The next day…

Shane slept longer than he should have but it wasn't as if he didn't earn it considering what he had gone through the previous night. A hard smack against the glass startled him out of a dead sleep making him fall off the bed and onto the floor. The guard outside the door laughed after watching the young man flail off the mattress.

"Asshole!" Shane snapped holding his head as pain pounded like a drum in his skull.

"Good afternoon ass-wipe." The guard said as he pushed Shane's food through the slot in the glass door. "Eat up!" The guard was laughing when turned to see Wesker stone faced less than a foot from him. He was startled considering he hadn't heard Wesker walk up to him. The guard stammered, "Oh…sir…I-I-I was…"

Wesker leaned in closer reading the guard's name tag, "You were what Hendricks, harassing a patient…again? I had heard complaints about you from the staff so I had to see it for myself."

Hendricks the guard started to sweat, "Nuh…No sir, I...I just thought…"

Wesker took a step forward making Hendricks take a step back and started shouting, "You thought?! Understand this you stammering buffoon, you have no brain. No judgment calls are necessary or required. What you think means nothing. What you feel means nothing. You are here to work for me. You are here to help the sick and to serve the needs of these patients." Hendricks face was beet red with embarrassment. He went to say something to defend himself but Wesker cut him off and continued to speak, "But since you are clearly incapable of this I want you to repeat this back to me: "Would you like fries with that?"

Hendricks stammered, "W…would you like fries with that?"

Wesker smiled, "Excellent! Now memorize it, because starting tomorrow, the only job that you're going to be able to get is selling hamburgers at a fast food joint! Your fired Hendricks, clean out your locker and get out!"

Shane heard the yelling outside in the hall but didn't really catch most of the conversation. The rooms were somewhat sound proofed and he could only make out a word here or there between crunches of the fresh juicy apple that was included with his meal today. You would think an apple would be a common thing with most any institutional meal but the food in this place had been lacking fresh fruit and vegetables, two things he desperately craved.

He bit into the apple again, sucking the juices from it and savoring every drop. It was amazing what something as simple as an apple could accomplish. Shane sighed and felt content, tearing another piece off with his teeth and munching on it softly. When he looked up he saw Wesker was now standing in front of the glass door watching him. Shane gave him a quick wave and pointed at the apple smiling and relaxing against his bed. Wesker nodded and smiled tightly and then walked away. Shane smiled and bit into the apple again.

The taste of the apple juice reminded Shane of when he was a kid. He could still clearly remember Sofia bringing home fresh apples to make a fruit salad or homemade apple pie. The pies were the greatest treat he could ever have and he often got one all to himself every February around his birthday.

Shane snapped out of his memory when he realized his birthday had already passed and that it would have been his 23rd. It was hard to tell which month it was since all the periodicals and magazines in the asylum were out of date and nobody there would give you an answer when you asked them what day, month or even year it was.

Sliding the tray onto his bed, Shane peeked outside using a handheld mirror he had hidden under his sink. Seeing nobody was around he put the mirror back, got on the floor and slid under his bed. There in the metal he had tally marks he had been using in secret to keep track of the years but because of recent events he hadn't been able to update his tally.

Shane slid out from under the bed and sat up, coughing. He swallowed hard, gagging in the process before another coughing fit hit him again. "I hate this…" He grumbled reaching to the tray to grab another piece of turkey, he hated the taste of it but he had to eat it, he saw someone walk by but ignored it till he coughed again covering his mouth before looking at his hand seeing chunks of what he hoped were food and some blood. "Shit…"

Shane started coughing again but more violently and the more he coughed the harder it was for him to catch his breath. His body temperature rose making sweat pour off his skin as he continued to cough. He was struggling to catch his breath between coughs. He started holding his chest with his hands, gripping and tearing at his shirt trying to get it off his body so he could breathe easier but it was pointless. His arms were weakened from spasms and tears started to stream down his face uncontrollably as he continued to cough violently. His face was blood red and his eyes became bloodshot as he gasped for breath only to start gagging and retching. He desperately wanted to breathe and he suddenly felt an intense fear when he thought of his lungs collapsing from this fit. He tried to move towards the door but his body rebelled. He grabbed the nurses button from the side of his bed as he coughed and slid down the side and hit the floor gasping for air with the button in a death grip in his fist.

