Sooooo okay, I had some fun writing this chapter. But I do apologise for it taking this long. Anyway, I wanted to build on Wesker and Cara's relationship, so that was what I mostly did. And give Wesker more information about Cara.
The chapter takes place at different times, over a period of months, leading up to the mansion, which will be the next chapter, finally!
Hyrule, Link, Zelda and Ganondorf, are ofc from Legend of Zelda!
I am fully aware that Wesker is behaving way out of character here, but deal with it, I needed to build more connection between them, and I had fun writing their hike.
But I don't think I have much more to tell you. Except, thank you for reading, liking and reviewing!
Enjoy :)
"You are suspending me?" Cara asked from where she was sitting.
"I am" Irons stated, very coldly, as Anderson were grinning from behind him.
"I object, you can't suspend my men without valuable reasons, I also want to know miss Riddles intention behind it. Threating someone with a knife, doesn't come without a motive" Wesker stated behind her, and Cara almost smiled, despite the situation with Chris and Jill, and the tension that had been in the group lately, since the Christmas party, he was a good captain. However, Irons didn't seem to agree with her opinion, and instead got irritated, giving Wesker hateful glances. Cara couldn't tell what Wesker thought of it, not seeing him, but she could guess he found them pathetic.
"Very well, miss Riddle, give us an explanation" Irons didn't seem the least interested in listening to her explanation, but up on hearing those words Anderson lost some of his confidence.
"He tried to rape me" was all she stated, not feeling like sugar coat it.
"She is clearly lying, why would I try anything like that?" Anderson asked and Cara looked directly at him.
"That's a very good question, one I would love to get an answer too" Anderson didn't get a chance to answer, as Irons interrupted.
"And why didn't you call for help?"
"Call for who? We were alone in the parking lot. I could have screamed and no one would have heard, or I took care of it myself, before he got any further" Cara stated, hindering herself from getting angry.
Anderson's action didn't scare her as much as it angered her. If she had been in a world with magic, or a world where they knew how to take away her powers, or if she was younger, she had been scared. Though in this case, she could always use magic, if it was needed. She knew that it meant that she had to move on, finding a new home. However, she had nothing that held her here, and she would have no problem doing so. But she preferred to avoid the use of magic, knowing her father would have an easier time finding her. That was something she tried to avoid, knowing all too well what would happen to her if he got hold of her again. Nonetheless she couldn't deny, that seeing fear in Anderson's eyes, when she put the knife to his throat, was satisfying. He had most likely thought of her, as an easy target, him begin stronger than her, not knowing that she was used to deal with men like him.
"You are suspended during the investigation" Irons only answered, and Cara raised up on hearing that, leaving the room. She had no intention to fight his decision, not having the strength to do so, or maybe it was the lack of interest. The job was merely a way to pass time, hindering her from boredom, it didn't mean much to her. It was true that she felt at home in the group, and she found the work satisfying, but she could do that elsewhere to, if needed.
"What did he say?" Barry asked as soon as she left Wesker's office, and Cara turned towards him and the others.
"I am suspended during the investigation" Cara explained as she took her keys to her locket, needing to change.
"They can't do that" Brad stated, more upset then Cara was.
"He was the one that wronged you. How does he dare to play the victim here?" Joseph asked, a question none of them answered.
"You okay?" Barry asked and she offered him a smile.
"I am, don't worry about me. Concentrate on finding the weapons instead" Cara told him. At the moment they were working on investigation rumours about shipments of weapon, military ones. If there was any truth behind the rumours, Raccoon was on the brink to became a dangerous town.
"Fuck that, we need to get you back!" Chris looked at her, and Cara smiled towards him. There had been a lot of tension between him and her, just as it was between Jill and her. The partners hadn't known how to apologise for Christmas, since they thought they were wrong about her sleeping with Wesker. And Cara, she didn't know what to think about Chris actions towards Wesker, even if she preferred to stay out of it. But hearing Chris become angry on her behalf, made her feel a happy.
"That's very sweet of you, but as I told you, I am fine. Concentrate on finding the weapons, and what happens to me, happens" Cara stated as she walked towards the door "See you"
"Hi Lady" Cara threw the keys on the table, when she entered the apartment, making Victor look up from the book he was reading.
"You look far from happy" he stated and Cara turned her gaze from the dog to the man.
"I got suspended" she informed him, and he looked at her, giving her a sorrow look. "Don't, it's fine. I will just get bored again."
"That's…a special way to see it" Victor answered her and Cara only shrugged her shoulders, as she patted Lady. At least she would have a lot more time for the dog. "Anyway, if you ever want to do something with Lady, I can come along"
"Thank you" Cara smiled towards him. Since Victor was home, because of an injury from the military, he had a lot of free time, just as she did, and he loved spending time with Lady. Cara had nothing against his company, enjoying it, especially when she did something with Lady.
"Then see you" Victor waved towards her, as he left the apartment, and Cara was left alone.
"What to do now?" she looked at Lady, who only was waving her tail, happy to have her owner home. "You are right, let's start with a bath."
Cara had almost drifted off, due to the warm water, making her relax, and she decided to get up, before she drowned.
"How about some food?" The dog lifted her head, as soon as she heard Cara's voice, and she started to wag her tail. Cara took that as a yes, and after changing into some shorts and a cosy sweater, she headed towards the kitchen, with Lady at her side.
"What do we want?" Cara grabbed one of her recipe books, looking through it. She knew most of the recipes without looking them up, but as for the moment she needed some inspiration. Cara sank down, showing the dog the pictures and recipes, and as she looked through the book, Lady stayed quiet until they got to meat stuffed pumpkin.
"This one?" Cara looked at the recipe, it was one she and Link had come up with, together. It wasn't anything to fancy, but it tasted great, and it kept the hunger away for a long time, which was needed when you travelled the world. Lady gave her one last glance before she laid down, and Cara stood up, grabbing the ingredients from the fridge.
