Chapter Twelve: The Leeches' Master
Rebecca's boots clanked against the metal walkway.
"Woah," Billy said beside her, looking up at the massive telescope that hung from the dome ceiling. "I wonder if you can see Uran—"
"Don't," Rebecca said, glaring at Billy out of the corner of her eye. Billy just shrugged and swatted his hand at her—making his handcuffs jingle.
"Just trying to lighten the mood," he said, walking around the platform. Another set of double doors stood at the other end. Rebecca glanced over the edge of the railing. Another, circular grate platform lay a few feet down. Large machines lined the wall below. A console stood right beneath the eyepiece of the telescope.
CLANK.
Rebecca glanced up. Billy giggled the handle on the opposite doors a few times. When they didn't budge, he turned and shrugged. Rebecca sighed. Of course, it would be locked. When had anything been easy that night? Hey kid, she could practically hear her Dad say. No negativity. Find a solution.
"Yeah, Dad," she muttered, smiling a little. Rebecca walked around the railing to the ladder, which led to the lower level. She dropped down, boots clanking against the metal grating. Beneath it, she could just make out the black glisten of water below. Rebecca glanced over the console. Flashing buttons and dials dotted its surface. Just looking at it almost gave her a headache.
"Need help there, Dollface?" Billy called from the walkway above. Rebecca waved her hand, trying to focus. Tiny labels dotted the controls—Water tank flow, Lens focus, pump. Rebecca's eyes darted from one button to the next until she found one that sounded promising. To R. Facility. She pressed it.
The building shuddered. Rebecca clutched the control panel, while Billy nearly fell off the walkway before he grabbed the railing. Water raised from below the grating. Rebecca ran toward the ladder while trying to keep herself upright. The place is flooding! was the only thing she could think. She grabbed the ladder and pulled herself up. Suddenly, the building returned to normal. It was as though nothing had changed, except for the water line pressed against the grate floor. There was a loud click.
Rebecca latched onto the ladder, eyes closed and breathing heavy. Her heart wouldn't stop pounding. The only sound was the gentle sloshing of water below.
"Well," Billy said from above. "You broke it!"
"Just…check the door," Rebecca said. She forced a shaking limb through a rung. Billy's footfalls echoed throughout the room. Just as Rebecca pulled herself onto the walkway. Billy threw open the door. The scent of rain trickled into the room accompanied by a light gust.
"I'll be damned," Billy said, glancing over his shoulder. "Good job there, kid."
Rebecca gave a forced smile. Deep down, though, she appreciated the compliment.
Rebecca instinctively ducked when she spotted a bat fly past. She glanced around, expecting it to dart back. Yet its little black body rose up over the observatory behind and into the night. Rebecca waited for Billy to make a remark, though he hadn't been paying attention. Instead, he stared at what lay in front of them.
On the edge of the opposite cliff towered a gray church. Its roof slopped on either side, except for where a belfry stood in the middle. A light flickered in the lower windows.
"Do you think someone might be in there?" Rebecca said over her shoulder. Billy's jaw tightened, but he nodded.
Finally! Another person! Maybe it was even Richard or someone else from her team. Her eyes darted to Billy again. He remained by her side, grip tightened on his shotgun. Would he put up a fight if it came to it?
"Don't worry," Billy said in a low voice. "I've had a good run. If we meet your friends, I won't fight back."
Rebecca sighed in relief. Still, it didn't get rid of the knot in her stomach. Don't be stupid, she thought. He's a criminal…The thought didn't sit right. Rebecca pushed it aside.
A bridge made of gray stone connected the observatory to the church. Water filled the gorge below, reflecting the cloudy sky. Lightning flickered across the sky. Lamps stood on either side of the bridge, flickering slightly at the brief gusts of wind. As they walked across, Rebecca couldn't shake her thoughts.
Just tell him to run, Rebecca kept telling herself, but she automatically dismissed the subject. How could she? She was an officer of the law. The fact was that Billy was a wanted man. He killed people.
They reached the front doors. Rebecca reached from the front door. She felt Billy's tenseness from behind her. All she had to do was tell him to run. Go in by herself. Tell everyone that she lost him. No! Rebecca thought. You're an officer! She took a deep breath and pushed open the church's doors.
Darkness nearly consumed the cavernous congregation hall. The only source of light came from lit candles scattered throughout the room. Pews lined the aisle, though so tightly packed together that it would be nearly impossible to sit in one. Everything looked grand—the white stone walls, the pillars lining them, and the domed roof. An altar stood opposite of them, with a faded picture of Mary holding Jesus hung before the dais.
A figure stood before the altar but turned upon their entrance.
It was a young man—a young man that Rebecca knew that she had seen before. His white cloak whipped around his body. Strands of long, black hair fell down, but he didn't move it. Rebecca gasped. She suddenly remembered who this young man was.
It was the young man she saw on the cliff.
"You," was all she could say. The young man lifted his head. Shadows lengthened over his gaunt face.
"You know this guy?" Billy asked, but Rebecca hadn't heard him.
"So," the young man said, spreading his arms wide. "You've made it this far. Clearly, you're not as inexperienced as I first believed."
Rebecca couldn't keep staring at his face. She knew him—not just from the cliff. There was something else familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it…
"Who are you," she asked. The young man grinned, as though expecting the question.
"We are all that is left," he said, his voice smooth and precise. "The legacy of the great Dr. James Marcus." Something shiny crawled out of his sleeve onto the back of his hand. Rebecca squinted but widened when she realized it was one of those bloated leeches. She raised her gun an inch. The young man focused on the creature—expression passive. The leech reared up. Slime dripped from its slick body and onto his hand.
"You control them," Rebecca said in disbelief. "You caused all of this."
"They are my children," the young man replied. "Our power has greatly diminished since you murdered hundreds on the train, but we are exceedingly resilient." Rebecca's brow furrowed. Murdered? She tried to remember back to the train. He couldn't mean those zombies—she glanced at the leech on his hand. No, he means those things! "And yes, I am the catalyst. However, the real culprit behind all of this is Umbrella."
The young man took a step toward them. Rebecca raised her gun, and Billy did the same beside her.
"You are under arrest," Rebecca said. The young man continued toward them. "Anything you say can be held against—"
"Are you seriously reading this guy his Maranda rights?!" Billy said.
Rebecca opened her mouth to retort when the young man stood before her. In a swift gesture, he pushed her aside. Rebecca's hip erupted in pain as it hit the pew edge hard. Billy brought the barrel of his shotgun around. The young man grabbed it and redirected the barrel as easily as if it were held by a child. A bang echoed throughout the hall as it went off. The young man grabbed Billy's neck and hoist him up. Billy struggled, feet inches above the ground. The young man cocked his head. His eyes looked like silts beneath his bangs.
"I'm insulted," he said beneath his breath. "Umbrella sends a rookie cop and an escaped prisoner…No…now is not the time for a fight. We aren't strong enough yet." He said the last part as if he were talking to another person. The young man flung Billy to the right. Billy yelled, crashing into the pew's seat. Rebecca glanced over. He coughed—wind knocked out of him—but seemed otherwise alright. "Soon," the young man said, walking toward the door. "Very soon."
"Wait," Rebecca said, but the door already closed behind him.