Chapter 5: A Broken Promise

September 23, 1998

"This is Chris Redfield. I can't get to the phone right now. Leave me a name and number and I'll get back to you. Maybe."

Claire sighed as she replaced the receiver back onto the payphone receptacle.

"Damn it, Chris," she muttered. Just talk to me. He had always been difficult to contact, what with his job. But since July, it was nearly impossible. Then she had read about the S.T.A.R.S. and their mission in the mountains. She had left a frantic on Chris's voicemail telling him that she was on his way. Chris promptly called her back, assuring her that he was fine, that it was all some mistake that was going to blow over and he was working on it now. Though, the part that Claire found odd was that he kept telling her not to come to Raccoon City, imparting on her the importance of her classes. "Fuck my classes," she had replied. But after fifteen minutes of arguing, she finally conceded that she would stay put and in exchange, he would try to keep in contact more often. It had been nearly a week since she had last heard from him.

"Nothing?" Denise asked, leaning against the wall beside the payphone. Denise Bachman was the opposite of Claire's 'tomboy'-ish nature. Where Claire usually kept her crimson hair in a ponytail, Denise was known to let her curly blonde hair fall to her shoulders. While Claire had an interest in motorbikes and automobiles, Denise preferred make-up and fashion. Despite their complete opposite interests, they had somehow hit it off since their freshman year when they had been dorm roommates.

"Naturally," Claire replied. The library atrium was relatively noisy Tuesday afternoon, students bustling about to the various floors for their books.

"I'm sure it's nothing," Denise said. "He's probably seeing some girl or something."

Claire couldn't help herself from laughing at that.

"I really doubt that," Claire replied. "I'll try again in a while."

Still, as she and Denise walked to the library's second floor, she couldn't help but let her mind wander back to Chris. Maybe I am overreacting, Claire thought. Maybe it is something innocent—like he really is seeing someone. But the memory of that article—the headline proclaiming "Raccoon Umbrella Laboratory destroyed; Local officers under investigation"—immediately crushed that explanation.

She just hoped he hadn't picked up drinking again like he had when the Air Force let him go...

"How was the date with David?" Denise asked, taking a seat beside the window. She set her bag in the seat beside her and started pulling out several textbooks. Claire followed her lead and took a seat across from her, unloading her own textbooks from her backpack. Sunlight poured in from the window beside them, overlooking one of Chicago State's many parking lots. Her Harley -Davison was in plain view below. "Same old," Claire replied. "I thought he was a little bit stuck up."

"That's hot," Denise replied.

"I really doubt your judgment in men," Claire replied. "The last guy you set me up expected me to pick up the check."

"Hey, I'm allowed to have a couple of duds," Denise replied. Claire only smiled and shook her head. Not like she needed help get dates. Since Claire had hit puberty, she had to beat guys away with a metal pipe. It didn't help when you had an older brother who insisted on meeting every long-time partner and then thoroughly judge them.

That protectiveness only got worse after their parents died.

Claire glanced out the window. A tow truck cruised the parking lot, it's orange alert lights shining. Someone's about to have a bad day, Claire thought. Then she stiffened. Had she renewed her parking permit for this semester? She had no more than thought it than the truck stopped behind her Harley.

"Shit!" Claire said. Denise looked up from her Biology textbook to look outside. "I'll be right back!"

Before her roommate could reply, Claire darted toward the stairs. How could she have been so stupid? They had sent her two warnings as it was, but with everything happening on top of classes, she had forgotten. Now, instead of studying for that Algebra test—you know, for the class you're FAILING—you're going to waste the rest of the day at the towing place.

"Shit. Shit," Claire kept muttering under her breath. She burst through the library doors out into the warm afternoon. If she managed to stop the truck—that is, if the driver wasn't a complete dick and gave her a break—she'd go right down and get another permit. The fact that she hadn't already—

Claire rounded the corner and what she saw stopped her in her tracks. The tow truck was still parked in front of her bike and the driver was already out of the cab. He was a hefty, balding man in his late thirties, wearing a flannel shirt and jeans. He was talking to another man, someone younger and taller, his hair dark and short—

Chris?

Chris glanced toward her as though he heard Claire's thoughts, never stopping his conversation with the tow trucker. Chris handed the man something and the man then returned to his truck. Chris waited until the tow truck started and rolled away before making his way toward Claire.

"Chris!" Claire said, smiling. Chris smirked as she embraced her brother in a tight embrace. "What the Hell are you doing here? Not that I'm complaining..."

"Saving your ass from being towed for one," Chris replied, his smirk widening. Claire playfully punched him in the shoulder. Chris winced. Claire's brow furrowed. He'd usually just brush something like that off...Chris laughed, but it seemed forced. "Besides, I wanted to see my little sis."

