Chapter 43: Searching for Clues Again (Part 2)

(I've sped up the progress of Chris's route; this plotline will end soon /ᐠ ｡‸ ｡ᐟ\)

July 24, 1998, early morning, the underground dormitory area of the Spencer Mansion in the Arklay Mountains.

Chris Redfield gripped his Samurai Edge pistol tightly. The harsh mechanical sound of the freight elevator coming to a halt had long since been swallowed by the surrounding endless darkness and silence.

As he stepped out of the elevator, a slimy sensation came from beneath his feet. The floor was covered in a thick layer of dust and unknown mucus, leaving clear footprints with every step he took.

The surrounding walls were covered in dark water stains, and large patches of yellowed wallpaper were peeling off. Exposed wires occasionally sparked blue, briefly illuminating this long-abandoned underground space.

This was the hidden underground area of the mansion, far deeper, more dilapidated, and more hair-raisingly eerie than the mansion itself.

The air was thick with a damp musty smell, a faint scent of blood, and a lingering, pungent chemical odor. Mixed together, the stench made Chris frown involuntarily.

Rooms were scattered along both sides of the corridor, most with dilapidated doors. He pushed them open one by one to inspect them; inside were rusted iron racks, shredded experimental records, and rotting bedding.

Occasionally, he saw the remains of zombies curled up in corners, long since lost their ability to move. Only a few sluggish zombies lunged at the sound of his footsteps, but he took care of them completely with precise headshots.

Exploring along the way, Chris collected scattered handgun ammunition, half a bottle of First Aid Spray, and several Umbrella Corporation experimental documents that were so water-soaked the handwriting was blurred.

Fragmented text repeatedly mentioned terms like "underwater test subject," "B.O.W. out of control," and "forced disposal," making the unease in his heart grow stronger.

He knew Jill Valentine had already taken this route. The scattered shell casings, broken door locks, and faint signs of struggle on the walls along the way all confirmed this. He followed these traces, trying to catch up with Jill and uncover the truth behind the successive disappearances of the team members.

Walking to the end of the main corridor of the underground dormitory, a rust-stained metal door blocked his path. The door handle was long since rusted and deformed. Chris gave it a sudden, forceful pull; the iron door let out a piercing screech as it slowly swung inward.

A thick wave of water vapor mixed with a heavy, fishy stench immediately rushed toward him, more pungent than the odor in any previous area. Chris instinctively held his breath, raising a hand to cover his nose and mouth. When he looked up, the scene before him made his heart sink.

It was a massive underground waterway. Murky yellow water occupied most of the area, the water level already reaching his waist. The ice-cold water, carrying silt, constantly washed against his legs, making movement exceptionally difficult.

A small concrete platform stood in the center of the waterway. A familiar figure was slumped on the edge of the platform, soaked through and pale as a sheet; it was Richard Aiken, who had previously been bitten by the giant snake and left in Rebecca's care.

"Richard!" Chris felt a surge of relief, and his tensed nerves relaxed slightly. He immediately waded through the water toward the central platform. "How did you get here? Where's Rebecca?"

Richard appeared extremely weak now, his once-tough face etched with pain and terror. There was a deep wound on his leg that was still bleeding, staining the surrounding water a faint pink.

Hearing Chris's voice, he jerked his head up, his eyes bloodshot and his expression near despair. Using almost all his strength, he roared at Chris, "Chris! Don't come over! Stop!"

Chris paused, his brow furrowed. Seeing Richard's abnormal behavior, a strong sense of foreboding rose in his heart, but he didn't stop. Instead, he quickened his pace.

"Richard, you're hurt! I'm getting you out of here!" He thought Richard was trapped by zombies or other mutant creatures and only wanted to get close as quickly as possible to save him.

Just as Chris was only a few steps away from the platform, a huge splash suddenly erupted from the calm water. A massive dark shadow was swimming rapidly beneath the murky surface, rushing toward Chris with the sound of rushing water!

That shadow was far larger than a normal shark, easily five or six meters long. Its massive body was incredibly agile in the water, and its sharp dorsal fin sliced through the surface with a cold glint. It was none other than Umbrella's underwater test subject—the giant mutant shark, Neptune!

Neptune's speed was astonishing. In an instant, it had rushed to Chris's side, opening its massive maw filled with sharp fangs and lunging at him with a foul wind!