She had placed all that she needed in front of her, and was just about to start open up the pumpkin, removing the filling, making place for the meat and the rest, when she heard the doorbell ring. Cara looked down at Lady, who had lifted her head, and soon stood up, next to her owner. Cara walked over to the door, wondering who of her teammate chose to disturb her first. She knew that they had finished their shit, while she was in the bath, knowing that at least one of them would came by, asking how she was doing. It wasn't something she looked forward to, but if she chose to send them away, she knew that they would be worried, and that would only escalate to a more annoying situation for her. Therefore, she decided to let them in, and letting them easy their hearts, knowing they most likely needed it more than her.
As she opened the door, her captain were standing there and she let him in.
"I actually thought that Barry would be the first one" she stated as she left him in the hall, walking back to the kitchen. Cara smiled for a second, seeing that Lady decided to stay with Wesker, until he followed her to the kitchen.
"So what can I do for you? Or are you here to give me some sort of news?" Cara didn't look at him, as she picked up the knife, and started to remove the top of the pumpkin.
"Unfortunately I have no news to give you, neither bad or good" he informed her, as he leaned against her bar disk, separating the kitchen from the dining room.
"Thought so, so then I guess you are here to see how I was feeling" it wasn't a question, more a statement, therefore she didn't receive and answer from the man. Cara kept working on the pumpkin, until the lid was lifted. "Don't worry about me, I am alright, Anderson is far from the first man to try anything like it"
Wesker gave her a questioning look, and she gave him a smirk.
"We don't do personal, remember, and that's definitely personal" Cara stated as she shoved over a try with vegetables. "Cut these if you want some food!"
For a second she thought Wesker would refuse, until he took a step closer and accepted the knife she was handing him, and he soon started to cut the vegetables.
"Will it interfere with your job and judgment?" Wesker's words made her laugh.
"Is that what's worrying you?"
"I have little choice here, trusting your words that you are alright." Wesker gave her a firm look, or that was her guess, since he didn't remove her glasses.
"You have little to worry about. I have learned how to deal with it a long time ago. So it will neither interfere with my work or my judgment" Cara responded as she started to cook the meat, Wesker handed her the vegetables, and she thanked him.
"I can tell you have questions" Cara didn't take her eyes from the firepan.
"I admit I have" Wesker stated, as from where he was standing and Cara sighed.
"You are the worst you know that?" the words weren't more than a whisper. "You demand to get more then you are willing to give"
"I believe that it's information that should be included in your file" Cara laughed at the words, turning around to look at him.
"I am sure your file are missing as much information, as mine are, if not more" Cara didn't get an answer, and she was expecting none. "Would you like to hear the details? Knowing how old I was the first time? Knowing about the cell I kept prisoner in? Knowing who managed to break me that way, teaching me how to obey him? Or maybe you liked to know about the man who I thought was my friend, and who I wanted to help, only ending up changed up, in his home? Or maybe about someone else?"
Her voice was as cold as her eyes, as she never took her eyes off Wesker, letting the words sink in. As they did, Cara turned around to continue with the food.
"How many times?" Wesker finally asked, and Cara shrugged her shoulders.
"Who knows? I have lost count, only remembering some of them" that was a lie, Cara remembered them all, if she wanted to. But she kept it locked behind a door, never opening it, knowing it would most likely break her if she let it take control.
"How did you manage to get through it?" Cara smiled a small smile.
"I have had friends and loved ones who took care of me afterwards, and who saved me" she stated, always being grateful towards the ones who saved her.
"Your husband being one of them?" Wesker asked and Cara went silent for a few seconds, remembering what had happened in his world.
"Depends on how you look at it" she only stated, preferring not to think about it, especially not Halt's expression when it happened, or how it happened.
"What did he do?"
"Kill them" Cara only answered, as she placed the food up on plates, handing one to Wesker, and walking towards the table.
"That don't seem to bother you" Wesker said, hiding a question in there.
"You feel like it should? Knowing or seeing him kill someone who hurt me. You sadly mistake me for someone else, if you think it would" Cara gave him a cold look, which earned her a smile from Wesker, something that surprised her. It all too often felt like she couldn't understand him, that each time she felt that she could understand some part of him, he did something to make him feel even more like a stranger.
"Most people would, not getting affected to what happened to them"
"Most people are idiots, leaving someone who are a threat to you alive" Cara took a bite from the food.
"Admitting that to a police could get you in trouble" Wesker said seriously, even if Cara understood that it was his way of trying to ease the mood.
"I am sure I could handle the situation, and if not, then I would just move on to a new place" Cara admitted.
"For most people, leaving everything behind isn't an option they want to take"
"I am not most people, and after doing it a few times, you get used to it" it was the truth, and even if it hurt, moving on, she always did. Mostly due to the fact that there was nothing left for her in a world after a few years.
"I admit I have lived here since I was eighteen" Wesker informed her, and Cara wondered how it came that he was giving her any information about himself. She far from complained, but it still surprised her.
"By that age I had moved a few times already, first to the boarding school, secondly to my godfathers house, then to a new house with my father, and finally away from my father, when I became pregnant, all before I was eighteen" Cara thought back on her life, suddenly feeling very old. It was true, she was a few hundred years, but as that moment she felt older.
"Never knew you was that young when you got pregnant"
"Somethings you don't get to choose" Cara looked out through the window, remembering the panic she had felt when she became pregnant, feeling far from ready. But also the fear over what would happen to the child if she stayed with her father and Draco. Severus became her salvation, and she had managed to get a few good years with Minna, and despite her young age, she had become a good mother.
"You got pregnant due to a rape?" Cara only nodded as an answer, soon feeling Lady by her side, and Cara smiled towards the dog.
"I have a son, somewhere out there" Wesker told, making Cara face him.
"Somewhere?" Cara was aware that she sounded judgmental, maybe it was due to the fact that she had been a parent, or due to the fact that Wesker seemed to care little about it.
"That was what I said" Wesker seemed more irritated because she repeated what he said, then her judging. "I got a letter seven years ago, it informed me what I had a son. But the woman was very clear that she wanted nothing to do with me"
"Does it sadden you?" Cara asked, being sure that she would be devastated if someone forbid her from meeting her child.
