I'm Just a Step Away; I'm Just a Breath Away.
Title is from Hero by Skillet.
As always, thank you to the reviewers, yous are adorabubble!
The room was unlike the traditional murky cell. It was completely sterile, white tiles, white bed and white sheets. It was very minimal, nothing more than a small bed and a clean toilet. The young girl lay on the floor of the room, and like everything else, she was no different; she was dressed in a light white hospital-type gown.
Flicking her eyes open, Anna sat up groggily. No recollection of previous events. Taking in her unfamiliar surroundings fear began to rise within her. All she remembered was talking to a woman on her way home, but nothing else. The realisation kicked in that she had been captured. By who? She hadn't a clue, but either way panic was sure to ensue. Her hands shook violently, as she stumbled to her feet to go to the door. There was no handle, no window, just a white door. As she stood, she noticed the thumping pain in her head, placing her hand around she felt a bump on the back of her head.
As if things couldn't be worse, Anna caught sight of her gown. She was humiliated, it had to be dream. She prayed for herself to wake up, squeezing her eyes shut but to no avail. Banging on the door, she tried to call for anybody who may listen. With no response her tears began to pour with fear and frustration.
...
Anna shot her head up when the white door began to slide open. Wiping at her reddened eyes, she watched in awe as a woman in a sleek black figure hugging dress and towering heels stepped elegantly into the room. She was swiftly followed by a flustered young looking man in white lab coat.
"Was all that yelling really necessary?" The woman drawled, gliding her platinum blonde locks out of her eyes.
"I...Uh...Who are you? ...Where am I?" Anna asked, her eyes wide with shock. She didn't recognise either of the people, and the situation was just so obscure she couldn't spit her words out.
"I'm Alex, Miss Redfield. It's nice to meet you. And currently, you're standing in a room." Alex rolled her eyes, a smirk playing on her features at seeing the discontent in the little one's eyes.
"What do you want from me? ...Let me go." Anna demanded, the tears continuing to flow.
"You're an inquisitive one, aren't you? So many questions... We'll let you go when we're finished with you. And no point complaining, we both know you aren't a fighter like your parents. You're a weak little girl, who hasn't a hope in hell at stopping us." She said, running her tongue gently across her lips. Alex stepped closer to her, examining her up and down like you would an animal.
"Now, enough with your questions. My companion here will look after you, but for the mean time, I have business to attend too. Enjoy." Alex flashed a toothy grin and walked out of the room, leaving only Anna and the man who had yet to speak.
Alex stepped smoothly into another brightly lit room, this time the room was covered in various glassware and microscope slides, it bared resemblance to a small laboratory. Sitting opposite one of the many microscopes dotted around the room, Sherry swivelled her chair to face the older woman, adjusting the collar of her lab coat.
"Is everything going to plan?" She asked, attempting to eye up the unreadable person next to her.
"Anna is secure, and now awake. Mr Johnson is in talk with her now, all being well we should get a sample sent down soon. You sure this is going to work, Sherry?" She asked. Alex was merely the brains behind the operation, she wasn't a scientist. She was a manipulator. She knew the basic aspects of virology, but the deeper, more complex experiments were done by her workers.
"Well we've been building up to this for years. It's the only thing I can think of. Our other guinea pigs infected with the virus couldn't withstand it. Miss Valentine is the only known person who has these antibodies. Everyone else infected with any virus we know of, couldn't take it. Even your brother wasn't fully stable to the progenitor virus." Sherry received a nod from Alex.
"If Albert had the antibodies from Jill, why didn't he take the opportunity to use it to stabilise Uroborus?" Alex asked, leaning on the work bench.
"From what we can see, he was too focused on getting Uroborus out quickly. But we don't know if what he wanted in a virus, is the same as you aspire too. But, had he have waited longer and modified it more, perhaps he would have been more successful." A smirk played on Alex's lips. She always knew she was the brightest out of the Wesker children. She was a clear thinker, she had the intelligence required to get far with her ideas. After all, she had already deceived Spencer and got away with it.
