Disclaimer: Resident Evil doesn't belong to me that's obvious. I do enjoy playing it however, I am stuck on code veronica though…dang it!
To PBS-I thought long and hard about what you wrote as a review. It really hurt my feelings. My imagination is my best quality-as some people have said. Then I realized that it doesn't matter what you think, it only matters what I THINK and that I'm going to ignore you like I keep telling everybody else to do. You have good taste *points to inoculations* I'll give you that much. And Yeah-none of what I write is really original. So maybe I don't have any imagination. S'okay.
"And when the people come out of the walls," shouted the biggest, fattest wolf, flinging aside the Tuba, "It's all over!"
- "The wolves in the walls" by Neil Gaiman
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"Sherry?"
Kate Birkin peeked her head in to her niece's bedroom. Her brown hair done up behind her kindly round face. Her large green eyes shown like a myopia victim's. The room's occupant was listening to music, typing hurriedly away at a computer keyboard.
"SHERRY!"
Sherry turned about and studied her aunt carefully. A faded family photograph was clutched in a single hand-the faces frozen forever in beaming smiles. Kate winced-as usual she had forgotten that today-
"Yes Aunt Kate?"
"There's um-breakfast downstairs for you. J. J. and Dennis were hoping you'd come down for a game of ball later."
"Maybe." She turned her attention back to the computer screen. As she'd grown older her face had taken on more of the characteristics of her father-but her mother's pale countenance still shown through like a star. Her short hair was bobbed-already gelled and styled behind her head.
"Did Uncle Jack leave already?"
When Jack Birkin had heard what his older brother had been doing at Umbrella-he refused to speak William's name. Kate clutched at her heart and remembered how Jack had stared at her with hopeless, downcast eyes. He had looked up to his brother-even going so far as to go into the same science fields. He had joined the police force however-while William-
"Please Sherry." Kate moved forward, putting a hand on her niece's slim shoulder, "Please come down to breakfast."
"Later." She growled, "I'm almost done."
That girl Claire had explained the situation to them after bringing Sherry into her custody. She would not say how the girl had come here two years after her parent's death-but she had taken Jack and Kate aside and explained what had happened to William, and his wife Annette.
"The comfort is…" Claire had lain a hand on Kate's Shoulder, "I'm sure he died when they shot him."
Jack said nothing. He'd gotten into his car and driven away and not been back until late evening, staring at Sherry with a mix of revulsion and pity. Sherry had born it well, refusing to answer questions about where she'd been for that two years-
But that was all in the past.
Sherry had lived with them since then, a constant reminder of the member of the family they all missed. Jack barely spoke to her-all the pictures of William, Annette, and Sherry together were removed from the house and taken away to an undisclosed location. Jack forbid the family to mention them in the house…
"They're dead." Jack had said, when she asked him why he was being so hard about it, "As far as I'm concerned they're going to stay dead."
"…Going out soon-"
Kate blinked at Sherry, dumbfounded, "What?"
"I said I'm going out soon." She slipped on a thigh-length fur-lined coat. She wore some confection of black which Kate could not remember her bringing home, "Michelle, Mica, and Stephanie and I are going to the movies."
"This early?"
Sherry shrugged and grabbed her purse off the computer desk. Her DVD collection reposed on the top shelf, followed by a selection of books from various authors. She didn't bother to turn off the CD as she checked her cell-phone's battery and studied her aunt with serious eyes.
"Its some new thing that Mica said they're going to start selling at circuit city. Hologram TVS. He wants to buy one."
"So you're leaving at-what-nine in the morning?"
She nodded once and turned on her heel, ignoring her aunt as she exited the room.
Kate stood for a moment, reflecting on the room and its details. Sherry apparently did not believe in material possessions. Stacks of textbooks were on the untidy bed along with some sort of stuffed creature that Michelle must have made for her. Necklaces, make up, newspaper clipping-
Clipping? Kate stepped closer. The CD player had switched the melodious sounds of Madonna.
Murder at wonderland café-13 deadBy Jenny Garstang, AP writer.
Citizens of Wolf's Bluff Ohio mourned the passing of thirteen locales today at a large public ceremony presided over by the mayor of the city. Although Wolf's Bluff is slowly expanding due to the influx of Horizon Chemical Employees-
The rest of the article had been torn off. The newsprint was blackened with ink, a note written in scrawling letters.
"What's this? 10:30 train…"
Sherry!
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Sherry Birkin shouldered her purse and pulled out her cell phone.
