Disclaimer: I do not own RE.
Hope all of you can stick around for the last few chapters :)
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MOONLIGHT SHADOW HUNTRESS: You're my favorite :) you've been so loyal to me and my other works and that makes me feel so good about my stuff.
Chapter 55: Rise
Ada Wong watched. Hidden cameras rooted everywhere in that little town, everywhere they went. She knew that Wesker would stumble upon it somehow. She hadn't been in contact with him in over a year, leaving the gap significantly big in work. She had bounced around from company to company, picking up jobs here and there but nothing would ever compare to the work that Wesker gave her and not to mention, the money. However, ever since she left, she had been watching him. He set her 'free', or as he liked to call it, 'free of her past'. Her and Wesker's was, to say the least, rough. He picked her off the street and paid her to grab what he needed and to keep her mouth shut. However, years of working for him had sparked her curiosity and she dug around in his private life… and got caught. The punishment was cruel and severe yet she found some satisfaction in it. Now she knew why. He ran away because he attempted to protect that woman. And look where that got him. He was dead.
Ada laughed to herself in the dark of the room. "Finally." She muttered.
She would not lie about Wesker's part in her life, he played such a large roll in it. He had constant watch over her and made sure that her jobs were done to the utmost perfection because Wesker did not tolerate imperfection, or so it seemed. It was hard enough to sneak around him when he was human and when he changed, he was ever more alert. However, a part of her pitted the man and his final instructions still rang in her ears.
"You know what to do." He boomed. "So do it."
Ada rolled her eyes and kept her distance in the room. "You're planning on getting yourself killed then?"
"What I have planned is of no concern to you. The only thing that you should concern yourself with is carrying out my orders with no repercussion. It may not be today, it may not be tomorrow but when it happens, I need you to be there." His voice had calmed over the course of his speech and Ada could sense the trepidation in his words. He was planning this.
"Anything else?" She asked.
Wesker did not respond, instead he only pulled open a drawer on his desk and pulled out a letter neatly enclosed in an envelope.
"If this goes awry, I need you to deliver this to Claire Redfield. It is crucial that this ends up in her hands." He handed her the letter in his firm grip.
"Is that all, Mr. Wesker?" She asked lowly, referring to him by the name many other did.
"That is all, Ms. Wong." He voiced, back turned to her once again. "It was a pleasure to have you in my service."
Ada swallowed the lump in her throat."Thank you."
He only nodded and held his ground there in his office that she would never lay eyes on again.
Ada scoffed, that day had marked itself down as a memory that would never fade. She had been freed of him in the most sincere way that Wesker could muster. And now, she was to carry out the remaining extent of his final request.
XXXXX
Patrick stood, shuddering with the gun in his hands. He watched as Alex's body hit the ground like a ton of bricks. So that's what it was like? To kill another living creature with a tool that was designed for just that. Every muscle of his body wanted to move, but he was frozen with absolute fear. What a terrible feeling it was. A hand was on his shoulder then, making him jump from his skin. His watery eyes averted to Chris, who was slowly reaching down for the gun in Patrick's hands.
"Deep breaths, kiddo." He chided. "You did good." His large hand clasped around the gun and he lifted it from his hands.
"Is… is he dead?" The boy managed to mutter.
"I don't know…" Chris responded. "I hope."
The town had settled, their minds reeling on what had transpired in the past few hours. Two mighty forces, yet one in the same. Two powers of nature and hate… an avalanche and a tidal wave, clashing into each other like torrents on rocks. They had fought blindly for a side that they weren't even sure they should side on. One was salvation and the other was survival. They had followed a man who claimed to be a seeker of that salvation, somehow on this journey to find God. The other was a solider, sent to protect them from the horrors outside of their walls. They feuded with neighbors and friends, fought for a man they once spat upon, blood falling from his chin as he wore the head of the devil upon him, shackled to the earth he was created to serve. Now, in the midst of it all, who was their leader really? Was it God or was it fate? The rain that fell now was steady, the silence even steadier. Blood washed away from wounds and tears were lost in that rain. They had begun to drag the dead away from the courtyard, bodies began to pile and guilt began to weigh on shoulders. Some were stoic, unable to convey those feelings through words, only expression when they were ready. Others sobbed quietly as they mourned over friends, some over family. Some eyes wandered to Claire who still sat next to Wesker's body, brushing the wet strands from his face. The blood that pooled around him had now run with the rain, down the walks and puddled with the water.
