A Star's Descent

By evolution-500

Disclaimer: House of the Dead and Resident Evil are properties belonging to SEGA and Capcom respectively. I do not own any of these characters.

Chapter Twenty-Six: Farewells

Rebecca watched as Coen continued to yank at the lever on the console.

"I don't get it," he said as he glanced around the platform. "There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with this thing, so why are we stuck?"

"Maybe it's a power surge," Star suggested.

"But the lights are still operational," Coen pointed out.

"Well...maybe it just needs a few minutes to...I don't know, cool down, perhaps?"

The convict frowned.

"I don't know," he said in frustration. "I hate the idea of having to sit on my ass and do nothing while monsters are stalking about."

Coen rubbed his hand against his chin, then paused. "Unless..."

"What?" Rebecca asked.

He looked in her direction.

"You still have the radio on you, right?" he queried.

The medic blinked.

"Of course! How could I have forgotten about that?!" she exclaimed, mentally kicking herself as she raised up her radio. "Richard, are you there? Over."

She waited for a response. Nothing but static.

"Richard, can you read me? Over."

Still nothing. Rebecca nervously wiped her forehead.

"Richard, please respond. Over."

Rebecca, Star and Coen waited with baited breath for an answer. The former shook her head.

"I'll try another channel," she said anxiously. "Captain, are you there? Over."

Static crackled from the speaker.

"Captain, if you can hear this, please, respond!"

Silence.

"Forest, can you hear me?" Rebecca said into the receiver.

The radio played only dead air.

"Captain? Richard? Forest?" she repeated, her hands trembling furiously.

As the speaker continued to emit static, she felt her nerves fail her.

"DOES ANYONE COPY?!" she yelled into the receiver. "SOMEONE! ANYONE! PLEASE ANSWER! WE NEED HELP!"

Nothing.

"SOMEONE PLEASE HELP US!"

Static crackled in her ears.

Scowling, Rebecca felt tempted to throw the radio away, but stopped herself. Taking in a deep breath, she pressed into the receiver several times, spacing out the pauses deliberately. Hopefully someone will be able to pick up on her message. Turning back to face her companions, the medic shook her head sadly.

"I can't reach anyone," she said. "I sent an SOS using Morse code, but I don't know if anyone had heard us."

"So what do we do in the mean time?" Star asked.

Coen grunted.

"The only thing we can do, Red - just sit tight and pray someone heard us."

"And if no one comes?"

The convict sighed.

"Then we might have to consider our options," he said ominously.

* * * * *

The trio sat together on the platform. Raising up her left arm, Rebecca checked her watch.

"What's the time?" Coen asked.

"Five o'clock in the morning," Rebecca called tiredly as she massaged her eyelids, struggling to stay awake.

The convict frowned.

"For fuck's sake," he muttered as he looked around, impatiently checking his weapon and his pockets, trying to find something to do. Getting back up, Coen approached the console again and jiggled around the lever, then gave an annoyed kick of frustration. Letting out a sigh, he went over to the side and unzipped his pants, his back facing the medic.

"Ew!" Rebecca said as he started to urinate over the side onto a wall below.

"What?! I've been holding it in all this time!" Coen said defensively.

"Do you have to do that here?! That's disgusting!" she said as she turned away.

"Aw mind your own business!" the convict said as he continued.

"It's unhygienic," Star said, unimpressed.

"Oh noes, I'm peeing on the walls of Umbrella's top secret zombie-filled facility! I just might catch something or get something of theirs dirty! Honestly, Red, who gives a fuck?" Coen retorted. "Umbrella can bill me for all I care."

Star rolled his eyes, then waved him off.

The longer Coen urinated, the more Rebecca became uncomfortable, crossing her legs as she tried fighting the urge to pee herself.

'Think of butterflies,' she thought determinedly. Think puppies. Think kittens. Puppies. Kittens. Kittens. Puppies. Puppies. Puppies. Pup...pies...

'God, I wish this lift would come back on already! I really need to use a washroom!' the medic thought in distress. Closing her eyes, she started to count.

One. Two. Three. Four.

* * * * *

Nineteen. Twenty.

Rebecca heard Coen zipping up his fly, grunting in satisfaction, distracting her.

"Much better," he sighed.

Rebecca bit her lip.

'Damn you, Billy,' she thought mentally. Damn him.

Shifting her legs about, the medic tried desperately to think of something, anything, but she was now feeling really uncomfortable, her body at its limit.

"Can...can you two face the wall over there?" she pleaded, her face flushed with embarrassment. "I-I really need to use the washroom."

Coen and Star obeyed and stood at the other end of the platform, turning their backs to her.

"Don't look," she warned.

"We won't," Coen promised.

Standing up, Rebecca went to the other end, unbuckling her pants.

"Put your hands on your ears," she added.

Once she was certain that no one was either watching or listening, Rebecca finally went about her business. Once she finished, she drew up her pants, putting the buckle back on. Approaching the two survivors, she then tapped both on the shoulder, nodding.

"It's safe to look now."

Letting their arms fall, they turned to face her.

"Feel better?" Coen asked.

Rebecca nodded, still embarrassed at what she had to do, then watched as Star went over to one of his suitcases and zipped it open, taking out a container with wet cleaning cloths.

"Here," the albino said as he held it out for them. "Use this."

"Thank you," Rebecca nodded graciously, opening the plastic lid and taking a wet wipe for herself.

"Thanks," Coen added.

The medic smiled as she wiped her hands.

"You always come prepared?" she said.

Star shrugged.

"Try to be," he said simply.

"Why do you have these with you?" Rebecca asked.

The albino glanced down.

"They're for my hands." he explained. "I can't really wash them for fear of breaking the skin, so..."

He trailed off.

Coen paused.

"Does this mean you can't shower or bathe?" he asked.

"No, I can," Star clarified, "it's just I'd need to cover my arms with some plastic wraps before doing so."

Rebecca nodded sympathetically and sadly.

"I'm sorry," she said, her eyes drooping.

He made no reply as he put the cleaning cloths away, zipping up his bag. Once Rebecca and Coen were finished wiping their hands, the latter crumpled up his cloth and tossed it to the pit below.

"You know littering is a five hundred dollar fine," Rebecca reminded.

"Yeah?" Coen said disinterestedly. "Let me get my chequebook. Oh wait, don't have one, and don't care."

The medic sighed as she pocketed her cloth.

"So," she said slowly, "any ideas in terms of how we should pass the time?"

* * * * *

"Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall, ninety-nine bottles of beer!" Coen sang. "You drink one down, pass it around, ninety-eight bottles of beer on the wall!"

