Chapter Text
Crumbling stone walls and shattered windows were the scene that greeted you as you slowly opened your eyes, the air thick with dust and the musty smell of decay that surrounded you suggests that this place had been abandoned for years.
Feeling stiff and bruised all over, you inspected your body for injuries but saw nothing.
You couldn’t help but panic because before passing out from exhaustion, you remembered the flickering glow of your desk lamp while refining your thesis that could make Umbrella Corporation notice you.
And now you’re here.
You slowly climbed up while getting support from the wall, everything went black all of a sudden so you stayed still for a moment. You groped your way out of the dilapidated buildings and onto the narrow road that parted through the wilderness—the only sign that this place is connected to somewhere.
Your feet scream in protest as you walk endlessly till the sun slowly sets, everything that is happening to you right now is terrifying and strange. You prayed that it was just jerks from your university targeting you and not some syndicates.
You couldn’t help but tear up as you gave up moving forward and remembered how far you’ve come— working hard to get rid of the smell of poverty that follows you everywhere. You’re so jealous of your peers living their best lives in the Upper East Side not having to work their asses off with dirty jobs that no one else is willing to do besides bums like you who don’t have a choice because you’ll starve to death — no, just having a parent that you could rely on is all you needed but fate played a cruel trick on you and picked you as one of unlucky lads that no one wants. Now you just wanted a life that you could control, it was just within your arms reach and this shit has to happen to you.
You composed yourself after a minute and removed the shoes you're wearing when you realized that what you’re wearing— despite its dirty appearance—is the Chanel Black Velvet Lion Pumps you’ve been dreaming of owning.
You felt a weight in your wrist and your mind went black as you slowly moved your eyes to the shiny thing in your wrist— ‘Jaeger-LeCoultre’ and the word ‘Reverso’ at the bottom. You didn’t need to be familiar with the brand to know it costs a fortune, the cold metal against your skin money— more than what you’d ever had as an 18 year old student.
The clothes you’re wearing were understated, its quality is miles better that you even felt embarrassed to compare it to the clothes you thrifted at a local store —the only things you could afford. The sobs completely stopped as you tried to rationalize what was happening, you hurriedly wore the Chanel Black Velvet Lion Pumps again ignoring the ache in your feet, a strange laugh escaped from you as you tried to walk on it, you felt the same joy you felt every time you got a luxury clothes at a thrift store.
You wondered to yourself which idiot kidnaps someone, dumps them in the middle of nowhere, and makes their victim wear luxurious items.
“Are these… compensation?” You murmured. “Because if they are, I could survive a few more kidnappings.” When you’re suddenly pounced on by someone, you tried resisting but couldn’t shake off the strong arms that bind you.
“I advise you to stop moving if you don’t want me to be more forceful.” A man’s deep voice with a low register resounded in your ears as you felt his breath near your neck, you let him bind you after being momentarily distracted.
“What the fuc—“ You turned around with difficulty and stopped cursing after seeing the appearance of the person pinning you down, he’s just your type— the kind of person you’d secretly admire but it all vanished the moment reality hit, he’s probably a dangerous man and you don’t want to risk your safety.
“Is this some kind of joke, it’s not funny and y’all have a terrible sense of humor!” You lashed out with anxiety.
“How did you know that I have a terrible sense of humor?” His tone carried genuine surprise.
“What?” You frowned, surprised.
“Everyone tells me that,” he said. “I didn’t expect you to reach the same conclusion as them, considering we’ve only known each other for less than a day.”
“Are you nuts?” You snapped, irritation rising. “And besides this is the first time I saw you! Our meeting didn’t even last for five minutes, and you’re giving me that bullshit!”
“Nice try feigning innocence,” Sarcasm could be heard from his tone. “Didn't you use me to hold off those infected people and escape on your own last night? I thought we had some sort of camaraderie. I guess I overestimated you.”
You blinked at him, completely dumbfounded. The expression on his face… he looked so disappointed, almost hurt. How could you bear to make that face show those emotio— wait… you didn’t freaking do the things he’s accusing you of.
You faced him with an unconvinced expression. “I… What are you talking about?” You frowned. “I didn’t even know you a few moments ago, and now you’re making up things I supposedly did?”
“I assure you,” he said, his voice steady. “Pretending to have amnesia would do nothing to absolve you of the crimes you have committed.”
You snorted at his words. “Then tell me what crimes I committed!”
He stopped for a moment, pursing his lips before looking away.“Crime against humanity.”
“I bombed a city?” You asked jokingly.
His expression darkened and looked at me with an expression I couldn’t quite comprehend. “No.”