"You may go far in life, kid." Alex said, crossing her arms across her chest as her eyes remained pinpointed on the woman in front. Alex couldn't deny Sherry was a great asset to her, sure she wasn't the most reliable, but after all she was the daughter of William and Annette Birkin, her intuition was nothing short of excellence. Alex never regretted her decision to acquire Miss Birkin.
Although both of her parents tragically died, it never stopped Sherry to pursue her academic career. She sailed through school, graduating early. She went on to study a biomedical sciences course at college, eventually specialising in haematology and virology. When she got approached by a woman offering her a place in her institute, with jobs being very scarce at the time, Sherry didn't hesitate to accept. As time went on she learned more about her boss's true intentions and previously unknown information about her parents. She showed no sign of fear, and was happy to continue her research, despite the things she had to witness in Raccoon City.
Sherry reached above her to pluck out a microscope slide, she dropped some of the sample in the test tube next to her onto it along with dye. Carefully, using a mounted needle, she brought the cover slip gently on top, and placed in under her microscope. She examined the sample intently, so Alex decided to leave.
"If you notice any change, as always inform me." She demanded, receiving a thumbs up from Sherry who still had her face stuck to the microscope.
Anna shuffled away from the man who began to approach her. Fear boiled even more within her, her stomach forming a tight knot. She scrambled as far as she could, until the she hit the cold wall behind her.
"Relax. I'm not going to hurt you." The man spoke calmly, rising up his hands. He had a soft accent, slightly Scottish, like a light Edinburgh accent. His words did anything but relax Anna; she found it impossible to trust a stranger.
"My name's Luke Johnson, I just have to take your blood. That's all. I won't do anything." He smiled gently, and Anna eyed him judgingly. Although when she looked at him, his eyes were genuine. He didn't give off the evil aura that the woman before him had.
"What do you want? What are you doing?" She asked.
"I don't have all the answers. You have antibodies we require apparently... What for? I don't know. I know very little." He remained in his standing position, keeping the distance between the two. "Look, I'm not part of this. They'll use me for as long as they need me and then..."
"...then what?" Anna queried, already knowing the answer.
"The minute they don't require me anymore, they'll kill me. Look I'm on the same boat as you. You have to trust me." Luke's voice was full with urgency, he seemed just as worried as Anna, and this didn't go unnoticed by her.
"I find it hard to believe you. Why would you work for them then?"
"I don't have choice. I did well, excelled at my job, and they hunted me down to use me...I've already lost my wife. I have to do what they say." His eyes sunk as he spoke of his late wife.
"...I'm sorry. So you don't know why they want me?" She warmed more towards Luke, perhaps it was naive but she believed his words.
"You're the daughter of Jill Valentine, hence why you have the antibodies." He said. Anna didn't bother to correct him, as Alex said they only needed her for that. And if they found out she wasn't Jill's daughter, she would be sure to get killed. She hoped to buy herself some time, by going along with the lie. "Besides, I think Alex would gain much satisfaction from doing what Albert Wesker never could."
"By doing what?"
"Killing Chris Redfield." Anna caught her breath. "...Now please. Let me just take a sample. You just have to relax."
Anna nodded reluctantly and walked cautiously towards Luke. He removed the needle from his bag, and an antiseptic wipe. He gently took her arm and cleaned the inside of her elbow.
"So how old are you?" He asked, attempting to distract her from what he was about to do.
"I'm sixteen..." She replied, averting her gaze from her arm. She squealed slightly as she felt the needle prick into her skin, but the pain soon disappeared.
"Hmm, that's too young. I'll do my best to get you out of here alive." He chuckled lightly, and held the needle in place as the blood began to pour into the container.
"Thank you... What happened to your wife, if you don't mind me asking?" She asked cautiously.
"Alex saw I had talent in the labs, so she wanted me on her side. When she came to kidnap me, well get me whatever, I was with my wife. She saw everything, and Alex couldn't have anyone else knowing what happened to me. She wanted everyone just to think I went missing or ran away. So, she just shot her right in front of me." Luke ran a finger through his light brown hair nervously. It was a touchy subject for him. "...But that was a good few years ago. I've kind of lost track of the time, I don't even know what day it is."
...
