Story: Quicken, Question, Quantify

Chapter Four: Counterpoint - Unravel

"Hell is empty, and all the devils are here."

-William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

July 13th, 1998 – Racoon City – Home of Albert Wesker:

I woke to the sounds of someone slamming around downstairs, a rare occurrence to be certain with how little I tended to allow people into my home. The last time it had been a drunk Redfield I hadn't wanted to send out totally wasted. I'd had to replace that carpet. This time I knew the girl wasn't drunk, just the opposite of graceful. It was just as well since my alarm was due to go off soon regardless. I went through my morning routine, getting myself showered, shaved, partly dressed for work. When I came down the steps she was staring at Fang where he'd brought her his leash like he might bite her if she didn't do something with it. She even apologized to him. People were very odd. I promised to cook something after I took the dog out, had to remind her she needed time to heal, and then left her on the couch.

I dug out my phone to call Birkin again.

"I haven't figured anything else out." Was the immediate comment.

"Good morning." I remarked drily.

"It isn't. I haven't slept I'm so frustrated." I could hear him lean back in his chair from the squeak it made, he really needed to oil that thing one of these days. "I thought if I kept looking then I'd have to find something in the bodies, but that's just lead me to more nothing. I can't find a trace of the t-virus in any DNA I investigate. Worse, I can't even reintroduce it to the body."

That was new. Then, this ability of hers made the body immune to the virus?

"It could be a temporary change." I pointed out and he huffed.

"Yes, I thought of that…which means I have to keep running and rerunning these tests to check. Do you have the feintest idea how mind numbing this is?" Birkin had definitely not slept; he got much testier when he missed a full night's sleep.

"Why do you think I found a much more interesting job?" I commented, amused at the second huff I received.

"It'd be easier if I could test directly with samples from the girl. I want to know if it's in her blood or just whatever strange thing she can do." Birkin continued, and I expected he visibly winced at having to call her unknown power a 'thing'. It was very unscientific of him. "Can't you get her here?"

"We discussed that." My amusement fled. "Are we still clear?"

"Yeah, yeah…" Birkin muttered. "Can't you do something? Ask her about what she does at least."

"I have to officially know about it first." I replied, why was it everyone was so impatient? Patience went so far in getting results. "I'll see if I can pry without her retreating. I'd be easier if I had a story to fall back on. Could you make the bodies look like something burned them?"

"Did you really ask if I -could- do that?" Birkin was offended, again. "I could let you have a couple, but I need at least once to keep testing on."

"That should due. I should be able to convince her to talk. It's easy to get a criminal to confess once you have the right way in to speak to them." I commented, the lessons I'd gotten as a cop on interrogation of suspects had been the best part of having to tolerate this assignment. "Keep testing, make sure I have a body or two if I need them, if I give you the word have Sergei handle it since he's the one that cleaned it up."

"He won't like that." Birkin was frowning on the other end of the line.

"He won't, but he'll do it…because that's the order. Take care of it." I hung up on Birkin, his attitude was far from professional this morning, so I didn't feel the need to return it. I headed back to the house after letting the dog wander a bit, it was already getting warm out here. It was going to be a harsh week. I made some breakfast, pausing when she asked about a shower and stating I could take her. I wouldn't mind, she didn't exactly have the most feminine of odors now. She was still acting very awkward, though at least now I knew part of it was she might be nervous about these powers of hers. Then again, I was becoming convince she had gone through something traumatic. She was on the edge of tears when I brought her breakfast.

"You in pain?" I asked, allowing her to blame the behavior on the ankle. I discussed going to work but she wasn't really paying attention.

"You seem to get lost in thought often." She hadn't even touched the food. "Are you not hungry?"

Her stomach made certain the entire room knew that was not the case. I wasn't certain even in my years at war I'd heard someone's innards make such a protest. She picked up the food and proceeded to inhale it as though someone might steal it from her if she didn't. I couldn't help but tease her a little in my insistence I'd make her more and then take her upstairs. She was clearly mortified with how the morning had gone. She continued to apologize, and I didn't think she was lying about not wanting to be any sort of inconvenience to me. If this was all an act, the girl deserved an award.

I made her another smaller plate of food, watching her still eat a good portion of it, only slowing when she had a little left. She pushed the eggs around, stalling. Did the idea of me helping her in the shower really make her this chaste? She was young, but not so young I expected someone hadn't seen her naked. Most people had sex before they'd finished high school. I handed her one of her pills, hoping it would relax her a bit more than it would interrupt the pain in the leg. That was fine, it helped keep her in my care until I could deal with this. Thankfully she accepted me calling off work to take care of her. It was troublesome, but if the investment was worth it, I'd deal with the double paperwork over the weekend.

