Chapter 28: Farewells
Claire woke up and found Wesker pacing with his hands behind his back. He did not appear weak in the slightest, but his face was stamped with fatigue. She said nothing as she watched him working his lithe muscles and thinking.
"You're getting better," she commented at last. "I guess I have to start watching my smartass comments again." Wesker stopped and leaned against the wall.
"Indeed," he agreed.
"Does that mean we can go back to the house? These empty facilities are creepy and uncomfortable." Wesker turned his neck to work the kinks out of it. He could feel his body strengthening as they spoke.
"We'll depart this evening or tomorrow." Claire was glad to hear it, but that didn't help with the largest question on her mind.
"Wesker, what's going to happen now? You got your virus, but you said that you wouldn't kill me, and I'm sure we're not going to hang out here in the woods forever." Wesker was silent and blank—a sure sign that he was concentrating. He considered his end goals, which included seeing Claire join him and Chris dead, but Claire was not willing to agree to that yet. His plans were set, and time was his ally. Maybe he would just let Claire go to run her course until she died or until they met again, which was inevitable in this conflict.
"Warning: Intruder alert in garage 4," an announcement blared over the speakers. Wesker hurriedly typed commands into the nearby computer and accessed the security cameras. He couldn't believe it. Chris, Jill, Leon, and Rebecca were standing in one of the empty garages and arming their weapons. Such a damn nuisance, but maybe this would play into his hands nicely.
"I shall return momentarily, dear heart," Wesker stated and hurried from the room. Claire curiously approached the computer screen and received a shock to the system. Chris. Oh my god, Chris. An excitement and warmth radiated throughout her body. It had been so long since she had seen him, but she had thought of him often. He had come for her, like he had promised he always would. The others were with him too. Claire happily watched them move off the screen. They would be reunited in minutes.
What about Wesker? She paused, and the happiness dampened. They would try to kill him. What if he wasn't strong enough to survive in his current state? Claire's good spirits disappeared in a flurry of questions and uncertainties. Conflicting emotions assailed her mind. What if Wesker killed Chris? Could both of them leave this place alive? She hoped so. Her heart yearned for it like she yearned to return to freedom, but she was disturbed to find that freedom was no longer a strict desire either. Part of her defied leaving and asked her what she really wanted. She realized that she couldn't answer that, especially once Wesker returned to the room. She hated how complicated her life had become. This man before her had once only been a monster.
"Chris is here," she numbly commented. Wesker had two handguns strapped to his waist, and his black overcoat hung about his tall frame. His red eyes were searching her face for something, for he could no doubt see that she was not entirely enthused about the appearance of Stars.
"Yes, your dear brother has arrived." Claire watched Wesker and knew that she didn't want this man to die. She didn't want any of them to die.
"Are you still vulnerable?" she carefully asked. Wesker removed a knife from his belt and cut a thin slice in his hand. The blood flow quickly stopped, but the wound was not healing nearly as fast as it normally would. He replaced the knife and approached so that he and Claire were extremely close—no more than several inches apart.
"How unfortunate," Wesker scoffed.
"I'm going with them," Claire stated now that she knew he was in no position to force her to do otherwise. It was what part of her wanted to say and what the rest felt obligated to.
"No doubt, dear heart. I take my exit alone this time. Chris will live to fight another day, but he is merely lucky that I am unwell. Redfield luck."
"Wesker…" Claire began. What could she say after having been with him so long? Nothing seemed appropriate. Nothing seemed capable of expressing what she wanted to. "I…thank you…I…you'll get away okay then?" Wesker saved her the hassle of further verbal fumbling by drawing her closer by the waist and kissing her. Claire leaned into his touch and tried to memorize every detail of the sensation. This kiss was different, for it lacked the cool methodology of before. He pressed close to her and sunk his lips deeply into hers; that's when Claire knew that she was kissing a man and not a tyrant.
"If there were no Chris or Stars, what decision would you make?" Wesker asked her. Claire sensed dangerous intent behind those words, and she smiled distantly.
"You're trying to make me doubt myself."
"It's working, dear heart, but it is hardly my doing. Two months ago, you would have leapt into Chris's arms, but you've fallen prey to your own sentimental nature. I never forced you to feel anything. Of that, I am innocent, and you still haven't answered my question," he pressed. This was something he wanted to know, or at least see her reaction to for future reference.
"I don't know. And don't deny that your manipulation isn't partly to blame for this. Your damn good at it, you bastard." Wesker gave her his smuggest look to date. "Are you saying that you'd like me to go with you?" Wesker loosened his arms from around her waist and exhaled.
"Read into it what you want, Claire." Red and blue eyes met and held each other. Both were looking for something, but neither one of them voiced their separate searches. "I will miss your presence, dear heart." Claire felt several tears slipping down her cheeks. Wesker wiped them away. "Those tears are foolish. I'm still a conniving bastard, as you once so eloquently put it. Don't trust me, Claire." He paused and sternly turned for the door. "And I promise that we shall see each other again."
