~ Wilted ~

Pretty Packaging

September 1997, Umbrella Lab Side Room, 25 miles outside Raccoon City – Subterranean:

The months drag by, and I experience Birkin's and Wesker's company far less than I thought I would. Apparently it is only a necessity to collect intermittent samples from my person, and I never bother to question the reason. I don't care, it isn't as though I am unused to being consistently pulled and prodded. The break between their visits simply comes as an unexpected reprieve, and in the meantime, I endure my usual testing.

It is Wesker, not Birkin whose company is imposed upon me most, and I quickly decided that I find him to be a curious man. He is ambitious, but strangely pleasant, and yet from time to time I can sense the darkness lurking beneath his practised facade, something cold and reptilian. No matter how pleasant the conversation, I am not fool enough to trust him.

Today is another day that I am gifted with his company. I sit, and watch as he carefully lines up the instruments he needs to take the newest collection of samples. Moments pass and I frown, struck by a realisation.

"What is your name?" I wonder, the idea that it is unknown to me somehow shocking.

"You know my name." He replies, predictably stoic, as he types something new into the nearby computer screen.

I scoff. "Your surname, yes, but not your first. You know mine, I see it as being only fair that I know yours."

He hesitates, but picks up a syringe and sighs resignedly. "Albert."

"Albert." I repeat, tasting the word on my tongue. "I suppose it is a suitable name as any."

"I'm glad you think so." He answers softly, his voice laced heavily with sarcasm. Wesker ties a tight band around my arm and proceeds to take my blood. "Be careful not to over use it. We would not wish to breed too much familiarity."

I roll my eyes, indifferent to the slight. He is only throwing my own sentiments back at me, after all.

"Indeed we would not." I agree, relieved when the band is finally released from my arm. I shrug. "Though admittedly I dislike you least out of your colleagues. The others are quite tedious, I don't how most of them manage to tie their own shoelaces." I smile and tilt my head playfully. "Do you not agree, Albert?"

A pause, and the smallest of flicker of annoyance that most would likely miss. But I have always been good at reading people, and so I grin, certain I have rankled him with the overfamiliarity.

Regardless, he grants me a look, though it is difficult to tell with those silly sunglasses of his, and safely files the blood vials away into a silver cachet.

"If you say so, dear heart." He says provocatively, checking his paperwork as a way to dismiss the conversation.

But how can I refuse such an open invitation to play?

"I assure you my heart is not dear, Doctor. Ask your colleagues, they've ripped it out on many a pleasant occasion. Quite literally in fact."

Far from looking perturbed by this revelation, Wesker actually sighs, moving purposefully to collect his scalpel from the tray.

"I am aware of your regenerative properties, Miss Spencer, and of the necessary exercises used to test their limits. You cannot shock me."

He manages to sound almost bored when he speaks, as if the mention of my structured torture is nothing more than some childish outburst. To him it probably is, and yet, to have it so openly dismissed, so callously passed over, creates a bubble of rage deep in my belly, and I stand before it can burst.

"Apologies." I hiss. "I did not realise my continuous mutilation was such a tedious topic."

Wesker pauses, scalpel in hand, and sighs. "Please sit down, Miss Spencer. We have not finished."

I tilt my head dismissively. "I say that we have."

I turn, fully prepared to smash my way through the sealed glass door, when Wesker's arm catches me in a vice-like grip, and the tip of a syringe is inserted smoothly into my throat. I try to fight back, but all I can do is wind him, before the drugging effects of the needle quickly start to take hold.

"There's a good girl." He murmurs softly, bracing me against his chest.

My legs give out, and he moves me with ease back to the chair I had recently vacated.

I try to tell him not to touch me, that he'll be sorry if he doesn't listen, but the particular drug I have been dosed with doesn't appear to permit this, and I glare up at him through the dizzying haze.

He smirks openly as he leans over me, his arms braced on either side of my person.

"We were getting along so well, Rose." He mocks. "But you had to go and spoil it." He reaches carefully behind him, and pulls out the scalpel he had before, resting the cold tip of it menacingly against my forearm. "I'm afraid, this might sting a little."

He slides it down with ease, cutting through the layers of skin like you would an apple. I bite back the instinctive cry, and watch with morbid fascination, as he expertly collects the coveted tissue sample.

He bags it happily and smiles, his gaze drawn to my quickly healing wound. He bends down beside me, removing his glove to carefully touch the now unmarked skin.

"You see, all better." He murmurs mockingly, his fingertips stroking a soothing trail up my arm, before hooking pointedly under my chin. He stands, lifting my jaw with him so I am forced to meet his gaze. "You are genetic perfection, my dear." He says softly, swiping his thumb briefly across my cheek. "But it is good you heal. Otherwise, what a waste it would be, to ruin such pretty packaging."

Wesker leaves his suggestive words hanging in the air and turns, collecting up his equipment. I try to throw back some spiteful retort, but I can feel my eyelids getting heavier with each passing second, and my chin drops to my chest.

Speech is for the free.

"I think that will be all for today." I hear him say as he pauses by the door, the silver cachet handcuffed safely to his wrist. "I will send someone to take you back to your room. Take care, Miss Spencer."

Wesker leaves, and I am claimed by the dark.

R&R!

Thank you for the positive pick up! To all those who followed and favoured. I will reply to reviews! I hope you liked this instalment? Where do you think it's going to go? Let me know in the review box. Take care x x