"I does very little change to me. He has never been a part of my life, and he most likely never will be. And I have my hands full with Sherry, the times I see her" Cara noticed that Wesker's voice changed for a second when he talked about the girl, it got warmer. Hearing that made her sure that if Wesker had got a chance to meet his son, he would most likely become a great parent.
"I see" was all that Cara answered, as she grabbed her plate, to place it at the dishwasher.
"Did I offend you?" Wesker walked after her, and she took his plate as well.
"You are not my father, therefore I can barely get offended by it. I may not agree with you, knowing I would do everything to see my child again" Cara closed her eyes for a second, feeling how her mind started rushing, thinking of her daughter. However, her thoughts came to abrupt stop when she felt how someone turned her around, and she soon had a set of lips on her own. Her first reaction was to kick the person in front of her, until her brain caught up, realising it was Wesker, and she took a step back.
"Is this your way of making me stop thinking?" she joked, one he didn't response to and Cara shrugged her shoulders. "Fine, I guess it's as good as any other way"
Cara pulled him closer, kissing him again, as he with ease guided them towards the bedroom.
Cara had gotten bored all too fast for her own sake. She knew that all too many of her teachers would have schooled her for it, but she couldn't help it. After all the years, what she should technically call adventures, she got bored if nothing happened. Or maybe it really was anxiety over that her father may found her. A fear she didn't want to recognise and instead it presented itself as boredom. Her teammates had visited her from time to time, mostly Barry and Wesker. And seeing how often Wesker started to visit her was surprising to her. Barry visited her to make sure that they did everything to get her back, keeping her updated with their missions. He had informed her that they had found information about the weapons, revealing that it was a transportation of weapons that had been sent into the city for months, though they found no trace of them. It was a disturbing thought, knowing that somewhere someone had a large amount of weapons to their dispose, but none she worried all too much about. Chris and Jill had invited her out on drinks a few times, and she had agreed, mostly to try and make things better between them again. Luckily they seemed to have dropped the thought of her and Wesker, which almost made her smile seeing her captain sitting next to her, on the couch, reading a book. She didn't know how they got to that part of their, she was unsure what to label what they had. When he started to come over they had sex, they still did, but it was times, like this when he visited her and they did more or less nothing. They spent time together without talking or doing anything in particular.
"You are restless Riddle; I can tell" Wesker didn't take his eyes off from the book he was reading.
"Congratulations on noticing" Cara muttered from the floor, where she was laying, looking into her own book, without reading it. It was a book with maps, maps from different worlds. Maps was something she always had loved to study, but at this moment it did her more restless.
"What are you reading?" Wesker asked, and Cara guessed he tried to make her less restless by spiking a conversation, but it was so out of character that it made her lower her book.
"Small talk, is this what we have come to?" Cara didn't receive an answer, therefore she lifted the book, showing him, being careful to show him a map from the world he knew.
"It's a map of Seoul"
"I am aware of that, thank you very much" Cara placed the book in front of her again, turning page, looking on the map of Hyrule.
"Why are you studying the map of Seoul?"
"I lived there, years ago" Cara didn't look at him, as her eyes following Zora's river, towards Lake Hylia. Cara knew that Hyrule most likely had changed since the last time she was there, due to the fact that Link, Zelda and Ganondorf got reborn every time, changing the impact on the country, mostly Ganondorf. She thought of returning, had more than once, but she knew that the once that existed now wasn't the same Link and Zelda she had known, and it would feel wrong. Cara closed her eyes, placing her book on top of her face. She could tell that Wesker were studying her, without looking.
"I am going on a hike this weekend, if you are restless why don't you come along?" Wesker asked after a few minutes of silence. Cara lifted her book, looking at the man, sitting on her couch, but he had his eyes on his own book.
"As a date?" she couldn't hinder herself from teasing him, something Wesker didn't seem bothered with.
"As an exercise, if you can keep up" He didn't look at her, and his face was as always unreadable, but Cara could hear both a challenge and some teasing in his voice. But his words made her laugh, which resulted in Wesker lifting his gaze to look at her.
"If I can keep up? I never knew you were the type to joke" Cara stated as she kept laughing, until Wesker's phone rang. Cara stopped herself abrupt as she stood up, returning the book to the bookshelf.
"Wesker" From the tone in Wesker's voice, Cara understood that it was someone from work who called. Cara choose to head for the kitchen, doing the polite and not listening. Lady walked after her and Cara gave her a treat, mostly because she felt like she wanted to spoil the dog sometimes. She was careful not to give Lady any bad habits, as demanding treats, or biting.
"Riddle" Wesker called from the living room, and Cara looked out from the kitchen. "Get ready, we are heading for work"
"Am I no longer suspended or did Irons only need me on this work?" Cara gave him a wondering look.
"I informed him that we was I need of your skills, for this mission" Wesker admitted and Cara raised an eyebrow.
"That was generous of you captain, but it didn't ask my question. I am far from interested in doing him a favour, without getting anything in return. I am not a dog you can call on, and I will come running" Cara leaned against the doorframe, Wesker smirked at her, before he picked up the phone again, and Cara walked towards her bedroom, to get ready.
When Wesker ended the call, Cara waited for him in the hallway, handing him his jacket, as he raised an eyebrow this time.
"I am more than confident in your skill to persuade someone" Cara took her keys, told Lady to stay, knowing Victor would take care of her soon.
"Shall I take that as a compliment?" Wesker asked and Cara shrugged her shoulders.
"Take it as your prefer" she told him as they stepped into the elevator. "So what are the mission?"
"A couple of campers has disappeared, the third in a short amount of time. Irons wants us to investigate"
"And you are taking me to the forest this weekend, am I not a lucky girl" Cara joked as they stepped out of the elevators, and Cara headed towards her car.
"Your car will not be able to take you up the mountains" Wesker stopped her and walked towards his car, with Cara following. She saw that he had arrived in a jeep this time, and she opened the door.
"Where are Bravo team?" Cara knew that they were the ones on duty. It was rare that Irons called both team, into duty.
"They are investigation some murderess in the suburb" Wesker drove out from the parking lot and Cara wondered what was happening in the town. Dead children with viruses, weapons, missing campers and murder, not unusual things, but at the short amount of time it occurred, was unusual. Cara nodded as a replay and then became silence, feeling no need to small talk, as they drove towards the Arklay mountains.
