A Star's Descent: Book Two: Star Fall

By evolution-500

Disclaimer: House of the Dead and Resident Evil are properties belonging to SEGA and Capcom respectively. I do not own any of these characters.

WARNING: This story contains violence, coarse language, mature and disturbing themes and imagery. Reader discretion is advised.

Chapter Sixteen: Uncertainties

Star flipped through the pages of the book, inhaling the dusky old scent of aged paper as he did so.

'Home,' he thought wistfully.

It was a comforting smell, one that he often associated with his childhood, with Eleanor as she happily worked at the library. He often liked to sit somewhere and get lost in the words of poets and tales that were told, enchanted by the worlds depicted and the characters that inhabited them. He inspected the aged and cracked cover, running his gloved thumb along its bindings, shaking his head sadly. It was a shame to see a book in such a state, but then again, the same thing could be said about this mansion. To Star, it almost seemed symbolic in a way; it was as if Umbrella's corruption was physically manifesting and spreading itself like the very virus they created, clinging to everything around them, everything they touched.

Giving a heavy regretful sigh, he put the book and retrieved another, smaller black book, then froze, giving a rueful smile as he saw the title.

'Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus'.

Reaching out to put it back, Star paused, hesitating as he pulled it back into view. Gloved hands ran along the bindings as he stared contemplatively at the title's gold lettering.

….Could it be...that Fate was trying to tell him something?

Part of him wanted to scoff at such a notion, but the lines between rationality and insanity these past two nights have become so blurred that one has become indistinguishable from the other.

His lips tightening into a grim line as he cast his slit eyes around the library in suspicion.

Was he...a pawn in some sick game orchestrated by Umbrella? Was he an experiment, and this was Fate's way of warning him of what lied ahead for him and everyone involved? And if so...was there...was there a way to circumvent such a thing from happening?

Star regarded the bookshelves around him, stuffing the book in his hand back into its proper place. Winding around on his heels, the albino found himself pausing on a green book. At the sight of its author, Star allowed the corners of his mouth to lift slightly, his features softening.

"Ah, good old Sophocles," he spoke aloud.

Opening it up, Star was pleased to see the collection of plays available in its index. Scanning the titles, the albino smiled to himself.

It had been a while since he had read any of these, especially-

Star suddenly jerked back with a start, his eyes widening as he looked up in horror, the book dropping onto the floor with a thud.

"Oh my God."

Star's breathing started to quicken as he fearfully looked around the room, backing away slowly.

So that's Umbrella's plan!

"Star?"

Hearing Rebecca's voice, the albino turned his head in the direction where he heard it, then back to the entrance.

He needed to get as far away as possible.

Picking up his suitcases, Star headed for the door, mentally cursing Umbrella's name as he did so.

It was the sound of a book dropping that caused Rebecca to lift her eyes away from the shelf in front of her.

"Oh my God."

Rebecca turned as she heard the albino's voice. "Star?"

She listened as his footsteps receded.

"Hey Junior, everything-"

Joseph was cut off as a door opened and closed.

Following the sound, Rebecca found herself back at the library entrance, watching as Joseph scratched the back of his head.

"What's with him?" he wondered.

"Did you insult him?" Chris asked.

"No, I swear I didn't do anything!" Frost insisted.

Rebecca pushed through the door, moving through the corridors with the knight statues.

"Star?" she called. "Star?" Searching around, Rebecca paused as she caught sight of Star's giant departing form. "Star!"

Hearing his name, the albino froze, his hands tightened fast around the handles of his suitcases. Rebecca walked toward him, his back facing her.

"Star, what's going on?"

The hooded figure remained still, not bothering to turn around.

"Answer me," Rebecca insisted.

"...I know what Umbrella intends to do," Star spoke.

Rebecca hesitated. "You do?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"You got back your memories?"

He sighed. "No. It was something I read that made me think of it."

"And what was it?"

"'Oedipus Rex'," he simply.

Rebecca blinked. "I'm sorry?"

"You are familiar with the story of Oedipus, I take it?"

Her brows furrowed, uncertain of the relevance. "Um, Oedipus was the guy who slept with his mom, right?"

"That's only part of the story," Star answered. "According to the myth, Oedipus was the son of King Laius and Queen Jocasta. Prior to his birth, it was foretold in a prophecy that he would murder his father and marry his mother, thereby bringing disaster to his family and city. Hoping to thwart his destiny, King Laius sent a shepherd to leave the child up on the mountain to die."

"How does this relate to you?" Rebecca asked.

The albino was completely still, his form tense.

"...You know that scenario you described, with me being an experiment by Umbrella?" he began. "Let me amend that somewhat. Suppose your Captain had been investigating Umbrella, or that he was on the verge of finding out about them and their loathsome activities. Suppose for a moment...that there had never been a lover or girlfriend."

