Chapter Three: Traps

Edited by: Naoko Suki

Her hand slowly went to pick up a sample before her. She remembered the green vial instantly. The files from Raccoon; the ones she saw in her brothers folders. It was the T-Virus, simply contained in an extremely breakable glass. All eyes were upon her as her eyes stared at the liquid inside. This would surely destroy the city. This city wasn't contained like Raccoon. It was open and—

"Claire?" Diego called her name and grasped his hand around the vile to help her hold it. He tried not to scare her, but he noticed her body begin to sway lightly. "Who would send something like this?"

"I don't know. I had heard these viruses had been eradicated from all the Umbrella facilities. I thought anyone who would have something like this would be dead. It…it has to be someone new." Her head shook with disbelief.

"Yeah well, whoever sent these knows of more. This isn't all there is," he started again, and watched her move the vial closer to her face, turning it and examining the vial.

"NW," She read the letter. Or were they initials?

"NW? Where do you see that?" Diego let go and looked where she pointed.

"May I see it?" The muffled voice from their side spoke up and their heads snapped to his direction. Watson was now standing, casually pointing at the object in her hand.

Claire was a bit taken aback by his interest, but nodded. "Be careful, please," she said, placing the vial back into its case before handing it all over for her teammate to inspect.

Her mind raced as she turned, looking out the window. She killed William Birkin, Albert Wesker had killed Spencer and Chris in turn finally ended him. Sure, there was still bioterrorism in the world, but it was more of people who didn't know what they were holding giving all the problems. She breathed in deeply and shakily let it out. She's going to have to step up once more and protect her team at all costs. There's no way she can let anyone else die because of her. Her mind then jumped back to the initials; NW. No, there's no way they're for a person's name, that's too easy.

Quick steps were heard as she returned to the case upon Watsons' desk. The green sample stated NW, so her hand picked up the purple one in the middle. She slowly turned it to look at where the initials were on the first one. There weren't letters, but as number that read 115. Continuing with the blue one on the far left; its numbers read 45.

"Wait," Claire thought, her brain processing the information in front of her. "…Coordinates. They're a location!"

"…There's no way," Ace stated with a hesitant face.

"Look. Everything in order reads 45, 115 and NW. It's got to be a place somewhere. Three," she shouted, but he was already two steps ahead, looking up the information given.

"Claire I'm not really sure—" Diego started but was interrupted by Three.

"Shit you guys, look at this," Claire walked up to his computer followed by Diego and Ace. "At first, typing in 45 and 115 into my engine brings up a latitude and longitude location in North central China—" Everyone sighed but Three continued, "Let me finish! Adding in the N and W, it's actually 45 and -115, making the location smack dab in the center of the Salmon River Mountains in Idaho. Whatever asshole sent this to you didn't make it too hard!"

"I want to know of any structures nearby that point. History, owners, everything. Get use of the satellites if you can. Screw the government, I trust you can leave no trail." She growled out the order.

"Sweet, I'm on it!" Three clapped his hands and swiveled back to face his keyboard.

"Hey boss," Ace sounded worried, "Are you planning on telling…Chris about this?"

"Oh yeah right. I'll tell him some helpful madman sent me three of the worst viruses known to man! I'm sure that'll go over well with him. I'd be locked in the basement until he thought it was safe. This information is NOT to leave this room, understood? Watson?" she faced him, his head nodding once to confirm.

Claire did look quite upset and nervous from what Wesker saw. He was quite angry himself. How is it that someone was able to get their hands on such rare items? There was only so much of these viruses created, let alone left over after Arklay, Raccoon and Antarctica. Names, numbers and dates went through his head. The general area that was found wasn't that well known to him or many others. He was mad that he didn't know who this person was.

XxX

It only took Three just under an hour to get into databases, finding that there was a very large property of land hidden up in the forests; surrounded by a tall cement wall, camouflaged on the exterior to look like steep hills. Funding and resources were traced back to Spencer, as well the mansion upon the property was identical to the one in the Arklay Mountains. There was no doubt this was a facility, but the satellite images just received show it to be completely overgrown outside the residence.

It was very obvious Umbrella didn't want anything to get in or out. Ace was a pilot and was able to acquire a helicopter to get inside as well as supply extra weaponry for her team. She asked everyone what they would be comfortable with, or if they wanted anything extra. Everyone accepted them except for Watson, who assured her he would be fine with his own gun.