Michael stood over Alex's seemingly dead form and hung his head. He was a fool, an absolute fool to believe in him. He was only using him for a means to an end, and that end had come. He had let down his people, some had even fought against him. He saw Chris stand with the boy, his hazel eyes looking to him, a glare as cold as ice piercing through him. Chris made his way over to Michael who stood in silent submission.
"What you did was wrong." Chris said harshly. "You put all of these people in danger for nothing. Now look," He waved is hand at the towns people dragging dead bodies to a pile, wiping their eyes free of tears. "This is what you've reduced them to."
"I had no intentions of this." Michael said quietly. "None at all."
"But you had intentions to remain blind to what was really going on. Who the real enemy was."
Michael shook his head. "I was naive."
"You were stupid." Chris shot back.
Michael then looked up to see his son walking with a woman whom he had never seen before however, Chris seemed to recognize her as he drew his gun once again.
Andrew held up his hands frantically. "Don't shoot!" He shouted. "She needs to speak with you."
Every set of eyes was on them and Chris lowered his gun but only slightly. "Ada." He growled. "What on earth could compel you to be here?"
She chuckled to herself as she looked around at the mess the Wesker brothers had caused. "Quite a party you got going on here, Chris." She said with that sarcastic loft in her voice. "But that's not the reason I'm here."
"Then what is?" He demanded. His eyes quickly shot left and right to see Jill and Barry flanking him, guns at the ready. Claire was standing in front of Wesker's body as though she was protecting it.
"I have this." She pulled out a silver case, shining as though it had never been touched. "I'm here to carry out Wesker's final instructions."
"Go on." Chris responded, lowering the weapon.
"He knew this day would come." Ada began. "He just didn't know when. He knew that someday his brother would come for him and defeat him, he knew that no matter how hard he tried, he would never be able to overpower the other half of himself." Her dark brown eyes averted to his body. "So he created a serum that would kick his heart back, bring him back to life. He wasn't sure if it would work or not, it was just something that he simmered up just incase this would happen, which he knew it would."
"Get on with it." Chris growled. "We don't have all day." He nodded over to Alex who still lie dead on the ground, a trickle of blood still streaming down where the entry wound was.
"He asked me to administer it if anything like this were to ever happen, and here we are." She popped open the case to reveal a syringe that held a searing red liquid within.
"How did you know?" Claire said with a shake in her voice. "How could you possibly know that we were here?" She was slightly offended by the fact that in all these months, she didn't bother to help them until now.
"Believe it or not but Wesker still has friends in high places. If you can call them that." She responded. "I've been watching and waiting for this day because it was the last thing he asked me to do. I am, and always will be, loyal to Wesker."
Claire could sense her faithfulness to him and it seemed so odd. He was in control of her for so many years that one would think that loyalty would surly run dry. But not for Ada, she was invested in the final will of this man. Ada proceeded to Claire and placed the syringe in her hands, nodding at her. She then looked to Wesker's cold, dead body and shook her head. All her years of trying to escape him and he was victim to a madman with a sharp blade.
"That's all." She voiced, walking away towards the edge of the town. However, she stopped in her heeled tracks and looked over he shoulder. "If he comes back," She began. "Expect nothing less than a fury like a storm." That was all. Ada began her walk back to the walls, gone in the shadow of them.
