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Chapter Text

 Luis Serra was not a good man.

 That's what he believed at least as he looked at the American agent. He never really gave any thought to his past. Well, he did but often convinced himself that he didn’t truly know what he was doing in Umbrella. Many sleepless nights would be spent lying in bed thinking what he could've done differently… Would he have done it differently?

That one simple expression was right: “Ignorance was bliss.” 

 Luis barricaded the windows on the small cabin as Leon reloaded his weapons. 

“You must be tired Sancho.” Luis said as he boarded the last window. 

“I’m fine.” Leon said as he checked on Ashley. “She needs to rest; we have a long way ahead of us.” 

Luis heard her soft snores; he smiled as he took a blanket and covered her with it. 

“Well, what about you, don’t you need rest too?” 

“I’ll be okay, this isn't my first rodeo.”

“So you faced angry infected Spaniards before.” Luis joked.

“Not particularly.” He said, smirking, sitting down at the table.

Luis followed him sitting across from him listening attentively. 

Leon looked at him and rolled his eyes. “If you must know. I was one of the few people that got out of Raccoon City.”

Luis’s heart stopped for a moment. “Raccoon City…” He hadn’t thought of that incident in years. He didn’t directly cause the outbreak, but helped in the development of the T-Virus. He went from not thinking about it to being face to face with a survivor.

“Really…” He tried to avoid the topic, but it was inevitable.

“Yeah. I escaped with a girl, Claire and a kid Sherry.” Leon reminisced. 

Luis was now intrigued “Well where are they now?” 

“Well Claire left to continue searching for her brother and Sherry and I got rescued by the U.S Military, that was the last time I saw her.” 

They stayed in silence. 

 There was a pit in Luis’s stomach, the weight of guilt pressing down on him like a heavy stone. His fingers nervously picked at the wood on the table as him and Leon sat in silence. The memory of what he helped create had haunted him for many years, it felt like an unrelenting shadow that refused to leave his side, somehow, he always escaped from it. Whether it was drinking, smoking or women he always seemed to run away from that part of himself, but now that shadow loomed over him that shadow faced him, its eyes burning through his soul. 

For once in his life, he had to stop running.

“Well Sancho I have to go.” Luis played it off as he stood up from his seat.

“Now where are you going!?” Leon asked, a bit pissed off of Luis’s random disappearances. 

“Shhh the princess is sleeping. You wouldn’t want to wake her now, would you?” Luis whispered pointing at Ashley. 

Leon sighed as he looked at him annoyed.

“Trust me. I'll make it worth your while.” He said, smirking. 

He walked out of the room taking his com out as tried to contact Ada. 

“The amber Luis, where is it?” 

“No hello, how are you really?”

“I have my priorities straight.” 

“Meet me at the bridge, we'll talk there.”

“This better be good Luis.” 

Chapter Text

 Luis walked through the dense woods as he fiddled with his lighter nervously. “I really could use a smoke.” He thought about looking around for Ada. He didn’t know the mysterious woman for long, but he knew if he gave her what she wanted he could get out alive but before that he needed to atone for his sins. 

He had to help Leon. 

In the corner of his eye, he saw Ada standing on the part of the broken bridge. 

“Hey, got a smoke?” He smirked.

“I do the kind you like. Now where’s the amber.” Ada said, looking down at him. 

“Unfortunately, it’s not on me at the moment.” 

Ada kept staring him down at him waiting for an explanation.

“And you should be telling me what a good job I did.” He said as he attempted to climb where she was standing. “Managed to hide it right before I got caught. Which is why I'm still alive.” He mis stepped and slipped as he held onto the stone trying not to fall. 

Ada squatted down to his level or near it at least. “The deal was we get you out of here when you deliver the amber. No amber. No protection Luis.”

He chuckled “Such a stickler huh Ada. Okay then...” He extended his hand hoping Ada would help him. “I'll go get it now, how about that?” 

Ada kept staring at him, eventually taking his hand pulling him at the same level as her.

