Good to see you!"

"Everything going well?" I asked, making casual conversation.

"Besides the growing pressure from the public? Everything's fine." He chuckled, though the weight in his voice didn't escape me.

"Still no progress on the Arklay cases, huh?" I muttered, the thought darkening my mood.

"Unfortunately…" He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping. "Word is, the Chief is considering sending S.T.A.R.S. to handle it."

My eyes widened. "Seriously? Looks like I might finally get my first mission."

"Don't get ahead of yourself." Marvin cautioned, shaking his head. "It's not set in stone that Bravo Team will be the one sent."

I shrugged, keeping my tone light. "Guess we'll see."

Marvin nodded, stepping back. "I'll leave you to it. Got some things to take care of."

"See you later, Lieutenant!" I called as he walked off.

…

Inside the S.T.A.R.S. office, a lively exchange greeted me.

"C'mon, Rebecca! What did you do?" Edward's teasing voice carried across the room.

"For the fifth time, nothing!" Rebecca's exasperated reply followed, drawing a grin from the others.

"Edward, give her a break. If she doesn't want to talk about it, let it go." Richard chuckled, though his smile betrayed his amusement.

"Speaking of the devil…" Forest glanced at me as I entered.

"Alex, morning." Kenneth greeted with a nod.

"Morning." I replied, my curiosity piqued as I looked at the group. "What's going on here?"

"Just being annoying." Rebecca grumbled, rolling her eyes.

"We're uncovering the truth." Edward declared with mock seriousness before turning to me. "Hey, Alex. Rebecca came to see you yesterday, right?"

"Huh?" My heart skipped a beat, and I froze. 'Did she tell them? No…it's unlikely.'

Forest smirked at my reaction. "We'll take that silence as a yes."

"Aaaah, so sneaky!" Richard added with a dramatic pout. "Not telling us about what's going on between you two."

"We're not dating!" Rebecca and I shouted in unison, our voices overlapping.

"I don't know…seems pretty suspicious." Kenneth teased, a sly grin creeping onto his face.

"Even you…?" Rebecca groaned, burying her face in her hands.

"You can't blame us! You even dragged Jill into it!" Edward laughed, pointing a finger at her.

Richard gasped as though struck by inspiration. "Wait…don't tell me Jill is—"

Before he could finish, Captain Enrico appeared behind him, delivering a light slap to the back of his head.

"Enough, all of you. We've got an important mission ahead." Enrico said, his tone commanding.

"Yes, sir!" Ee all responded, snapping to attention.

Enrico moved to the chalkboard, where a map of the Arklay Mountains was pinned.

"Captain Enrico…are we…?" I trailed off, already suspecting the answer.

He nodded. "Tonight at ten p.m. Bravo Team will head to the Arklay Mountains. The murders have to stop, and we're the ones to put an end to it."

Edward laughed, pumping a fist. "Finally! A few cannibals are no match for an elite team!"

"Don't tell me you're including yourself in the 'elite' part." Forest quipped, his fists clenched, ready for the challenge but not missing the chance to jab at Edward.

"We've been waiting for this." Richard added with a grin. "Time to show people there's nothing to fear!"

Kenneth nodded solemnly. "We'll make sure the victims didn't die in vain."

"Our first mission, huh…?" Rebecca murmured, her voice quieter than I expected. Her gaze lingered on me briefly before shifting away, and a faint unease settled in my chest.

'Don't like that look…' I frowned, a feeling of dread stirring deep inside me.

…

The rhythmic clatter of the train on the tracks filled the cabin, a comforting, steady sound that blended seamlessly with the hum of idle chatter.

I sat at one of the tables, absently watching the other passengers. A man across from me read a crinkled newspaper, his brow furrowed in focus. A young couple a few seats down whispered to each other, their laughter soft and intimate. Further down, a bartender polished glasses, his practiced motions calming in their precision.

It was strange, really—how all of us were strangers, yet bound for the same destination. Each person carried their own story, their own burdens, yet here we were, momentarily sharing the same space and fate.