Claire's hands trembled as she looked down the the single thing that was to revive Wesker where he lie. Her mind was running rampant, pros and cons, pros and cons… Ada seemed sure that this would work but her warning was heavy in Claire's ears… expect a nothing less than a fury like a storm. She knew Wesker could get dangerous but she had never, nor did she ever wish, to see him at his worst. He could rise up from that spot, sweltering with power and defeat Alex once and for all. Or, Claire thought, he could rise and destroy everything in his path, blinded by power and fury. It could go either way but thinking rather than acting was not going to help anyone at this point. Her eyes moved to every person before her, all of them beaten but not done. Her brother, strong and proud, marks of blood and dirt on his face. Jill and the team, smears of mud and sweat on their faces, eyes hard with the fight that still remained. And her children, frightened and shaken, yet bravery set in their bones. She could hear her heartbeat in her ears as she made the decision, kneeling down to Wesker's body who ran cold. Finding the vein in his neck, she pierced the skin and sunk the sliver width needle into his flesh. She watched as the powerful red liquid drained from the chamber and into his still veins. Once the last of the liquid has disappeared, Claire disposed of the syringe and pushed herself away from him. Her heart pounded in her chest, breath in quick huffs.
Chris put a hand on her shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Whatever happens," he started. "We'll be ready."
Claire nodded and returned her attention to his still form, rain continued to beat down upon the many, all of their eyes on the fallen god. Claire counted seconds in her head… seconds seemed like minutes and minutes seemed like hours.
Nothing.
Her teeth would grind together with every passing minute he did not wake and every passing minute Alex's body rebooted.
"Come on…" She whispered to herself through clenched teeth and clenched fists. "Come on, Albert. I know you're in there."
"Claire…" Chris said softly.
She shook her head, tears on the brink of falling. "No!" She shouted. "He just needs more time."
"Well that time is startin' to run out, sis." He warned. "It's now or never."
And it was now.
Wesker's burning red eyes shot open and his lungs gasped for air, muscles strained, and blood began to flow. He turned over on his stomach and began coughing, lungs rejecting the air that he wanted.
He was alive.
His fingers dug into the dirt and mud under him, fists forming, veins popping with pure energy. He pulled himself onto hands and knees, head hanging in the rain, blood washing away from his now closing wounds. The harsh mark on his neck had closed, new skin covering the old. Standing up, back turned to the crowd, his chest rose and fell slowly, taking in deep bouts of fresh, standing air. Claire watched as his muscles rippled as he stretched out his arms, fingers curling in a claw-like fashion. Restored in all of his mighty glory, Albert Wesker stood, heavy once again on the ground. The same fight had rushed through him, the open, the air. The Wilderness.
He turned around, smoldering rubicund eyes quickly examining his surroundings. However, just as he had risen, so did the other. Alex stumbled to his feet, digging his fingers into the hold in his head and with a painful groan, pulled the bullet from his wound, tossing it to the ground furiously.
"No!" He screamed. "You aren't supposed to come back!" He stumbled again, eyes going in and out of focus.
"How disappointing." Wesker said in that deep, baritone voice.
"Fall to me!" Alex bellowed.
Wesker shook his head with smirk and craned his neck from side to side, cracking it. "Never."
They stood off, neither of their fists raised, neither of them looks even a little prepared. But that was how they were trained. No show of readiness, no show of fear. Calm, cool, and collected was a Wesker Child.
Calm.
Cool.
Collected.
Caught off guard by Wesker's sudden burst, Alex received a massive and bone-crushing kick right to the diaphragm, making him slide back a few inches. However, Alex seemed pleased with this.
"I like the new you." He mocked as they circled each other. "Ferocious."
Wesker did not speak, he only watched his brothers moves carefully, dissecting every single inch of his temperament, making sure he did not make a mistake because now, it was do or die. Alex came in first with swift punches, uniform and concise but Wesker dodged every one delivered. the younger Wesker growled in frustration and brought up his leg for a kick to the temple but his brother was too quick to judge his actions and swept his other leg out from under him, making him fall on his hands and knees.
Alex recovered quickly and watched as his brothers searing red hues scanned his every move. His mannerisms were certainly different, whatever was in him now was unrelenting, something that Wesker seemed to force back like a beast trying to rip free. They did not go heavy on their fight yet, they only sparred like boxers in the ring, fists raised to their face, circling like animals. Wesker would not give away his strategy. Alex threw a few more punches, quicker than a bullet did they fly but again, each was dodged accordingly. Wesker played the defense and blocked Alex's blows easily, tiring the younger brother out.