The alarm in the monitor room buzzed loudly as a male nurse looked up and saw the monitor for cell 280. Shane was on the floor convulsing and pressing the call button the men inside all switched seeing Shane on the floor.

"Shit!" The one nurse snapped as he quickly pressed the intercom button which made the speakers in the hallways buzz to life, "Code Blue! Cell 280! I repeat Code Blue Cell 280!"

Wesker heard the announcement right as he was heading towards the exit. When he heard the man say 'Cell 280' Wesker was in full run towards Shane's room and he arrived just as the medical staff ran in with a crash cart.

The doctor was hovering over Shane instantly as two orderlies picked him up and moved him onto the bed and helped restrain his convulsing limbs the doctor injected Shane with a sedative that immediately stopped him from convulsing and made his body relax. The doctor yelled out, "His lungs aren't functioning and mouth to mouth isn't working! Get me the oxygen mask STAT!" A nurse gently asked Wesker to leave so they would have more room to work. A flash of anger played across his face for a moment before he realized she was right and he stepped outside into the hallway and watched the medical team work on Shane.

Wesker knew it was the Plaga; it was working hard inside Shane's body to overtake him. He had seen this before with the data and samples Ada Wong had collected from Spain. The fact Shane was able to last this long without it overtaking his body was a miracle. Wesker hadn't realized it but he soon started pacing as he mulled over in his head that the last thing he needed was his son to die.

"Come on Shane, breath." The doctor said which made Wesker snap out of his mental and physical pacing and he looked inside the doorway. He could hear some coughs but nothing as severe as before. He hadn't noticed when they changed but now the nurse was using a nebulizer to help Shane breath in medicated mists directly into his lungs. Shane was holding his chest and the coughing was becoming more infrequent and until it all but stopped. The doctor looked him over and kept repeating, "Slow steady breaths..." He told as Shane laid his head down on the pillow. Some blood trickled out of his mouth as the doctor looked at Wesker. "We need to get it out of him right away, it's getting worse."

Wesker nodded and Shane looked at him through bloodshot eyes, almost pleading for him to help. Wesker wasn't used to this… feeling he suddenly felt. He hadn't realized it until this moment but he was starting to actually care for the boy.

Wesker said, "It will be okay, you have my word." He then turned to the doctor, "We start immediately, I want the procedure room set up within the hour." With that he turned back to Shane, "Rest, it will all be over soon."

Shane nodded lightly before closing his eyes…

-

1998 - Raccoon City - Six Hours After First Infection - Catholic Church

There was no other choice, Shane had to run to the church after a monster showed up, he only managed to escape shocking the large creature with his stun rod which stunned it long enough for him to escape. Every time he had a chance to rest, he ended up having to flee but he was thankful for not finding another lioness or frog creature.

The church was barricaded when he arrived, the windows busted out with wooden planks blocking them, zombies and other creatures littered the ground as well as crows making him maneuver carefully toward the doors, he looked around quickly pausing for a moment thinking he saw something only to smile realizing it was an illusion caused by the rising smoke across the street but everything went south when he heard a click, he turned back to the door seeing a gun muzzle aimed right at him and his reaction was fast as he ducked and a round was fired right over his head making him shout.

"Stop! I'm not a zombie!" He shouted hugging the ground trying hard to stay calm but a tear escaped his eyes.

"Josh! We got a survivor out here!" Someone shouted from inside making him look up slowly at the doors seeing the gun muzzle was gone and replaced with an eye. "It's a kid." At first Shane was too frightened to stand but he slowly did when he heard heavy things being move before a tall woman stood there looking at him, she looked like a foreigner.

"It is a kid." She said with an Italian accent before bending down. "You okay little boy?" She asked as he nodded lightly. "I must apologize for Luke, his 'gun-ho' attitude has kept us alive, where did you come from?"

