Chapter 15. "Calm before the storm."

A teenage girl with brown-reddish hair stood in a wide room. A dozen target circles flicked upward from within ground panels. After drawing twin pistols, the gunslinger smirked. "Let us begin."

One gun forward then shot at the first target, she bends over slightly. The second target was on a rotor and appeared on the move. The girl leveled her second pistol and fired. She chuckled and spun twice while shooting. With every flash of light, the guns fired nonstop, and the smoke engulfed the training range.

The gun smoke started to dissipate. The gunslinger kept her eyes forward as her handguns ejected spent magazines.

KA-KUNK! The magazines smacked the ground as she turned around.

"Perfect as usual." A voice called, and applause followed.

The gunslinger turned around and bowed to her audience of two men. "Thank you, Mike." She uttered happily then rubbed her forehead, wiping away trickles of sweat.

"Hey Jamie, you feel like challenging me?" She winked seductively.

The young man rubbed his chin while Kristen's slender figure sauntered toward him. The gunslinger exaggerated the sway of her hips then stopped five feet away.

"You are on Kristen, I will be perfect for this upcoming mission, and you'll see." Jamie retorted.

Kristen's fingers ran through her wavy hair then sighed. "I thought we are the dynamic partners, eh Hunk?"

The boy crossed his arms. "I'm nice here, but during the job, do not expect the same thing."

Kristen's smile was the last thing Hunk saw before suffocating smoke engulfed his vision... a roar disturbed the silence, followed by a cry from Kristen.

'That is not good...enough.'

'...know your place, slave...'

'Saaaad...we lost another one...'

'Where are you... ?' He screamed.

'James died... my name is Hunk.'

The Voices echoed, and Hunk felt his heart hammer within his chest. A painful scream ripped through him as he jolted awake. The merc whimpered, his eyes going over where he was... to make sure of where he was exactly. The midmorning light was coming pearly gray through the filtered window.

Nighthawk opened the door and stood there, worried. "What happened?"

Hunk was silent for a moment, rubbing both of his temples and breathing in and out. Still, he felt the rush of adrenaline in his body. "Your name is Mike. "

"Well yeah, you know that." Nighthawk confusingly frowned. Hunk was not sure to bring up ghosts. Bits and pieces he, for some odd reason, had forgotten.

...

Chris pulled his sister in a warm embrace. "I'm a phone call away, okay little Claire bear?" He whispered. Claire tightened her grip around him, and she still loves the annoying jerk no matter what.

"I love you too Chris, Don't worry, I will call you if something comes up."

Annie bowed slightly. "Let's do this again, mister Redfield."

"See you later, Annie."

The young women stood in front of the mall entrance after having a good lunch together. It was the usual, and the sibling will fight and then go on with their lives as nothing happened. Visit, fight, and leave… A cycle Chris and Claire never truly attempted to break.

Chris turned back and went for the parking lot. Claire watched him slowly vanish from her sight. She was happy by this visit for once, and he opened up about something that ate at him emotionally.

"Hey Claire," Annie spoke. "Want to take a walk around?"

Claire aimlessly followed her friend in the busy street, Miss holier than thou.

Claire had lost track of just how many times that line Hunk had uttered had looped in her head before it seemed endless. Now she knew no other phrase that seemed cruel and harsh… She was no longer of any use to one of the few men she dared let close to her.

She cannot let this matter go, no matter what she would do.

"Tell me, Annie, what is your point of view about good and evil. " The two friends went over the sidewalk, and the past by a woman with her stroller. As well as a couple holding hands and shopping bags in their hands.

Annie watched the street in front of her, the sight of the people everywhere going around the small market. Street vendors are shouting for their products, of many things.

Yet, that question made her feel alone. Good and evil.

" Well, I have to say... " Annie whispered. Sign of discomfort is evident in her voice. " It's that no matter what one does. There will be terrible and good people. Such as those who had to be horrible to make good outcomes and vice versa. "

Claire stopped and stared into the crowd of people, and Annie did the same.

" No one in this world can indeed be a hero, even within the hearts of the heroes in our city. One will find selfishness, and you will find a hunger for control, self-centered attitude in others. Justice is what suits the individual. "

Claire's mind went through her words carefully. Perhaps this is a perspective she saw herself, or maybe she was misguided to the point of blindness.

' How come I never saw this before? ' Claire mentally asked herself. She was the hero who wishes to kill someone … commit a murder. That must be a hunger for violence with the excuse of vengeance for victims.

" I'm not a hero, and I'm just a normal girl... with a bit of narrow perspective. I know my words sound weird, but I need it to figure things out. " Claire placed her hand on Annie's shoulder and started breathing in and out.

" Claire, we live and learn, right?" Annie smiled. " I know you were changed since we left the city... I wonder who did this to you. " She said with a glint in her eyes.

