Disclaimer: All respective characters unless created by own are property of Capcom or Konami, used on basis of fanwork.

WARNING: Do not read on if you are appalled by possible depiction on themes of death, depression and explicit abnormal sexual behaviour ('Possible' as this is currently a work-in-progress). Read at your own risk.

Notes: I'm struggling with a lot of things, but the storyline is not one of them. It's gonna get rocky than the previous version. Review if you have anything to say. But other than that? Enjoy, I guess. Thankyou for reading so far.

Sachael In Purgatory: Agnus Dei

Chapter 10: Rocky Peace

Chris closed the door behind him. He sighed. Maybe he was being too harsh on the guy? He hated to be the bad cop. That was one of the reasons he went for military service instead of being a police officer. He took out his walkie-talkie. He needed to contact his partner. He was sure that she would berate him for all these happenings. But he needed to report on the situation.

"Jill? Come in. Are you there? Come in Jill."

"…"

"Jill? Come in, Jill."

"Yes! What's the update, Chris? "Sorry, fell asleep on the way. What's up?"

"Look, Jill…There's something I need to tell you…Can we switch to the cell instead?"

Then Chris told her everything through the phone. About the burly man's death, how people were looking for Alex, and that the guy was a suspect more than ever with his mental condition and people demanding to get him into their hands, thus he arrested Alex in suspicion that he was one of the causes, if not the only cause of the deaths. He also told her how they were forced to lock themselves into a house because Alex couldn't even walk moreover escape effectively, with the people already looking for them and all that.

"Chris," Jill let out a sigh; Chris braced himself. He knew where she was going with this. "Geez. Arresting him and all! Since when was 'not treating a suspect like a criminal till proven guilty' a thing of the past?!"

"…Sorry, Jill." Chris apologized. "I…" He paused. He looked around. Shrugged. Fidgeted. Rubbed his forearm, which was covered in goosebumps. This was crazy, but he be damned if he were to hide this from his long-time partner.

"…I…"

"Chris?"

"Today's just a bummer. Nothing's going right, and I swear this town gets into me the longer I'm in here…"

"This…this is just such unlucky chain of events…" A pause. "…Actually I don't really blame you. At first I thought this was just not my day, but I think it's the town that gets into my nerves. In fact, this is one of the few times I've slipped in a mission. Got us noticed, and I think they are the ones who are looking for you or are on the alert now."

They both gave a moment of silence.

"I'm sorry. I'm at fault too."

"…" Chris didn't know what to say. It was kind of unnerving to have the same experience as Jill had, or place the blame on something else. "No…it's fine, really. At least we agree on ONE thing – This town's screwed up. It feels similar, yet it's different…but I can't seem to put my finger on it."

"Yeah…you said it."

"…er…yeah. Any news on the Deputy?" Changing the subject is better than continuing the current topic, which was…nothing at all.

"Oh, yes! In fact, he's radioed me to tell me he caught up with us and is at the end of our caravan line."

"Thank goodness." Chris sighed with relief. "He encountered a Majini in the police station though. The victim was Francis something. You'll have to get to the Deputy for details."

"Right." Jill noted. "I'll start the investigation back at the inn. It's either another case of Los Illuminados or it's just coincidental that we encountered more than just one problem this time. And by the way, I've urged the HQ. They'll manage an evac for you tomorrow afternoon. I'll try to get them to come earlier. Please stay safe till then."

"Thanks, you're the best. Jill- listen. Don't tell the Deputy whatever I've just told you. Just tell him Alex can't go back and we'll wait for reinforcements."

"I'll try. I bet he'll go nuts over the fact that you arrested his boy."

It kind of surprised them both that they heaved a heavy sigh over the phone at the same time, but strangely, they knew for what reason they have done so.

"At least we're going somewhere with this, huh?"

"Better talking about this than talking about the town," Chris could feel her smiling into the receiver. "It makes me feel…uneasy…Like…I'm fighting something I can't see."

"Right back at'cha," Chris smiled.

"…See you, Chris." Jill said with hesitation.

"Thanks again, and don't worry, Jill. I'll be fine." Chris glanced behind him. "And I'm sure Alex is done now. I'm going to- HOLY…!"

"What's going on there, Chris?!"

"Shit! He just locked the door. Call you later, Jill. I'll make sure he doesn't escape!"

"Right! Update me!"

Chris pocketed his phone. His gut feeling made him run downstairs to open the side-door at the kitchen to get outside; somehow his instincts told him pounding the bathroom door wouldn't help, especially when he's not with a team of officers. Chris got ready to run out to the empty compound to look up at the bathroom window. But he stopped.

Damn, there's people looking for us out there!

Chris calmed down a little and mused over it for a second: Even he wouldn't risk jumping off the second floor. Not that he can't though; with a bit of hanging off ledges and you can drop yourself down to the ground safely with few complications. But that guy's injured, and he's not faking it.

