Fix You
Alright guys, I'm back with a new chapter! Where the hell have I been for so long, right? What can I say, I lost it. I'm not exactly sure what 'It' is but whatever drives me to update was just gone. Things haven't gotten much better here at home or with family drama, not to mention other members of my family have been just dropping dead literally throughout these months. I was beginning to think we were cursed. But I'm still here and I'm still fighting. I really can't thank you guys enough for all of your support, really guys THANK YOU. Your patience and love just amazes me. Now, I know this chapter it so short but don't even worry about it because the final chapter is halfway written, so I'll try to upload it before the year ends, I'm not sure of the day but it will be before the end of the year. In the meantime you can think of this as an early Christmas present, if you will. So, to end my rant because I'm sure you are eager to read on, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy holidays to you all! Enjoy~
24.
"Helena…"
She stirred, opening her eyes at the haunting yet chiming voice beckoning her. She searched the vicinity seeing nothing. Where had the call come from? Not a thing was in sight, all but white, all around. Where had it come from?
"Helena…"
She opened her mouth to speak, to call out but found she couldn't, her own voice strained.
"Helena…"
The voice was a soft whimsical whisper filling her with warmth. Helena closed her eyes allowing it to overcome as it spread and filled her every fiber. It felt foreign yet familiar all at once. It was safe and loving. Could it be? Deborah…
"Helena… cross the threshold, don't succumb…"
It was Deborah. But… why couldn't she see her? What did she mean? What threshold? Was this some cruel trick? A sudden sense of animosity overwhelmed her and settled in the pit of her stomach, tying it in knots. Her eyes shot open in response. Quicker and quicker this new sense filled, bringing with it something that was no longer warm and inviting, or even… human. It no longer felt like love. Now it was something fierce and detrimental.
"Cross the threshold, don't succumb…"
Helena gave a sudden hard grunt as the insufferable pain returned. She dropped to her knees, bending forward. She wrapped her arms around her form as she gasped chest rising and falling hastily. Her breathing became short and panicked as she remembered Paxton's words clear as day.
"…You will feel an excruciating burning, flaming, searing pain…"
Oh god. Is that what was happening? Had she been infected and was now turning? How could this happen? Could it be stopped? A prick at her heart had her groaning with pain. She set her hands firmly on the floor as her heart rate picked up, rising fast and quick. She panted as heat began to flow through her, through her loins and veins, burning and filling her with an intense searing flame just as Paxton had described. It was happening. She attempted a scream but found she couldn't for nothing but a strangled choke escaped her throat.
"The sensation of suffocation and weightlessness will come soon after. You'll want to scream but you won't be able to."
Her lungs tightened against her chest forcing her to gasp and wheeze for an ounce of air, paralyzing her in fear. She lay sprawled on her back then, helpless, and closed her eyes. It seemed she would turn soon. Her mind would be lost, no longer hers to control but his. She'd be another puppet in his evil sick minded scheme.
With a final gasp Helena closed her eyes, feeling herself sink into the darkness only to be jolted out by the pricks of a thousand knives. She took a deep breath, coughing as her eyes shot open. She released short heavy pants. What?
Everything was foggy and sluggish, in and out of focus. Her tingling limbs felt uncoordinated as she made attempts to move; only to find her wrists bounded up over her head causing panic to rise and her vision to clear. Her body shivering from the crisp air, she struggled and jerked against the chains. What was going on? Why was this happening?
The sound of a splash had her turning her head aside. Her panic ceased one she set eyes upon him. Leon? Coughing, the male shook off the freezing cold water, taking quick notice of his constrained arms. He blinked to clear his vision, small breaths slipping past his dry lips. Well this couldn't be good.
Hearing the rattle of chains beside him he turned, his gaze landing on Helena's wet form. "You alright?" he questioned, voice raspy. She shook her head, "What's going on?" He sighed. "It's going to be alright. We're going to get out of this."
The pair groaned in unity then from a sudden bright light above them, blinding them. "Rise and shine" a sharp edged voice spoke. It carried a hint of amusement. "We've quite a night ahead of us." The brightness of the light was adjusted, lowered with a clink to a more tolerable level.
Eyes were opened again, taking in the vicinity and seeing miles of mountainous shrub and scrub brush. Armed soldiers stood about at attention. Armored vehicles were parked all around. Helena came to realize they had been captured and returned to the base. Damn it!
Her eyes narrowed in a glare as she looked upon Paxton who stood before them with a smile to sly and smug for his own good. He was enjoying this, his hearty laugh verified it. "Oh, I can't begin to express how much I've thoroughly enjoyed this. You two are just so much fun."