She was still pushing food around her plate. I tried to keep the smirk I felt from my face and leaned over to take her plate with some excuse before lifting her up. She really was light; it wasn't difficult to move her. She flushed red enough that even her ears were pink. I had to admit, I didn't mind making her uncomfortable occasionally, small bits of fun for the tedium I'd have to endure later.

I carefully convinced her to let me help her in the shower instead of calling help, all while offering it. It was simple enough. She was very eager to keep from being a problem so the right comments, the bits of history, it helped her paint a picture in her mind of who I was. I had to do very little in the end. I got everything ready for her and then waited as I heard her moving around in the shower to get clean. I'd never had another person in my shower, and I'd bought the place new, so she was the second soul to use it. I wasn't lying when I said she'd pay me back someday; I just was trying to make sure that her assistance was willing.

"He…hey! I'm done." She called out a bit after the shower had turned off. Clearly not knowing what to say. Her skin was red from more than hot water when I came in to help her with towels, politely looking away. I was interested in her for her body, just not in the way she feared. Birkin would only be kept at bay for so long before he lost patience in waiting for a sample on his own.

I lifted her carefully to take her to the bed so she could dress. The smell different now, lavender and other soaps enveloping her instead of the sweat and general unwashed aroma from before. I had to admit I preferred this. I set her own and left again to let her dress. My own room and I was going to give it up to a random girl. I knew I had to play the part, but I wasn't overly happy about that detail. There wasn't a more comfortable spot in the house than my bed, I'd made certain of it.

"I…I'm good." The timid call a little less direct than the last. She was trying. I offered her a nod as I returned, explaining the reasons she should stay here while she recovered instead of downstairs as I gathered up the towels she'd used and the dirty clothes. I vaguely wanted to burn them, but I'd take them to a dry cleaner if I had time. She relented hesitantly and I helped her do all the rest of the usual self-care people took for granted when they could walk.

"You don't have any pictures here." She blurted out when I was close to leaving. I had an in.

"No, I don't take many photographs." I replied, not sitting down yet, but not walking away.

"You don't have any family pictures." Was she was going to keep walking right into this for me? It was becoming far too easy to manipulate her.

"I told you, I don't have a family. I was an orphan. It is just me and Fang. That's all." I answered, and it didn't bother me, but I expected the frown that came to her face, the pity in her eyes. The word orphan did that to everyone.

"I didn't realize. I shouldn't have…"

"It's okay. I got over it a while ago." I replied, glancing toward the window. I hadn't been an orphan per-say but I couldn't explain the truth of my youth, and I still wasn't completely okay with it.

"Still, it must get lonely." She said. She was making this easy, bleeding hearts were the quickest to fall for a sob story.

"Fang is good company." I answered. "Do you need somewhere to stay after the leg is better? I have the space."

"No." She held up her hands, and I again resisted the urge to smile. She was an easy one, heart on her sleeve. Then, she'd also kept a secret about having strange powers to remove Umbrella top secret assets so I couldn't sell her completely short. "Sorry, no. I wasn't trying to ask to stay here. I was just concerned."

"I appreciate you thinking of me, Miss Higurashi." As I said it, I noted she hadn't once called me by name. The lack of respect was frustrating, but I couldn't mention it. "I assure you; I don't think much of my life in house. Most days I spend very little time in it, and there are too many people at work."

Almost there. I sat on the edge of the bed. "I am curious. How is it a woman as young as you came to be homeless here? Your accent doesn't imply you were born in America."

Her silent discomfort was good, it was a step in the right direction. She was fiddling with the blanket between her fingers instead of looking at me.

"It's complicated. I would like to go home, but I'm not sure where to begin." She finally gave a vague answer.

"You have family then?" I'd drop the topic eventually, I had to let her get through a personal story of some kind first. Even if it was largely undefined.

"Yeah." A vague but genuine smile turned up her lips. "I do. I miss them, they are a little goofy but they're also great and kind and even when they bug me, I still love them."

"I'm not sure why you would have wanted to leave then, that sounds like what most people would want." I stated neutrally. I had to tie it to my story, make her think it was something I might care about.

"I didn't want to…so much as I needed to. I had something I had to do." She shrugged, as though she wasn't sure how else to explain it. "I was sort of the only person that could do it, but when I finished things went a little sideways and I ended up stranded here."