"In that case, make sure that you go to the cabin and get my Shakespeare book," Claire said. "So that I have it for the next time we do this." She gave a short laugh and tossed her tears away. "I guess there's no way we won't see each other again. I don't know how I feel about that anymore—about anything right now."
"Security breach in level 3," the intercom alerted. Wesker stepped away from Claire and removed a gun from his belt.
"You're coming with me until my getaway is ensured." She scowled. "For appearance's sake, you might find it beneficial to comply." True, Chris would have questions if Wesker left her behind without a fight. She hurried after the former captain.
"I'll kick your ass if you try any last minute tricks," she declared. And she would. She would fight for her freedom now that it was drawing nearer. Whatever she felt for Wesker could not change reality, and she knew it, as much as she regretted it. They took an elevator and entered a large room—probably another empty garage, or so it looked.
"Our ways part here, dear heart," Wesker announced as he neared a door to the outside world. Claire felt incredibly unsure about him walking away to disappear from her life. He had been her only constant in a long captivity.
"Wesker, wait!" Claire called. She approached him but not too closely lest he attempt to grab her. "What if something happens to me? How do I find you if I need help with…the virus?" She was uncomfortable even saying the word now that Stars was closing in. What if someone overheard her comments?
"Don't worry. I'll find you," he mockingly promised as he whipped a pair of sunglasses from his shirt pocket and slipped them over his eyes.
"WESKER!" Chris's deep voice shouted. Wesker dodged an incoming bullet and smirked at Chris, who stood, gun raised, on the other side of the room. The others were backing him up with their own weapons ready. "Let her go!"
"Chris, you have a bad habit of rudely interrupting," Wesker sarcastically admonished. He had fully returned to his element and was enjoying every second of angering his enemies. "Your sister has made the most enjoyable company for the last three months." Claire's face paled. He wouldn't say anything about…would he? That conscienceless freak! "I think she's grown quite fond of me." Wesker dodged another bullet.
"Chris, chill!" Jill warned.
"I would like to keep her a while longer. She is, after all, a wonderful…" Wesker's eyes found Claire's, and her round, blue orbs were watery and pleading. Wesker, please don't turn me into a mockery. She could not see behind the shades, but Wesker smirked cruelly. "Regardless, Chris, you may have her back. Keep her for as long as you are able." With that mysterious warning, Wesker raised his gun and fired several shots to send Stars scurrying for cover. Only Claire remained standing in the open.
"Goodbye, Claire," Wesker said with a respectful nod of his head. He left the building and disappeared. The cold air rushing into the building played with Claire's hair as she stood and watched the door shut. He was gone. Wesker was really gone.
"Claire?" Chris asked. Her insulated musings popped.
"Chris!" Claire ran into his arms and hugged him tightly. Relief flooded her system, even as her mind thought of Wesker. Those thoughts were quickly fading as everyone encircled her and happily celebrated her return.
"Should we pursue him?" Rebecca asked.
"He's long gone," Leon answered. "Claire, it's good to have you back."
"Yeah, you survived again," Jill commented.
"Of course. She's a Redfield," Chris laughed and hugged Claire even tighter. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. Yes. Don't suffocate me," Claire laughed. All this joy and warmth—she had missed it terribly. Her friends were back, and she was really free. She couldn't help but focus on that and let Wesker's haunting image fall to the wayside. He would be there tonight, when she lay alone in her bed. For now, she decided, some peace.
"Why did Wesker just let you go?" Jill questioned.
"He was weakened by a new viral strain," Claire answered.
"A new one?" Rebecca gasped. "Is he stronger than before?" Claire shrugged, and Jill watched her closely.
"So why did he take you?" Chris demanded no one in particular.
"How about we save the questions for later?" Claire suggested. "Let's get the hell out of this place! I am so ready for good company and food." Laughter rippled around her. It was amazing how quickly her good spirits were returning, but that was the spunk in her. Chris wrapped a loving arm around her shoulders as they stepped into the wintery world outside the lab. They jested and smiled and Claire easily slid back into the group; although, it was a bit overwhelming after such isolation. A large, off-road vehicle awaited them, and it rumbled across the landscape.
As it turned a corner, Claire recognized the road leading to Wesker's house. She risked peering out of the window and up its path. A black figure stood in the window, but she blinked and it was gone. Maybe she had imagined it as she listened to the background chatter. Already the team was planning a mini party and what to do next. They still had a list of Umbrella labs.
"Hey there, stupid," Chris joked as Claire turned back from the window. "Don't zone out on me." Claire smiled. "We'll get him one day, sis. He won't always win, and he's not taking you again. Nope. Over my dead body."
"That's not funny," Claire said with a smile, but there was a lingering sadness to her eyes that Chris missed. Things had changed, but then again, they really hadn't. Goodbye, Wesker.