"D-d-d-down the street." Shane answer stammering while pointing where he had come from just as she pulled him inside and the doors closed behind them. "I was told to come here, someone coming for me."

"You? Why the hell not us?!" Luke snapped blocking the door and turned quickly looking down at Shane, he was gruff and covered in blood, the only part of his clothing that wasn't was a tiny spot under his left arm. "We're more damn important than you!" He growled pointing at Shane.

"That's enough Luke!" A voice snapped making Shane look up the aisle seeing a man standing at the altar looking at the Bible, he had red hair which really made Shane stare as the woman lead him up there. "We're all going to escape, so shut up and get back to watching the door!" He said looking up. "I'm Josh, what is thy name little man?" He asked leaning against the altar.

"Shane." Came the reply. "I'm following the highway to get out, my…my friend Andrew said we could escape if we follow it…" He said frowning some. "He…he…he was killed by a lion…"

"Oh my…" The woman said pulling Shane close comforting him. "I'm so sorry for you." She said as he looked at her.

"What's worse is I got separated from my mom…" He said soon looking at the floor. "I'm not even sure if she's alive…"

"She's another zombie or dead." Luke said making Shane look at him roughly. "If I'll see her I'll put her down for yo- ow! What the fuck!?" He said rubbing his head when he was hit with something hard, he turned around quickly seeing Shane picking up a rock that was on the floor. "You little prick! You'll pay for that!" He snapped running over as Shane quickly ran up to the altar as Josh got between them.

"Stand down Luke!" He snapped aiming a pistol at Luke's head. "You should hold your tongue when it comes to talking about others families, you are fortunate I haven't killed you yet! Now get back to that fucking door and wait for those people before I shoot you!" He threatened as Luke looked at Shane before flipping him off and marched back to the doors. "Sorry Shane, but some folks can't handle some charity when it's given." He said putting the gun back on the altar. "Hopefully things will calm down once we get out of here." He said as Shane nodded looking at the woman who was just watching unfazed by all this.

"I want to leave soon…" Shane whispered sitting down pulling out the radio. "Hey, you there?" He asked pressing the call button.

"Still here, what's your current position Shane?" The same voice replied making him smile.

"I had to go to the church, I was attacked and ran. There's…" He said pausing for a moment seeing how many was with him, which was only the three. "There's three people here with me. How are we leaving?"

"A helicopter is coming, it will be there in a few minutes up the street to a square, you'll be extracted there." The man replied making Shane smile as did Josh and that woman.

"We'll be waiting, hey…did you come across anyone named Sofia Burns?" He asked turning some to try and keep this private. "She's my mom.."

"Sorry. I haven't heard or seen anything." The man replied. "I'm Kristoff, don't worry Shane, everything going to be okay."

"I hope so…"

-Present

Shane woke up slowly from the sedative. He was watching the hall lights passing above his head as he heard the gentle clacking sound the wheels of the gurney made on the tiled hallway. He felt a cool, steady breeze on his face which made him reach and touch the plastic mask on the lower half of his face that he hadn't realized was there. He tried sitting up but only managed to get his shoulders off the cushion before he was firmly pushed back down and held there. Blinking weakly and looking up he saw it was Wesker who was making sure he stayed put. Giving off a cough Shane asked "What's going on?"

Whatever they gave Shane to calm him down was working too well, he could only remember the pain of the needle piercing his skin as he shook on his bed and everything seemed to be a hazy blur in his mind when he tried to think. Wesker spoke but it seemed like it was in slow motion and he couldn't make out the words.

Shane tried to understand but the more he tried the more he realized it wasn't working and he sighed disgusted with himself and gave up. He could feel a tinge of pain in his chest which made his skin itch which he rubbed as he saw two doors move in his peripheral vision making him look around dazed at the new room they were in. Other than some wires and tubes leading to and from the chair and a divider wall with a large glass window all he could see was a big chair with some equipment scattered around it.

A lab technician spoke to Wesker, "Everything's ready sir." And Wesker nodded his approval as he motioned towards Shane who let out a raspy, weak cough.

Realization broke through the haze of the sedation he was under when Shane figured out what was going on, they were going to get the plaga out of him but how exactly they were going to do it was troubling him.

