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 Twenty-Two: Turmoil
Fog coiled around Rebecca, painting everything in grey and white as she tried to find her way through the dark wood. Looking anxiously through the trees, the medic swallowed as she continued forward, following the picket fence down a flight of stairs, trying to keep what little courage she had left to push on.
The floor was completely concealed in a thick, cloudy and velvety veil. Looking down, Rebecca saw that the mist went right up to her knees, the rest of her legs disappearing from view. Shakily raising her pistol, the medic squinted and strained her eyes to listen as she continued walking. Overhead, dead tree branches clawed at the sky, looking as if they want to tear away the mist itself.
Something snapped somewhere further in the distance, a tree branch. Pausing in her step, Rebecca waited and listened intently.
Nothing.
Exhaling with a shaky breath, Rebecca continued forward as twigs crunched under her foot as she descended a small slope and approached a pair of iron gates further down.
Pushing through, the medic looked around at the bushes and underbrush. She really hoped there weren't any snakes. Pulling the map out from her pocket, Rebecca studied the layout of the courtyard, then raised her eyes up to scan through the trees around her. So if she took a right through there-
She let out a growl.
"If I ever get my hands on Spencer, I'm gonna kill him," Rebecca muttered aloud.
Something beeped close by, causing her to look up from the map. Folding it up and stuffing it into her pocket, Rebecca listening intently.
"Hello? Can anyone hear me?"
Rebecca's heart skipped a beat.
Her radio!
Moving toward some overgrown reeds, Rebecca reached in and felt around with shaking hands.
"Is there anyone there?"
'Come on, come on!' Rebecca urged herself. She had no time to waste! Where is that damn radio?!
Pushing through the various plants, she stopped as she felt something solid, then hastily grabbed hold and pulled it out from the grass.
Wiping some dirt off with her hand and shirt, she raised it up and listened.
"This is Brad. If anyone can hear me, just give me a sign!" the voice pleaded. "Anything."
Anxious fingers pressed into the call button.
"This is Rebecca Chambers of Bravo Team!" she said, trying to control herself. "Please come in!"
Dead air played back to her.
"I say again, this is Rebecca Chambers of Bravo Team! Please respond!"
The radio crackled uselessly in her hand.
"For God's sakes, please! We need help!"
Releasing the call button, Rebecca then switched channels. There must be someone who could hear her!
Her radio beeped, causing her to pause.
Lowering her radio, Rebecca swept a hand through her hair.
So much for getting help.
Joseph groaned as he opened his eyes.
"God...damn it, that hurt!" he muttered.
He was in a dark room with a stone floor.
"Are you okay?" An unfamiliar feminine voice asked.
Lifting up his head in surprise, Joseph's eyes grew large at the smoking hot Asian babe in front of him.
Huminahuminahumina!
She was tall, about five-nine, with shoulder-length, strikingly crimson hair, her piercing golden amber eyes coolly watching him in a detached manner. Her slender and athletic form was concealed in a tight-fitting black and grey sleeveless catsuit, with knee high black boots and grey leggings, her forearms clad in long grey and black fingerless gloves.
Despite the form-fitting outfit, Joseph could tell that this woman wasn't some S&M hooker. From the holster strapped to her hip, the SPAS-12 in her hands and the way she held it, combined with the way she observed him, the woman was clearly some sort of operative. A soldier.
"Uhh...hi?" he said uncertainly.
The woman coolly regarded him. "You don't look like Ibis Island security," she commented. "Who are you?"
He shook his head, clearing his throat. "I'm Joseph Frost, Vehicle Specialist for S.T.A.R.S," Joseph replied.
The woman frowned. "'S.T.A.R.S.'?"
"'Special Tactics and Rescue Services.'"
She shook her head in response. "Never heard of it."
"I'm a police officer at the Raccoon City Police Department."
The woman scoffed, smiling doubtfully.
Sweet baby Jesus, she is hot hot HOT!
"You cannot be serious," she said. "'Raccoon City'? That's a thing?"
Joseph shrugged. "That's the closest city near here, sweetheart," he replied, "plus I do have my badge to prove it."
Her smile dropped. "Don't call me sweetheart." she said sternly, training her weapon on him. "Take out your badge. Slowly."
Joseph obeyed, reaching into his pant pocket, pulling it out. Taking it from his hand, the woman studied his ID.
