Disclaimer: Don't own anything.

One chapter left, I'm almost done with this.


Claire's hands trembled slightly as she sat on the elegantly woven mat next to Excella's corpse that was slowly losing its warmth, turning colder each passing minutes. It was quite funny to be honest. In any other situation she would have been trying her everything to find help or revive the person whose heart had stopped, but there was absolutely nothing Claire could do but sit there next to the beautiful corpse and explore her feelings that she couldn't understand at all.

'Maybe this is all just a bad dream or a delusion I've created myself.' Claire thought, fixing a straw of her red hair behind her ear, smearing a bit of the blood onto her cheek without knowing it. What could she do? Sure, there were Wesker's men and probably HUNK in the building complex, but she wouldn't be able to reach them unless she got out somet how from her gilded cage.

'I'll just close my eyes and realize that everything is just a silly dream and then I wake up somewhere nice, like Raccoon City or Rockfort Island.' She'd rather face all the horrors she had experienced so far again with twice the terrors than face the reality that she had killed someone.

"I killed Excella…. I've murdered someone." She finally whispered, admitting it out loud, as if announcing it to the whole world or the ghost of her brother, but she knew there were no ghosts, Claire just sat there, too lost in her thought to move; her mind was in utter chaos.

The younger Redfield was clearly in shock; unable to grasp or understand what had just happened and more importantly, how her life had changed the moment she had chosen to kill Excella. She had acted upon her feelings and instincts, choosing to end Excella's life rather than sparing it. She had been given the choice of sparing the unarmed woman who was no longer a threat to her, but instead, she had brutally murdered her just because she had mocked her, her friends and brother.

The woman's words had been pure poison and somehow it felt only fitting that she died of poison. It was almost funny coincidence and Claire felt herself slightly amused despite the horrible situation she was in.

Claire was shocked by her own reaction when her lips curled up into a small smile and she let out a quiet and short laugh of disbelief only to clap her hand over her mouth in horror, not understanding her own reactions.

Of all the possible reasons to kill, she had done so because Excella had mocked her dead brother. Sure the dark haired woman had threatened her life and if she had not fought back, se would have met a horrible end. But still, she had disarmed her and instead of ending the fight without hurting her, she had jammed that poisonous and deadly needle into Excella, letting her meet the fate she had wanted her to experience.

'I must be insane..' Claire thought. She had been in control of her emotions so well, achieving to base her decisions on logic rather than feelings. Oh how miserably she had failed.

Being insane would have been a more merciful option, the truth was much more cruel and heavier burden on her soul and who knew, perhaps she had already lost her mind.

'I lost it the moment I gave myself to Wesker.' Claire thought slightly bitter sweetly, knowing that she didn't regret sleeping with the blond.

Claire had never stopped to think twice about killing a monsters or zombies she encountered when battling against Umbrella; never hesitating to pull the trigger and choosing to end the life of something that threatened her own. But those things, those creatures Umbrella, Wesker, Alexia and the rest had created were not people. They might resemble humans often walking on two legs and looking like them, but they weren't feeling, breathing or humane creatures. They were soulless, only wanting to kill and devour their victims.

Excella…she had been a person, well, not a very good one, but still a person, someone with ambitions, feelings and ability to make moral choices. Some might have thought her to be a monster due to her mercilessness and choices in life, but all Claire had seen was a woman blinded by her desperate love for Wesker. Love that the man had clearly used against her, manipulating the beautiful woman.

'She was in love with a real monster. Wesker is no a human, he just looks, talks, feels and acts like one.' Claire thought as she eyed Excella's body with sorrowful look in her beautiful blue eyes that had lost some of their shine over the year of captivity. Now they now had an empty, hollow look in them, reflecting what she felt.

'I ended someone's life when I had the choice not to.' The thought kept tormenting Claire.

Of course, she could say it was all self defence, an attempt to protect her own life from an attacker who wanted her dead no matter what, but it didn't change the fact that she had disarmed Excella and instead of sparing her life, she had taken it brutally in a moment of anger and hate. She had wanted the woman to suffer and experience excruciating pain, sticking the needle into her without fully knowing what was inside the syringe.

Her feelings had blurred her reasoning, leaving only the primal urge to see the woman suffer and die for what she had done and for what she had said about Chris who had meant everything to the younger Redfield.