“Then what?” I asked with unease.
“You caused a city to be bombed.” You were taken aback by his response.
“Hey! You can’t just go around and accuse me of doing inhumane acts! I might be power-hungry, I might be ruthless sometimes, but I’m not without morals.”
He chuckled sarcastically before dusting off his clothes. “Fair enough. Let the court decide, but I doubt you could keep being innocent for long.” He faced me with a mocking smile. “And do tell me— do you even believe in the morality that you claim to have?”
He fell silent after that, you could sense his mood darkening so you refrained from asking him more questions.
Finally, he gestured you to follow him still with that menacing look, you trailed behind him, questioning every word he said. Were you really capable of causing such devastation? All you’ve ever wanted was to move up in the social ladder, to gain independence, power, and respect. Can your ambition really lead to this?
You tried talking to him but ultimately gave up the idea, after contemplating for a few more minutes you decided to swallow your pride and pull out all the courage left in you. “Are we going to just continuously walk on this never ending road?” Your voice came out small, almost fawning.
“Don't you remember” he glanced back at you, his eyes questioning. “there’s Hunnigan.”
“Oh Hunnigan…” You said feigning awareness. You had no idea what he’s talking about, maybe it was some kind of futuristic device storing information that you couldn’t even begin to wrap your head around.
“How'd you get here, I’ve been walking for a long time and I would really appreciate it if there’s a vehicle that could take me out of here.” You said hopefully.
He stopped on his track and lightly scratched his nose “It caught fire.” Embarrassment could be heard in his voice.
“There’s a 19% chance for it to happen and you belong in it?”
“That’s still a ⅕, pretty high chance.”
Silence reigned between the two of you. You hesitated, knowing what you're supposed to ask might displease— but you need to know the answers to your confusion. “So… about the crime that you keep talking about,” You take a deep breath before continuing. “can you elaborate on it more?” You asked him with your voice getting lower as you spoke each word.
He stepped closer, stopping just a hair’s breadth away, you froze and looked straight into his ocean eyes— it reminded you of all those desolate winter nights that you desperately wanted to forget— moments wallowing in self pity, sleepless nights you had endured just to claim something truly yours. How could such beautiful eyes that always reminded you of the morning sky radiate such melancholic light?
“I think you’re the one with the terrible sense of humor here,” He sighed softly. “How come you’re suddenly pretending to forget the terrible things you’ve done?”
You couldn’t defend yourself. What if you are really one of the reason why those blue eyes dimmed.
He started walking ahead but you couldn’t take the strength to take a step forward, he stopped and looked back at you seriously. “This is the second time I will trust you.”
“Second time?” You asked in a confused tone. He sat down on the side of the road and scrutinized you before patting the ground beside him.
He grimaced “What happened to you, how come you don't even remember how you betrayed me in that hellhole last night.”
“But I don’t remember anything you’ve said Ive done, I just woke in a dilapidated building and the only thing I remember last night is preparing for my research that could make Umbrella notice me. That would change my life.” He scoffed after hearing you. “What! Getting in Umbrella would make my life better, I don't have to work several jobs just to support myself and fret about all those debts I have incurred.”
He tilted his head scornfully and looked away.“Who would have guessed that the reason why the world is fucked like this is money.”
“What’s wrong with money,” I asked in an offended manner. “Everything has always been about money! It keeps the world spinning, and people like me—people who have to claw their way up—don’t have to live like pariahs.”
His dismissive tone cut through you. You bit your lip until you could taste rust. You knew you shouldn’t feel embarrassed about your ambition. Still, deep down, you had once scorned people who chased money, believing ideals mattered more. However, reality is cruel. Sometimes, survival meant being a slave to money.
“Then you tell me,” You shouted, anger overtaking you, “all that bullshit I’ve done you keep spouting about!”
He stepped closer to you and gripped your shoulders firmly. “You want to know what you did? You’re one of the people from umbrella who created a virus that killed hundreds of thousands… and the reason why I'm like this.”
His words were like stabbing daggers straight to your heart.
“What do you mean umbrella? I'm not even part of umbrella yet, it's 1996 and I’m still doing my thesis in university peacefully and… and my professor just promised me that he’ll recommend me to umbrella if I succeed in my experiment.” I laughed with unease. “Is this one of those prank shows, my consent wasn’t asked for this and you realize that you could be sued by Umbrella for defamation right. Right?”
“Umbrella already collapsed and you’re one of its remnants. It's 2004 and the things Umbrella did are still haunting this world.” His hands on your shoulder slowly loosened. “Everything… is just not the same anymore.”