"Huh. So there is such a place," she muttered. "Go figure."
"Now that you know my name, could you tell me yours, pretty lady?" he asked, putting on his most charming smile.
The woman raised her eyes, unimpressed.
"What happened?" she asked, avoiding the question as she gave him back his wallet.
He shrugged. "I have no idea," Joseph replied. "I was with my buddies one moment, the next I woke up here." Joseph then looked at her from top to bottom. "You're clearly a soldier. Who are you with? The Army?" A sudden thought occurred to him, his eyes narrowing. "...Umbrella?"
The woman's brows knitted together in confusion. "'Umbrella'?"
"You heard me," he pressed, his voice laced with a slight edge. "You're one of their hired thugs, aren't you? You're here to cover up what your bosses have done, to make sure there are no witnesses or evidence to incriminate your damn company!"
The redhead raised up her hands in a placating gesture. "Whoa, I have no idea what you're talking about," she leaned forward. "I am not tied to Umbrella."
"Then who are you?"
The woman was quiet for a moment, then closed her eyes, relenting.
"My name is Regina," the woman answered. "I'm a government agent on assignment."
Joseph blinked. "A government agent? What...who do you work-"
"That's classified information," Regina interrupted, looking at him intently. "What can you tell me about Umbrella? What's going on?"
Before he even had a chance to respond, he heard clacking. Turning to the source, he heard a loud hiss as something large tackled straight into him, knocking him off his feet with a grunt. Looking up, all Joseph saw was a mouthful of sharp, scaly teeth as he pushed, punched and kicked at the thing, trying to avoid its bite and sharp claws.
"GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!"
He heard the crack of the SPAS-12, the blast knocking his attacker with such force that it collapsed onto its side.
Rolling away and drawing up his weapon, Joseph suddenly paused at the sight of his attacker, his brain struggling to catch up with him.
"Wha?" he sputtered uncomprehendingly.
It was big, about six feet tall, with a long whip-like tail, a lizard-like head, long legs and strong three-clawed forearms, the claws on its hind limbs sharp, with a curved sickle-like blade jutting out from the big toe of each foot. Its hide was a dull orange with black stripes on its back with specks of green, its belly white.
"Are you kidding me?" he murmured. "Are you fucking kidding me?"
He stared as the animal writhed on the ground, not even reacting as the shotgun fired again.
Finally, the animal stopped, a pool of blood oozing out of its wounds onto the floor.
Joseph continued to stare."...That's...um...are you kidding me?"
The redhead nodded wordlessly.
"That's-that's...that's a dinosaur."
Regina nodded again.
And not just any dinosaur - it was one that Joseph recognized instantly from the Jurassic Park movies; a Velociraptor.
"...That's...a dinosaur..." he repeated with emphasis.
She frowned. "You already said that."
It was then that he exploded, "Why is there a fucking dinosaur around here?! What, Umbrella is creating their own dinosaur army now?!"
Regina shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine," she replied as she stared at the animal. Raising her eyes to meet his, the woman looked at him seriously. "What do you know about Dr. Kirk?"
Joseph frowned. "Nothing. Never even heard of him 'til now. I can tell you what I do know, though, but it's not much."
She nodded, encouraging him to continue.
He cleared his throat. "Uh, just to let you know, what I'm going to say will sound crazy."
She raised a brow, then looked back to the dinosaur. "...I think it's safe to say that we've already passed 'crazy' at this point."
He scoffed. "Well, what I'm about to tell you is even crazier."
The woman blinked in surprise as she turned to face him. "It does?"
Joseph nodded. "Yeah."
Regina leaned in. "Try me. Tell me everything you know."
"...ecca, respond..."
Rebecca's heart fluttered as she quickly raised up her radio.
Captain Wesker!
"Captain? Captain!" she called into the speaker.
"..are you doing all the way...woods outside the mansion?...monster in chains... ...out of there!"
Rebecca's heart sang.
He really does care about me!
"Captain can you hear me?" Rebecca said frantically. "Captain!"
The signal died.
"Damn!"
Lowering her radio, she peered around, squinting through the fog. He must have seen her, but where was he? If only she could find out where she was.
Star kneeled uncomfortably on the floor, staring up at Valentine as she pointed the gun at his head. Swallowing, he forced himself to meet her cold sneer with a glare.
"If you are going to kill me, do it already," he said sharply.