Rebecca sighed.

"No." she said without hesitation.

* * * * *

Star looked at the cards in his hand.

"Do any of you have an ace of spades?" he asked.

Both Coen and Rebecca shook their heads.

"Go fish."

* * * * *

Later, the trio lied on their backs, staring up at the ceiling, with Star to Rebecca's left and Coen to his.

"God, I wish this thing would move already," Coen complained.

"I hope someone finds us," Rebecca said with concern. She then tilted her head in Star's direction, "Star?"

"Yes, Rebecca?" the albino asked.

"You know that trick you pulled back at the bar?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"How did you do that?" she asked.

"You have to create a space in the corner of your mouth," Star explained. "Then, you have to learn to project your voice. Of course, you also have to account for the acoustics of a given area and your voice's volume, that way you can have some fun creating the illusion of something being distant or near."

"Like here!"

A voice echoed high up, causing her and Coen to look above.

"Or here."

Rebecca turned suddenly to her right, then, upon noticing nothing there, looked back to the albino.

"Why you cheeky rat!" she scowled, swatting at Star as he laughed. "So, what other tricks do you know?"

The albino shrugged.

"I can do impersonations," he said.

"Really?" she said interestedly. "Can you do some for us?"

"Sure. Any requests?"

"How about...a cat?" the medic said.

Star was quiet for a moment. The next thing Rebecca knew, he mewed, completely startling her and Coen.

"Holy fuck that sounded real!" The latter exclaimed.

"Can you do that again?" Rebecca said, listening closely.

Star obeyed, mewing a second time. The medic lay there, stunned.

"I-I can't even spot the difference. It sounds like the real thing!" she said incredulously.

"Would you like to hear more?" Star asked.

Rebecca rolled onto her side, leaning onto her elbow.

"You're having fun with this, aren't you?" she said accusingly.

"Oh I am!" Star said with a grin, his eyes twinkling.

Rebecca thought carefully. "How about...a cow?"

Star mooed. Rebecca stared.

"Incredible," she said. He was able to perfectly replicate the sound itself, right down to tiniest detail. "Now a pig!"

The albino raised a brow.

"Are you trying to make me run the gauntlet for the animal kingdom?" he said.

"You only have yourself to blame. It was you that opened Pandora's box," Rebecca smiled. "Now, do a pig."

Star sighed, then started to snort a couple of times, following it up with a high pitched squeal, causing her to laugh in delight. Meanwhile, Coen just shook his head.

"Oh Red, the things she's making you do," he muttered half pitiably. "Say goodbye to your self-respect."

"Oh don't be so dramatic, Billy," Rebecca chastised. "Aren't you impressed?"

"So he can imitate animals," Coen said. "How about people?"

"How about people?" Star repeated in Coen's voice, causing the convict to leap up in surprise.

"Holy fuck!"

Rebecca laughed again.

"That's amazing!" she said.

"That's not amazing, that's creepy!" Coen retorted.

"I can also do an impression of Bugs Bunny, if you're interested," Star said.

Rebecca's grin grew. "Go for it."

Star started to make chewing noises, pretending to eat an imaginary carrot. "EEEh, what's up, Doc?"

Rebecca giggled while Coen frowned in disapproval.

"Not really that funny," the convict muttered.

"I can do another variation of it," Star offered, hesitating, "...although...uh, never mind."

"What?" Rebecca asked.

"Never mind." he insisted.

"Come on, what?"

"It's really offensive."

"What is?" Coen asked.

The albino squirmed. "...It was...something I learned from the circus. Bugs Bunny if he were, to quote the man that taught me..."retarded"."

The convict perked up interestedly. "This I gotta hear!"

Rebecca frowned.

"Billy!" she reprimanded sternly.

"What? Go for it, Red!"

The albino started to gibber and squawk, causing his companions to seize up and shake.

"That's-that's not funny," Rebecca said as she tried to keep down a smile. She would never in her life laugh at something so offensive, nor would she ever dream of doing so...but the way Star altered his voice was such that she felt herself crumbling before him.

"Be vawwy, vawwwy quiet, I'm wooooking fow a wabbit!" Star said perfectly in Elmer Fudd's voice. Rebecca's resolve slowly cracked as she snickered.

"Aw, pooow widdle wabbit!"

Star continued to do his Bugs Bunny routines, normal and otherwise, causing her and Coen to double over and curl up in fetal positions. Her defenses fallen, she found herself now completely at the albino's mercy.

"St-STOP!" the medic said between breaths, struggling to breathe.

"Don't wowwy, widdle wabbit, I ain't goin' to hoit ya!"

Rebecca burst into a fit of laughter as tears stung her eyes, clutching her chest. She was laughing so hard that her sides were hurting. Coen was howling uproariously, holding his eyes.

"Oh my god," she said painfully, wincing as she tried to slow her breathing. Sighing, she looked to the albino, wiping her eyes. "Where in the world did you learn to do that?"

"I told you, the circus," Star said. "I learned that from a man named Henry Coswell, their magician and ventriloquist."

"Your Elmer Fudd impersonation is absolutely phenomenal!" she praised.

"Thank you," Star smiled.

"Are you in show business, Red?" Coen asked.

The albino shook his head. "No, university."

"Well, if it doesn't work out for ya, you should consider putting that to good use. I bet you pulled off a lot of pranks growing up."

Star nervously cleared his throat.

"Well," he began, "I kind of had, but it almost got me into trouble."

Rebecca looked at him.

"What sort of trouble?" she queried.

"One that could have gotten me fired, if not arrested."

Sitting upright, Rebecca and Coen gestured for him to continue.

Star sighed.

"It all started with a conversation I had with a boy named Travis Marsden," he began. "I was sixteen at the time and used to work at a men's dress store called 'Thompson's' during the weekends. Travis was five years my senior who, since I was ten years old, for some reason made it his goal to make my life as miserable as possible."

"He bullied you," Rebecca stated.

Star nodded.

"Yes." he said. "I always tried staying out of his way, but no matter what I did, Travis would have none of it. He was dedicated to his role as tormentor, and if it hadn't been for his arrest and death in prison, he probably would have continued. One Wednesday, he came up to see me during lunch. To give you context, I was traveling to the university plaza to get myself a meal, but I had stopped temporarily to look at a poster. There was a dance coming up, and I was somewhat curious. Travis had worked over at one of the fast food kiosks called "Merle's Chicken", but I hadn't known that at the time - I only found that out when he came toward me in his uniform. Apparently he had been on his cigarette break when he spotted me. He saw me looking at the poster, then started to...mock me."

