-RESIDENT EVIL IS IN THE PROPERTY OF CAPCOM-

Thank you so much for the feedbacks and also to everyone who voted and enjoyed my story. You really don't know how happy you made me.p

So there's nothing much to say so let's continue on with the story!

Thank you again and I hope you continue to read on with me until the end. :)

PS: I OWN NOTHING BUT I OWN TIFFANY. AND A DIE HARD FAN OF LEON SCOTT KENNEDY. ❤

IV.

"There's something out there." I warned and pointed out from the outside gate of the church.

"Stay here." Leon commanded and turned to Ashley. "You too." Ashley nodded. He pulled out his gun from his holster and took care of business.

There was some yelling when Leon exposed himself. But that was not long enough when he shot the wagon in front of him, making it charge towards the villagers and killing them all in the process.

Leon gave us a single wave, beckoning us to follow him.

I flinched when a lightning stroke and Ashley looked at me. "Are you okay?"

I nodded weakly. "Yeah, just startled by the lightning. Don't mind that." I gave her a half smile and we ran towards Leon.

The rest of the walk was followed by silence until we got back to the village.

"Stay in the tower with Ashley." Leon commanded.

Once is okay but there's no way I'll do nothing to help him. "But I want to help, Leon." I whined and pouted.

Leon looked at me and offered a tightlipped smile. "You can. You will keep an eye on Ashley. That way, I'll be reassured that she'll be okay."

Okay, he got me again. I sighed. "Okay." I turned my attention at Ashley who was listening to us the whole time. "Come on."

I gave Leon one last glance and he gave me a nod before running off to check and clear up the area. Ashley climbed up first and I followed.

I took off my blazer. "I hate rain." I groaned as I wring my blazer and skirt.

Ashley chuckled. "You sure do." She also wring her green plaid skirt. She looked even more beautiful in person. Even if she's soaking wet. She was wearing an orange, sleeveless turtle-neck sweater with a burgundy sweater around her neck. She also wears a green, plaid skirt, and knee-high brown, buckled boots. She really is the President's daughter.

"Are you somehow friends with Leon?" Ashley suddenly asked. Gun shots were heard somewhere around the village but somehow it didn't bothered me. I was confident and sure that he can wipe out the place without effort.

I rested my hands on the tower window, getting a clear view of the dark village. I sighed. "I don't know... Maybe."

Ashley joined me. "He's quite amazing, don't you think?" She gave me a grin.

I looked at her and returned the smile. "Yeah, he saved my butt many times and if not for him, I'd been dead right from the start."

Ashley's forehead creased. "You were not sent by the government to rescue me?"

I shook my head. "I'm not an agent, Ashley. I just woke up in the middle of nowhere and just found out that the place I was stuck in was a village full of bloodthirsty people." I shrugged and sighed.

Ashley nodded and looked at the whole village. "I'm sure this village was once peaceful and happy." She commented.

I nodded. "Yeah, I agree. Until someone came and took everything away."

"Yeah," Ashley sighed. "Do you think we'll get out of here alive?"

I looked at her then back at the village. Silence overtook and the sound of the rain seemed deafening the both of us. I can't even believe that I've gone this far... and I'm not sure how long will my breathing last. I don't want to discourage her, it will just make everything worse than it already is. We need to cling to some kind of hope, if such a thing exists by now.

I sighed. "As long as we're breathing, there is hope." I mutter. "I'm sure Leon believes in that too."

Ashley gave me a smile. "Thank you. I feel a little better now."

I patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. We won't let anything happen to you." I gave her a reassuring smile.

Leon called out from the ladder. "The place is clean. Let's go!" He shouted.

Ashley and I looked at each other and giggled. "Coming!" We said in unison.

Ashley was the first one to jump out and Leon effortlessly caught her. I followed and he also caught me.

"Thank you," I mumbled as he put me down.

The village looked dead as we walk by. We passed by the farm where I found the blue paper containing the information about the medallions. The other routes were sealed off, it was a good thing that there's still one route left.

"Hide," Leon commanded Ashley as we found a dumpster of some sort, which was a good hiding place for her.

"Am I coming with you this time?" I asked him as Ashley was about to step inside the dumpster.