"It's good to see you kiddo" Barry smiled at her.
"Yeah it has been, what three days since you last visited me? I almost forgot how you looked" Cara joked, earning a laugh from the others.
"That would be a tragedy, wouldn't it?" Barry laughed as Wesker approached them, with maps and compasses. "I hope that he didn't bore you too much on the ride here"
"I have been in the car with worse persons. I was just a bit surprised when he called, informing me that he was picking me up for a mission." Cara lied.
"Does that mean you are no longer suspended?" Chris asked.
"Riddle are no longer suspended" Wesker told the others, and they smiled towards her.
"Now we just need to get rid of Anderson!" Brad looked at her and she shrugged her shoulders.
"That's a matter for another time. As for now we need to find the campers" Cara turned towards Wesker, needing more information.
"Your maps are marked with last know locations of the campers" Cara saw the four spots, it was a large area between the locations, meaning that if someone abducted those people, they had a vehicle. "None of them have been found"
"Has anything from the been founded?" Joseph asked.
"Besides from there abounded camp, no" Wesker stated as he turned towards her.
"I will see what I can found" Cara replayed without him ordering her, she gave Barry her map and compass, as she walked towards the camp.
"Watch and enjoy the magic" Barry told the others, and Cara rolled her eyes, as she started working.
Cara walked around for an hour in the camp, and nearby forest, seeing that the track of the campers headed in different directions. It could be more than one explanation to that, but she saw no obvious one, making her puzzled. She felt how the others studied her, waiting for her to inform them, on her founding's. Slowly she stood up, turning towards them.
"I can give you very few answers" she walked closer to them. "The woman, sleeping in the blue tent, left first. From what I see at her track, she did it without fear and of free will, possibly heading to the bathroom. I haven't followed her tracks to the end, seeing that they keep going in that direction"
Cara stopped to point in the direction. She had followed them for three hundred meters, and found nothing suspicious.
"After her leaving, the male cheering tent with her went after her. But his tracks turn's in that directions, and they soon start running" Cara pointed in another direction then the woman had walked. "I can see no one chasing him, so why he starts running I can't tell. The remaining couple left together, in that direction"
Cara pointed in the opposite direction from the other two.
"They walked together, but I soon saw a set of unfamiliar tracks following them, from a man. The couple walks in different directions, with the male following the other man. The woman seems to be chased by something else, for me unfamiliar tracks. I would guess it's some sort of animal, but the tracks looks like nothing I have seen before"
"Told you, magic" Barry gave her a smile, one she answered.
"Jill and Chris, follow the first woman's track. Joseph and Brad you take the first male. Barry and Riddle take the second man as I take the second woman" Wesker informed them.
"And if we lose the tracks?" Joseph looked at Cara.
"Call me over the radio, and I will help you find them" Cara stated, looking at Wesker who nodded. They had very little choice, even if it would be a lengthy process.
"Stay in contact"
"Yes, Sir" they answered Wesker, before they went in different directions.
Cara concentrated on the tracks, following them darker into the forest, Barry walking close behind.
"Kiddo?" Cara stopped for a second to look at the other man, nodding for him to continue as she kept tracking. "How do you handle everything with Anderson? Knowing he is still around, and most likely will be. This isn't his first time after all"
Cara wasn't all to surprised hearing that it wasn't his first time.
"I will manage more than fine. And I still have my knife" Cara joked, but receiving no answer from Barry, made her turn once more. "Barry, don't you worry. I will let you know if I am not feeling alright. As a former mercenary, I know how to take care of myself, and I have been in similar situations. Not every man is a gentleman as you are"
Barry gave her a small smile, and she smiled back.
"I am here if you ever need an help" Barry offered and she know, he had let her know that almost every time he had been visiting her, this past months.
"I know, and I am grateful" Cara turned towards the track again. "So let's continue, if you can keep up old man"
They had walked almost a kilometre when Cara stopped, the first male had resisted when the follower attacked her, the ground showed clear sign of struggle. But the attacker was victorious and as he was, he had walked over to the river, and entered it.
"This is troublesome" Barry rubbed his neck, while Cara nodded.
"It is, it's not impossible, but it makes it harder, especially since it will be dark soon" Cara grabbed her radio, calling for the others. "The tracks we followed ends with a struggle, judging by the blood it had a deadly outcome, the stranger following the camper won, before he entrées the Mendez river, near the east bridge"
"Roger" Wesker sounded, before he went silent for a few moments. "Head back towards the others. We need to focus on the others, if they have a chance of being alive"
"Yes, sir" Cara ended the call, standing up, marking her map. "Let's head back, and regroup"
"Are you the boss now, kid?" Barry laughed.
"Someone needs to keep you under control"
"We…We have found something" Brad's voice informed them over the radio, and it was clear that he felt disgust.
"Give me the report" Wesker soon followed.
"We aren't sure, but out guess is that it's the woman. She is torn to pieces, can't tell from what" Joseph declared, as they heard Brad vomit over the radio.
"State your post" Cara opened her map, once again, when Wesker asked.
"We have two kilometres to route 6" Cara looked at the map, the woman had got further then the man they were following, most likely headed towards the road. Cara wasn't sure if it was because she was lost, or due to another reason, since the track near the camp hadn't show any signs of distress.
"Head back as well"
"Yes, sir, as soon as Brad can walk" Joseph laughed, and so did Chris.
"Focus!" Wesker's voice silenced them, and Cara smiled a bit, noticing the affect their captain had on them.
"Let's hurry back" Barry glanced at her and she nodded.
It took them around thirty minutes to return to the camp, arriving before Joseph and Brad, who had wondered off further.
"We are back at the camp" Barry radioed.
"Jill, Chris what's your position?" Wesker asked.
"South of Stone Ville, still following the tracks" Chris reported, and Cara know from the locations of the map that they had gotten far.
"Brad, Joseph, head in that direction"
"Yes, Sir" Joseph answered, letting them know that he received the order.
"…" Cara heard the radio make a sound, as Wesker was about to say something else, but instead went silent.