She was a murderer, a tragic one yes with many justified reasons, but those facts didn't change the cruel reality. This was what Wesker had probably wanted, for her to dirty her hands. She had a stain on her soul that would never wash off.

Claire blinked few times in confusion; having completely lost herself in her thoughts with no idea of how long had passed since Excella had died in her arms. The blood had started to dry on her clothes and face, slowly turning darker.

'I'm now completely part of his world.' The young woman thought sadly, realizing that she had irreversibly changed her fate with this one act. There was no longer going back, a murder was a threshold she had never before crossed, but now…it felt like ahead of her was only darkness and void that was about to swallow her whole if it already had not. The hope of getting saved had vanished and now, she felt like only way forward was with Wesker, there was no going back to what she had before the man had taken her. She had lost everything.

Claire felt like she was suffocating, it was hard to breath.

'I'm drowning..' She though as the dark, oppressing shadows started to creep into her mind, eating it. It was as if Wesker himself was pulling her deeper and deeper into the shadow, never letting her go. First he had made her disappear from the world, deemed dead and buried. And now, she could never return to that world even if she was set free.

She was safe inside the beautiful gilded cage her cruel captor had created for her, unable to survive in the outside world any longer. She didn't belong there. To be honest, she had not belonged in the real world the moment she had stepped inside Raccoon City. She and her brother had been spirited away into this world of shadows and cat and mouse games… Chris was lost and she was slowly losing herself as well.

'I'm never going to free, am I? ' Claire thought, unable to act.

Every instinct told her that she should be weeping for a meaningless death, a death of a woman who had only acted out of foolish and desperate love. She should be denying the deed in sorrow, wishing that it was just a bad nightmare and that it had not happened, that she'd be innocent of such a horrible crime.

But instead, Claire found herself standing up from the floor with an empty look in her blue eyes. Wesker had won. This was all a part of his plan; she realized it. The only thing she wondered was how else the man could break her.

She was tired of crying, it had never done her any good. She had cried for Chris, herself, her friends, the fact that she had started enjoying Wesker's company. Self-pity and sorrow had been her constant companions that had only recently been banished from her life. Claire was not letting those get hold of her again, even if it meant she had to turn into a monster herself.

She had no tears left to shed anymore. But still, she wished to forget this, to forget about Excella, her friends, even Chris…

'If Wesker can help me forget all about the horrors I've experienced, I'd welcome that gift.' She thought, wishing there was something that could make the pain stop, something to erase it completely even if it meant she'd be Wesker's

Claire walked over to the elegant sofa to wait for her captor, HUNK or anyone who would return first, there was nothing else she could do. Silence fell over the beautifully decorated room as the younger Redfield sat down quietly, eyeing the corpse of her attacker that didn't move or get up to attack her, no matter how much Claire wanted it to.

Suicide had never been an option for her, and Wesker had known it, not afraid to leave her alone or letting Claire have a way to hurt herself. She had always been a fighter, either winning or accepting her defeat, and right now, it was clear as a day that she had been defeated.

Claire laughed a bit and looked at Excella with a smile

"You know, I wouldn't mind if you got up and attacked me, I probably wouldn't even fight back."

Then, she fell silent, waiting patiently for someone to come to her to open that heavy wooden door and judge her for her sins, whether it was, Leon, Wesker, HUNK, some random business man or even Chris's ghost, not that they existed.

She knew what she had done and there was no escaping it. Accepting her deeds was the only option.

Claire waited there, not having any idea of the passage of time. The passing hours melded together, creating one long moment during which she was completely lost in her memories and thoughts, just waiting for someone to come and end this madness, someone to judge her and decide her fate.

Finally, after what felt like and eternity, Claire heard steps outside the door in the corridor…someone was approaching the door, no…a group of people, at least 3 people. The Redfield girl waited patiently on the sofa, looking at her hands that she had rested on her lap, her blue eyes cast downwards. Only now did she realize that her fingers were covered in dry blood.

The people stopped outside the door and waited, trying the door, only to find it being locked.

'They don't have the key.' Claire thought, realizing that whoever was coming in, did not belong there. It was not Wesker, HUNK or anyone she knew. It was going to be some stranger, perhaps Excella's bodyguard. Maybe with luck they'd kill her and end her misery.