The woman laughed, the sound sending unpleasant shivers down Star's back.
"Ohh, how I would love to," "Jill" said as she pressed the weapon into his forehead. "Unfortunately, I'm afraid circumstances make it difficult for me to do that."
Star blinked. "What do you mean?" he asked, puzzled.
Her sneer grew. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
The albino averted his eyes away from her smile. For a moment, he was reminded of a snake baring its fangs.
'Don't pay attention to it,' he told himself. Don't pay attention to it.
"What are we waiting for exactly?" Star asked, staring to the floor.
"Hm, you'll see. In the mean time, I'm going to enjoy torturing you, little Star. I look forward to seeing your mind crumble into nothing, you worthless little spawn," "Valentine" spat.
He hesitated.
'Little Star'? What-
Hearing a groan, Star looked up in surprise as the woman's eyes rolled back into her head, her form wavering before collapsing onto the floor in a heap. He waited a second, then a minute.
"...Officer Valentine?"
She lay on the floor unresponsive. Star could see that the Alpha was breathing, but she seemed to be unconscious.
Inching forward, he turned his back toward her. If he could just reach and grab the keys to the handcuffs, then he could-
Star paused, then frowned.
How would he be able to know? His hands have been ruined, and because of that, he can't feel anything with them. He wouldn't be able to discern a key from empty air, and given the awkward position he was in, Star highly doubted that he would be able to look over his shoulder and fish around for them at the same time.
Star's frown grew. This was going to be much, much more challenging than anticipated.
Somewhere up above, a gruff groan drew his attention.
Star swallowed. Shit, of all the times for their assailant to wake up!
Pushing himself up to his feet, the albino watched the figure nervously up above as he rose up.
"Jesus, what the hell happened to me?"
The hooded albino blinked, recognizing the voice.
"...Officer Aiken?" he called.
The figure turned to look over the railing down below. "Wolf? Is that you?"
Star nodded. "Yes! Yes it is! I'm here with Officer Valentine!"
Aiken looked around. "How did I get here?"
"I don't know," Star said slowly, "but you had been shooting at us."
The Bravo stared at him in shock. "WHAT?!"
Star nodded. "It's true," he said cautiously, carefully observing him.
"Shit," Aiken swore. "Where is she?"
"She's just passed out," the albino assured. "You didn't hit either of us, but I have to admit you gave me one hell of a fright!"
Aiken stared, completely stunned.
"I-I don't even remember doing that!" he said in incredulity. "God, I swear I never meant to hurt anyone!"
From his tone, he really seemed to have no recollection of it happening. Even more, he genuinely seemed distressed by the news.
"What was the last thing you remember?" Star asked.
"I-I was in a room with a tiger statue on the radio. I had found a new weapon when I just...suddenly...blacked out." Aiken said slowly. "I don't remember anything else."
Star's brows furrowed in confusion.
What the hell was going on?
He paused. Wait a minute.
"You said you had been on the radio," Star recounted. "Who with?"
Aiken shook his head. "I don't know," the Bravo said as he massaged his head. "Never got his name, but man do I have a headache right now."
Star mentally made note of that.
So, sleepwalking, headaches, disorientation...
The albino paused.
Could these be warning signs of T-Viral infection?
"Wait a minute," he heard Aiken say slowly. "Are you in handcuffs?"
Lifting his eyes to meet his, Star nodded. "I am, but I swear I had done nothing wrong! You have to get me out of these!"
Aiken's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Why are you in handcuffs?"
"I don't know!" Star answered. "After you shot at us, you passed out, and then Officer Valentine just suddenly decided to hold me at gunpoint and forced me to put them on! I think she's gone crazy! Get me out of these things before she wakes up!"
The Bravo hesitated, then proceeded down the stairs. Upon arriving at Star's position, Aiken paused.
"Where's Jill?" he asked.
Star blinked. "What? What are you talking about?"
"Where is she?"
"She's passed out right over-" Star stopped as he turned to the spot where she lay, only to find her gone. "What the hell?"
Circling around the columns, the albino checked around. "She had been here a few seconds ago!"
He was certain she hadn't gotten up - in fact, he barely moved from his spot. There was no way she could have left without him noticing, nor would she have been able to open any of the doors without drawing attention.
So where the hell could she have gone?
Aiken's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What did you do to her?!" he demanded.
