BLACK INVITATION

Created by : jitan88 | Beta-reader : CK – Ace.

Disclaimer: All Resident Evil characters belongs to Resident Evil - Capcom.

Note:

- Timeline : After Resident Evil 6

- Rated : M

- Genre: Action / Adventure / Romance


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"Do you have a goal in life?"

Jake's gaze returns to hers in which she stared at him intently. Exhaling, he tucked her blonde hair underneath his chin as his hand stroke her petite body. It was the first question she asked him since they had not communicate with each other through words, and of all questions she might ask... His purpose of life? He tried to remember something...

"I dunno... but does it matter?" Jake ignored her perplexed look and smiled, "Actually, there was one. Pile up some money so mom can get her meds. What about you, Sherry?"

She shifted, forcing Jake to remove his hands off her as she lied on her back with her head on the pillow instead of his chest. Now she was on eye-level with Jake, but she chose to look away to the ceiling and sighed deeply. Her eyes seemed to be so faraway.

"Forget it. You'll laugh at me."

"Heh, no worries then. I think I can take it without laughing." He is honesty curious to know more about her, "As long as it is not clichés like world peace or human's race future."

The woman chuckled, "It's not. Uh, do you still think of your mom, Jake?"

He nodded slightly and he waited for his partner to begin her story.

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"I am an orphan. Sure, my mom and dad were still alive before I was twelve but... far as I remember, they were too absorbed in their experiments that I barely had a chance to see them. It felt like their project was their children and I am just the abandoned one. I had never got the chance to be properly loved by them... not even when Raccoon City took their lives." Sherry took a deep breath before continuing, "Leon said the anti-G was a gift from my mother, to prove that she still cared for me and loved me even that she didn't get to show it... Understanding that, I cried. But it's all too late for all of us, my parents were gone."

"In the end, I have the G-Virus's ability just like how my parents had wanted it to turn out... but having them was what made me lived like a caged animal for years. But I am lucky that Leon and Claire still cared for me all those times, they became my new parents. I love them with all my life but... somehow, I felt like something is missing, almost... empty."

Jake saw how those tears pooling on her eyes and he brushed them away tenderly with his thumb. And she chuckled bitterly, she never thought that telling her past would made her cry again. The man pitied her childhood although his was not of the better - his dark childhood centering about raising a fund for his mother. Kissing the side of her hair, Jake pulled her closer as he tried to share her sorrow. Sherry exhaled again and she looked at Jake.

She searched for his eyes, staring dreamily.

"Family," Sherry Birkin said, smiling, "all I ever want was a family of my own... I just want to feel the love and warmth of a real family."

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BLACK INVITATION

CHAPTER 9 : The Chaser

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January 3st, 2014 - Canzoni Bay, Amozi - 04:50 AM

The sun rose up the horizon and yet the rays still not illuminate the bay completely, the refracted sunlight colored the water prettily. On the corner of the dock, rise one man as he climbed himself out of the Canzoni Bay. He walked to the dry ground in hopes that his wet clothes would dry out soon. being in the water for so long, Jake found himself had difficulty to breathe with a strong pressure inside his chest - having to hold his breath as he swim for 300 meters without being detected was not an easy feat.

Soon after that, Jake checked his belongings; his 909 was still with him, so is his passport and some remaining cash in a waterproof plastic he kept handy. Reaching for his left pocket, he found something that did not belonged to him: Sherry's data chip. The one that they secured at raito Inn but Jake had not forgotten to return it to her. It was stored in a small safe with a DSO logo on it and Jake assumed that it is still unbroken so he pocketed the object to where it was.

He hated water missions, his shoes were wet and stick on his skin and his clothes were just not helping in the cold morning. Jake choose to discard his shirt and he kept walking along to the spot where he promised that he will meet with Sherry. He just hoped that she made it out safely, praying that she's smart enough to outrun the Spiders. 'No, she's one heck of a smart girl... just that their numbers were cheating.'

Another hours had past since the time they promised each other and Jake began to worry. In a distance, he saw that there were no longer those black-robed men but normal officers surrounding the place. Sherry should be here already...

Jake walked himself to a small storage by the piers first and search for anything useful as he went. Some clothes on the lockers, although they were a bit too small for Jake size but he didn't care. After changing himself to warmer clothes, Jake immediately rushed back to the designated spot but Sherry was still not there.

Ten minuted since he paced here and there, Jake knew something was not right. His partner was taking too long and there was not a sign of her.