"Someone left you here?" I asked. "Left you behind?"

The disturbance that entered her face, whatever she'd thought of, it wasn't good, and I was close to the mark.

"Yeah…" her voice shaky as she admitted it.

"If you give me contact information I can try to see if we can get ahold of your family." I offered; I could always use a few hostages in case I didn't win her over the old-fashioned way.

"I, I'm not sure. I'm not sure I can go back yet. Like I said, complicated." She said, looking extra uncomfortable. Ah well, it was worth the try. Now, to push this past the false niceties.

"Can I ask you something unrelated to your home? When I was on patrol and shortly before I found you, I saw several flashes of light. At first, I thought it was a firearm discharging but I hadn't heard the blast. Did you see that?" I started small, but the suspicion entered her eyes. Which was fine, it was the bait, I needed that to draw her close.

"When I was on the phone this morning. I was told a few bodies were found right near where I picked you up."

Hook…

"They had been dead a few days…but they were almost exactly where we met."

"Did you see them when you were there? Is that why you were panicked?"

She was terrified, she shook her head. "Uh, I don't wanna think about that."

Line…

"Did you do something to them? The bodies? Did you see anyone do anything to them?" I asked, resisting the urge to laugh at the way she was falling apart at my questions. Oh, so innocent questions… "I don't want to alarm you. However, right now you are the only possible witness we have to whatever strange things are happening up there. If there's anything you remember I need to know. Otherwise the report of you being in the area will eventually be dug up by the investigator and you could be implicated as involved."

Caught…

"Miss Higurashi." I prompted but I'd already seen it in her body language, she couldn't keep the secret in anymore.

"Uh, so…I don't want to sound crazy." She said.

"You can tell me anything, I won't judge you for it." I answered, the reasonable young man that had been helping her this entire time. She could tell me anything.

"So…I saw…what I'm pretty sure were zombies." She frowned as she said it, as though waiting for me to immediately have a reaction. Only talking more after I didn't. "I'd been lost, and I went to a cabin to ask for directions and they just came after me when I knocked, and the door opened. I ran away from them, into the forest. That's when I injured my leg."

"So, how did they come to be on the forest floor dead, where I found you?" I should have waited, let her explain in her own time, but Birkin wasn't the only one that wanted answers from this unexpected variable.

"I ah…took them down…with my bow." She definitely didn't want to tell me the part of the story where she pulled light out of her ass to destroy the t-virus infesting the flesh of the creatures after her.

"How did you manage that? No arrows or puncture wounds that would match that sort of a weapon was found on them." I asked, of course I'd treat the story as legitimate, I was a nice guy as far as she was concerned. I was also very aware that it wasn't a lie and she wasn't crazy.

"I know this is gonna sound out there, please don't put me into a home. I can summon energy, with my bow. I can purify things that have been corrupted somehow, that don't belong a certain way." She said, it was a general explanation, but now I just had more questions. There were so many circling my head but I had to be wary.

"Can you show me?" I thought it was the most legitimate for someone that was supposed to be willing to question her capabilities.

"Uh, yeah…. I guess. What do you want me to shoot?" She said, reaching for her bow, waiting for me to give her a target. Her accommodation in the moment was appreciated, this would give me an easier in for other questions. I nodded to the side table.

"Just this should be fine. I can always replace it." I remarked, noting a moment of disappointment in her face. Still, she pulled the bow up and then lifted her hand to the string concentrating on the offending furniture. A flicker of light turned into a small stream and then a moment later it was sticking out of my end table. It faded and I didn't even see damage.

"That was amazing…" I stated in a rare moment of meaning the words. Could we harness something like that from her blood? "How does it work?"

"I'm not entirely sure." She replied, setting the bow back down. "I'm told it's related to lineage. That my dad had it, but…I never really got to know him."

An in for another time. I nodded to the information. I'd have to investigate her and whoever her father had been. It was a bit early to press for names without seeming suspicious. I left some silence, given this was such a rare occurrence I figured it was wise. I also wasn't sure what to ask next. If her understanding of her abilities was limited, then I had to consider what to focus on.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you…it's not really something I just talk about." She spoke before I did. "I am worried about the things I saw though, if there were a few there could be a lot more. They are probably the cult you're looking for."

She added it up well enough, which I'd appreciate more if it wasn't also a breech of protocol to keep her alive or free of the NEST. If she saw anyone else, she might tell them as well, which could be an issue.