"...I don't understand."

Star remained still, his back facing her as he looked down to the floor.

"Suppose for a moment...Umbrella...took Captain Wesker's DNA without his knowing, and-and...used it to...manufacture something. Something created out of spite and mockery, as a way of telling your Captain that they now own him, essentially enslaving him to them. Something designed to let him know who had ultimately won. Suppose, Rebecca...that they wanted to create... a destroyer. A destroyer specially created as a sick joke. A destroyer...designed to eliminate the very things Captain Wesker built, valued and upheld. Designed to eliminate S.T.A.R.S."

He turned around slowly.

"A destroyer," Star said as he fearfully looked at her, "...that would come in the form of his own son. Umbrella's horrible reenactment of the Oedipus myth, in a manner of speaking...with the son bringing death and ruin to the father and everything he loved."

Rebecca processed his words.

Was it possible?

"...If that's so..." Rebecca began, "...what is it that you intend to do?"

Star looked away. "I'm going to get out of here and put as much distance between us as possible!" He replied, his voice laced with panic. "I am not going to stand by and let them use me against you!"

He started onward, moving quickly.

"Don't run away!" Rebecca said as she tried following after him. "Even if what you say is true, you can't just run!"

"I can't help it, Rebecca! I'm afraid!"

"So am I, but I'm not going to let that stop me from doing what I can to help you!"

Star shook his head. "There is no hope for me, Rebecca," he said sadly.

"Running away won't solve anything! Trust me, I know how you feel."

The albino stopped, his hands clenching the handles of his bags. "How can you know that?!" Star demanded, raising his voice. "How on God's green earth can you possibly know what it means to be an abomination?!"

"Because I'm an abomination myself!" Rebecca yelled back.

Star hesitated, then turned around to face her.

"What?" he said, startled.

Rebecca folded her arms together. "...It's true," the medic said as Star gave her a puzzled look, shaking her head angrily. "You are so selfish."

The albino's jaw dropped. "Selfish?!" he repeated in disbelief.

"Yes!" Rebecca retorted. "That's what you are, selfish!"

"For not wanting to hurt anyone?! For not wanting to hurt you?!"

"You think you're the only one with worries? You have been so preoccupied with whether you're human or not just because of the way you look that it's never seemed to have crossed your mind that you don't need scales, scars or horns to be evil. You should be ashamed of yourself, Star. You think you know what evil is?" She stared to the ground, her face shadowed. "...I'm...I'm the real thing."

The albino stared, blinking in confusion. "...I don't understand."

Rebecca shifted in discomfort. "...You know how back at the Training Facility...you said...that I deserved to be happy?" She shook her head sadly, speaking in a small and quiet voice, "...Would you...would you feel the same way...had I told you that I was the child of rape?"

Star felt as if he were struck by a powerful blow as he stared at Rebecca in shock, his mouth gaping open.

"...You-? You mean...?"

Rebecca gave a sad smile, looking away as a teardrop slid down her cheek.

"...I had been asleep in my room when I heard my parents fought last week," she began. "I had opened the door to listen in and hear what they were saying. They were arguing over something. I couldn't hear it in its entirety, but I heard bits and pieces. Something about cheating. I don't know. I guess Dad had been cheating on Mom and Mom found out about it. He said-he said to my mom in a very loud voice...'I'm...'" Rebecca's lip started to tremble, looking as though she were trying to muster up the strength to form the words, "'I'm...I'm glad I-I had raped you on our wedding night, you fucking bitch!'"

The words came out so softly and so low that one had to strain their ears to listen, yet it was powerful enough to catch Star completely off-guard and cause Rebecca to break down. The albino stood there, watching as Rebecca raised up a hand to her face as she started to sob.

"Rebecca I...I'm so sorry," he said, too speechless for words.

She wiped her eyes, taking a deep breath as she recollected herself. "You see, Star? You're not the only scary thing here."

The hooded albino looked around uncertainly.

"I know what you're thinking," Rebecca spoke up. "I had those same thoughts. I too had worried about my nature. I too worried whether I was being punished and if I had deserved it. Whether my father's crimes would be...passed on through me. If I would be a rapist like him, or-or if I would be the mother of rapists. I had also thought of running away...but then I realized….if I did, then...then no one will be able to help Mom. If you truly love your Mother and Father, you won't run away."

Star lowered his eyes.

"...What if I don't have any choice in the matter?" he asked quietly. "What if Umbrella...I don't know...throws a switch or something and..." The youth tried to find the right words, "...activate me?"

Rebecca scoffed, "What, like a robot?"

"Well...yes."

