Disclaimer: Read Chapter 1. However, in this chapter I have modified a line from the very depressing poem 'Apple Raid', the name of the poet escapes me. Can anybody tell what the quote is? I'm going to borrow one of Zarbok's lines. (thank you!) I also forgot to say that Rosanna is indeed based on someone with the same name. I think that's about it.
Hope everyone had a happy Christmas! Anyone lucky enough to get snow? The plan for me was changed; instead of meeting at the beach, my house was spammed by relatives. *sigh* Still, lot's of food left over! ;)
Peanutbuttersunshine: *blows kiss* You know you love me. Really. I love you too. Merry Christmas, and thanks for boosting my review numbers! ^_^
Rosanna: There. Your own mention in a disclaimer. Do you feel proud?? ^_^ And you told me YOURSELF you were reading this, so using my superior psychic skills I COMMAND you to review!
Zed: here's more! Thanks for reviewing!
Zarbok: I'm stealing one of your lines! Hope you don't mind! *gives a triple hamburger* Enjoy! Aw, I read your review. *tears come to eyes* You're so nice! THANK YOU! *sniffs and begins bawling* And yes, I have read The Legacy of the Ashfords, A New Tide and Crimson Africa, and look forward to reading more of the talented Shady777's work. (Do you know I was reading her story when I began this and thinking about how I wanted to harvest some of her talent when I got a review from her??? It was like, fate)
Shady777: I've had trouble with the review system too. Still, seems to work on the second go. Thanks for answering all my random questions! Helps to keep my story more relevant and true to the games (I hope..) Glad that my fight sequence was sort of believable, and congrats for having an imagination unsullied by TV! Aw, thanks for the e-mail, but I already know all I want to about PBS and was eagerly awaiting the review I knew he would, eventually, give me. Luckily for me, it sucked. So yeah, no problemo, but THANK YOU!
Arch: Thank you for reviewing! You like my style? Omigod, thank you!
Whoa matey, that was a long AN. Anyway, on with the show!
Chapter 14:
Wesker followed the scent of the vampires, desperate to find somewhere to start a fire. Hopefully he could follow the trail to the lair, or something similar. He zoomed along the sewer tunnel, hoping to reach this lair before the scent was lost among the stench of the sewers.
He didn't wait to hear the gunfire start. If STARS was involved in a fight they would either kill the vampires or be killed by them. Preferably the former, because then Wesker could kill the STARS and be rid of two annoyances. Either outcome did not worry him unduly. The 'passive vampires' appeared to be wary of his skill, and seemed to be anxious to avoid a confrontation.
(AN/ ;) )
Wesker soon found himself progressing through a labyrinth of side channels that led away from the main river of filth. These tunnels were slanted, leading into a deeper and older area of the sewers. The walls were still brick and grimy, but were lined with pipes and plumbing. There was a thick layer of undisturbed dust on the tops of the horizontal piping but the 'floor' was clear.
How very intriguing.
***
Claire was disheartened by the fighting. It took all her strength to avoid being bitten, leaving none for an attack. Chris was taking the most vampires down. He seemed to have established a rhythm and dance that varied only slightly for each vampire. Guns had long since been abandoned in this particular match and only Chris had the strength to severe the spinal column.
Rebecca, Claire noted, was becoming increasingly flustered. She couldn't spend a moment helping her fallen team-mates for fear of becoming fallen herself, which was extremely easy to become. Her reflexes were getting slower and she moved increasingly sluggishly.
Claire decided to try her brother's way. She ducked and weaved and formed a rhythm of her own. Soon she had established a system with Chris, where she would distract and weary a vampire and then Chris would dispatch of it. So far, the vampires hadn't caught on to the plan. Guess they're not as intelligent after all.
Due to Chris's brawn, only two vampires remained. Claire saw her brother give a grin reminiscent of the vampires themselves. It was somewhat disconcerting to see.
With a nod to Rebecca, Claire set off to distract the second vampire while Chris took care of the first, leaving Rebecca free to attend to Barry and Jill.