"Thanks for saving my ass," Claire said.

"What are big brothers for?" Chris said. "You do owe me a hundred bucks now."

Claire laughed.

"Can I start by buying you a cup of coffee?"

"I think so," Chris replied. "But take care of your permit first."

Claire and Chris ran by the library to grab Claire's things. She told Denise that she would be back later, rolling her eyes when she noticed Denise's eyes scan Chris's behind as he walked away. After buying her permit, they sat down in the Chicago State University's Cafe with two cups of coffee. It was a small coffee shop on campus, so luckily only two other people occupied the shop, giving her and Chris relative privacy.

"How have you been?" Chris asked.

"I've been alright," Claire replied. "I had a date the other night that didn't go so well."

"A date? Weren't you dating someone...what's his name? The engineering major?"

"Jared," Claire finished, sipping her cup of coffee. "It just didn't work out."

"What was wrong this one?" Chris asked, chortling.

"He was just starting to get on my nerves, you know? He always had to comment on everything I did—You really wearing that? Why do you want to do that? He was going to drive me out of my mind."

"Good. Glad you got away then," Chris replied. "Still, with the number of men you go through, the Redfield line is going to end with us!"

Chris chuckled. Claire tried to keep a straight face, yet her lips curved up despite herself.

"Shut up," Claire replied, rolling her eyes. Just because you don't like women doesn't mean you can't still breed, she wanted to say but forced it back. It had been a long time since she saw Chris last and even longer since they bantered like this. It was like it was when they were teenagers when they were closer. She didn't want to ruin it. "So, what about you? How are you holding up?"

"I'm alright," he replied, but Claire noticed that he avoided her eyes. "Just trying to get past this investigation."

A tense silence fell between then. Claire tapped her fingers lightly against her cup, wonder if she dared ask the question that had been burning inside her. Finally, she sighed and just let it out.

"Chris...What happened to you...during that mission in the mountains?"

"Claire, I really don't want to talk—"

"The papers are saying you were hyped up on dope. Chris, I know you. How anal-retentive you are. It's bullshit. And you'd never drive seven hours to see me when school was in session, even when you were off work. That's what phones are for." Chris's face remained stoic. He seemed particularly interested with something outside. Claire reached over and placed a hand on his. "Chris, don't shut me out. Please. I want to help you."

Chris sighed but turned back to face Claire.

"I know," he replied. "But I have to keep you safe."

"Safe?" Claire asked. She chortled, but it was quickly cut short when she noticed Chris wasn't following suit. "Why wouldn't I be safe?"

Chris let out a heavy sigh, looking at her hand on top of his. Trying to find the right words.

"What happened out there in Arklay," Chris said. "It changed everything, Claire. Something happened out there that certain people don't want the world to know. If they aren't stopped...my point is, if it comes to it, these people might come after you to get to me. I can't let that happen.

Again, silence. Claire waited for more, her heart racing with each passing second. Just tell me what's going on, damn it, Chris! But she knew that when he was like this, it was like pulling teeth to get anything else out of him.

"That's all you're going to tell me, isn't it?" Claire finally replied, her voice tight.

"I did want to see you..." Chris replied. One last time, Claire's thoughts finished for him. Her stomach tightened and she thought she was going to be sick. "Just...please. Promise me that you will stay around other people, especially at night. People you trust. Watch out for anything shady—weird people, weird vehicles. And most of all, you have got to promise me that you will stay away from Raccoon City."

"Chris...I—"

Chris grabbed Claire's hand and squeezed lightly.

"Promise me, Claire."

A moment of silence passed between them. Chris's brown eyes stared into Claire's blue ones with such an intensity that she couldn't look away.

"Fine," she replied. "I promise."

The grip on Claire's hand lessened.

"I better head out," Chris said. He stood and Claire followed him outside of the cafe. As soon as they stepped out, he turned around and wrapped her in a tight embrace. Claire held out her arms for a moment in confusion, but then wrapped them around her brother. "I love you, Claire," he said. "Please, watch out for yourself."

"Yeah," Claire replied.

With that, Chris broke away. A smile crossed his face as he looked at her. For one last time, Claire thought again, making her wince.

"I'll keep in touch, I promise," he said before making his way back toward the university's parking lot.

As Claire watched him walk away, a feeling of trepidation befell her like a heavy shower. It was only exacerbated when Chris didn't return her phone call that night. Or the next day. Or even the following week. That feeling didn't even elevate when she finally decided to break her promise, climb on her bike, and make the long trip to Raccoon City eight days later.

To Be Continued...

The Biohazard Chronicles: The Ruins of Spencer Mansion