“I do have something else I need to get to…” 

Ada walked towards the direction of the castle. “And what’s that?”

“That information is classified.” He joked.

“As you deliver the amber, I don’t care what you do.” Ada said not wanting to stray from her mission. 

Luis chuckled as he walked in silence. But there it was that shadow again ever since Leon told him about Raccoon City; it had been implanted in his head like a stubborn weed that just refused to get away. He never gave this much thought to his life before, he really looked back on when it all started why did he do this all in the first place. He knew the answer, but he didn’t want to think about it. The guilt was too much already, but he couldn’t stop. He thought of his grandfather, God, how badly he had failed him. Often Luis wondered if his grandfather was still alive would he be proud of the man he had become.

    It was the crisp hours of a chilly autumn morning in Valdelobos. Luis loved the forest; the rustling of leaves and the sweet scent of pine filled his nose as he waited for his grandfather to catch up. 

“Come on Grampa!” Luis exclaimed excitedly. 

“Esperate mijo calma, you are going to scare the fishes.” He said, chuckling as he patted the younger boy's head.

“Come on Abuelo we are so far from the lake! They can’t hear us.”

“But they can sense us. Then we will catch nothing”

“So, are we just supposed to walk in silence? But that’s boring.” 

They walked for a bit, the older man taking in all the scenery.

“I know how to make it interesting!”

“Really how so?” He said looking down at the young boy amused.

“I can be Don Quixote and you can be Sancho Panza and we are hunting for the princess Dulcinea!” 

“Ay mijo still with Don Quixote?”

“Yes! It's the best book I've ever read!”

He looked at the young boy as he entertained the idea. “Fine. Alright Don Quixote where to?”

Luis’s eyes shined as he replied. “We have to get Princess Dulcinea's dinner! A knight can’t leave his princess hungry.” 

They went towards the lake as Luis continued to pretend, he was Don Quixote grabbing a stick to pretend it was his sword, His grandfather smiled at him. Luis had always been a bright boy; he was very observant beyond his years, curious about the world around him. He saw a bright future in him had he not been stuck in Valdelobos he would make a great scholar. 

“Well, we made it to the lake Don Quixote” he said, putting on a voice to his character.

“Good job Sancho Panza. I knew I could count on you.”

“You remember what we practiced?” He said, handing him a crossbow.

“I remember. Not to worry Don Quixote will bring dinner home tonight.”

Luis did what his grandfather taught him as he tightened a rope around the bow before putting in the crossbow he aimed as he adjusted the sight. His grandfather watched in amazement and pride as he saw how fast Luis learned. 

Luis aimed to the water as he looked at  a fish.

“Remember mijo deep breath…then shoot.”

Luis took a deep breath as he aimed at the fish. He let it out as he shot the fish, the arrow going straight to the head. 

“I did it grampa, I caught it!” He said, reeling it in, “Did you bring my notebook?” 

He smiled as reached in his pocket. “Here it is.” He kneeled down with Luis as he handed it to him. “So, what is it, Luis?” He asked. 

Luis examined the fish. “I think this is a Bluegill!” He said, jotting it down in his notebook. 

“A what?” 

“It's a type of fish grandpa! See the black spot on the side of it and on the dorsal fin” he said as he wrote the name and sketched out the fish. 

“You've been reading that book, haven't you?” He said, chuckling, wanting Luis to talk more. 

“Yes! I want to find all the fish in these waters so I can get it in my notebook just like the explorer!” He said as he wrote his observations.

He grinned as he saw how much potential that he had. Luis wasn’t like the other kids he was meant for greater things.

“Luis…” 

The young boy looked over.

He just smiled as he stared at his boy.

If he could only see him now. 

 Luis snapped out of his memories as they arrived at the castle. They got close as they both looked at the daunting height of the old building. 

“That’s really high up there. So how are we going to get up?”  Luis turned to Ada. 

“We climb.” 

Luis looked down taking a breath placing his foot on a rock beginning to climb up.