"Go to hell!" Helena hissed ire in her voice and fury in her eyes. "All of this destruction, all of this death!" She inhaled unsteadily, teeth clenched. "Why, Paxton? It can't simply be because of me!" Paxton's laugh was sardonic. "You still think this is explicitly about you? Oh get off your high horse Harper." His laugh continued as he shook his head in a derisive manner, "Haven't I explained already? It was never fully about you. It wasn't even about power, well, maybe a little. But really," he gave a satisfied sigh, "It was all simply because I could do it."
"You son of a bitch!" raged Leon, "All of those innocent people!" He struggled against his restraints, loathe lighting up his eyes. Paxton smiled in amusement. So entertaining these two were. He shrugged in nonchalance, showing he could be less threatened or bothered with Leon's actions. "It's all relative, a matter of perspective really. Where you see death and destruction," he quoted the two words with air quotes, "I see opportunity."
"What?" Helena spat with angered disbelief, brows furrowing. He though it all opportunity? She scoffed. "You're certifiable."
"Of course you would think that" Paxton countered looking from one agent to the other. "You fail to see what I see." He stepped closer, his expression hard and brows knitted to show the significance of his words. "Famine, Hatred, Pestilence." He listed, "Gluttony, Vanity, Greed, Envy, Wrath-"
"Oh my god," Helena interjected with an exhale, "You think you're some sort of messiah." She shook her head, sneering. "You really are insane. You're crazy. You're plain out fucking crazy."
"You couldn't be more wrong." Paxton narrowed his eyes, smirking in a rather venomous way. "Humans are weak." He began, "They need to be dominated, controlled. They must be kept docile. All they are doing is bringing their own downfall."
Helena laughed haughtily then, causing both Leon and Paxton to look upon her with questioning looks. She shook her head, sniggering. "It's been done, Paxton. Surely you've read the files." She looked upon him with a leer, "Wesker attempted the same thing years ago and failed; just like you will. You won't get away with this."
"Wesker was an idiot! A pathetic ignorant fool! He had no self-control! He lost sight of what was important when he became blinded by his own hatred!" Paxton disputed with a growl, his eyes blazing a bright crimson red. He made no attempt to contain his anger, spitting with rage now, furiously shouting at the top of his voice.
"So you sacrifice the few to save the many, is that it?" Helena contradicted. Again she laughed, "It's the same thing! Wesker tried to bring about a new world, create his own breed of humanity. It's genocide!" She shook her head in a manner that showed how pathetic she believed him to be. "At least try to be original."
Paxton glowered, eyes narrowed. He took a calming breath, regaining control of himself and stared upon her with cold eyes. He knew this tactic of hers. She had used it back when she had questioned him long ago on his murder case. She had baited him, steered him away, made him lose his focus, and confused him. She had wreaked havoc upon him.
He chuckled softly. Not this time. She failed this time. "I see what you are doing Harper, but it won't work. Your methods are the same. You're predictable. I can read you like a book." He gave a tired sigh. "I've grown weary of this conversation. Evidently you will never understand my actions. It is salvation."
It was Leon's turn to scoff. "You're no savior." His voice rose in an enraged shout. "You're just a murderer, no better than Simmons, Wesker, Sadler, or any of those bastards that tried to destroy the world! All of those countless victims, their blood is in your hands!"
Paxton's grin stretched into a wicked smirk. "How about we add some more then?" He turned to Helena. "Shall we?" Giving a simple hand gesture, the men behind him raised their weapons and aimed at Helena.
She froze eyes wide in shock. Beside her Leon struggled frantically against the chains. "No, wait!" he exclaimed in desperation, "Shoot me instead!" Paxton placed his hands over his heart in ridicule, "Oh, so noble." Laughter sounded behind him from his men.
Helena swallowed her fear, hardening and putting on a brave face. She met Paxton's derisive gaze, holding it. "I used to pity you" she spoke, "You were just another deeply disturbed soul in dire need of help." She shook her head, scowling in disgust. "You're so far gone under the control of the virus you can't even see reason. I doubt there's any trace of humanity left in you." She spat on the floor to indicate the trash he was.
Paxton's smirk stretched from ear to ear as he chuckled, lasting only seconds before his lips set in a thin line, expression solemn. "Perforate the bitch!" The sound of guns cocking echoed through the night air. As they set to fire, in the midst of the platoon a soldier turned on another and placed his gun against the man's temple. "I wouldn't be to rash" he spoke, his voice loud and firm.
