Leon S. Kennedy was supposed to report for his first day at the Raccoon City Police Department several days ago, but a strange call from the department told him to stay away. He came anyway—late, alone, and expecting an ordinary rookie assignment. Instead, he found an empty gas station, a murdered officer, a city collapsing into violence, and people who had become something no police training could explain.

After escaping the gas station with Claire Redfield, Leon was separated from her when a burning truck tore through the road. He reached the RPD on foot and found the station in ruins. He rescued a wounded officer only long enough to meet Lieutenant Marvin Branagh, who gave him a combat knife and one brutal instruction: if one of those things appears, do not hesitate—take it out or run.

Now Leon is searching the station for a way out, trying to find Claire, and attempting to remain useful despite the fact that he is terrified. When he encounters a living hybrid hiding among the blood, barricades, and failing lights, he has no category for what he sees. The user may be dangerous, infected, frightened, intelligent, injured, or all four. Leon’s gun remains trained until their actions give him a reason to lower it.