"Captain?" Barry asked, wondering about it too, however Wesker didn't answer. "Wesker?"
Barry met her eyes before he looked towards the forest.
"I can track him, if that's what you are wondering, but let's give him a few more minutes to answer." Cara was aware that it could be more than one logical explanation to why Wesker didn't answer right away, and she saw no reason to worry.
Cara leaned calmly against Wesker's car, while Barry seemed more worried. Cara wasn't sure what the reason was, maybe it was because Wesker was the only one who walked alone, maybe it was because he followed the unfamiliar tracks or something else.
"Wesker?" Barry tried again, this time sounding angrier, after twenty minutes of silence. "Albert for God sake!"
"I thought you had more faith in me, Barry" Wesker answered, and Cara smiled, once again a bit fascinated over the friendship the men seemed to have. "The tracks vanished, in lack of better words, mid-air"
Cara didn't know what it was that told her, but it she knew it was a lie. However, she saw no reason to comment on it, since Wesker most likely had a reason.
"You lost them, you mean" Chris tried to joke, and Cara knew at that second that it was a bad idea. She could imagine Wesker's reaction.
"Thank you for volunteer to write a report for the new police recruits, on tracking. I want the report on my desk Monday, Christopher" With those words Wesker ended the line, and Cara looked at Barry, smiling as the other man laughed, hearing Chris protests in the background.
The remaining tracks led the others, to some parts of a dead body, near the Victory Lake. They had described it as the body had been torn to pieces, before eaten, seeing tracks of bit marks on the bones. Wesker had reported it to the police and medics, and they had arrived at the different locations, collecting what body parts they could find, and S.T.A.R.S. could soon leave the place.
None of them had barely talked, taken by what they had seen. Cara herself hadn't seen any of the bodies, but she guessed it could be worse than anything else she had seen. Though she guessed that level of violence was uncommon in Raccoon. Normally bodies weren't shredded into pieces, or eaten. For a second, she reflected up on how much she had seen, leaving her this unaffected. The others returned towards their cars, leaving as soon as they could, while Wesker nodded for her to do the same.
"Does it affect you?"
"Not directly. Especially since I didn't even saw the bodies" Cara stated, wondering if it affected Wesker as well, despite him looking unaffected.
"I assume you are aware that sometimes it's healthy to get affected" Cara turned towards him, before she laughed for a few seconds.
"It is. But after a few years, very few things do" to those words Wesker nodded in response and Cara went silent as they drove, towards the city.
"Can I bring Lady?" Cara turned towards Wesker, as he stood in her hallway, waiting for her. Her captain looked down at the dog, who happily wagged her tail.
"I have a hard time seeing her climbing" Wesker turned towards her and Cara smiled.
"Then I carry her, as long as you are alright with having her with you"
"I will not oppose it, you are then one carrying her" Wesker made it clear and Cara rolled her eyes, as she packed a few things for the dog, before she took her backpack. As usual it was packed perfectly, she could carry it for hours without tiring her, and she had packed only the most necessary things. It all reminded her of all the trips she had done with Halt, and for a second she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, before she walked towards the door. She felt Wesker's eyes up on her, but as usual, he didn't ask, and she was pleased with that.
"Come Lady" the dog followed her happily, as they took the elevator down, and walked towards Wesker's car, and jumped in. They left the parking lot without a word, as they drove towards the forest.
Cara made a few last adjustment to her gear, before she looked at Wesker.
"So where too?" she had no idea what he had planned, and since it was his hike to start with, she had no desire to oppose anything, sure that she could handle, whatever he had planned.
"Our goal is to get here" Wesker showed her the map, and she nodded. It was far from an easy stop to get to, but she had been to worse. For a second she wondered if Wesker wanted to test her, or if he had planned to go there all along.
"Which of the ways do you wish to go?" Cara saw studied the four roads you could take, unless you didn't chose to take your own way.
"This one" Wesker pointed it out, clearly being one he had come up with.
"Then let's get started" Cara looked at the forest, pin pointed north by studying the environment, then headed east, with Wesker at her side. "Come Lady"
Lady started walking next to her, until Cara signed for her to ran along, which the dog happily did.
"So is this something you do often, or is that too personal to ask?" Cara offered her captain a smile, and got a small one back.
"Normally it's something personal, but no need to hide it since you are here. And I do it from time to time, has since I moved here"
"Then thank you for letting me tag along" Cara was really happy to do so. "I haven't done this in a few years"
"You used to?" Wesker looked at her, and she nodded.
"I used to do it all the time with my husband. We were rangers in the mercenary together" Cara glanced at the forest, almost as she could feel Halt's spirit lingering.
"Then I hope my company will do" hearing those words surprised her, especially since they sounded more gentle then they normally did.
"It will do fine." Cara teased as she pulled herself up and over a big tree, which was blocking the way. Lady crawled under, waiting for her and Wesker, and Cara nodded for her to continue.
"How did he die?" Wesker asked when they walked next to each other again, and Cara knew she couldn't tell him that Halt died of old age, not without raising to many questions. So she thought of what to tell him.
"Battle. He got stabbed with a poison knife, and out in the wild without proper doctors, there was nothing we could do" Cara thought back, it had almost been the truth, and she was lucky it didn't happen. But those days, out in the wild when Halt was hurt, made both her, Will and Horace scared to death.
"I apologise" Wesker sounded sincere and Cara raised her hand to show that it was okay.
"It was the life we lived" she didn't look at him, not wanting to show how effected she got, by the thought of Halt. It had only been a year since she lost him, they spent almost sixty years together, and losing him after so many years, hurt her deeply.
"Can't say I ever lost someone to death" Wesker slowly told her, as they stopped at a river. Cara briefly looked at him, as she filled up her water bottle, the small amount she had used, and called Lady to her, making sure the dog drank. Cara waited to see if he continued, but he stayed silent and Cara stood up again, studying the water. It was cold, and even if her clothes could stand water well, she didn't want to risk it. Lady didn't seem bother by it and jumped in, making Cara laugh. The dog waited for them on the other side, and Cara thought about it. If she had a bow with her, she had used it, but here she hadn't. She had to jump across, it was a large gap, but not impossible. The took off her backpack, and threw it over, before she backed up, looking at Wesker.