"What did he say?" the medic asked.

Rebecca watched as Star lay there on his back. She waited for a response.

"Well?" Coen said.

Exhaling, Star sat upright and pulled down his hood, his back to them.

"He said that I shouldn't bother going, that I was going to die alone," he said.

Rebecca's jaw dropped.

"What?!" she nearly yelled in shock and outrage.

"He said that I was nothing but a freak and that no woman in her right mind would ever dream of being with me," Star elaborated. "'Who could possibly ever love something as ugly as you?' he said. I protested, saying that it wasn't true, but he just sneered at me and said 'Look around - why are all the girls flocking to everyone but you?'. I opened my mouth to respond...only...I couldn't say anything. I didn't really know myself why that was. When I didn't answer, Travis just gave me this look and said that I'd be doing myself and everyone a favor by...killing myself."

"That's awful!" Rebecca said, appalled by what she heard.

"I'd have punched his teeth in," Coen said.

"Believe me," Star said, "that had been on my mind that day...among other things. I was very tempted...but I couldn't really do anything about it. If I struck him, the judge would have taken one look at me, then automatically decide in Travis' favor. Following our departure, I spent the day thinking, even when I was in classes. Why was it that girls and people in general look at me with such fear in their eyes? Why am I so...friendless and alone? I have read the Bible, Milton's Paradise Lost and Plutarch's Lives and tried to be as honest and as good as I can be, to live as a good person should. And yet...it almost seems for naught. What sort of...bastard was I...to have earned the marks on my body? Was it because I was evil? Was my...conception evil, and people were able to pick up on that? For all I know, my birth was the result of a rape and my biological mother wanted no part of me due to the trauma incurred upon her. Maybe I have her attacker's features and she was disgusted by that. At the time, I thought...maybe...maybe Travis had been right. That I was better off dead, that nobody would care."

The albino was quiet for a moment, then looked up to the ceiling.

"A few days later, I was working at the men's store, taking measurements, marking where to make adjustments on suits customers were trying on when Travis entered. He saw me, and I saw him. One look from him, and I wanted to leave. I wanted to be anywhere else but there. He smirked at me, then went about the store, looking at shirts and jackets. I wanted to hit him...but I couldn't. It was then that an idea occurred to me. I couldn't hurt him...but I had other ways of getting back at him." Rebecca sensed that the albino was smiling at this point, "So, I decided to have a bit of fun. I waited for the right opportunity. The moment he bent over, I threw my voice and made a tearing sound with my lips."

The Bravo medic listened as Star demonstrated the noise, her face shocked.

"You didn't!" she grinned.

"I had," Star nodded, chuckling. "He shot straight up like an arrow and grabbed the back of his rear, trying to cover a hole that wasn't even there! I went over and offered him some help. Naturally, being a concerned salesman, it was my prerogative to help the customer. He obligingly took it, then I had him try on different trousers, many either being way too small or way too large."

"Did he catch on?" Coen said.

"He did," the albino said. "Eventually. My employer, Mr. Wilkins, started to realize something was up when Travis began to hurl a slew of insults at me, even at one point threatening to punch me in the face. Stepping between us, he ordered us to make peace and for me to find him an appropriate pair of trousers. Admittedly, it was...embarrassing to be talked down to as if I were a naughty schoolboy...but I couldn't really do anything about it. Once I got Travis a pair of trousers that fit and charged him, he left...but, not before I decided to...throw in an extra little bonus..."

Rebecca leaned forward.

"What did you do?" she said interestedly, her mouth smiling, sensing what's coming.

Star chuckled.

"Let's just say that between the color of the trousers and the very distinct wet sound people heard behind him..."

Rebecca and Coen laughed as they caught on, Star joining with them.

"It was especially funny seeing the face and walk he made," the latter said. "Kind of like watching a frog being forced to walk on its hind legs."

"I would have loved to have been there, just to see that!" the medic laughed. "God, I wish I had been able to do that to the people that use to bully me as a kid! You are so lucky to have learned that trick!"

The albino sighed.

"I guess. After he left, Mr. Wilkins demanded an explanation for everything. When I didn't answer, he threatened to fire me, so I told him about Travis and demonstrated what I did. He relaxed a little, but said in very stern words to not ever repeat what had happened, that he wanted to run a respectable store and didn't want me to get the wrong idea and commit fraud with my ventriloquism and so on."

Coen shook his head, grinning.

"Remind me to never get on your bad side, Red." he said.

Star scoffed, then looked down sadly.

"What's wrong?" Rebecca asked concernedly.

The albino's shoulder's sagged.

"Just thinking of the horrible irony of this situation," he replied. "Travis said that I was going to die alone...and now...I wish that were true...if only so you two could live."

The trio sat uncomfortably as they glanced around, waiting.

"What time is it now?" Coen asked.

Rebecca checked her watch.

"Six o'clock," she answered.

He growled.

"For fuck's sake," he muttered.

Rebecca watched as Coen stood up.

"Fuck this, I'm tired of waiting," he said as he stretched himself and approached the console, jiggling the handle again. Giving it another smack, he let out a slew of curses. "Come on, you bastard, work!"

As the convict kicked the console, he backed away then looked up to the ceiling. "HELLO?! CAN ANYONE HEAR US?!

Rebecca joined in, then Star.

"IS ANYONE UP THERE?!"

"ANYBODY?!"

"WE NEED HELP!"

"SOMEONE PLEASE! HELP US!"

"PLEASE, WE NEED YOUR HELP!"

"RICHARD?! FOREST?! CAPTAIN?! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

Nobody answered. After ten minutes of shouting at the top of their lungs, the trio collapsed to the floor and stared defeatedly at the walls around them. As Rebecca swallowed and massaged her sore throat, she clutched her choker.

'God, Snowball, Rachel, Grandma, if you can hear me, please protect Momma,' she prayed.

* * * * *

The trio remained seated in darkness, with a black gloom hanging over them.

"What do we do?" Star said.

Rebecca shook her head.

"There isn't anything we can do, Star," she said. "I told you."

The group fell quiet again for a few minutes.

"I don't suppose any of you know some good jokes, do you?" Coen asked.

When neither Rebecca nor Star answered, he nodded.

"I have one. What's the difference between a porcupine and prison?" he asked.

"I don't know," Star said.

"Prison has more pricks."

Nobody laughed.

"Yeah, that wasn't funny," he sighed.

Rebecca heard the convict fidgeting.