“You coming?” 

“I'll meet you up there.” 

He sighed as he began to climb higher. 

Chapter Text

After a while of climbing, he looked down. “Guess she decided not to come.” He chuckled to himself.

Suddenly he heard a grappling hook shoot up. He looked down only for Ada to zoom right by above him. 

He continued climbing, struggling to reach the top. “Ada…” He said as he climbed through the broken wall of the castle. 

“You probably didn't expect to come back here, eh?” He said, trying to lighten the mood. “Well plans do change, no?”

Ada said nothing, slightly looking at him from the corner of her eye. Luis sensed Ada’s patience running low.

“Are you angry?” He waited for her response. Ada stayed silent as simply looked at him more intensely.  “You're angry.” 

Luis slightly raised his hands backing away from her feeling that Ada was going to explode any moment now. 

“There is one thing…I must do before I recover the amber.” Luis said, keeping his hands raised as he slowly backed away from her. Ada shot a stare at Luis looking him in the eye.

“Before?” 

“No me jodas…”

Ada drew her gun as she walked towards him. Luis backed away a bit scared knowing that Ada wouldn’t think twice about pulling the trigger. 

“This is not a negotiation Luis!” Ada brought the gun to his face. “So, choose your next words carefully.”

Luis could smell the smoke of the pistol as he stared down at the muzzle. 

“Listen, there’s someone who needs my help.” Luis said moving aside Ada’s gun followed him still not convinced. “And you know me- always a good samaritan!”

“Let me guess, Leon?”

Luis, surprised she knew who he was talking about, quickly jumped on it hoping that Ada would consider helping him. 

“Yes! Exactly! Leon and that young woman are both infected.” He said backing away, but something else was wrong.

Her eyes.

“Mierda..”

She was infected too. Leon, Ashley now her. He could feel the guilt growing in him again. 

“They need this medicine.” Finally Luis had gained some distance between them as he explained. “It slows the infection. And I know it works. I used it… on myself. So I-” 

Ada interrupted Luis getting closer putting the muzzle right in his face again. Her finger on the trigger “And why does this matter to me?”

“Because- you too are infected.” 

The silence was loud.

 “It’s what I've been studying all these years, Ada.” The sentence left a sour taste in his mouth as he felt his hands stained with the blood of the innocent people of Raccoon City and Valdelobos. 

“And I see the symptoms already showing in your eyes.” Ada still followed him with her gun, skeptical of the spaniard. “You must already feel the effects, eh?” Luis said, walking towards the trap door.

“The medicine will stop them for some time. Trust me.” He kneeled down putting his hand on the handle. “You have a lot to gain…and nothing to lose!”

He could see Ada trust him more as he waited anxiously for her response.

“Okay. But this is your last chance. We do this first then we get the amber.” Ada slowly put her gun down. 

He smiled. “I’ll let Leon know.” 

Chapter Text

Luis picked up “Hola. Luis here. You guys still around?

“Well, I wanted to go home, but Ashley just has to see this castle first.” 

Luis mustered an awkward chuckle “Perfect, because I have a present I want to give you. Medicine that will help suppress the progress of your…problem.”

“Where do we go?”

“Let’s see…Come to the courtyard inside of the castle. We can meet up there. Ciao!”

Luis knelt again and opened the trapdoor “Sorry to keep you waiting shall we?” he said, inviting Ada to follow him.

Ada rolled her eyes and followed Luis 

“So where are we going exactly?” 

“There’s a hidden laboratory downstairs. My stuff should be there.”

“Along with the suppressants?” 

Luis nodded as continued to walk in silence focusing on the goal ahead. 

They stopped in their tracks when they noticed a blocked door. 

“ Joder, how do you suggest we open it?” Luis said looking around for anything he could open the door with.

Suddenly Luis hears her grappling hook go off, turning around in surprise as he sees Ada pulling the lever opening the door. 

“What would I do without you Ada?” He said, smiling at her. 

“Be parasite food?” Ada replied as she kept walking 

Luis softly laughed at her remark. 