He need to go back to the warehouse and look for her himself.

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A few meters before he reached the pier railing, there were yellow 'Keep Out' lines circling the warehouse. Those were from the police and Jake knew that he would not have access into the warehouse anymore. While he was looking out from a distance, there was a pat on his shoulders and Jake turned to see an officer. The police was looking at Jake from head to toe - since Jake dressed in a simple shirt and pants like some social worker - while Jake keep his eyes focused onto Sherry's whereabout.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" The police asked in local language.

"Ah, well... I was about to find some work here. But it seems I came at the wrong time." Jake replied fluently in local language, effectively tricking away the fact that he is a foreigner, "What happened? Why the police are here?"

The police shrugged, his gaze followed Jake to the warehouse, "Two people were shot to death and there was a silenced gun left behind. The forensic are still looking at it... You came at the wrong time for a work here, son."

"Is one of the victim a woman?" Jake did his best to sound indifferent, especially after hearing that the gun that was left was the Black Spider's Browning Hi-Power stolen by Sherry. There must be fingerprints left on that gun.

"No. Both of them were men working here. Enough, son, you better get away from here and find work elsewhere. It's a killing scene here already." The police demanded Jake's leave and went to where the scene was. Blocking Jake to where his bike was.

His heart pained, more so when he knew now that Sherry will never make it to the spot where they promised themselves. Cursing under his breath, Jake regretted that he agreed to her plan of splitting in the first place, they should have stick together or she would have been here with him. Ifs and ifs and Jake could only shake his fist angrily because sulking would not change anything at all.

Damn it, Sherry Birkin was captured.

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Jake headed off from the warehouse to somewhere nearby where he could find some public transport or some sort, all the while his hands busy to find his cellphone. He tried calling Leon, but all calls went straight to the voice mail. Wee in the morning, he find difficulty to spot a public vehicle other than those of conventional. Not even in ten minutes that a bus or a taxi emerge from the lane.

In last resort, he tried halting one of the passer-by.

"Mister, care to give me a lift? I can pay you more than I should..." And Jake spent the very last of his money to do that.

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Unknown Place, Amozi

Footsteps were the only thing she could hear and. Her eyes narrowed when her head cover was removed, the sunlight penetrated her dilated eyes inside that gloomy, damp environment. Sherry found herself inside of room, with both her arms bounded above her head and her feet was off the ground for at least 20 centimeters. Her muscles cramped from that uncomfortable position.

Eventually, her eyes adjusted to the light and she begin inspecting her surroundings. Obviously she was not alone. In front of her were a row of black robed men with their rifles on hand - looking like angels of death - and one men dressed in suit whom was the only one seated, a cigar tucked on his lips. Even with minimum lighting, Sherry did her best to make the face out, although she was sure she did not know this particular man.

The man noticed that he was being looked at and he smiled at her coldly. Extending his hand, he welcomed his honored guest.

"Welcome to my residence, Agent Birkin." said the man, "My name is Allan Groves, the man who owned everything of the Black Spider. It's and honor to meet you... Supergirl? The name suits you, no? "

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Sherry Birkin remained calm, showing no facial expression even when this Groves man called her with the same nickname as Jake Muller. She examined this man secretly, he looked like a dignified man - yet dangerous behind his friendly temperament. The cigar never left his lips as groves took a long sip and puffing the smoke out his mouth. He stood up then, approaching the agent with collected steps. A little smile adorned on his face as he was closing in onto her. Sherry glared cautiously at his every movement.

"I have you on the bounty list for a very long time, since J-025 defected. Yes, that partner of yours, J-025, my ex-employee. But actually, all I ever wanted was that data chip, so if you'll just cooperate with me to make things simple." Groves asked sternly then, "Where is the data chip?"

Sherry scoffed and looked away, "Sorry, I don't deal with terrorists."

The daring answer made Groves burst into laughter. An eerie laughter echoing in that tiny room before everythign turned silent again.

"An impressive answer from a government dog, miss... Supergirl. Although I expect that your partner will be walking into my kingdom with that data chip anytime soon. Meanwhile, you may take your time staying here in this prison while it lasted..." Groves inched closer to her then and whispered into her ears, "Now that we are waiting for you knight in shining armor to come, why don't we play a little game?"