"If you want to walk over, be my guest" she said as she started to run towards the edge, she jumped, and landed on the other side, doing a somersault, standing up. Soon Wesker followed her, doing the same.
"Not bad" Cara smiled, as Lady rushed forward again, and Wesker nodded.
"Normally I would have walked over" Cara nodded this time.
"Walking over is easier, but colder, and I prefer to stay warm, and dry"
"Your clothes keeps you dry" Wesker pointed out and Cara laughed.
"You sound just like my husband. You two would have gotten along, none of you talk much and always so practical. You need to try something new once in a while" Cara smiled teasingly, as she kept walking again.
Cara was pleased by the speed they kept, and Wesker seemed pleased by it too, at least he didn't let her know otherwise. She turned towards the sky, seeing that they had four hours until sunset, and she estimated that they should arrive at the location Wesker showed her on the map in two hours, unless something happened. She knew you always had to be ready for something to happen, but not worry about it. Cara made it through something that most likely could count as a swamp, and laughed at Lady when she got all muddy.
"Someone will need a bath later" the dog looked at her, always begging her to give her a bath, and Cara stroke her over the head.
"She is behaving well" Cara turned towards Wesker, seeing that he wasn't quite the muddy as Lady, but not far from it.
"She always is, and you almost look like you need a bath too" Cara couldn't stop herself from laughing.
"Glad I can amuse you" Wesker was far from as amused as she was, something that didn't bother her at all, as they kept walking.
Cara stopped when they arrived on the bottom of the peak, one hour later. It was a steep, and almost straight up, Cara could tell that Wesker once again was studying her, mostly rather amused at this point, knowing she had to carry Lady, and also wondering how she would do that.
"Lady" Cara called the dog towards her, who willingly walked over, looking at her. Cara opened her backpack and put Lady in a harness that allowed Cara to carry her on her back. Lady looked far from happy, but accepted it, understanding that there was no other way. Cara adjusted to the extra weight a few minutes before she walked towards the wall.
"See you on the top" Cara stated as she found her first grip, starting to climb. She took it slower then she usually would, due to Lady, not wanting to risk anything dropping the dog and herself in the process. Cara had climbed bigger challenges, especially with Link, she was just pleased that no one attacked her during the climb. As she made her way up, she was always careful not to let go on any of her grip before she knew she had three grip, that she could hold if the fourth would fail her. She saw Wesker in the corner of her eyes, moving faster than she did, not hindering by a dog. It didn't take him to long to pass her, making Lady look at the man.
"Lady stay still" Cara felt that her balance became uneven when the dog moved. When the dog stopped moving, Cara continued towards the top.
When she made it over the edge, she backed away, before she released Lady, who seemed more then pleased to be on the ground once more. She moved her limbs, making them more comfortable as she walked towards Wesker, who had started making a camp.
"You took your time" Cara smiled as she heard some form of amusement in his voice.
"I enjoyed the view" Cara dropped her backpack close to the fire Wesker had built, and started to raise the tent, without any challenges. She had lost count how many times she had raised a tent, living in the wild it was often your only home, and she liked it. It was something liberating with it. Knowing you could live wherever you wanted, move when you felt like it, and it was also cosy. It was times she hated it, but mostly due to the fact that you couldn't defend a tent. In that aspect this world pleased her, she didn't need to expect an attack from the forest, knowing it didn't host hostile tribes and monsters who would attack. Cara placed her gear inside the tent, hindering it from became wet in case of rain, or dew. Exiting the tent, she turned towards Wesker, only to find that he wasn't there, and she shrugged her shoulders, knowing that he most likely had headed towards the forest to collect wood. Cara faced the fire instead, placing a cooking pot close to it, as she started to prepare the food they had brought. Cara hadn't experienced Wesker's cooking skills, so they may be good, but as he seemed pleased with hers, she saw no reason to make him cook.
As she proceeded, she went to grab water, from the river floating close by. Wesker had still to return, and so had Lady. Cara guessed the dog went with her captain, knowing the dog would never run off, but she had taken a liking to Wesker, who seemed to enjoy the company of the dog as well. Cara saw Wesker's steps, followed by Lady's as they headed off into the forest. Pleased knowing where the dog went, she continued towards the river. She couldn't help from smile, as she did so. Being out in the nature again, doing something that felt familiar, felt good. Living in a city, wasn't something she was against, no she liked it too, but it never gave her the same feeling of freedom, and as she could disappear, as easy. She knew that her father would have a harder time finding her in the woods, then in a city, as well as the death eaters. They would most likely burn the forest, hoping to kill her that way, or hope that it would smoke her out. As she walked up to the river, she pushed away the thoughts from her past, not wanting to think about that life, or scare herself, thinking of what would happen if they found her.
She sat down, and was about to fill the buckets with water when she felt a present, rather than heard someone. She stood up in second, pulling her knife and turned around, only to face Wesker, who grabbed her hand, hindering her from getting closer with the knife.
"It's just you" she stated without thinking, for a second imagine it was her father or a death eater.
"Who would it else be?"
"Who knows" Cara shrugged her shoulders as he studied her from behind his glasses.
"You thought it would be someone else, there for trying to stab me" It wasn't a question as much as a statement. Cara choose to say nothing, not only because she didn't want to think more about who it could have been, but also because she didn't want to share it with Wesker. Cara turned towards Lady when she barked, and so did Wesker, and when he turned to face Cara again, she saw a smirk on his face, a smirk she didn't like. It took her a few seconds before she realised what he was going to do.
"Don't…" she started, but soon felt how he let go off her, resulting in her falling into the river, getting under water. Cara emerged, coughing water, giving Wesker deadly glance as the man happily patted Lady, who seemed far too happy for Cara's liking. Soon the dog joined her in the water, trying to get her to play. Cara only stood up, feeling how her clothes weighted heavily. They were made to endure some water, but being soaked from head to toe, was something else. As a wind blew through the forest she shivered, feeling the cold.
"For fuck sake Wesker" Cara didn't hide her anger, especially since the other man seemed very pleased with himself, and found her situation amusing. She stepped out from the river, dropping, as she picked up the buckets, filled them with water. Wesker took a step closer.