Life can be so fickle, I thought, a bittersweet smile tugging at my lips. 'One moment you're here, and the next…'

A sharp plop against the window snapped me out of my musings.

I turned my head toward the sound, my brow furrowing as I leaned closer. My breath hitched as my gaze landed on a massive, grotesque leech, its slimy body writhing against the glass. Its translucent, veined skin pulsed with an otherworldly glow, and rows of tiny, needle-like teeth scraped against the surface.

"What…the hell?" I murmured, my voice barely audible over the train's steady rumble.

The creature clung there for a moment, its body quivering unnaturally. Then, another leech splattered against the next window. And another, and another.

Before long, the windows were swarmed with the grotesque creatures, their slimy bodies undulating as they gnawed hungrily at the glass.

"What is that?!" A man shouted, his voice high with panic.

More screams erupted as the passengers noticed the writhing infestation. Fear spread like wildfire, and the once-peaceful cabin erupted into chaos.

The glass cracked.

"No…no, no, no!" I whispered, my voice trembling as I backed away from the window.

The glass gave way with a sickening shatter, and the leeches poured in like a living tide. They writhed across the seats and floor, their grotesque bodies squirming toward the passengers with horrifying intent.

I stumbled back, my legs weak and unsteady.

"Aaaaahhh!" Someone screamed, their voice cutting through the chaos as the leeches latched onto them. The sickening sound of flesh tearing filled the air, followed by gargled cries.

"No…please…no!" I choked out, tears streaming down my face. My back hit the wall, and I slid down, trembling. My chest heaved as the creatures closed in, their slimy bodies leaving a viscous trail in their wake.

One of the leeches turned its eyeless head toward me, its mouth opening wide to reveal rows of jagged teeth.

"Please!" I cried, my voice breaking. "I don't want to die!"

The creature lunged.

The last thing I saw was darkness as its gaping maw filled my vision, its putrid stench overwhelming me.

…

Night fell. The city cloaked in darkness as Bravo Team prepared for deployment.

Rebecca suddenly stepped in front of me, her expression stern, her jaw tight.

"I'm sorry to ask you this, but can we talk?" She began, her voice low but urgent. "I checked the contents of the…you know." She motioned toward her arm, her gaze locked on mine. "And I can't delay this. I need some answers."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Fine. What do you want to know?"

She leaned in, her voice dropping to barely a whisper. "The syringe. Were you…were you really trying to kill yourself with those?"

"No." I said firmly, though I avoided her gaze. "I knew what I was doing. It wouldn't have killed me."

Her brows furrowed, disbelief flashing across her face. "You knew what you were doing?" She repeated, her voice rising slightly despite herself. "Neural suppressors, regenerative inhibitors, energy modulators—all mixed into a cocktail that could kill anyone. And you're telling me you're fine?"

"I am fine." I insisted.

"How?" She pressed, frustration and concern bleeding into her tone. "What is it you're not telling us, Alex?"

"I already told you. I can't say." I shook my head, hoping to shut this conversation down.

Her lips tightened into a thin line. "Why not? You owe me at least a reason!"

Before I could respond, Captain Enrico's voice boomed through the room. "Alright! Let's get ready, team. Our ride is already being prepped!"

Rebecca shot me a look, her frustration evident, but said nothing.B"Let's talk after the mission." I said, trying to sound reassuring.

She stood still for a moment, leaning back against the wall, her arms crossed. I hesitated, waiting for her to say something, but when she didn't, I turned and walked away to get my gear.

…

Rebecca's Pov.

I sat in the corner of the room, my leg bouncing anxiously as Enrico and the rest of the Bravo Team prepped for the Arklay Mountains investigation. I glanced at Alex, who was sharpening his combat knife with an unsettling focus, his face determined.

"Rebecca." Enrico's voice cut through my thoughts, snapping me back to the moment.

I straightened. "Yes, Captain?"

"You're in charge of medical supplies, right?" He asked, his tone brisk. "Do a final check. We don't know what we're walking into, and I don't want any surprises."