Star looked back at him. "What?"
He was caught off-guard as Aiken suddenly grabbed him by the coat.
"What have you done?!"
"I didn't do anything!" Star snapped. "She was right there!"
"Then where did she go?"
"I don't know!"
"Don't give me that crap!" Aiken retorted.
"It's not!" Star countered. "She's gone, just like the others! Like Rebecca!"
Aiken froze. "What did you say?"
The albino swallowed.
The Bravo narrowed his eyes. "What happened to Rebecca?"
Star opened his mouth, then frowned. "I...I don't know. She...she just disappeared."
The albino shifted under Aiken's glare.
"What do you mean she just disappeared?!" the latter demanded.
"I mean she just disappeared! Something dragged her off!"
"Bullshit!" Aiken spat. "Tell me what really happened!"
"I told you, I don't know!" Star growled in frustration. "I had been calling for help, but neither your nor the others responded!"
Aiken continued to glare at him, his grip tightening on the youth's coat as he leaned in. "You better tell me what you know, Wolf. Right. Fucking. Now!"
"I told you! I! Don't! Know!"
"Stop playing dumb!"
"You are one to talk!" Star retorted. "How do I know you aren't some Umbrella spy and one of your cronies came in to snatch the others away?! How do I know that you haven't killed them?!"
Aiken glared, faltering slightly. "Run that by me again?"
"You heard me," Star challenged, his eyes mere slits. "The last time I saw you, you were in the library, and the next time we meet, you're shooting at me! And now that Officer Valentine is out of the way, you intend to finish the job with me and kill Father!"
Aiken's mouth tightened along with the grip on his coat. He looked like he wanted to hit Star, and Star for his part really felt like hitting back, if only out of anger and frustration. The two eyed each other for a moment, and then the Bravo shoved him away, causing Star to stumble back.
"I am not, nor will I ever, be part of Umbrella," Aiken declared. "I don't know who or what the hell you are, but if I find out that you laid a hand on any of my friends-"
"If I laid hands on them?! I have been searching for them!" Star snapped back, his sharp teeth bared. "What were you doing, hm? Where were you when Rebecca and I were screaming for help?! You dare to accuse me of treachery when all you did was sit on your ass while people are dying all around us?!"
The albino's head jerked to the side violently as Aiken's fist struck him, his lip stinging.
Tears formed in the corners of his eyes as he tasted copper.
Looking back to Aiken, he watched as the police officer gave a look of horror, realizing what he had just done.
"Oh God," he said slowly, continuing softly, "I...I'm sorry."
Sniffling, Star tightened his mouth, wiping the free-flowing blood from the cut on his upper lip on the collar of his coat, using every ounce of willpower he had not to cry, not to show his tears.
"Does-does that make you feel better?" Star said with a trembling voice. "I would...never...hurt any of them, Rebecca especially." He hesitated. "Not...intentionally."
The two regarded each other for a moment.
Aiken looked away. "We're wasting time," he shook his head.
"...Agreed," Star nodded, sniffing. "Let me out of these cuffs-"
"They're staying on." Aiken interrupted.
"What?"
"Until I know for certain that you've had nothing to do with their disappearance, those cuffs aren't going anywhere, and neither are you."
Star stared. "You can't do this."
"Watch me."
"Let me come with you! I need to find Rebecca and Father!"
Aiken turned away. "Stay here. If you see or hear anything, hide. I'm going to find my friends."
As the Bravo disappeared through one of the nearby doors, Star struggled to keep himself under control, the boy sniffing as he scrunched up his face. When he was sure that nobody was around, he allowed his tears to trickle down his scarred cheeks.
Rebecca eyed the various gravestones strewn about. While wandering along, the medic found herself in some sort of graveyard. There were headstones everywhere of all shapes and sizes, some possessing elaborate designs and reliefs, most of them covered by long grass. Several of them had passages written in some unknown language, probably Greek, but she couldn't be sure.
'I'll have to ask Star to translate this stuff,' Rebecca thought to herself.
Two gravestones in particular overshadowed the rest in the center, with small fences built around them. Crows sat perched nearby, cawing darkly as they eyed her. Rebecca stared at the birds anxiously, keeping her movements slow.
'Their eyes...'
The damn things must have been feasting on infected flesh.
As long as she didn't run, she should be safe.
