Resident Evil: Tangled Web

By: PhantasmBabeIvory

Chapter Thirteen

Author's Notes: Sorry there's no update to the side story, Razor's Edge, but it is in the works. Sorry also that this chapter's so short, but the next few will hopefully make up for it. Enjoy!

"What do you see?" Claire asked.

Elliott jerked his head in her direction when she spoke, then returned his focus to the vent. He swept the flashlight in his hand back and forth, trying to make sense of the device RogueChild had used to communicate with them. "The exterior is completely metal, save for the lenses on the front. Looks to be capable of moving. Has legs and almost looks insectile. Pretty high-tech." Elliott stepped back from the grate and turned toward Claire. "Did you want to see for yourself?"

She nodded and Elliott handed her the flashlight. He remained silent while Claire examined the device. When she turned back to face him, Elliott said, "Do you know anyone who might be able to construct something like that?"

Claire hesitated. "I do, but no one who'd be this mysterious."

"What about that woman, Ada, you told me about?"

Claire ran a hand through her hair. "Maybe. It does fit what I know about her... But then again, I don't see Ada helping me unless someone hired her. And RogueChild claimed they're being watched just like us. I don't think we know enough at this point to determine who we're dealing with."

"RogueChild also said that Wesker has eyes and ears everywhere except for this room. That's another thing that's bugging me – that Wesker has us under surveillance."

"Did you expect anything less from him, Elliott?" Claire shut off the flashlight and set it back in the drawer where she'd found it. "Which means we probably shouldn't talk about RogueChild once we leave this room. If you have anything else to say, better do so while I finish with that bandage."

Elliott sighed, watching Claire tape a piece of gauze over his knuckles. "We're probably better off writing down any questions to ask RogueChild for when we hear from him or her next."

"Agreed," Claire answered. She patted his freshly bandaged hand. "There, good as new."

Elliott grinned. "Thanks." He followed Claire out into the main room, then a wince crossed his face when his stomach growled. It was loud enough that Claire heard it too. "Don't suppose you're hungry. If so, I could make something for both of us," he said.

Claire was silent for a couple seconds. "I think I'm good for now. But thanks for the offer." She turned to look at him. "Is it wrong to say I'm glad I'm not alone in this?"

Elliott shook his head. "You know what they say – misery loves company. And maybe... this was fate's way of intervening on your behalf. I know I might not have been your first choice, but we are in this together now." He lightly touched her arm. "I wouldn't want to be alone with these lunatics either."

Claire half-smiled. "You know someone's probably listening to us right now."

Elliott shrugged. "Who cares? They already know where I stand. I'm not about to start hiding my aversion toward them now." He looked around. "So, where do you think they're hiding the camera?"

"Why? Are you planning to smash it if you find it?" Claire said dryly.

He laughed. "Why not? Wesker promised that no harm would come to me. He's not going to risk breaking his side of your deal. It could be fun to try and get under his skin."

She hesitated. "Just so long as you don't take it too far. I don't know what it would take to make him snap, but... I don't want to lose the only friend I have right now." Claire shook her head. "Our situation is so similar to what I went through on Rockfort Island, it's scary."

Elliott took half a step toward her. "I'm guessing Wesker ran the prison there too."

"No. Another of Umbrella's top executives did. Wesker just happened to be on the island for his own purposes at the same time I was incarcerated. He didn't even know I was there at first." She ran a hand through her hair. "The whole story is pretty long and twisted. I haven't even told you the half of it, Elliott."

Elliott couldn't tell if she was up to sharing. "You've definitely got me curious now. I know it's probably a painful story for you, but there has to be some teaser you can give me."

Claire smiled mischievously after a couple seconds of silence. "Well, I hear that, even with the superpowers at his disposal, Wesker got his ass kicked at one point. Of course, that's if you believe my brother's take on how it went down."

Elliott's stomach growled again; he was better able to ignore it this time. "No fair starting with the juiciest tidbit, Claire. You have to tell me more."

