Chapter VI
Riddle Me This, Riddle Me That
"No!" Hillary screamed as she flew through the air, clutching the ledge as her body smashed against the side of the elevator channel. She scrambled, sweat rushing off her body and dripping down into the dank tunnel below her. It seemed like an infinite drop, her body would plummet eleven floors before hitting cement bottom, "Shit! Shit! Shit!"
Ja moved his other hand to hold onto the elevator cords he dangled ever so hastily from, "Hillary, whatever you do don't let go! Pull yourself up, don't let go!" He began to ascend the cord, pulling himself inch by inch up the elevator channel, "I'm gonna swing over to the ledge as soon as you can get the door open. It won't hold the two of us, I need you to hurry! I won't be able to hold on much longer!"
"Ja…I don't know if I-"
"Do it damnit!" he screamed, sweat leaking down onto his white business shirt. He was wearing the same expensive suit that he wore when he first got into this mess, the white dress shirt…the black pants and the nice leather shoes…his coat had gone with the elevator when it came roaring past them. He continued to climb the cord, giving himself enough room to swing back and forth.
Hillary pulled her left arm up onto the ledge, and then quickly pulled her right arm up. Pushing herself to her furthest limits, she hoisted herself up onto the ledge and scooted over enough to give herself room to stand, "…damnit, too bad this wont go on my resume." She giggled, giving Ja something to laugh about. She began to pry against the elevator door on the wall she was pressed against, and within seconds it slid open revealing an office floor. It was totally deserted.
"Alright, Ja it's okay to come now. The coast is clear." Hillary said, walking quickly into the office building. Green plants and nice white floors filled the colorful hallways, doors lining the many walls that lead into the actual offices of the worker men and women, "Maybe there is someone here that can help us…"
She could hear Ja smash against the floor, and begin to scream at her…
"Hillary, behind you!"
*
Heatherly waded through the thick and greasy sewer water that filled the passageway. She had her heavy Magnum in her hand, knowing that danger could be lurking around the corner…literally. It wouldn't be surprising if another spill had occurred. Umbrella seemed to be ill fated like that, every time they have a new toy they can't help but share it with everyone.
The faded blue jeans and black tube top she wore snugly underneath a jean jacket did injustice to the situation. It was freezing in the sewer system; a place she had hoped would be warm. It smelled like shit, and she knew that it was probably exactly what she was walking in…her tight tennis shoes felt heavy as she moved through the greasy water. She could literally feel the scum floating on top of the water…
Suddenly she noticed something in the backwall…she had seen the effects the water had on the walls, but this wasn't an ordinary water shadow…this looked like an actual human shadow. Unless someone else had the same idea she had, it was probable that the shadow she saw was that of a human carrier…
"Hehehehehehehehe!"
Heatherly broke out into a run, knowing that carriers don't laugh, "Damnit who the fuck is out there!" she clutched the Magnum tightly, coming across the corner only to see the body of a well built man racing up a ladder, "Hold it! Hold it or I'll shoot!"
"Hahahahaha! I hope you enjoy swimming with the fishes Ms Taft!"
"Who the…how do you know my name!"
The man disappeared, the manhole closing off the sewer from where he had fled, "…swimming with the fishes…" the line kept repeating over and over in her head. She could hear a faint clicking noise, when suddenly she realized exactly what was happening.
The side exits where the water would flow out were suddenly sealed off with metal shudders, ever exit for the water to leave was cut off. The water valves were turned on and the water passageways into the system were widened, allowing more water to come in.
"The bastard is going to drown me!"
SPLASH!
Something hit the water down the tunnel, something big…she could hardly make out the fin before she was racing up the ladder. Its huge jaws burst out of the water and scrapped against the slimy brick lining of the tunnel, "Oh my god…"
It was a massive shark, obviously an offspring of the T Alexia Project. It was huge, probably about twenty or twenty five feet long. It nearly filled the tunnel length-wise, but it was easy turning and could maneuver about rather quickly. It had absolutely gigantic teeth, capable of ripping her to shreds in an instant. She clung to the ladder for dear life, knowing that if the water continued to rise at the rate it was, she only had seconds to live.