"So Red," Coen began, "know any good songs?"

"I do," Star nodded. "Why?"

"Try singing something," he said.

"Why?"

"I'd do it, but my throat is sore from the yelling."

The albino conceded.

"As you wish," he said. "Any requests?"

"Surprise us," Coen said.

"Very well." he said, then started to sing, "'Dreeeeeam. When you're feeling blue-'"

"Ugh, no!" Coen said disgustedly. "Anything but that!"

"What's wrong with it?"

"I hate the Pied Pipers," Coen said. "Don't you know any good singers? Van Halen? AC/DC? Journey?"

"I know the latter," Star answered.

"Okay then. Do one of their songs. Any of them. Just so long as it's not old-ass crap from the forties."

Rebecca stared ahead at the wall as the albino sang Worlds Apart from Journey.

https://youtu.be/VXi1sc8kFuU

"'Here we stand,'" Star sang,

"'Worlds apart,

Hearts broken in twooo, twoo, twooo.'"

The medic tilted her head, listening. The song was done at a slower pace than how it was usually played, with certain parts more drawn out, but it was Star's voice that caught her attention; it had a haunting, quiet though ghostly understated quality that made it all the more potent and poignant.

"'Sleepless niiiiights,'" the albino continued, "Looosing ground,

I'm reaching for yooou, yooou, yoooou.'"

As he progressed, Rebecca heard the power channeled in his voice, causing her to turn around and look at the albino in wonder the more she listened.

"'Feeling that it's gooooone,

Can't change your mind.

If we can't go oooooon

To survive the tide,

Love diviiiiides.'"

Star's voice resumed quietly, "'Someday, love will find you,

Break those chains that bind you.

One night will remind you

How we touched and went our separate ways.

If he ever hurts you,

True love won't de-sert yoooou.

You know I still love you,

Though we touched and weeent our se-parate ways."

Rebecca stared, open-mouthed. She glanced over at Coen, exchanging looks. The convict shrugged, his face etched in surprise.

"'Troubled times,'" Star sang, "'Caught between confusion and paaain, paaain, pain.

Distant eyyyyes,

Promises we made were in vain, vain, vain.'"

Star raised his voice again, "If you must gooooooo,

I wish you loove.

You'll never walk aloooooone,

Take care my love.

Miss you looooove.

Someday, love will find you,

Break those chains that bind you.

One night will remind you

Hooow we touched and went our separate ways.

If he ever hurts you,

True love won't desert you.

You know I still love you

Though we touched and went our separate waaaaaaays.'"

Star's voice quieted down once more,

"'If he ever hurts you,

True love won't desert you.

You know I still love you.'"

Rebecca blinked.

"Wow," she breathed.

Coen frowned, then huffed.

"Yoooou bastard!" he said. "You had to go and ruin a good song for me."

Star shrugged.

"My apologies," he replied.

"Well I thought it was lovely," Rebecca said in his defense. "Where did you learn to sing like that?"

"I used to be a choirboy growing up," Star explained. "Well, for a time, anyway."

"They let you sing Journey in church?" Coen said in surprise.

"No," Star corrected. "That was one of a bunch of songs I used to sing with Mother."

"Why did you stop?" Rebecca asked.

"Bullying," the albino said simply. "When the older boys found out, they were calling me some rather...unflattering and unsavory things."

The medic nodded.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I had no idea."

He shrugged.

"Why did you choose that particular song?" Rebecca asked curiously.

She watched as the albino hesitated.

"W-well, I originally wanted to sing 'Song to the Moon' by Dvorak since it's my favorite, but I thought Mr. Coen wouldn't approve. That...and...well..."

"Yes?" Rebecca said, waiting for a response.

As Star opened his mouth, alarms blared, cutting him off as lights flashed red.

"This facility's self-destruct system has been activated," a female voice called over the speaker. "All personnel evacuate immediately. Repeat."

Rebecca's eyes widened as everyone started to panic.

"No no no no no," she said. "Who activated the self-destruct system?!"

"HEY! IS ANYONE AROUND?!" Star yelled up above. "THERE ARE PEOPLE STILL DOWN HERE! CAN ANYONE HEAR US?!"

"This can't be happening," the medic shook. "This can't be happening!"

Coen rushed to the console, yanking furiously on the lever.

"Come on! Come on!" he said. "WORK!"

"SOMEONE PLEASE! WE NEED HELP!" Star yelled.

"Come on, you bastard, work!" Coen said as he pressed down with all his might.

"The self-destruct system has been activated," the female voice called. "All personnel evacuate immediately. You have five minutes remaining."

"FIVE MINUTES?! ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!" the convict yelled.

"FOR GOD'S SAKES, SOMEONE PLEASE HELP US!" Star yelled. "THERE ARE PEOPLE STILL DOWN HERE!"

Rebecca looked around, completely lost.

"N-no," she said woefully.

She had been trained to deal with tough situations...but this...there was nothing any of them could do.

"SOMEONE! ANYONE! PLEASE, IN THE NAME OF GOD, HELP US!"

The alarm blared noisily, the only thing that answered Star's cries for help.

Coen kicked and punched the machine, then turned around, sweeping his hand through his hair.

"Fuck!" he shouted. "FUCK!"

He then screamed it at the top of his lungs, "FUUUUUUUUCK!"

Once he finished, he collapsed down to the floor.

"PLEASE, GOD, HELP US!" Star yelled.

Nothing.

Rebecca watched as Star slumped down in defeat, collapsing to his knees, joining Coen.

"No."

Soon after, Rebecca did the same, collapsing down to hers as she wept uncontrollably.

"Damn it," Star said. "Damn it!"

Running his hands through his hair, the albino grabbed handfuls in anguish as he clutched his head.

"Damn it." he repeated.

Together, the three survivors found themselves kneeling before the gaping abyss below.

Coen was silent as the clock counted down.

* * * * *

Pulling his hands carelessly away from his scalp, causing some bangs to spill down messily along the sides of his face, Star stared to the floor.

"If you two want," Coen said, drawing their attention, "I can make it quick. That way we won't feel the blast."

Star watched as Rebecca looked up, her eyes glistening and red. Without saying a word, the medic nodded her approval, horrifying him.

"Are you sure?" The convict asked.

Rebecca looked down glumly.

"What choice is there?" she nearly whispered.

Coen was still for a moment, then started to take out Star's sword from his belt.

Star stood up, watching Coen warily before stepping in front of Rebecca, blocking him.

"Give me the sword," he said.

The convict frowned.

"It'll be easier if I'd do it, Red," he said.