"Captain." I said after a moment, my voice quieter than usual.

Enrico paused, turning to me with a raised eyebrow. "Something wrong?"

I hesitated, glancing toward Alex before stepping closer to Enrico and lowering my voice. "Can I talk to you? In private?"

He frowned but motioned for me to follow him to a quieter corner. "Alright, what's on your mind?"

"I don't think Alex should come on this mission." I said in a low voice, keeping my tone firm but respectful.

Enrico frowned, crossing his arms. "Why? He passed the physical like everyone else. What's the problem?"

"It's not that." I said quickly, my words tumbling out. "He's...not well. I don't know exactly what it is, but I think it's serious. If he pushes himself too hard, it could compromise the mission."

Enrico's eyes narrowed. "Not well how? Is he injured?"

"Not exactly." I glanced at Alex again, my voice dropping even lower. "It might be something… internal. I caught him taking something yesterday, a shot filled with a multitude of different…substances. He wouldn't tell me what it was exactly, but his veins looked…unnatural. Like something was wrong inside him."

Enrico sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "And he didn't think to report this?"

I shook my head. "No, and I don't think he will. But if we're going into a high-risk situation, I don't want to take any chances."

Enrico frowned, his gaze drifting to Alex, who was now checking his gear. After a long pause, he nodded.

"Alright." He said. "I'll talk to him. If he can't convince me he's fit for duty, he stays behind. But Rebecca…"

I looked up at him, my expression tense.

"If it's as bad as you say, and he's hiding it from me, I'll have no choice but to pull him off S.T.A.R.S. entirely. You understand that, right?"

My stomach churned. I knew Alex would never forgive me if that happened. But as much as it hurt, I nodded. "I understand."

…

I was double-checking my handgun when I noticed Enrico approaching. His footsteps were quiet, but his expression was anything but subtle.

"Alex, got a minute?"

I looked up, masking my unease with a neutral expression. "What's up, Captain?"

"We need to talk about your health." He said bluntly, crossing his arms.

I stiffened, my eyes narrowing slightly. "I'm fine."

"That's not what I'm hearing." Enrico countered. "Rebecca says you're taking injections, and from the sound of it, they're not vitamins."

My jaw tightened. "It's personal. It doesn't affect my performance."

"Personal or not, if you're putting the team at risk, it's my business." Enrico said firmly. "So, here's the deal. You tell me what's going on, or you're not stepping foot in those mountains."

I stared at him, for a moment I wanted to argue, but soon I sighed, knowing it won't do me any good.

"It's...complicated." I said finally. "But I swear, I can handle it. Whatever happens, I won't be a liability."

Enrico studied me for a long moment, weighing my words. Finally, he nodded.

"Alright." He said. "But if I see even a hint of weakness out there, you're off the team. Understood?"

Understood." I said, meeting his gaze head-on.

As he walked away, I glanced at Rebecca out of the corner of my eye. She quickly looked away, her expression unreadable.

'She told him.' I thought, anger flickering deep inside me. But beneath that anger, something else lingered—a flicker of doubt I couldn't shake.

…

As we approached the helicopter, the atmosphere grew heavier. The sound of blades slicing through the air was a constant reminder that this wasn't a drill. Before we could board, the Chief and Team Alpha intercepted us.

"Bravo Team, I expect only good news upon your return." The Chief's voice carried authority, his gaze sweeping over each of us.

"Of course, Chief. We'll handle it." Captain Enrico replied firmly, his posture exuding confidence. Determination radiated from him—he was ready to bring this case to a close.

"Good. The entire city is waiting for answers." With a curt nod, the Chief turned and walked away.

"So…ready for your first mission?" Chris asked, glancing at me and Rebecca with a mix of encouragement and curiosity.

"As ready as I can be." I said, forcing a chuckle to mask my nerves.

"Pretty nervous, I won't lie." Rebecca admitted, offering a sheepish smile.

"You two will be fine." Barry said reassuringly. "Just give it your all."