Claire had decided that tomorrow, Friday night, would be the date they were to leave for their mission. It gave them a bit extra time to complete the gathering of information. Three was able to acquire a building map with almost all the floor plans. They were also all handed earpieces to be able to contact one another easily if any trouble were to arise. She contemplated telling Amsterdam, but she was sure he was busy enough with the fact the government was coming soon. She'd deal with him later.

Friday, 8:38pm

Ace and Watson waited in the helicopter that was parking in the back parking lot of their facility. They both wore dark blue combat pants and shirts, their choice weapons holstered in easily accessible areas on their belt and on their chest for their knives. Diego's car pulled up and he stepped out wearing similar clothes like the other two. When Claire stepped out, hers was completely different. Sure, it was a battle suit but it looked like a second skin. Her right hip had a holster holding her dark magnum and she had a large coil hanging right behind it. The whip bounced as she walked towards the chopper.

'Damn Boss, you look…nice.' Ace said, laughter following through the earpiece.

"Don't even start. It was a present from Jessica," Claire sighed, "I decided I wouldn't miss an opportunity to destroy, so I can throw it away and never see it again. It's surprisingly thick and kind of hard to breathe in too-" her eyes looked inside the chopper, "What?" her team had their eyes on her.

"Don't you think it's a little too tight?" Ace's body turned in the cockpit to get a better look.

"Drop it, Ace." Diego stated when he came up behind Claire and hopped inside the craft.

"What is it guys?" fuzz sparked their earpieces when Three spoke up from back at the office. "What did she do?"

Claire rolled her eyes as her legs jumped her up into the helicopter. "Let's go."

No one spoke when they took off, the rush of being pulled through the sky was in everyone's stomach and although Claire looked as if she were sitting patiently, Watson could tell she was uneasy of her own plans.

Claire began instructing her team when she found a few of them taking worrisome glances at her. The land was large, so they were to stay in groups. Claire and Watson was one, Diego and Ace were the other. They were also instructed to try not to push their body too hard early on. Running at the start would waste their energy for when they really needed it. Ammo was to be conserved as your first shot should always try to be the one that kills. She explained to them that it could be exactly like how it was for her and her brother. Zombies may have been loose on the premises. Other BOW's like Lickers and Hunters, but like the tales of her ventures through outbreaks they were not unknown to her squad.

"Inform me of any excess trouble while we're down there and stick together," Claire finished,

"Three?" her hand covered her left ear as she tried to hear him through the line while up in the air. "Have you found out where their labs are?"

"Sure have Boss. They're in the basement, but the power in the main mansion is out. All the doors look electronic, so you'll have'ta blow'em out-" Three was interrupted when Ace spoke from the pilot seat 'I have grenades!' "-Shut up man! As I was sayin', on the ground floor there are two power control units. One each in the east'n west wings. But it looks like it may be more than any of you can handle."

"Thanks," she replied back through the headset. "Hey Ace, is my other gun here?"

"Your shotguns under the seat," He yelled towards the back of the copter.

Claire reached her hand underneath and released a small clasp that held her weapon secure. The cold steel began to warm in her grasp. It had been her favorite gun since Raccoon City. She spun it upside down and slid it into the holster on her back. She needed all the power she could get, for this was going to be another terrible night to try and survive.

The wall came into view an hour later, it stood taller than what the pictures had shown and the dark, black mansion stood eerily silent in the center. Claire nodded her head to allow the spot light to go on, making her fears come true. The place was overrun. The light stunned a few of the wandering zombies below into a frozen shock, their eyes following the beam as it moved through the sky. They were as close as they could get that had a wide enough clearing and decided to land where they were, as to not stir up anymore unwanted guests. The few that did wander slowly towards their landing point were easily taken down by a few quick shots from a silenced pistol. They double checked their gear and briskly walked together closer towards the mansion.

"You and Ace," Her flashlight pointed to Diego and him, then pointed to a side of the mansion, "Will take the East Wing, we'll take the West. It would be better to have the chance to find anything on our way before doing down." The two saluted her and made their way opposite of her and Watson.

Claire turned on her heel and continued her way to the west end of the building. Shuffles and moans could be heard from either side of them, but they kept in a straight enough line to out walk most of them. Firing too many shots would call a crowd.

"Redfield," He said quietly but firm. The redhead's body turned to the side a bit as she slowed to a softer pace. She looked at him, with her blue eyes. Only for a moment, as it went back to the surround area.

"Hn?" she kept quiet as well.

"Do you trust me?"

