Following Kendo, Leon walked with him to the storage room door in the gun shop.
There was a faint scratching sound coming from inside.
He looked at the boxes piled up in front of the door, blocking it.
“It’s in here.
I’ll open it.”
Kendo began moving the boxes aside, and Leon helped him.
When it came time to unlock the door, Kendo held the key but didn’t move.
He kept weighing it in his hand.
A soft click came from the keyhole.
Leon watched as Kendo silently unlocked the door.
He could tell that the moment Kendo opened it, it would weigh heavily on him.
“…Don’t worry.
I’ll take care of it.”
Leon didn’t look back at the hesitation on Kendo’s face.
He drew his gun, turned, opened the door, and stepped inside.
“Grr!”
Bang, bang.
The gunshots stopped, and the sound of a heavy body hitting the ground reached Kendo’s ears.
He could not hold it in any longer.
He stopped pretending to accept it.
He staggered into the room and saw his wife, now propped against the wall by Leon.
“Alright… alright.”
Kendo dropped to one knee in front of her, holding her face in both hands.
He calmed down and silently looked at her.
Her face was no longer what it used to be, replaced by the blood, decay, and pale patches of a zombie.
“I’m sorry… Kendo.”
“It’s fine.
I don’t blame you.
I just… no, it’s alright.
Go get the medicine and take it to Meryl first.
I… let me stay here a little longer.”
“The medicine is on the third shelf.”
Leon holstered his gun and quietly went to retrieve it before walking out.
As he stepped outside, he heard a husband crying behind him.
“I didn’t expect this, Han.
You’re actually good with kids.”
Ada Wong stood with her arms crossed, holding her gun, glancing at Emma standing blankly nearby before looking back at Alan Han.
Claire had gotten some water and let Sherry take a few sips.
It was not so much about skill.
It was more that Alan Han, like her, simply liked children.
Gentle.
Alan Han held a bottle cap in one hand and supported Meryl with the other, letting her lean against the wall.
He carefully brought the cap to her lips.
Even though she was still unconscious, her lips were too dry and needed moisture.
What had this child gone through?
Maybe she found the shop locked and went around through the alley, only to find that locked as well.
But whose police uniform was she wearing?
No matter what, Alan Han felt grateful to that officer.
He had likely died.
“I’ve got the medicine.”
Leon handed it over.
Alan Han took it and looked at Meryl’s slightly furrowed brow, trying to tell if she was awake.
“Hey, Meryl.
I know you feel awful.
If you’re still conscious, try to open your mouth a little.
I need to give you medicine.”
There was no response.
Alan Han sighed softly.
He dissolved the medicine in water, then slowly brought the cap to her lips, letting the liquid seep in little by little.
Giving medicine to someone unconscious was dangerous, so he moved extremely slowly.
Only when he saw her throat move slightly did he relax.
It took quite a while before he finished.
“I’m going to find out the truth.
No matter who’s behind this, I’ll stop them.”
Leon looked at Meryl’s tightly knit brows, then at Emma, who stood nearby with empty, lifeless eyes.
His expression hardened.
“It’s for people like them, right, Leon?”
Alan Han gently touched Meryl’s still burning forehead and fell silent.
Claire looked at Sherry, who was clearly missing her mother.
“Yeah.
No one can just stand by and let this continue.”
Ada Wong glanced at the rain growing heavier outside, then at the three of them, and let out a quiet sigh.
“My mission is to dismantle Umbrella Corporation’s operations.
We may not make it out unscathed.”
Leon, Alan Han, and Claire exchanged looks.
“As long as I can save this city, or even the world, I don’t care.”
Ada Wong lifted her head slightly, glanced at Leon, then at Alan Han, and said nothing more.
She simply leaned against the wall and waited.
Kendo returned.
“How is Meryl?”
He stood beside Emma, gently stroking her head, looking into her cloudy, unfocused eyes.
“Grr…”
Emma slowly opened her mouth and let out a low growl.
Emma… so it’s still come to this.
Kendo sighed, saying nothing.
When he looked at Meryl resting by the wall, a faint light returned to his eyes.
“At least her fever isn’t getting worse.”
“Marvin would thank you.”
Kendo forced a faint smile, then looked at Meryl again, hesitation and resolve mixing in his eyes.
“Can you give me some space?
Leave Meryl here.
It’s raining outside, and she’s unconscious.
It’s not safe to move her.
It won’t take long.”
The others understood what he intended to do.
They stepped outside into the main shop.
“Will that man’s daughter be okay?”
Sherry held Claire’s hand and looked up at her.
“…Yeah.
She’ll be okay.”
Do not lie to children.
Sherry tightened her grip on Claire’s hand.
…
A sudden loud noise came from inside, then everything fell silent.
For a moment, even the rain seemed to pause.
Inside the room, Kendo gently lowered Emma, who had already stopped breathing, and laid her flat on the floor.
“I’m sorry, Emma.”
Before he could sink deeper into grief, a burst of static came from nearby.
A walkie-talkie on the shelf suddenly crackled to life.
“…Robert?
Robert!
Partner, respond.
I’ve found a helicopter that can get us out of here.
Meet me as soon as possible.”
“I’ll wait here until you arrive.”
Kendo picked up the radio, a mix of surprise and helplessness on his face.
That guy had always been stubborn.
Once he made up his mind, he would not change it.
Kendo looked at his daughter, about to speak, when he heard Meryl groan softly in discomfort.
“Daddy…”
Kendo’s heart clenched.
Was she dreaming of her father?
Did she even have anyone left?
If she survived, would it only make things harder for her?
He looked at Emma, then at Meryl, still burning with fever.
How could she not suffer…
Kendo made his decision.
“Emma, forgive me.
Daddy has to go.”
He lowered his head and rested his forehead against hers.
After a moment of silence, he picked up the shotgun from the cabinet, stood, and opened the door.
Facing Leon and the others, he slung the gun over his shoulder.
“You have your mission, officers.
I can’t help much, but I can take care of Meryl.”
“Meryl?
Why?”
“Heh… think of it as a promise between two fathers.
And maybe a way to make up for my failures.
I also have a chance to leave.
In her condition, she cannot stay with you.
She needs a safe place to rest.”
Alan Han and Leon exchanged a glance.
Alan Han recalled that in Kendo’s story, there had been different outcomes.
Some said he died.
Others said he left.
This time, he chose to leave.
Maybe because of Meryl.
“Alright.
We’ll trust you.
And we trust Marvin.”
“I’ll prove it.”