Chris's pupils shrank. He wanted to pull away and dodge, but the freezing water restrained his legs. He couldn't react in time.

At this critical moment, Richard on the central platform suddenly stood up. Ignoring his own injuries, he leaped into the water and, with his last ounce of strength, shoved Chris away!

"Chris, don't come over! Ah—"

A shrill scream pierced the silence of the waterway. Chris was thrown violently to the side by the massive force, slamming hard against the nearby concrete wall, while Richard fell directly into Neptune's attack range.

The mutant shark instantly turned, its sharp fangs biting hard into Richard's torso. Blood erupted instantly, staining the entire murky water surface red.

Chris watched helplessly as Richard struggled a few times before being violently dragged into the deep water by Neptune. All that remained on the surface was a violent churning of water and a rapidly spreading, eye-searing bloodstain.

In just a few seconds, the water returned to calm. The splash of crimson slowly dispersed in the water until it finally vanished. Richard was completely gone.

"Richard!" Chris's eyes felt like they were bursting as he roared, wanting to rush forward, but the icy water and endless despair held him fast.

He stumbled over to the metal railing at the side of the waterway, his hands gripping the bars so tightly his knuckles were almost embedded in the metal. He stared down at the calm water, but there was no response other than the murky flow and a faint tinge of blood.

The usually steady and reliable Richard, who always silently protected his teammates, had just died in the jaws of a mutant shark to save him.

Guilt, anger, and pain swept over Chris instantly. He clenched his fist and smashed it hard against the cold railing. The skin on the back of his hand broke and bled, but he couldn't feel the slightest pain; his heart was filled only with self-reproach.

If he had just listened to Richard's warning and hadn't approached so recklessly, perhaps Richard wouldn't have died.

After standing dazed by the railing for an unknown amount of time, Chris finally suppressed the surging emotions in his heart. He knew now was not the time to indulge in grief. Richard had traded his life for Chris's chance to live; he had to survive, uncover the truth here, and lead the remaining people out of this hell.

He looked around and noticed a closed iron door in the corner of the waterway with a "Control Room" sign on it. That must be the core area for controlling this waterway.

Chris took a deep breath, enduring the cold in his legs and the sharp pain in his heart, and waded with difficulty toward the Control Room.

The Control Room door was unlocked. He pushed it open and entered. The space inside was small, housing a row of old control consoles. Most of the screens were flickering with static, with only a few indicator lights still faintly glowing. A waterway layout map and an operation manual were scattered on the desk, marking procedures for water drainage and emergency power cut-off.

He quickly crouched before the control console and began the decryption process according to the instructions in the manual.

The buttons on the console were long since aged, and many were unresponsive. He needed to press the corresponding buttons in a specific sequence to crack the layers of encryption before he could start the drainage system.

Minutes and seconds ticked by. He could almost hear the sound of the mutant shark swimming underwater. Chris didn't dare to slacken for a moment, his hands moving rapidly and his forehead covered in cold sweat. Finally, after several attempts, he pressed the last confirmation button.

"Vrrr—"

A low hum of mechanical operation sounded, followed by the roar of a massive flow of water from below the waterway. The water level, which had been up to his waist, began to drop rapidly.

Before long, the water in the entire waterway was completely drained, revealing a slippery, muddy floor. The massive Neptune was trapped in the dry waterway. Deprived of the water's support, it could only writhe and flop wildly on the ground. Its rough skin scraped against the concrete floor, making a harsh sound, and its sharp fangs snapped open and shut with endless ferocity.

Chris's eyes were cold, and he didn't hesitate for a second. He found an exposed high-voltage power line in the corner of the Control Room and tore off the insulation, revealing the sparking metal wires inside.

Watching for the right moment, he hurled the wire onto the floor of the waterway. One end of the wire landed exactly in a puddle next to Neptune. He then immediately turned back to the console and flipped the emergency power switch.

Instantly, a powerful current surged through the puddle and across the entire waterway. The giant mutant shark Neptune was struck hard by the electricity. Its massive body convulsed violently, letting out a shrill roar. Its skin began to char, and after a moment of struggling, it collapsed completely on the ground, no longer moving.

After confirming that Neptune had been completely electrocuted, Chris slowly walked out of the Control Room. He walked with heavy steps through the dry waterway, looking at the bloodstains that hadn't yet dispersed, the guilt in his heart surging once again.