Leon gave me a nod and smiled. "I was thinking about you hiding with Ashley but I guess I'm starting being overprotective over you too."

I smirked at him. "You underestimate me, Mr. Kennedy."

Leon chuckled and Ashley just smiled at us. "Be careful, you two." Ashley reminded with a worried look on her face before closing the lid of the dumpster.

I pulled out my Punisher and we started cleaning out the place with villagers.

"Man, you owe me a drink after we finish this." I told Leon as we fire at the villager's parasites protruding on their heads.

"Aren't you still underage?" Leon asked, his eyes facing forward.

I looked at him and smirked. "I'll take that as a compliment."

When the villager let out an inhuman shriek, Leon faced me. "How old are you? Seventeen?" He guessed.

"Nineteen." I filled in, smiling.

Leon's eyes slightly widened in shock. "So that means you're only thirteen when you first fired a gun?" His tone was evident that he was amazed but astounded at the same time.

I nodded. "Yeah,"

"No wonder why you look like you're used to what you're doing." He said.

I just giggled and turned back to business. As Leon was dealing with the villagers, I went inside the barn, which was full of obvious bear traps. I rolled my eyes and found a plank that was hanging on the corner and poked the bear traps. It made a swing that maybe if my foot was caught in that trap, it would most likely hurt and bleed like hell.

I climbed up on the platform of the barn and opened the mini cabinet just beside the window. It was a box of handgun ammo. I went through the window and saw two villagers. I fired my Punisher and it blasted a hole through them which was cool. After killing the villagers, I gazed at the wooden double doors that we passed by in the morning. When we were chased by a boulder and met the strange man in the cabinet named Luis. The door was all sealed now and nailed down with planks which made it impossible to pass through.

I went through the other side and saw a huge dark brown double doors. A villager threw an axe at me and I dodged. Is it me or these villagers are poor at accuracy? I fired six shots at the villager and he lay dead and melted.

I jumped down slowly and eliminated the bear traps with a plank again. I tried opening the door but it won't budge. Must have been locked from the other side.

I heard footsteps and I turned on my heels quickly with my gun pointed at the person's head. "Calm down." Leon said as Ashley hid behind his back.

I put my gun down, shocked. "I'm sorry, I thought that you were another villager." Leon looked at the bear traps then back at the wooden door. "It's locked on the other side." I stated and put a hand on my hip.

Leon nodded and examined the door. "If someone could go through the other side, the thing that's blocking the door from being opened would be removed." Ashley said as she joined us.

"One of us could go through the other side. Leon will do the piggyback." I suggested as I switch gazes at them.

"That's what I was thinking." Leon mutter. "Tiffa, you'll be the one to remove the lock from the other side."

I sighed. "I was afraid you'd say that." I said as Leon knelt down, his back facing me. I placed my legs on his back and then slowly stood on his shoulders. Leon slowly stood up, letting out a soft groan at my weight.

"God, you're heavy." Leon grunted.

My eyes widened as I reach out the top of the door. "I hate you." I said bitterly.

I heard Leon chuckle and Ashley giggling a little. I groaned as I sat on the top of the door, watching the surroundings for any hostiles and relieved to see that the merchant was the only person there. I jumped and landed on the ground successfully. I removed the long plank that was preventing the door from being opened.

"Come on, it's open." I informed them from the other side. A few moments later, the wooden double doors opened, revealing Leon and Ashley behind him.

Leon talked to the merchant while Ashley and I waited. "Tiffa," Leon called.

"Yeah?"

"Give me your gun." He said with a smile, his hand extended.

"Why?" I asked but gave him my gun instead.

"Upgrading." He answered simply.

I grinned. "Wow, where'd you got all the money?"

Leon snickered and shook his head. But that didn't answer my question.

"Can you also get Ashley a gun for self defense?" I suggested. Ashley tensed up as she gave me an 'are-you-crazy?' look.

Leon's face turned sour. "I don't think so," he disagreed.

"Yeah! Where'd you got that idea anyway?" Ashley added and placed her hands on her hips.

I shrugged. "I just thought that you also need to protect yourself." Ashley just sighed.

