Chapter 11: Down the Rabbit Hole
Claire lost track of time once Chris left the house. It took all of her willpower to not break down. She paced the house in thought, too lost to finish putting up the Christmas decorations she and Chris started that morning. She kept wondering what she did to earn this punishment. God was obviously not helping her out with this.
She needed to end this game of cat and mouse. If Chris ended up dead because of her, she would never forgive herself. But that also meant no more taking Wesker's threats or orders. She would be going out with a bang and she was going to make sure she took Wesker with her.
She hadn't realized she had acted on those thoughts by going to Chris' gun cabinet and picking out a Glock. She loaded it and was taking it back to her bedroom when she heard the door opening up.
She rushed downstairs, hoping it was her brother, alive and well, and not Wesker coming to finish the job. She just about collapsed when she saw a depressed Chris enter into his home, shutting the front door with a sigh.
He caught sight of his sister on the steps and motioned her down to the living room. Claire slowly walked down to greet him. She was worried by his appearance, but also very glad to see him okay. As she thought about it, she realized Wesker would not have done anything to Chris in public.
"I talked to Wesker."
Claire lowered her eyes. If only she could have come up with a better story than letting him believe this. "How did it go?"
"Actually, he made me realize something I should have a long time ago."
"What?"
"You are a grown woman. I realize that I have prevented you from doing many things over my sense of protection. You can take care of yourself. I know that. You are strong and smart, but yet I don't allow you to be. I never listen to you when I should. I should honor your choices more and support you no matter what. Realizing this has also made me understand that I have kept you from being happy many times. I'm sorry Claire. Wesker is right. I should listen to you more and respect your feelings no matter what. I just can't believe it took my own captain to make me realize all this."
Well there was something she hadn't been expecting. It took Wesker to fix something that had been an important problem between the Redfield siblings for years. Claire could understand. Chris respected and looked up to his captain because he had no clue of the truth. Although she was grateful for Chris' words, she just would not be able to handle her brother changing his ways on her behalf.
"Oh Chris. You don't have to apologize. I love you just the way you are. Don't ever change. Got it?"
Chris slowly smiled, nodding at his sister. "Thanks, sis. I am sorry for being so narrow sighted lately."
A knocking on the front door made the siblings grow quiet, their eyes shifting to the entrance of the house. Chris heaved a sigh, walking towards it. The hair on the back of Claire's neck stood up. "Must be Wesker. He said he was going to come by so we could all talk. Look sis…I don't approve of your relationship with him but…I want you to be happy."
"But Chris I'm not-"
"I'm sure Wesker will explain it all so I can understand a bit better."
Oh I'm sure he will, just before he kills the two of us…
Sure enough it was Wesker, and Chris let him in with a dip of his head. "Captain. Good to see you came so we can talk."
Claire cursed that she had put the Glock up in her room. The smirk he gave her as he entered into the house gave her chills. He soon turned to face her brother.
"Well I imagine you would like some answers, Chris. Did you talk to Claire?"
Chris glanced over at her, not noticing how she had frozen in place. "Well, not really. I wanted to wait until you got here. But I did apologize to her. I realized you were right on that note, Captain Wesker. Claire is an adult, and I forget that all too often."
"Indeed, she is," Wesker answered, walking over to Claire. He kissed her on her forehead and slid his lips down to her ear so he could whisper a soft threat into it. "Better play along nicely, dear heart, or I will just kill him here and now, right in front you."
Claire barely held a straight face, her heart skipping from the threat. She smiled warmly, glancing from her watching brother to Wesker as he pulled back from her.
She reached out to touch his hand. Her own fingers were shaking, but she hoped Chris didn't notice them. She forced herself a sick smile, hoping Chris would buy it."Yes."
"Well, Chris, if it would help your feelings on this matter, Claire was the one who asked me out."
"Really?"
Claire swallowed, wondering exactly how much he was going to make her suffer. "Uhh, yeah."
"How did that come about? When you went to ask him to give me some days off?"
"No, uh, after that. When I went walking on the Arklay trails…Albert was there. One thing led to another, and well, now we are here."
Chris was very noticeably distressed by her words. He rubbed the back of his neck, shaking his head. Even though Claire could tell her brother just wanted to explode, he kept quiet.
"Sorry, I just…never expected this to happen."
Claire smiled weakly, wishing she could just tell him the truth. It hurt her to make him believe this was all real. She moved forward, really needing to hug her brother. Chris returned the hug, smiling, as relief washed over him. He pushed her back, but kept hold of her shoulders.
"So, does he treat you right?"
Her stomach churned, but she smiled at him. "Yes, he is a complete gentleman."
Chris let her go, and Claire slowly returned over to Wesker's side. Her brother extended his hand. Wesker took it into a firm handshake.
"Captain…"
"Chris."