The albino clenched his hands, tightening them into fists.

"I'm not going to let you kill her," he said quietly.

"Please, Star," Rebecca begged. "Let me die."

Hearing those words caused Star to clench his teeth and a horrible pain in his chest.

"Let me do it," he said.

"Are you sure about this?" Coen said with uncertainty.

Star nodded. He watched as the convict held out the sword. Taking it from him, the albino then turned to the spot where Rebecca had dropped the other, then kneeled down and picked it up from the ground. Pivoting around on his foot to face his companions, Star approached with swords in hand, drawing up his hood.

* * * * *

As the albino came toward her, Rebecca found herself recalling the end quote of Edgar Allen Poe's "Masque of the Red Death".

'And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all,' she thought.

Star stopped in front her, his face partially shrouded in inky blackness. Looking up at the red-shrouded form of her would-be executioner, Rebecca nodded slowly in permission, swallowing in grim anticipation.

* * * * *

The albino felt sick looking down into her luminous pools of green. Green, the color of life and warmth, a color he liked...and he was going to extinguish it.

As Rebecca closed her eyes in quiet resignation, Star shakily raised a sword...but the weapon felt as if it weighed a ton.

Lifting it only part of the way, he stopped, dropping it down to his side before slowly collapsing down onto his knees before her.

"...I won't do it," he murmured.

"Why?" Rebecca demanded.

"Because it would be an obscenity," Star said as he stared to the floor. "If I kill you, I would only be doing what Umbrella wants...then I would truly be damned. I am not going to give them any satisfaction! I am tired of killing!"

Rebecca put a hand onto the albino's shoulder.

"You wouldn't be doing it for them," she said. "I'm the one telling you to, not them."

Tears streamed down his face.

"Please don't make me do this," he whispered. "Rebecca, I'm begging you. I don't want to lose my soul to Umbrella. Please. I'm scared."

Rebecca regarded the crying albino, then nodded slowly.

"I am, too," she whispered back. "I'm sorry."

As the medic gestured for him to sit down beside her, Star tucked the swords in the sheath on his leg and sat to her right. Once he had settled, the two youths waited for the inevitable to come.

Coen stood before them.

"To be honest...I don't think I'd have the stomach to kill either of you, let alone myself," he murmured, then sat to Rebecca's left.

The platform shook as the survivors silently sat together, awaiting their doom.

"The self-destruct system has been activated," the female voice called. "All personnel evacuate immediately. You have four minutes remaining."

'Four minutes,' he thought. 'So, this is what the lineup to hell feels like.'

There came a sudden jolt that toppled the survivors over.

"What's going on?" Rebecca said as she looked around in confusion, wiping her eyes. "Has the detonation started already?"

"No, we're moving!" Coen said as he helped everyone up to their feet. "Look."

Star looked up the slope. It was true, the platform was moving again!

"Thank god!" Rebecca said.

"Don't thank him just yet," the convict said. "We're still in the shit. We need to-"

The platform shook again. Somewhere down below came a loud roar.

Moving toward the edge, the survivors peered over the rails down below. Something was climbing up toward them. Star could only describe it as a living wall of flesh with tendrils protruding from every corner of its being. Blackish green in color and devoid of eyes, it was supported by a pair of massive tendril-covered arms that it used to climb up the walls. On its back was a sharp-toothed maw that looked like a slimy flower, while a long neck protruded out from its "torso" with a circular, fanged mouth that reached out hungrily.

"That is the scariest fucking thing that I've ever seen in my entire life," Star heard Coen mutter.

"Can someone tell me what I'm looking at?" the albino said.

"I-I t-think t-that's Marcus," Rebecca stammered. "When that thing punched through his head, the trauma must have caused him to revert back."

"But how can it be so big?" Coen said.

"Maybe it had to rebuild itself with the other leeches," Rebecca suggested.

"MARCUS!" Star yelled down below, "CAN YOU HEAR ME?"

* * * * *

When Rebecca heard Star call out, she had just been about to dissuade him when a loathsome voice thick with slime called back.

"YESSSSSSSHHHH. KKKKKKKKKKKKIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLL MMMMMEEEEEEEEE!"

She couldn't believe it. Some human part of him still remained, even after such a horrific reconfiguration.

"ARE YOU SURE?" Rebecca called.

"DOOOOOOOOOOO IIIIIIIIIIIIIIT! PLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAASSSSSSE!" Marcus agonizingly called as he clamored up the wall.

The Bravo nodded glumly, then took off her backpack while Coen yanked on the lever of the console.

"Can't this damn thing move any faster?!" he snarled.

Pulling the zipper back, the medic reached inside and pulled out a thick white bag.

"He's getting closer," Star warned.

"I have eyes, Red!" Coen snapped.

Opening the bag, Rebecca poured its contents out, watching as a white thick powder cascaded down. As it touched the creature's skin, Marcus let out a monstrous shriek in pain as he stagger, halting his pursuit as he dropped down several or so feet.

"What did you do, Rebecca?" Coen said confusedly.

"Salt," the medic answered as she tossed aside the empty bag. "Leeches require moisture, and if you pour salt onto their bodies, they become dehydrated and die a lingering death."

"He's still coming," the convict said nervously as he eyed the tendrilled monstrosity.

The medic frowned.

"I was afraid it might not be enough," she replied as she took out a first aid spray and a lighter, shouldering her backpack. "We'd probably need a hundred bags of salt to fully kill it."

Rebecca then glanced up. Only a hundred more feet.

"We're almost there," Star murmured. "Almost there."

Coen rocked himself back and forth as he eyed the slope.

"'She'll be coming around the mountain when she comes," he sang. "'She'll be coming around the mountain when she comes.

She'll be coming around the mountain,
coming around the mountain
coming around the mountain when she comes.'"

"The self-destruct system has been activated," the voice called over the speaker. "All personnel evacuate immediately. You have three minutes remaining."

"WORKING ON IT, LADY!" Coen called back.

Rebecca bit her lip as the lift continued to climb, then looked down to see Marcus' grotesque form climb the walls.

Eighty. Seventy. Sixty. Fifty. Forty.

"Just a little more," she said nervously.

She watched as Star grabbed his bags, exhaling in anticipation.

Thirty. Twenty. Ten. Nine. Eight.

"Come on," Rebecca said.

Five. Four. Three. Two-

"GO!" she yelled as she ran with all her might, her companions close by her side as they ran off onto what looked to be a loading platform or heliport with various crates and barrels everywhere and locked shutters on the ceiling.