His leg came up for another kick but Wesker was already ahead of him. He caught his leg and pulled him forward, delivering a swift and crushing punch right to Alex's nose. The force of his hit knocked him to the ground and Wesker was on top of him in mere seconds, pounding his bloodied fist into the side of his jaw. Alex cracked Wesker in the head with his own to get him free and it dazed the older brother for a second too long. Alex sent a fierce roundhouse to Wesker's chest, sending him flying feet away, landing harshly on his back. This was going to be harder than he thought.
Wesker recovered and prepared for his brothers onslaught of punches and kicks, blocking them with ease yet the speed they were working at was beginning to wear down on both of them. Wesker saw an opening in his brothers barrage and ducked under his arm, gaining position behind him, he grabbed Alex under the arms and lifted him over his head, twisting around, Wesker crashed Alex to the ground on his back, knocking the wind right out of him. He picked him up, grabbing him my his arm and throwing him into the side of a house, siding and brick falling off from the sheer force of his throw. Wesker stalked forward, bent over slightly, his walk was that of a killer, eyes flashing with the fire in his heart. He grabbed Alex by the back of his neck and brought his head down, making him slouch right into Wesker's knee that was coming at full speed. The hard hits continued directly into Alex's now bloodying face. Wesker pushed him back against the house again and put every ounce of his weight into a clobbering punch that connected with his brothers face with a crack that could rival thunder. Alex crumbled to the ground, the force of Wesker's hit knocked him out cold. Wesker huffed and relaxed his aching muscles, stepping back and wincing from the pain that would remain for quite some time. The crowd was silent, had been the entire time. He could feel their eyes on him, burning into the back of his head but he wasn't done. Uninhibited and raw power still coursed through his veins, he could feel it flow from his heart to his muscles. The ferocity in that power radiated off of him like heat from a burning coal. He turned to face the crowd, eyes still upon him in awe. He was a God.
He looked toward the sky and let the rain beat down on his face and body, washing away his mistakes, his death, and bringing about his resurrection. Wesker closed his eyes and inhaled slowly, taking in all the air that the world could provide. The water was cold but refreshing, here he was in all of his reborn glory. Behind him, Alex rose silently from his unconsciousness, a brick in his hand. He was panting, mouth hung open with blood dripping from it, teeth reddened with it as he smiled wickedly.
"Dad!" Patrick shouted frantically. "Dad behind you!"
Alex was quicker though as he slammed the brick down on the back of Wesker's head, cracking his skull and sending him to the ground. Alex laughed wickedly and picked Wesker off the ground, standing him back on his feet but he was dazed, blood pooling from the gaping wound on the back of his head.
"That looks like it hurts." Alex said through bated breath. "You better stop that bleeding…"
Wesker winced and fell onto his knees, unable to keep his body up. He clasped a hand on the wound, trying to feel for the healing. It was slow, unable to keep up with the mass amounts of blood he was currently losing. Somehow, he stood, hands red, and face stoic again. Alex sneered and poised himself again.
Wesker did not hesitate as he swung first, rock fist connecting with Alex's jaw, tossing him to the side the older brother did not waste time as he picked him up and threw him back down again. Wesker grabbed the collar to Alex's shirt and lifted him on his feet again.
"You fight like a schoolboy…" Alex mocked through bated breath.
Wesker threw out punches that could crush bone and each of them landed with precision on Alex's face, sending him reeling from side to side. Wesker quickly closed the distance between them and delivered an uppercut to Alex's stomach, knocking the wind out of him again. Wesker stepped back and transferred every ounce of his weight into a hulking right hook and sent Alex twisting to the side and onto the ground. The younger brother didn't even have a window for his own blows. Alex picked himself up but was attacked mere seconds later, blocking his brothers punches with his arms began to wear down on his bones.