"Here," Leon gave my gun back. "I upgraded firepower and capacity."

"Thanks," I mutter as I examined my Punisher. No physical changes though.

"Let's get moving." Leon took the lead and we passed by a bridge. We were halfway when Leon's radio made a noise.

"I'd rather not hear it." Leon said, his face held no emotion. Leon closed his eyes, as if hearing a bad news. "Great." Ashley and I looked at each other and worry filled her eyes. I turned my gaze back at Leon who was still talking to the person on the other line. "Got it."

He put his radio back on his belt. "What was wrong?" I asked. Actually, I hated to ask about this.

"The rescue chopper was shut down and only God knows who did it." Leon once again took the lead.

"Damn." I mumbled.

"But another chopper is being prepared so there's no change of plans."

I was about to respond when we heard foreign voices. It was not alone. The voices were blending. Then we saw where the sounds were coming from.

It came from a route on the left and another army of villagers came from the bridge we passed. "What are we going to do?" Ashley panicked.

"Hate to say it but we're sandwiched, alright..." Leon commented as he searched the surroundings.

"There's a cabin over there!" I pointed out.

"Quick, in that cabin!" Leon commanded and we rushed to the cabin. Leon kicked the door open and pointed his gun at different directions, seeing the coast was clear. He waved a hand, gesturing us that the coast was clear and we quickly came in.

"Leon!" Another foreign voice came from the corner and a plank was tossed in our direction. Leon caught the plank effortlessly and used it as a lock for the door. "Small world, eh? Well, I see that the president equipped his daughter... with ballistics too."

Ashley's face darkened. "How rude! And I don't believe there's any relevance with my figure and my standing." I never thought that Ashley could be this intense. I crossed my arms, amused at the scene. Leon was circling around the room, securing the whole area. "Who are you?" Ashley demanded.

Luis faked laugh. "Excuse me, your highness. Perhaps the young lady might want to introduce herself first before asking someone his name?" He suggested and I smirked.

"Her name's Ashley Graham. The president's daughter." She introduced irritably.

"Is she... Well you know..."

"Don't worry, she's cool." Leon said with a smile.

I saw Ashley turned dumbfounded and blushed. I'm smelling something.

"Eh never mind. There's supposed to be some kind of obvious symptom before you turn into one of them anyway."

Ashley gasped and pointed at the window. "Look!" Her voice filled with terror.

And that's when I realized what situation we're in. I sighed as I peeked outside the nailed window. "Ashley, upstairs!" Leon commanded and Ashley followed.

"How bad is it?" Luis asked me, referring to the situation.

"Pretty bad but not bad enough to take us down." I smirked. Luis' lips curved into a smirk as he pulled out a gun of his own. Leon joined us. "Okay, it's game time." Luis declared. As the villagers surrounded the cabin and began busting out the window, Luis smiled at me. "What's your name, Miss?"

I was about to respond when we heard the security in the window broke, letting the villagers break inside. Leon fired at the villager before it could enter inside the room. The other two windows also broke. Luis fired his gun at the villagers and another villager entered the room. I fired at the villager in the face and he whined in pain. Luis kicked the villager and it melted away.

A villager grabbed me from behind, causing me to squirm and I tried to break free. "Help me!" I called out. Leon kicked the villager behind me, making it release me from its iron grasp.

"You okay?" Leon asked quickly.

"Yeah, thanks." I breathed out desperately.

"You haven't told me your name yet!" Luis yelled, completely tensed up at the situation.

"Tiffany!" I said as I fire again at the villagers. A table was between the room, making it difficult to move around freely.

It's getting a little claustrophobic here...

"That's a nice name! I was thinking more like Angel!" Luis' voice was loud, obviously tensed up by the situation. But he still managed to crack a smile.

"Why is that?" I asked as I fire as well.

"Because--"

"Luis, Tiffa, enough with the chit-chat! We've got a problem here!" Leon cut Luis off, he seemed a little pissed off and I can't blame him though. We're in a life and death situation and we've been talking nonsense.

We heard glass shattered upstairs that made us stop and glance at the stairs.

"Leon, Tiffany, upstairs!" Luis beckoned and ran upstairs.