Rebecca heard a crash behind her. Looking over her shoulder, she watched as Marcus effortlessly shoved the lift aside, tossing it away as if it were a paperweight.

"KKKKKKKKKIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLL MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" he cried. A tendril smacked a crate into the air, causing it to crash straight into Star's back, knocking him off his feet.

"STAR!" Rebecca yelled, skidding to a halt as he rolled across the ground.

"Get out!" the albino said, grunting as he struggled to get to his feet. "Get out of here while you still have time!"

"I'm not leaving you!" The medic said determinedly as she rushed to help him up. Coen followed, giving her a hand.

"I got you, Red," the convict assured as the albino found his footing again. "Now let's-"

Rebecca shrieked as a slimy tendril coiled around her ankle, dragging the medic off her feet as she was lifted into the air.

"REBECCA!" Star yelled. Pulling out his swords, she watched as the albino charged forward with a roar and started to slash furiously at the creature. "LET! HER! GO! YOU! GOD! DAMN! PIECE! OF! SHIT!"

Marcus backhanded the albino aside, knocking him off his feet again. Coen grabbed a broken steel pipe and started to batter away at its torso and "neck". A tendril lashed out, knocking him away with a grunt. As Rebecca struggled, she found herself being lifted to the hungry flower petals.

"Sorry, but I'm not going to be your breakfast!" she said. Pulling out the lighter from her pocket, she raised the First Aid spray cannister and ignited it, her makeshift flamethrower spraying down into its mouth, causing the tendril holding her to toss her about in the air as it gave an agonized shriek before finally dropping her. Pain flared along her back, side and arms as Star hurried to her position.

"Rebecca are you okay?" he worriedly asked.

Wincing, Rebecca gave a thumbs up as he helped her to her feet.

As the creature's tendrils flailed about wildly, one of them struck an overhanging hook, smacking it through a window on the ceiling. As sunlight spilled into the room, Marcus shrieked in pain, its skin hissing.

"What's going on?" Star asked.

"Sunlight!" Rebecca murmured. "...Of course, how could I have forgotten?! Leeches can be harmed through direct exposure to sunlight! We need to open the windows!"

She looked around, then stopped upon seeing a gate with a round manual handle with chains and a red light overhead indicating it was locked, then ran toward it with Star following, picking up a manual on the floor.

"'Gate operation manual,'" she read. "'To open the Heliport in case of emergency, follow the procedures below: Removing the lock. There are four locking mechanisms which must be activated in this order: 1) Southwest side, 2) Northeast side, 3) Southeast side, 4) West side. Turn each of the mechanisms to unlock the gate.'"

Marcus roared as it approached, then jerked as something exploded against its shoulder. Confused by what caused it, Rebecca glanced about before catching sight of Coen holding a grenade launcher.

"THAT'S RIGHT! HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT?!" Coen called. "LOOK WHAT I FOUND!"

"BILLY I NEED SOME TIME TO GET THIS THING OPEN!" Rebecca yelled.

"YOU GOT IT, REBECCA! I'LL DISTRACT THIS THING WITH MY CHARM AND MANLY SWAGGER!" Coen yelled back before firing again. "HEY FUCKFACE, OVER HERE!"

The Bravo looked to Star, "Find the others while I work on this thing. Remember, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, West."

"Okay, got it!" The albino nodded as he ran, looking around while Rebecca worked.

Rebecca grunted as she turned the wheel.

'Come on,' she thought. Almost-

"FINISHED!" The medic called.

"I'M AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER!" Star called.

"OKAY!" Rebecca called as she ran out, looking around.

"Northeast, northeast, northeast," she repeated nervously. "Found it!"

As she ran toward it, the speaker called again.

"The self-destruct system has been activated. All personnel evacuate immediately. You have two minutes remaining."

"WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE NOW!" Coen shouted as he continued firing.

"I KNOW!" Rebecca yelled as she turned the wheel.

"I'VE FINISHED OVER HERE!" Star called. "MAKING MY WAY TO THE LAST ONE!"

'COME ON! COME ON, REBECCA!' the medic thought worriedly. Straining every muscle in her arms, Rebecca pulled on the wheel until the light flickered green. "DONE! NOW GET TO THE LAST ONE!"

"I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS!"

'SHIT!' Rebecca thought. The medic hurried out, then looked around worriedly. Where was it?! Where the hell was it?!

She stopped, noticing a red light.

"I FOUND IT!" She called, rushing toward it. As she grabbed it, the medic grunted as she pulled. "STAR I NEED HELP! IT'S STUCK!"

Star rushed to her side, dropping his suitcases, then helped tug on the wheel.

"UHHH, GUYS, YOU MIGHT WANT TO HURRY UP! I HAVE ONLY TWO GRENADES LEFT!" Coen yelled.

"WORKING ON IT!" Rebecca grunted in exertion. "COME ON, STAR! PULL!"

"I'M ALL OUT!" Coen yelled.

With one final tug, Rebecca turned the wheel, causing the light overhead green.

"GOT IT!" Rebecca shouted as the shutters opened, bathing the helipad and creature with sunlight.

"GOOD, NOW LET'S GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!" The convict shouted.

Rebecca and Star bolted as the creature thrashed about like a fish out of water. As it flailed in all directions, a tendril lashed out, knocking them off their feet.

"The self-destruct system has been activated. All personnel evacuate immediately. You have one minute remaining."

As Marcus crawled toward them, it lifted up its forelimb, ready to deliver the final crushing blow.

Rebecca closed her eyes.

'Mommy, I'm sorry,' she thought regretfully.

Before it could lash out, a gunshot rang out, causing the creature to explode. As it let out a long dying wail, it rose up, then fell down the long shaft in pieces.

Rebecca watched as Coen approached, holding a Colt Anaconda with a smoking barrel.

"Come on you two, hurry! This place is coming down!" he said as he helped them to their feet.

Once they were up, the survivors fled through the nearest exit as barrels, overhead beams and debris collapsed all around them.

Rebecca winced as sunlight struck her eyes. Covering them, the medic ran as though she were chased by the devil, not stopping for even a moment.

"HEAD FOR THE TREES!" Coen pointed.

Rebecca kept running until she heard the explosion behind her, a loud boom that practically rumbled through her whole person, nearly knocking her over as she felt a burst of warm air. As they ran, tiny fireballs and pellets of debris fell from the sky, pelting the ground around them. When it finished, Rebecca stopped, panting furiously as she tried to catch her breath, her legs and lungs burning, her face warm and sweaty.

"Holy crap," Coen muttered.