"We know about the problem; the cult is a cover." I said instead, she already knew so I might as well make her think I wasn't clueless at my job. "Can you imagine the panic if we told the public? We have been dealing with several incidents related to such creatures. Some sort of sickness is what we think it is now."

That would come back later, but I'd have to deal with that then. For now, I needed her to believe I was on her side. I could always state later it was a matter of confidentiality. I'd earned enough good will that I didn't think it would be an issue.

"I see." She nodded to that. "Well, I'd love to help."
"When you can walk, might be a good first step." I suggested.

"Yeah…" She glanced away again at the reminder. "Thanks for not thinking I'm crazy."

"Well, I've seen the creatures, and you showed me what you can do. It would be crazier to try to deny it." I wondered how few people she'd told about her ability, a good sign if she was already willing to explain to me. "Given your ability to harm the creatures somehow, would you mind if I took a few samples of your blood? We have researchers trying to device some form of cure from people that seem more resistant to it but so far…"

I let the lack of an answer hang in the air. She frowned initially when I asked for samples, but then slowly nodded, letting out a breath.

"You don't have to." I edged, which would be enough.

"No, it's fine. I mean…if I can help stop people from becoming…those." She nodded to me. "I don't mind if you could try not to let people know it's me. I just don't wanna end up in a test tube somewhere."

Probably why she hadn't told people what she could do. I nodded to her, knowing perfectly well the result was still likely her being kept at a facility somewhere. Honey was still better than vinegar. I wanted to keep this on good terms for the time being.

"I will do what I can to make sure that doesn't happen." I reassured, the test tube part anyway…that I could promise easily enough. We didn't keep many assets in tubes.

"Okay then. If I could help. I'd like to help." She agreed. Civilians were always so ready to lend a helping hand. "Do we go somewhere?"

"I have medical supplies on hand." I replied. "You want to do it now?"

"Better than waiting and getting anxious." She nodded to me. "Go ahead."

"All right, give me a moment." I answered, leaving the room. I didn't want to come off as too eager, but I still shared in Birkin's excitement, this girl if she could destroy the virus, she could be the key to controlling it. I very much, wanted to control it. I already had a limited version of that…but this could give me another edge. I picked up the kit downstairs for samples and returned upstairs. She had turned the television on and was watching a game show. I didn't understand the appeal, but if it would keep her calm, I didn't mind her leaving it on.

"I haven't seen this on since I was a kid, did they restart it?" She asked. I shrugged.

"I don't watch much television beyond the news or weather." I replied, walking up to her and sitting near her on the bed. "I'll need a variety of samples if that's all right?"

"Yes, I want to help if I can." She agreed, opening her mouth for me to get salvia and watching the show as I continued to prepare to take blood. That was what I knew Birkin wanted most. I prepped her arm.

"You like game shows?" I wasn't usually one for small talk, but I wanted to remain on the girl's good side.

"I don't love them, but they're a good way to burn through time when you are sick. Injured I guess in my case." She said, glancing back to me as I prepared to put in a needle. "Why do you have two televisions if you don't watch much?"

"Sometimes I'd rather not go downstairs." I replied and she nodded.

"What do you do with your free time? Clearly not much television." She asked, apparently not interested in the tv as much as she might imply.

"I like outdoor activities more than indoor ones." I replied. "Hunting, hiking, a few sports as the weather allows. Yourself?"

"I like games, I like volleyball and a couple other sports. I enjoy herbalism, but I guess that's sort of an odd choice." She answered.

"Not really, I was a researcher before I gave it up for serving." Building common ground was good. "We worked with a lot of materials; herbs are a base for most medical concoctions. You might adjust well to that sort of work."

"You were a researcher?" The skepticism was clear in her voice. I let out a light chuckle at her incredulous tone.

"At a fairly young age, but it grew a bit tedious for me." I explained, no point discussing my various accolades. She'd hear about them eventually. "Did you have a subject you studied in college or wanted to?"

"I never thought much about it, I guess I thought it wasn't an option." She replied, mysterious as ever. "I enjoyed school though, I did pretty well when I could go."

"Your previous description still fits. Complex." I remarked, not pushing since it was clear this was a sensitive topic for her. I clicked one of the vials into place to start getting some blood. "Are all these details why you didn't want to stay here?"

"Well, sort of. I don't want to bring you into it if I get targeted by these things." She explained. I only nodded, I knew there were many bleeding hearts in the world, but someone willing to be homeless to keep others out of only a possible danger was rare.

