Italics: Thoughts
Chapter Nine
"Bastard…!"
Her fists pounded against his chest to no avail.
The monster held the phone in his right hand, while the other gripped the back of her neck. She was forced in the leather seat next to him through an unnatural force the minute she heard Chris. She couldn't stop it; just as she couldn't prevent the invisible chokehold he placed around her neck previously.
"…let go….!" Her screams did nothing to dissuade him. Leaning forward he sneered, ignoring her pleas.
"I look forward to meeting this brother of yours." Amusement lingered with each word, causing her to flinch. "He claimed that our meager discussion will be traced, just as you stated. Surely technology has come a long way, has it not?"
He blew on her ear, causing her to flinch. "I think I will enjoy this new world."
"…You sick, fucking monster—!"
The phone slipped from the monster's grip, only to be crushed under the heel of his shoe. She heard the screen crack from the impact.
"How unfortunate. Your little contraption is no more. How will you ever contact dear brother again? What was his name again? Ah, Chris Redfield, the name you scream in your sleep every night."
Her eyes widened. "No…!"
She tried dropping to the limousine carpet to retrieve it, but the grip around her neck tightened, locking her in place. "You continue to make things difficult for yourself. Why do I find your lack of cooperation alluring? Most humans wouldn't dare challenge me, but you continue to fight."
"…Go to fucking hell—"
"I have been there plenty of times, Claire." His gaze was like smoldering lava, as if she was looking into the abyss itself. "Sent back each time by foolish humans unwilling to accept their fate. Unfortunate for you, your mother and father never taught you about how utterly selfish humans can be. Always starting wars, murdering their own kind, doing whatever it takes to fulfill their lustful desires. Tell me, are you going to send me there again? I would like to see you try—"
"…let go of me….!" She gritted her teeth.
"But I enjoy watching you squirm for my entertainment alone. I am actually pleased that we met each other in the building you humans call a hospital—"
This time, she was able to spit in his face. "…Fuck…you…"
Fingers gripped strands of hair once more, forcing another cry from her lips. "You must enjoy your predicament more than you let on..." His breath trickled her neck, exposing her to the rancid blood stench once more. "…do you really want poor Chris to find you? Imagine the bloodshed that will be on your hands if he comes to the rescue."
"I won't…let you scare me…"
The monster's laugh reverberated around her.
"You cannot hide from me. I am used to humans clinging to their so called bravery and their non existent beliefs. In reality, they succumb to their greatest fears. You are no different from your kind."
The malevolent grin returned, much to her chagrin. "Very well, I will let you in on our next destination. I have heard of your nightclubs in this city. I have a need for useful servants, aside from the ones in the building you call a hotel. But they serve a greater purpose, and you will bear witness to it."
"You said…you wouldn't—"
"I said you would be responsible for each human I killed for your incompetence. I never implied they would be free from my grasp."
His voice soon dissipated to a soft whisper; "We're going to have so much fun."
...
"Who the fuck was that Chris?"
He wasn't listening.
"Chris...?"
He should have picked her up from the hospital.
He allowed a monster to kidnap her.
No…this was a psychopathic asshole toying with his inability to save his own sister from becoming his next victim. It wasn't the first time he dealt with predators; caught up in their own bloodlust and greed. Most of them thought they were above the law, but in reality, they were going to be put away for a very long time.
He was going to find the son of a bitch and make him pay.
"Chris…!"
Jill was on her feet now, her nails digging into the wood of his desk. He didn't hear the slam of her hands against the surface to get his attention. The voice on the other end unnerved him to the point he wasn't sure how to answer the woman before him.
The phone tightened in his grip.
"…I have to get this call traced…" His voice was strained, but he was talking more to himself than Jill. "…this was my fault…I should have picked her up from the hospital myself—"
"Chris, who was that—"
"John Doe." He answered, cutting her off. "It was that fucking John Doe the paramedics barely managed to drag in here. A drug ridden psychopath on the loose because I trusted a friend to pick Claire up—"
"How can you be sure he's the one responsible for the killings—"
"Use your goddamn brain Jill!" He shouted, glaring at her. "He's missing along with my fucking sister and two officers had their bodies mutilated! There was no evidence of forced entry in the hospital! Those videos from the cameras showed nothing! Whoever this monster is, I want him found immediately. Either help me or get the fuck out of my way."
He didn't give her a chance to respond before he stormed out of the office.
...
"Think this Redfield guy is gonna freak when we meet him?"
He was checking the rounds used for their weapons, while she worked on her laptop. The weapons were specially tailored to deal with the undead, blessed by a priest that was paid for his services every week. The priest was generous enough to donate the money to charity and maintain his church.
They included two assault rifles with solar flare lighting and a cross imbedded in the bullets, bows with bows that can piece demons and vampires alike.
"I guess not every priest is a money grubbing asshole…" He recalled saying that to Hunnigan before when they first employed him.
She gave him one of her cold glares. "Perhaps some respect should be in order. Father Hidalgo didn't have to cooperate with us."
He never joked with her again.
She was a hard ass, even when they first met.
"Did you expect him to take us seriously?" She responded, giving him a glance from the corner of her eye. "I'm sure he'll be thrilled to know the world could possibly end with the release of the devil incarnate and his sister could possibly be under its control. Humans have never encountered the supernatural because we fought the unseen battles. This is the first time in centuries they've seen unnatural weather like this."
He grimaced under her stare. "Right…" He sighed. "…listen, i was just trying to have a small conversation, that's all. You know, since today is our last day in this shit hole—"
"This isn't the time for one of your conversations." Hunnigan turned away and continued typing. "And I'm not interested in small talk. Our mission is to reach Illinois and stop the end of the world. I made it very clear that we have to cooperate."
"Which is why I was trying to have a conversation." He shrugged. "But you do you. You were always a hard ass ever since we met, you know that, right?"
"Maybe because I take my job seriously. I'm sure your relatives did as well."
"Don't drag my parents into this." He warned. "I don't see why you have to mention them when you go into your little lectures."
"Because I'm not fond of working with adult children."
Her retort was enough to anger him.
Checking the last of the weapons, he reached behind his back pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes.
"I'm heading out for a smoke." He said, but she didn't turn away from the desk. "Hold the fort. Someone with your experience should be capable of that, right?"
Author Notes: I'm very, very sorry for the late update. As you know, we're in the middle of a serious pandemic. I hope that everyone is staying as safe as possible and wearing their mask. It's really difficult seeing the way things are now but things will get better. We just have to hang in there and keep fighting. This chapter isn't as long as I wanted it to be but at least it's an update. The next one is much longer and I will update my other stories as well.
Continue to stay safe everyone and thank you for the continued support.