Resident Evil: Abduction

Chapter Nine

The crisp night air did nothing to cool the anger boiling within Carlos. How long had he been sitting out here on the back porch? Jill had come and gone a couple hours before and he was replaying their discussion; it had ended at an impasse. Leaning back in the old porch swing, he gazed up at the night sky. The moon was hiding behind a wall of clouds, causing the edges of each dark billow to be illuminated. It reminded him of the darkness that shadowed his heart, except he saw no light around its edges.

He closed his eyes and reflected on the happenings of the last few hours. Unsure of how to proceed, both he and Jill virtually ignored Riane's ultimatum and offered her no information about her family. Instead, they escorted her to the same room in which Angie was resting.

"Make yourself comfortable...on the floor," Jill insisted humorlessly. "That's where you'll be sleeping."

Turning, Riane looked past Jill to search him out. He presumed it had been her intention to make a plea to him, promising anything for word her family was safe...even if those words were lies. At this point, he knew she didn't care; she just needed to hear them. Something in his expression must have told her this was not the time, and she was right. He was wrestling with a decision, and if she interfered too early, she might not like the outcome. So, seemingly ignoring Jill's words, she picked up a thick quilt, folded it in half, and made a less than comfortable bed from it.

999

After the door closed, Riane realized she had nothing with her but the clothes on her back. She didn't relish the thought of sleeping in them, but had little choice. Padding quietly to the head of the bed, she stood watching Angie.

The moonlight shone through the window, casting an eerie glow on the child sleeping fitfully in the large bed. Her brow was furrowed, indicating her dreams were not peaceful. Little beads of sweat caused her skin to glisten, bringing the groups' worry for her well-being into focus for Riane. She had a decision to make; she just hoped she was strong enough to make it.

Was it the country night air that carried their voices into the bedroom with such clarity? The noise of the city, even in the wee hours in the morning, would never allow for sounds to travel so clearly. Whatever the reason, she lay unmoving in her makeshift bed, her head resting on an extra pillow she took from the bed, listening intently. Their voices were sometimes calm and sometimes angry. It was only when Valentine ended the conversation, noticeably unhappy with the outcome, did Riane close her eyes.

She heard the door open and someone enter the room. It was after Valentine muttered a curse when she ran into the wooden rocker that sat at the side of the bed that Riane realized who it was. Soon after, Riane heard the thump of heavy shoes hitting the floor, and then silence after Valentine had slid into bed beside Angie.

Riane lost track of how long she lay there until the sound of soft snoring indicated that Valentine was asleep. She lightly tossed the quilt from her body, immediately realizing how chilly the cabin had gotten. She picked up the quilt and quietly opened the door, pausing to make sure Valentine had not awakened. Seconds later, she passed a sleeping LJ on the couch. Some watchdog, she silently scoffed. When she reached the back door, she hesitated, but only long enough to remind herself that time waited for no one and it was running out on this group fast.

She saw Olivera immediately upon closing the door. He sat on the far side of the old fashioned swing that outfitted the porch. She mused that this would be a nice little getaway spot if the circumstances were different. Yet, here she was, thrust in the midst of madness.

She was determined to make sure her family was safe, but she was no longer frightened she would be killed if she didn't follow orders. The diligence of her captors in trying to protect Angie, coupled with the truth of what happened at Raccoon City and their part in it, led her to believe no harm would come to her mother or niece by their hands either. Umbrella concocted the stories to cover their own mess, painting Olivera and Valentine as insurrectionists, but the truth was they were merely victims trying to survive and make the world aware of the big evil in its midst. The trouble wasc the world was not ready to see that evil for what it was.

Her thoughts turned back to the man she had sought out. Darkness shrouded him, making him almost undetectable, but even if she had not been able to see him, she would have sensed him easily. What was it about him that set her nerves on edge? It was more than just her worrying for her family.

"What are you doing out here, Riane?"

The low timbre of his voice rolled along her spine, causing her to shiver...and not from the cold.

"Aren't you freezing out here, Olivera?" she asked quietly, masking her reaction to his voice. Did she really care if he caught his death out there? She pulled the quilt tighter around her shoulders and took a tentative step closer.