The medic thoughtfully regarded him, saying nothing for a few minutes. Stepping forward, Star watched as she approached. The next thing he knew, Rebecca raised up her hand and honked his nose, causing him to stare down at her with a nonplused expression, blinking in bemusement.

"Nope, no button there." She then poked various other parts of his face as she beep-booped playfully. Pulling back, she shook her head. "Well, so much for that theory," she shrugged. Just as she was about to step away, Rebecca suddenly paused. "Wait. I see something. What is that?"

The albino looked at her eagerly. "What? What is it?"

Rebecca squinted. "I see...I see..."

"Yes?"

"...An opportunity."

Raising up her hand, Rebecca suddenly flicked him between the eyes. A satisfied cat-like grin formed on her face as her green eyes lit up with mischief, causing his pulse to quicken and a small, amused smile to form on his face. A moment later, Star's smile dropped as he regarded her seriously.

"...I'm sorry to hear about your mother."

Rebecca lowered her eyes. "You and me both."

The albino then suddenly gave her a curious look.

"...What makes you so certain that you were the result of rape? You said that your parents had been in an argument, right? Perhaps your father...just said it to hurt your mother."

Rebecca shook her head. "Maybe. The thing is, I don't really know myself," she answered. "But the way my father said it so proudly... I'm pretty sure I am."

Star shook his head sadly. "We really are a couple of walking horror stories, aren't we?"

Rebecca scoffed. "Tell me about it," she replied, then looked at him with a twinkle in her eye, "although you're the weirder one between the two of us, Mr. I-eat-dog food."

Star laughed. "You're never going to let me live that down, are you?" he smiled.

"Nope," Rebecca giggled.

The teenagers continued to laugh when the medic suddenly jerked to the side, causing them to abruptly stop.

"Wha?" Rebecca looked around, then glared at Star. "Why did you shove me?!"

"I didn't do anything!" The albino insisted.

"Yes you did!" She said indignantly. "I felt you push me!'

"I swear I never laid a hand on you!"

"Well I didn't push mys-" Rebecca was cut off as she suddenly slammed herself into the wall to the right. The girl started to strain herself as she looked around in confusion. "What's going-"

She was cut off as she fell to the floor, her whole body dragging along the ground, back toward the library by some invisible force, the girl screaming as she did so.

'The hell? This is...just like...' Star's eyes suddenly widened in remembrance and realization, then bolted forward.

"No! NO!" He cried as he dropped his suitcases and frantically reached for Rebecca's hand.

Not her!

Grabbing hold of her hands and arms, he watched as she suddenly floated up into the air like some screaming girl-shaped balloon.

"HELP ME! STAR HELP ME!" Rebecca screamed.

"I GOT YOU! I GOT YOU!" The albino yelled as he held on for dear life, bracing himself as his feet slowly slid along the floor. Feeling himself being dragged, he looked around wildly as he started to shout, "HELP! HELP! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP! OFFICER REDFIELD! OFFICER FROST! HELP!"

Where the hell were they?!

Rebecca's terrified, tear-filled eyes imploringly looked to him as she screamed and kicked her feet around in the air.

"HELP ME! PLEASE HELP ME!" She begged.

"I'M NOT LETTING YOU GO!"

Rebecca's eyes suddenly bulged at something behind Star. As she did so, she shrieked at the top of her lungs, hurting the albino's ears. Turning around, Star felt something ram into him with a surprising level of force, knocking wind out of the youth and off his feet as he fell face forward with a grunt.

Shaking his head, Star looked frantically up as Rebecca's screams echoed down the corridor.

"REBECCA!" He screamed, reaching out with his gloved hand.

Struggling to his feet, Star ran down the corridor repeatedly yelling her name, trying to follow the medic's screams. Hearing her again, the albino jerked in surprise to the left, startled as he heard a sound and caught sight of an outline, then whipped around in fright as he heard her scream to the left again.

What the hell?

Rebecca's screams warbled all around him from every direction. At one moment the screaming sounded as if it were in some distant part of the building, but in the next it seemed extremely close. At one point, it sounding as if the screams were directly behind or beside him. As Rebecca's screams circled around him, the albino clutched hold of his ears, trying to focus.

Once the screams trailed away, Star raised up his eyes, then looked around.

What the hell was going on?

Turning back to the library, Star ran back into the room.

"Officer!" He called, flinging the door open. "Officer I need-" He paused, then looked around the room. "Hello?"

Nobody responded. A sickening feeling started to form in the pit of Star's stomach as he started to check around the library.

"Officer Redfield?" he said in a low, hushed voice, peeking behind shelves as he spared nervous glances over his shoulders. "...Officer Aiken?...Officer Frost?"

Casting worried eyes around, Star anxiously swallowed as he began to realize the horrible truth of his situation.

He was completely alone.