19
She didn't know what time it was. Was it late or was it early? Time flew by slowly when her eyes were open and her mind was conscious, but when unconscious time felt as if it sped away from her as quickly as it could.
She couldn't actually be a sleep for no more than half an hour?
Wishful thinking. It had to be longer than that.
Her room was dark, no lights other than the hall's, but that was behind a door with frosted glass. Her body felt a little stronger, the sedative was fading and her mind was returning.
A plan. She needed to get out fast! Something wasn't right about her 'adventures' and current situation. Why couldn't she remember?
She shook her head and strained at her straps. Great, these were plastic and had no Velcro. She struggled anyway, it was better to try and see if, by a miracle, they unfastened.
She wiggled her feet.
Nothing.
She wiggled her wrists.
Nothing.
Claire relaxed back and sighed, "You can stop hiding now," she said.
A figure moved from the corner and sat down on the edge of the bed, "How did you know?"
Claire smiled, "Dealing with Umbrella sometimes has its rewards. You learn many things that keep you alive."
"And why would you think I'm from Umbrella?" the voice was female.
"I didn't say you're from Umbrella," Claire laughed slightly, "I wasn't even sure, but thank you Dr Watson for confirming it."
Watson narrowed her eyes, "You know Claire you could have just walked away from the Antarctic without any hassles from my…" she searched for the correct word, "…employers…But you had to insist."
"Why not kill me? I mean why waste money and time putting me into an asylum?"
It was a curious question and yet it was also a lame and a very B-movie type question to ask.
What-is-the-plan-before-you-kill-me-so-that-I-can-stop-you-against-huge-odds sort of question.
Claire shuddered, it was too clichéd for her taste.
She smirked as if Claire should already know the answer, "Come now Claire. Umbrella likes to make enemies suffer. You're punishment is very fitting. You lose your mind, either naturally or getting a little help from your friends. And every time you have an 'outburst' you get stuck in here longer and longer. And if you're a danger to people and yourself then you will never leave this place!"
"But you're missing one tiny thing-"
Watson stood up and moved to Claire, she moved back the sheet from her arm, "Your brother? He's already convinced that you have lost your mind. Your attempted suicide confirms any doubts that he had about Umbrella's involvement. Not to mention your drug problem. Face it Claire you're way out of your league here."
She took out from her pocket a piece of string and a needle, the contents within the syringe glowed a beautiful metallic yellow. It practically looked golden.
"Lovely looking concoction, don't you think?"
She held it up and tapped the glass syringe lightly.
Claire just glared at her, "Look just get on with it! No need for the small talk."
Watson grinned, "Especially made by Umbrella," she said ignoring her last remark, "Used for very special occasions."
She tied the string around Claire upper arm, when the brachial basilic vein appeared as a thin line sticking out underneath the skin Watson carefully inserted the needle. She pushed the liquid in until all were inside Claire. She pulled the needle out.
Claire stared at her arm unable to do anything.
Watson wiped the excess blood and covered it with a plaster. She undid the string and placed it as well as the syringe back into her lab coat.
She then loosened the straps around Claire's wrist.
"What are you doing?"
"To have another 'episode' you need to be freed," she walked to the back of the bed and loosened the straps on her feet and her other arm.
Claire pulled at the straps, they came away. Watson stood by the door, it was half open, "Remember Claire give it your all," she laughed.
The door closed behind her. Her shadow disappeared down the hall.
Claire sat up pulling at her feet; she swung them round and stood up. She was already feeling light headed.
The drug it was working.
She rubbed her arm it was still sore. The door was just a few metres away from her; her freedom was just beyond the end of the bed. She had doubts. If she did go she could escape, but with the drug in her she would go berserk. But if she didn't go then she would be stuck in there.
She gazed at the door, "Fuck!"
She was in a fucking paradox! If she goes she stays, if she doesn't she stays!
"Fuck it!" she decided better to attempt the impossible rather than sit on her ass and let her fate be controlled by Umbrella.