"No I don't, really." Her head stayed forward, answering without a doubt. "Don't get me wrong, I trust you can fight, and I trust a little that you will help us, but there is something about you. Just a weird gut feeling I have. I don't know, maybe it's just my brother rubbing off on me, but I don't feel that safe with you."

"To have that type of feeling, do I remind you of someone?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"Reading my files or something?" She chuckled, raising her gun to knock down a zombie on their path. She sped up, making it clear she didn't wish to talk about it anymore.

"Hey! Do you hear us?" Diego's voice yelled through the headpiece.

"Roger, any problems?" Claire replied to her teammate's call.

"We've run into a mutant infected. A Licker, be careful."

"Stay sharp, I don't want anything to go wrong." She said and small whisper left her lips, affirming her suspicions. It really was as bad as or worse than Raccoon.

A few more deadly victims later, they arrived at the west end entrance, only to be met with an electronically sealed door. Diego and Ace were most likely still inside at the other end. They'll have to backtrack and go around towards the back end of the building. A few quick minutes passed when they reached the back pathway. The door was atop a small entrance of stairs, and Claire's feet haled before she began to walk up them. The grey steps brought back memories of Rockford.

It honestly looked exactly the same. With the surrounding greenery, tall columns and those large, golden-handled doors; the event that took place here still haunted her memories. She thought he was someone she could trust, until that son-of-a-bitch crushed her shoulder and tried to kill her and threaten her brother's life.

"Are you ready?" Watson's voice behind her made her body jump.

"O-oh. Yeah, let's go in." she took a deep breath and made her way up the steps. Her hand reached for the knob and she juggled it. It's moveable. Claire took a step back; kicking the door and busting the lock in the center, making the door fly open. A deafening silence came from the inside as a cold front of air flowed past their legs. The inside of this facility looks like it was constructed by the same person who made the other mansions she'd been in. Except this time, there was no skinny blond psycho firing a rifle at her head. It seemed as though every enemy she had faced in her life were blond, other than the BOW's themselves though. What kind of dumb game was this?

"Hey Watson, are you blond?" her voice broke the air inside the large room as Watson slowed his pace abruptly.

"Excuse me?" He asked as politely as possible, not wanting to sound defensive. Apparently this was just how she was.

"I was just-" she stopped, her head taking two tiny shakes, "Never mind, sorry." Claire forgot that this wasn't really the place or time to worry over such ridiculous observations. They're both dead.

They stood in the middle of the room; the grand hall had many doors. Claire's hand reached up to her headpiece, "Three? Are you there?" her finger kept hitting the call button, but no one replied. "Anyone? Hm." Her head moved as she looked back and forth as her lips whispered to herself, "What one will lead to the basement?"

"Why do you believe the lab is there?" Claire's eyes turned and looked at Watson with amusement.

"Oh, I don't know. I seemed to have gotten the idea that Umbrella likes to keep everything the same."

Watson crossed his arms and watched her walk to the third door on the left, and let a yip of victory when the door opened when her hand turned the knob.

Claire stepped in first as Watson followed behind. The room was very expensive looking, with extremely large paintings hanging on all the walls. At the very opposite end of the room there was a large and dark wooden door. They took a few more slow steps forward, keeping their guard up at all time. Watson only imitated his 'bosses' stance to help her feel more comfortable. He himself wasn't worried about their location, for he knew it fairly well to be surprised, or so he thought.

The door behind them slammed shut causing all the paintings to fall to the floor. Behind them hid very large, black holes.

"What the hell?" Claire whispered, and aimed her gun and flashlight towards the closest hole in the wall. Her quietness was lost when she screamed loudly, her body backing up as much as possible before the wave of leech-like things squirmed like water towards them from the holes. They were faster than she could think, and once she heard Watson's gun go off, her mind snapped back to reality. She un-clipped her whip and put her practice to work. It was able to hit a group of them, but it didn't always kill them.

"Cover me for a second," Claire turned and ran across the room to the door across from them giving it a kick when she arrived. She again yelled into her communicator, able to connect to Three, demanding the doors that were sealed to be opened at the west wing. She yelled it twice before he was able to hear through the static. It was going to take a minute for him to get through to the security system. Claire almost jumped from her skin when she felt one drop onto her arm, but a loud, terrified scream still left her lips. Sure, she could fight against any kind of B.O.W., but there's no way she could put up with this shit!

Watson looked towards her when he heard the shrill, shooting the creature off her outstretched arm. She didn't hesitate as she began to use her whip once more, until she heard the click behind her.

