"Who the fuck opened the doors?" Carlos screamed as they all stood panting in a storage room alternating between watching the door and each other. Chris dead bolted the door, as the zombies could be heard outside banging around. Claire leaned against the wall, her heart pounding in her chest. That was too close, they had barely managed to escape the out pour of zombies!
Claire's chest heaved as she pulled in a deep breaths, something was wrong, very wrong. Claire felt different, her energy was rapidly waning and she could feel her muscles cramping painfully. Claire could feel cold fear seeping into her as it dawned on her that she could be mutating further. She looked around the room.
The only available light was flickering, just a bare bulb swinging from its wire from the wall. It made it seem like every one was moving despite the fact that they were standing still. Carlos, and Leon put the bomb down, exhausted by the effort of carrying the device. Sweating, Carlos ran his hands through his hair to stop it plastering to his head. "Jesus! I can't believe that everything's all turned to shit so fast!" Carlos slid down against the wall to a crouch against it
Leon walked over to Claire, he placed his hand on her back rubbing gently trying to provide comfort. Claire looked up at him unable to stop a faint smile, his face was caked with dirt, and a smear of blood rested on his cheek. As Claire reached up and wiped it away, she felt something stirring inside as she looked up at him, and he looked at her, carefully watching her.
Leon really loves me…
Claire realised as he looked down at her, concern in his eyes. Does Wesker love me? She felt a shiver running down her spine. Better to not even think about it.
Rebecca stood anxiously by Chris as he peered out the small window, watching the zombies as the stumbled against the door. Chris looked to be in deep thought, his brow furrowed as his eyes darted from each possible threat to the other.
Rebecca felt herself trembling. I'm not meant for the front line! I'm a fucking medic, we're supposed to behind everyone else mopping up the battle wounds and passing out band aids! Rebecca shook her head slightly trying to scatter her negative thoughts, but she felt sick as though she was going to throw up on the grimy floor
She looked across the room, Claire and Leon were staring at each other, almost like they were lovers. Rebecca tore her gaze away from them feeling like a voyeur for watching what was obviously a private moment and looked at Jill. She was staring at the wall, a hand on hip and tapping her foot, looking just as preoccupied as Chris did. Feeling overwhelmed Rebecca could feel the hot tears prickling at her eyes. I'm going to die here, and I never even got to tell Billy how I feel.
Rebecca felt a warm hand on her shoulder slide over her shoulder, turning Rebecca looked up into Chris's kind face.
"Its okay Rebecca." She forced a smile on her lips, swallowed the lump in her throat, and nodded.
He squeezed her shoulder before turning to them all.
" Alright! Listen." Carlos jumped up and looked at him, his mouth set in a thin line. Jill remained where she was still at the wall but nodded her attention to him. Tearing themselves away from each other Leon and Claire looked at him.
"Right, here's the plan, This room is connected to a huge ventilation system, that covers the whole facility. We're going to go through that. It will lead us straight to the weak point." Chris looked a their faces, and could see the fear that touched them all. "We can do this guys." And with that he strode over to the nearest vent grille and strained to pull it apart from its bearings on the wall. After peering into the vent to make sure it was large enough for them all to get through, Chris crawled into the tiny space motioning for everyone else to follow him.
One by one they inched through the vents, scraping their arms and legs on the ragged edges of the vent. The filth in the tiny gap covered them and Claire with her heightened sense of smell thought it was intolerable. It seemed like hours before Chris finally stopped at another vent opening. He kicked out one of the grating and dropped down into the room below. One by one they dropped down next to him, finally Leon lowered the bomb case as everyone helped eased the bomb out the hole and carefully lowered it onto the floor.
They all sighed in relief as they stood in the deserted room, it looked like the room was used for storage, mouldy and crumpling under the weight of damp. A dank musty smell hung in the air, and the walls were sweating as the moisture in the room clung to every surface. Chris immediately swept the room over checking for all entry points, there were only two exits, one was locked, the other door leading in the direction the team need to go.
Jill took point, telling them to stand back as she advanced on the door, looking every inch the professional soldier. Claire could hear her heart beat pounding, as she opened the door slowly and disappeared. After several moments of waiting she reappeared and gave a thumbs up. "It's all clear, as far as I can see, up into the next level. Carlos laughed in his thick accent a soothing sound to Claire's ears.
" Finally we get lucky!" Carlos and Leon hefted up the bomb, Rebecca looked calmer now that the zombies were left behind them, or it could be Rebecca just coming to terms with the fact that the odds staked against them, Claire wondered. It sounded crazy but she could have sworn she had sensed Wesker close to her, trying to stay calm Claire took a moment to concentrate carefully. It was true it wasn't her imagination. Wesker was close.
Claire could feel her stomach tighten in anticipation but she was frightened too. She wanted to run away, far away from this place and far away from Wesker. It was a grim reminder that Claire was out of time. With a apprehensive sigh Claire tried to calm herself, even she could feel his presence, like he was under her skin, inside her mind, he felt so close that Claire could practically smell Wesker.
No.
Claire desperately thought. No…It's too soon! I don't know what to do. I don't have a plan yet!
As they started to leave the room Claire followed deciding action was better than making herself sick with worry. Before she could even take a few steps forward Claire's sensitive hearing was assaulted from all corners by a massive boom.