"Why do you think they would target you?" I asked, curious at the implication.

"Well, the things I used to fight…they weren't the same, but they seemed to always know when I was around. They'd target me." She said slowly, as if trying to pick exact words. "This isn't the first time I've stumbled into trouble like this."

"I see." I remarked. The story added up with her implications of no planning for the future. "You won't have to deal with this alone."

"Thank you…" She muttered the gratitude lightly; her gaze having returned to her lap as I switched to another vial. I'd get several before taking them to refrigerate them. I needed enough to not end up with Birkin chopping at the bit for more but not so much she ended up hurt.

"Hey." I waited for her to look at me. "I won't just ditch you, all right?"

I didn't have to lie about that, I planned to keep her if she wanted to be kept or not. She nodded lightly; eyes discolored with moisture. I took off the last vial and shook it lightly before placing it with the others. Pausing to wipe the tear from her cheek.

"I'll be back, I need to put these in the storage container." I explained. Leaving her to her thoughts. Whatever she'd been through, it seemed I'd discovered the right promise to make. I'd wrap her around my finger even if it took a while. I slipped the blood away, shooting a text to Birkin to have him send someone to pick it up later. They wouldn't know what the samples were, so it was just as well to act like this was all business as usual. Then a bell drew my attention, I stared at the door quietly a moment. It was so rare I got anyone that visited it as a foreign sound. I glanced out the hole in the door, checking outside. What were Valentine and Redfield doing here? Couldn't they handle the team for a few hours without me?

"Yes?" I asked bluntly after opening the door.

"Hey Captain." Jill stated, more cheerful than her compatriot who just nodded. "We just wanted to check on you."

"I'm fine, clearly." I remarked, resisting the urge to scowl at them. "Is there something you need?"

"I told you he didn't need us to check in." Chris muttered.

"Well, you never call off, and then you did after you took off last night. We've all had those nights where we saw shit that went sideways and then didn't take it well." Jill stated. She was here because she was concerned about me having what, PTSD? I offered a laugh, unable to keep that mirth in. Did she really think that would be my problem?

"See, I told you." Chris nudged Jill's shoulder. "Glad you are good, Captain."

"Thank you for checking in." I managed, still chuckling. I didn't have to keep up the nice guy pretense with them, they already knew I was largely a hard ass when it came to work. "I'm solid. You can both get back to patrol."

"I just wanted to check…" Jill muttered, shoving her hands in her pockets as she started to walk away. Chris followed and I shut the door. That at least, was quite entertaining. I wasn't going to tell them the reason for my avoiding work today, they could remain curious.

I returned to the girl, but she'd passed out again. The narcotics worked on her better than most. I lingered in the doorway, watching her rest quietly. Blissfully ignorant of what was happening around her. I was curious what her skills would do to me…I had less than common augmentations. Not all of them fully desirable given my need to constantly hide my eyes, then they also offered better than average vision, so I wasn't willing to trade them off despite the visible issue. I left her to sleep and went to make sure the samples would be picked up, eager to see what they would have to say.

Even with that finished I was slightly at a loss of what to do. With her resting I couldn't continue working my way into a friendly relationship with her. I had told work to leave me alone, and the house was already taken care of after this morning. Despite her curiosity as to how I spent free time, I was so unaccustomed to it that I wasn't certain myself what to do now that I had some. Usually I planned and didn't prefer to have wasted time in the first place. The fools at the office had told me before that I was the opposite of spontaneous and I considered it a compliment. Probably why Valentine had forced Redfield into visiting in the first place. Before I could decide on a course of action the driver arrived to take the samples. I handed them over and then returned to check on the girl.

Currently, she was the most interesting part of my home. She'd turned over since I'd left and had tangled a bit into my blankets while holding onto a pillow. In the new outfit she probably should have gotten under the covers, there was little of her backside left to the imagination the way she'd twisted. Not that it was a poor view, the girl had a nice figure. I had seen better but having steak from time to time didn't make hamburger taste worse. Too much rich food was bad for a person, so I leaned back on the frame of the door, still not sure what exactly I should do with the girl. I knew I couldn't keep this status quo forever. Sure, I'd told Birkin to keep his mouth shut but that would be limited. Eventually Spencer or another researcher would discover her, if people didn't know already. I dug out my phone to text Birkin orders to delete those video files. It was a danger keeping them in the system at the NEST, and I knew he'd make himself a backup.

