Disclaimer: I do not own RE.
Hey all! If you don't read my other big story, Shadow Of Me, two things: 1. you should be and 2. I always spread bigger news there because more people read that. Anyways, the news is that I just got a new job and it's going to be taking up some more time in my schedule along with school too. So things will be slowing down here and I know that sucks cause you guys are really enjoying this and I'm glad you are! But if you continue reading and reviewing, it really helps me out and gives me more incentive to keep writing!
lostsoul512: I'm glad you're interested!
saddlebrat: Thank you!
TanuSherry: Don't sweat it! Oh that Marcus hate will be relived this chapter.
MOONLIGHT SHADOW HUNTRESS: It's good to see you here!
Sundragon: Hannigram feels are strong! Did you enjoy Friday's episode? I can't wait for ep. 3! Don't worry about not reviewing, I know you're here and reading and that's all that matters!
Chapter 3: Bruise Covered Hands
James Marcus scanned his grey eyes over the files handed to him. His lips pursed in a frown and he squinted with scrutiny at the words typed on this documents. William squirmed in his chair and Wesker sat cooly next to him, his emotion of trepidation not showing through his always stone features.
"NE-a? Is that really what you wish to restart?" Marcus asked with a bit of distaste in his old voice.
"Yes, sir that is what we would like to restart. Albert and I have been working very, very hard to complete the pretesting."
Marcus slid the file back towards his former trainees and now employees. He folded his fingers together and leaned back in his chair. Shaking his head he leaned in again and tapped the folder with a withered finger.
"I don't see your prospect, boys. I know your intentions are solid but the execution is lacking." Marcus sighed. "I'm afraid I have to turn down your plans."
Wesker fist clenched and his eyes stormed, he needed this. "What if we could prove that this is the right path to choose? What if we could show you what G can do?"
"Yes!" William chimed. "It is, after all, supposed to be the most powerful thing we've ever created. It could rival T."
Marcus ran a hand across his chin thoughtfully. "I will have to consult Ozwell first. This is ultimately up to him."
"We've already pitched this to him." William added. "And he's on board."
"Is he now?" Marcus inquired.
XXXXX
"He's not on board." William blurted. Spencer turned around to face his young apprentices. The younger man fidgeted like a rabbit.
"He isn't?" Spencer said calmly.
"No." Wesker deadpanned. "He thinks it is foolish."
Spencer turned back towards his window and sighed softly. "Then kill him."
William looked to Wesker, eyes as wide as dinner plates, sweat beading down his forehead.
"What?" He stammered. "You want us to… k-kill Marcus?"
Spencer shrugged. "Why not?" His placed his hands in the pockets of his grey suit pants and turned to face them. "Marcus has become quite an inconvenience these past years. What with his leech tests and all. I feel as though he's slipping away from reality. He spends too much time drowning himself in practice rather than thought. He does not realize that he is playing with something far more dangerous."
"I'll do it." Wesker interrupted.
"Al you can't!" William shouted. He was practically frantic. The younger man had never killed anyone before and he had no intentions of starting now. "You can't just kill someone! Spencer you're crazy!"
"Watch me."
"Good!" Spencer perked. "It's settled then!" He clapped a hand on Wesker's shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "Albert I expect a clean job, no slop like last time."
William gaped. "Last time?!"
"If you make a mess, either clean it up yourself or hire someone to do it for you. Marcus will be in the lab all night if you wish to end this quickly."
Wesker nodded slightly and took his leave with a still frantic William in tow.
The younger scientist jogged after him and matched his lengthy stride. "You're seriously gonna kill Marcus?" William shouted. In an instant, he was pinned against the wall, Wesker's large hand covering him mouth.
"Shut. Up." Wesker seethed. He looked about the hallway for other employees and researches. No one was present but them.
"Now, when I remove my hand you are going to speak quietly. Do you understand?" Wesker gave his friend a small, disturbing smile at the end of his sentence.
William nodded, eyes engrossed with fear of what Wesker might have done to him. He was a big guy, larger than William at least. While he was built and tight with muscles, William was quite scrawny.
"I can't do it." He muttered. "I can't kill anyone."
"You don't have to." Wesker reassured him as he began walking again. "But you're going to accompany me to make sure things don't get out of control."
