Moments after Alanyia and Carlos split up in chapter ten

Carlos had gotten lost halfway there, but managed to get turned around thanks to some of the regular cops. He found himself standing at the double doors of the station's library. Why do we even have a library here? It's muy bizarre... He thought absentmidedly as he opened them, and walked inside. Every time he came here, he was STILL astounded by the number of books and the need for two floors of them. Another of Irons' fancies, he guessed. "Hey, is there anyone in here?" he called out, looking around, his dark eyes shifting around. Creepy place, though....

"Huh, yeah, You must be Jinn right?" Leon asked having been told to wait there for an Al. Jinn.

Carolos shook his head. "Naw...Carlos Oliveira...Al was heading out with a chopper out to the Spencer place...so I came here to meet you instead." He offered a slight grin, and one of his hands. "You're Leon, right? So, what do you think of the place?"

"This place is huge. Who's idea was it to convert the palace?"

Carlos shrugged. "I think it was Umbrella, and Chief Irons...let me tell you, the man is a fanatic for art....but, his tastes are on the muy loco side..." He rubbed one bare, toned arm and shivered uncontrolably.

"So I've heard. The guy seems like a jerk." Leon grinned. "So you're stuck showing me around though right? Where to first?" Leon noted his action and wondered what was up with it.

Carlos looked thoughtful. "Well, let's see...on this floor, there's the library -where we're standing, obviously - the Chief's private office and gallery - no one's usually allowed in there, plus it's where he keeps most of his things - the STARS office, a few storerooms...and the stairs to the inner workings of that fancy clock you probably saw on the way in. Then, on the first floor, there's the offices for plainclothes and uniforms, a reception area, the main lobby, the meeting room, the lockers, a small commisary, a dark room, the evidence storage room. Finally, there's the basement - underground parking, the cells, the kennel, weapons storage, the power room, and the morgue." He ran a hand through his hair, and glanced around. "Depends on what interests you more."

Leon gave a small grin. "You're in charge. I'm just the little puppy I guess. Though.. you said Al was leaving? Thought the Spencer house was blocked off. At least that's what the neighbor kid said the other day before she pulled the disappearing act on me."

Carlos gave him a glance. "You haven't heard about the killings, then?" He scratched his arm, and blinked. "A while back, maybe a month or two, some weird stuff's been going down...."

"That's what she hinted at. But she wouldn't say much about it. I figured it was some grade school story going around. Then again.. .I just moved to town about a week ago, and to top it off, my TV's still not hooked up." Leon brushed the brown locks out of his face.

Carlos looked around, then dragged the slightly older man behind some bookshelves. "Listen, this isn't something that most cops here talk about, comprende? I mean, we could get in trouble, if the Chief hears us." He said quietly, then grinning. "That said, let me start off. About two months ago, some people started disappearing around the edge of town....then, bodies turned up."

In another part of the building Alanyia had wrapped her hand and leg. She sat by the door trying to pick the lock with one of her boot knives. Come on... He couldn't have gotten a new lock on this thing.... She was rewarded with a click and the door opening. Great... Now to see if I can find my way out of here.. I have to tell them what's going on...

Leon nodded keeping an eye out for anyone else. "She said they were messed up... You figure out what it is?"

"At first, everyone thought they were animal attacks....these people had been EATEN, probably alive. Then, when forensics got to work, they found out something muy disgusting...the teeth marks and bite patterns belonged to humans....but that wasn't the half of the craziness that started up weeks later.." Carlos rubbed his arm again. "In fact, it's part of the reason new officers started getting transfered in..."

Leon looked at him. "Canibals?" Leon asked. "If that's the case... I think I'm going to need something other than just my handgun...."

"Like I said, not the half of it. Hikers started to go missing up in the Arklay mountains...and what was left was mangled...by dogs. Only these had to have been killer attack dogs that must've been starved, 'cause the bodies also showed evidence of being eaten." The hispanic patted his vest, and pulled out a rolled up sheaf of papers. "I'm not supposed to have this, you understand....it's one of the STARS theory reports...talks about some kinda ritualistic cult, with attack dogs as one possibility....and if there IS a cult, then they'd be based out of the old Spencer mansion....but, there's been some talk that the mansion wasn't abandoned thirty years ago, depsite what Irons says..." He gave Leon the report, making sure no one was around to see.

