A/N: This makes my 60th story! I came up with this oneshot a few days ago, whilst I was listening to Red. I don't know why it hit me, but I felt like writing something as DARK as this. Yes, guys: dark as in dark, with blood and a bit of swearing. It will be a three-shot: this chapter and two different endings. Yes, evil cliffy at the end, people. I'll leave this here for a while before updating, see what you think happened. Now, enjoy!
Disclaimer: Apply the usual here.
This shouldn't have happened.
And that was the umpteenth time that thought crossed his head.
Chris swallowed hard, drumming his fingers on the table, as he stared at the only person he would anything to get rid of. His anger was closer to getting out of control when Chris looked at him again: so calm, so confident… He didn't even bother to open his eyes and he wouldn't fight. He was there, sitting with his back against the wall, waiting for something to happen. And to make matters worse, it wouldn't be Chris who would negotiate with him, but Jill.
He's alive.
It was a grim statement that had come as a bad joke less than two weeks ago. It had been six months since the Uroboros outbreak in Africa, six months since Chris and Jill had started a new life away from biological weapons and death, six months since Jill had been close to going insane. The trauma had been even worse than what Chris and Jill's counselor had foreseen; during those first weeks after their return, Chris realized that Wesker had won even another battle: the trauma had also gotten him.
Then, as things started going uphill, they'd gotten news from a close friend and one of the founding eleven, Oliver Graves. The news hit them like a bucket of cold water: the West Africa branch had reported seeing Wesker alive once more. The tension increased when Chris, as he one day walked through the halls of HQ in D.C, could actually feel the weight on his chest become heavier. It was all because Wesker was there, in seclusion, kept isolated from the world. Oliver had had him brought to the States to avoid more chaos in Africa, but that chaos had started to build up in Chris' mind.
Because he couldn't take seeing him anymore.
He'd worried the most about Jill, considering the hell she'd been through before and after Wesker's (now supposed) death. Chris had seen it in her features, in her demeanor, in her usual mood: it had reverted back to how it was before. Jill had remained calm, however, unfazed by Wesker's presence and Chris was still wondering if Jill's heart had become of stone, impenetrable and unfeeling. She didn't even make mention of her trauma, she didn't ask Chris for any kind of support, but there was something different: a dark gleam had invaded her eyes, visible every time Wesker was mentioned.
Like Chris so long ago, Jill was becoming the hunter.
Which was why, right now, she'd go in and talk… or at least try to.
Jill was standing firm next to Chris, her gaze never leaving Wesker. Plucking out determination, Chris asked, "Are you sure about this?"
"Last time you tried, things didn't get any better," Jill snapped back, rolling her eyes. "Look, this isn't just about me: it's about knowing what the fuck he was from us. And don't worry if I snap this time, because it's my right to."
Chris chuckled, bitter. "No need to tell me."
"If things get out of hand, though, we will step in," Oliver piped up, firm. "We couldn't care less about that sorry bastard, but it's your state that will make us intervene. Jill, don't hesitate to give him a piece of your mind."
Both Chris and Jill looked at Oliver, curious. "I thought you were supposed to watch out for any kind of problem."
"I couldn't care less what Desmond says," Oliver replied, folding his arms across his chest. "You've shared details of your history with Wesker with me than with anybody else, which is why I'll turn a blind eye to this. You're at your leisure, Jill."
She nodded, cracking a brief, thankful smile. "Thanks, Oliver, I appreciate that." She blew out sharply, determination flickering in her gaze. "I'm going in. Chris?"
"Hm?"
For once, he saw another playful gesture in her: a wink of her eye. "Don't you worry about this. He doesn't know me as well as he thinks he does."
Partly convinced, Chris nodded in return, then Jill slowly made her way into the room. At this, Wesker opened his eyes with no other gesture, much to Chris' surprise. He and Jill stared at one another in silence, and that was when the tension began to spike.
"I didn't think you'd show up."
"I hope you enjoy disappointment, because you'll deal with me this time," Jill declared, crossing her arms and leaning against the wall. "I'm patient and I know you well enough. Nothing you say will harm me."
"It's not my intention to hurt you," Wesker replied. "After all, I already have in the past, so why bother now? Say, are you here to humor me or to actually talk with me?"
"The latter; you're not exactly known for your sense of humor," said Jill. There was a very light change in Wesker's countenance, then his usual smile crept up to his face.
"You sound like me. Looks like you learnt something after so long in my company."
Chris clenched his fist, feeling like the prompt was meant for him, but it didn't take Jill long to reply. "More than you know. And since you look talkative today, let me ask you this: how the hell are you still alive?"
Wesker chuckled, a sound that had echoed in Chris' mind for more than he could remember.
"I already told you: you can't kill me. I'm wondering why it is that you don't desist and leave me alone. You can't kill a god."
"Bullshit; you've died thrice," Jill spat, her tone hardening. "No matter if you came back, Chris and I killed you three fucking times."