Looking around at the graves, Rebecca allowed her eyes to wander.
'So many people!' she thought to herself in horror.
Had these all been Umbrella's victims?
Rebecca shook her head sadly. So many ruined lives, so many ruined families.
As that thought crossed her mind, Rebecca felt tears form in the corner of her eyes.
If this many people had died, be it from trying to escape this place or just from Umbrella's hand, what hope did she have in escaping herself?
As she stepped past the two prominent gravestones, Rebecca paused. On the right gravestone was an inscription: "When the wind sweeps across the earth, the stars will shine in the heavens." On the left gravestone were three indentations with a couple of symbols - two vertical lines, a cross, and three horizontal lines. Before Rebecca had a chance to scrutinize them, she heard Lisa let out an enraged yell, drawing her attention.
"REEEEEDDDDDD...MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNN!"
Rebecca cringed as Lisa's cries echoed. God, those sounds!
Just what did she mean by-?
Rebecca paused.
Wait..."Redman"...
Could she be after Chris? After all, his last name was "Redfield".
If so, she'll need to get to him before Lisa does herself.
Sighing, Rebecca listened to the wretched woman's cries and followed in the direction they came from, hoping that she'll be able to make it in time.
Rebecca followed the cries, twisting and turning along various paths. It wasn't hard for her to find Lisa - all she had to do was follow the sounds of her grunting and chain rattling. She kept her distance, but she followed after her.
A low moan from a thicket to her left caused her to leap back in surprise as a figure suddenly sat up. Raising her pistol, she aimed.
"God...damn it!" he muttered, reaching for his head.
She paused, recognizing the voice. "...Chris?"
Hearing her, the figure turned his head, looking in her direction.
"Rebecca? Is that you?" Chris called.
"Yeah!" she nodded, lowering her weapon as she approached him.
"What are you doing out here, Rebecca?" the Alpha asked.
"I should be asking you two the same thing," the medic replied, kneeling down beside him. "Are you hurt?"
Chris shrugged. "Just a slight headache, but I'm okay," he answered, massaging his forehead. "God, what the fuck was that?! I feel like I've been run over by a train!"
"I can imagine," Rebecca nodded. She looked around. "Where are the others?"
The Alpha grunted as he pushed himself off the ground, picking up his pistol. "Last thing I remember was that I was meeting Jill in the dining room," Chris said as he dusted himself off. "Everything else was a blur." He gave her a concerned look. "What about you?"
Before Rebecca had a chance to answer, the sounds of chains rattling somewhere far off caught the duos' attention, followed by Lisa's haunting cries of rage.
"RRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDD...…..MMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAN!"
Chris stared in the direction where the noise came from, his form stiff, weapon raised.
"...The hell was that?!" he demanded.
"You don't want to know," Rebecca answered. "I think it's looking for you."
"RRRREEEEEDDDD...MMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAN!"
"If she is, then whoever...or whatever that is is looking in the wrong direction." Chris stared. "It sounds like it's heading further away from us. I say we go opposite of where it's going and avoid it at all costs."
"Agreed," Rebecca nodded. "The question is, where do we go?"
Chris opened his mouth, then frowned.
"...Crap." He squinted through the trees surrounding them. "Any idea where the hell we are?"
"I found a map over at a cabin," Rebecca said, taking the slip of paper out from her pocket and unfolding it. "Apparently we're in the courtyard, but as to where exactly we are or how to get back...I don't know."
The Alpha Point Man moved closer, shifting his attention to the sheet. "Let me see." Unfolding it, Chris studied it for a moment, then looked around. "I think we need to head..."
He frowned.
"What?" Rebecca said worriedly.
"You are not going to like this," he said slowly, "but...I think it's in the direction where that thing is headed."
Rebecca felt all the color and warmth leave her, her stomach cramping up.
Elsewhere...
They clustered around the massive fence, screaming, wailing and moaning, a hellish chorus of the hungry damned that stared into the fenced-off property, their mouths watering.
From in front of the fence, a clawed hand pushed its way out from the soil, then grasped onto nearby grass for support.
The subordinate raised his head from the screen.
"Sir, we have a situation! The strays have breached the outer perimeter!"
"No, no, no, no, NO!" Curien snarled, his black sunglasses shining with a bluish hue. "God damn it!"
From a nearby tree, Hanged Man Type-041 sat perched at the end of a branch when his earpiece went off.