Leon skimmed it. "That can't be true. Sue said that her parents worked near the estate.." He thought a moment.. In the last few days a child hasn't shown up.. About ten years old?"

Carlos looked thoughtful. "Are you serious? That mansion was built by Umbreall thirty years ag....wait a minute...what WERE her parents jobs?" His eyes were narrowed, and the gears in his head were turning as the pieces began falling into place.

Leon looked at him. "She said they were biologists, studying the forest.." He said remembering what she had told him. "Seems fishie though.. The kid also said she made this cat she had. Then again, Sue's smart she probably could have."

The hispanic stroked his chin. "It doesn't add up...the mountains have been closed off ever since the hikers were found...and she MADE her cat? What did it look like?" Carlos was beginning to get a bad feeling about this whole mess...and worried about Alanyia.

"It looked like a tabby only green." Leon saw teh worry on the man's face. "Should we warn your friend? Maybe he hasn't left yet."

"SHE should've been gone by now..." Carlos glanced around. "The chopper pad isn't far from here....let's take a look. If she's not gone, then we check the locker rooms, okay?"

Leon nodded. "Deal, lead the way."

Carlos took the report, and tucked it away. "Okay, follow me." He lead Leon out through the double doors, then backtracked his way to the main hallway before taking another turn that lead them through an empty corridor. He saw spots of oil on the floor as they walked, and a partial foot print heading in the direction opposite them. When they got outside, he stared. "What the Hell?"

"Take it one of the mechanics got sloppy?" Leon asked.

Carlos stared. "Not only that....the only chopper still working..." He inspected it, and ran a finger along the dirty windshield. He looked at the black, inky mess, and held it up for Leon to see. "..is the same one the STARS used to get up to the mountains.."

Alanyia found a door that opened up near the roof. She took it and saw she was on the opposite end of the helicopter pad. Fuck... She thought as her wounded leg gave out from under her. She sat on the tarmac a few moments trying to collect herself.

Leon noted it. "Which means the others would have to be back."

Carlos shook his head. "No...we would've heard them...something's not righ...fuck! AL!" he had turned to look at the chopper again, and saw the fallen woman. He ran up to her, and looked down at her. "What the Hell happened to you?" he knelt beside her, his eyes wide at the sight of the bullet wounds.

She grimaced. "Let's just say I found out why our buddies disappeared. What's wrong with my chopper?" She tried to stand.

Leon had found the drip and grimaced. "Looks like someone cut all the tubing. Hey, you shouldn't get up.."

Carlos sighed heavily. "Some mujer took it upon himself to do some impromptu repair work...and guess what?" He jerked his thumb over at the STARS chopper.

"Bastard's back..." Alanyia got to her feet. "Carlos, I'll need help getting out of the station.. Irons was the one that shot me... He... Oh god... He sent Bravo and Alpha both to die..." She held her wounded hand close.

Leon wiped the grease off his hands. "Means if they're still alive they're on their own unless you have keys for that one."

Carlos stared. "What the Hell....why would he do that? He was one of them...." He put one of her arms over his shoulder. "You'd be surprised what you pick up as a mercenary, my friend. Now let's doubletime it out of here, then go pay Vickers a visit."

Leon moved to her other side so that they could carry her.

Alanyia hissed slightly but let them help her. "The bastard left me locked up for dead in some closet..." She yelped as her wounded leg got bumped.

"We can't head out the front door...good thing there's a back way...only question is, where do we leave her? It can't be somewhere Irons would look.." Then something hit him. "Hey...why not head out to the little place I've been living in? It'd be good enough until we get the STARS back, and send that bastard down the creek without a paddle.."

Alanyia shook her head. "I'm okay.. I can still move. Just get me a gun and we can leave.. I don't care at the moment what he'll say."

Leon took a look at her hand. "We can't leave her somewhere, she needs medical attention."

Carlos frowned. "Shit....All I got are two handguns...my Eagle, and that SIGPRO....huh...Let's head to the STARS office...one of the Bravos was a medic...maybe there's something we can use there.." He pulled out the Eagle, and slipped it into Al's belt. "I've given you my baby..don't go losing it on me, okay?"