Your heart skipped a beat at the revelations you heard. You couldn’t even make a sound, did you just become a classic medical case based on Ribot’s Law.
“I… I'm sorry,” You murmured. “I might have retrograde amnesia — all I’ve known is that it’s still 1996.” You said dejectedly, lowering your eyes. “Could you please tell me what happened?”
"September 30th, 1998…” He began, his voice low.
“It's a day I'll never forget.
The cop inside me died that day.
And that night, Raccoon City was wiped out. Thanks to the bioweapons created by Umbrella.
Somehow, I made it out. But too many others...weren't so lucky.
I was 'asked' later to join a top-secret government program.
Not that I had a choice.
The training, the punishing missions nearly killed me.
But at least they kept my mind off everything.
If I could just forget what happened that night, the pain—even for a second.
This time, it can be different.
It has to."
“How could that be…” I said in disbelief “Umbrella?” Corporations are ruthless but you didn’t expect them to do such heinous acts… Then it suddenly hits you— you might also be part of that system if what he’s saying is true, you might be recruited by umbrella after completing your thesis, just as your professor said.
You swallowed nervously and hopefully look at him in the eyes. “And… what does that have to do with me?”
“You’re part of Umbrella’s core team,” He said seriously, locking eyes with you. “One of the reasons why the raccoon city incident happened.”What a twist of fate, you would succeed in your goals and be part of such an important thing but will be like a rat hiding in the gutters after only a few years.
“Whats going to happen to me?” You asked as you looked away while nervously fiddling with your fingers.
“After surrendering you to BSAA, you will be interrogated and closely monitored.”
Before you could ask more, a man attacked him from out of nowhere. Panic surged through you as they fought, their movements fast and brutal. Someone tried to drag you away. You struggled, but his grip tightened, threatening you into stillness.
Helpless, you prayed for the man that was with you earlier to come to your rescue— you don’t even know his name and you promise to yourself to ask him when everything is taken care of. You feel more safe with him over this individual who grabbed you and took you away.
You heard a gunshot and the man holding you dropped you, you fell to the ground and gasped for air after feeling a sprain in your ankle. Standing up with difficulty, you looked up to him fighting two people at once, he stopped for a moment when he got the chance to get closer to you.
“I’ll hold them off. Run first. I’ll find you later on.” You nodded desperately even though you knew he couldn't see it and ran off to the wilderness even though every step that you take feels like a blade is being pushed through your feet. Crouching down slowly beside a tree, you teared up after seeing your surroundings— gigantic trees that look like they are about to swallow you whole.
He would probably have a hard time finding you, and you don’t even know if he's going to be safe. Alone in this wilderness, you felt smaller than ever— just like how you were originally.
You were back to zero.
No place in this world would accept you for the past that you have no idea of, all your efforts to fight your fate are wasted because apparently the path you’ve been pursuing will result in relentless suffering and guilt that you could never shake off.
You bowed your head to your knees and cried sorrowfully to vent all the grievances that you’ve been enduring since you woke up as your 26 years old self, you tried to calm yourself still feeling your chest tight with sorrow.
After regaining composure— you noticed someone standing in front of you.
You looked up to see Leon’s unchanging expressionless face, it made you flustered in embarrassment for showing this vulnerable side of you to him.
He sighed and turned around, you calmed yourself.
“Thank you for finding me.” You said while sniffing slightly, you hiccup from being startled after he looked back at you, his face showing a subtle smile, you couldn’t help but be fascinated by it, not quite sure if what you saw is really true.
“It’s my job to escort you back safely to BSAA.” You couldn’t help feeling a pang of disappointment.
“My ankle is sprained. Can I rest here for a while?” He looked back at you and kneeled down in front of you, his actions made your heart skip a beat. “Where is it?” You motioned to your left ankle.
“Can I?” You nodded hesitantly. he suddenly twisted your ankle, you let out a shriek, then sighed in relief as the pain vanished.
“Good technique.” You murmured.
“Can you walk now?” You shook your head at his question.
He sighed and sat down beside you. You stared at him, fatigue showing in his face. It just suddenly dawned upon you that you still didn’t know his name. “What’s your name?” He looked back at you.
“Leon.” He said. “Leon Kennedy.” You hummed and looked away.
“What about you?”
You looked at him in surprise. “You arrested me while not knowing my name?”
He shook his head in denial. “I only knew you as Zeta-01.
”A codename?”
He nodded at me. “Just keep calling me that. I guess the name I’ve been using is already infamous, and besides… I don’t really know what my real name is, if I even have one.” You stared in an empty space and gave a depreciating smile.