"What do you mean out of control?"
"I mean if I get out of control."
William retracted a little. His friend was dangerous, he knew that, but he was frightened to see what he would do to Marcus. After all, Spencer didn't give him a specific way to execute their former mentor. He wondered if he would do it all himself or if he would have UBSC come in and do the work. Whatever he was planning, William dreaded to see what his long time friend was really capable of. But he knew one thing for sure, he was capable of killing.
XXXXX
"I hate to say this but Marcus' leech work might be able to help us." William chimed from his desk. He turned around in his chair to face Wesker who was rolling up the sleeves of his white dress shirt. William inwardly chuckled for he always thought Wesker looked like a Mormon school boy in that outfit. White button down, skinny black tie, and black slacks. He couldn't contain his laughter anymore and he let some of it escape his lips.
"What is it now, William?" Wesker asked with a sigh.
"Nothing," He reassured. "You just look like a very classy murderer."
"So you accept that I am one?" Wesker inquired.
Williams laughter halted. He was being serious. "Yes." He started. "I can't change who you are. But you're my friend, Albert. And friends don't let friends rope themselves into murder."
"Then you're a lousy friend." Wesker deadpanned. "Let's go."
William hesitated for a moment, pondering on what Wesker just said to him. Was he a lousy friend? Or was he just too late to the party for saving his friend? Whatever the reason, he would continue to support the other scientist as a colleague but more importantly, a friend.
They walked down the empty hallway, darkness ensuing them. Wesker drowned out the sound of their footsteps instead for the ticking of his watch. It was almost eleven pm and he had told Claire he had business to attend to, that he would be home later. She sounded conceded but that was just her nature and Wesker accepted it.
Marcus' lab was at the end of the hallway, constantly guarded by two UBSC members. Wesker approached them and handed either of them a slip of paper with orders from Spencer to allow access to the lab. One of the soldiers opened the door with a key card, face hidden behind a black gas mask with gaping red circles for eyes. William followed Wesker suit but he fiddled with is hands, nerves taking over. The door slip open and Marcus was hunched over his petri dish, prodding at a leach with sharp instruments. He heard the door open and looked up to Wesker and William.
"What can I do for you boys?" He asked absently.
Wesker was stoic, eyes hidden behind his reflective sunglasses. Marcus eyed the gun strapped to his belt but he eased himself with unconcern for it. Wesker always carried his gun. That's just the way he was. He sat up in his stool, cracking his back as he did so. Marcus looked at his researches and William looked nervous, as scared as a rabbit. But Wesker… Wesker without his revealing features looked murderous. The blonde unholstered his gun and aimed it right at the older man. Marcus was genuinely surprised as his entire body flinched when Wesker pulled the hammer back.
"Is this about my rejection?" Marcus asked with a quake in his voice.
Wesker's frown deepened. "It is much more personal than that." He pulled the trigger, the sound hammering through Williams ears causing him to cover them. Marcus collapsed on the pristine linoleum, holding his knee. He shouted for the guards but they did not comply. Blood oozed from his wounded knee, and Wesker aimed at the other.
"Wait!" Marcus pleaded. "Please, Albert I can do better for you than Spencer."
"You killed them too." Wesker muttered. He fired off another shot, making William flinch. Marcus howled and he began to breath heavier, watching the blood seep from his pants.
"Is this honestly about your parents?" Marcus groaned. "That was twelve years ago! And look what you've become without them!"
Wesker holstered his gun and removed his sunglasses. He folded them neatly into his breast pocket. William watched from his side, how his movements were fluid, unhinged from his shattered persona. He came to Marcus' side and knelt down. Wesker gripped either of Marcus' knees and squeezed, making the old man howl.
Labored breathing.
Blood on the white floor.
The smell…
He was blinded by hate, by the kill that he almost forgot who he was at this very moment. The eyes of his former mentor were swollen with tears, he knew his time had come. And what a terrible way to die. Wesker raised a fist and with a roar and brought it down upon Marcus' face, splitting open his skin and breaking his nose. Over and over and over again did Wesker drive his bloody knuckles into his victims face. His voice was hoarse from screaming, shouting, roaring like a mad beast escaped from captivity. Only his captivity was mindset. His fists kept hammering into the mush that was once Marcus' face. Brains splattered around his kill, fragments of his skull stabbed his flesh as he continued his rampage. Blood from the gun shots plastered the white walls like a disturbing decoration.