'That'd be welcomed.' Claire thought smiling sadly as he looked at Excella who had been dead for hours, her body already cold.

Claire didn't react in any way when she heard a soft tinkering sound, who ever was outside was lock picking the door open…not impossible feat, but not easy either. Finally, she heard the door unlock, but she refused to look up, getting a bullet into her without seeing it coming would be for the best.

The door opened into the large room and the people stepped inside, clearly holding guns up.

'Make it fast…' Claire thought, closing her eyes and breathing calmly, preparing herself for the death.

"Claire?" She heard a familiar voice call her name, a voice she had not heard for a year…a voice she hadn't expected to hear ever again. It was Leon.

The young woman blinked in confusion, not believing her ears.

'This has to be another of my delusions…' was the only conclusion she could come to. She slowly lifting her face to see Leon, Jill and Ada standing in the door way, holding up their guns, aiming them at her with shocked, relieved and…angry expressions., except Ada, who looked calm and collected.

It had to be a dream, what else could it be? There was no way her friends could be standing there in the doorway. It was all just her delusions; they just couldn't have found her. Not now..

'This can't be happening…this is just not possible.' Claire thought, but surprisingly, she didn't feel relieved, happy, sad, or angry. She felt absolutely nothing when she saw her friends that she had hoped to see for such a long time. She had begged, prayed and cried for months to be saved by Leon or Jill, to be taken from Wesker's possession and set free, but her saviours had never come and eventually she had lost all hope. She had let Wesker take control of her life and instead chosen to find something good in that existence, to find the silver lining among the darkness.

Life and fate were truly mocking her, after all this time, after giving up and letting herself to fall into depression and despair, they found her at her most vulnerable moment; right after she had done something irreversible and horrible. Claire was not the same woman she had been when Wesker had taken her.

'Of all the possible times they find me…. its right after I lost all control and killed someone? They find me when I've turned into a monster like Wesker.' The young Redfield thought in disbelief, not answering when they addressed her again, calling her by name.

"Claire?" Jill asked angrily, but the red haired woman just sat there, lips curling up in a small smile of disbelief and sorrow., resisting the urge to giggle out bitterly.

'This is insane, I think I've honestly gone mad and this is just my delusion, that has to be it.' Claire sighed to herself, only to look at Ada who looked so calm and collected, The younger Redfield had completely zoned off, Jill's and Leon's words were just incoherent humming sounds to her as she focused on Ada who was so sure of herself, looking almost relaxed.

She realized it fast, how could she not? All of this was part of Wesker's and Ada's plan.

'I see…so it was Wesker after all, I never had a choice to begin with.' Claire thought, admitting her defeat once more. Even if they were there to save her, Wesker wouldn't let that happen. Either Leon and Jill were going to die, or they were leaving without her. Those were the only possible outcomes. It seemed as if Wesker really enjoyed destroying her dreams and hopes.

'Wesker, I hate you so much...but I can't live without you anymore.' Claire thought, wanting to laugh and cry at the same time. She was tied to him, he owned every inch of her body and mind, she'd never be free of him, and in away, she didn't wish to.

'This gilded cage is all I have; I can't survive out there. I'm Wesker's little bird… I'm going to sing for him until he gets bored of me." The ponytailed girl realized, accepting her role. This was all just a play and the stage was hers

The way she looked at ada told the double agent everything she needed to two women shared a bitter smile; they understood each other completely.

The young ponytailed woman could feel Wesker's shadowy tendrils around her, suffocating her, claiming every inch of her body.

Claire finally sighed, deciding to accept her judgement. This was probably the last time she'd meet Leon and Jill, so she better cherish it.

Leon approached Excella's corpse and felt her vital signs, but she had been gone hours ago. There was no bringing her back anymore. Jill looked at Leon who shook his head, telling her that there was no saying the Gione woman.

Jill looked enraged but managed to keep her composure. She breathed heavily, looking like she wanted to say many things to Chris' sister, but she was too shocked to find her alive and well, living in this luxurious apartment clearly unharmed and in good health at least physically.

