Chapter 61: Warning

Midsummer remained sweltering, yet a lingering chill had already begun to permeate the air of the entire city.

The third edition of the flu warning notice posted by the city government on the streets had its corners torn and tattered; the warning 'avoid unnecessary outings' could no longer suppress the panic in the citizens' eyes.

In just one month, the official number of 'confirmed flu cases' surpassed three thousand, with over fifty deaths. Rumors of 'madmen biting people' spread through every street and alley. The once-bustling downtown streets saw few pedestrians even during the day, most street-front shops were closed, and boarded-up doors and windows were visible everywhere.

In the sewer stronghold, Jill was squatting on the ground, sorting her purchased weapons and supplies. Tactical vests, rifle magazines, anti-serums, and first-aid kits were neatly arranged in waterproof crates, each clearly labeled with a number.

Chloe sat on a wooden crate nearby, pen in hand, marking new routes on a hand-drawn map. She and Jill were in the control room of the Sewage Treatment Plant, working together to perfect their plan to infiltrate the Hive, polishing every detail bit by bit.

This was the first time Jill clearly felt that this sixteen-year-old girl was no longer the child she had carried out of the Arklay Research Facility, whose eyes had been filled with nothing but terror.

Pointing to the Hive's ventilation shaft on the map, Chloe looked up at Jill. Her voice was steady, no longer showing her previous cowardice. "Here, the wastewater treatment plant pipes—I thought it was a dead end before, but after scouting it this time, I found it leads directly to the Backup Power Room on the third basement level of the Hive. It's a surveillance blind spot."

Jill leaned in, looking where she pointed, her eyebrows twitching slightly. "The Backup Power Room? If we can control this, we can cut off the surveillance and power to the Hive's core area during the operation, buying you more time to infiltrate."

“Yes.” Chloe nodded, her fingertip tracing the route on the map. “I've calculated it. From the safe route in the Sewage Treatment Plant to the ventilation shaft, and then to the Backup Power Room, it takes twelve minutes at the fastest. As long as you create a distraction on the perimeter and draw away most of the guards, I can reach the outskirts of the Core Laboratory within ten minutes.”

Jill looked at the light in her eyes, reached out to ruffle her hair, and a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. “Well done, Chloe. This is even more thorough than I expected.”

Praised, Chloe's ears turned slightly red. She lowered her head, the corners of her mouth unable to stop curling upward. Over the past half month, Jill's trust and companionship had been like a beam of light shining into a life that had lived in darkness for two lifetimes.

She was no longer just an experimental subject who could only shiver inside an isolation chamber; she could fight alongside Jill, protect herself, and protect the people she wanted to protect.

Just then, the encrypted walkie-talkie on the table suddenly crackled. It was Marvin's dedicated channel, the signal heavy with static, and the background noise from the police station sounded chaotic.

Jill immediately picked up the walkie-talkie, pressed the talk button, and asked in a low voice, “Marvin? It's me. What's happening?”

“Jill, things are getting worse.” Marvin's voice carried an irrepressible fatigue and a hint of anxiety.

“Last night, two more officers were injured while on patrol. The station is in a state of panic; some have even handed in their resignations and fled. The rest are either cowering in their offices afraid to leave, or they're Irons's cronies, fooling around with him all day.”

Marvin gave a cold laugh, his tone full of helplessness. “Remember that rookie I mentioned last time? That kid called the station yesterday asking when to report for duty. Irons just dumped the matter on me.”

Marvin's voice deepened. “I didn't let him come. Coming to Raccoon City right now is no different from jumping into a fire pit. I told him the station is dealing with a severe flu outbreak and ordered him to stay on standby at home until further notice.”

Jill breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. “You did the right thing. At a time like this, we can't let a kid fresh out of the academy get dragged into this mess. Did Irons say anything?”

“He doesn't have the heart to care about that right now.” Marvin's tone was full of anger. “He hides in his office all day, fiddling with those animal taxidermy specimens, completely washing his hands of police business. Right now, I'm practically holding the entire station together myself.”

“I understand.” Jill said solemnly. “Be extremely careful, Marvin. Irons has gone mad; don't go head-to-head with him.”

“I know what I'm doing.” Marvin sighed. “By the way, the Umbrella Corporation has been massing a large number of UBCS troops in the suburbs lately. I have a feeling they're planning something big.”

“Alright, I'll keep an eye out. I'll pass along any news as soon as I get it,” Jill said.

After hanging up the walkie-talkie, a brief silence fell over the control room. Chloe looked at Jill's tense profile and said softly, “Jill, the Umbrella Corporation is already preparing to abandon Raccoon City. Tell Marvin and the others to evacuate.”

Jill turned around and tapped her on the head. “Dummy, they're police officers. If they evacuate, what happens to the citizens?”

Chloe rubbed her head and whispered, “Hey, that hurts. What if you make me mutate by hitting me? I don't have any S01 Inhibitor left...”

“What did you say?” Jill didn't catch that.

“Nothing. I'm saying you can at least let their families evacuate. Jill, you must tell Uncle Marvin to arrange for his wife and daughter to leave Raccoon City immediately—right now. Any later, and they really won't be able to leave. The military will take over the city in a few days. When that happens, no one will be allowed in or out. Everyone will be left here to wait for death.”

These words were horrifying, yet as Jill looked into Chloe's certain eyes, she didn't doubt her for a second. she had always known that Chloe knew many things ordinary people didn't—things about the Umbrella Corporation, the virus, and the future of Raccoon City.

She didn't know how Chloe knew, perhaps it was a special ability of an experimental subject, or perhaps a secret hidden deep in her heart, but every one of her warnings had been terrifyingly accurate.

Marvin was one of their few allies in this chaotic city. Jill dared not imagine what would happen to Marvin's wife and daughter if they were trapped in Raccoon City.

“I'll contact Marvin right now.” Jill immediately picked up the walkie-talkie, pressed the talk button, her voice steady but urgent. “Marvin, it's me, Jill. I have something important to tell you.”

Marvin's voice soon came through the walkie-talkie, the background still noisy. “I'm here. Go ahead.”

Jill looked at Chloe beside her, took a deep breath, and relayed her words. “You must arrange for your family to leave Raccoon City immediately. Go now, don't delay. Any later and it will be too late. I've received word that the city will soon be locked down, and no one will be able to get out.”

Marvin was silent for a moment on the other end, clearly shocked by these words, before his grave voice came through: “Is the information reliable? Is Raccoon City really being abandoned?”

“Trust me. I'll contact Brad; he has a safe house in the neighboring city. Marvin! You can't hesitate any longer. Every second you stay in Raccoon City is another second of risk.”

There were a few seconds of silence on the other side. “I understand, Jill. You should get out quickly too. You're not a cop anymore. Raccoon City still has me and the Deputy Chief holding the fort. I'll help you find Chloe, I swear, even if it costs me my life, I won't let anything happen to her!”

“I've already found Chloe. She and I are in a safe place, don't worry.” Jill hung up the walkie-talkie and looked at Chloe.

“Don't worry.” Jill walked over to her, patted her shoulder, and said with a firm tone, “We've made full preparations. No matter what happens, we face it together.”

Chloe looked up, saw the determination in Jill's eyes, and nodded vigorously.