Chapter 94: The Last Sergeant

The cold metal stairs echoed dully beneath his feet as Leon's flashlight beam sliced through the thick darkness, casting swaying spots of light against the walls.

The loud bang of the Goddess Statue mechanism closing behind him still echoed in his ears. That heavy iron door hadn't just cut off Marvin's presence in the main hall; it had completely severed any possibility of turning back.

Thanks to the RPD's comprehensive underground maintenance system, the power, ventilation, and electromechanical facilities for the entire station's basement were still operating steadily. The warm emergency lights were clear and bright, fully illuminating the cramped underground office area.

Leon gripped his handgun, his fingertips resting against the anti-slip texture of the frame, as he advanced with step-by-step caution. Passing through the vacant underground office cubicles, he found an intact, old freight elevator in a corner of the area.

The interior of the cabin was dry and tidy, with the circuit indicator lights glowing normally. After he pressed the button for the lower floor, the elevator descended smoothly. The sound of the steel cables rubbing was amplified infinitely in the cramped space, making one's scalp tingle.

"Ding—"

The elevator doors opened, and an even more intense stench rushed toward him. This was a platform for the underground sewage treatment facility; a distant water pump emitted a monotonous roar, causing the entire space to vibrate slightly.

Leon walked carefully down the fire escape. Just as he rounded a corner, a deafening roar suddenly came from above. The sound was laced with unspeakable pain and fury, as if some massive creature was struggling overhead.

Leon stopped dead in his tracks, raising his gun toward the ventilation duct above, his heart pounding wildly. "What was that sound?" he whispered to himself, the flashlight beam sweeping back and forth across the mouth of the duct.

A harsh sound of metal scraping came from inside the vent, and then everything returned to silence, leaving only the monotonous drone of the pump and the sound of his own heavy breathing.

He hesitated for a moment but decided to keep moving. He was already far below the surface; whatever was up there, it was safer than staying in the police station lobby.

He continued along the passage and soon arrived at a place filled with electrical equipment. This appeared to be the station's underground power distribution room. Huge distribution cabinets were lined up in the open space below the corridor, with exposed wires crisscrossing in the air, occasionally bursting with blue electrical sparks.

The path ahead was blocked solid by a collapsed filing cabinet. Leon lowered his gun and used all his strength to shove the cabinet aside.

He entered a control room and pressed a switch to merge the separated drawbridge, which connected the corridor to the platform on the opposite side.

Leon held his breath, walking slowly across the drawbridge step by step until he finally reached the staff breakroom on the other side.

The breakroom was a mess; the sofa had been torn open, mattresses were thrown on the floor, and half a cup of moldy coffee sat on the table.

In the furthest corner of the breakroom, he found a metal ladder leading upward. The ladder was covered in dust and cobwebs, looking as though it hadn't been used in a long time.

He tucked his handgun into his waistband, grabbed the cold metal handrails, and climbed up step by step.

At the top of the ladder was a hatch. Leon pushed it open with force, and a scent of mixed car exhaust and dust rushed toward him. He climbed out of the hatch and found that he had actually reached the police station's underground parking garage.

The parking garage was pitch black, with only the emergency lights emitting a faint red glow that made the entire space look like hell. Dozens of police cars and private vehicles were parked haphazardly in the spaces, most of their windows shattered and their bodies riddled with bullet holes and scratch marks. Shattered glass, shell casings, and dried blood were scattered across the ground, and the air was thick with the heavy scent of death.

Leon walked quickly to the iron shutter at the garage exit. The shutter was completely lowered. He went to the control cabinet beside it to check and found the words "Keycard Required" displayed on the electronic screen.

"Damn it, no keycard!" Leon punched the control cabinet, producing a dull thud.

He looked around, hoping to find another exit. However, the entire parking garage was like a giant iron box; aside from this shutter, there was no other way to the surface.

Just then, a low animal growl suddenly came from behind him.

The hair on Leon's neck stood up instantly. He spun around, his flashlight beam landing right on the face of a Zombie Dog.

Most of the dog's fur had fallen off, revealing the rotting muscle and white bone beneath. Its eyes flashed with a bloodthirsty red light, and thick saliva dripped constantly from its mouth. It was arching its back, letting out a threatening low growl as it closed in on Leon step by step.

"Give me a break!" Leon cursed under his breath and quickly raised his gun to aim. However, a split second before he could pull the trigger, the Zombie Dog suddenly lunged, the massive impact slamming him hard to the ground.

Leon's back hit the concrete floor hard, his vision momentarily darkening as his handgun flew out of his hand. Instinctively, he used one arm to brace against the Zombie Dog's neck, preventing its teeth from reaching his throat. The Zombie Dog struggled frantically, its foul-smelling saliva dripping onto Leon's face.

Leon's arm grew increasingly sore. The Zombie Dog's strength was incredible, and it looked as though its mouth was about to bite into his face at any second.

He used all his strength to hold back the Zombie Dog's neck while his other hand reached desperately for the handgun on the floor. His fingertips brushed against the grip time and again, but he couldn't grasp it.

Just as he was about to give out, a crisp gunshot pierced the silence of the parking garage.

A burst of blood suddenly erupted from the Zombie Dog's neck. Its massive body stiffened and then slumped heavily onto Leon.

Leon shoved the Zombie Dog's corpse aside, gasping for breath. He looked toward the sound and saw a female silhouette standing in the shadows of the parking garage, holding a handgun with faint wisps of smoke still rising from the barrel.

"Who are you?" Leon struggled to his feet, asking warily.