"Did you kill Excella Gione, Claire?" The brunette woman asked quietly yet sternly, aiming her handgun at her with steady hands, ready to pull the trigger if she tried something.

Claire glanced at the corpse and then at her clothes and hands that were covered in the woman's blood.

The red head smiled sadly and amused at Jill, knowing that it didn't matter what she said, either way, they were going to leave her alone in this place. It didn't matter to her if they thought her to be a murderer or not. Maybe it would even be merciful to them. Besines, Claire was not one to deny her sins.

"I can't really deny it, can I?" She replied all calmly and collected, trying not to laugh. She hated Wesker, but she needed him and wouldn't survive without him. She longed for his attention and touch, having enjoyed it greatly.

This was all part of his plan, but still…. it to see that her friends didn't even give her the benefit of the doubt.

'I can see it in their eyes; they think I killed her in cold blood. They are wondering and trying to determine how I'm working with Wesker and whether I'm his lover or not.'

They probably had formed their opinion based on some pictures of her with him, given to them by Ada and the luxurious place she lived in. They had no idea of the hell she had been put through. Wong looked smug, but Claire couldn't really blame her. The dark haired woman knew that after this, Leon would be hers.

"Why Claire!? Why?! Did Wesker tell you to do it when she was no longer useful to you two?" Leon demanded answers, making Claire's eyes darken slightly.

"No, but I don't think he would have objected either…. believe or not, it was self defence. But to answer your question, I did kill her." Claire replied, pouring herself a glass of water from a crystal pitcher on the small and elegant tv stand that was in front of her, despite Jill and Leon aiming at her when she moved her hands from her lap.

Ada moved close to Leon, placing her hand on his shoulder affectionately, as if a sign for him to be careful

"Leon, she is clearly working with Wesker…. there is no saving her." The dark haired woman said quietly, making Claire chuckled a bit, bitter and angry. What good would it do convincing them to think otherwise? It wouldn't change the end result. They were going to leave her either way.

Leon approached her slightly with his gun up, the man's mind was clearly in disarray and he didn't know what to believe.

Claire looked directly at the muzzle of Leon gun with calm and collected look in her eyes.

"Are you going to shoot me?" She asked quietly.

The crystal glass pitcher sat on the table and Claire felt like glass herself, ready to shatter into thousands of pieces from the smallest tap. As she stared at Leon, she couldn't help but recall the first time she had gone to practice shooting with Chris.


The snow made crunching sounds beneath Claire's boots as she followed her brother to a small clearing in the winter forest. It was the morning and it had snowed heavily during the night, giving the woods a very beautiful, almost story like look. When Claire looked up at the pines and leafless birches, she saw magpies and crows sitting on the branches eyeing the two siblings curiously and making hoarse croaking sounds.

What had she been back then…15 or 16? The young girl stared at the large, beautiful birds, only to turn her gaze back at brother when he gained some distance from her. Claire smiled a bit as she hurried after Chris.

"Chris, are we there yet? Its cold…" She complained playfully, the thick jacket warming her body so that she wasn't feeling cold at all.

"Almost there." Her brother told her with a smile and before long Claire saw a long wooden fence with glass bottles on top of it in a neat row.

"What's this about, Chris?" the younger sibling asked, looking surprised when her brother pulled out a handgun. A simple 9mm Beretta.

"Claire, you know I'm joining the army soon…I will be gone for a good while, so I want you to know how to shoot a gun." Her brother told her, making Claire blink in surprise.

"Chris, you've already taught me hand to hand combat and knife moves, do I really need to know how to shoot too?" she asked, making Chris grin at her.

"Of course, I want my little sister to be able to defend herself from the hoard of admirers when I'm gone."

"Chris! Don't have that many…" Claire laughed, but walked up to him when he beckoned her to join him before muttering all amused. "And I wouldn't shoot them I'd stab them in close quarters to save ammo."

Chris laughed all amused as she stepped next to him, taking the gun from him.

"Ok, just hold it this way…good, keep your hands steady…" Her brother instructed her. Claire held the gun, aiming at the bottles.

"Now, hold your breath, aim and pull the trigger…keep your eyes open." Chris said, stepping back to give Claire room.