She grabbed the side of the bed for support; her head was dizzy. She felt as if she just came off a roller coaster ride. She stood inches away from the door her head was spinning so crazily that she lost control of her legs. She fell to her knees cupping her head within her hands. She shook her head unable to regain her focus back; instead it made matters worse.
She faced the door handle and concentrated, it was now or never. She pushed herself towards the door and dragged herself up. She twisted the handle and walked through.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Claire glanced to the right. Purple, she saw the bottom of a purple gown, "Oh God!" she whimpered.
The woman laughed her irritating laugh, "Almost Claire."
"It's the drug. You're not here."
She laughed again, "Are you sure about that Claire?"
"YES!" she screamed, "Chris killed you!"
Claire glanced up and saw her white gloves, "You're not here!"
"Tell me Claire how is Steve?"
Hot anger ran through her body, she uttered his name. She had no right. She glared into her face, "You have no fucking right!"
"What was it he said to me?" she paused and then smirked, "Oh yes, 'please…don't do this' he begged. Pathetic."
Claire's self-control was dangling by a thread; she wasn't going to let Alexia get to her. But it was impossible, her rage took over her mind and before she knew it she was charging at Alexia screaming as loud as possible.
Alexia stood calmly; instead of attacking or defending herself she just smiled as the insignificant girl came closer and closer to her.
Claire raised her fist ready to knock her down, but Alexia was too fast. She grabbed Claire's arm and twisted it.
"Stupid move Claire. What are you going to do now?"
Claire gasped and fell to her knees. The pain was too much, Alexia was right Claire did act stupidly. She was too strong and powerful than her.
She tightened her grip and flung her into the wall without losing her hold, "How's that Claire?"
She didn't answer.
Alexia flung her again, but into the opposite wall, "Any better?"
"Fuck you!" Claire breathed.
"Language Redfield you're in the presence of your Queen!"
She raised Claire up above her and threw her down the hall. She flew through the air as if she was a bird, it seemed to take forever. The lino floor shone as she passed it by, her shadow darkened the reflective light of the shiny plastic. And then numbness, she assumed that her tangled body smashed the floor, since the wind wasn't blowing into her face anymore. Claire lay there unable to move, she lifted her head staring at the woman with the golden hair. She peeled away her right glove and tossed it to the floor.
She stretched out her arm and with her thumbnail she cut the flesh. Red blood flowed down her arm dropping to the floor; in seconds it ignited flooding the entire floor in flames.
Claire froze staring motionlessly at the beautiful monster, "Ever experienced burning flesh? The smell it never goes away and it keeps you from forgetting. The flesh bubbles cooking the muscle, fat and everything else underneath the skin. The pain it's…I don't know, I suppose only the screams of the inferno's victims could explain the unexplainable."
She cupped some drops of blood in her palm. The tiny beads ignited within the cracks of her skin, "I personally love fire. It's part of me."
She faced Claire and crossed the sea of flames underneath her; she walked slowly towards Claire taking her sweet time to do her evil deed. She stood over her and smiled, her arm stretched out above Claire, "Want to see, smell and feel flesh burn?"
She laughed letting drops of blood fall aimlessly towards the feeble body. They fell in slow motion suspended within the air by invisible strings. The colour was deep red they reflected the light and mirrored Alexia and Claire.
Claire closed her eyes and waited for the fire to begin. Waited for the heat to caress her body, killing her painfully.
"Grab her! She's loose again!"
Claire opened her eyes; two huge mothers of men were running towards her. Her eyes widen.
Where the hell was Alexia?!
It was too late for her to escape their grasp. They lunged into her knocking her back into the floor.
"Quickly grab her arm," said the left.
The other guy grabbed her arm and yanked it across her back, Claire screeched.
"Take her to the 'Secure Unit'. Put her in cell seven," called Watson at the other end of the hall.
The men dragged Claire up and led her to the 'Secure Unit'.
Claire didn't understand anything; she didn't know what happened to her and why she was in the hall. She didn't even know how she escaped!
And then there was Alexia. It was all like the Tyrant.
She didn't struggle, for one she was weak and the other she just couldn't be bothered anymore.
What the fuck was going on?!