"Don't come closer, or I will cut you!" Cara spouted as she walked back to camp, with Wesker and Lady behind her.
Cara threw the water into the pot, together with the rest of the ingredients.
"Riddle you need to change" Wesker told her, earning another angry look from her, before she headed to the tent, to change. She didn't know if she wanted to push Wesker over the edge off the cliff, or laugh because he showed her another side. Most likely the first one. This was a joke she didn't enjoyed at all. She sighed as she opened her backpack, grabbing a change of clothes. Getting rid of the wet clothes was a pain, and she had to work for it, but soon she left the tent, in a new set of clothes, and covered in the cloak she had got as a ranger. The green and brown cloak was warm, and it made her calm down a bit, making her think of Halt. Wesker turned towards her when she walked over, sitting down by the fire, still freezing.
"Still cold?" he asked, and she didn't turn towards him, instead she put out her hands, closer to the fire, to get warmer. Something her magic didn't do was protect her against extreme weathers. She wanted to find a spell for it, but she hadn't, and just as anyone else, she was affected by warm and cold weather. If she had been alone, or not hiding from her father's eyes she would have used magic to get warmer. "It seems as my joke wasn't well met"
"I am fucking freezing, what do you think?" Cara knew the gave him more attitude then he deserved, but at that moment she didn't care. Lady walked up to her, most likely feeling that her owner was far from happy. "No Lady, stay there"
The dog was also cold, and in that second Cara didn't want her close. Lady laid down, and Cara could tell that she was displeased by the noise she made. Cara patted her, giving the dog some attention, but as she was still wet, Cara soon stopped.
"I apologise" hearing those words made Cara turn her face towards Wesker, sighing, before she nodded. She was aware that Wesker had tried to joke, and he hadn't meant anything with it, and she guessed the thought was nice, seeing her captain open up a bit, she was just not pleased with the way.
"Accepted" Cara told him from under the hood. "I also apologise for my attitude"
To that Wesker nodded as he stood up, before he sat down next to her, putting his coat over her.
"Take this" Cara looked at him under the cloak, and smiled.
"Thank you" she rubbed her hands against each other, as she turned towards the food she had left, cooking.
"Here" Cara handed over a bowl of stew to Wesker when it was done, as she took one for herself, but as she was still cold, she used it to warm her hands, rather than eating it. Wesker accepted it and soon started to eat.
"The cloak?" Wesker didn't look at her as he asked, and Cara rolled her eyes.
"I should say it's personal, and not answer you, mostly because you pushed me into the water" Cara let the hood fall back, so Wesker could see her better, and she saw that he smirked at her.
"You raise to many questions to keep everything private" those words made Cara laugh.
"I raise to many question? For fuck sake, you raise as many, if not more" Cara took a spoon of the stew.
"Touché"
Cara was silent for a while, listening to the sound the forest made.
"It was what I wore as a ranger" Cara pulled it a bit closer.
"Seems ineffective, and as it will get in the way"
"If I hide in the forest, I would like to see you try and find me" Cara almost challenged him, and Wesker seemed to think about it.
"I am interested in how that would go" Wesker confessed.
"With you giving up. Trust me, you would not find me, and I am not willing to try. I want to stay here, by the fire and keep warm"
"Still cold?"
"I am. The fire, the cloak and your coats help a bit. But I had to walk over to the camp in wet clothes, and my hair is still wet"
"Come" Wesker told her and she gave him a wondering look, before he almost dragged her into his arms. Feeling his body heat, together with the other things helped her a bit.
"Thank you" Wesker only nodded in response as they continued to eat.
"Here, before you get cold" Cara took of his coat, and Wesker put it back on, with a bit of a challenge, not moving away from her. And Cara admitted, she didn't have anything against it. It was warm and normally cosier then they did. Normally they didn't sit this close, or had too much contact, except when they had sex, but that wasn't cosy. This was something else, something they never did. Wesker didn't seem to be the one who sought this form of contact, and she was unsure why he still sat behind her. She had stopped being cold a while ago, but he still hadn't moved. And now when Lady was dry, she had her head in Cara's lap, and Cara stroke the dog from time to time, making her tail wag.
"It almost makes you forget the work" Wesker sounded tired.
"You need to take more breaks captain. Working yourself to the bone is never good" Wesker snorted and Cara rolled her eyes. "You can also handle over some of the work on us, we are you team after all, we can handle it"
"I disagree"
"You don't trust us?" Cara pretended to be hurt.
"That I do. You are my men after all. Nonetheless I want everything to be in order, something I doubt you will handle"
"Now you really hurt me. Sure, some of us may create a big mess, but me, Barry and Jill would be able to handle it" Cara knew that the others would most likely mess more than one thing up. Even if Wesker trained all of them, and all too often told them what they did wrong, especially when they wrote reports, some of them never learned.
"Valentine would be more then capable to handle some of the work. Barry also, but giving him the chance, would result in him being on my case all the time. And you? Who knows what you may do, stab it with a knife" Cara chuckled.
"I would only handle over a knife" Cara leaned backwords, closer to Wesker, and soon she felt his head up on hers, and smiled. She let her gaze wonder to the stars.
"One of the best things, being out in the forest is that you can see the stars" Cara felt how Wesker turned to look at them. "I have always loved them, they used to calm me when I was younger"
"Not anymore?"
"Sometimes, but I have other things to calm me today. And I am not as lost as I was when I was a kid"
"Rough childhood?" to that words Cara laughed.
"That's far to personal, to talk about ever."
"You never talk about it?"
"It happens from time to time. Mostly to people really close to me. The last person I talked about it with was my husband" Cara remember the talk with Halt, it hadn't been something she enjoyed, and he seemed to enjoy it even less. But she knew it was because it made him angry, especially since he couldn't do anything about it. She had ensured him that all he needed to do was to be there for her.
"The childhood makes us to who we are today" hearing those words made Cara wonder about Wesker's childhood, but she didn't ask, especially since she wasn't willing to talk about hers.
"So does that mean you were raised by people wearing sunglasses all the time?" Cara joked.