Claire calmed herself, aimed and pulled the trigger. The shot rang loudly in the empty forest, making the crows and magpies croak and fly away; the snow fell from the branches when they scattered. The bullet shattered a glass into thousand pieces, making them scatter on the snowy ground beneath. Claire felt triumphant, feeling good about hitting something, succeeding with her first try.

"Awesome, Claire. You are a natural shot." Chris applauded her and Claire held the gun carefully, putting the safety back on.

"Thanks Chris" the younger sibling sighed, the feeling of triumph quickly fading when she realized that this was probably the last time she and her brother had time together before he went to the army. Her brother saw her reaction and knew right away what was going on. They were close, closer than most siblings. All they had was each other.

Chris took the gun from his sister and put his right hand around her smaller body.

"Don't look so sad, Claire…I'm doing this for the both of us."

Claire smiled "I know…I'm just going to miss you."

Chris ruffled her red hair gently "Listen, Claire, even though I might not be here, I'm still love you…always." Chris said, rubbing the back of his head slightly, it was not easy for him to say such things to his little sister.

"Always?"

"Always."


The younger Redifled stared emotionlessly at Leon and the gun he held.

"Are you going to shoot me Leon?" She repeated her question when Leon didn't answer her. Jill scoffed angrily, eyeing her, clearly enraged. To them she was a betrayer.

"Give us one reason not to Claire! Chris is dead because of you and you've betrayed us. Look at yourself! You working for Wesker…. how could you." The brunette hissed, clearly having made her mind up about her involvement with all this. Perhaps she had given her the benefit of the doubt in the beginning, but seeing Excella lie there on the ground, dead with her killer sitting on the sofa all calm and collected was too much for her.

Claire closed her eyes and smiled, looking sad, trying to think a single good reason why Leon shouldn't shoot her there and then.

"I can't really think of any, got plenty of reasons for you to do it though." Claire replied, fixating her blue eyes on Leon who looked shocked. Perhaps he could see the pain in her eyes, or perhaps he was just shocked that a woman he had trusted had turned against them.

"Go ahead, Leon…its easy, you just aim, hold your breath and pull the trigger…keep your eyes open. You are a natural." Claire whispered, using her brother's exact words, partly wanting to die so that she could be released from this torment. But, she also feared death. She belonged to Wesker; she needed him. A part of her feared, that even death wouldn't be a release, that Wesker had secretly given her something that would bring her back from the dead so that her torment would never cease.

"Do it, Leon. I won't be mad. I can be with Chris." She said with a happy smile, making Jill lose it.

"Its your fault he is dead in the first place!" The woman hissed at her, walking up to Claire despite Leon trying to stop her in case Claire could be a threat to them, but what could she do? She was unarmed and broken.

"That day when Wesker came for you, Chris only died because he was there with you…if he hadn't, Wesker wouldn't have…" Jill started, but it was too painful for her to continue. Claire saw that she was not being reasonable. Jill had tried finding a scapegoat for all the misery and pain she had experienced, and blaming it all on Chris' sister who had been taken alive by Wesker had felt the best.

She was staring down at Claire who was still sitting on the sofa, but she slowly stood up, facing the woman who had once been her friend.

"I know." the red haired woman whispered sorrowfully, it was all her fault; she had come to accept it.

"Redfield, look me into eyes and tell me you aren't working with Wesker. " Jill growled at her, staring into the younger Redfield's eyes.

Claire had a hollow look in her eyes and she glanced at Ada who smirked at her., encouraging her to destroy everything she had left of her relationships.

"What's the point, Jill? Looks like you you've made up your mind already about me and Wesker." Claire said coldly, making Jill pull out the pictures Ada had give her and Leon from her pocket and throw them onto the table next to the crystal pitcher. It was as she had suspected. There was plenty of pictures depicting her in Wesker's embrace, playing the piano, reading books, talking with HUNK, enjoying a night at the opera and of course…her kissing the blond man.

"Look into my eyes and tell me that is not you in Wesker's embrace, kissing him…and looking happy. Did he even have to force you to do anything?" Jill hissed at Claire who cocked her head a bit. The red haired woman eyes the pictures with disinterested look in her eyes.

"I can't deny any of that, and to be honest I enjoyed it too." Claire replied and the next thing she knew, was that her face was turned with her cheek burning hard. Jill had slapped her hard across the face.