With that, his right hand reached out to his captive. First to her hair, the contour of her chin and her lips too. From there, it traveled lower to her jaws and finally to her neck, his eyes never left Sherry's raging ones. She felt disgusted and humiliated to be touched by this man, and she was almost ready to spit on his face. Her actions failed when his left hand came out to her lip in lightning fast speed, although his right hand never left her neck. Chuckling darkly, the finger of his grazed the skin on her neck - sharper than a blade did - until she wound and bled.

Her helpless moan of pain muffled by his larger hand, and all the while her G-Virus fought to cure Sherry's wound. Everyone stared in awe at her amazing power and they faltered a bit at her superhuman ability. Only Groves was not affected, he even laughed a bit when his captive finally showed fear in her eyes. It seemed that she had noticed his power too.

How could a tiny fingernail scratch could make her bleed so easily?

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"Worry not, girl. I am not interested in those 'activities' you are thinking in your head, it is only a hassle to me." With his index finger, Groves swept the remaining blood from her neck and licked it clean.

The wound close and stitch perfectly without leaving a single trace behind, Groves now smiled broadly at his new found treasure. His source was right, Sherry Birkin is indeed the survivor of Raccoon City who inherited the G-Virus without mutating. Not without a wonderful perk that she is able adjust herself to the virus and to obtain such wondrous perk. Such regenerative ability, Groves too was a little envy of her power.

His smile only made her blood run colder.

"I'm more interested in that power you have..."

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Amozi International Airport, Republic of Amozi - 06:30 AM

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Amozi International Airport, local time is 06:30 AM. For your safety and comfort, we ask that you please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the Captain turns off the Fasten Seat Belt sign. This will indicate that we have parked at the gate and that it's safe for you to move about. On behalf of Fasto America Airlines, I'd like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again in the near future. Have a nice day. "

Now he was truly awake after the 14 hours long of a flight, Leon unwittingly stretched himself on his seat as his eyes gazed out to the terminal, closing in onto the ground of Amozi. When it was safe for everyone to leave, Leon saved himself from having to hustle out along with the crowd as he flashed his passport to the nearest stewardess, who led the militant out from the aircraft safely. Flashing a smile to that gorgeous stewardess for her help, Leon groped for his phone.

Along the way he stamped himself as a tourist and trying to get Hunnigan on the line. That faithful FOS agent had been working overtime to retrieve as much information as she could while Leon was fast asleep on the plane. They talked some, and Hunnigan regretfully told Leon that she could not track Sherry's phone. And about Bernard Hills that she had been working on; unfortunately that she had not found anything suspicious on him. Hills was a man that Leon and Hunnigan actually trusted.

Knowing that it was only for safety measure, Leon passed Jake's number to Hunnigan and asked her to track his number instead.

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"Hunnigan, Sherry is actually with Jake Muller, her partner on Lanshiang. He's on our side." said Leon, "He kept it a secret so that no one will track him. Not even Hills know of this. But we got no choice now, I need you to find Jake so that we can find Sherry as well. "

"Jake Muller?! You mean the son of Albert Wesker? Why did he—" Hunnigan stopped speaking when a chime sounded on her phone when Leon sent in Jake's number. "It's only been a few minutes since we talked and you are already adding my volume of caffeine I needed. Just great, Leon..."

"I'll think of this as a favor." Leon smiled amusingly, "Am gonna wait for a cab now. You try to get my line with Jake while you track him, okay?"

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The Seventh Building, Amozi - 07:30 AM

The motor stopped on a seven-story modern building with a combination of cream-colored paint and orange. The first two floors public facilities where there is a fitness center, mini market, and food stalls also. The building was way grander than the one that he shared with Sherry. He paid the driver with all his money and proceeded into the building.

The first place he headed to is the fitness centre where it was mostly deserted at this hour. Walking to the back, Jake greeted the guard dryly and walk his way to the bathroom and the lockers were.

"Not a waste that i rent one locker as an emergency." Jake muttered as he punched in the combination on the padlock.

For two months (before Sherry's appearance in Amozi), he had been a frequenter in this fitness center and the guard there even know Jake's name. Although the innocent guard never knew what was hidden inside Jake's locker. Opening his locker where his remaining arsenal rested, Jake retrieved his prized gloves in which he had since China. Jake rid himself of his disguise and donned on his black mercenary outfit and his combat boots. Finally wearing his holster, Jake slipped the combat knife on it and so did his 909. Grabbing the last two clips of magazine, Jake finished everything with a leather jacket to cover himself.