"Call if you need anything." Claire handed her a thin slip of paper, "I'm not going to abandon you after getting you back so easily."
Sherry nodded dumbly, taking the paper and wincing at the claptrap two-story house where the rest of her relatives resided. She barely remembered her cousins-
"Claire! I want to stay with you!"
Claire covered a look of regret with a disapproving frown; "Sherry-your father's will specifically stated that you are to be given into custody of your Aunt and Uncle if anything should happen to he and your mom-"
"But I want-"
"I know…" Claire smiled sadly and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. She had saved Sherry, and she now felt personally more responsible for her welfare. But now…
Sherry shook her head grimly and put the cell phone back in her pocket. She was going to Wolf's Bluff because Claire needed her. She looked back at Los Angeles and for a moment wished desperately that she could stay, or that she could have shared her plans with Jack and Kate…
Kate would tell me to be careful and probably come with me. Uncle Jack looks at me and sees…
Her reflection caught itself in a train-yard window. Her short hair, all black attire, and pale complexion stared back at her with her dark-sorrowful blue eyes.
Dad.
She turned back just as the sun rose higher in the horizon. Ignoring the sounds of sirens, she stepped closer to the train.
"Last call," A man in a blue suit walked back and forth like the watchmen of old, "Last call for the 10:30 train to Squirrels Peak, Wolf's Bluff, Wild Cat falls and Kookamunga."
He spotted Sherry.
"Any bags miss?"
"They've been sent on ahead." Sherry said in a cool voice, "I'm moving."
"Ah." He responded, not caring, "Lovely day for it too."
She placed a careful hand on the railing, as the sounds of sirens grew louder. She turned for one last look at her home for five years before stepping into the dark recesses of the train.
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Wolf's Bluff Ohio
Saint Peters Church of the Resurrection
"The deceased was well loved." The priest said, clutching his bible for comfort, "By…by myself as well as members of the congregation."
As funerals go, the passing of Jill Valentine, STARS agent, Police officer-was marked with special magnificence. The entire Police Department of Wolf's Bluff Ohio had turned out in full dress uniform. The Pall-bearers-two male and two female-carried her up the aisle with the slow dignity that police officers mustered for one of their fallen.
"She will be missed, by family…"
Christopher Redfield marched up the aisle alone. Rebecca Redfield was carried up the aisle by her father-her white christening dress in stark contrast to those dressed in black and uniform around her.
Behind him Claire followed-wearing a short black confection.
"She will be missed by friends…"
The SWAT team that had found the body was seated towards the back. Detective Johansson grimacing. The need for vengeance burned in each officer present.
This was unforgivable
One of their own had been slaughtered and they had not yet caught the culprit…
"Today…we…mourn…" The priest coughed into his hand. He had adopted the Redfield's into his flock, baptized their daughter. He had hoped to see them at her wedding, hoped to have his successors preside over their deaths once he had passed to the lord…
"Today we mourn the passing of Jill Valentine. Wife, Mother, and friend." He bowed his head, "I am the resurrection and the light, to know me is to know you. To have faith in me is to have faith that in the end none shall perish but have everlasting life, Amen."
A mumbled Amen from the congregation. He turned to Chris Redfield.
"And now, is there anyone here who would say words of those who have passed?"
Comrades, friends, co-workers came forward. Those who spoke were quickly overcome with tears, leading themselves away from the closed coffin.
Claire stared at her feet. She had seen death-then the resurrection of the dead…it didn't seem right that Jill had fallen in the prime of life…her daughter left behind."
It's not right. She looked up and wiped her eyes, her brother a stone wall beside her Oh Jill…
She frowned. A dark shape stood behind the weeping mourners-next to the baptismal font. She knew that outline-the memory brought her back to the cold shivering world of Antarctica-
"Claire!"
Claire exploded from her stationary position, bolting down the aisle filled with black roses outside into the sunshine. Chris frowned-looking back after her with confused eyes, the baby began to mewl in his arms.
"Give her time my friends…" the priest consoled, "Give her time…let us return to the ceremony…"
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"You!"
No, it can't be. He died-he died-He had died, Chris had told her about it in a calm dead, yet accepting voice. There was no way-no way that he could have somehow-
The figure glanced back and began to walk swiftly away.
"Stop!" She jogged after him. He strode up the green hill that perched to the left of the church entrance and down into the cemetery.
"Stop!"
He kept walking.
The sun began to glitter as Claire suddenly sprinted forward, slamming into the offending individual.