*
Ada came through past another tenant's office, knowing that she was making little if any progress. She had seen the inside of the central power core; the entire shaft had been basically turned to a mechanical junk yard. Wires and electrical cords flung about every which way, sparks shooting off into the air. Elevators had fallen from their suspended lodging ports to the lobby floor, causing what was already an inferno to become basically a damn fireplace.
She had found a few boxes of ammunition on her quest, nothing very important or worth notice. She had, though, found a set of keys that were each marked with a different letter. There were seven keys in all, with the letters Y, G, R, G, E, O, and Y engraved on the back side of each small white key. They were so small, that they seemed as though to be keys for a locket or diary of some sort…but who keeps seven different keys for a diary?
"Maybe its some type of puzzle…" she sat down against one of the desks and began to place the keys in different orders, trying to make something out of the letters, "Grey…Geo…Greg…" Something about the last one made sense, "Greg…ory…Gregory."
The keys made out the name of some Gregory person, "What would a man need a set of keys with his name on them for?"
"I use them to keep my pets busy, Ms Wong."
Ada looked up and saw a man standing before her, dressed in a black and white suit and tie, "I see you've discovered your first riddle. I congratulate you on your very simple task." He moved forward, extending out his hand as to welcome her to some type of fancy ball.
"Who are you…" Ada was shocked, she thought the entire building was deserted, "How do you know my name?"
He smiled at her, his features illuminated in the light shining from the lamp on the desk, "My name is Gregory Spencer, new head of Umbrella Incorporated. My siblings Délia and Dimitri were head owners before I…I am their successor. You survived your experience on Muerte Island and in Capitol City, not an easy task I assure you. You will face the same demons and mutations you faced there, along with plenty new ones during your stay here in the Empire State Building."
"So there has been an infection. Tell me, what started all of this?" Ada found herself comforted by this man, although she knew what he was probably capable of. He may be tricking her; he may be just trying to get at her mind…
"An experiment went wrong, you see. Dr Kennedy and Dr Johnson were careless with their research, and their own creation killed them and every other scientist in this facility."
"This isn't just a tourist site anymore then is it…it's actually an Umbrella run laboratory." Ada put two and two together and realized exactly what she had gotten herself into, "…how can you do this?"
"Do what, Ms Wong? I do nothing more than attempt to play God…"
"Play God?"
"Yes, I play God. When my sister and brother and I were separated as children I was forced to grow up in a world that was cruel and heartless. I murdered my parents and their siblings and their parents…I made sure everyone who was responsible for my misery would suffer." He chuckled, "They didn't even bleed."
"You're one sick mother-"
"But Ms Heatherly Taft will most certainly bleed." His gaze fixed onto Ada, a wide toothy grin extended from ear to ear, "Tell me…do you like riddles Ms Wong?"
"What have you done with Heatherly?" she stepped closer, "I didn't even know she was still alive…tell me, where is she?" she pulled her tattered sleeves up, looking Gregory in the eyes. For a minute she thought she could see straight through to his pitiful soul…
"What is large, powerful and stings like a shot…deadly, sleek and stealthy at that…it can swim, bite and jump if it wants…and if you don't help her now…" he pulled out a small video screen from his pocket. It showed Heatherly hanging from a ladder, a massive shark swimming about underneath her, "…if you don't help her now, then this might be her fate."
"…someone…help…me…help…" she could hear the muffled sound of Heatherly screaming for help through the small gadget.
"Where is she?!" Ada screamed, grabbing Gregory's coat, "You sick bastard where is she!?"
"You have precisely three and a half minutes to descend two floors and find a way into the sewers. There are two manholes leading from the lobby to the sewer system, located in the turbine room. If I were you, I would begin moving right about now."