"...I'm scared. I'm so scared." She admitted, the tears began to flow again, "I just want to go home."
"I understand that. But from what I've heard, Chris Redfield is a hero. He'll rest at nothing to find you. I don't think you have anything to worry about." He smiled and removed the needle from her arm, screwing a lid on top of the container of blood and placing it in a sterile bag to be examined. He placed the sample back in his bad and removed his rubber gloves.
"I'll come back later and sneak you some food. Just hang in there kiddo. I'm sorry you have to go through this." He said genuinely. She thanked him, as he left the room, leaving her to herself once more.
The light from the split between the curtains woke up Jill's sleeping form on the large bed; a thin cream sheet was all that maintained her decency. She rolled over to place an arm around the man she thought was beside her. Her arm found nothing but cold bed sheets. There wasn't any reminisce of heat left on the bed or the pillow.
Jill sat up, confused by the lack of presence next to her. Her eyes began to well knowing that Chris hadn't stayed. She felt stupid, ridiculous. She was immature to think he just forgive her for leaving just like that. She glanced to the clock and saw it was only half nine. Curiosity filled her when she saw a folded sheet sitting on the bedside table. Leaning over she picked up the paper and carefully unfolded it:
I'm sorry Jill. Last night was a mistake. I wasn't thinking straight, I should be out trying to find Anna. Everything else comes second to that. I can't help but think that last night was just you taking pity on me. I want you to be happy Jill. But you left me, and I don't think we can just get past that with one night. I'm sorry for doing what I did. And as much as I love you, last night was a stupid mistake. I'm sorry for leaving, but I have to find Anna. Take care Jill.
Chris
A droplet of water landed on the handwritten letter. She was angry, angry at him for being so cowardly to not say it to her face. And angry to think that their love was merely an illusion, she wanted to find Anna too. She wished to help, and she was hurt that he wouldn't come to her for help.
Jill got up and quickly got dressed. Regardless of what was going on between them, she wouldn't let Chris do this alone.
"Jake! Tell me you have information." The blonde haired man jumped at surprise to hear Chris's voice behind him. He turned around to see Chris standing at the entrance of his office.
"What? Chris you shouldn't be here." Jake replied, moving the various pages and files he had splattered across his desk.
"Look, I know the BSAA have been digging up dirt on this research facility. I think it has something to do with Anna." Chris was desperate. He knew the BSAA would be holding the information from him. It took time to get all the information required to access a possible threat. But he couldn't waste any time. He had to find his daughter. Whether the information the BSAA had was right or not, he had to take the chance. He couldn't sit happily by.
"Chris... You know I can't release any of our information." Jake said regrettably. Chris had an emotional attachment to the mission; they wouldn't let him go in with a blurred mind.
"Jake. Come on, you can't be serious." He tried to demand it out of the younger man.
Jake sighed. He was stuck between his job and his friend. He couldn't go against orders, but on the other hand his friend was calling out for his help.
"Please. I'm begging you. This is my daughter we are talking about. I need to make sure she's okay, I have to find her." Chris pleaded with him. Jake's heart went out to his desperate friend.
...
"...Alright. Look there's no information that Anna is there. But we got a location of those images we got a while back..."
"You have to tell me where it is."
Jake nodded reluctantly. He felt terrible giving away the information, but Chris was an intimidating man, he had to give him what he wished. He turned the computer screen around to face the two of them, and began to type furiously on the keypad. Shortly after various pictures, similar to the ones given to the BSAA as a tip off, flicked up on the screen.
"We think the research facility is 60 miles south of the small city Wheeling in West Virginia. It's a relatively small experimental factory or lab almost. For years it's been used for various animal testing, so we can't even be sure if these photos are depicting BOW making, hence why the BSAA have yet to look into the research facility. You need to be careful, Chris. I don't know what the hell you're planning, but you cannot mess this up for us. If this turns out to be nothing and you do some random Rambo killing spree, the BSAA will be in serious dog do do."He said, pushing his dark rimmed glassed further up his nose. Jake was scared, he knew Chris well enough to know, the man rarely did things by the book.
"Print off the details of the facility. I'm going to check it out. It's worth a shot."Chris demanded.