" Well, let's just say it's someone unexpected at all. " Claire said slyly, and her hand went through her hair. "I'm going in the subway. I have a place I need to visit for a job. "

"It's okay, let's go. "

The two walked alongside the sidewalk and noticed a sign for the underground. Claire relaxed her shoulders as Annie, and the two commenced in small talk. Then, finally, the grey bricks and layered walls came into view.

Annie spotted the staircase, and the two entered the subway. The lights had the halls be completely clear—illuminated advertisements with graffiti on the occasional wall. The screeching of the rails hummed in the halls as Claire and Annie paid to enter. A dozen or so layered maps of the ways to show the various lines.

The low-hanging ceiling was dark blue, and dozens of pillars were spread out. Benches were arranged in the center of the waiting commuters. Claire and Annie saw which line they needed to take and stood near a pillar.

They waited for about ten minutes.

Their subway train arrived, and the two entered a car. The car had poles and seats alongside the walls. The silver shine and iron smell were prevalent as both women sat down in the mid and back of the vehicle.

Claire crossed her arms and sat still in the car. Strangely enough, there were only boys in the side, a woman on the left, and that was it.

" Excuse me, miss ?"

Claire turned to glare openly at the kid, probably no older than 15 or 16. He had bleached brown hair that spiked in all directions. She noted with a mocking laugh that if he did jump her, all she'd have to do is give his pants a gentle nudge, and they'd probably fall off his behind. The more he and makeup, it felt like the group was about to invade Annie and Claire's personal space.

Claire could trip him that way as well, rip out the nipple ring that was noticeable through his t-shirt. But, she didn't have time to contemplate and wonder about his parents and how do they feel about this?

"Back off, little boy. I don't carry a purse or even a wallet, " Claire growled up at him, remaining in her seat.

He looked shocked at her for a moment, having the audacity to look ignorant. It seemed this was his first time playing this game because he didn't even have a witty retort for her.

" Claire? " Annie leaned back and gave a confused stare.

' How boring. ' Claire thought.

He sidled away back to his buddies, where they regrouped. Claire meanwhile laid her head back and closed her eyes tiredly. The streaking light of the tunnel flashed every second, and the skeleton of maintenance outside.

" Hey bitch, I hear you think you're hot shit, " a prepubescent voice came from nowhere. Claire opened one eye to find herself surrounded. Her face split into a smile.

" I already told your buddy, you wanna be cool. I don't carry what you're looking for, and you certainly don't want what I do. "

The idiot boy bent over, and she caught a whiff of the cologne he had bathed and motioned himself with. She waved her hand in front of her face and coughed in displeasure which only seemed to anger him further. Annie shook her head as to remembering Claire's stubborn nature.

" What if I told you it wasn't money we wanted from you ?" He growled with a smirk on his face. She returned it, leaning forward and crossing one leg over the other. She lifted her finger to beckon him closer.

" So you want what I have beneath here then?" She whispered seductively as she played with the zipper of her pants. The idiot eyed her belly, swallowed, and nodded as if he had just scored. He thought tonight he was going to get laid by an older woman.

Claire reached up and pulled a knife that was strapped to her ankle, pressing it into the boy's belly. " Move along, kid, go back to school for the sake of your future. "

Unfortunately, she hadn't expected to hear a scream coming from the end of the car. The woman had gotten on and had been frightened at the sight of her knife. All it took was that split-second distraction to find herself weaponless and held by three of them.

" Not so smart now, are you ?" One of the teens retorted.

" Hey, let her go. " Annie struggled to fight off one of them. But she was no fighter. The boy held her hand and swung her to her back... pinned.

" Get off me!" Claire hissed as she kicked, bit, and clawed to get out of their grasp. Finally, she found an opening and crawled out of their reach, kicking one in the middle of his chest in the process. The larger boy moved with his other friend to grab her ankle, so she kicked, breaking the boy's nose with a disgusting crack.

He fell back, clutching his face, but the others didn't seem to notice.

The unmistakable thud of the train car vibrated as Claire turned to crawl into a standing position when she was yanked up by the arm and tossed behind someone. She blinked confused and saw deep grey somewhere in front of her and a brown dust boot. The sound of ruffling clothes was apparent and with the sound of fists on skin contact.

Claire could see from her vantage point a sudden look of terror on their faces as they gazed at the figure before them. She was never sure what it was they saw on his face because she stood behind him, but whatever it was made them dashed.

" You survived tough monsters, and you let a bunch of teenagers get to you, really Redfield ?" The figure moaned.

That voice..?

"It's you. " She said, confused. Hunk turned to look at her with a smirk.

Claire was sure, yes, it's him. A face she would not forget. "Shut up, and I was doing fine damaging the idiots until you came along. "

Claire looked up to see that Hunk trimmed down his hair and looked presentable when he wasn't drenched in sweat. Damn jerk could not have helped sooner.

Behind Hunk, she saw a man dressed in a red jacket help Annie get on her feet. "Hey, little princess, they should learn their lesson. " Annie had a prominent crimson color in her cheeks. The other guy did not threaten Hunk, and it was clear to Claire that it was Nighthawk.

" Mmm... yeah. " Annie replied as she wiped off the dirt.