"Thanks for…treating her right."
"My pleasure. She's a good girl." He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, rubbing on her.
Claire smiled up at Wesker, even though on the inside she felt like attacking him. Chris, seeing her smile, nodded and smiled as well. He was still unsure of the whole situation, but he was content to see Claire happy.
Chris wanted to laugh about it as he thought it over. He wondered if this meant he should ask his captain over for Christmas dinner, the whole thought seeming bizarre. An odd silence took over the living room as his sister played restlessly with her fingers, and Wesker's eyes seemed set on her behind his dark shades. As Chris started reanalyzing certain things, his special force training started to kick in, and he realized that something wasn't adding up.
He frowned. Thinking of William Birkin, and how he had to be connected to this, as well as his sister's odd behavior. Then again, it could have been his qualms of the whole situation brewing up these feelings to make him second guess himself. She had to have been nervous because Wesker was over here for the first time, now that their relationship was out in the open. That had to be it. He was just going to have to get used to this relationship, as Claire grew more comfortable over time. Even though he was still unsettled by it., Chris was happy that there was nothing else going on that was putting him on edge. William Birkin had to have been telling the truth about just giving her a ride home after getting the dog bite, nothing more. It was best if Chris just dropped it and focused on Claire now.
The house phone started to ring. He looked between Wesker and Claire once more before turning his back on them to go into the kitchen and answer it.
"Hello? This is Chris."
"Chris! It's Jill! You need to get to St. Mercy's Hospital! Ralph Hendricks has been assaulted, and they say he isn't going to make it! Barry and I are on our way over there now."
The news hit with such shock that Chris couldn't respond. He heard Jill's voice asking him if he was still there, and he shook out of it. "I'm on my way."
He slammed the phone back onto the receiver and was off. Chris grabbed up his coat and keys and stopped momentarily at the front door to look to Wesker and Claire.
"Chris?" Claire inquired, her tone full of worry.
"Ralph Hendricks is in the hospital by an assault and they don't think he is going to make it. I'll be back. Please watch over my sister, Captain Wesker."
He opened the front door and slammed it shut as he went out. He had known Ralph for many years since they lived on the same block, and Ralph had been on the force for fifteen years and was great friends with Barry. He had just spoken to Ralph the other day when he told Chris about seeing Claire in the car with William Birkin and giving him Birkin's license plate number.
Chris was trying to wrap his head around it. It could have happened to anyone. Ralph was a police officer. These things just happened. But Chris couldn't shake the uncanny feeling that there was something more to this.
Claire couldn't believe what had just happened. Chris hung up the phone and left her alone with his captain. Ralph Hendricks was dying and Chris was compelled to go see his neighbour and fellow police officer. But it all made sense once Wesker turned to her with that dark smirk on his face.
"Oh, I will Chris."
He started walking towards her with smooth, confident steps, and she responded by backing away.
"You…you did this…to Ralph." Her back soon bumped into a wall, and she wasn't moving anymore.
"You are such a clever girl, dear heart," Wesker chuckled. He stopped within inches of her. "However, I did not directly perform this per se. It was more of an order from the many resources I have within this city."
"Why?" Claire asked, glaring at him.
"A warning, my love."
Her heart skipped. She didn't know if it was from his warning, or from him saying „my love", but she forced herself to not dwell on it.
"A warning?!"
Wesker dipped his head. "Yes. I just want to make sure you know what exactly is at stake here. Ralph Hendricks will die tonight because I know he was involved in why Chris has suddenly started snooping around. And they will never find his killer. Do know that it was my intention this evening to step through that door over there to kill both you and your brother instead? I could have both of you killed with no chance of anyone finding out anything, or I could simply make the both of you disappear off the face of this planet, with no one to ever find you."
Claire clenched her jaw. "Yeah, I haven't forgotten the first time you told me."
"Fair enough. At least this way you know I am not bluffing. Ralph Hendricks' death is on your head. Don't make it your brother as well."
"I understand."
"As for your clever yet amusing story on us having an affair…well, just know that I will have no problem exploiting that scenario to my advantage."
He brushed a strand of her hair away from her face with a soft caress. The touch made her skin crawl, yet at the same time it gave her chills. It had her heart going, and she was starting to feel like a trapped rabbit about to have a heart attack.
"If you are good for just a while longer, I will be able to cash in your worth to me, and then I will let you and your brother off the hook."
The words were enough to perk her interest, and she had to struggle to maintain control over acting out on that hope and excitement. She knew better than to trust him.
"What do you mean? What are you using me for?"
"Business, dear heart. Simply business."
"I don't believe you."
He smirked, his lips inches from hers. "I'm a man of my word, and that you can count on, dear heart."
