Chapter1: After The Before
The tyrant swiped down viciously at a stunned Terri, whilst Dr Lindermann screamed in terror from one of the tyrant's bulging hands. James looked on in dismay as Terri was catapulted into an old, rusting filing cabinet. The rickety draw blew apart and hundreds of worthless papers fluttered round the enormous room. Disgruntled, the Tyrant flung Dr Lindermann down onto the cold, white marble floor. She writhed in pain and leapt back against the white-washed wall. An exceedingly old painting came loose and crashed onto the freezing ground; large splinters of glass flew out in every direction. One sharp piece embedded itself in the ugly tyrants convulsing shoulder.
Shrieking and twisting in outrageous pain, the tyrant shuddered as it walked around, and it's feet pounded the floor with the sound of a mini-earthquake. Nathan and Arnold emerged from behind the metal plated door. Then lunged and grasped Nathan tightly before flinging Nathan into the window. Cracks slithered up the window pain like snakes. He gazed, dazed, and fainted. The tyrant stared at James' flinching body and plunged his convulsing hand around onto James' thin neck. "Let him go you, you evil thing!" Terri screamed as tears welled up in his eyes. The tyrant just blinked over his pale-white eyes. James kept struggling, but after several minutes, his eyes started glazing over and he fell limp…
One Week Earlier
James Stiller wasn't really a socialite and now he had a new city to fit into. This was going to be a challenge. He was in his third class of his second day with Mrs Beech, a complete ignoramus with wispy and deep, mysterious brown eyes. Across from his old, creaky desk was a pretty girl with straight black hair and bright green eyes. She glanced back and mouthed "Hello," but the obnoxious Mrs Beech was on her like an evil Doberman. "Will you please stop glaring at your fellow students, Miss…?"
"Terri, Terri Johnson," she replied proudly. Mrs Beech didn't seem to listen: she went back to her lecture about the 'Economic State Of Lithuania.' James just yawned. Several upper-class classmates, who seemed to have been spoon fed their whole lives long, stared in distain and disgust. The class continued uneventfully, except for Joseph Briggs falling of his sturdy, metal chair.
The bell trilled unhappily as the groups of 'chavs', 'skaters' and 'trendies' literally thrust themselves out of the room. Terri and James were left in the, now deserted, room as Mrs Beech bustled around. Terri was smiling, as always, with her sunny personality. "Let's go to lunch," she smiled.
The canteen was bustling as James perched himself on 'his' table. Terri smiled from across the table. "Hi," she said softly.
"Hi-Lo," he replied "It was close when Mrs Beech was on you, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, it was, I thought I was in detention for sure!" she whispered. They started to eat the usual slop-processed sausage and instant S.M.A.S.H- and gulped it down rather quickly to mask the foul taste. The bell rang out down the long corridor. "Well at least it's Geography," James sighed.
"What it's rubbish!" Terri answered, truly stumped by the phrase, and the argument carried all the way down the long corridor to the depressing gray door that was the Geography classroom.
Geography passed slowly that day. The topic was 'How we can stop pollution in the Atlantic Ocean' and the students were very unenthusiastic. When the class finally ended, James left the harsh corridors of school at a brisk pace and went home to his dad.
His dad greeted him with a loving hug. His dad, Joe, had sloppy brown hair and outrageous blue eyes that could pose a problem to any star. The moment of father-son bonding as Joe informed "I'm going down Lassie's bar now. You're sixteen, so you can be at home on your own for a little while, but be careful and don't touch the whiskey,"
"Ok," James sighed, but made nothing of it. Joe normally strolled to the bar after what had happened to James' mum, Janice-a brilliant women with dashing auburn hair, blue eyes like oceans and a dentist's best friend smile. Janice had given birth to James prematurely and, after a horrific birth, passed away in loving Joe's arms. James snapped out of his reveries, thinking, That's the past, don't dwell on it, and slowly drifted into the slumber that is sleep.
Terri slumped her way into the house, carefully closing the door behind her to stop it slamming. Hanging up her navy jacket onto the, almost rusty, coat hanger then casually slipped her pink kitten school bag onto the black and white tiled floor. She spotted a not-so-well scrunched-up ball of paper just beside the waste bin. Curious, she reached down to pick it up. When she opened out the paper, she found a typed letter and without caring whether it was private or not she read:
From: Dr Walter Crouger (Mutation And Research Department)
To: Professor Richard Vin (Head Of BioInfection)
Date: 22nd September 2004
Dear Sir,
I'm sorry to be informing you of these events with this letter and hope that I am not causing you any problems or inconveniences, but this is extremely urgent. I am writing this in consternation as our experiment has gone horribly wrong.
Our plan was to test on some sort of insect, but many of the insects located were far too small. As you already know, we then decided on bees and that experiment, which I thought, was an excellent one. We had all the equipment we needed to proceed with it and managed to get hold of three bee hives-just enough to experiment on. As soon as we received the hives, we got straight to work.