"You disgust me, Claire…. you and him…after everything he has done to us, you find yourself in his embrace. He kidnapped you! Killed your brother and now this ….we find you like this. We thought you to be tortured and killed by him, but instead, you are working with Wesker, trying to probably destroy the whole word." Jill said angrily. She looked pained, betrayed and Claire suspected that deep inside her, past all the bitterness and anger, Jill still cared for her. "We had given up all hope of ever finding you.."

Claire felt few tears roll down her face. She had thought there were none left.

"And what would you rather have me do?" she asked, voice filled with poison.

"Fight." Jill said quietly..

Claire let out a sad laugh. "You have no idea, Valentine. I tried to fight him, to resist him as long as I could, but living in constant misery, sorrow and anger is poison to your mind and soul…I coped. It was the same for me. I thought I'd never see any of you again, after all you were quick to claim I was dead." She replied, voice barely louder than a whisper. From a corner of her eye, she saw Leon hesitate, listening to her words. They had known that Wesker harboured obsessive and dark thoughts towards Claire, and she couldn't be completely blamed for all this…maybe she had not started out as his ally, but imprisonment changed people.

But Jill was having none of it and she was seething in rage, clearly wanting to shoot her.

"Still, disgusting.."

Claire felt anger starting to bubble inside her. She smiled, with a mad, hollow look in her eyes.

"Would it make you feel better if he beat and tortured me constantly? If my body was bruised, bleeding and violated by him? Would that satisfy and make you feel better, Jill? Admit it, you want me to suffer for what happened to Chris."

For once, Jill was speechless and just stared at her.

"Believe me, Valentine, I've suffered more than you ever have!" the broken young woman snapped angrily.

Leon approached Claire, while Ada kept watch at the door.

"Claire Redfield, you are under arrest for the murder of Excella Gione you are coming with us." Leon said sternly, hoping that this all would be sorted out eventually.

'No, I'm not…he won't let me go. If you try, you'll just get hurt, Leon.'

"Do you really think Wesker is going to let that happen? He has eyes everywhere, you are here just because he wanted you to see me…. like this." Claire laughed, a bit mockingly knowing that her friends were as good as dead. She just prayed that Wesker would let them go.

'I must sound completely insane and broken to them.' Claire thought bitterly.

"Do you think he loves you Claire?" Leon asked angrily from her, making the red haired girl scoff.

'How stupid do they think I am?' Claire wondered, looking more amused than anything else.

"No, Wesker is incapable of loving anyone. He doesn't love me, and I don't love him." She explained, speaking the truth. What they shared was not love. It was desire, a need for companionship and lust.

The two looked at her and clearly couldn't believe their ears. If she didn't love him, and he didn't love her…then why, why was she doing this to them? But then again, they hadn't even asked why she had killed Excella. It was because she had mocked Chris and her lives.

"Then why, Claire? Why…help us understand you. You've been with him a year, tell us if he has threatened you or…brainwashed your or something. Give us anything. What are you to him? You live in luxury, you don't fight him, and you seem to enjoy your time." Leon asked, wishing and praying that his friend was still there. "For heaven's sake, you've killed for him!"

"Are you allied with him?" Jill asked simply, making Claire glanced at the window longingly 'Perhaps I should take the risk.'…but then she looked at her blood stained hands and fingers that so often danced gracefully on the piano keys. Soon enough they'd be covered in blood of millions of people who would died because of Wesker. She was powerless to do anything..

"I'm just his little bird, singing what ever tune he enjoys at the moment. Someone he can tell his darkest secrets and plans since I can't hurt him in any way. I'm whatever he wants me to be." Claire wondered out loud. There was no reason to explain the lengths of Wesker's obsession went with her.

"Why you, Claire? Why of all people, it has to be you?" Jill asked, wanting to understand why someone she had loved had died only to have Claire survive because of some strange connection to Wesker.

"I've asked that question myself thousand times, never getting the answer. Maybe having the his enemy's sister be that amuses him the most." Claire said simply.

Leon lowered his gun along with Jill who looked disgusted "Leon…she has clearly been broken. There is nothing left to save." The brunette said quietly.

Claire sighed, lowering her head a bit and looking very tired.