"ARRGH!"
It was like hitting a brick wall.
The sheer force of movement brought them both to the ground rolling. The green "hill" was apparently the side of a much larger mound of earth. The two began to roll down quickly, the gray gravestone markers blurring by faster and faster-
Until the ride operator turned off the mechanics and slowed them to a screeching halt.
"Wesker!"
Albert Wesker stood slowly, leaning on a tombstone as he adjusted his tie and affixed his sunglasses to his eyes once again. He was still the same-the virus that flowed through his veins probably kept him looking as young as he did. The right side of his face was blackened and covered with tiny-
Scales?She shivered.
"Hello again dear heart." Wesker said coldly, "Would there be any reason why you would attack me in broad daylight?"
"You're dead!"
Here Wesker grimaced, "Yes."
"And…you…"
"You would be surprised Miss Redfield." He smiled-a cold reptilian thing that made the warm sun turn to snow in the sky, "I'm like a cat, and I always come back."
"What are you doing here?" Claire growled. All the rage at the murderer of Jill Valentine and all those other people-all the lives that people like him had ended-
"You BASTARD!"
She launched herself forward screaming-kicking and punching. She was tired, so tired of death and life and seeing her brother who had been so strong knocked down. And now this man, this reminder of past evils best forgotten had shown up! How dare he! How dare he come here now!
Wesker had no time to throw off her attack as they went to the ground tangled again. The surge of Adrenaline and hatred gave Claire new strength as she scratched and clawed at him screaming.
Her screaming turned to sobbing.
"Do you feel better after attacking me?" He gripped her by the shoulders, intending to throw her off-hopefully hitting that large monument with the angel wings, "If you want a fair fight you'll have to let me get my gun."
"I'm…I'm sorry…"
She leaned against his chest and sobbed.
Wesker, startled by this sudden outpouring of feeling-held Claire tightly, feeling a genuine compassion for this human being and her suffering.
"It'll be okay…" What do I say to her? What do I do? He had always left consoling victims to others-William had been particularly adept at it-so had Chris…
Claire looked up and pushed herself away from him-furious. Wesker removed his sunglasses and studied her-ignoring the pity in her eyes.
"It was a beautiful service."
"What are you doing here?"
"Jill valentine was a fine officer."
"What are you doing here!"
Wesker's eyes narrowed dangerously, " I came to pay-my-respects." He growled, "and to watch your brother suffer. He looked quite the pitiful figure up there-holding his daughter like that…"
"If you hurt Rebecca I'll kill you." Claire scooted back up against the edge of the monument; "I will cut your throat, cut off your head and stomp your body into dust. If you-you-"
" All Redfield's must have your brother's charm." He stood in a swift motion, "If you'll excuse me dear heart-I have another I need to pay my respects too. " he chuckled lightly as he slipped his shades back on, " Don't worry, I promise not to tell your brother of our little interlude in the graveyard-"
"Go to hell!"
I'm already there.
"Goodbye Miss Redfield."
He turned on his heel and began a leisurely walk away from her-down into the back of the cemetery.
I should follow him. Claire got to her feet slowly Just-maybe I can catch him-
No, that was impossible. He was so strong…
Dimly she reached down and winced, the area around her knees tender and smeared lightly with blood. She slipped off her dress shoes and padded quietly after him.
There is a peaceful silence to a graveyard, the wind whispering through the trees and the soft patter of the tiny animals who revere the place. Most humans fear to tread here-or tread very softly. The respect for lost loved ones was evident in each flower, each carefully placed treasure that those who had left the world that forgotten. Claire felt touched-distantly touched-as she saw that even a few of the graves who's loved ones had all left the world had flowers on them.
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"Claire!"
Chris had remained during the ceremony. Claire's outburst confused the congregation. Chris had seen the shadowy figure at the back of the church and assumed it was a late arrival.
Claire crested the cemetery hill. Her short black dress was torn in two places and her nylons had been destroyed. Her brown hair was undone-the clip she'd worn was gone somewhere in the fields below.
"Hi Chris…" Claire smiled. How do I say that Wesker was here? "I…um…"
"Officer Redfield." A thin man in a uniform appeared at his
side like a shadow, "I wish to extend my condolences on behalf of the Wolf's
Bluff police department…"
Chris grimaced, "Thank you-chief Blackwood-"
"Jill was a good friend and a fine officer,"
"Your opinion is appreciated however-"
"Chris-you take all the time you need,"
"I need to speak with Jill alone." Chris said coldly, "If you please."