Hunk smiled smugly. "You are so gun-ho about justice you create problems to solve, even on trains?" Hunk looked At Nighthawk. "Could make for a comic book backstory. "

"I'll buy it," Nighthawk replied.

'Fucking smartass! ' Claire clenched her fists. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Hunk crossed his arms and smiled. "Gee, thanks, nice to see you too. " He said with a light chuckle.

Claire grumbled to herself as she got back on her feet. Hunk just walked onward so he can stand beside Nighthawk. He was a footstep away from Claire.

Annie dusted her coat one last time, sensing the awkward tension. "Who is this guy Claire?" She noticed Nighthawk winking at her seductively.

Claire only turned to walk away, but then a knee buckled over a bag left by the boy. Hunk heard her curse silently as her weight pulled her to the ground.

Claire didn't feel the cold dirty ground. It was warm.

She found herself on top of Hunk and him staring at the ceiling.

" Get the hell off of me. " Hunk said. It seems he was ready to snap any moment. " You clumsy idiot. "

His eyes rolled, and for some reason, she felt her cheeks flush from the contact.

She quickly looked away from him, and she let out a laugh that came out more like a nervous wheeze …

The subway car came to a halt, and it was her exit. Claire pulled herself off of him. "Sorry, yeah, I'm clumsy. "

Annie tugged in her hand and walked out through the door with her.

" What are you doing out the open like this? " Claire looked to her left and right.

" We still have our own lives, you know. " Nighthawk spoke on both of their behalfs.

" Claire, who are these guys? "

Claire wanted to explain everything here and there, but she saw how Hunk paid more attention to the city map. Also, secrecy is their thing. She decided not to push it. "I'll explain later. "

Nighthawk and Hunk watched as the train slowed down on their arrival.

\Finally, the car doors opened, and Nighthawk gave a half-hearted salute as a goodbye.

After that, they had their own business.

The two girls returned to the street, it was on the calmer side of the city, and it contained the rare diamond and jewelry shops. It had a couple of people walking about. However, the street was busy with cars.

" I think I will try my luck with a place here. " Claire said. "I mean, watching over the sales and handling the cashier is not the best job in the world, but... it's better than nothing. "

"I agree with you there, and this could be just a job for now. Until our life here gets better and by the way. "

Annie shrugged as she watched the two men walk off the distance. "I know you have your issues. Whatever it is. Just come to me when you're ready. Those kids didn't even start that fight with us. "

Claire looked to the ground in defeat. "I'm sorry. "

Annie nodded to the sidewalk. "Come on, and we don't want you to be late. "

Claire had a gnawing feeling in the back of her mind, almost an itch between her shoulders. As they passed the street to the other side of the sidewalk, she got the impulse to turn around because, in the back of her mind, she knows that there is someone else nearby.

At last, she gazed back, but there was nothing suspicious. Still, the feeling never left her, like someone is watching her every step closely... a ghost.

...

Nighthawk had borrowed a pretty nice-looking Porsche off the street to take them to the building where they will perfectly get Nikolai's attention...

It was late afternoon, and Hunk wondered what was up with this.

They didn't hear anything from him yet, to think he will keep watch on them. But he wasn't going to try and contact him again, texts or phone calls. Something that simple would not be easy to forget, but professionals are not always on top of things. Maybe he thought they didn't make it out alive. This perfect, the moment of surprise he will get him.

There was the building — an old tenant Hunk knew all too well, there is a couple of Umbrella men staying there, and all were loyal to Nikolai and Sergei. The perfect chance to hit him and learn information where John Murphy could be.

After all, he knew Sergei rented most of the rooms out for about one-tenth of the market value, a little something in the side to gain money off of it.

Thank you for reading. I will try to update again sooner.

Miss some action? stay tuned for the next chapter.

...A little preview for the next chapter...

The fire siren shook the whole floor, as people started to run out of there scared.

Nighthawk placed a flare-up on the roof and lit it, creating a white glow in the night sky.

John Murphy wrung his hands; he was ready to snap any minute. " This is not good if we kept going at this rate... " he frowned."I'll die before I surrender to Wesker."

Claire handed the woman her money, " Thank you. Please come again soon. " She held into the counter as she felt once again someone is watching her. The feeling is too much, especially that she cannot tell where he is.

"Mountain of corpses will not stand in my way," Wesker whispered.

Thank you saito87: That moment you're talking about, it was not meant like this, believe me, it's not. Okay, I agree with you there, I mean, specific authors are doing a great job, but I would like Wesker with humanity. Not totally a good guy. :) Yeah, I imagine Hunk is not much into nightstands. With expectations in the past, that is.

About guns, I'm not that informed about them either. It's with the help of my friend the section was written down. It fits well.

Chris and Claire just love to get in each other's throats, while they do have a real problem. lol :D

Thank you very much, Jill. I'm happy you loved it. It means a lot to me. You just wait and see. I hope you will like where I take the story.

Thank you very much guest, I appreciate it.