This raw power that he was exerting was no match for Alex's weakening state. A few more hits and he would surly be down for the count. The younger Wesker managed to sneak in a few hits but they didn't hold a candle to Wesker's unstoppable onslaught of punches. With the last amounts of his buried strength, Alex forwarded amazing power into a punch that was going nowhere… his clenched fist was caught in Wesker's hand, trembling with force. He twisted his arm back and shoved Alex onto his knees, forcing his arm up in a dangerous position that sent pain shooting through his arm.
"Look at them." Wesker commanded.
Alex rolled his eyes and gazed upon the crowd that had been watching them brawl. They were soaked to the bone, bloody, and beaten. They were the result of an act of violence that could not be revoked. Tricked into a facade that faded all too quickly.
"They're cattle." Alex spat. "Created to herd and control." His lungs burned from the energy he had wasted trying to take down his brother. Every breath felt like ice through his body.
"You are in control of no one, Alex." Wesker said blatantly. "Let alone yourself." He pushed his arm up, gaining a roar of pain from his brother.
"If only father could see us now!" Alex yelled. "Oh would he be proud of the men we've become."
Wesker pulled Alex's arm by his wrist and snapped it. Alex howled in pain and a laugh laced itself through it. "You are pathetic." His breath was labored and holes where the bone had pierced began to bleed. "Do you really pride yourself in being the hero? Kill poor Alex for love will you?"
Wesker moved around in front of Alex, looking down on him with those smoldering red hues. "You are my brother, Alexander. I will never forget that but you have been playing this game for far too long." Wesker sighed almost as if he was saddened by the events that were taking place. "It's time to grow up."
"Absolutely Pathetic." He repeated.
Wesker knelt down so he was eye-level with his brother. Glowering eyes met, red and orange. Wesker placed a hand on the back of Alex's neck and gave him the faintest of smiles. This was goodbye. The last of his kind. The last of his family. Wesker shoved his hand through Alex's chest, tearing the flesh and spreading the bone, gripping onto his fragile heart. Ripping it back through his chest, Alex made an almost inaudible whimper of pain and Wesker held out and hand to him and Alex gripped his brothers hand tightly, his fading orange eyes never left his. It was an unseen and silent farewell as Wesker had extinguished the last of his family. There was a sting in the back of his mind that Wesker was sure would remain forever as this was certainly bittersweet. He was an endangered species and now, he was the only one left. Such a surreal and unattainable feeling it was. Alex was now lifeless on his knees, his heart resting in Wesker's blood soaked palm. He stood and picked Alex up with him, gently throwing him over his shoulder, Wesker began walking towards the edge of the town to give his brother a proper burial.
XXXXX
The rain had finally stopped.
Maybe it was sign that things were clearing up or maybe it was just weather. Claire helped the townspeople bury dead, clean, and reconcile what had happened in the past few hours. Her group was safe, her children safer, but Wesker was absent. She thought heavy on his brothers defeat and wondered if it was finally the end. One problem had cleared itself away yet another lie just ahead of them. Patrick and Kaya were asleep on the couch of their shared home and she watched out of the window, the people mingle back into life. Some were injured and some were dead but awareness had blossomed from this. Claire left the house silently and began walking towards the edge of town. A while later, she had come upon Wesker who stood before a fresh grave in the ground.
"He was family." He said quietly. "Despite his upbringing."
Claire touched his arm and looked up to him. "I know." She said softly.
Wesker turned to her, face weary, yet his eyes burned with an intensity like no other. This was the man she had fallen in love with all those years ago. This man, right here, standing before her in the low gray of the evening after rain. He was covered in dried blood that was slowing washing away from the previous weather, damp from the rain, and almost beaten by his better half, but she could not have loved him more than she did at this very moment.
Wesker seemed to sense her admiration and cupped her face in his calloused hands and met his lips to hers. Claire melted into him just as she did all those years ago. This is where she belonged. Wesker pulled her into him and held her against him tightly, a hold that was long overdue. He pulled back and kissed her again, smiling as he did so. It was too long since she had seen that smile.
"I love you, Claire." He said, his deep baritone voice sending vibrations through her body.
Claire smiled back at him and nodded. "I love you too, Albert."
A/N: TRUE STRENGTH IS WITHIN US. WE ARE BROKEN SO THAT WE MAY RISE.
