Hello! I'm back again everyone quakes in terror and I've got another chapter. I'm not entirely happy with this chapter, but I can't figure out what's wrong with it. Any ideas? That's one of the reasons this is a bit later than usual. Also I'm back at school now getting my exam results gulp and having teachers scream at me and give heaps of prep. I don't think I'm that bad at history… jeez… grins shakily
Shady777 and RE Lady:… aww eyes brim with tears You guys are so nice :: sniff :: begins bawling
Storyteller23: Thank you! I like your story. Sorry I wrote such a crappy review but I really REALLY like your story. I eagerly await another chapter.
LISTEN UP GUYS, read Alone in the haunting darkness 'kay? Good.
Chapter 4: Dinner
Claire sighed as the newspaper in front of her blurred into a myriad of black-on-gray shapes. Ever since meeting up with Barry and booking a room they had been sifting through all the information on any the missing children. Frankly, it was getting REALLY boring.
She glanced around the hotel room. It was painted in bright reds and yellows. Claire had been sitting cross-legged in a deep red armchair as she deciphered an article. Chris and Jill huddled round the round steel-framed glass dining table, making notes. Rebecca sat on one of the two single beds that were in the main area, scowling heavily, hard at work. Barry, however, paced the room, unable to focus on the task at hand.
"I can't concentrate," Claire declared. "I'm gonna take a break."
Rebecca grunted and reached for yet another newspaper over the white bedspread.
"I think I've got something," called Jill, her pen poised above paper covered in notes. "It says here;" (She begins to read,) "following the disappearances of five children in Eons Forest, Mayor Rodney Stewart is calling for closing off public access to the forest. "The children (all of whom attend Kenly School) have not been found," said the Mayor after making this proposal. "It is our duty to prevent this from happening again. The only way to do this is to cut access to the area." Jill looked up. "It's from three years ago."
"Three years?" Claire repeated, peering over Jill's shoulder. "Maybe there isn't a connection between the virus and disappearances after all."
"Or maybe," Chris muttered darkly, "There's been a spill for longer than we thought. That would explain the superstitions Ian was talking about earlier."
"Can zombies live for three years without food?" Barry wondered.
"Rats are food," Rebecca said distractedly, scanning yet another newspaper. "Hey! This is interesting. All the found missing children report hearing guttural screams and something like clawed footsteps."
"Could just be imagination coupled with fear and school stories," offered Jill.
"Or another sewer lab," suggested Claire. She shuddered at the memory of the one in Raccoon City and the late mutated Dr. Birkin.
"Doubtful," replied Barry. "I don't think even Umbrella would let children just wonder into their labs."
Rebecca looked up from a recent newspaper. "There's a Volunteer's search tonight at Brideswell Pond, in the center of town. It starts at seven thirty."
Chris considered. "Let's go. We might find something of use."
***
Sena scanned the area for a sign of her little sister. The entrance to the Junior's School looked deserted, only concrete and bushes in sight.
Rosanna, who was now wearing a yellow t-shirt and stonewashed denim shorts, found her first. "There she is," she called as she pointed to a small figure in jeans and greens huddled reading a book under a leafy tree.
Sena ran up to her little sister. "Hi Amy. Let's go."
Ben could tell they were related. They shared very similar delicate features and icy blue eyes that could as quickly sparkle with laughter as glower with rage. The only real difference- apart from the ages- was hair colour and height. Unlike her Sena, Amy had dark brown hair and would eventually be a good half-head taller than her medium-to-short sister. Apart from these (and the six year age leap) they could almost be mistaken for twins.
"You're late," Amy complained with mock haughtiness.
Sena shrugged. "Walk home by yourself then."
Amy gave her big sis a playful punch. "And risk being mugged in the woods? Not likely!"
"Mugged by whom?" Sena teased "Aggressive squirrels?"
Ian, who was wearing all gray for no apparent reason, stepped forward. "Sorry 'bout the delay, you graciousness, but we're feasting at your fine dwelling tonight. Therefore we had to change clothes as to avoid incurring your wrath and bring a piece offering of ice-cream." He gave a deep bow.
Amy decided to ignore this mocking contribution to the conversation except for one minor detail. "Ice-cream? I love ice-cream!"
She promptly grabbed Sena's arm and raced off down the Woodland Path. Ben raised both eyebrows in bewilderment. Rosanna laughed, "That's the Leovans for you. They're all crazy!"