"What?" Rebecca said tiredly as she wiped her sweat-slicked forehead. Turning around, the medic paused, staring open-mouthed at the blazing inferno that they just escaped from. "Oh my god."

The survivors stared, mesmerized and horrified as thick black smoke rose to the sky, painting it black.

"We survived that?!"

"Yep," Coen grunted.

"Hard to believe we managed to get away unscathed," Star said quietly.

"Too true," Rebecca nodded.

The survivors stared at the giant bonfire. To think they had less than a minute and had gotten out in one piece...

Rebecca reached up and clutched her choker.

'God, Grandma, Rachel, Snowball, if you can hear me, thank you. Thank you all for looking out and getting us out of there.' she thought.

Looking to her companions, she noticed their features covered in soot.

"Well, good riddance to it," Coen spoke. "Fuckin' shithole, that's what it was. I hope it burns indefinitely."

"Amen," Rebecca replied.

She watched as the albino took a step forward and solemnly bowed his head down, folding his hands together.

"What are you doing?" the Bravo asked.

"Just paying my respects to Marcus' son and his victims," the albino answered. "Even though he ultimately succumbed and lost his humanity, he had spared us."

Rebecca nodded. Together with Coen, she lowered her eyes and followed Star's example, watching the fire silently. Several minutes later, the survivors raised their heads again.

"Let's go," Rebecca said. With that, she and her companions turned around and departed from the blazing wreck.

* * * * *

Passing through a clearing, the survivors wandered for several minutes quietly before stopping at the edge of a cliff that overlooked a thick forest and an ominous-looking mansion down below in the distance. Sitting down onto the grass, Rebecca looked up to the sky and the clouds overhead, then closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath as she enjoyed the breeze.

'Fresh air,'  she thought blissfully as the cool wind brushed against her face.

It almost felt as if it had been an eternity since she saw and felt the sun. As she relished its warmth, a groan to her right caused her to open her eyes. She watched as Coen collapsed to the ground and tiredly sprawled himself out, letting out a deep sigh. Turning to her left, Rebecca watched as Star stepped forward, still clutching onto his bags as he stared out at the landscape.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Rebecca asked.

He nodded.

"It is," he said quietly.

Coen stirred, pushing himself up.

"After seeing a whole bunch of ugly for the past few hours, this is kinda refreshing," he said as he brushed himself off, then paused. "Oh, what's this?"

Rebecca and Star turned to face him, giving him curious looks.

"Could it be? Can it be?" The convict said dramatically as he felt around his pants before taking something out from his pocket. "Why yes, ladies and gentlemen, I think it is!"

He then produced a key. "Behold, the key to freedom and the future!"

'He must have taken it when I wasn't looking,' the medic thought. Probably back when they were going through the rest station or when they had been sitting together.

"And yet another man who thinks that the future and freedom can be found in his jeans," she said dryly, following it up with a cheeky grin, causing Star to laugh.

Rebecca watched as Coen inserted the key into the cuff dangling from his wrist. Once it came loose, the ex-Marine massaged his hand, then tossed the handcuffs into the air. Turning around to face her, he threw back the keys to her. Rebecca caught them with one hand, then pushed herself off the ground and dusted herself off.

Slipping the keys into her pocket, the medic watched as Coen as stretched his limbs, groaning, "Well, it's been fun, but I'm afraid this is where we have to part ways, kids."

The medic watched as Star faced the convict.

"Come with us," the albino urged.

Coen shook his head.

"I can't, Red."

"Mr. Coen, please," Star insisted. "We can get you a pardon, or at least try to find a way to alleviate your sentence."

"My chances for that aren't great," Coen replied. "But that's not the reason why I can't go with you."

"Then why?" Rebecca demanded.

"I don't know if I'm infected or not, Rebecca," the convict sighed, causing her to hesitate. "For all I know, the water supply's been contaminated with the T-Virus. I can't risk infecting you two."

Rebecca swallowed.

"Billy," she said concernedly, "I don't think you have to worry about that. There's nothing to suggest the disease is water-born. For all we know, it could just be through saliva and open wounds."

The convict quietly considered her words.

"I can't take that risk, Rebecca," he said.

"But suppose you're not," Star said. "Look around you. How are you going to navigate through all of this? What are you going to do for food and water? How will you defend yourself?"

Coen shrugged.

"I'll figure something out," he said. "Trust me, I'm a Marine. I can take care of myself, Red. Besides, I've always wondered what being a zombie was like."

The albino regarded the ex-Marine.

"There is nothing I can do or say to convince you to come with us?" the former asked.

Coen gave a shake of his head in answer. "Afraid not."

Rebecca sighed. Approaching the convict, she grabbed hold of his dog tags and yanked them off, then studied them carefully.

"I guess it's time to say goodbye, then," she said sadly before tying them around her neck. "Officially, Lieutenant Billy Coen is dead."

Coen scoffed.

"Yeah, I'm just a zombie now," he said, then muttered underneath his breath, "Or probably will be."

The trio were quiet for a few minutes. Then, Rebecca looked directly at Coen as he stretched himself.

* * * * *

Sensing that he was being stared at, Coen halted what he was doing and turned, blinking in surprise when the medic saluted him. According to Marine tradition and guidelines, Marines should not salute unless they were inside or were under arms, meaning that they were armed with a weapon or were wearing a duty belt. They were also very specific in terms of who Marines should salute to; commanding officers, other military branches, or the President. Rebecca was only a civilian.

Coen sighed.

'You know what? Fuck it,'  he thought. Since he wasn't a Marine anymore, it didn't really matter. Besides which, she was deserving, even if she wasn't a soldier herself.

Standing to attention, Coen saluted back. Once a minute or so had passed, the medic lowered her arm back down.

"Thank you, Rebecca," he said as he lowered his.

Star stepped forward.

"I am not a soldier, so I can't salute you," he said before extending his massive gloved hand, adding quietly, "but...I can shake your hand and wish you luck. That is, if you want to shake my hand, Mr. Coen."

Coen looked up to the red-draped albino and took his hand into his own, shaking it.

"Call me Billy," he said. "I hate being called Mr. Coen."

"Very well...William," Star said, testing out the name.

"Billy," the ex-Marine corrected. "Repeat after me. BILLLLYYYYY. You can do it."

"William."

Coen sighed.

"This is as good as it's going to get, huh?"

"I could always call you 'darling' if that's too much for you," Star said mischievously, his eyes gleaming.

"I vote 'Spanky'," Rebecca joked.

The convict shook his head.