Ada pushed past him and retraced her steps back into the lobby, leaving Gregory laughing hysterically behind. His insane laugh did remind her about Dimitri and what he did to Heatherly back on Muerte…she couldn't let that happen to her again. Not if she could stop it…
"Three minutes…" she said to herself, "…I won't let you down Heatherly…I promise…"
**
Riddle Me This, Riddle Me That
"No!" Hillary screamed as she flew through the air, clutching the ledge as her body smashed against the side of the elevator channel. She scrambled, sweat rushing off her body and dripping down into the dank tunnel below her. It seemed like an infinite drop, her body would plummet eleven floors before hitting cement bottom, "Shit! Shit! Shit!"
Ja moved his other hand to hold onto the elevator cords he dangled ever so hastily from, "Hillary, whatever you do don't let go! Pull yourself up, don't let go!" He began to ascend the cord, pulling himself inch by inch up the elevator channel, "I'm gonna swing over to the ledge as soon as you can get the door open. It won't hold the two of us, I need you to hurry! I won't be able to hold on much longer!"
"Ja…I don't know if I-"
"Do it damnit!" he screamed, sweat leaking down onto his white business shirt. He was wearing the same expensive suit that he wore when he first got into this mess, the white dress shirt…the black pants and the nice leather shoes…his coat had gone with the elevator when it came roaring past them. He continued to climb the cord, giving himself enough room to swing back and forth.
Hillary pulled her left arm up onto the ledge, and then quickly pulled her right arm up. Pushing herself to her furthest limits, she hoisted herself up onto the ledge and scooted over enough to give herself room to stand, "…damnit, too bad this wont go on my resume." She giggled, giving Ja something to laugh about. She began to pry against the elevator door on the wall she was pressed against, and within seconds it slid open revealing an office floor. It was totally deserted.
"Alright, Ja it's okay to come now. The coast is clear." Hillary said, walking quickly into the office building. Green plants and nice white floors filled the colorful hallways, doors lining the many walls that lead into the actual offices of the worker men and women, "Maybe there is someone here that can help us…"
She could hear Ja smash against the floor, and begin to scream at her…
"Hillary, behind you!"
*
Heatherly waded through the thick and greasy sewer water that filled the passageway. She had her heavy Magnum in her hand, knowing that danger could be lurking around the corner…literally. It wouldn't be surprising if another spill had occurred. Umbrella seemed to be ill fated like that, every time they have a new toy they can't help but share it with everyone.
The faded blue jeans and black tube top she wore snugly underneath a jean jacket did injustice to the situation. It was freezing in the sewer system; a place she had hoped would be warm. It smelled like shit, and she knew that it was probably exactly what she was walking in…her tight tennis shoes felt heavy as she moved through the greasy water. She could literally feel the scum floating on top of the water…
Suddenly she noticed something in the backwall…she had seen the effects the water had on the walls, but this wasn't an ordinary water shadow…this looked like an actual human shadow. Unless someone else had the same idea she had, it was probable that the shadow she saw was that of a human carrier…
"Hehehehehehehehe!"
Heatherly broke out into a run, knowing that carriers don't laugh, "Damnit who the fuck is out there!" she clutched the Magnum tightly, coming across the corner only to see the body of a well built man racing up a ladder, "Hold it! Hold it or I'll shoot!"
"Hahahahaha! I hope you enjoy swimming with the fishes Ms Taft!"
"Who the…how do you know my name!"
The man disappeared, the manhole closing off the sewer from where he had fled, "…swimming with the fishes…" the line kept repeating over and over in her head. She could hear a faint clicking noise, when suddenly she realized exactly what was happening.
The side exits where the water would flow out were suddenly sealed off with metal shudders, ever exit for the water to leave was cut off. The water valves were turned on and the water passageways into the system were widened, allowing more water to come in.
"The bastard is going to drown me!"
SPLASH!
Something hit the water down the tunnel, something big…she could hardly make out the fin before she was racing up the ladder. Its huge jaws burst out of the water and scrapped against the slimy brick lining of the tunnel, "Oh my god…"
It was a massive shark, obviously an offspring of the T Alexia Project. It was huge, probably about twenty or twenty five feet long. It nearly filled the tunnel length-wise, but it was easy turning and could maneuver about rather quickly. It had absolutely gigantic teeth, capable of ripping her to shreds in an instant. She clung to the ladder for dear life, knowing that if the water continued to rise at the rate it was, she only had seconds to live.