Locking the locker once again, Jake stepped out of the locker room finally as himself - the old Jake Muller. Even his jacket was when he was in the Edonia Liberation Army, without the emblem. Being familiar with the centre, none question Jake as he walked out as a different man and there were no metal detector on the place too.

Now he was ready to infiltrate the Black Spider's web to save Sherry.

But before that, he gave a number one last call and waited for the number to reach through.

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"Hello, is this Jake Muller? I am Ingrid Hunnigan from the FOS, United States. I got this number from Leon Kennedy and I—"

"Yeah, sure. Save all the formalities and just tell me what you want." Jake interrupted Hunnigan urgently.

His conversation with Hunnigan was a short ones. As Jake hailed himself a cab, he heard statics at the other line and before he knew what was happening, came one voice of that Hero he always heard about. Leon was now on the same line too.

"The Hell... now everyone can see me through the satellite? Just fantastic, Hero." Jake chuckled darkly, "And now my number is a wide spread around your government thanks to that lady? Shit."

"Trust me, I was about to put em' in a Facebook or a Twitter profile or something,"Leon joked tastelessly, "Completely kidding though. It's only between us so no worries. Anyways, where's Sherry? I can't seemed to reach her number..."

Jake paused for a moment after knowing that Leon was in now in Amozi too. He stuttered for an answer to Sherry's foster father when the referred was no longer by his side as he promised Leon.

"Sherry... They got him. I'm sorry." He was not a man to apologize but he know that he had to.

"What?!"

Jake pulled the phone away slightly at the higher volume of Leon's voice. The mercenary tried to explain to Leon how they tried to find an escape route and they ended up separated. Although he's having trouble telling Leon the details of it, fearing that the taxi driver might understand English.

The agent understood the circumstances and now both are set to find the same girl. Before that, Leon need to reunite with Jake somehow.

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"You still at the airport? It's pretty far from where you are, Hero." Jake gave instructions to the senior agent, "Tell your lady friend to track me down instead and get to me. I don't have the time to wait for you at a coffee shop, no?"

"Fair enough then, I'll get to your location soon as I can. You be careful now and save some fun for me, kid."

Digging out the wireless earpiece Jake always kept with him, Jake flipped his phone back to his pocket as he now communicate with Leon through this alternative. Now Jake and Leon remained silent even though they can still hear each other through the piece. Hunnigan was the one working behind the door so that they stay connected. Approximately twenty minutes later, Jake's cab trip came to an end as he ended up himself in a suburb region where warehouses and factories were.

The cabbie received his payment without question, although he really wished to know why Jake would want to come to this place. This place was almost dead - there was once a fire that wiped out most of there were in this area and it hadn't been inhabited since. Although some smaller companies still make use of the building as storage for free, in turn of a high crime rate.

Jake waited for the vehicle to leave before he himself ventured to the deserted town.

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"I've arrived to the scene. Should be a little tough communicating so you best pinpoint my location now." Jake's eyes narrowed as he spoke, "I'll leave you something to mark the building I am in, in case you really are coming to crash the party."

Hunnigan had already worked on saving Jake's location way before Leon said so, "Okay, I got your location. Heading your way now."

Having said that, Jake heard nothing more from the agent and he didn't not bother to hear more. Removing his 909 from its holster, Jake stepped closer to the building. The walls were peeled off, most were charcoal black from the fire, the surrounding was very convincing of a deserted building but Jake knew better. He knew that there must be mercenaries lurking around and CCTVs all over the place.

Of course he knew all this, Jake worked for them before.

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He had arrived to the headquarter of the Black Spider. Their web.

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There was a 'WELCOME' board standing in the midst of the ashes, the only thing survived the fire. It's still sturdy, Jake thought and it was a prefect spot for him to leave a mark for Leon. Sticking his combat knife to it, the former mercenary turned his attention to the building and smirked. Carefully, he pushed the gates open and stared into the valley of darkness. This place was always like this, dark and gloomy and filled with death, more so now when Jake know he longer was a part of this dark organization but now he was fighting against them.

The deja vu even made him chuckled.

"Home sweet home..." He mused sarcastically, cocking his gun, "Time for a reunion party with them old fellas'."

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Author's Note :

Sorry for a long wait... And thank you very much for my awesome beta-reader; CK-Ace who helped me translate this chapter, I don't know how to express my grateful to you, Ace. Okay then, hope you like and I'll see you in the next chapter! Make sure you'll leave a review for me :)

-jitan-