She didn't know what time it was. Was it late or was it early? Time flew by slowly when her eyes were open and her mind was conscious, but when unconscious time felt as if it sped away from her as quickly as it could.
She couldn't actually be a sleep for no more than half an hour?
Wishful thinking. It had to be longer than that.
Her room was dark, no lights other than the hall's, but that was behind a door with frosted glass. Her body felt a little stronger, the sedative was fading and her mind was returning.
A plan. She needed to get out fast! Something wasn't right about her 'adventures' and current situation. Why couldn't she remember?
She shook her head and strained at her straps. Great, these were plastic and had no Velcro. She struggled anyway, it was better to try and see if, by a miracle, they unfastened.
She wiggled her feet.
Nothing.
She wiggled her wrists.
Nothing.
Claire relaxed back and sighed, "You can stop hiding now," she said.
A figure moved from the corner and sat down on the edge of the bed, "How did you know?"
Claire smiled, "Dealing with Umbrella sometimes has its rewards. You learn many things that keep you alive."
"And why would you think I'm from Umbrella?" the voice was female.
"I didn't say you're from Umbrella," Claire laughed slightly, "I wasn't even sure, but thank you Dr Watson for confirming it."
Watson narrowed her eyes, "You know Claire you could have just walked away from the Antarctic without any hassles from my…" she searched for the correct word, "…employers…But you had to insist."
"Why not kill me? I mean why waste money and time putting me into an asylum?"
It was a curious question and yet it was also a lame and a very B-movie type question to ask.
What-is-the-plan-before-you-kill-me-so-that-I-can-stop-you-against-huge-odds sort of question.
Claire shuddered, it was too clichéd for her taste.
She smirked as if Claire should already know the answer, "Come now Claire. Umbrella likes to make enemies suffer. You're punishment is very fitting. You lose your mind, either naturally or getting a little help from your friends. And every time you have an 'outburst' you get stuck in here longer and longer. And if you're a danger to people and yourself then you will never leave this place!"
"But you're missing one tiny thing-"
Watson stood up and moved to Claire, she moved back the sheet from her arm, "Your brother? He's already convinced that you have lost your mind. Your attempted suicide confirms any doubts that he had about Umbrella's involvement. Not to mention your drug problem. Face it Claire you're way out of your league here."
She took out from her pocket a piece of string and a needle, the contents within the syringe glowed a beautiful metallic yellow. It practically looked golden.
"Lovely looking concoction, don't you think?"
She held it up and tapped the glass syringe lightly.
Claire just glared at her, "Look just get on with it! No need for the small talk."
Watson grinned, "Especially made by Umbrella," she said ignoring her last remark, "Used for very special occasions."
She tied the string around Claire upper arm, when the brachial basilic vein appeared as a thin line sticking out underneath the skin Watson carefully inserted the needle. She pushed the liquid in until all were inside Claire. She pulled the needle out.
Claire stared at her arm unable to do anything.
Watson wiped the excess blood and covered it with a plaster. She undid the string and placed it as well as the syringe back into her lab coat.
She then loosened the straps around Claire's wrist.
"What are you doing?"
"To have another 'episode' you need to be freed," she walked to the back of the bed and loosened the straps on her feet and her other arm.
Claire pulled at the straps, they came away. Watson stood by the door, it was half open, "Remember Claire give it your all," she laughed.
The door closed behind her. Her shadow disappeared down the hall.
Claire sat up pulling at her feet; she swung them round and stood up. She was already feeling light headed.
The drug it was working.
She rubbed her arm it was still sore. The door was just a few metres away from her; her freedom was just beyond the end of the bed. She had doubts. If she did go she could escape, but with the drug in her she would go berserk. But if she didn't go then she would be stuck in there.
She gazed at the door, "Fuck!"
She was in a fucking paradox! If she goes she stays, if she doesn't she stays!
"Fuck it!" she decided better to attempt the impossible rather than sit on her ass and let her fate be controlled by Umbrella.
