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Well, ok, here ya go ppl, new chappie!
And remember, if you are reading, and not reviewing you are a thief!
And we WILL find you...Wont we Steve?
Steve: Yes, my king...
Push Me: DAMN RIGHT!
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Chapter 1
"Claire?"
His voice resonded around him.
Nothing.
He looked about him, hoping for some sign of the girl. Maybe even crying over him.
Nope.
Nothing.
There was nothing at all to see.
"CLAIRE!" he cried, his voice echoing around him, returning in an almost mocking form.
He pulled himself to his feet.
It was so dark. He'd always feared the dark.
He couldnt see what his feet were standing on.
Couldnt see his hands.
He shivered.
He hadnt been alone in the dark in a while.
He felt the first sting of tears behind his eyes as the last few moments of his life popped into his head.
He almost hurt Claire...
He screwed up his face, trying to force the tears back.
But the thought of her face, looking down at him as he took his last breath pushed him over the edge.
He cried out, letting the tears flow down his cheeks, his feet flailing out for something to kick, something to feel pain as much as he was.
How long he was like that, he didnt know.
Time didnt seem to effect wherever he was.
He flopped to the floor, his hair stuck to his head from the sweat, his breathing would have been heavy, had he been breathing at all.
Where was he?
Was this Hell?
Where was the fire? The suffering? All the people from Umbrella.
Those bastards...
What he wouldnt give for one of them to be stuck with him in...wherever the fuck he was...
What he wouldnt give for Claire to be there...
To tell him it was going to be ok. Sit with him. Talk with him. Reassure him...
"Claire..." His head dropped into hishands and he began sobbing silently to himself.
"Why the long face?"
The new voice made him jump to his feet.
"Who's there?" he called. How could someone else be in such a place?
"A friend."
Out of the darkness stepped a muscular man stepped forward.
He was taller than Steve, his eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses, even in a place such as this.
He looked at the trails the tears had left on the boy's face, and smiled.
It wasnt a warm smile, and Steve didnt lower his guard.
"Why cry?" he asked, taking a few steps towards Steve. "Dont you know where you are? WHAT you are?"
Steve stared back into the glasses defiantly. They gave this man the edge, not being able to see his eyes. Not knowing his intentions.
"No. All I know is I'm..."
His voice cracked. He couldnt bring himself to say the last word. It would finilise it.
"Dead?" the man finished.
Steve nodded, his head drooping, looking to the floor.
He jumped as the mans laughter split the silence.
"Dead?" he snorted. "My boy, you're not dead. Nothing could be further from the truth..."
"What are you talking about?" Steve cut him off.
"Now boy," all the mans forced warmth evaporated. "Do NOT get agressive with me. You are NOT dead."
Steve struggled with this blow. His mind flickered back to looking up at Claire, and then his eyes closing.
He was dead. Never going to see Claire again.
"But...I am...I died, I know I did. SHE saw me die..."
The man nodded sagely.
"You may have DIED...But you are not DEAD..."
"What...? Thats just dumb...If this is hell, and you're here to torment me, go ahead. I'll atone for what I've done..."
"LISTEN to me boy. You died from the unique brand of the virus, which means the traces are still INSIDE you..."
Steve narrowed his eyes suddenly. How did this man know what had happened?
"Ok, WHO the FUCK are you? HOw do you know me? How do you know what happened?"
"I guess introductions are neccessary. Albert Wesker," he made a small bow, "at your service..."
"Steve..."
"I know who you are. You, like me, are special, Mr Burnside. We're unique."
"We...are?"
"Yes. You were injected with the same strand of the Virus as me. You, however, rejected it for your own reasons, but traces were left in you..."
"Dont worry," he continued, as Steve stepped back, holding his chest, "You no longer mutate...But there are advantages."
He reached into his pocket, removing a small mirror.
"Observe..."
Steve stepped forward catiously, crying out and jumping back after a glance.
