A terrifying roar echoed through the depths of the Hive.
Alice and Carlos both froze, their faces paling.
Vincent spread his hands, a wry smile on his lips. "Looks like I called it."
Alice clenched her jaw, eyes blazing with resolve. "No matter Umbrella's schemes, I will destroy them."
"I'm with you all the way," Vincent replied.
Carlos nodded, though a flicker of fear remained in his eyes. The three pressed onward.
They passed through a long, dim corridor and emerged into a vast, pitch-black chamber. Instinct told Alice something dangerous lurked in the shadows.
"Be careful," she cautioned. "If Umbrella's headquarters really is here, this place will be deadly."
Hearing Vincent's warning, Alice and Carlos both nodded gravely. They were no fools they understood his logic.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Hive, a squad of West Saint Academy students found themselves surrounded by zombies.
"I'm out of bullets!"
"Me too. We're done for!"
"I, I don't want to die! I haven't even had a boyfriend yet!"
The groaning undead were drawn by gunfire, closing in fast, while the students' magazines lay empty.
Just as despair set in, a sharp whistle sounded. A single arrow shot through the darkness, striking a zombie squarely in the temple. One after another, more arrows flew, each finding its mark not one wasted.
The rescued students gaped in awe.
"Get moving! Hurry!"
A clear, commanding voice cut through the panic. The students scrambled aside, revealing their savior: their class president, Autumn Su, emerging from the shadows with her bow still raised.
In moments, she had cleared a path for them to escape. The students fled, hearts pounding, rushing to safety.
Back inside the Hive, Vincent watched Autumn's retreating form and allowed himself a quiet sigh of relief. Finally, he thought, that overeager class president is out of my hair.
He turned to face the lurking monster once more. Earlier, he'd only sounded clever to spook Alice, but had avoided striking the creature outright. He could have ended it long ago.
"Just teasing you," Vincent said, drawing his long blade. "Now it's your turn."
The mutant lizard let out a furious roar and lunged.
Vincent met it head-on, swinging his blade in a single, fluid motion. With a sickening thud, the beast's spine split asunder. Its severed torso tumbled to the floor, leaving a crimson smear in its wake.
Carlos rushed forward. "Alice, are you all right?"
Alice, still outside, merely whispered, "I'm fine," her gaze fixed on Vincent. She hadn't even seen his strike an unsettling testament to his speed and power.
She herself, a T-virus carrier, possessed heightened strength and reflexes, yet even she couldn't track his movements.
"It seems you've been keeping secrets," Alice murmured, more to herself than to Vincent.
Vincent frowned, scanning the chamber's darkness. He sensed more creatures waiting in ambush.
"Not the time for talk more mutants are coming!" he warned.
Alice's expression hardened. "Let's move faster through that door to the elevator."
"Go!" Vincent urged.
Remarkably, the remaining mutants did not attack. They watched passively as the trio made their escape, as if recognizing these three were not prey to be trifled with.
They emerged into the elevator and descended rapidly to the Hive's lowest level. The doors slid open with a 'ding,' revealing an opulent subterranean manor.
Holographic projections covered the walls, depicting sunlit fields so convincingly that one might forget they were underground. In the room's center sat a sumptuous leather sofa upon which reclined a sharply dressed man, casually sipping red wine.
He was none other than Dr. Isaacs, Umbrella's true mastermind. Behind him stood Albert Wesker, his loyal and equally formidable lieutenant.
Alice's face paled again at the sight. She had never imagined they would actually be hiding deep beneath the Hive.
Dr. Isaacs rose smoothly, a welcoming smile on his face. "Alice… and our friend," he nodded toward Vincent, "I'm not sure how to address you. Care for a glass? This is 1907 Blanc des Blacns quite exquisite."
Vincent exchanged a glance with Alice and Carlos. The final confrontation had begun.