What is that kid up to?

Chris held his hand back from the kitchen door and made sure (again) that it was locked.

"Seriously, I'll never figure out these guys who've lost it!" Chris exclaimed. He was tired of all the Wesker insanity and now he had to face this Alex Shepherd. Alone. He reminded himself to e-mail Josh to ask how's Sheva doing there in Africa when this is all over. He sure appreciated her company now that he needed to deal with weird people. Wait, Josh? Didn't Alex say that to him just now? Who's his Josh?

Chris ran his palm over his eyes and groaned. There's too much thoughts rushing into his head. Damn, if only any of my partners were here with me now…

Chris walked up the stairs, entered into the master bedroom, and paced. Damn. What do I say? Maybe say something with a mild tone? Maybe I hurt him somehow. Did he eavesdrop too? Thank God I haven't said anything bad about him on the phone just now. What should I do?

Chris knocked on the door and talked as gently as possible: "…Alex? Are you uh…okay?"

When silence answered him, he had an urge to barge the door down like he did with the barricade at the police station. But he chose to be patient with him; he knocked twice again.

"Alex, is everything alright? Are you done yet? Or do you need help? May I c-"

"…you're so unfair, Chris…" Finally! An answer! Chris rolled his eyes. But immediately after that he found that he had to focus quite hard because Alex's voice was very soft.

"…why?"

Chris leaned slightly against the door, giving the talk a fair amount of time before replying: "Alex…what do you mean by 'why'?"

"…why…you're…so kind, and yet…so cold." Chris could almost be sure that he heard something. A whimper? A cry? A rock fell on his gut. Somehow this guy just makes him feel guilty. He put his hands on the door.

"…Alex? Alex. You are under suspicion on these deaths and perhaps a B.O.- I mean a Bio-Organic Weapon case. I-It's a duty to secure the suspect. Anyway…I mean…"

"Ahh…!" Alex howled with grief the moment Chris said that. "Duty…it's always duty. Why is it always duty…just like Mom and Dad…you're no different…Ahh…"

Hesitantly, Chris placed his ears against the heavy wooden door and listened.

For the first time in his life, he heard the weeping of a grown man.

He felt that should be feeling disgusted for putting up with the snivelling of an adult. A whining grown man! But something told him maybe, and an awful lot of maybe, that Alex was not to blame for a single thing he's suspected to have committed even though the odds and circumstances suggest heavily otherwise. Maybe he should trust Alex…or at least express it. "Alex…I'm sure you didn't do it." Besides, he owed Alex for saving him from the big burly man earlier, but that was the only thing he could say. He felt terribly guilty.

"…no…it's all my fault…"

"No, Alex. It's not. If you're innocent, you'll go free."

"…free?" He heard a soft chuckle, then it faded to equally soft sniffles and died down. "It's time."

"Time for what?" Chris stuck his ear closer to the door. "…Alex?" He almost missed the words that Alex whispered.

"…here's…to…freedom."

Something was wrong.

"Alex. Alex!?" Pounding the door with his palm and turning the doorknob with the other hand, Chris's extensive trainings failed him; he panicked. He was sure. He was so sure this was something very grave. But he just didn't know where that feeling came from. Before his imagination could take him further, a giant noise rang through the air of Blake's Lake.

BWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"W-hat the FU-!"

Chris froze. It sounded like a horn blasting without its limits, yet also like a person screaming in a confined space. It was a terrible, terrible sound. So blaringly loud, yet he could swear hearing like thousands of creepy-crawlies were everywhere around him, skittering closer and closer, fast. But the noise! It made his brain vibrate inside his head, if that even made sense at all. The noise literally confused his body. But Chris knew exactly when to strive when time calls for it. People usually freeze at the most crucial of times, don't they?

"Argh, no time to idle now." Chris readied his stance and charged towards the heavy wooden door. The door sounded like it came off its hinges but stayed in place. "Damn it! Body, stop shaking damn you!" He went to a distance and ran towards the door again, but this time attacking the door with a kick instead. With a crack, the wood around the doorknob gave way and the doorknob fell to the floor with a clank.

If there was a noise, Chris sincerely hoped that there was some kind of noise, ANY type of noise. A scratch, a thump, or even that siren-like blare will do, because every sound in the world had died down the moment that door came down. Like some force was gleefully playing a malevolent prank to duly inform him that something is going to be terribly wrong. Soon.

Chris panted to his thumping heart. He didn't want to see what sight awaited him next, but he pressed on. Stepping into the tiled bathroom, he swallowed. He slowly turned his head to the left where the toilet is.

Red. A big puddle of blood.

"Oh, God…" He stepped quickly towards the lying body and knelt down. He picked up the motionless man, which head hung sideways in his arms as he did so, devoid of any resistance. "What have I done…?"