"You can't kill a shadow."
At this, Jill seemed to hesitate, the first noticeable change in her expression. Chris, while surprised, also feared the worst. Wesker stood up as Jill stared, her stance still firm. And for once after a long time, both Chris and Jill were face to face to the true face of the man they'd been chasing for their entire lives.
"A shadow, huh?" Jill scoffed.
"Exactly. Why do you think I haven't left you alone all this time and vice versa?" Wesker spoke with a crooked grin, his stance now as firm as Jill's. "Because as long as there is light, there will be shadow: as long as you two are here, I will never disappear. Do you believe me now?" He made no pause, but took a step closer to Jill. "I'm sure you're convinced, specially after all this time. I'm sure you haven't been able to block all the memories, now have you? Maybe Chris reminded you of everything?"
"Don't get him into this!" Jill bellowed, and Chris finally saw the spark come to life: Jill took Wesker by the collar and pinned him against the wall, seething. "This is between you and me! YOU were the one who fucked up my entire life, and there has never been a person I've loved more than him! I've made him suffer, I know, and I apologized countless times! If I'm here, it's because it's my business!" Tears rolled down her face, but her anger only flared up. "I'm facing you because I want to, because I don't care what you do to me! I'll never give up!"
"Then you admit I've won?" Wesker inquired, his grin growing wider. "That's humble of you."
"I fell because you broke me, but I've risen again thanks to my and Chris' efforts!" said Jill, her fist clenching tighter. Then, after a moment of rage and disdain, Jill backed away, derision in her eyes. Chris had never seen her act in such a way. "I pity you. You may think you're above us, but you're wrong. You could never catch up to us to begin with, and you'll never get me."
A moment of silence, during which Chris stood dumbstruck. He allowed himself a proud smile, wishing for just a moment that Jill could see him.
But his relief was short-lived. Wesker chuckled again, this time louder, until seconds later only his laughter could be heard. Chris now doubted whether to consider a lethal virus scarier than a laughing Wesker. Not because of the fact Chris had never heard him laugh, but because that laugh seemed to come from the Devil himself: there was nothing human in it.
"And who said I'd returned because of you?" Wesker inquired, wicked mirth fuelling the energy in his voice. Jill suddenly turned pale, all traces of determination and bravado gone. "That's it; you finally realized!" He raked a hand through his hair. "And I know you're watching, Chris, so mark my words!"
He made a pause, during which he got suspiciously close to the glass pane. Then, it burst into bits, shards flying in every direction. There were so many Chris was momentarily blinded, feeling how they pierced his skin and drew blood. Most of them injured his forehead, and the numerous cuts started bleeding dangerously fast. Then he remembered Jill and Oliver, turned his head to look for them, but only Wesker was there… and inches away from him.
"You're mine."
"NO! Stay away from him, you bastard!"
Chris seized the chance to slip away and get to where Jill was. "Come on, let's go!"
"I'm injured, Chris; you have to leave!" she urged in despair. Her eyes grew wide. "Chris, WATCH OUT!"
He could barely turn before a fist connected with his face and sent him crashing against the wall. Chris tried to recover, disoriented, but the mere force of the blow had left him unable to focus his sight on anything. With nothing but instinct to guide him, he rose to his feet, cursing his blindness due to the blood that fell on his eyes, and then he found himself with an arm around his neck, locked in place.
"And the best thing is that I'm going to finish both of you here and now." A pang of fear bolted through Chris who, rigid, realized he was unable to fight. That fear transformed into panic when he heard Jill call out his name. "And dear Jill will be watching you bleed."
Wesker was the one to wipe the blood off his eyes. For a moment, when he was able to see, Chris wished he had stayed blind: Jill was on the floor, unable to stand up because of the two large shards that had pierced either thigh, watching helpless as tears flowed freely. "Please DON'T!" she begged.
"You wanted me to disappear? This is the only way," Wesker said, then he tightened his hold around Chris' neck. "Go on, say something to her. Soothe her pain, or will you let her suffer because of it?"
"Let him go!" Jill exclaimed.
"Jill, please!" Chris burst out with as much strength as he could muster. She froze, staring at him. "It's… it's the only way. I'm… Don't make this any harder… on yourself. It's… selfless of me but… I'm willing to repay the favor."
"If that's the case, any last requests?"
"Two, actually." Chris smiled bitterly. He looked at Jill, erasing all bitterness from his smile and replacing it with kindness. "Don't cry anymore. And to you…" It would be risky, but it was worth taking such a risk. Chris knew Wesker would react before he could even blink and that he'd be dead in milliseconds, but if it was all to save Jill's life… then he was content. He could give it one last try.
"Go to Hell and STAY THERE!"
Even more blood stained his hands, and then he knew it was over.
A/N: Evil cliffy, yes. I just ask for a review on this, if anybody reads it, and that you enjoy it. I warned you: it was dark.