"Yeah, just follow my example, and you'll breeze through it." Joseph joked, a grin splitting his face.

"Frost, I don't want you passing on your bad habits to my subordinates." Enrico warned.

"Alright, alright." Joseph said, raising his hands in mock surrender.

"They'll do great. They've already proven their skills." Forest added with a confident smile.

"Now they'll have to prove it in the field." Edward countered, his tone more grounded.

"Don't be such a buzzkill, Edward." Richard chimed in, rolling his eyes.

"We just need to complete the mission safely. That's all that matters." Kenneth added, his voice steady and practical.

Despite the casual banter, the underlying seriousness was palpable. These people were veterans, and their confidence in us felt like a double-edged sword—comforting but also a stark reminder of the stakes.

"Bravo Team, the chopper's ready." Kevin, the co-pilot, called out as he approached. "We should leave before it gets any darker out there."

"Understood. Let's move out!" Enrico commanded, and we followed him toward the helicopter.

Before I could board, Jill approached. "You two, be careful out there, alright? The others have more experience, so don't hesitate to rely on them." She said, her concern evident.

"Yeah…thank you." I mumbled, her words grounding me in the moment.

"We'll keep ourselves safe." Rebecca assured her with a small smile, though I could tell her mood was lower than usual.

Jill studied us for a moment, her eyes lingering as if sensing an underlying tension. Then she nodded, stepping back. "Good luck."

"Don't forget to come back in one piece!" Brad shouted after us, his voice barely audible over the roaring helicopter. The others echoed similar farewells as we climbed aboard.

"Be careful…you never know where danger might lurk." Wesker's ominous words were the last thing we heard from the Alpha team before boarding.

"Finally getting into the action, huh?" Rebecca said as we settled in.

"Hm," I replied, distracted. My mind was already racing with thoughts of what may lay ahead.

"Okay." She said quietly, glancing away. I felt a pang of guilt but pushed it aside. There'd be time to talk later.

The helicopter rumbled beneath us as the engines roared to life. Edward, at the controls, turned back briefly. "Taking off!"

"Alright, no more idle chatting!" Enrico shouted over the noise. His gaze landed on me, sharp and expectant. "From now on, I want you all at one hundred percent. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!" We chorused, the shift in tone immediate as the chopper lifted off, the Arklay Mountains looming ahead.

…

We flew above Raccoon Forest, silence heavy in the cabin. The hum of the helicopter was the only sound, everyone on edge, knowing something could go wrong at any moment.

As I leaned to glance out the window, a loud bang shattered the tension.

"What's going on!?" Captain Enrico questioned.

"Engine failure! We're going down!" Edward yelled, wrestling with the controls.

"Brace yourselves!" Kevin shouted.

The helicopter tilted sharply, plummeting toward the trees. I clung to the nearest handle, heart pounding as branches scraped against the hull.

With a violent crash, we slammed into the forest floor. Pain jolted through my skull as my head hit the seat.

"Ugh…" I groaned, blinking away the dizziness.

"Is everyone alright?" Enrico's voice rang out.

"I think so…" Rebecca mumbled, rubbing the back of her head.

We clambered out of the wreckage, the smell of scorched metal and fuel filling the air. Rebecca offered Kevin a quick thumbs-up. He returned a tired salute, already inspecting the damage to the helicopter.

"Not how I pictured this going." I muttered, scanning the dark, dense forest around us.

"That makes all of us." Forest huffed, brushing debris off his jacket. "What the hell happened, Dewey?"

Edward shook his head. "I don't know. It was fine during the pre-flight check."

"It doesn't matter now." Richard cut in. "The crash happened. Let's focus on what's next."

Enrico sighed, adjusting his flashlight. "First, we figure out where we are and check the area. Then, we'll decide our next move."

We split up, spreading out to investigate. The forest was unnervingly quiet, every step crunching on dry leaves loud in the stillness.

"Captain! Over here!" Rebecca's voice broke the silence.

We rushed toward her and stopped in front of an overturned MP vehicle, its side buried in the dirt.