He kissed her after those words. Claire was stunned, body freezing as she tried not to get lost in the kiss. She focused on the hate, and before she was in danger to losing to her body, a pager went off and he pulled away. She was left with weak legs and confused thoughts.
Wesker checked his pager, sighing. "William always ruins my fun. Well, dear heart, I better go see what he needs."
Claire couldn't believe what had just happened, and her mind was trying to catch up. She could only nod at him, her stomach growing sick.
"Remember our agreement. I don't want to have to kill you after that. You have a good evening, dear heart."
She stayed where she was, not moving. Claire didn't want to move until he was gone. He acted like he was going to leave, and then paused just two steps away. He slowly turned back to her, a smirk easing onto his face.
"Then again…I did promise Chris I would look after you. And we are a couple after all. I think it would be better if you came with me, my love."
He pulled her away from the wall with gentle force. Claire didn't want to go with him, but she knew she had no choice. He pulled her close, wrapping his arm around her waist, making her shiver from his touch as his fingers touched her skin. As they walked out the front door, her thoughts went to Chris and the dying Ralph, knowing it was her fault he was going to die.
Wesker kissed her on the temple once they reached his Jaguar. He was a gentleman and opened the passenger door for her. Claire hesitated, but then slid into the luxury sports car. Once the door shut on her, she knew there was no escape. Not from the trip in the Jaguar, but from the whole affair dilemma. She knew Wesker was going to take full advantage of it, adding to his manipulation over her.
And for that, she worried for herself, because she knew he had no problem taking complete control, even against her will. Because this was a game of power, and she had no choice but to lose against him.
William sipped on his coffee, the underground laboratory in the sewers of Raccoon City feeling a bit colder than usual from the icy temperatures above. It was less than two weeks until Christmas, and he had zoned out through Annette's entire rant of what they were getting for Sherry and something about fruit cake.
"I swear I didn't say anything to him. He just knows you that well," he said, looking to Ada, who also enjoyed a mug of coffee.
She rolled her eyes. "He had no idea I was going there to see Claire. He was going to see her on his own accord. I swear, Will, he is getting a bit too involved with the poor girl. Do you think he has feelings for her?"
"Are you jealous?" William laughed, but a quick, warning glare from her made him choke and he quickly took another slurp from his cup. "Oh c'mon, Ada. It's Albert. He's like the Grinch who stole Christmas! Little, itty bitty, shriveled up heart! He has no feelings for Claire, though I wouldn't put it pass him to use her in a certain way."
Ada tapped her nails on the side of her mug. "It's not like him to do one-night stands either. Unlike you before you got married, Mister Manwhore Birkin."
"Hey! Not so loud! SHHHH!" William paused to make sure Annette in the other room didn't hear as she was preparing her own coffee in the break room. He relaxed. "I can't help that I'm a ladies' man! Your gender just swoons over me like I'm an alpha male!"
Ada rolled her eyes, though she did smile at the mad scientist.
"Besides, I remember Albert having that fling with that woman scientist that was here a few years back…what was her name? She was only here for temporary…Miller? No, no…um…"
"Oh, you mean Muller. What was her first name? God, I was happy to see her go, what a bitch."
"Yeah, that's her! Gorgeous red head! Daaaaamn, is all I gotta say. And no, she wasn't a bitch, she was super nice. You just didn't like her because Albert had a one-night stand with her and not you."
"William, don't pretend you don't know what happened between Albert and I."
Annette was entering the break room with a fresh cup of coffee. She joined William and Ada at the break table in the lounge.
"Ada, were you able to get to Claire and tell her about her brother?"
The female assassin nodded. "Yeah, but Albert caught me in the act. I better hang back if I want to help Claire out any."
"I just hope they get that crazy brother of hers to stop snooping around. Did you know he assaulted me at lunch today demanding answers? He thought I was having an affair with Claire! The nerve of him! Though Claire is pretty hot."
Annette glared at him as she was sipping her coffee. William chuckled weakly with Ada shaking her head.
"And that is exactly why Albert has feelings for her and I, William Birkin, who is happily married, do not!"
There came a knock on the break room door. The women didn't even flinch, but William noticed they were looking right at him. He sat his coffee cup down, and slid out of his chair.
"Don't anyone get up at once now!" he snorted sarcastically.
He answered the door, and before him stood a Russian mercenary that looked all too familiar to him, though he couldn't quite place his name. He had silver hair that was buzz cut, and had icy green eyes. There were a few scars on his face. He wore mercenary attire that he immediately recognized for Sergei Vladmir's men in UBCS.
"Yes, how can I help you?" William greeted.
"I need to speak to Albert Wesker."
"He's not here at the moment. I'll relay the message." William went to shut the door, but the Russian mercenary easily busted through, making William slide with the door. "Okay, come right on in…"
"Nicholai? Wow, haven't seen you in a while," Ada greeted.