Claire went to lean against the kitchen counter. "Wesker's opponent was a woman named Alexia. She was powerful in her own right due to genetic experiments she conducted on herself. Was as arrogant and egotistical as he is. And, according to my brother, she was strong enough to have Wesker running scared."

"Too bad we don't have Alexia around looking for a rematch," Elliott said with a grin.

Claire's smile faded. She looked down and nervously rubbed her hands together. "You should actually be glad she's not or history would be more likely to repeat itself."

Elliott regarded her quizzically. "What do you mean?"

There were tears in Claire's eyes when she looked up. "Wesker didn't kill the friend I made on Rockfort. Alexia did."

Four floors up, Jessica was leaned back in a leather office chair with her feet up on the counter in front of the security monitors. "Sweet, sweet money," she said with a smile as she thumbed the five crisp twenties that her partner had just handed her.

Raymond shot a sullen look her way. "So Miss Redfield and her companion figured out their place is bugged. It means they're smart. You don't need to rub it in that you won our bet on how many days it would take."

Jessica pouted. "And you don't need to be such a sourpuss all the time. Learn to lighten up, Ray."

He was as dry as ever. "Why? You're perky enough for both of us."

Jessica accepted that. She returned her gaze to the monitor showing Claire and Elliott's living space and listened to them for a few moments. With a laugh, she said, "I would have thought she'd tell him more about the G-Virus and its creator before she brought up Alexia Ashford." Jessica lazily stretched her arms over her head. "Too bad Alexia wasn't a team player. She would have made an interesting addition to our little group."

Raymond smirked. "You could always volunteer to follow in Alexia's footsteps. Become as powerful as she was."

Jessica tilted her head to the side. "And go into cryo-stasis for fifteen years to slow the mutation process, like she did? I don't think so. Waiting that long to be reborn would suck. Besides, you'd miss me too much, Ray."

"You sound so sure about that."

Jessica scooted back, took her feet off the counter, and sat up straight. "You wouldn't have brought me into the fold or introduced me to Excella if you didn't like me a little bit. Just admit it, sweetie," she said playfully.

"Don't call me sweetie."

"Whatever you say, Captain Killjoy." Jessica tapped her lower lip with one finger as she looked back at the screen. "Now, what should we bet on next?"

Raymond brushed his shirt sleeve with one hand. "I wouldn't be so quick to make another wager. We've already done four in the past week. If we don't pace ourselves, we'll run out of things to bet on."

Jessica tilted her head to the left. "Considering how long we'll be holding Miss Redfield and her friend, you may be right." She casually loosened a button on her shirt, pushing the folds aside to show some cleavage. "Guess we'll have to come up with something else to entertain ourselves," she teased as she batted her eyelashes.

Raymond smirked again. "You get bored too easily. And I'm not willing to risk the boss' wrath by screwing around when we have a job to do." He paused. "But feel free to ask me again when we get a break."

As much as Elliott desired to ask more about Alexia, he didn't want to press Claire too hard when she was clearly hurting. He backed up a step, put one hand on the counter, and looked away.

The silence must have been too much for her. "I'm surprised you don't want to know more," Claire said.

Elliott cleared his throat. "I do, but not if it causes you pain." He paused. "I don't know about you, but it took me a long time to come to terms with a heartwrenching situation. I... don't even know how or if you've dealt with whatever happened."

Claire wiped the tears from her face. It took her a while to reply. "I'm... not sure I ever have. All things considered... I never got a chance to say goodbye."

"What was your friend's name, if you don't mind me asking?"

Claire wrapped her arms around herself. "Steve," she said, so softly that Elliott had to strain to hear. "Steve Burnside."

(Next up - Wesker arranges a private conversation between himself and Claire.

Also, just to keep everyone guessing, I will say that RogueChild is one of the characters whose name has been dropped in the story as of this chapter. Not telling who it is.)