He did not linger, following the traces left by Jill to continue exploring further inside. He passed through several narrow corridors and arrived at an area covered in plant vines, which was the experimental area where Jill had previously encountered Plant 42.

Unlike the danger during Jill's encounter, Plant 42 was now completely dead. Its massive vines were withered and yellowed, curled up on the ground and walls like a dead tree. There were clear burn marks on its core, obviously indicating that Jill had completely dealt with it earlier.

The air was filled with the scent of burnt plants. Chris quickly checked the area, and after confirming there was no danger, he pushed open the door on the other side of the experimental area, preparing to move on.

As soon as he pushed the door open, a petite figure walked towards him. The person clearly did not expect anyone to appear suddenly, and was startled into taking a sharp step back, letting out a soft gasp.

"Oh! You scared me!"

Chris looked up and saw that it was Rebecca, his tense expression relaxing slightly. Rebecca was wearing her S.T.A.R.S. uniform, which was covered in dust and stains. She was gripping a first-aid kit in her hand, and her eyes were filled with lingering fear; it seemed she had also experienced quite a bit of danger while exploring alone.

Seeing Chris pale, his expression downcast, and completely lacking his usual composure and determination, Rebecca felt her heart tighten. She quickly stepped forward and asked worriedly: "Are you alright? Chris."

Chris lowered his eyes, his voice hoarse and carrying undisguisable exhaustion and grief: "I'm fine, it's just that… Richard… he… is gone too."

That short sentence cost him a great deal of effort.

"What?" Rebecca's expression changed abruptly, her eyes widening in disbelief. "How could that be… I clearly settled him in a safe place and kept watching over him. How could he have run out…"

"It's all my fault. I should have been more careful. It was my fault that he got dragged into this." Chris clenched his fists and said self-reproachfully. If he hadn't rashly entered the waterway, and if he had discovered the danger in time, Richard would never have sacrificed his life.

Rebecca's eyes reddened, her voice choked with sobs: "I'm so sorry, Chris. I just found a medical room with a lot of medical equipment and reagents. I thought perhaps I could make a serum to fight the virus and save Richard. I never expected that he would run out and meet with such misfortune…"

She paused, turned, and pointed to the corridor behind her: "Come with me, the medical room is just up ahead. This room has plenty of medicine and equipment. Are you injured anywhere? Do you need treatment?"

Chris waved his hand, forcing himself to stay alert, his tone firm: "No need, I'm fine. But if something happens to me, then I'll have to rely on you. Rebecca, you are the team's medic; you must protect yourself."

Hearing this, Rebecca, who had been holding back her tears, could no longer keep it together and burst into tears.

Losing teammates one after another, and being trapped in this terrifying and gloomy hell, the endless fear and sorrow completely crushed this young medic. She trembled all over, tears streaming down uncontrollably, and her suppressed sobbing echoed in the empty corridor.

Chris looked at her, his heart full of heartache. He stepped forward and gently patted her shoulder, his tone steady and powerful, carrying an unquestionable firmness: "Rebecca, you must be strong! We haven't been wiped out yet. As long as we are alive, there is definitely a chance to leave this place. Richard and the other teammates who sacrificed themselves will not have died in vain!"

Under Chris's comfort, Rebecca slowly stopped crying and nodded.

Chris settled her in the medical room, telling her to rest there for a while and organize the medicine and supplies. He then took his weapon and went out to continue exploring the surroundings, searching for traces of other teammates, especially the whereabouts of Jill.

He walked slowly along the corridor, scanning his surroundings vigilantly. Just as he reached a corner, a familiar figure walked towards him, wearing an S.T.A.R.S. uniform, with an expression that remained composed. It was Captain Wesker.

"Wesker?" Chris stopped, a flash of surprise in his eyes, and immediately asked, "Where is Jill? I thought you were with her." When they were separated earlier, he had assumed that Wesker would be traveling with Jill, and that the two would look out for each other.

Seeing Chris, a trace of imperceptible surprise flashed in Wesker's eyes, but he quickly concealed it, his face showing just the right amount of concern:

"Chris, you're alive, that's great. We were indeed together at first, but this underground area is too complex. After being attacked by mutated creatures, we got separated, and I haven't been able to find her."

His tone was natural, his expression sincere. If it were in the past, Chris would have believed him without a doubt. But having walked this path, seeing team members being killed one after another, and with various clues pointing to a traitor within the team—combined with Wesker's previous abnormal behavior—Chris couldn't help but feel a sliver of suspicion. However, with no evidence at hand, he could only suppress his doubts.