Nicholai smirked. "Same to you, comrade. Do you know where Albert is?"
"He's with Claire more than likely."
"Who?"
"I'll page him," William grumbled. "Damn Russians are always in a rush!"
Nicholai glared at William's back as the eccentric scientist sat down at his place at the table. He was getting his pager out, grumbling to himself as his wife shook her head.
"This must be William Birkin."
"Yes, that is him. Easy to recognize," Ada laughed. "So, Nicholai, why are you here? Why do you need to talk to Albert? I thought you two didn't talk much anymore because you work for Sergei?"
"We don't, but he asked that I return a favor to him," Nicholai replied. "I killed someone for him. I just wanted to run by him that the deed was done."
"Was it one of the Redfields?" Annette asked, perking up.
"No, just some old police officer. He did mention some Redfields. What do they have to do with anything?"
"It's a long story," Ada sighed.
"Alright, I paged him. He should be here within half an hour. Make yourself at home."
"I will. Thank you, comrade."
"Oh, Nicholai, if you wouldn't mind. Don't mention any of this to Sergei. I'm sure Albert will explain more."
Nicholai nodded at Ada. "Sure thing, Ada."
The four Umbrella workers sat around the break room table to wait for Wesker to show up. Several minutes with by without a word. A thick silence enveloped the room as William slightly glared at the relaxed Russian mercenary. Annette got up to wash out her cup, having finished her coffee. Ada decided to start the conversation, and smiled over at William.
"What's wrong, William? I've never seen you so quiet in such an amount of time."
"I don't trust this guy," William stated bluntly, motioning to Nicholai.
"Good," he chuckled.
"Will, he's a friend of Albert's. All of his friends are slimy, untrustable scumbags."
"Yeah, you are ri-hey! I'm a friend of his!"
Annette was smirking. "We better get back to work, honey. Come on."
"Yeah, I'll be there in a minute. Albert will be looking for me since I paged him."
"And after our little exchange outside Claire's house, I better be making myself scarce," Ada said, getting up. She cleaned out her mug and then headed for the door.
She turned back to William and Nicholai, as Annette had already headed out for the laboratory. The two men where at opposite ends of the table, glaring at each other. "Nicholai, be nice. He's a friend."
"Fine. See you around, Ada."
"You too."
The female assassin left the break room. Again, silence filled the room as the brilliant Umbrella scientist stared down the collected mercenary. Nicholai practically ignored William as he sipped his coffee, keeping his eyes down.
"So how do you know Albert?"
"We met at Rockfort when I was still in training. I was a guard for the Ashford family. He was there on business with the Ashfords a few years back. Wesker pulled some strings to get me where I am now. We've been comrades ever since."
William was wiggling his pencil, making it look like it was made of rubber. "Oh yeah? Well, I've known him since we were kids! We were both under James Marcus as his prodigies!"
"Didn't you two kill him?"
"Yes we did!"
The door to the breakroom opened, and the two men looked up. Albert Wesker was strolling in, but he wasn't alone. William was surprised to see Claire back here. Wesker had kept the door open to let her through and she entered, arms crossed and head slightly lowered.
"Albert! Finally, you are here. Nicholai is here to talk to you."
Nicholai was already out of his chair and walking over to Albert. "It's good to see you again, comrade, but we do need to talk in private."
"Alright," Wesker nodded his head. "After you, my friend."
He looked over to William, a small smirk coming on his lips. "William, would you be so kind as to watch over my new "girlfriend" as I talk business? It shouldn't take long."
"Ahh, sure," William answered, baffled.
Wesker and Nicholai left the breakroom to go discuss their business privately. Nicholai looked closely at Claire before shutting the door behind him, as if surprised that Wesker had such a young, beautiful girlfriend. Then the door shut behind him. Claire seemed to relax a bit more, and she made her way to sit down at the breakroom table. William weakly smiled at her, grabbing up Nicholai's leftover cup.
"Want some coffee, dear?"
With a surrendering sigh, Claire's forehead connected with the table.
A/N: Wow this has taken much longer than I anticipated! I want to dedicate this chapter to my awesome friend Ravenlaughter! She did so much work on it, from giving me so many new ideas, to editing and making some changes for the better for me! Dang girl you practically wrote it lol! But seriously, thank you for giving me some new ideas and all the help because I was not ready to give up on this story just yet! ;) For those of you who are loyal readers to this story and have been asking me to update, here you are and I am sorry for the wait! Hope you all enjoyed it! The chapter name 'Down the Rabbit Hole' is of course a reference to Alice in Wonderland, as Claire is getting deeper and deeper into this conspiracy, Wesker's web, and all his coherts. Again, this was Ravenlaughter's choice of title, so good job my friend, I thought it was genius! XD Thanks for all the favs/alerts/reviews this past few days, and you all have a good week! :)