As they kept walking Luis smelled something familiar…

Smoke?

He sniffed the air and turned to Ada. “Is something burning?”

“Guess we'll find out.” 

They kept descending as they heard groans and shuffling and the level below them. 

“Mierda! Ada they're here!” Luis panicked. They weren't supposed to be there, only he knew about this place. 

“Of course they are.” Ada drew her gun in annoyance 

They began to fight off the cultists as Luis thought of how they could have found him.

“How did they find this place? I-” He remembered and the realization hit him like a thousand bricks. 

“I was here when I got infected. I created the suprecent here with las plagas on me. Saddler must've seen me though that parasite…of course! it was a matter of time before they found me.” He fought urgently wanting to know what the cultists did to the laboratory. 

After what seemed like forever he shot the last cult member blood splattering the wooden floor. He breathed heavily, and looked at Ada already walking towards the stairs. Luis caught up with his breathing and followed her to the stairs.

The air was filled with smoke as he got closer to the stairs, his mind racing as the familiar stench filled his nose. 

The soft orange glow consumed the walls as he got closer and closer, his breathing getting heavier, hoping that it wasn’t what he thought it was.

But he knew. 

He walked down the stairs and saw it. 

His laboratory in flames, everything he did to try to rid of his mistakes was burning in front of him.

“No no no! We can't let the medicine be destroyed!” He yelled running into the fire without thinking. 

“Luis let it go!” Ada said, holding him back.

Luis looked at her not wanting to listen. He couldn't just let it go, He quickly ripped away out of her grip and ran towards the engulfing flames. 

Luis ran trying to find his office, his heart pounding in his chest. Smoke building around him, blinding him making each breath a struggle, but he pushed forward.

“Leon needs me. Ashley needs me. I need to save them.” He repeated in his head 

Coughing and wheezing Luis reached his office where the salvation laid in front of him. 

The medicine, a symbol of redemption, a chance to make things right for once in his life was within arms reach, he went forward collapsing in his desk his legs giving out.

Panic set in as the reality of the situation became undeniable. The flames roared louder as Ada chased after him, finally catching up, pulling him away from his desk.

Ada didn't care to be gentle; she had to get him out of there, she slammed him against the wall and pushed him out of the lab. The flames roared behind him. 

Luis stayed on the ground as he felt the heat of the fire, his head flashing back and forth to the lab and his grandfather’s cabin. The sound of the crackling inferno

echoed the agony within him as he breathed heavily, his mind trapped in that day.

Luis carefully shut the cabin door trying to make as little noise as possible he didn't want to disturb his grandfather

“Luis…is that you?” His Grandfather called from his bed.

“Y-yeah, I went to the market to get you some medicine. How are you feeling today?”

“Better than yesterday.” He chuckled with a coughing fit following right after. 

Luis winced as he saw his grandfather grip his chest. He began to unpack the herbs he had

bought, occasionally glancing at him in concern.

“Do you know what they are saying about you?”

He scoffed, “I've been hearing those whispers weeks ago.” He sat up wanting to complain to Luis. “They have been spreading it like wildfire, I'll tell you that much.” He shook his head annoyed at the villager’s fear 

Luis chuckled as he made his tea. “Alright I get it, now let me see the bite.” He set the tea down right next to his bed to let it cool, getting new bandages to replace the old ones.

“It’s just a wolf bite.” The older man scoffed. “I could’ve killed that wolf, but I missed my shot. Damm gun, we need to get it fixed.” He grumbled as he let Luis change his bandages. 

“I think you are just getting old.” He giggled, joking with him.

“Old?! Watch your mouth niño.” He said, giving Luis a playful smack.

“Okay okay sorry!” He finished wrapping up the bandages. 

“There. Now what do you want for dinner?” 

“You know a good Faba stew would be good.”

“Dang I think we are out of Fabas Abuelo, I'm going to the market to see if Don Álvarez is selling some”

The older man nodded as he got comfortable in his bed wanting to take a nap.