The chief frowned, and Jill stared at her brother in shock. Chris never spoke sharply to anybody-let alone someone in a position of authority.
"I'm sorry." Chris looked at him with wounded eyes, "It…It's been a long day and I need to get my sister and my daughter home."
"Sure." The chief tentatively patted his shoulder, "I'll-I'll be in touch."
"Thanks."
Chris pulled the chief into an embrace, much to the discomfort of Rebecca who was suddenly caught between two full-grown males. She began to wail-and wailings turned into full on screams as the wet droplets began to fall from the sky.
"I'll take her." Claire said, reaching forward for little Becky, "Are you going to call us a cab?"
"I guess." Chris studied his sister suspiciously, but said nothing. He reached into his pocket and removed one of the new "smart" phones.
"2336 Cab Company."
Dialing.
Claire clutched Becky to her chest and tried not to hear her brother's silence.
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"Calverton County."
A few passengers began to unload bags and possessions. Sherry immersed herself in her new Chuck Palahniuk book and tried not to think about her Aunt and Uncle's frantic search back home.
Well, it would most likely be Aunt Kate searching…Uncle Jack didn't believe she existed just like his fictional brother…
She sighed and flipped to another page. This looked interesting. The hero was just about to be captured by the physician who was hunting him. The young woman (The physician) firmly believed that within the heroes blood there was some sort of chemical that would save her own boy-a child of six.
She sighed, "Why would anybody-"
"Hi."
Sherry looked up.
A tall, non-descript individual appeared in the aisle of the train. Sherry lowered her sunglasses, peering up and down at the man, who smiled widely. There was something very familiar about him…
"I'm Alan. Can I sit down?"
"It's a public train." Sherry sighed and returned to her book when she heard a sound that froze her heartbeat and lungs.
A gun.
"I have the gun under a newspaper." Alan said smiling, "If you struggle then there will be a scene and I will be forced to shoot a lot of innocent people. If you come with me now Miss Birkin there will be no harm done to you-or to any of the passengers on this train."
This was all said in a whisper, that stupid smirk still on his pale moon face. Sherry took a deep-ragged breath and squeaked.
"The little boy who is sitting next to you is named Todd." Alan said, enjoying her torment, "His favorite toy is a plastic dinosaur named Rex. He showed it too you just as we got onto the train." Here Alan looked positively evil, enjoying her suffering, "He is traveling alone because his father works in Wolf's Bluff. His mother will be meeting him at the train station."
"What-Wha-Wha-what are you getting a-a-at?"
"Simply this." Alan cocked the gun under his newspaper, "Would you like Miss Jones to meet her son, or his corpse?"
Sherry digested this, and slowly raised her arms to him in a gesture of defeat.
"Sorry!" Alan held onto Sherry's arm in a deathlike grip. He gripped her around the shoulders so that he pressed the gun into her ribs painfully.
"What's that?" The conductor stepped over, rubbing his baldhead, "What's going on?"
"I'm her uncle Mark from Wolf's Bluff-I just flew out to meet her-she'll be flying the rest of the way."
The conductor frowned, "That true miss?" There was something funny about this girl, like she was playing a part in a play, "He your uncle?"
"Sure." Sherry said, halfheartedly, "Good old Uncle Mark and his hunting habits. He likes to come out here and do some hunting."
"Come along now-"
"He really likes hunting." Sherry said again as "Mark" began to drag her away, "I mean REALLY he has guns everywhere in his house, permits-PERMITS to carry guns in the woods, in the cities-"
"A real gun nut huh?" The conductor glanced at his watch, and then back at the odd girl who was almost halfway off the train, "He likes to take you hunting?"
"All the time! Especially in Wolf's bluff! He had friends there!" Now Alan began to drag her off-her pale form a ghost in the dimming light, "Especially in the police department!"
The train whistled.
"Drop my name! Sherry Birkin! That's SHERRY BIRKIN! You can go to the police to Redfield and say SHERRY BIRKIN!"
The train whistled again and the conductor waved jauntily. Odd girl that kid. And that uncle of hers…
He frowned; maybe he should go to the police station when they got to Wolf's Bluff. He pulled out his note pad and wrote SHERRY BIRKIN-POLICE? In block letters. It always helped him when he wrote things down on his notepad.
He hoped she'd be okay.
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A/N: And there's chapter two. An Introspective Wesker? Sherry getting kidnapped? I promise it'll get more RE shortly. The year is 2005 in case nobody had figured that out… ^^