"Don't let your guard down," the woman's voice said, cold and calm, without a hint of emotion.

Leon finally snapped to his senses and quickly picked up his handgun from the floor. He fired a finishing shot into the twitching Zombie Dog, putting it out of its misery. Then he raised his gun, pointing it cautiously at the silhouette, his finger remaining on the trigger guard.

The silhouette slowly stepped out from the shadows.

She was a highly alluring Asian woman, wearing a well-tailored red cheongsam that outlined her graceful figure, with black stockings covering her long legs.

Her short hair was dark and glossy, falling to either side to reveal a fair neck and delicate collarbones. She held a silver handgun pointed directly at Leon, her gaze cold and sharp, as if she could see through one's soul.

"Put the gun down," she said flatly, her tone brook no argument.

Leon hesitated for a moment before slowly lowering his gun. At that moment, the woman pulled a black ID from her pocket and flashed it in front of Leon.

"Federal Investigator."

Leon breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat and blood from his face. "Sorry. Thank you for saving me."

The woman also lowered her gun, looking Leon up and down with an imperceptible curve at the corner of her mouth. "I'm surprised you managed to find your way here." Having said that, she turned and walked toward the depths of the parking garage.

Leon quickly followed. "FBI? What exactly is going on here? Why has the whole city become like this?"

The woman continued walking without looking back, the sound of her high heels clicking against the ground echoing in the empty garage. "Sorry, that's classified information."

"Hey, where are you going?" Leon quickened his pace, trying to catch up to her.

The woman suddenly stopped and looked back at Leon. The dim red light fell on her face—half bright, half hidden in shadow—making her look even more mysterious. "For your own sake, stop asking questions and get out of here."

With that, she turned, pushed open an inconspicuous small door, and disappeared into the darkness.

"Hey! I'm not finished yet!" Leon sighed helplessly. He glanced at the closed iron shutter and decided to follow her for now; perhaps he could find a keycard.

Meanwhile, in the police station main hall.

Claire walked down from the S.T.A.R.S. office on the second floor, the letter Chris had left behind clutched tightly in her hand. Although the tone of the letter was a bit strange, at least it proved her brother was still alive, which allowed her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, to settle slightly.

The hall was still deathly silent, save for the sound of rain tapping against the glass. Marvin was still lying on the sofa behind the reception desk, his posture almost unchanged.

His face was even paler than before, his lips were parched and cracked, and the cold sweat on his forehead was dripping down like beads from a broken string. The bandages on his abdomen were completely soaked with blood, the dark stains spreading across the white gauze in a shocking manner.

"Marvin?" Claire called out softly, walking quickly to the sofa.

Marvin slowly opened his eyes. Seeing it was Claire, a faint glimmer of light flashed in his eyes. "How is it? Did you find any news about your brother?"

"Yes, I found it." Claire nodded and sat down beside him. "He went to Europe on a trip. He said he's taking a six-month leave."

Marvin let out a long breath, a faint, relieved smile appearing on his face. "That's good, then. That's good. At least he's safe." He paused and coughed violently a few times, spitting out a mouthful of blood-streaked saliva. "Don't worry too much. The most important thing now is your own safety."

He pointed toward the area beneath the Goddess Statue. "Leon already left through there. You should get going too. That tunnel should lead outside."

Just then, a sharp pain suddenly shot through Marvin's abdomen. He jerked upright, clutching his wound with both hands, his body beginning to tremble uncontrollably. Large drops of sweat rolled off his forehead, dripping onto the sofa and leaving dark wet spots.

"Are you okay?" Claire quickly supported him, wanting to help check his wound. "Let me take you with me. We'll go through the tunnel together. We're bound to find a hospital."

"No, forget about me..." Marvin waved her off, his voice so weak it was almost inaudible. "Go on your own."

"No, you're hurt so badly, you need medical treatment immediately!" Claire's voice carried a hint of a sob. "I can't leave you here alone!"

"Listen, Claire." Marvin raised his head and looked into Claire's eyes, his gaze filled with pain and resolve. "Raccoon City is finished. There are no hospitals. We both know how this ends. Hurry and escape Raccoon City."

"But..."

"No buts." Marvin interrupted her, his tone exceptionally firm. "Claire, please, do it for Chris. Just get out of here. Tell him... I did my best."

Claire looked at the tears in Marvin's eyes. Her lips moved, but she ultimately swallowed the words she was about to say. She knew Marvin was right. He had already been infected by the virus; staying here meant certain death, but if she took him with her, they would only both die together.

"Alright..." Claire wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and stood up. "Marvin, thank you. Thank you for telling me all this, and thank you for saving me."

Marvin forced a smile and waved her away. "Go now, while there's still time."

Claire gave Marvin a long look, carving his image into her memory. Then she turned and walked quickly toward the entrance of the underground passage beneath the Goddess Statue.

Just as she was about to step into the passage, a low, inhuman roar suddenly came from behind her.

Claire's footsteps faltered. She didn't look back; she simply bit her lip, quickened her pace, and disappeared into the dark passage.

The heavy iron door slowly closed behind her with a dull thud.

In the hall, Marvin leaned against the sofa, his body beginning to twitch violently. His eyes slowly turned a cloudy greyish-white, and black saliva flowed from the corner of his mouth. Using the last of his strength, he raised his head and looked toward the Goddess Statue, murmuring, "Chris... Jill... I'm sorry..."

Then, his head slumped powerlessly.

The rain continued to drum against the windows with a pitter-patter sound. The entire police station hall fell into eternal silence.