"He created a virus that keeps my body healthy," Angela said softly, her voice calm but steady, "but the price is regular injections of an antidote."
For a second, no one spoke.
Then L.J., as always, reacted faster than his brain.
"So your father is the one who caused all this?"
Deadpool's head snapped toward him instantly.
Angela's small hand tightened around Deadpool's fingers.
"No," she said firmly. "It was the Umbrella Corporation."
Deadpool's eyes narrowed beneath his mask. Even without seeing his expression, L.J. felt the killing intent radiating from him.
He immediately retreated behind Peyton again.
"Yes," Angela continued. "One day they came to Dad. They forced him to work for them. He didn't have a choice."
"Damn the Umbrella Corporation," Alice muttered, gently stroking Angela's hair. "None of this is your fault. And it's not your father's fault either."
Nikolai checked his watch.
"Emotional bonding is nice," he said coolly, "but time is running out."
The reminder struck hard.
The missile.
The countdown.
The city's end.
"Alright," Deadpool said. "Let's move."
Before leaving, he glanced at the open black case of serum.
Nine green vials.
He thought for a moment.
Then reached in and grabbed two.
Alice immediately stepped forward.
"Wade, don't mess around. That serum is basically poison to you right now."
In her understanding, Deadpool's extraordinary regenerative ability was connected to the T-virus infection. If he injected the serum, it might suppress or even eliminate his powers.
And they desperately needed his combat ability.
Deadpool gently shook one vial.
"Don't put all your eggs in one basket," he said lightly. "If we get separated and someone gets bitten, this could save a life."
The group fell silent.
He wasn't wrong.
Carlos had survived because of it.
After a brief pause, Alice nodded slowly.
"Fine. But don't inject yourself unless you have no choice."
Deadpool gave her a playful salute.
"Yes, ma'am."
---
Outside the school gates, a public phone booth suddenly rang.
The shrill sound cut through the silence.
Everyone looked at it.
Alice started walking toward it.
Deadpool casually pressed her shoulder down.
"Hey, hey. One at a time. Just because you look like the director's wife doesn't mean you get priority screen time. I'm from the next set over."
Alice: "What?"
Before anyone could react, Deadpool had already hopped over to the phone and picked it up.
Jill, meanwhile, quietly pulled out a thin wire and glanced at a parked school bus nearby.
Backup transportation.
Smart.
Deadpool held the receiver to his ear.
"Yo, yo. Is this Angela's dad?"
On the other end, Dr. Charles Ashford spoke immediately.
"I want to talk to my daughter."
"Whoa, slow down," Deadpool replied. "I think Angela likes me a lot. Would you mind if she got a new dad?"
There was silence.
"…What?"
Dr. Ashford genuinely didn't process the question.
A nuclear missile was about to destroy the city.
And this man was discussing custody arrangements?
"Impossible," Dr. Ashford said sharply. "She is my treasure."
"Okay, okay," Deadpool continued casually. "Hypothetically speaking—if you die, would you mind if she found a new dad?"
"I mind very much!" Dr. Ashford snapped. "And I believe Angela would mind too. Let me speak to her. Now."
"Alright then."
Deadpool waved.
Angela ran over on her short legs.
He picked her up, tickled her nose, and she wrinkled it adorably before taking the phone.
Dr. Ashford watched everything through the surveillance feed.
His heart skipped a beat.
Was this lunatic trying to adopt his daughter during an apocalypse?
A minute later, the emotional father-daughter conversation ended.
Angela handed the phone back.
Deadpool spoke again.
"So. How do we leave Raccoon City?"
Dr. Ashford didn't hesitate this time.
"There will be a final helicopter landing at City Hall."
Deadpool gasped dramatically.
"Oh! My goodness! Brother, I really underestimated you!"
He paced back and forth.
"I originally thought you were just an ordinary, extreme doting father."
He raised his voice theatrically.
"But I didn't expect you to have such influence inside the Umbrella Corporation! A helicopter evacuation? In this situation? Incredible!"
Then he paused.
"So why not have the helicopter pick us up here at the school? The playground is a perfectly good landing zone. Don't worry—Alice and I can clear out the zombies."
Angela looked at the phone, confused.
Dr. Ashford's voice turned cold.
"You misunderstand. The helicopter isn't coming to pick you up. It's arriving at City Hall. You need to find a way to board it yourselves."
Deadpool's expression changed instantly.
Flat.
Emotionless.
"Ah. I see."
He slammed the phone down.
"I take back what I said. You are just an ordinary, extreme daughter-slave."
Without waiting for a response, he grabbed Angela and ran toward the bus.
"To City Hall!"
---
"Hold tight!"
Nikolai floored the accelerator.
The school bus roared like a beast.
Tires screeched as rubber burned against asphalt.
The vehicle shot forward into the dark streets of Raccoon City.
Inside the bus, everyone turned to Deadpool.
"What's the plan?"
"A helicopter lands at City Hall," Deadpool said calmly. "We don't know its mission. But we're taking it."
Tali, still filming with her DV camera that somehow never ran out of battery, asked the important question.
"Does anyone here know how to fly a helicopter?"
Carlos raised his hand.
"I can."
"So can I," Nikolai said from the driver's seat.
"If it's basic operation, I can manage," Jill added.
Tali exhaled in relief.
Deadpool stayed silent.
He could fly too.
But volunteering meant responsibility.
And responsibility meant paperwork.
He hated paperwork.
---
As they sped through the city, Jill suddenly frowned.
"Wait. This isn't the direct route to City Hall."
"Relax," Nikolai replied. "There's a weapons store nearby. We restock first."
He tapped the rifle strapped across his chest.
"I don't know how much ammo you all have left. But I don't have enough for a war. And if we run into Umbrella soldiers fully armed, we'll be outgunned."
He was right.
Against Umbrella's trained units, pistols wouldn't be enough.
The bus turned sharply and stopped in front of a large gun store.
The glass windows were already shattered.
Someone had looted it before.
But the store was big.
Plenty remained.
They entered cautiously.
Clear.
No infected inside.
Immediately, everyone began gathering supplies.
Peyton grabbed an M16 and slung it over his shoulder.
He filled his vest with spare magazines.
Two grenades clipped onto his belt.
Prepared.
L.J. took a shotgun and stuffed shells into every pocket he had.
Carlos reloaded methodically.
Jill checked rifles with practiced hands.
Alice remained selective—light weapons, efficient movement.
Deadpool?
He calmly picked up several boxes of .50 caliber rounds and a few Desert Eagle magazines.
Then he stopped.
Peyton stared at him.
"That's it?"
Deadpool nodded.
Peyton grabbed an M16 and held it out.
"Buddy, against the Umbrella Corporation, two pistols aren't enough."
Deadpool looked at the rifle.
Then at his golden Desert Eagles.
Then back at Peyton.
He gently pushed the rifle aside.
"My friend," he said quietly, almost seriously, "when you truly love someone…"
He raised one Desert Eagle slightly.
"…you don't betray them by picking up something else."
The group stared at him.
He twirled both pistols smoothly.
"These two and I have an understanding."
He loaded fresh magazines with crisp clicks.
"And besides—"
He glanced toward the broken storefront window, where distant explosions echoed through the city.
"If we run into Umbrella's best…"
His voice lowered.
"They're going to need more than rifles."
Outside, somewhere in the dark streets—
Heavy footsteps echoed again.
Closer this time.
And above the city skyline—
The sky slowly began to lighten.
Dawn was coming.
-----------------------------
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