Jill had lost a lot of blood. She was barely conscious and her eyes were heavily hooded. Rebecca was concerned that the virus could have infected her comrade, having no experience with the spread of this vampirism. She tinkered in her pack and did all she could to stop the bleeding. She finished making a tourniquet and went to check on her other friend.
Barry was better off. He had an impressive collection of scrapes, bruises and cuts, but he would live. Maybe with a slight concussion, though. To Rebecca's relief, there were no broken bones. Apparently being flung into a wall and attacked by vicious midgets wasn't as deadly as one would've thought.
Strange to think that these things were only children when their 'transformation' occurred. Stranger to think that the murderess responsible for it would never be put to justice. And even if she could be, what punishment could be given that would repent for her crimes? Death had become, in Rebecca's professional opinion, a friend. (Just not a friend who's house I want to go to yet, she added mentally.)
It was something Rebecca preferred not to think about because it inevitably led to thinking about the meaning of life and whether there really were ANY gods and that sort of thinking always resulted in her having a headache the next morning. Luckily, there were more pressing matters at hand. Like saving her comrades. There was little she could do with her small medi-pack for Jill; she needed hospital care. Neither could she do much for Barry, who was beginning to stir.
"Whaa-? What did I drink last night? Note to self- find out what it was and NEVER drink it again. Hang on, this isn't my house…" Images of the night's doings swept back to him. "Oh… brilliant. What happened?"
"You were knocked out by being thrown into a wall. By the vampires. Are you feeling alright?" Rebecca went through basic checks on Barry to make sure he was in no immediate danger. Satisfied with her findings, she helped him into a sitting position and went to Jill.
"What happened to her?" Barry asked, holding his head and feeling a little dizzy.
"She was bitten in the side. Mass blood loss. She'll need hospital care, and a lot of rest. We need to get her out of here as soon as possible."
The Redfield siblings chose this moment to grace the others with their presence. Chris 'flumped' ungracefully onto the floor beside Barry. Rebecca scuttled over and began dabbing at a large cut on his forehead, which had bled heavily and was now beginning to 'weep'. Chris waved her away irritably, insisting he was fine, as did Claire. Rebecca returned to Jill's side, feeling utterly inadequate.
Rebecca brought the others to speed on Jill's condition. Jill herself rocked slightly from her position near the tunnel wall, mouth slightly open and dripping blood. Claire winced in sympathy. Rebecca whispered continuously to the other in an effort to keep her conscious. So far, it was working, much to everyone's relief. If she went to sleep, Jill might not wake up.
Chris absently raised a hand to examine the damage of the cut. A vampire had produced a rock from God-knows-where and got in a good shot. He immediately wished he hadn't touched it. "Ow! The only way we know to get out of this place is through that storm-water drain. Which is very far off."
"Don't be stupid, Chris," Claire snapped, "There are heaps of ways out. We've probably passed some and not even noticed. This is a sewer after all. What about manholes, and things like that?"
"Be that as it may," said Barry in a voice that could freeze hell, "Jill doesn't have time to waste searching for another exit. One of us will double back and take her to the hospital. And no Rebecca," he silenced her as she began to volunteer, "we can't send our medic off at a time like this."
"I'll do it," Claire proposed.
"It'll be dangerous for only one of us to go," Chris objected, "what if there are more vampires?"
"I'll pray there aren't any. And if there are, I'll run like hell. Besides, I can use a gun, y'know."
Barry nodded tiredly, taking command of the STARS. "Right Claire. Got a torch? Good. Take Jill and go. Jill?"
She focussed hazy eyes more-or-less in his direction. "Hmm?'
"Do you know what's going to happen?"
"'s"
"Good. Well, I guess you better get going Claire. The only was out we know is marked in white chalk, so follow that back to the surface. "
Claire nodded and bit her lip. She gave her brother a friendly slap on the shoulder and Rebecca a quick hug before hooking an arm around Jill and pulling her upright.
"You don't have to do this," Barry reminded her.
Claire looked at each of her team-mates in turn, finishing with a glance at Jill. "I can do this." Supporting Jill and half dragging her along, Claire headed back the way she'd come.
"Right," said Barry, "let's get moving."