The remaining three chased after the siblings.
Jeez. These girls can run!
***
James sat at an octagonal table. He picked idly at the yellow tablecloth and stared unseeingly at the normally breath-taking view of Eon's Forest and Brideswell Pond. It offered him a view of the 'Woodland Path' that his daughters always took. He sat; content to wait for their arrival.
Wesker had long since ordered James out of the kitchen when he began to burn the butter again for the fifth time in a row. He was now bustling reasonably happily around the kitchen. James watched him with a bit of envy; Wesker seemed to be a good and experienced chef.
"Amy, Sena and Sena's friends should be here soon," James said, noticing some movement on the path below. "They're going to search for the missing children after dinner."
"Missing children?" asked Wesker who began mixing some sort of chicken gravy.
"Yeah. It could've been Amy who took a stumble down a mineshaft. Or into the sewers." Wesker stiffened. "I just can't make her see how dangerous running around those woods can be.
Wesker put the gravy pot on the stovetop to boil. "Does this sort of thing happen often?"
James scowled. "Oh yes. No one ever does anything about it though. A couple of years ago the mayor of the time tried to fence off the forest. It looked like the wood was going to be closed off when he simply disappeared."
"Who?" The mayor?"
James nodded. "Some of the mines have been closed off but it's no where near enough. Nothing else has been done since. I'm a bit worried about Sena going searching at night in case she comes across an unmarked mine shaft. I'd come to look out for her myself but… I have a feeling that Amy's gonna try a breakout tonight and, well… at least Sena can take some care of herself."
Wesker thought for a moment. He'd obviously have to search for an opening to the sewers eventually and the locals would know these and be searching them tonight.
He could probably use Sena's knowledge of the area and, despite trying to convince himself otherwise, he felt he owed it to James to watch out for his daughter. He told James he would accompany the group in their search.
"Thank you," said James, clearly meaning every word.
Slamming of the front door alerted James to his daughters' arrival. A dark-haired girl wearing a green polo shirt and jeans bounced down the hall and into the dining room. She was followed by a red-haired girl, a tall blonde boy and a medium-height brown haired boy. The last boy seemed familiar to Wesker, but he didn't know where from.
The tall blonde boy introduced himself as Ian and put a container of chocolate-flake ice cream into the stainless steel freezer. "Got some supplies for you Mr. Leovan," he said with a slight grin. "All the junk food you need is in this humble shopping bag."
"Excellent," replied James. "This is my cousin, Albert Wesker. He decided to take over my kitchen tonight, so if there's something wrong with the food, it's all his fault, don't blame me." Wesker smirked. "Where's Sena?"
"Here," replied a short blonde girl. Sena had discarded her uniform for a more flattering pair of sky blue shorts and a lime green t-shirt. The first thing Wesker noticed about her was she had the 'Wesker-family' eyes. She turned her ice-blue gaze on him and looked confused at the sight of his aviator shades. Wesker took a deep breath and held it. The youngest girl, who could only be Amy, stepped forward.
"Uncle Al," she said, calling him this title with no obvious embarrassment, "what are you cooking?"
Dinner was a success. Wesker may have been an evil deranged scientist but he sure knew how to make a darn good butter-chicken. To his surprise he found he was actually enjoying the company. The sunglasses were not mentioned, to his relief, but his nerves would be severely shaken before the meal was over.
He sat opposite his brightly clothed eldest 'niece' who talked incessantly, seeming not to require any input from the listener's point of view. At the head of the table, James joked with Ian, Ben talked to Amy, and Rosanna sat with glazed eyes beside Sena as she rambled on.
Despite himself, Wesker felt himself growing fond of his two exuberant nieces. I'm becoming sentimental! This is not supposed to happen! Must be a virus side effect…
He promised himself he would complete this mission, even if part of his reasons were to prevent James' family from being in danger of another 'Raccoon City'. Still, emotions had no place in his line of work and he began to grow worried. Wesker fervently hoped this new development would not jeopardize his investigation.
Around him, conversation continued.
"So how did you find the English exam, Rosanna?"
"Not too good, Mr. Leovan. We had to write an essay on 'fate' in Romeo and Juliet. I ended up making up some quotes and adding some scenes…"
"Do you have any more exams?" he directed this question to his eldest daughter.
She nodded briefly. "Geography at nine tomorrow morning and Bio at one. Bio should be easy but geography… who knows? I am dropping that as soon as I get a chance."