"You little bastards drive a hard bargain," he said as they chuckled. "Fine, I'll settle for William."

He regarded the red-clad youth.

"You're a pretty cool guy, Red. Weird as hell and can't sing for shit," he said, causing Star to raise a questioning brow, "...but...you're alright in my book."

The albino gave a small smile.

"Before you go, there's something I want you to have," he said.

Coen blinked in surprise.

"What's that?"

Star bent over and removed the sheath from his leg. Raising himself back up, the ex-Marine watched as the albino offered him his swords.

"Take them."

Coen shook his head.

"You're more proficient with them, Red," he said.

"You need them more than I do," Star urged. "You have no means to defend yourself. Take them."

The convict put a hand on the sheath and pushed it back. "Keep them for yourself."

Star grabbed him by the wrist, forcing the sheath into his hand.

"Take the damn swords!" he said in exasperation.

"Alright, alright!" Coen said as he tucked them into his belt. "There."

The albino regarded him.

"One more thing," Star said, his features and voice softening, "On the off-chance that you aren't infected, that you happen to find yourself in Louisiana and need a place to stay temporarily...you are more than welcome to stay at my home in Arkham. It's 98 Pine Road, a small house surrounded on both sides by willow trees."

Coen smiled.

"I'll keep that offer in mind," he nodded as he clapped the albino on the shoulder. "Take care of yourself, Red. And her."

With that, he turned around and started for the forest in the opposite direction.

* * * * *

Rebecca blinked several times in confusion at his departing form.

"HEY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!" she called.

Coen looked over his shoulder.

"WELL SOMEONE HAS TO KEEP YOU OUT OF TROUBLE, DOLL-FACE!" he called back, grinning. "IF I MAKE IT OUT, BE SURE TO INVITE ME TO THE WEDDING, YOU TWO!"

"WHAT?!" Rebecca squawked in embarrassment, her eyes wide and face flushed. "WHY YOU-"

The medic bent down and picked up some small stones, then started to chuck them at the ex-Marine as he ran away laughing.

"HELP! HELP!" he laughed playfully as he fled, ducking low. "POLICE BRUTALITY!"

"KEEP RUNNING!" Rebecca called, then stopped as he fell further away, disappearing into the woods.

Beside her, Star chuckled, shaking his head.

"He really is incorrigible," he said amusedly.

The Bravo harrumphed, lifting her nose in the air.

"That's not the word I'd use for him," she huffed, then let her guard drop, adding in a quiet voice, "I really hope that he isn't infected. I want him to make it out of here alive."

Star nodded.

"So do I," he replied.

The medic stared sadly ahead at where Coen had left.

"I feel so terrible about this," Rebecca said, folding her arms together. "I wish that there was more that I could do for him."

The albino put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"You did everything that you could to help him," he said. "All we can do now is pray and hope."

The teenagers stared to the dark wood in silence. As time passed, Star pulled his hand away.

"So, what do we do now?" he asked.

Rebecca considered the question, putting her hand to her chin.

"I was going to suggest perhaps making smoke signals, but that might not be a good idea. We don't want to attract the attention of Umbrella's soldiers," she said thoughtfully. Turning to face the cliff, she blocked out the sunlight from her eyes with her hand, then pointed to the mansion below. "Our best bet would probably be to go down there and see if there's a phone or radio we can use to get help. It might take a few hours navigating our way over there, but it'll give us shelter. Maybe the rest of my team is down there waiting for us. Do you feel up for a walk?"

Star nodded.

"As long as there isn't another damn zombie or monster. I just want to find a comfortable bed," he muttered.

Rebecca groaned.

"Your words to God's ears," she said as she stretched and yawned.

Her entire body felt sore and bruised while her brain felt foggy. As Star picked up his bags, Rebecca tilted her head in his direction.

"Star?"

"Yes Rebecca?"

She turned to look directly at him.

"...I just wanted to say that I really appreciated what you did when Marcus snatched me off the ground," the medic said. "The way you fought back there...trying to save me...it was amazing! Thank you."

The albino shrugged.

"I don't know why," Star replied. "All I did was get smacked around."

She regarded him thoughtfully.

"Could you lean forward?" she asked.

The albino blinked puzzledly.

"Why?"

She sighed.

"Just indulge me for a second, okay?"

* * * * *

Star obeyed, somewhat perplexed by the request.

Why did she want him to lean forward? Was it to flick him between the eyes again? Did he have dirt on his face? Was he bleeding?

As he leaned forward uncertainly, Rebecca approached and chastely kissed him on the forehead, startling him, his eyes widening in shock. As she withdrew, Star stared with wide eyes, his lips parted.

"W-what was that for?" he faltered.

"For being sweet," Rebecca said with a small smile. "I really appreciated what you tried to do for me. Thank you."

Star was completely speechless. As she turned around and walked ahead, realization finally struck him.

'William was right!' the albino thought incredulously. He had fallen for Rebecca! Hopelessly for her!

Touching the spot where he felt her lips, Star pulled his hand away and studied his gloved fingers, then looked up at the girl and regarded her with wonder, feeling a little dazed and lightheaded. It all felt so surreal, like a dream. For a moment, he actually believed that this had been a dream.

Could she be a fairy like in the Irish legends?

If Star recalled correctly, falling in love with a fairy was often dangerous. Fatal, even.

Rebecca stopped, then looked back at him over her shoulder.

"Are you coming?" she asked.

'Fairy or not, I will do everything possible to help her. Even if it costs me my life,' he vowed.

"Y-yes," he replied. "Sorry, just...trying to get a proper grip on my cases. I'm alright now."

Giving him a nod, she turned back, then proceeded forward with him in tow. Together, the two teenagers made their way through the dark wood once again.

* * * * *

He watched the youths as they departed for the mansion down below.

All the pieces were coming together perfectly. He just needed to watch and wait. He had no concerns about Umbrella or its creations - they were absolutely pitiful. Laughable. It wasn't them that concerned him; that fool Curien had already intervened and was on the alert, so he needed to be careful. Casting a glance down to a branch nearby, he watched as a fly struggled to break free from the spider's web, the spider crawling toward it. Scooping them up with his huge hand, the Magician Type 0 studied them both along with the webbing in his palm for a moment, then pitilessly crushed them.

* * * * *

Author's note: And so concludes the RE0 segment of the story! After giving it some thought, I have decided to continue onward for now until we get to RE1 with Alpha Team. Any constructive criticism is welcome (no flames, please). Hope you're enjoying this story so far - things are going to get more interesting further down the line...

Until next time! Thanks for reading! :)