Our first test was successful and there was no sign of any unusual occurrences going on with any one of the unfortunate bees. As we continued with the experiment, I noticed many of the bees in the hives, which had already been tested on, were acting unusually. I ignored it at first, as this was likely to be one of the side-effects of the experiment. As our experiment continued, however, the bees twitched more and made louder, higher noises and I became increasingly concerned as did my other assistants.
My assistants and I were right to worry, as about thirty seconds later all the three hives went berserk! We could not take another second more of the terrifying sight of the bees buzzing all around the lab and above our heads and so, we ran for cover.
Unfortunately, as some of the mutating bees escaped, they chased my fellow assistant Julia Nateby into the corridor, sadly killing her. Although I am reluctant to continue my account of this monstrous incident, I wish you to be fully aware of what happened, so I will carry on. In addition to this unfortunate event, the bees' attack severely injured Anna Potter before being killed by a security guard (Nathan Drall). I was fortunate to get out of there alive in order to be able to type this warning, and I beg you to stop this preposterous experiment. If this carries on, it could lead to many gruesome deaths, very possibly including one of my own, and I do not wish to watch people that I have worked with my whole life lose their lives.
I am also quite worried about the corpse of Julia Nateby; it seems to be showing signs of mutating into a bee-like humanoid creature. I do not think this is normal and so I plead you to stop this testing. As for the mutation, it could lead to serious danger. I do not want to expand on this any further. Please carefully consider this urgent message.
Yours Sincerely
Dr Walter Crouger (Mutation And Research Department)
As Terri read the last of the sentences, she had a very astonished look on her face. In complete shock, she thought fast, trying to decide what to do. She had to tell her mum what Richey was up to. She walked faster and faster towards the home computer, ready to spill that rotten scumbag's secrets.
From: Richard Vin
To: Dr Walter Crouger
30th September 2004
Dear Walter,
I can understand your concern and I have deepest sympathy for Julia's family and friends, but this experiment is one of the greatest importance, the full details of which I cannot divulge in this unclassified e-mail.
Sadly, I must inform you that bees were a very bad choice for this experiment, seeing as they already contain poison and using the 'material' we have on them would have increased the likelihood of the dosage of poison to go to lethal force.
We must now close the laboratory and the wind due to this stupid mistake; these bees are now killing machines. We will e sending a crash team from the Leaf Green Facility in northern Canada-I hope you cannot mess this up as well.
Now this case of a human could be seriously helpful to our 'project' which you already know well about. We want the room in which she is held to be sealed off and we would like Anne to be sent to the 'special' ward at Oaktown General. Can you please recycle this message as soon as you receive this-no one else has clearance to know this. If you don't, you know what will happen, so please dispose of it.
The Oaktown PD are treating this as 'suspicious' so we must implicate the security guard (Nathan Drall) in the incident. I know that he saved your lives but this is of the most up most importance, so you must 'plant' something on him to incriminate him.
As we mentioned do NOT mention this.
Yours Sincerely,
Richard Vin
Terri's eyes glanced down the list. A red e-mail marked URGENT seemed to be her ticket to something much more interesting than a setting-up scam; she double-clicked the entrance file. It loomed up at her.
From: Dr Fredrick Hiller (Chief Of Staff)
To: Richard Vin
Date: 18th October 2004
Dear Richard,
Can't you control your staff? A Ms Rhian Silver Lindermann was found this morning letting several hives of bees into the fields of Oaktown. THEY WERE INFECTED! This is a serious breach of security and the administrator had been informed of this terrible accident on her part. What are we going to do? This could be a nationwide scandal!
Dr Lindermann is now a defector and we need to get rid of her as soon as you see fit, seeing as it is your department, but I suggest a subtle murder, a broken brake on the free way ? That should suffice, I believe but I shall leave that pleasure to you.
Nathan Drall, by the way, was CONVICTED today thanks to your magnificent ploy plus the crash team was intercepted on the way to the administrator. Green Leaf did ask where they went but the administrator convinced them of a 'fatal' car crash. Nothing Special.
I think you had better have a little 'chat' with that 'Dr' of yours before she makes yet another stupid mistake. She's just an infantile twit that thinks that she can bring down Umbrella, just like that Chris Redfield that we captured and killed last year. MAKE SURE SHE PAYS there are her 'details';
Rhian Silver Lindermann
24
27 Homeset Drive
Yours Truly
Fredrick Hiller (Chief Of Staff)
Terri shivered. Ordering anyone to kill someone was bad enough, but her step-dad? This was too strange. "I've got to find out something more," she said to an empty room. "Oooo," she whistled as she glanced at an orange e-mail "Let see what is in store…"
From: Richard
To: Rhian
Date: 22nd October 2004
Dear Rhian,
Thanks for helping me with that 'little problem'- the administrator was ecstatic when found the bees were 'loose.' Fredrick wanted me to kill you for it. Me kill you? After what you have done for Umbrella? Never! Be proud, Dr Lindermann- you have just one of the most productive things in the history of Umbrella, maybe even the world. The administrator is considering a promotion, so be very honoured; they HAVE to be earned, and I speak from experience. Bask in your glory my friend.