"What's this doing out here?" I asked, frowning.

Enrico shined his flashlight over the wreck. The beam revealed bodies—soldiers slumped against the ground, their uniforms torn and stained with blood. Rebecca gasped, stepping closer to examine them.

"These wounds…" She murmured, her brow furrowing. "They weren't caused by the crash. Something tore them apart."

"The cannibal murderers from the reports?" Forest suggested grimly.

"Or wild animals." Edward added, though his tone lacked conviction.

"This might not have been either…" Kenneth interjected, crouching to pick up a file near the truck. His expression hardened as he read it aloud.

"Prisoner Billy Coen. Ex-lieutenant. Sentenced to death. Transported for execution on July 22nd. The bodies were en route to Ragathon Base."

Edward's jaw tightened. "Those men…just doing their jobs, and that bastard killed them."

"Could he have done this alone?" Rebecca questioned, glancing at the mangled bodies.

"He could've taken a weapon from the wreckage." Forest suggested.

"And it caused such wounds?" Rebecca pointed at the torn flesh of the bodies.

"Been here for a day, animals might've gotten to them already." Richard explained.

Enrico straightened, tucking the file under his arm. "It doesn't matter how. Coen needs to be found. He's dangerous, and we can't let him escape."

"Yes, sir!" We responded in unison.

"Dewey, you and Kevin stay here. See if the chopper can be repaired or if you can contact the R.P.D for backup."

Edward nodded, his face more serious than I'd ever seen.

"Chambers, Mercer—you're paired up. Survey the area, and if anything happens, report back immediately."

"Yes, sir!" Rebecca and I replied in sync.

As Enrico led the others deeper into the forest, Edward glanced back at us. "Be careful out there. If you need help, I'll be here, trying to fix this junk…" He glared at the helicopter with disdain.

Rebecca grinned. "We'll be fine!"

I nodded. "We'll keep in touch."

The two of us ventured further into the dark woods, every rustle of leaves putting me on edge.

…

As we carefully trudged through, silence ensued, both of us remaining on the ready, guns drawn.

"Alex. Rebecca's voice broke the silence after a while.

"What?" I asked, keeping my eyes on the surroundings.

"I'm sorry…about telling Captain Enrico." Her tone was heavy with guilt. "I just…as a medic, I couldn't ignore it."

I clenched my jaw, lowering my flashlight for a moment. "I thought I could trust you with it."

"I know. And I'm sorry." She repeated. "I didn't mean to betray your trust, but—"

"I get why you did it." I cut her off, glancing at her briefly. "But that doesn't mean I have to like it."

'If they find out what I truly am…' I shook my head, not wanting to think about it any longer.

I then saw how her face fell to my words, but before she could reply, the bushes ahead of us rustled violently.

I stepped in front of her, raising my weapon. "Stay behind me."

The rustling grew louder, my finger hovering over the trigger. My pulse raced as we backed away slowly. Suddenly, a white rabbit darted out of the bushes.

Rebecca sighed, lowering her gun. "Well… that was embarrassing."

I huffed. "Let's focus. Might not be out of danger yet."

As if on cue, a metallic screech echoed through the trees. We turned toward the source and spotted a train parked on the tracks ahead, a faint smell of rust filling the air, its dark silhouette illuminated faintly by the moonlight.

"What's a train doing out here?" Rebecca asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"No idea." I muttered, eyes narrowing. "But it's not good."

"Let's check it out." She started toward the door.

I grabbed her arm lightly. "Don't let your guard down."

"I won't." She replied, her voice steady.

I stepped forward, slowly pulling open the train door. The loud screech of metal sent a shiver down my spine as we peered inside.

....

This is the first chapter which officially kick-starts the beginning of the RE timeline! Now that we're going to get into the games I'll have to see how I can Integrate the gameplay aspects while still maintaining an interesting story.

If you have any suggestions, feel free to share them, cause I might really need them. Anyway, hope everyone will still enjoy the future chapters just as much as the previous ones, and that I'll be able to offer just as much quality!