Before Claire even had time to realise where the explosions had come from, a part of the ceiling came crashing down on top of them. Chris was knocked back against the wall, Jill and Rebecca both disappeared under rubble, Leon and Carlos fell to their knees, struggling not to drop the case or throw it around in case the caused the bomb to detonate
Something slithered over the debris on the ground, something that Claire couldn't see, her vision blurred from the earlier impact on her head, Claire panicked as her eyes refused to focus, she could feel her head throbbing. Trying to regain her senses Claire could feel it moving towards her as she was the closest target.
" FUCK! What the hell is it!" Carlos yelled.
" Don't ask, shoot!" Leon answered as he fired off rounds into in an attempt to take the monster down before it could reach Claire.
Chris was pumping the monster full of bullets as it advanced on his sister, trying to distract the beast succeeding as it turned to chase him, enticing it from the remains of the wall allowing him to finally catch sight of its deformed body. The creature's skin was so pale it was almost translucent, with something similar to a reptiles scales covering it. There were four eyes as large as tennis balls and they were a pink colour. Each eye was honed on Chris's position as the beast advanced, lowering its jaw, making it wide enough to pluck a full grown mans arm from his body.
It was on him, lunging in a bid to maul him, Chris only moved just in time, where his head had been was now a huge set of teeth snapping down on air. Leon aimed one handed, and shot it in the back, while yelling to Claire. "Claire! This way, come on!" Claire stumbled as she pulled herself to her feet, blood rushing to her head her vision returned. Rubble and dust falling away from her clothes as she stood up in time to see its ugly head coming for her.
Claire reached out and grabbed it by its surprisingly little neck, her arms just long enough to holds its teeth less then an inch from her flesh. Its breath and spit assaulted her, as she brought her knees up and gave it one in what appeared to be its stomach. With a spine tingling screech the monster started to back off, it's maw gaping wide with blood tinged drool, Claire took a couple of steps back before aiming at it, and gets it right in the eye! It squeals like a pig, and pink fluid gushes out!
Now the monster went berserk, enraged by pain and the shock of its prey retaliating, it nearly crushed Jill and Rebecca as they both struggled to emerge from the rubble.
Pulling her self up Claire could see Rebecca limping badly, desperately relying on Jill for support .
"Get out all of you, We'll catch up…The mission's first!" Chris runs for the thing thrusting his survival knife deep into its spine. Claire could hear Carlos yelling to Leon to move it, but he couldn't stop himself from desperately looking at Claire, not wanting to leave her in danger. For a split second every thing slowed down to a standstill and Claire couldn't hear a thing. Then reality flooding back to her in a dizzying rush as she yelled at Leon, "Leon GO!"
Leon cursed and grabbed his side of the case. Jill was practically dragging Rebecca along whose limp was growing worse with each step she took .Ripping her eyes away from the others Claire took jump, kicking her body towards the monster, she winced as it almost took her head off in a single snap of the razor sharp teeth. Ducking as the creature flailed its tentacles wildly Claire saw her chance and brought her gun to the soft unprotected flesh of its underbelly emptying a whole clip into it at point blank range. With a howl it slowed down and Chris fired off his last clip into its head. With a final violent spasm the monster whimpered before falling to ground dying on the spot, leaving both Claire and Chris standing shell shocked next to its bloody corpse.
Chris turned and grabbed Claire's arm his grip painfully tight. "Are you okay?" Claire nodded dumbly her tongue seemingly glued to the roof of her mouth. Leaning against the far wall gasping for breath, Claire scrubbed off the monsters gore from her forehead with the back of her hand. Chris was hunched over his face covered in a sheen of sweat as he took in big gulps of air holding onto his knees for support. "That was too close Claire… I almost lost you again."
Claire opened her mouth to speak, to reassure Chris that she was OK, but before a word left her lips, Claire went reeling backwards hearing the hiss of air as the wall slid apart. Claire scrabbled at the doors edges before she fell inside, but then a strong well known arm wrapping around her waist pulling her into the gloom before throwing her aside. With a sneer Wesker tapped a side panel sealing the door in Chris's face as he raced towards them.
The last vision Chris's saw of his sister was of her standing next to a smirking Wesker. Frantically Chris hammered the steel door. With a final punch to the door, Chris only succeeded in damaging his hand, his knuckles now raw and bloody " NO!" Chris thumped his forehead against the cold steel his rage filling his body. "God. Damn. It!" Chris screamed in frustration as he ran from the room determined to find Claire before it was too late.
Not this time Wesker… This time you're a dead man.
Claire was standing against the door, still able to hear the faint pounding of Chris against the steel door. Her heart was thumping a tattoo in her chest, and she could instinctively tell that Wesker could sense every beat. Wesker silently came closer and Claire cringed as he reached out to touch her, but she couldn't stop herself from moving closer to him. Claire couldn't help but think that it was a sign how warped her mind had become. With the same single thought repeating itself in her head
This is what Wesker has made me…
A tear trickled down the curve of Claire's cheek, and Wesker leant in and kisses it away as Chris's name escapes her lips. Claire looked fearfully at Wesker as she realised what she had done and could see his eyes glowing through his sunglasses as he swept his arm upwards and smacking her across the face.