"Hanged Man Type-041, we have a Code Red!" his master commanded. "I repeat, a Code Red! We need you to return back to base as soon as possible!"
Nodding in affirmation, the creature leapt up into the air, spreading its wings.
"LOOK!" Chris yelled, pointing to something in the sky.
Rebecca looked to where he pointed, her eyes widening as she caught sight of a giant humanoid bird as it glided through the air.
"My God, what is that?!" she gasped.
"That's the fucker that took Forest," Chris snarled. Raising his pistol, he carefully aimed. "You're not getting away this-"
No sooner had the words left Chris' mouth when the sky crackled with pink electricity.
The Alpha blinked. "What the fuck?"
Pink lightning flashed down to some distant point, striking the ground some meters away.
"What's going on?! What the hell's happening?!"
Rebecca could only stare and watch as the bizarre phenomena played out in front of her, watching as the air shimmered and distorted. A small ball of crackling pink electricity started to enlarge itself, rising up into a four meter wall of energy. When it had finished forming, the bird creature swooped down, disappearing into the wall. A minute or so later, the wall dissipated, leaving no evidence of its existence, let alone the creature's.
Rebecca swallowed, then stumbled down onto the earth floor in shock, her eyes comically wide.
"What was that?!" Chris demanded. "What the fuck was that?!"
"They weren't kidding!" Rebecca murmured softly. "It really was pink lightning!"
The Point Man looked at her. "What are you talking about, Rebecca?"
She shook her head. "You know that pink lightning I told you guys about earlier?"
He stared in shock. "Don't tell me that-"
Rebecca scoffed. "Apparently that's it." She shook her head dazedly. "I never thought it would be literal pink lightning! I thought it was Umbrella's stealth helicopter or something, but that! It's just...so..."
Chris stared to the spot where the pink wall of energy and the creature had been.
"...Just what are we dealing with, Rebecca?"
For once in her life, Rebecca was at a complete loss of words. "...I...I don't know."
When he finally finished, Regina stared at him in disbelief.
"So, let me get this straight," she started, "Umbrella is a pharmaceutical company conducting illegal experiments...and...they're producing...zombies, monsters and viruses for the military?"
"Yeah! I couldn't believe it myself!" Joseph nodded. "Not too long ago I thought it was cultists."
"And...these same creatures include ones named after Tarot cards," she deadpanned, "and they come out from a pink lightning."
He shrugged. "Apparently. And now dinosaurs," Joseph said, pointing to the dead raptor on the floor.
Regina pinched the bridge of her nose. "Hoo. You know how to wind a girl," she commented.
Joseph grinned. "And that's just with my pants on." he replied, not missing a beat.
Regina rolled her eyes. "You're awful." She folded her arms together. "Strange. There was no mention of a city here on Ibis Island."
Joseph looked at her in confusion. "Sorry, where?"
"Ibis Island," Regina repeated. "Don't you know where you are?"
He stared at her for a moment, then shook his head.
"I think you might be a bit mixed up, lady," he said. "This is the Arklay Mountain region in Colorado."
"Colorado!" she exclaimed. "But that can't be! Ibis Island is located in the South Sea!"
Joseph raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You're serious? How did you do get over here, then? What, were you shot out of a cannon?"
Regina scowled. "This doesn't make any sense," she said aloud. She then looked at him. "Can I see your wallet again? There has to be some sort of mistake."
Joseph shrugged. "Okay," he said, taking out his wallet again, handing it back to her.
He watched as Regina opened it up and scrutinized its contents, then frowned.
"Nice try, 'Joseph' or whoever you are, but your ID is fake," she said, tossing the wallet back to him, aiming her SPAS-12 at him.
"Whoa, what are you talking about?" Joseph said in confusion, raising up his hands.
"The date is wrong, genius," Regina said disdainfully.
Joseph frowned, opening up his wallet. "There's nothing wrong with it," he shook his head.
"Come on, what do you take me for, a moron?!" Regina snapped. "1998?"
"Well, duh!" Joseph retorted. "That's the year!"
The red head faltered. "What?"
"You heard me. Crazy broad."
Regina stared. "...What date is it?"
"Why?"
"What date is it?" Regina pressed.
"July 24th."
She looked at him incredulously. "But...that's not possible."
"Why not?" Joseph asked.
"It's...May 4th...2009."