"Leon, come on!" I said as I run for the stairs as well.

"Be there with you." Leon said as he fire at the remaining villagers inside the room.

I groaned as I ran to the second floor of the cabin. I saw Luis knocking down the ladders on the windows. I saw a large cabinet on the corner of the room, must be where Ashley is hiding. Then another villager climbed up and landed on his feet. I fired my gun at the villager, seven shots and then I'm out.

I reloaded my last clip and fired again. Leon came in running not long after.

"Man, this never ends!" Luis complained.

I had to agree with him. Villagers came charging at us from the stairs and I fired again. With another pull on the trigger, I heard a click on my gun.

"Shit, I'm out!" I exclaimed. I can't ask for bullets from Leon because I know he's running low too.

"Use this." Luis tossed something and I successfully caught it on air. It's a box of handgun ammo.

I smiled at him even though he was too busy firing to notice. "Thanks!" I said a little loud for him to hear. I quickly unloaded the empty clip and replaced it with a full one.

When I was about to fire again, I heard voices outside and no more villagers came in to kill us.

"Looks like they're backin' off." Leon guessed as they lowered down their gun.

Luis went downstairs and Leon followed. I heard Luis said something when he was halfway on the stairs about what are we going to do now and more voices but it's too muffled for me to hear it. I heard something open and I pointed my gun at it. It was Ashley coming out of the closet.

I felt like it had a double meaning... But whatever.

"Are you alright?" Ashley asked worriedly as she gently jump out of the closet.

I nodded and smiled weakly, completely exhausted. "Yeah, Leon and Luis are just downstairs."

Ashley nodded and went downstairs. I looked at the window and saw a lady in a red dress. I squinted my eyes at her because I felt like I've seen her before.

She was the lady back at the village. But what was she doing in here? She looked at my direction as if sensing my stare and I automatically fall back to my knees, preventing her from seeing me. It's what I'm good at: hiding.

After a few minutes of kneeling there, I peeked again and she was gone. Leon and Ashley came upstairs not long after.

"What are you doing?" Leon asked as they stopped in front of me.

I smiled awkwardly. "Just resting."

"We need to go now." Leon said as he pull out his gun from his holster.

I fish my gun on the floor and stood up and fixed my clothes. "Where's Luis?" I asked.

"He said that he has some business to attend to." Leon said nonchalantly as we exit the cabin. There was the merchant again. Did he just stood there and watched us got ambushed by the villagers? Oh whatever.

I found a box of handgun ammo just on the corner of the cabin and machine gun ammo on the woods.

Leon talked to the merchant again and I investigated the shack nearby. I saw a typewriter and a letter. I scanned the letter and I realized that one of the villagers were responsible for the chopper being shut down. Must be Saddler's orders. He'll really do anything to prevent us from escaping that easily.

"Tiffa?" Leon called from outside.

"Right here!" I called back and I walk back to Leon and gave him the letter.

After a few moments of him staring at the paper, he folded it and put it in one of his pockets. "That explains it." He just said before we move to the center of the two routes.

"Where do you think is safer?" I asked him as he was staring at the lever.

Leon faced us as if he made up his mind. "Let's go left." He announced.

That tensed me up but it was better than the right. I read in the letter earlier that in the left route is an army of Ganados (must be what the villagers were called) and the right was the what so called "El Gigante". That must got something to do with the giant monster back at the mini battlefield.

I nodded. "Let's give it a try." I encouraged him. I saw Ashley swallow hard, slightly nervous. "Hey, you alright?" I smiled at Ashley and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Yes, I just feel like the next thing that'll happen won't be pleasant." She mutter, preoccupied.

Nothing ever happened in here is pleasant.

"Don't worry, our top priority is your safety." I said as stare in her eyes.

She gave me a weak smile. "Thank you, you two always make me feel safe."

I chuckled. "Glad to."

We heard a noise from the left, must be opening the route from the left side.

Leon took the lead as we come inside the tunnel like passage to the wooden double doors.

He positioned his hand on the door knob. "You guys ready?" Leon said as he glance at us.

Ashley put a hand on her chest and nodded. I readied my gun. "As ready as I'll ever be."