"Albert! That's enough!" William grabbed his friends shoulder and heaved him back. Wesker laid on the crimson-covered floor, knuckles dripping with gore, face smeared with it. His chest rose and fell harshly and William wasn't sure, but he could have sworn a choked sob escaped Albert Wesker's throat.
He picked his friend off the floor and helped his exhausted form back towards the door as it slid open, the two guards peered in to see Wesker's work.
"Get someone to clean that up." William ordered.
"Let's get you home, Al." He dragged his exhausted friend through the halls and to the lobby. It was late, almost midnight and he still had to drive Wesker home. Making his way into the parking lot, Wesker grunted something under his breath that William could not make out. The night was as silent as the dead and all William could hear was the sound of the blood dripping of of Wesker's fingertips. He shoved Wesker into the passenger side of his car, making sure he was propped up right. William got in and started the vehicle with ease, putting it in drive and hitting the road.
"Where are we going?" Wesker asked groggily.
"I'm taking you home."
They drove in silence and Wesker watched the trees rush by from his window. He could feel his hand clench, it was broken. Black and purple bruises already began to form there, blood still slicking his skin. His face was sticky with gore as it started to dry.
"What did Marcus do to your parents, Albert?" He looked over at his friend who's head hung against the window of the car.
"Don't ask me again, please." Wesker muttered.
William nodded and dropped the subject. Obviously whatever Marcus had done to him years ago was finally allowed to boil to the surface. His kill had severe amounts of passion within it. They pulled up to his driveway and Wesker got out, taking a deep breath of cold night air. William rolled down his window and poked his head out.
"Are you gonna be ok, Al?" He asked.
Wesker did not say anything for a moment. He just stood in the dark, cradling his broken hand. "I'm sorry for what had said earlier, William. You are not, in fact, a lousy friend. You mean a great deal to me… friend."
William smiled at him and nodded assuringly. "Goodnight, Al." He rolled his window up and backed out of the driveway.
Unlocking the door with his good hand, Wesker's eyes adjusted to the dark of the living room. He no longer felt heightened, in fact he felt at ease. At ease with this current moment and at ease with himself. He closed his eyes and kept them closed, breathing through his nose, settling his nerves. A quiet padding made its way down the stairs and the lamp flicked on, a warm light flooding through the room.
"Albert oh my god…" Claire saw his mangled hand and worn face. Both were covered in dried, flaking blood, his knuckles bruised black and blue. She gently inspected his hand and Wesker hissed in pain when she asked him if it hurt to move them 'like this'.
"It's broken." Wesker said in the dimness of the room.
Claire scoffed. "Clearly."
She looked up at him and sighed, taking his face in her hands and running her thumbs over his cheeks. Her blue hues welled with sadness and for a moment, tears, but she shoved them back. He was a spectacle. Broken, beat, and scarred. But he was her spectacle.
"You should go to the hospital." Claire mentioned softly.
"I don't want to go to the hospital." He retorted. "Not tonight. I've had enough tonight."
Claire crossed her arms and stood back. "Albert I don't think we should argue about this. Now get your ass in the car, I'm taking you to a hospital."
He complied and she gathered the keys to her jeep. He slouched into the passenger side and buckled his seatbelt with his good hand. Claire had a history of reckless, road-raging driving. Starting the vehicle, they began the ten minute drive to the urgent care.
"What happened?" She asked in the dark of the car.
"I got it off my chest."
Claire did not prod further than that. That is where she would leave it. He was stoic, yes, but she could feel the relief that dripped off of him. His face was softer however, smeared with blood, and yet, Claire thought he was beautiful. In the limelight of the jeep, the backdrop of night rushing behind him. Dried blood on his face, arms, and hands. Blue eyes swimming with proceeded passion. She reached down and laced her fingers within his good hand, that being the left. She squeezed tightly and reassured him through that simple gesture.
She smiled. "Good."
A/N: That is all I can hash out today guys but I'll update soon I promise! Love you guys!
