A Night in the Darkness

II. Head over Heels
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Rebecca fell to the ground as the shambling undead charged towards Jill. Rebecca saw the gun drop and the zombie gnash at Jill, trying to bite her in an animalistic fashion. Jill’s eyes, at first wide with fear, flittered more and more closed as she lost consciousness from lack of air. Her struggles became gradually weaker, the zombie’s broken maw coming closer and closer to her flesh. She was going to die.

At first, Rebecca could only watch, frozen. Nothing in her life had prepared her for this. She had gone through training, but a simulation was nothing compared to this. She could only watch.

Then the moment passed, and Rebecca put her insecurities away. This was no time for self doubt. No one else was going to die if she could help it.

She snatched Jill’s Beretta off of the ground and got to her feet. She assumed her stance, legs shoulder width apart, hands together. She hadn’t fired a gun since the academy, but hadn’t completely forgotten how it was done. She squeezed off a shot, nailing the zombie directly in the back of the shoulder. The hit was alarmingly close to Jill’s arm.

The bullet had the desired effect, regardless of Rebecca’s less than perfect aim. The corpse stumbled, it’s arm failing under it’s struck shoulder. Jill’s neck was freed, and she immediately cried out in a choked gasp.

Her freedom was only momentary. The zombie, merely slowed by the bullet, lunged for Jill again, pushing her further into the corner of the hallway. Jill was able to hold it back this time, her arms trembling with effort. The thing was surprisingly strong for being dead.

Rebecca took aim again, more confident this time as she lined her trajectory. Her self assurance failed quickly, however. Jill and the zombie were grappling in the corner at a strange angle. If Rebecca’s aim was even slightly off, Jill would almost certainly be killed. It didn’t help matters that Jill was struggling violently against the corpse.

“S-stop moving!” Rebecca cried, the gun trembling in her previously rock steady hands.

“Shoot it!” Jill screamed back at her. Rebecca could see her entire body quivering from strain. Still she moved around.

“Hold still!” Rebecca said again.

“Just shoot! I can’t hold it!” Even as she said it, Rebecca could see her knees giving. Jill slumped into the corner, her arms held feebly up against the advancing monstrosity. Her new position further complicated Rebecca’s aim. A shot would now certainly kill her. But not firing would also mean death. Rebecca closed her eyes.

The gunshot seemed deafening, much louder than the first. Rebecca opened her eyes, looking at her own hands. She hadn’t yet pulled the trigger. The zombie was slumped against the wall beside Jill, it’s head collapsed from the gunshot. Jill stared at it, her eyes wide and body trembling. She met eyes with Rebecca, who only shook her head. She hadn’t fired the shot.

Footsteps sounded from the darkness at the other end of the hall. The two women turned their heads to see who or what may approach.

A tall, muscular figure stepped out of the shadows. He had short, unkempt dark brown hair and cold gray eyes, still narrowed with aim, his gun held out before him. He smirked a bit as he saw the look of shock on the women’s faces.

“Just in time, huh?” he said, lowering his gun. He approached the two and reached his hand out to Jill. She took it, her eyes still wide and locked with his. Rebecca could see that she was blushing slightly.

“Yeah, you were,” Jill replied in a dazed voice, whether from the attack or her savior, Rebecca wasn’t sure. The man turned to Rebecca, smiling at her. She felt her body quiver as their eyes met. She had noticed this man around headquarters. She supposed any woman would.

“You’re Bravo team, aren’t you?” He asked her. “The chemist?”

Rebecca immediately felt her tongue tie. She felt weak in the knees, and cursed herself for it. How stupid that she should be falling over herself like a silly little schoolgirl. She shook it off and found her voice.

“Yes,” she said, holding out a hand formally. “Rebecca Chambers.”

“Chris Redfield,” he replied, taking her hand and shaking it. Rebecca couldn’t help but admire his sculpted arms. “That was quite a shot, back there.” He nodded his head in the direction of the fallen zombie. Rebecca felt herself going red, and once again mentally chastised herself.

“Oh… i-it was nothing,” she stuttered, looking in the direction of the slumped corpse. Jill stood in her field of view. Her arms were crossed and her head was turned away, but Rebecca could still see the look of disdain on the other woman‘s face. Was she… pouting?

Chris turned back to Jill, who immediately brightened and turned to face him. Rebecca felt her own dreamy smile darken to a envious frown. She pushed the emotion away, deeming it stupid and unfounded. There was no way she was jealous over such a meaningless gesture.

“Have you found any others?” Chris asked Jill, his tone having changed from introductory to gravely serious. Jill’s smile faded as she shook her head.

“No,” she said. “Just Rebecca. What about you?”

“No such luck,” Chris said. He reached into his side pocket, retrieving an old, cracked leather wallet. “I did find this, though. It’s Richard’s. I think he might be alive.” Rebecca felt her heart leap at Chris‘s news. Richard Aiken was one of her missing team members.

“I’m going to see if I can’t find him,” Chris continued. “Maybe I’ll run into Barry or Wesker along the way.”

Jill smiled at him, brushing her hair prettily away from her face. Rebecca rolled her eyes.

“I’ll keep searching for others,” she said. “hopefully somebody will have outside contact.”

“Hopefully,” Chris replied. “I better get going. I have to find Richard. Be careful, you two.”

“You, too,” Jill said in a dazed voice. Chris nodded and turned to the door. It slammed shut behind him, the noise fading into an uncomfortable silence between the two women.

“Well,” Jill said, her drugged look replaced by her usual seriousness. “We better get moving.” She started down the hallway, Rebecca following. She smirked knowingly as she followed the Alpha member.

“You like him, don’t you?” Rebecca asked, almost teasingly. She saw Jill’s face harden immediately. It was too dark to tell, but Rebecca could guess that she was blushing, as well.

“Of course not! It’s not like that…” Jill floundered desperately. “We’ve been partners for a long time… we’re just…”

Rebecca couldn’t help but laugh, even in their dismal situation.

“Come on, Jill, I don’t think even he’s convinced.”

“Oh, yeah,” Jill shot back defensively. “What about you? You were the one stuttering like a drooling teenager.”

Rebecca huffed at this, taken aback. It had hit pretty close to home, considering she actually was a teenager.

“No need for attitude, miss,” Rebecca replied haughtily. “Is someone jealous, perhaps?”

Jill let out an exasperated sigh, but said nothing more. They continued silently into the darkness. Rebecca’s thoughts dwelled as they walked. Their was no denying her attraction to Chris, or that Jill was threatened by it. That much didn’t worry Rebecca. It was actually a bit comical. What worried her was her own jealousy. She had been quick to label it as a response to Jill’s, that she was merely envious of Chris’s attention towards his teammate.

But that didn’t seem right. Even though he was ridiculously attractive, she had only just met Chris. Perhaps she was jealous of something else.

Rebecca dismissed the notion. What else could it be?

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As a short note, this story will probably be significantly shorter than my previous one, both in chapter length and overall length. That's the plan now, anyway. It could always change.
"Bell" and "Dr. Jinxers," thank you for the reviews. I wasn't expecting any for a while yet : )
Next chapter will be up soon. Read, Rate, Review, and Enjoy!!!