"Of all the possible times. I can't decide whether Wesker hates me or not. He can be so kind, gently, only to turn so cruel."

Suddenly, Ada looked alarmed but Claire saw that is was all an act.

"Leon, Valentine, someone is coming...we should go…it is too dangerous to take Claire with us…we have to act fast." Wong said. "There are guards coming…"

Leon gritted his teeth, clearly wanting to take Claire with them, but it would be too much of a risk for the group

They made a decision. This was risky. They had failed protecting Excella, but at least they now knew that Wesker was working behind the scenes and that Chris' sister was still alive.

"You will pay for your crimes, Claire, I promise you that." Jill muttered as the three backed off to the door. It was too dangerous for them to stay or take her with them…Wesker was too dangerous to face at this point. They had to report to the BSAA.

"Goodbye Claire, I hope you enjoy your wretched life with Wesker." Chris' ex partner said quietly before leaving with Ada who urged Leon to follow them. Those had been the last words she'd hear from the woman she had once called a friend and who had meant a world to her.

"We will find you again, Claire…." Leon promised, still not sure what to believe. It felt like he wanted to believe that this was all Wesker's fault and that his friend could still be saved, but she just gave him a comforting and reassuring smile.
"I want to believe your words, Leon, I really do…but, we won't see each other ever again.'

"No you won't." She replied quietly with a sad, longing and broken look in her eyes. Claire didn't hate them, in fact, she still loved them both, but there was nothing she could do. Wesker owned her; she belonged with him, unable to live outside her gilded cage any longer.

Leon stayed behind for a moment, standing at the door and hesitating to act.

"Claire…you can still come with us and admit your mistakes. I have no idea what you've been put through over this year and I want to believe you have your reasons for doing this…so please don't stay here." Leon said quietly, making Claire feel warm inside.

'He still wants to believe in me.' It was a comforting feeling, but she knew there was no future for her out there, not anymore.

"Leon…" Claire murmured and the ex cop just stood there patiently, wanting to hear what she had to say. The younger Redfield hesitated, looking into Leon's blue eyes. She wished he'd just stand there in her sight as a proof that he was alive and well. Seeing the two had been both devastating and comforting, It really didn't matter to her what they think of her and Wesker.

'I wonder if Wesker was being merciful or cruel for letting me see Leon and Jill one more time before we depart to Africa.' Claire wondered, suspecting it was a bit of both.

"Thanks…. for looking for me. At least you tried saving me and that means a world to me, even if what you found is not what you wanted." Claire finally whispered, feeling tears stream down her face. Leon looked confused, clearly trying to decide whether he should just grab her and force her to go with them or not, but he had no time.

Claire knew, that this was the last time she'd ever see Leon and she didn't wish to let him go. If he could stay just a little longer there, comforting her with his mere presence,

The younger Redfield then remembered something Chris had said to her…his last words in fact…how he loved Jill.

"Leon…Tell Jill that Chris said he loved…" The broken woman started again but in that instant, he was gone, following Jill and Ada, leaving her standing in alone in the room with her hand raised, wishing Leon to stay.

Jill would never know how Chris felt about her. Claire shook her head and chuckled in disbelief, she hadn't even been able to fill her brother's last, dying wish.

A part of her just wanted to run after them and cry, telling them that she was sorry and begging them to save her, but that would just mean they would die in Wesker's hands.

Claire just stood there, feeling exhausted and completely empty. She had longed to see Leon and Jill for so long, holding onto the hope of getting saved by them, but they had left her, like Chris had. No one would save her and she couldn't' save herself.

The door was open.

'I could try escaping now if I wanted to… I'm still a murderer and Wesker would find me either way, so what's the point..' Claire thought, staring at the open door, only to sit down onto the sofa once more.

She was like those glass bottles she had shot with Chris. She was falling into thousands of pieces inside even though she held her form.

After a while, a tall, shadowy form appeared in the room, the heavy footsteps echoing against the wooden floor. Claire fixed a straw of her hair behind her ear, looking up at Wesker who was watching her without his sunglasses on.

He offered her his hand and Claire took it without hesitation.


So I've decided to finish this story even if it takes my life :D Been getting back into Resident Evil lately and started playing Code Veronica again. Thanks so much for all my readers and sorry for being so slow with my stories.