"Come on!" She dashed out the door and slammed it shut when Watson came through, killing one of the worms escaping the door in the process

"I would never have thought you'd be afraid of such things," he said, letting out a single low chuckle.

"Bite. Me." She stated as she was about to start walking to the next door at the other side of this new room, that was until she felt the wind of something fly just past her nose. They both stopped breathing, and didn't make a move. Only Claire's eyes looked to the wall to the right of her, and saw a tiny blade sticking out of the wall.

"It seems this room is another trap."

"No shit," she sighed. Getting angry wasn't going to help.

"The room seems to have movement sensors. So any movement-"

"-Will just set off another knife to be shot at us. If it's not some giant insect B.O.W sister, it's a primitive room with knives coming out of the walls. Just fucking great."

It was then she noticed on the other of where the knife was shot, there was a tiny black hole. Her eyes then spotted many others, concluding and sharing it was where the blades were shot from. If she moved right, she could position herself between them to move her arm. Taking a deep breath, she swung her arm up towards her head and quivered when she heard the blades pass in front of and behind her. All that mattered though was that she was finally able to contact Three. He was able to open the next door ahead of them; they just needed to get to it.

"We run on three," A man of few words once more, she thought. "One, two," She readied, and took her first step alongside Watson when 'three' was heard. They rushed side by side to the door as clicks were heard and knives were shot. Some had nicked her body and tore at her suit. She was falling behind and kept trying to push forward. That was when the pain hit her. Claire's right arm had been hit with the tiny blade, making her clench her jaw and pump her legs even faster.

Her body breached the doorway and she collapsed on her knees when Watson closed the door behind them. She breathed heavily and rounded her legs in front of her body to sit and asses her arm.

Her left hand touched the small hilt and cursed in pain from the movement. Watson saw her weak struggle, bent down and gripped her arm tightly above the wound before cleanly removing the object. He tossed it to the side and helped her stand.

She didn't thank him, she just eyed him. He seemed perfectly fine, while she had to tear off the rest of her sleeve to tie up the wound. She glanced to him once more and decided to ask if he was alright, but it was too early for such pleasantries, for the metal floor beneath them gave out and they fell to the room below.

Claire groaned as she had fallen on her behind and winced when she tried to stand. She already heard the shot though, and her eyes darted around the room. They had been surrounded by zombies. Is this some sort of dumpster for their experiments? She quickly stood her ground, and began popping bullets into their heads and chest, but there was too many. Some crawled and others fought trying to get towards them.

"We just have to move forward!" She yelled to Watson and he agreed. Claire holstered her gun and pulled the shotgun off her back, clearing the way to the doors she saw over the heads of the undead.

"-Both of you okay?" Three queued in through hers and Watson's intercom.

"We fell one below the next room we were in before, surrounded." She pumped off another blast, knocking back a handful of zombies.

"The security system is getting a bit tricky and-"

"As fast as you can!" she yelled back, using her pistol now as her and Watson kept their back to the door. It was a never ending swarm of these things, and their pistols were only doing so much. Claire almost lost her footing when the door swung open behind them, allowing them through and into the safety of a normal furnished room once more.

"Honestly," she took deep breaths, "I prefer it when it's people shooting at me." She smiled and looked again to Watson, who seemed fine, even after the narrow escape that had just occurred. Had he been through something like this before?

Watson outstretched his arm, shaking his gun in the air before returning it to his side.

"Well, at least we know it's safe to move." Claire wiped her brow and glanced around at the room once more.

"It appears fine. Do you need to rest?" His concern sounded almost sympathetic, but Claire didn't notice anything different.

"A break would be nice," she replied, unscrewing the flask at her hip to quench her thirst.

He didn't move as she did so, he knew they both needed to be attentive if anything were to happen. He knew there were no free passes in facilities like this and the room was giving quite the deceiving look. He took a few more steps forward onto the carpet held down by the red, upholstered furniture. That was when they heard a fuzzy noise. He watched Claire's head snap to him and then snap back to the door that clicked.

"What did you do?" She ran to the door, and found it to be locked once more. Just like that one, the door at the other end of the room was locked as well.

The fuzzy noise seemed to get louder and she called out again to Three, "We need the next door opened. Something's wrong here!"

The noise got loud enough to fill the room, as the two large paintings across from one another were blown off their frames by a burst of water. The water poured in quickly, and already came up to their ankles.

"I know, I've been trying to work on it, but it's some weird contraption. A pressure release system! Gimmie 7 minutes boss!"