She grabbed the side of the bed for support; her head was dizzy. She felt as if she just came off a roller coaster ride. She stood inches away from the door her head was spinning so crazily that she lost control of her legs. She fell to her knees cupping her head within her hands. She shook her head unable to regain her focus back; instead it made matters worse.
She faced the door handle and concentrated, it was now or never. She pushed herself towards the door and dragged herself up. She twisted the handle and walked through.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Claire glanced to the right. Purple, she saw the bottom of a purple gown, "Oh God!" she whimpered.
The woman laughed her irritating laugh, "Almost Claire."
"It's the drug. You're not here."
She laughed again, "Are you sure about that Claire?"
"YES!" she screamed, "Chris killed you!"
Claire glanced up and saw her white gloves, "You're not here!"
"Tell me Claire how is Steve?"
Hot anger ran through her body, she uttered his name. She had no right. She glared into her face, "You have no fucking right!"
"What was it he said to me?" she paused and then smirked, "Oh yes, 'please…don't do this' he begged. Pathetic."
Claire's self-control was dangling by a thread; she wasn't going to let Alexia get to her. But it was impossible, her rage took over her mind and before she knew it she was charging at Alexia screaming as loud as possible.
Alexia stood calmly; instead of attacking or defending herself she just smiled as the insignificant girl came closer and closer to her.
Claire raised her fist ready to knock her down, but Alexia was too fast. She grabbed Claire's arm and twisted it.
"Stupid move Claire. What are you going to do now?"
Claire gasped and fell to her knees. The pain was too much, Alexia was right Claire did act stupidly. She was too strong and powerful than her.
She tightened her grip and flung her into the wall without losing her hold, "How's that Claire?"
She didn't answer.
Alexia flung her again, but into the opposite wall, "Any better?"
"Fuck you!" Claire breathed.
"Language Redfield you're in the presence of your Queen!"
She raised Claire up above her and threw her down the hall. She flew through the air as if she was a bird, it seemed to take forever. The lino floor shone as she passed it by, her shadow darkened the reflective light of the shiny plastic. And then numbness, she assumed that her tangled body smashed the floor, since the wind wasn't blowing into her face anymore. Claire lay there unable to move, she lifted her head staring at the woman with the golden hair. She peeled away her right glove and tossed it to the floor.
She stretched out her arm and with her thumbnail she cut the flesh. Red blood flowed down her arm dropping to the floor; in seconds it ignited flooding the entire floor in flames.
Claire froze staring motionlessly at the beautiful monster, "Ever experienced burning flesh? The smell it never goes away and it keeps you from forgetting. The flesh bubbles cooking the muscle, fat and everything else underneath the skin. The pain it's…I don't know, I suppose only the screams of the inferno's victims could explain the unexplainable."
She cupped some drops of blood in her palm. The tiny beads ignited within the cracks of her skin, "I personally love fire. It's part of me."
She faced Claire and crossed the sea of flames underneath her; she walked slowly towards Claire taking her sweet time to do her evil deed. She stood over her and smiled, her arm stretched out above Claire, "Want to see, smell and feel flesh burn?"
She laughed letting drops of blood fall aimlessly towards the feeble body. They fell in slow motion suspended within the air by invisible strings. The colour was deep red they reflected the light and mirrored Alexia and Claire.
Claire closed her eyes and waited for the fire to begin. Waited for the heat to caress her body, killing her painfully.
"Grab her! She's loose again!"
Claire opened her eyes; two huge mothers of men were running towards her. Her eyes widen.
Where the hell was Alexia?!
It was too late for her to escape their grasp. They lunged into her knocking her back into the floor.
"Quickly grab her arm," said the left.
The other guy grabbed her arm and yanked it across her back, Claire screeched.
"Take her to the 'Secure Unit'. Put her in cell seven," called Watson at the other end of the hall.
The men dragged Claire up and led her to the 'Secure Unit'.
Claire didn't understand anything; she didn't know what happened to her and why she was in the hall. She didn't even know how she escaped!
And then there was Alexia. It was all like the Tyrant.
She didn't struggle, for one she was weak and the other she just couldn't be bothered anymore.
What the fuck was going on?!