Paxton spun round chuckling as his men turned their weapons onto the lone soldier. "What's this, a renegade?" He shook his head. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. You really shouldn't have done that." The soldier stepped back clutching his hostage close. Paxton continued, "Did you think you would walk out of here alive for betraying me? You're outnumbered."
"Wrong, asshole" was the soldier's reply. He fired a single bullet into the hostages' head. "Sherry, now!" he shouted as he ducked for cover. A storm of bullets rained down upon the platoon from an armored vehicle, piercing bodies. The lone soldier climbed atop another, joining in the firing of rapid gunfire.
Soldiers still with life spread in search of cover, returning fire once found. Paxton stood aside, away from the chaos, watching with great amusement. This was more like it. He raised his arms in the air, rejoicing. There was nothing like the bedlam of war!
He turned back to the agents then, remembering their presence. "Well," he began with a smile. "I supposed I'll have to get a bit creative with your demise, eh Harper." Helena and Leon watched as his eyes sparked crimson red once more.
Leon recognized the action immediately. It was just like back in Russia when Buddy had infected himself. He was calling for reinforcements, those things, to tear them apart. Paxton's eyes widened suddenly as he gasped softly in shock, "What?!" His monsters! His creations! He could no longer feel them! They were… gone.
"What's the matter Paxton?" Leon queried with a sneer. "Did I forget to mention we took out your pets? Guess it must have slipped my mind." Paxton growled fiercely, hands closing into tight fists. "You…"
A sudden lone gunshot pierced through the agent's restraints, freeing him with a heavy thud. Paxton's eyes widen in surprise. What?! Another shot had Helena free next. Following the reverberation of the sound, Paxton's gaze came upon the night guard's tower standing far off in the distance. He growled once more, fingernails digging into his skin and drawing blood. "Wong." He really should have killed the bitch long ago; his mistake indeed.
He grunted as something sharp pierced its way into his shoulder ripping into flesh and muscle. He looked down to himself seeing blood spill from the wound. He chortled. Was that all? That had felt like a pinch! Another shot hit his right shoulder. Again he chortled. Was Wong even trying?!
Smiling, he retrieved his powerful magnum from his coat pocket and fired several rounds to the tower. He then turned to the pair on the ground, eyes on the blond. "I'll be seeing you hero. And when I do," he paused, eyes narrowing. "I want you to give me everything you've got." He aimed his weapon at Helena and fired a single shot to her stomach, walking off afterwards and disappearing into the horde of falling soldiers.
"Helena!" Leon screamed in horror. He crawled to her side in a scramble, setting himself on his knees. He placed his hands over her profusely bleeding wounds. "No!" he shouted as he pressed down hard, placing pressure. "Stay with me Helena!"
He exhaled waveringly at the sight of her blood coating his hands, "Oh Jesus!" He turned back instinctively at the call of his name. Jake and Sherry, victorious, approached in a rush as a bomb went off catching everything around them on fire. The young blonde gasped in horror at the sight, "Oh my god, Helena!"
"Find something to stop the bleeding!" Leon shouted, applying more pressure. Jake and Sherry gave a quick nod, wasting no time and ran off in search. Leon turned back to Helena, "You're going to be okay, just breathe!" Helena grimaced and took in a wavering breath. The pain… oh god… She coughed, blood spurting from her mouth. "Don't you leave me!" Leon shouted, fear in his eyes. Her cold skin was paling.
She looked at him with a weak smile. "L-Leon…" He shook head, sniffling, "Don't talk!" Where the hell was Jake and Sherry?! "L-Leon…" she tried once more, "It's okay… it doesn't hurt anymore…" Her eyes were still on him but didn't focus on him, they stared past him. She coughed again, more blood gushing out. Her vision was clouding with light, so bright. She took another wavering breath in between a grimace.
"Helena!"
Leon's voice sounded so distant. "No! Please! Helena!" Leon shook her, sobbing. Her eyelids were half opening and closing whilst her eyes rolled back into her head, showing the white. With a final exhale her head lolled to the side. Sniffling, Leon cradled her limp body in his arms. "No… please…" He sobbed wretchedly, his face pressed against hers and rocked forwards and backwards on his knees.
I hate to stop here but I feel like I have to. It's not over yet guys so don't freak out on me! Remember to follow, fave, and leave feedback! Be sure to check out my other fics too. Any Merlin fans here? That one doesn't seem to be doing too good... anyways, till next time!