Chris felt the man's cheeks with his own. He could swear that he had heard the man crying but his cheeks were dry. But more importantly, both colour and heat were draining from his face. Chris glanced down at his cuffed hands; they were both cut with razors that were lying on the floor and the wounds were still weeping with blood…the oh, so fresh blood, shed in the worst way possible. If he didn't know better, he'd suspect Alex has been using a kitchen knife to chop at his wrists, because that exactly what it looked like to him. Both his thumbs and index fingers were also deeply cut from using those blades. The side of his lower lip bled from him biting on it too hard. He had to wonder if that is why he hadn't heard him scream at all. Then it came to him; he had been doing that the whole time he was talking to him? All with a fucking razor blade?

Why did he do something so stupid!?

"Alex," He patted on the pale face. He felt him exhale. Oh God. It was hard to believe something cold and so deprived of blood still functioning. Chris's stomach threatened to recoil for a second but he held it back. He opened the cabinets of the bathroom and found bandages and medical supplies. Perfect. Chris carefully lifted one of Alex's hands and took out his handy first-aid spray. In no time, the blood had stopped flowing off the large red gash. Chris bandaged the other's wrists while Alex breathed lightly.

"You foolish, foolish man…" Chris sprayed another layer of the spray onto the bandages as Alex's fingers and eyes flinched to the sting the liquid gave his wounds. Carefully, Chris carried Alex up and laid him on the bed again. The man was cold. Very pale and cold.

"This is bad…" Chris instinctively took off his shirt and took out his combat knife. Cutting and ripping the black T-shirt out of Alex, he untied the jacket that Alex put in his trust and covered it over the owner. "Here you go, buddy...". He then laid beside Alex, covered the thick bed sheets over them and put his arms carefully around the other. He held him very close, hoping that all that he did would warm Alex even a little from all the blood he had lost.

In mere minutes, Chris felt Alex relaxing and warming up to his body. He felt the other sigh against his skin and snuggle closer to the heat he was offering. Chris smiled with relief. But then his collarbone where Alex's head was felt damp and warm at the same time. The other's chest started heaving quicker from a suppressed sob. Chris frowned. Just how much this man had went through to get so screwed up like this?

"Mom…"

Huh? Chris blushed. How could be in any way resemble a woman!?

"…thanks…Josh…"

Josh again. Chris moved his head to look at Alex's face, but his nose came right into contact with Alex's. "!" Chris stayed motionless as Alex moved. Oops.

"…Not…again…Josh. We can't…what are…you doing…?"

"…what?" It was then his sensory nerves told his brain that his lips were on the other man's.

"Josh…Josh…no…please…"

Hearing what Alex said was enough to make Chris squirm his head abruptly out of the way without trying to be careful. Double oops.

"…please don't…don't…tell Dad…"

"I-I'll do it….don't tell…don't…tell…Dad…"

What is this guy saying? Chris wondered when he almost jumped from the wet sensation on his cheek. What? Chris turned to face the perpetrator, only to find that the tongue that was on his face was now effectively in his mouth and entangling itself with him.

"Guh…! Alex…!" Finally pulling his mouth away, he couldn't think of anything but to play along. "Alright, Alex! I won't tell Dad, so stop it already!"

"…thank…you…" There was a half-crying whimper in his voice that Chris really didn't know how to react to. Finally Alex's shaking body calmed down until his chest rose and fell steadily in his arms. All he could think to do was to wipe that one teardrop away from the corner of Alex's eye.

The experience was extremely bizarre for Chris. What just happened? Or more importantly, what kind of family did Alex have? That display was so screwed up! "He's had it pretty hard." What Deputy Wheeler said seemed to echo in his head. Something also stirred inside him, but Chris didn't know what it was. But whatever roused inside him made his heart drop.

"What the heck," Chris rubbed them away and continued to warm the weaker man who turned cold quickly whenever he let go. He felt for his cell phone at the counter beside the bed and typed out a short message.

Alex weak but stable. Evac better be on time.

He sent it to Jill. In no time, there was a reply:

Glad. Have & will still urge HQ to comply. Will contact at 6 to confirm.

Chris looked at the clock in his cell and found that it was only slightly over 2 o' clock in the afternoon. He glanced through the closed curtain and saw the grey sky about to rain. Chris groaned. Pulling up the covers over them both, Chris held the frail man tighter. In response, the slumbering Alex put his chilly cuffed hands on Chris's warm chest. "Very good, Alex. That's it, just warm up and sleep. When you wake up, you're gonna explain to me everything. Every single thing." whispered Chris as he ruffled the man's hair and took in the aroma; it was not disgusting despite the sweat and other trivialities from going through the day. It smelled like… mild moisture yet with a certain warmth to it that made him smile. Then he remembered. It was almost the same smell of the beddings Alex had personally prepared for them back at the inn.

That's nice. Smells like fresh-misted water in the dawning sun.

…whatever that means.

TBC