Yours Truly
Richard Vin
"This is soo sick," Terri thought, as the umbrella symbol emerged on the screen with a beep. It turned out to be an e-mail, and a robotic voice announced cheerfully "You've got mail."
"Let's see what you've been doing!" said Terri, smiling.
From: Rhian
To: Richard
24th October 2004
Dear Richard,
Well, well, well-that Fredrick isn't the angel he makes out to be, Do you know about his affairs? Three! He's a little bigamist-I found him with one and I don't think he'll even want to come near me now. As for those bees? No problem. Walter blew his top though, he's going to resign and, as we both know, most people don't make it out of the state after they have 'resigned'. I believe he would make a good first 'test' for the D-Virus. I don't think any of us want this chance to slip by. How's that step-daughter?
Yours Truly
Rhian Lindermann
Suddenly, a grinding noise sounded behind Terri, she jumped, kicked the plug causing the PC to instantly shut-down thundered up the stairs and hid. Richey, slightly tipsy, entered and waddled into the living room to, most-probably, crash on the couch. Terri smiled as her mum walked in, flicked off her silky black high-heels quickly, and yawned deeply. She started to stride up the stairs Terri crept quickly and lied on her bed as her mum entered and whispered "Goodnight," Terri smiled and turned over. Her mum was happy and Terri defiantly didn't want to spoil that, tonight at least, and fell peacefully into sleep.
Terri awoke to see her mum, Tracy-blonde and proud of it- looking sad and worried.
"I'm sorry, but me and Richey have got to go to work," she informed her.
"What, my step dad got you engaged to him and now has working with him, has he? For those scum Umbrella? He's evil personified!" Terri replied.
"Don't say that about my Richard! All he is is nice to you and your friends!" Tracy Retorted.
"No, I won't, mum- I know he hits you! Or did you walk into seven-hundred doors?" Terri screeched. That was when Tracy's hand collided with Terri's face.
"Never, I repeat, NEVER say that about Richey!" she screamed, as tears streamed down Terri's scared face. "I'm sorry." Tracy whimpered sheepishly, like a bad dog.
"No you're not- I KNOW you're not!" Terri screamed at the top of her teenage voice as she darted towards the door. That evil, evil step-dad! I'm getting away- I'll go to James and the Highlanders.
Her private thoughts were interrupted abruptly as the heavy oak door swung with graceful force.
It connected with Terri's face mid swing, sending her flying as thick, red blood poured from her disfigured nose. Tracy screamed with shock as Richey entered like a bold giant- he had dark, thick hair and even darker eyes, and his face did not show one flicker of concern as he stared devilishly at her.
Terri was lifted into an conformist ambulance her mum sitting next to her. "It'll be okay," she smiled as the ambulance screamed past James' house.
James was awoken by the deafening roar that was his dad's snoring after a particularly heavy lager-binge. He grabbed his torn and worn jeans from a lop-sided hanger, pulled on his Billabong top and strode in to downtown Oaktown.
Oaktown was a split town-not the homely "everyone knows everyone," that people expected. There was the old, posh, stately side and the 'new' town, which was a ramshackle mix of shops, houses and his-rise apartments. The town split, curiously, right over the stone-cladded school. He locked his old, corroding door and stared out at the glowing clock under Harry Goodman's TV store ("We sell the best and nothing but it!") The clock glinted the time-8:32am- in menacing scarlet letters and, in smaller insignificant blue letters, Sat. Many people overflowed onto Oaktown's streets, loaded up with shopping like pack-horses looking pleased with their purchases or bored stiff with back-ache. James slid through the inexplicable tangle of shoppers, workers and old women paying their taxes as he went on his quest for the park.
A couple of depressed Goths were lounging on a battered stone bench engraved with Cynthia Crystal 1920-1971 Medical Genius Of Oaktown staring out at the babbling Lake Spital, Oaktown's most significant monument. Lake Spital was named after the founder of Oaktown, Alfred Spital; he had founded a silver mine to the west of the lake and built a town to supply workers, which grew up around the thriving lake village. The corroding statue stood towering above the cool blue water, dominating the view.
The Highlanders, as they were called, were glancing at him. He jogged towards them. There was Arnold, a dark haired Hispanic boy with green eyes and tattered cloths; Mercedes, a light brown haired Spanish girl with great hazel eyes and a fantastic smile; and Ned, once a self-confessed nerd but had been converted to skating via Airwalk, but where was Terri?
"Where is Terri?" he enquired anxiously.
"I don't know lovebird- I'm sure she'll be here soon," Mercedes announced sarcastically.
James glanced down at his bare arm as if expecting a watch to be there. It was actually a strange action to do, as the last time he'd a watch had been… two years ago. He started to think, and a few seconds later he remembered why, but he knew that he didn't want it to happen again, no matter how small the incident was.
His brand new watch- bought by his dad just as a kind of thank you for being my son present- had got caught in a passing stranger's coat. In the process of being totally humiliated he hadn't realised that his watch was slowly starting to slip of his wrist, and in a flash it created a clean gash on the top of his hand. Coming out of his trail of thoughts at the sound of "Hello? Zombie over there, are you with us?" he turned his head to look at Arnold.