*
Ada came through past another tenant's office, knowing that she was making little if any progress. She had seen the inside of the central power core; the entire shaft had been basically turned to a mechanical junk yard. Wires and electrical cords flung about every which way, sparks shooting off into the air. Elevators had fallen from their suspended lodging ports to the lobby floor, causing what was already an inferno to become basically a damn fireplace.
She had found a few boxes of ammunition on her quest, nothing very important or worth notice. She had, though, found a set of keys that were each marked with a different letter. There were seven keys in all, with the letters Y, G, R, G, E, O, and Y engraved on the back side of each small white key. They were so small, that they seemed as though to be keys for a locket or diary of some sort…but who keeps seven different keys for a diary?
"Maybe its some type of puzzle…" she sat down against one of the desks and began to place the keys in different orders, trying to make something out of the letters, "Grey…Geo…Greg…" Something about the last one made sense, "Greg…ory…Gregory."
The keys made out the name of some Gregory person, "What would a man need a set of keys with his name on them for?"
"I use them to keep my pets busy, Ms Wong."
Ada looked up and saw a man standing before her, dressed in a black and white suit and tie, "I see you've discovered your first riddle. I congratulate you on your very simple task." He moved forward, extending out his hand as to welcome her to some type of fancy ball.
"Who are you…" Ada was shocked, she thought the entire building was deserted, "How do you know my name?"
He smiled at her, his features illuminated in the light shining from the lamp on the desk, "My name is Gregory Spencer, new head of Umbrella Incorporated. My siblings Délia and Dimitri were head owners before I…I am their successor. You survived your experience on Muerte Island and in Capitol City, not an easy task I assure you. You will face the same demons and mutations you faced there, along with plenty new ones during your stay here in the Empire State Building."
"So there has been an infection. Tell me, what started all of this?" Ada found herself comforted by this man, although she knew what he was probably capable of. He may be tricking her; he may be just trying to get at her mind…
"An experiment went wrong, you see. Dr Kennedy and Dr Johnson were careless with their research, and their own creation killed them and every other scientist in this facility."
"This isn't just a tourist site anymore then is it…it's actually an Umbrella run laboratory." Ada put two and two together and realized exactly what she had gotten herself into, "…how can you do this?"
"Do what, Ms Wong? I do nothing more than attempt to play God…"
"Play God?"
"Yes, I play God. When my sister and brother and I were separated as children I was forced to grow up in a world that was cruel and heartless. I murdered my parents and their siblings and their parents…I made sure everyone who was responsible for my misery would suffer." He chuckled, "They didn't even bleed."
"You're one sick mother-"
"But Ms Heatherly Taft will most certainly bleed." His gaze fixed onto Ada, a wide toothy grin extended from ear to ear, "Tell me…do you like riddles Ms Wong?"
"What have you done with Heatherly?" she stepped closer, "I didn't even know she was still alive…tell me, where is she?" she pulled her tattered sleeves up, looking Gregory in the eyes. For a minute she thought she could see straight through to his pitiful soul…
"What is large, powerful and stings like a shot…deadly, sleek and stealthy at that…it can swim, bite and jump if it wants…and if you don't help her now…" he pulled out a small video screen from his pocket. It showed Heatherly hanging from a ladder, a massive shark swimming about underneath her, "…if you don't help her now, then this might be her fate."
"…someone…help…me…help…" she could hear the muffled sound of Heatherly screaming for help through the small gadget.
"Where is she?!" Ada screamed, grabbing Gregory's coat, "You sick bastard where is she!?"
"You have precisely three and a half minutes to descend two floors and find a way into the sewers. There are two manholes leading from the lobby to the sewer system, located in the turbine room. If I were you, I would begin moving right about now."
Ada pushed past him and retraced her steps back into the lobby, leaving Gregory laughing hysterically behind. His insane laugh did remind her about Dimitri and what he did to Heatherly back on Muerte…she couldn't let that happen to her again. Not if she could stop it…
"Three minutes…" she said to herself, "…I won't let you down Heatherly…I promise…"
**