"You have the same sign as me," Wesker stated, removing the sunglasses.
Steve would have gasped, but remembered the lack of need to breathe.
His eyes glowed a vivid red, as Steve's had done in the reflection.
"What...What am I? If I'm not dead, where the hell am I?"
"This," Wesker stated, waving a hand about them, "is the rebirth zone. The virus is beginning to bring you back. It will be painful, but most worth it."
Steve's stomach lurched.
"I'm...alive?"
"Barely. You'll notice you dont need to breathe yet. The need for oxygen will return, shortly in fact. I'm here to guide you back to your living form."
Steve glared at him. 17 years of not trusting anyone had saved him so far, he wasnt going to stop now.
"Whats the catch?"
"Catch? No catch, I only wish to help someone who is in the same situation as me. After you return to the living, I will hone your skills with you."
"Skills?"
Wesker grinned, placing his glasses back on his face.
"How little you know, my boy...How very little..."
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"Steve?"
Claire Redfield sat bolt upright.
Dammit. Another dream. Thats two in one night.
She rubbed her eyes and glanced at her Alarm clock.
The digital numbers spelled 5:55 am in the darkness of a January morning.
No point trying to sleep again now.
She threw the covers off herself, stretching widely.
A quick look in the mirror showed the effects of a night of tossing and turning for thefifthweek in a row.
Bags under her eyes, skin taut and pale over the pretty features of her face.
She was a mess.
5 weeks ago, she would have screamed and ran for the shower with her make up kit, but now she was beyond caring.
Why make herself look nice? Who for?
The one person she ever cared for was gone, gone for good.
She dragged herself over the clutter of papers and clothes strewn about, not even bothering to change out of her pajamas and skulked into the kitchen.
This was a mess to, like her whole apartment...like her whole life...
Teabags, instant coffee pots, cereal bowls, dinner plates.
Nothing seemed worth the time.
She grabbed a slice of bread, slapping some cheese from the fridge uncaringly over it and made her way to the living room, brushing the papers off the sofa and sitting.
She'd left the TV on all night again. Damn bills.
The news was on, but she wasnt paying attention, her head filled with other thoughts.
A sudden noise caught her back from her thoughts.
The phone.
It bleeped pitifully from somewhere under all the trash of the living room.
After a desperate scramble for at least 20 seconds, she grabbed the reciever.
"Hello?" she said beathlessly.
"Claire?" Leon's anxious voice greeted, "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, yeah...Lost the phone, thats all..."
"Oh," she heard him let out a very audible sigh of relief,"Had me worried."
She forced a laugh.
"What did you call me for, Leon?"
The phone went quiet, as if he was thinking of what to say.
"Well, you know how Chris wants to meet both of us at that restaurant tonight?"
She nodded, then realised it was a phone, slapping herself on the forehead.
"Yes?"
"Well, uh," he began.
She knew what was coming, and she cursed inwardly.
"Do you want to meet a couple hours earlier? So we can wait for him together?"
She thought, frantically trying to come out with some excuse.
Broken leg? Too serious, he'd strom the house to treat her.
Cold? She's gone out with him with a cold before.
"Sure..." she heard her voice say.
DAMMIT!
"I'd love too..."
MOTHER F...
"Great!" was his response, "See you at...5?"
"Yeah," she forced cheeriness into her voice, "Sounds good. I left the breakfast cooking, so bye!"
"Breakfast at 6am?"
"Calling at 6am?"
"A touché. Later."
The phone went to the dial tone again, and Claire threw it across the room.
"SHIT!"
The last thing she needed. A date with Leon.
He was sweet, and any girls dream guy...But not hers.
A year ago she would have, but not now.
She knew she should get over the 17 year old love who was dead, but she couldnt.
She looked at the sketch of him hanging on her wall, mouthing a small:
"Sorry..."
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YAWN! Push Me is tired now. What can I say? REVIEW!