"Is it cold? I hadn't noticed," he remarked absently. His eyes remained focused on the woods' edge.

"Yes, it is," she answered smartly, although keeping her voice down so as not to disturb Angie. Also, she wasn't looking forward to Valentine barging outside and finding her with Olivera. She was still uncertain what the relationship was between the two and didn't need to deal with a jealous partner.

Still, she found herself going to the swing, removing the quilt from her shoulders, and sitting beside him. "Get sick, and there will be one less guardian for that kid in there," she scolded, covering both of them with the blanket.

Curious as to her motives, although pleasantly surprised she would even care, he looked over at her. "One less villain to bother you as well."

"Yeah well...that's why I'm out here," she admitted carefully. "Look, I've no love for Umbrella. I don't want to believe you or that video you showed me, but I have no choice." She took a deep breath and turned in the seat to face him, her knee resting against his muscled thigh. "David would not have joined in such a horrible hoax. I know he's dead..."

Carlos nodded. "Hard to believe anyone would," he agreed. "Yet, so many believe we were turning a tragic event into a sideshow."

"Do one thing for me, Olivera, and I won't fight you...I may even be able to help..."

Negotiations underway. He almost laughed. Soon she would know they never had any leverage to use against her. "Depends on that one thing," he answered easily.

"My family..."

He ran a hand tiredly through his short hair. "I've got to commend you for your loyalty. Some would worry only for themselves," he remarked wryly.

"Their loss," she said. "Look at your group..."

"Yes, well, we've been through hell together..."

"You haven't answered me yet," she said, cutting him off. She wasn't going to give him the chance to sidetrack her.

Silence enveloped them for a long moment while Carlos decided his next course of action. He wanted to tell her the truth, but Jill was against it. Her reasoning was that Riane would have no motivation to help once she found out her family was safe. On the other hand, instinct told Carlos that Riane had a kind, giving nature, and she would help a dying child in any way at her disposal. He was banking on his gut feeling.

"Riane...your family..." Would she understand? Would she forgive?

"Yes," she prodded. It was the first time she truly wished she could clearly see his face. She had the feeling this time that his eyes could not hide the truth from her.

"They were never in any danger," he admitted quietly. "They were never taken hostage. We've never seen your mother or your niece."

Confusion and anger collided within her, rendering her mute. Was he kidding? All at the same time she wanted to jump for joy and beat the living crap out of Olivera. Her suspicions were right and her family was safe, yet she went through emotional hell for nothing.

As if reading her thoughts, he said, "It wasn't for nothing. It was for Angie."

She wasn't stupid; she knew the reason. Deep down she couldn't blame them either. If it had been Lindy, she'd move mountains to make sure she was healthy. "I understand," she admitted. "Can't say I'm not pissed nine ways to hell, but I do understand the love for a child."

"I know you do...you've sacrificed your life for yours." Her warmth penetrated the numbness he had been feeling for so long. He had honestly believed his emotions had been permanently exiled for the last six months. Angie was the only person he allowed to affect him. Then along came Riane, or was it, then along he dragged Riane? In any case, she was too close for his comfort, and saying all the right things on top of it. He mentally steeled himself for her eventual betrayal and warned himself not to let her get too close.

"Look, I'm not saying I'm not angry, and believe me...I hate the sight of every last one of you, but I can't sit by and watch that little girl die."

He released the breath he hadn't been aware he was holding. He turned slightly to face her and lifted one arm from beneath the protection of the blanket. "Then we can count on you not helping Umbrella track us down when we let you go?"

Riane gave a soft shake of her head. Her eyes locked onto his just as the moon peeked out from behind a dark cloud, showing the deep lines of concern etched in his handsome face. She almost reached out to smooth them away, assure him he had nothing to fear, but it wasn't something he needed from her. What he needed no one could provide – peace of mind. If Angie could be helped, perhaps he might find just a little sliver of that for himself.

"What will you do?" he asked curiously.

It was Olivera who reached out and cupped her chin in his large hand. His thumb skimmed over her cheek in a light caress. She was torn, wanting to lean into it, enjoying the warmth that emanated from not only him, but from what sparked from within her and spread throughout her body. She felt more alive at that moment than she had her entire life. Instead, she slowly drew back, looking away so that he could not see the shame in her eyes.

