The world-building in this one was super fun! - Akumu

CLAIREMBER 2022
Day 16 - Wesker

"Come. I'll show you what we've done with the island," said Irma.

Claire hesitated. Irma was one of the Wesker Children. Not only that, the Progenitor virus had granted her a bloated shoulder that twisted into a bladed arm. A growth, consisting of hundreds of little yellow eyes that were constantly turning, looking, watching, covered the left side of Irma's face. The growth bled into her jaw, and that part of her mouth cut upward, making her look like she was half-smiling.

"You may bring your firearm if it comforts you," said Irma.

She gestured toward the table that faced the plush bed. The handgun lay there with its clip.

Claire glanced at Irma, then quickly went to the table. She checked the clip, slapped it into the gun, and holstered it.

Irma led her into a wood-paneled hall. The right wall was latticed, giving them a view into the evening jungle.

"You and your companion know this island as Rockfort Island, a place of evil and death," said Irma. "But we have given it new life, much like it has given us."

They reached a pair of iron doors. Irma pushed them open.

The cliffside grew lush with green grass and tropical plants. Ivy climbed the lattice around the windows of the building they'd just exited. A cobblestone path, lit by ivy-wrapped electric lamps, led to a wood structure.

Claire looked up at the building. "Is this…"

"The training facility? Yes. We've repurposed it into a guest house for the few traders we trust not to tell the outside world about us," Irma said.

She led Claire down the path. Irma's blond hair bobbed in a sloppy bun.

They reached the structure, which turned out to be a wood stairwell, again covered in lattice, that led to the lower cliffside. Blooming moon flowers intertwined through the lattice, like sleeping babies in the folds of a soft blanket. Below, more wood buildings, cobblestone paths, and electric lamps stood, framed by jungle vegetation. The setting sun gently bathed it all in gold.

Claire heard herself gasp.

Two figures made their way up the stairs. The first, a stout hunchback with two rolling bloodshot eyes embedded in his hump, planted both feet on a step before moving to the next. The second, a short man who would have looked normal save for the crab claws he had for hands, threaded one arm through the hunchback's to keep the first steady.

"Brother Miles. Brother Hiro," said Irma. "Our other visitor is awake. Her name is Claire. Claire, this is Brother Miles and Brother Hiro."

"But you can call us Miles and Hiro," said the hunchback, Miles.

"Claire? As in Claire Redfield, Chris Redfield's sister?" asked Hiro, the claw-handed man. He kept his back to her as he helped his brother.

Claire paused. "Yes."

Hiro laughed. "No need to gawk gorm-faced, my dear. We all greatly admire what you and your brother did. Brother Albert and Sister Alex were beyond help and needed to be stopped. A sad fact, but a fact nonetheless."

Irma nodded.

"Wait," said Claire. "How did you –?"

Hiro laughed again. "I have eyes on the back of my head."

With his free claw he lifted his choppy black hair and revealed a nest of dark eyes, all staring at her. He turned to face her and continued laughing.

Irma led Claire down the stairs.

"Don't mind him," said Irma. "His strange sense of humor is how he copes with the mutation."

When they reached the end, they followed the cobblestone to a sort of town center, where an old fountain spouted a gentle geyser of water. Nearby, four more Weskers kicked around an old ball. Irma waved to them.

"This is incredible," said Claire. "How did you build all this?"

"It started with Brother Ken," Irma replied. "He was a programmer. After the infection, he was the only one of us who looked normal enough to pass as human. He hacked into Spencer's files and found a list of our names and where we'd been disposed of. He found me first, and then we gathered the other ten one by one. Spencer had tried to turn us into monsters. Many will look at us and say he did. Whether that's true or not, we are still that which we are."

Irma stopped at a bird bath, where three black-faced red birds perched. She lowered her bladed arm. One bird chirped and then flew onto it. It watched Irma and Claire for a moment and then flew into the twilight.

"Sister Felicia discovered reports about Rockfort Island, saying it had been abandoned after the blast in 1998. So, we came here. We tore down everything left from Spencer and Umbrella's time here, used the jungle around us, and rebuilt the island according to our vision: a place of peace, sustainability, and hope. When we finished, we renamed it Genesis Island – the island of new beginnings."

Night had fallen. The stars twinkled like kind eyes watching them.

"What are you going to do with me and Steve?" Claire asked.

Irma sighed. "We do not yet know. It is possible we will require you both to stay here indefinitely. If so, we will ensure you both enjoy your new lives here. Especially him. I can imagine how difficult his mutation has made life for him. But now isn't the time for such questions."

She led Claire to a large wood building and opened the door. Irma beckoned inside.

"Come. Let us see how he is."

Claire entered, and Irma shut the door behind them. Claire followed her down another latticed hallway.

They seem nice enough, but we can't stay here, thought Claire. We have to get off this island as soon as possible.