"I was raised by a pair of sunglasses" Wesker joked back, and hearing him do so, surprised her once again. If someone should have told her that they would joke with each other a year ago when she met Wesker, she would most likely not believe them. She felt that their relationship had evolved during the year, and in a very strange way. Cara was far from sure what kind of relationship they had, and as in this moment she didn't care. She was pleased with having someone to fuck, talk to, and to spend time with from time to time. Especially someone she didn't need to be bound to. She could do the fun parts, without any responsibility. Cara looked at the stars once more, smiling, before Wesker slowly stood up.
"Time for sleep"
"Are you ordering me?" Cara raised an eyebrow as she stood up, and Wesker smirked towards her. "Don't even try!"
Wesker poured water on the fire, and it died as Cara went to the tent. Cara looked at Lady, but the dog seemed to prefer to stay outside, and Cara nodded. She could leave the tent open a bit, giving the dog a chance to go inside if she wanted. Cara removed the cloak, and changed into her pyjamas as she entered her sleeping bag. Wesker soon entered the tent, looking at Lady.
"Leave her, just don't close the tent all the way. She will get in if she wants" Cara told him, and he did as she said, and soon he laid down next to her.
"Good night captain" Cara closed her eyes, but she soon felt a hand around her waist, opening her eyes in surprise.
"Sleep Riddle" Wesker only said and Cara shook her head, before she closed her eyes, getting some rest before they walked back tomorrow.
"What the fuck is happening?" Brad asked angrily, as he threw the newspaper on his desk. "People getting attacked, by groups who eats them!"
"It's sick!" Jill was disgusted, and had the rights too. Cara had, as he colleagues wondered about the murderess that had occurred over the past months. After the campers started to go missing, and they found some trace of them on their last mission, the police had warned people from go camping. It seemed to have worked, and no more campers disappeared, but soon people started to get killed in their homes instead.
"How is it even possible for large groups like that, to move around without anyone noticing?" Joseph asked what they all were wondering. It wasn't impossible for a group to move around like that, if it split up, but from the witnesses close by the victims, they saw ten people moving together.
"Do we even know where this people are coming from? Or where they stay?" Chris asked, but no one answered as Wesker entered the room.
"Bravo team are heading out. Irons believes that the cannibals have their base near the Victor Lake. As for now, we are on standby" Wesker declared, and they all nodded in response. "The shift is over, and I recommend that you get some rest, in case we need to assist Bravo team"
"Yes sir!" Wesker left them, heading for his office and the others went to get change.
"Albert?" Cara and Wesker turned around, as they were about to enter her building. He had asked if he could come over, he hadn't stated a reason, not that he always did, lately he never did. Cara guessed it may have with the mission to do. Wesker seemed relaxed and not worried, but it was something that told her that he was. She had no idea the reason for it, and it could be anything. Maybe because it was unusual for the town, maybe because Bravo was out in the field, maybe it was because they may need to go out too. Compared to the other missions they had been on, this felt different, and maybe Wesker felt it too. So she had told him that he could come over, and she would make something to eat. But not having a chance to enter the building before a stranger, to Cara, walked towards them. Wesker seemed to know the man, since the stranger greeted him, using his first name.
"William" Cara looked at the blond, so this was William, Sherry's father. Cara wondered why he was there, and how on earth he knew where to find Wesker.
William glanced at her for a second, before he dismissed her.
"So she is the new one?" Wesker didn't seem to be bothered to answer that. "Guess you could do worse"
"Your reason to be here?"
"I wanted to give you this" Cara couldn't see what William was giving Wesker, but she saw that Wesker got surprised, even for a second. "In case anything happens. Who knows what they have done to that place, and how it will look. Just look at the training facility!"
"William!" Cara heard a warning in Wesker's voice, but she was unsure the reason for it, besides her present. Clearly what William was saying, wasn't meant for her, though his words made little sense to her.
"Oh right, just be careful, alright?" William met Wesker's eyes, who nodded.
"Always am. And I could tell you the same, get out while you can!"
"I am not done yet. I have a few more tests to do, until the G-virus is done" Cara remembered sherry telling her that her parents were scientists. Wesker sighed at that statement.
"It will be the death of you" Wesker lowered her voice, and William smiled in return, as he whispered something to the other man, before he leaned forward, kissing him quickly, surprising Cara. Cara blinked a few times, trying to process what just happened. William took a step back, gave her a hatful glance, as he wanted to tell her something, before he returned towards a car. Wesker turned towards her, as she gave him a puzzled look, but he gave no answer or explanation, and she shrugged her shoulders.
"Always the same" she stated as they entered the building.
Cara woke up, hearing Wesker's phone ring. She glanced at the watch, the numbers showing her 1:30. In that moment Cara knew something was wrong. As Wesker answered she headed towards the kitchen, started brew coffee, before she returned towards the bedroom to get dressed.
"Understood" was all she heard Wesker say, as he dialled another number, as he got dressed as well. Cara returned towards the kitchen, put the coffee into two travel cups, before she walked over to Victor's apartment. She hated to knock at this hour, but she knew that Lady would be worried if she left at this hour without getting back. And she would have no chance to call Victor later.
"Cara?" Victor looked a bit concern when he opened the door.
"Sorry to bother you at this hour, but I have just got called in, emergency, and I wonder if you can take Lady?"
"It's alright, I was awake anyway, and I can take her" Victor turned towards Wesker, as he left the apartment, giving her one of the cups with coffee.
"Thank you, you are the best. I hope I can return soon. If you need something, you can try to call, but I am not sure I can answer" Cara informed him and Victor laughed.
"I know. Been in the military you know. Ran away now, Lady will be safe with me" Victor walked over to her apartment as Cara walked down the stairs, after Wesker.
"We have lost contact with Bravo team. Last we heard was that they were hit, and due to that, most likely has landed in the forest" Wesker stated.
"Most likely crashed" Brad informed them, knowing, as the pilot how bad it would be, if the helicopter was hit. None of the others said anything.
"We are heading out to search for them" it was obvious, but Wesker needed to state that as they all entered the helicopter, taking off towards the forest.