Chapter 22

                                    

                                          
The trio traversed the dim corridors and staircases of the smaller keep and sped through the connecting passage of the watari tower to the main keep. As they proceeded, guided by the GPS system, Leon brought his friends up to date on Osakabe's plan to purge humanity.
                          
"Poor kids… They must be absolutely terrified!" Sara said.
                          
"My client's kid is probably in that group," said Jake. "I'd feel a hell of a lot better if I could get his son back to him."
                          
"I've already updated Hunnigan. Far East BSAA is being deployed to support us and get the kids out. The North American detachment is being notified, too," Leon informed them.
                          
Sara sighed gustily. "I'm glad Chris and Jill are gonna be here; it'll be good to have some friendly allies should we hit any territorial snags."
                          
"Chris? As in Redfield?" asked Jake gruffly.
                          
"Yeah. You did bury the hatchet, right, Jake?" Sara said sharply, shooting him a hard sideways glance. "Chris did what he had to. Wesker wasn't worth your rage."
                          
"Hey, I know my father was a psychopathic  piece of shit who got what he deserved, but I still want answers I never got," Jake snapped.
                          
"We get out of here, maybe you can take it up with Chris this time out," Leon said sternly. "Right now, we've gotta focus on stopping Hana, not on dark history."
                          
An uncomfortable silence fell over them as they walked on.
                          
Presently, Sara began to feel uneasy. They hadn't encountered any more B.O.W. guards along the way, which was good, but it made her very suspicious.
                          
"It's too quiet," she muttered to her companions. "Something's… off."
                          
"You read my mind," said Jake.
                          
"You're right," said Leon. "I've got a bad feeling we're walking into a trap. Stay alert."
                          
The team stepped out into another corridor. Unaffected by the power outage in the smaller keep, several wall lamps illuminated the broad passage. The ominous hush was broken by the sound of distant Nagauta music.
                          
Everyone exchanged glances.
                          
"We're expected," said Sara quietly. "This is the final act of a bloody kabuki play."
                          
"Get ready to put on a hell of a show, then," Leon answered.
                          
Sara drew her gun, and the men readied their swords.
                          
Shutting off their flashlights, they walked on until they came upon an ascending staircase. In single file formation, they cautiously climbed the steps.
                          
The music grew louder as they reached the second staircase, echoing eerily through the empty corridors. They silently ascended the final staircase and emerged into the main keep's third story.
                          
The passages, more narrow here than on the floors below, were dimly lit by red and yellow paper lanterns hanging from the high beams. The walls were covered with hideous kijo masks and canvas paintings. Sara recognized a large yamato-e painting featuring an impressive representation of the Osakabe hime demon surrounded by her faithful minions.
                          
"Looks like we've reached the belly of the beast," Jake remarked, looking around.
                          
Leon cocked his head to the left, gesturing for the others to follow.
                          
They walked on until they came to an elaborately decorated fusuma door bearing the scene of a geisha girl dancing beneath shedding sakura trees. The strains of music grew louder still, coming from within the room.