"Hey, no. Come on, as I said if this is all false, your job is on the line. As is mine."
"It's all we've got. Look I have a good feeling about this, and if I'm wrong then I'll stand up and admit it. I'll say I threatened you or something. Jake, I won't let anything happen to you, I'll take full responsibility." Chris's voice took a serious tone, and Jake appreciated this. The one thing Chris Redfield always did was stuck to his word; Jake had nothing to worry about.
"Now come on, let us go save my daughter." Chris smiled as Jake handed him the required information. "Do you think you can hitch me up with my gun and ammo?"
Jake's face dropped.
"Are you serious? Will you really need that?"
"Got to be prepared..."
"Alright. I'll give the guys down in the armoury a buzz and say you're going out training or something." Jake said, picking up the phone sitting next to him on the desk and ringing the desired number.
"That we are out on training." Chris corrected.
"We?"
"I'll need as much help as I can get..." He said.
"What? Chris, I couldn't successfully aim and shoot an elephant even if it was standing directly in front of me." Jake demanded, holding the phone up to his ear.
"You can drive, I'll need communication with someone..."
"...Fine." Jake sighed, "But you owe me."
Chris mouthed a thank you, as Jake started to talk to the person who had answered the phone. Chris did feel some sorry for making him do all this, but he was a good friend, and although he complained, Jake would always be more than willing to comply.
"Chris Redfield!" A woman's high pitch screech echoed through the room, making him turn on his heels. Jill stood in the doorway of Jake's office, with a scowl plastered over her face. "I am so angry at you!"
Chris attempted to hush her by bringing his finger to his lips. She was being very loud and he didn't want to interrupt poor Jake who was continuing to try and talk over the phone. She ignored his gestures and walked confidently up to him.
"Firstly..." She swiftly slapped him across his left cheek, making him cry out in pain. Jake chuckled slightly from the distance, receiving a death stare from Chris. "I am so angry that you left. And you had to leave a stupid fucking note!"
Chris's emerald eyes opened wide with shock, shock that she would swear at him in front of another person.
"And secondly..." This time, Jill brought the back of her hand to slap against Chris's right cheek, receiving another yelp from his mouth. "I am so angry that you are determined to get Anna by yourself. Stop being a hero! I am more than willing to help you. Whatever shit is going on between us shouldn't matter, you idiot!"
Chris could obviously see that she was absolutely fuming with him. He brought his hands up to nurse his injured face. The only comfort he got was to know that Jake was still in the room, at least then she couldn't kill him until he had left.
"Alright kiddies, domestic violence is never a funny matter..." Jake said, after setting the phone down. He moved around to stand between the two. "If things get much worse, I may have to call in big J. Springer to sort things out."
Chris let out a small laugh, but Jill just crossed her arms not amused by Jake's attempt at humour.
"Chris I don't understand why you didn't just ask her for help in the first place. You're a stubborn man. And Jill...you're truly a... petrifying woman." Jake said, cowering away from the older woman.
"Thanks." She replied, smirking at him. "Do you know where she is?"
"Perhaps. We're not sure. It's a long story, Jill... But if you're willing to help, I would love to have you onboard." Chris admitted. He wasn't going to argue with her now, she was so angry with him, he might as well give in to her wishes. Besides, although he regretted sleeping with her so soon, he never wanted to ruin their friendship. Jill's anger began to fade, and a small smile formed. "Besides, Jake here doesn't have the skills you do. You know, you being the master of unlocking and all that jazz."
Jill chuckled lightly, while Jake laid a playful punch upon Chris's bicep.
"Right let's not waste time guys. Let's get kitted up and go." Jake said, picking up his coat of the back of the chair.
"What do you say, partner? You going to join us, and go find my daughter." Chris asked, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Alright, let's do it." She smiled once more, she hadn't been on a mission for years. It felt good to be partnered up with Chris once more again. The two always worked together perfectly in the field, they had a certain understanding that normal men would have had to work for years to achieve with each other. "But this doesn't mean I'm not still angry with you..."
Warning: Next update will probably be late, apologies! XD
Artichoke,
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