"Guess I owe you the beer eh Carlos?" She asked kissing his cheek.

Carlos flushed slightly. "De nada....let's just get you to a hospital....that way Irons won't find out until the STARS get back, and we can ruin his ass but good...like Hell I'm gonna stand by while that creep decides to run for Mayor..." His brow furrowed as the three made their way through the door, and into the hall. "Okay, if I'm thinking right, it should be lunchtime right abot now, so most of the officers will either be in the commisary, or their desks...Irons would be in his office...so we'd be able to head out the front...anyone have a car we can use?"

"I have a jeep in the visitor parking... Don't have the plates in the database yet so they wouldn't let me park it in the other lot."

"Good, because I can only fit two in my Storm..." Alanyia hissed again. "Fuck... Remind me not to piss him off. Glad I got one good hit in before he dropped me though..."

"Uh...Al, which way in the visitor parking? I just walk here in the morning..." he grinned sheepishly again. "And don't worry...he'll get what's coming to him, one way or the other..."

"That way." Leon pointed to the lot once they had gotten outside. Alanyia pulled away from him and Carlos in order to walk on her own. when her leg crumbled she caught Leon almost dragging him down with her.

"Ow..."

"Okay.. One of us is going to have to carry you." He knelt to pick her up.

Carlos rolled his eyes. "Oh look....I didn't know there were CLOWNS in Raccoon.." he said exasperatedly. "Come on already...the hairs on the back of my neck are starting to raise....something's really weird about this, and I don't want to run into those cannibal freaks..." He rejoined them after sliding a clip into the SIGPRO. "Hasta la vista, you know what I mean?"

"Any more bad jokes I hurt you Carlos. Got it?" Alanyia said limping along with Leon to his jeep.

"Hey, he knows where we'll be going. I only know main street and Washington drive."

"This is gonna sound weird...but I think Irons knows what's REALLY going on in Raccoon..." Carlos remarked as he kept the safety on. "I mean, why else would he have sent the STARS, and then tried to stop anyone else from heading that way?"

"He does." Alanyia said coldly. "He said he wanted to get rid of me because I was standing in his way." She grimaced as Leon helped her into the back seat.

"Great... So we'll have to deal with whatever's going on... A crazy chief... and.... Man... Why does it feel like I walked into a stephen king novel?"

Carlos got in next to her. "Did he say if anyone else was involved? I mean, we have to assume Brad is...or he IS that much of a coward that he ran back here for help..." He checked his vest, and the pockets on his pants. He pulled out a roll of bandages, and smiled slightly. "All we need now is some alcohol...and it could be worse...could be monsters waiting for us at the hospital.."

"Always looking for the worst aren't you? Head to the one over by Church street. The one they closed a few days ago... It seemed fishie when they closed it, so may as well do a little detective work." She cursed in Chinese as Carlos touched her wounded leg.

Leon nodded. "I've seen that one." He pulled himself into the driver's seat.

Carlos frowned. "Man, we shoulda gotten the M-16's...for some reason, I don't see anything 9mm helping us that much...Does anyone here have any clips, or anything? I've got...yea, I've got four."

"I just have my knives. Come on... Nothing's going to be wrong..." Alanyia leaned back resting her head on the seat.

"I just have the one in my gun." Leon said opening the glovebox and getting it. "It should be okay right?" He agreed with Al that it would be safe. "The hospital's closed right? SO there wouldn't be anything in there."

Carlos made a 'haven't you been paying attention' look. "What do you want to bet Irons closed it down?" he asked them as he handed an extra clip to Leon, and two to Al. "I mean, why shut down a hospital? It doesn't make any sense...nothing in this town does anymore..."

Alanyia slid the clips into her pocket. "So we'll just have to conserve ammo. Turn here Kennedy."

Leon turned into the hospital parking lot.

There was something forboding about the building...something Carlos couldn't place until they got closer.... "What the Hell? The power's not even on....look, the sign there is out..."

"Maybe you should stay here Alanyia while we check it out.."

"Like hell. I'm not some baby... I'll be fine. Besides, Carlos is right, this place looks haunted..." She closed her eyes a moment muttering a buddist prayer before she pulled herself out of the jeep. "Let's go."