"Why do you think biology will be easy?" Ben asked as he examined a piece of chicken which was hanging off his fork.
"It's my best subject," Sena replied.
Eventually conversation morphed to reach the missing children.
"Do you know them?" Ian asked Amy as he snagged a bread-roll form Rosanna's plate.
"I sort of know Aaron. But not Celia. She's from St Andrews."
"St Andrews?" The school was unheard of by Wesker.
"Yeah. It's about five miles out of town. Celia went… goes to a school for the terminally clever." Amy made intelligence sound like a distasteful disease.
Sena sent a cold glare down "I went to that school, you know."
"I know," replied her sister with a very cheeky grin.
"That would be in the open land, nearing Raccoon City and the Arklay Mountains, right?" Wesker inquired.
"I'm from Raccoon City," Ben said suddenly. Wesker realized he'd probably seen the boy around town some time before.
"We met some other people from Raccoon City at lunch today," Rosanna reminded them. "They were very interested in the sewers for some reason."
Wesker stiffened in apprehension. He had a sudden premonition of what he was about to hear.
"Really?" Ben asked. "Who?"
"Um… red-something and… Rebecca and…. Someone else."
"Redfields, Chris and Claire, Rebecca and Jill," Wesker supplied grimly. I knew they were coming here! This made his mission a bit more difficult.
"You know them?" Sena asked surprised. She focused her blue-eyed gaze on him.
"Yes," he gave a strained smile. "I'm from Raccoon City too."
"Whoa," Ben began. "You're Captai…" Something stuck in Wesker's throat. He looked very uncomfortable.
"We'd better going," Ian interrupted. "It's five past seven." Wesker exhaled shakily. Things like this were happening far too often for his nerve's comfort.
Rosanna nodded. "Right. Do we have; compass, flashlights and chalk?"
"Chalk?" Amy looked confused. "Why chalk?"
"The old minotaur way. You know, so you don't lose your way in things like labyrinths and stuff." Rosanna explained, albeit a bit inaccurately. "It's for if we end up searching the mines."
James looked apprehensive. "Is that likely?"
"Not really. That's the experienced chaps' work. This is just a safety precaution."
"Check for all," replied Sena. "I've got my whole 'outdoor pursuits' bag. What about you guys?"
"We should all have flashlights and stuff. Do you mange to pick some gear up at Ian's house?" Rosanna asked Ben.
"Yeah. I think I've got everything."
"Good-oh. Let's get moving. Should I drive all you slackers down?"
Sena shook her head. "No point. We can walk from here Roz. Get those leg muscles working."
Wesker cleared his throat. "I think I'll come too. Don't worry. I have my own gear." He gestured to a black shock bag by the door.
Amy scowled. "This sucks Uncle Al! Dad and I are the only ones not going! This is going to be REALLY boring. You guys have all the fun." James gave an exasperated sigh.
"You call walking around in the woods when you could be watching some prime TV fun? Naah," responded Ben. "Tell you what, I'll find a moose and bring it back for you."
Amy positively beamed and began to usher them out of the house.
"A moose?" asked Ian when they were some distance down the path. "WHAT?"
Ben shrugged. "We were talking at dinner about the woods and all these legend things. She said she thought she saw a moose in the forest when she was younger."
"But, a fricking moose?" Ian exclaimed incredulously.
"Hey! It worked didn't it?" Ben said defensively.
"That's true," replied Wesker coldly, successfully ending the conversation. His affection ran only to his family. "Is this Brideswell Pond?" He gestured to a group of people in the dancing torch light up ahead. The sun had already set and darkness was quick to take its place.
"Yeah," replied Rosanna. "Mr. Wesker? Celia and Aaron have been missing for three days. Do you think there's any real chance of finding them alive?"
Wesker shifted uncomfortably. "I hope so." The honesty in his voice startled him.
He began pondering the mystery of possible emotional trauma, caused by the virus which now ran through his veins, as they joined the large group of at least two-score people by the Pond. A flash of light illuminated the face of Chris Redfield. Wesker sent a smile his way, an evil smile full of malicious intent.
***
Mwahahaha…. koffs so anyways… it all comes together you see? (Well, most of it.) They'll be entering the sewers sometime soon spooky music plays. Who knows what will happen next? MwAHAHAhaha…
I'll try to get the next chapter finished sooner. Who knows?
(I'm a sucker for melodramatics. Do you like my maniacal laugh?) REVIEW PLEASE