Two Days Later (Mid-Afternoon)

Wesker had spent all his time with Rebecca. Athena had tried to help him take care of her, as she was very worried about the younger woman, too. However, they had all quickly learned that it was safer to stay far away from Wesker in his current mood. The man had hardly slept in four days. Athena had slapped him when he had said no one understood what he was going through. He had refrained, barely, from retaliating. They had not spoken since and Chris was having a time getting her to communicate with him, too. Chris had pretty much kept his distance from her, spending his time with Brian or Demetrius. The three had started doing a lot together.

As for Wesker, he was having yet another argument with Billy. The ex-Marine felt that Wesker was responsible for what had happened to the young medic. "Why did you take her along? She had no business being in there!"

"I tried to keep her out. Besides, it is none of your damn business!" Wesker was standing beside the bed glaring at Billy with a deadly glint in his eyes.

"She's my friend! It is my business!" This was the first time they had argued in Rebecca's presence since coming to West Virginia.

A groan from the bed made them both freeze and look at Rebecca. She was blinking her eyes and moving her head. Wesker fell to his knees as Billy rounded the bed. They both looked at her in waiting. "Rebecca?" Wesker asked as he took her hand.

She looked at him and croaked, "Water." He quickly stood and rushed toward the bathroom to get her some water. Billy just watched her to see if she was well. Wesker quickly returned to the room to help her to drink the water. "Slowly," he warned as she tried to drink it all down. She fell back from the cup, her eyes closed. He checked her breathing. Billy looked at him anxiously. "She's finally asleep." He tucked her in and shoed Billy from the room. "We will continue our discussion later, Coen." Billy glared at the older man but turned and left. He was sick of arguing with him.

Rebecca looked down at the corpse of Chris. She had shot him. Tears fell from her eyes as she looked around. Voices rang in her ears telling her she was a fool, being childish, an idiot, being stupid. Her friends had left her or were now dead, like Chris. Her research was falling apart. She could not find a cure for the virus. Any counter measure she took backfired. Barry had been the last to leave her. He had smashed a whole rack of test tubes and other objects, told her she was no better than Umbrella before storming out never to be seen or heard from again.

Stepping over Chris, Rebecca returned to her work like a person obsessed, and she figured she was. She had to do something for those who had believed in her. Only one was left know that she was sure of but she had no idea where he was. As she picked up her pen, the door opened behind her unnoticed. She diligently worked at the figures before her. But, when a hand fell on her shoulder, she turned. I scream ripped from her throat as Athena, who had been turned to a tyrant of sorts, lunged at her. Rebecca fought her off and grabbed her gun. Her hands shook and slipped as Athena closed in on her. Finally, she got a good grip and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. She screamed again and tried to run but Athena caught her and lifted her off the ground. Just as Rebecca thought it was all over, a very loud shot rang out. A bullet flew clean through Athena's head to blow her face completely off right in front of Rebecca.

Rebecca fell to the floor, pulling away from the dead body of one of her friends. She trembled and wept, forgetting that someone had obviously saved her. As she calmed, she sniffed and looked up. Wesker stood across the room glaring in her direction. He never moved toward her like she longed for him to. His eyes were sharp and icy as he spoke, "Now I have lost everything because of you. You have taken everything I love away from me." He turned and walked away, leaving her to her own tears and misery.

Rebecca awoke with a start. She looked around, not recognizing her surroundings save for the man beside her. She slipped from the bed as gently as she could. He was sleeping more soundly than she ever knew him to, but she was not going to complain. She could slip out more efficiently. She did just that. She crept down the stairs and out the door. The area was unknown to her. She was not in Hillsboro or Raccoon.

Walking to the road, she glanced back toward the unknown house. Wesker was in there, sleeping. He was better off without her. He would never miss her, she was certain. She took off down the road, heading to some unknown location somewhere in the distance. The first place she saw, she recognized Chris's truck in drive. The house was unfamiliar, just like everything else. She walked up to the door, unsure if this was a good idea but there was a light on in the main part of the house. She needed answers.

Knocking on the door, she held her breath as footsteps approached the door. The door opened a crack then swung open wide. "Rebecca!" Chris was shocked to see her standing there. "What in the… Get in here!" He grabbed her arm and pulled her in the house. "Athena!" He hollered to the rest of the house. They heard the commode flush and she emerged.

"Rebecca! What the hell are you doing here, and alone?" She rushed forward and pulled the younger woman to a chair. "Sit there and do not move." She hurried off to the kitchen. Chris smiled as he watched her then sat down.

"What are you doing here this late, Rebecca? Wesker just called this evening to let us know you had finally succumbed to sleep. Does he know that you are…"

She shook her head. "I don't want to… Can I stay here and you guys not let him know where I am? If not, I will continue down the road."

Athena handed her a cup of water. "Drink this. Now, why do you want to stay here and not with my father?" She sat down beside Chris.

"I… I don't want to discuss it right now." She sipped at the water and averted her eyes. Athena and Chris shared a glance.

"Alright," Athena said, "you can stay here. There's a spare room upstairs." She pointed to the stairs, not liking the situation at all. However, she knew she would not have to wait long for Wesker to show up. Once he realized Rebecca was missing, he would be in a frenzy to locate her. She would not have to tell him where Rebecca was. He would know. She needed to find out why the younger woman had run off before he came.

Wesker awoke with a start. Something was not right. In an instant, he knew what. Rebecca was gone. He jumped out of bed and listened. He could not here anyone in the house. She had left. Where to? Why? He quickly pulled on some jeans and a shirt, sliding his feet into his boots without bothering with the lacings. Fool girl had to be found.

The nearest place to them was Athena's. Rebecca would have more than likely stopped there as the walk was quite a distance, at least a mile. He had to get there and find out what was wrong with the silly child, why she would have ran out without a word after what she had just been through. He had worried for days and then she just ups and leaves! They were going to have a nice talk once he got his hand on her, a nice lengthy talk.

Wesker covered the distance from his place to Athena's in little time. He did not bother knocking as he entered. Chris was in the living room watching the news with a bored expression. Athena was in the kitchen singing along to some noise she called music. He sniffed the air and listened. "Where is she?" He demanded.

Chris looked at him then jerked his head to the kitchen. Wesker rushed into the other room. Athena was alone. He started to turn back when his daughter caught his arm. "Sit." She shoved him toward the table. His face said he was going to argue but she gave him a pointed look and pointed. He sighed and did as she bid.

"Where is she, Athena? I can smell her and seeing as she has never been in this house before…"

"I know, but she does not want us to inform you of her presence. I believe she is cowering up stairs as I speak…" Her words trailed off as he was on his feet and up the stairs before she could say anything else. She threw up her hands and went to join Chris on the couch.

Wesker walked down the upstairs hallway, listening. He stopped at the guest room. Sticking his head inside, he did not see her but he her scent was strong. He heard something in the closet. He shook his head and walked over to it, pulling the door open swiftly. Rebecca squeaked and flushed as she looked up at him. He arched a brow and gazed back. "Are you going to come out or stay in there the rest of your life?" He crossed his arms, watching as she stepped out and gave him a wide berth. "What is wrong? Why did you run?"

"Nothing. I just…" She was not sure what she could say. She brushed passed him and headed for the living room.