"I don't know what I'll do,' she finally admitted. "They'll take me in for questioning, you know that." His nod did nothing to allay her fears of dealing with Umbrella. "What I don't know won't hurt you," she reasoned.

He looked away quickly. But it might hurt you. Umbrella would do what they needed to do. He'd witnessed many interrogations and this slip of a woman would not be spared the ugliness of it.

Riane reached above the blanket to grasp his arm, just as the door swung open and Valentine lumbered onto the porch.

"What the hell is going on?" she demanded sternly.

Olivera remained immobile, although Riane visibly jumped from the intrusion. "The truth is going on. I've told Riane what she wanted to know."

"We agreed..."

"To nothing. We'll set her free at first light and be on our way," he insisted as he stood to face Valentine. "If we can find Alice, we can still get the anti-virus for Angie."

"We don't know where she is, Olivera. We need to find another storehouse for the anti-virus," Valentine reasoned. "We'll find a way past security..."

"You'll all be killed," Riane whispered more to herself than to be heard by the others.

"Please...no more," came a voice from the doorway.

Her weary voice would have tugged at the coldest of hearts and brought the attention of everyone to her.

"You should be resting, Angie," Valentine scolded softly.

"No one else will die because of me," Angie insisted, taking a step closer to the group. Behind her came the steady footfalls of LJ who stopped directly behind her. "No one. Do you understand?"

Glances were exchanged between everyone, but it was LJ who spoke. "No one will, kid. We do what we gotta..."

A decisive shake of the head stopped his speech. She would have none of it. "Everyone I ever loved has been destroyed," she began, solemnly. "I cannot have another death on my head. You are my family now...please, I beg of you."

999

"The Project Alice?" Isaacs questioned upon entering the room. He gazed down upon the unconscious woman...experiment...creature? He wasn't sure how to categorize what lay before him, but he was most amazed by her development. Reports had shown her mental and physical abilities had progressed beyond their expectations. Her potential was mind boggling.

"Here are the latest reports," the technician replied, handing him the chart.

Isaacs studied the pages, seeing more of the same. Bottom line was that they could find no reason for the implants malfunctioning. Everything was reading as it should, yet, he was not ready to release her. "Continue the tests," he ordered and abruptly left the room.

Alice waited until Isaacs left the room and then opened her eyes. She stared at the technician's back for a few moments before closing them again. Isaacs had given her the information she had been searching for. His mind was filled with a multitude of disgusting details of iniquity. The one piece of information she was looking for was foremost in his mind – why he and Umbrella was after her friends.

The information she leaked to them, divulging Angela's secret, made her an interesting target. After a time, they realized her very existence could be detrimental to their public image. She, and the others, had to be gotten rid of by any means possible.

Isaacs' thoughts revealed the anti-virus had been hung out as bait for the gang, and the fact that it had been tampered with. The bait had been taken and when administered, Angela would die. Angela was the last bit of tangible evidence the T-virus existed...besides herself.

The other thing his mind revealed to her was that Umbrella knew exactly how the anti-virus had been obtained. A Spencer BioTech employee had aided them; Umbrella forces had turned her residence upside down and found nothing. It appeared as though the woman had been coerced into helping. Umbrella's lucky break had just happened moments before Isaacs entered her holding cell. A resident near a secluded motel had spotted a mysterious vehicle entering the facility and recognized Jill Valentine. Umbrella forces were en route.

With time running out, Alice sat up quickly, barely registering her nudity. She grabbed the sheet from the table as she leapt from it, startling the technician into spinning around to face her. She cocked her head sideways while he stared at her with a dumbfounded expression. A playful grin spread across her face just before she reached out and jabbed the side of her hand into his neck, rendering him unconscious.

Move out...they're coming! her mind sent the message over and over as she undressed the technician and then donned his clothing. It was a loose fit, but would have to do; there were more important things to worry about. She had no way of knowing if anyone would hear her mental warning, but she hoped her ability had progressed as much as she thought it had. If so, Olivera or Valentine would understand.

...to be continued.