"I see." Chris said in a deep voice, "Anyway, it's too dangerous here. There are more and more mutated creatures. We must find a way to leave this place so we don't become a feast for the zombies. Wesker, do you have any good ideas?"

Wesker nodded slightly, feigning deep thought for a moment before saying, "We must further understand the situation to find an escape route. There must be areas in that Spencer Mansion that haven't been investigated yet, which might hide the secrets of the Umbrella Corporation, and possibly the traces of other teammates.

Chris, you should return to the Spencer Mansion to investigate thoroughly, while I continue to stay in this underground area to search and see if I can find Jill. We will regroup later."

"No problem." Chris didn't think too much about it. Finding Jill and uncovering the truth were the top priorities. He nodded in agreement, then parted ways with Wesker and headed towards the freight elevator he had noted earlier.

He took the freight elevator back to the surface and arrived at the cabin in the woods. The heavy rain outside had not stopped, soaking his clothes and feeling bone-chillingly cold. Chris walked through the damp forest, proceeding cautiously, and successfully arrived at the courtyard of the Spencer Mansion, returning inside the Spencer Mansion.

By this time, the Spencer Mansion was already far more dangerous than before. Along the way, agile and swift Hunters kept appearing, constantly pouncing from the shadows to launch fierce attacks on Chris.

Chris dared not be the least bit careless. He quickly switched to his Shotgun and, relying on agile movement and precise shooting, engaged the Hunters in a fierce battle.

The roar of the Shotgun echoed continuously in the corridors of the Spencer Mansion. Bullets precisely struck the vital points of the Hunters, and one by one, the Hunters fell to the ground, twitching as they lost signs of life. After the battle, Chris's physical strength was greatly depleted, and he had added a few small wounds to his body, but he dared not stop for a moment and continued to explore within the Spencer Mansion.

Just as he passed the door of a guest room on the first floor, a clear and terrified scream suddenly came from upstairs, piercing the dead silence of the Spencer Mansion.

"It's Rebecca!" Chris felt his heart tighten. He immediately identified the source of the sound. "She's upstairs!"

He had no time to think and immediately ran upstairs, his steps hurried and his heart pounding wildly. In the corridor on the second floor of the Spencer Mansion, a Hunter was cornering Rebecca. The Hunter arched its body, its sharp claws ready to attack at any moment.

Rebecca sat slumped on the ground, pale and trembling all over, with absolutely no strength to resist, and could only look at the monster in front of her in despair.

"Rebecca!" Chris roared, immediately raising his Shotgun and pulling the trigger without hesitation.

"Bang!"

The bullet hit the Hunter's back precisely. The Hunter, in pain, turned around abruptly and lunged at Chris. Chris retreated calmly and fired again. The dense Shotgun pellets shattered the Hunter's skull directly, and the monster fell to the ground instantly, with no movement left.

After dealing with the Hunter, Chris immediately rushed to Rebecca's side, crouched down, and asked anxiously: "Rebecca! Are you alright? Are you injured?"

Rebecca looked up, her eyes red and puffy, her voice trembling with tears: "Chris! I'm sorry, I made you worry. I just wanted to come out and see if I could help, but I didn't expect to run out of bullets and encounter this monster…"

Looking at her terrified appearance, Chris felt full of self-reproach; he shouldn't have left her alone in the Spencer Mansion. He reached out to help Rebecca up and suggested in a firm tone:

"We can't stay in this damn place any longer. There are more and more mutated creatures, and there will be danger at any moment. We must find Jill and the others who are left, and figure out a way to leave here, okay?"

Rebecca nodded vigorously, clutching Chris's sleeve tightly. At this moment, she could only rely on Chris.

The two of them organized their supplies and, looking out for each other, walked downstairs. When they reached the corner of the stairs in the main hall, Chris stopped abruptly.

The iron door to the basement, which had originally been locked, was now wide open. Pitch blackness leaked from the gap in the door, and a faint, fishy stench wafted out. It was clear that someone had just opened it, or that some creature had been moving in and out of here.

Chris and Rebecca exchanged a glance, both seeing vigilance and determination in the other's eyes. Chris tightened his grip on his weapon, signaled for Rebecca to follow behind him, and walked slowly towards the open basement iron door, preparing to venture inside and investigate.