As soon as they sat him up his chest burned and something inside twitched making him cough a few times, he took several deep, slow breaths before they took the oxygen mask off and helped him down off the gurney. Shane was lead slowly by two orderlies over to the chair and sat him down. Despite the strain of moving his head, Shane couldn't help but look around as he kept his hands in his lap before resting them on the arm rests.

As soon as his skin touched the arm rests hidden clamps suddenly snapped closed around his wrists startling him greatly and making him try to jerk his arms loose. He pushed his legs against the chair attempting to get leverage and as soon as he did he felt two more clamps snap closed around his ankles. He was in a full panic since it reminded him of that room. Not being able to move, trapped in one position, unable to escape. As hard as he tried, fear filled his mind as he struggled. That room played in his mind over and over again. Shane grunted and coughed as he struggled in vain to get free.

One of the technicians looked at the monitors seeing one of the clamps was blinking red, which meant it was damaged somehow by Shane's wild movements and failed to lock down tight.

"He's gotten stronger since the last time." Said the technician as Wesker looked curiously at the blinking red light taking a mental note to have the chair's restraints strengthened. The technician pushed the intercom button and spoke in calm, reassuring tones, "Calm down Shane, this will be over very quickly but you need to stay calm."

Wesker could see and not hear Shane shouting 'Fuck you', at the men behind the glass. Wesker had figured Shane would remember the room he talked about before where the Russian had abducted him to and helped infect him with the plaga parasite that was currently killing him.

Shane looked up at the arms lowering closer to his chest making him breath rapidly. He could feel the static and smell the burning of ozone as an unearthly glow came to life from the arms and shot through him. Every muscle in his body had locked down automatically as if he were being tasered; his hands clasped tightly on the arm rests, his eyes shut tightly as tears streamed down his cheeks while he clenched his teeth. He was trying hard to fight off the pain setting his insides on fire but it wasn't working. Shane could feel the plaga inside him fighting, struggling, resisting its elimination. He tried to let out a scream but his jaw remained clenched as the muffled yell issued from them.

The technician studied the readings on the display and spoke to Wesker who was standing over his shoulder, "We're almost done sir." Wesker glanced at the readings and then into the chamber. The technician spoke again, "A few more seconds…"

A warning light flashed to life quickly drawing the technician and Wesker's attention to it. The damaged clamp broke open freeing Shane's right arm. His arm flailed up slightly and then his hand latched onto the arm rest of the chair like a vice grip.

Shane shouted as the veins in his neck and head bulged out from the strain as the glow suddenly faded away. The inside of his chest was burning as he felt the plaga disintegrating into particles and he could feel it protesting its fate as it faded into nothingness. Shane's scream died out into a rasping breath as his body slumped in the chair. His chest heaved as he suddenly sucked in a large gulp of air and panted heavily for a moment and then he was still. The sensors read everything was normal but Shane was not moving.

"Shane?" The technician's voice echoed in the chamber over the intercom. All was silent and Shane wasn't responding. He spoke again, "Shane? If you can hear me, move your fingers." There was a moment of stillness and then slowly Shane's left hand moved. The remaining three clamps opened automatically and Shane slumped more in the chair, almost sliding off completely. His left arm fell limp to the side as the doctor and two orderlies rushed into the room to check on him.

Within moments they confirmed he was alive but half conscious. This wasn't unexpected though since the plaga that was inside him was rather large and it was reaching a critical point of its gestation when it was discovered and removed. Had Shane not been made of sterner stuff the end result might have been death instead of exhaustion. The last thing Shane saw as he slipped back into darkness were dancing blue dots on the dark ceiling.

"He's going to be okay, he's just lost consciousness." Said the doctor as the orderlies carried Shane out of the room on a gurney.

The technician sighed in relief hearing that the young man was going to be okay. Wesker watched them as they wheeled Shane past him and out of the room to recovery. Wesker took satisfaction in seeing how strong the boy was. Once he recovered it was time to move forward with his plans for Shane. The prince was strong and with Wesker's training he would walk the path to being king in great strides.