Luis stood by the door for a bit. 

Abuelo.”

“Hm?”

“Do you mind if I pass by the library? I wanted to see if the Don Quixote book was there.” He said trying to keep himself from smiling. 

His grandfather looked at him then sat up once again opening the cabinet next to him and gave him a tiny bag full of pesetas. 

“A-abuelo I only need around 500 Pesetas n-not all this.” He laughed nervously. 

“Go to the market and get one pound of Fabas and get a copy of Don Quixote”

“Really?”

“Be back by noon okay?”

“Y-yeah I’ll be back.” He smiled as he took the pesetas and put his shoes on in a hurry. He grabbed his bag and rushed to the door, before he went out he looked back.“T-thanks i'll come back with the best Fabas Don Álvarez offers!” 

“You better!” The older man said, giving a playful smirk. 

Luis ran to the village excited to finally get a copy of his favorite book. Luis looked in every stand in the market to see if there was a copy, asking everyone in the village if they had one. 

After half an hour of rummaging through piles and piles of things, he found it. The book was a little bent and stained, but it was legible and it had all the pages and to Luis it was all that mattered.

“Yes!-” Luis stopped and cleared his throat standing up straight and keeping his excitement hidden  

“Don Perez, how much would you sell me this book for?” 

“For that one 3,100 pesetas”

“That much?!”

“Yeah”

“How about just 2,325 pesetas.”

“Nope, the price is set, sorry Luis.”

“Come on Don Perez, remember that time I helped you with your cows.” 

The man sighed and ran his hand through his hair, and looked at Luis with a smirk. “Tell you what Luis you help me with my cows tomorrow and i'll give it to you for 1,863”

“Okay you got it! When do you want me there?!”  Luis said, restraining himself from jumping.

“Tomorrow 2:30 sharp”

“Of course! Here you go Don!” Luis handed the pesetas quickly, excited to finally own his favorite book.

Don Perez handed him the book and smiled. 

“Gracias Don! I- I have to go buy the Fabas but i'll be there bye! 

Luis went to Don Alvares’s stand and bought the Fabas quickly to arrive before noon, he thanked the older man and ran to his home excited to show his grandfather what he got.

He ran through markets and past the church and turned the corner that he always took after school to look at the familiar sight, but what he saw before him wasn’t his home…

What he saw was a view that will haunt him forever.

Flames rising high into the sky casting an eerie shadow before him, the air was thick with smoke 

“ABUELO ! NO!” He yelled dropping everything running towards the flames, he was in there and he had to save him but he felt a hard tug on the back of his shirt making him stop and look back.

"You can't go in there…”

“B-but my abuelo! Y-you have to save h-him w-we have to save him!”

“It’s too late Luis…he was sick…we couldn't risk anyone else.”

It suddenly clicked on Luis’s head. They purposely burned it down; he pushed the man attempting to run to the burning cabin as many other villagers grabbed his arms. He kicked, bit and screamed just so they let him go, but instead he was held down and forced to stand there, watching his home burn along with his memories…

“If you're trying to kill yourself, can you do it after you deliver the amber?” Ada sneered

Luis stayed on the ground as he breathed heavily the memory burning in his head.

“It’s all gone…burned to nothing.”

“Why is this so important to you?”

“There are things I must set right! But that is impossible now. I-it's all over and I can't help them anymore.” He said on the ground feeling like that helpless child he once was.

“Pull yourself together, Luis.” Ada said, towering over him. “Make more. You know how to just do it.” 

Luis felt a bit of hope in his chest. “I guess it is possible. T-the ingredients are all here in the castle!” He said slowly standing up to face Ada.

“Yes! I-Ill need time…but I can still get you your amber.” He said almost asking her permission if he could.

Ada looked at him for a minute “Alright then. Let's go.”

Luis looked at Ada relieved to get another chance at helping them and redeeming himself. 

“Come on, we can go back up this way. Then figure out our next move.” He said hope beaming from his voice.