"We don't have seven minutes! We're in closed and water's filling the room; hurry or we'll drown!"

"Shit, just hang on. I'll get'cha out!"

She hated feeling useless; at least she could kill the infected. She'll kill the asshole that set this all up! She sighed and took a deep breath, switching the channel on her earpiece as she felt the water reach her knees.

"Diego?"

"Redfield! Are you okay? I heard you've been having some problems."

"Yeah, watch out, this place is filled with traps."

"You can say that again. Are you stuck right now?"

"Yes, Three's working on it right now, so stay put so he doesn't have two jobs at once," she finished off and talked a bit more to Diego of their findings. Wesker was surprised to see her so calm. He supposed it was to make sure her team didn't freak out.

"How's your arm?" Diego asked.

"It's kinda sliced up, but it's well enough to move." She heard him sigh, "You worry too much, if it hurts, it hurts. I can put up with it for now."

"You're stupid," she heard and looked down, the water now at her waist. She smiled. Yeah, just a bit.

"I know, I know. Be careful okay?"

"Will do, boss." And with that she switched the channel back to Three's to hear any update. With the flowing water, it made it very hard for her to move around. Every inch it rose gave less time to Three. She knew though he was doing his best.

It was only a few minutes later when the water came up to her neck, and she had to stand on the furniture in the room to not waste energy swimming.

"How much longer, you think?" she asked Three and glanced at Watson. Because he was a bit taller, he had just started stepping up onto the furniture.

"Gimmie…gimmie four minutes! This shit is being impossible, hang on!"

"O-okay." She looked up at the roof that seemed just less than a meter above her and then looked to Watson. He wasn't speaking, or arguing, or complaining or…anything. She hated the whole get-up he had, covering his face. It was easier to relax if she could see what people felt. To her, the man before her looked so unnatural and robotic. Just like her brothers Captain. She hated that man. He had destroyed so many lives in her life and in others. Chris, Jill and even Steve. It's not like it was easy for her or Leon to get out of that city either. Her feet began to lift off the furniture below her and her hands could reach the ceiling.

"I didn't want to die like this," she spoke softly.

"What way did you?" She didn't expect him to answer, but it was no matter.

"I don't want to die at all. I'm afraid of it. Afraid if there will be emptiness, afraid for my brother. If I had to die though, I'd do it saving another."

"You believe saving another is worth your life?"

She grinned, "If they're worth saving, then always."

"I just got kicked from the internal codes, I have to retry! Shit, It should only be a few more minutes!"

"We don't have that time," her head bobbed in the foot and a half left of airspace.

"I will get you out." The line went silent and she began taking slow deep breaths, preparing to hold it.

Wesker followed suit but didn't have the need to do as she had to, it was best to be as believable as possible though. He looked at Claire who was staring right back at him before she took her final, deep breath. They both submerged, staying completely still to keep their heart rates low. Time ticked past another minute and Claire's furrowed brows began to relax. Air began to escape slowly from her mouth.

He swam towards her, grasping her torso to bring them as close to the door as possible. It was only a few seconds later when the rest of the air inside of her had been released; her mouth now somewhat agape.

Wesker's fingers checked her pulse and narrowed his eyes when he didn't feel anything. It was then when the door below them swung open, letting all the water rush out from beneath him. He took in a fresh breath and went into the flow to get them out of the room. He pulled her to the wall beside the door and removed her shotgun before laying her on her back.

He was about to give her CPR, but the plastic pieces from the buckles and harnesses attached to her suit would cause more harm than help if he tried. Why was he trying this?

He didn't know, but one thing he could do to find out was to save her and clear his interest. He began cutting the straps at her shoulders to pull off the belts across her front, but his knife caught on the suit. His eyes went for the glimpse of red he saw underneath and tore open the hem of the suit more to see. A large running scar graced her right shoulder and collarbone. His thumb grazed part of her skin.

His mind instantly went back to the redhead before him; hands pumping up and down on her ribcage.

His eyes had seen every detail once she landed on his property. Her footsteps, her temper and her eyes. What fun she was.

And just like he suspected, the male had been bringing her back for him.

Excellent. He knew his gifts would lure her here easily. Everything was going according to plan.

The blond man smirked, his perfectly white teeth seemingly glowing in the darkness

Okay! Finally done! Thanks to Naoko Suki, she edited this one fast! Sorry for the late update. My life was kinda shitty lately... but... yeah. It will be better :D

So, you still don't know who's the man huh? You've got next clue now. He's blond. ^^

Review?