CLAIREMBER 2022
Day 14 - fight

Claire scanned her ID card. The door slid open, and she rushed into the lab.

Tap-tap-tap.

Heels clicking against grated metal.

Claire padded to the nearest shelf and peered around the corner.

Beyond the shelf stretched a catwalk, lit green by softly glowing floor lights, that met two other catwalks in the center of the lab. A tall terminal stood where they joined.

Jessica Sherawat traipsed to the terminal. Her flared dress, which she wore over a lavender button-up with a billowing neck, fluttered like butterfly wings in the gust generated by the ventilation fans. A beret perched upon her braided bun of hair.

Jessica studied the computer terminal.

"'Valid TerraSave identification card required,'" she said. "Hm. Guess I'll need to find a 'valid TerraSave identification card.'"

She returned to the other entry platform. When the door hissed shut, Claire ran for the terminal. She entered her employee number and pulled out her ID card –

Bam!

Claire lay on the catwalk, her head throbbing. Groaning, she pushed herself up. Something heavy and sharp forced her down.

"Oh, sweetie. You really should be more quiet when sneaking around."

Jessica stood over her, one heel digging into Claire's back. The ID card lay inches from her grasp. Jessica's weight shifted. Claire grabbed at the card, but Jessica was too quick.

"Just what I…'Claire Redfield?' You're not related to Chris, are you?"

"How do you know my brother?"

"We go way back. Wow. What are the odds? Anyway, enough chitchat."

Jessica kicked Claire and returned to the terminal. Claire wanted so badly to scream, to hold her throbbing head, but if Jessica saw she was still conscious, Claire would lose the sample for sure. She waited until she heard Jessica typing to chance a peek.

Jessica had her back turned.

Slowly, silently, Claire pulled the knife out of her back pocket.

The terminal's display case hissed open.

"That was hardly a challenge," Jessica said

She headed toward the entry platform. Claire sat up and slashed her leg. Jessica stumbled, blood gushing from the rip in her purple tights. Claire threw herself on Jessica and pressed the knife to her neck.

"Should've known Chris's sister would have some fight in her," said Jessica.

"Shut up." Claire patted Jessica's pockets. "Where's the sample?"

"In my bra."

Claire dug the blade into Jessica's neck until she winced. "I'm not screwing around."

"Neither am I."

Jessica grabbed Claire's wrist and twisted it. Screaming, Claire dropped the knife. Shoving her off, Jessica grabbed it and climbed on her, pinning her to the catwalk.

Holding the knife at Claire's throat, Jessica pulled the little pink vial from her cleavage. "Told ya."

"Please don't do this, Jessica. You don't know what'll happen if the R-Virus gets out," said Claire.

"I guess I have Raymond to thank for spilling the beans about me. I'd ask you to tell him and Chris I said hey, but after that stunt you just pulled, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to –"

Claire pushed the knife aside and slapped Jessica. The knife skidded off the catwalk. Claire locked her fists and whaled Jessica in the gut. The blow knocked the wind out of her, and she lay gasping for air.

Claire climbed to her feet. Jessica kicked at her. One heel stabbed her shin, and Claire went down. Jessica wrapped her hands around her neck and squeezed as Claire clawed at Jessica's hands.

Claire croaked for air. Her lungs burned; her neck and head throbbed with each heartbeat, which steadily slowed. Her vision blurred and darkened.

Somehow, she found two shining, violet stars. Jessica's eyes.

Claire jammed her thumbs into them.

Shrieking, Jessica tumbled backward. Claire punched her, sending her sprawling across the catwalk. Jessica swept the catwalk for the knife.

No, not the knife.

The pink vial of R-virus was rolling toward the edge.

They both dived for it.

But the vial went over the edge.