Chapter 12
Charlotte had been searching the second floor of the mansion for nearly forty minutes
with few files of relevance being found. There had been a few close calls with carriers and even
closer calls with her teammates. She had emerged from a room only to see Chris disappear
around a corner a few feet away. It had been a while since she had last seen anyone so she
felt it was safe to assume they had focused their efforts elsewhere. Moving down the hall she
checked the latched on the next door. It was unlocked. Pressing her ear against it she listened.
Someone was inside. Turning the door knob Charlotte pushed the door open a crack and waited.
The shadow of a man moved across the far wall and she instantly recognized him. Pushing the door
open further she slipped inside.
"Finished already?" Wesker asked as he turned around. Charlotte shook her head.
"A few papers with insane ramblings, though I did find a diary written by someone with
a few marbles left.
"Let me see it." She passed it to him.
"Seems there's a plant that's been killing off researchers..."
"Really?" Wesker's interest was peaked as he skimmed through the book. "Good work."
Slipping it into his pocket he pulled her close and kissed her. Charlotte's eyes watched him; the
way he kissed her, the way he moved. When he finally let her go she laughed.
"What was all that for?"
"A prelude, my Dear. Of things to come when this night is over." Reaching out with her hand
she let her fingers touch his face. Perhaps it was the danger of getting caught, or the prospect
of death that loomed around every corner. Parting her lips she felt the touch of his again. Their
warmth and moisture pulled her further from reality and deeper into his world.
Somewhere beyond the half torn curtains of the window there was a crashing sound that
pulled her back.
"What was that?" Wesker was already standing at the window. He seemed to be watching
something.
"I want you to continue your search of the mansion then make your way to the underground
passages."
"But I've already..."
"Check again." She could feel it. She knew he was hiding smething, but when Wesker was invovled
it was better to let him be then to dig into the horrors he was invovled in.
"Okay, I'll go." She paused when she reached the door. "Do you want me to check what that was?"
"No. It was nothing." Without another word, Charlotte left. When he was sure she was gone Wesker
opened the window and climbed out onto the balcony. He was unaware at the time, but it appeared that
he and Charlotte had had an audience. 'I've waited a long time for this.'
Standing at the top of a small set of stairs Wesker looked down at Forest who was leaning against
the side of the building.
"One would almost think you were losing control of your own body..." He grinned. Forest looked up at
Wesker with raw hatred in his eyes.
"You bastard!"
"Now, Now. There's no need to be rude." Wesker decended the steps. "After all, I gave you fair warning."
"Fuck you and your 'fair warning'. You stay away from her!"
"I'm afraid that's not possible." Wesker took a few steps closer; his shadow casting across sthe balcony
like a plague.
"You lied...about her killing those people so I'd leave her... didn't you?" Wesker clapped his hands.
"Very good police work, Officer Speyer. Though I'm afraid it wasn't a lie." Forest took a step
backwards trying to widen the distance between himself and the Captain.
"How?"
"Because I'm the one who financed the murders." Wide-eyed, Forest reached for his gun, but Wesker's
was already taking aim at him. "That's how we met - Charlotte and I."
"How sweet," Forest spat, his jaw clentched tightly.
"None of this had to happen." Wesker said as he took another step closer, forcing the other man to press
his back to the stone wall. "If you had just stayed away from her."
"She's not yours!"
"On the contrary. We're still married." Wesker could see the shock in Forest's eyes making him feel a tinge
of pride. "Divorces are so expensive these days..."
"Why? What are you telling me all this?"
"Because I want you to suffer. I want you to know that every time you fucked her I fucked her twice as hard."
Forgetting Wesker's gun Forest lunged at him and took a swing. Dodging, Wesker raised his knee and connected
with Forest's stomach causing him to double over.
"Stupid move, Speyer." Forest lay on the ground clutching his stomach.
"Just kill me, you bastard!"
"You've done the job for me, I'm afraid." He holstered his pistol.
"What?"
"You've been infected with the T-virus. It's only a matter of time before you become a mindless zombie
like all the others."
"Shoot me then." Forest begged as he struggled to pull himself into a nearby chair.
"Someone WILL shoot you, that I promise. But it won't be me."
"Then who?" His mind was beginning to swim and he found he was having trouble fighting off an insatiable
hunger.
"I believe it's only right that a relationship be ended by someone within it..." He smiled.
"No! Don't make her do that!"
"I won't make her do anything.You, on the other hand, will give her no choice." Laughing, Wesker
walked away as the wind dispersed the cry of a damned soul.