I walked closer to her. Her ankle was already not swollen, surprising given how little she'd had it raised or iced today. Could she heal faster then? I would have to keep that in mind. I knew some of the experiments had various skills, that I myself was stronger and faster from small augmentations. Soon to be more with the upcoming plans with the mansion. I'd infect myself before we went into the large space, I had a sample downstairs I was waiting on using…then, I was curious how she might react to infusions as well. The possibilities were fascinating, certainly reminding me of the aspects of being a researcher I personally liked.

I watched her a long time, until a small bell on my phone signaled Birkin must have gotten the samples. I'd let myself get lost in thought for some time, I'd need to work on another meal when she woke again. I slipped back downstairs before opening the phone to dial.

"This is insane." When had Birkin dropped even the pretense of etiquette? "I just started, but it's very odd. Her blood doesn't show any strange unique factors on its own. As you know, all known assets with the ability to become tyrant's there's some sort of signature in the DNA, hers has nothing. I wasn't sure what it meant. Her blood and DNA look normal. I don't see a change in it at all. So, I expected nothing when I tested it with bits of the t-virus. Yet, the blood bonded with it well, remaining strong with the virus still around it, it was controlling the mutation well. Her reactions are mild, but there's something happening I can't yet quantify. Her DNA could really be key to making the t-virus work the way we wanted it to."

Considering my plans involving Umbrella once the mansion tests were run, I knew I had to keep the girl with me. I was working on food while listening to Birkin rant. If she was valuable enough to possibly make our research function, I needed her for bringing Umbrella low. Hopefully, I could get Birkin to work through the ongoing research as much as possible before then. I'd want that research to take with me when I left Umbrella.

"Have you tested more than once?" I asked. There was little reason to take results that hadn't been created more than a single time.

"I've finished two and am preparing the third. So far, both were the same. The virus would start to weaken, then mutate and bond with her cells. It's not a reaction I've seen before, normally DNA is completely overpowered by the virus. This time, it's bonding with it better than anything I've seen." Birkin was still very excited. "If this test goes the same way I plan to see how larger amounts of the virus interact."

"Keep me appraised." I returned. The irony of having someone sleeping upstairs who was the possible answer to decades of research wasn't lost on me. I slid the pizza in the I'd been working on in the over while Birkin ranted and then set a timer.

"It reminds you of how we started G-Project right?" Birkin asked, and I confirmed with a small noise. It was true, the virus blending into her DNA did remind me of my final years as a researcher. Back then, there was a girl in the test wards that had withstood years of experiments before finally being the key to one of the tests. It was largely how we'd ended up where we were now. Had Spencer arranged this as well somehow?

It wasn't as controlled as that time. Then, the girl had already been a subject for a long time. She had been similar though. An unexplainable variant of data given her survival as a test subject despite all her results coming back differing from any other body. Was it possible this girl was the rare DNA we'd hoped to find for so long?

"Do you think she's a viable Tyrant candidate?" I asked.

"It's possible. I'll need to test parts of the Nemesis virus. Given the way the DNA mixes, I couldn't say how much control would be possible." Birkin explained. "I'll definitely need to do more tests. Can I get more samples? Why can't you bring in the girl?"

"We've been over this. If you're first impressions are correct, even more reason to keep her on our good side." I repeated. "I will try to get her there as soon as I feel it's safe."

"Fine." Birkin's voice soured, but he hadn't openly defied me yet. "I'll update you when I know more."

"All right, do that." I remarked, hanging up on him to slip the phone away as I paused near my bedroom door again to watch the girl inside. She didn't seem as though she was some exception to the world's usual biology. Yet, here she was, slumbering away unaware she was the possible answer to a question that had put our research to a standstill for over a decade.

"No…stop…" She muttered the words, her body shuttering in the bed, fingers gripping at the bedding as her feet twitched. She was clearly having a nightmare; her face had contorted from the peaceful expression moments ago. Her body twitching again, mouth moving but anything else she muttered was so incoherent I couldn't guess what was intended. Her skin was breaking into a sweat and she was starting to thrash more. I watched as she sputtered, her breath faster and reached toward the side of the bed. "Please…"

I smiled darkly as a new plan evolved.

I sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand, glad when her fingers tightened around mine.

End Chapter

Wesker's totally playing her. She is sort of onto him, but only sometimes. Not as much as I originally pictured when I started. Though that's largely because deep down Kagome wants to believe the best of people. Bad idea in this case…but it's moving along all the same.

-Aura