My cover has been blown and Red is furious. But I can't let his anger prevent me from doing what I need to to save his life. After all, I fucking love him. And I admitted it to him, too. Nothing has been left unsaid now and time is ticking away faster than a bullet. The anaconda plan has begun and I am all that stands in the way of Insane City's complete destruction.
Status Report 19: Here
Shock replaces every bit of anger on his features and for the first time in what feels like forever, I'm seeing genuine Chris again. The Chris I had breakfast with, the Chris that loves his sister unconditionally, the Chris that I spoke with about our past sins and redemptions, the Chris I woke up to this morning. He's there, staring at me and for the first time, I know he's listening. Not Red. Chris.
It feels like hours pass before words finally tumble out of Chris' mouth. "You…love me?"
It sounds so stupid coming from him, like we're in the fifth grade and I'm confessing to something I can't truly understand. It feels so immature and young, so wild and carefree. But I know its love. It has to be. It can't be anything else. "Yes, Chris. That's why you're not dead yet. It's why I'm here now to help you retake your city."
Finally, his gun lowers. His finger is still resting on the trigger but he's determined I'm not enough of a threat to warrant keeping his gun level. My shoulders relax just a little. It's not over yet. I'm not out of the woods yet. But finally, there's air between us.
His eyes wander to the ground, the gears in his head churning away. I can see him working over every word he's about to say, like each one is far too precious to waste. "Cole—uh, Piers." My name sounds so beautifully ugly coming from his lips. It's a name he should never get to say and yet, he's saying it anyway. And the way that makes my heart flutter is absolutely ridiculous. "You're really not here to hurt me…?" He looks back at me, eyes filled with a mixture of emotions. There's a storm brewing in his mind and he wears it perfectly on his face.
"I was, originally. When we first met, back at the bus stop, I was heading into town to recruit myself into your organization. You intercepted and…" My mind flashes through the bus stop, the face of the woman I saved from a brutal rape appearing, as well as the bitter, salty taste of Chris' skin in my mouth. "Suddenly I'd found myself inside your organization. It should have been easy, really. You'd become so focused on looking beyond your walls for enemies that you failed to look within them. But then I found out about the Anaconda Plan, about you. And suddenly…" I bite my lip, hesitant to say it again but knowing that, for Chris and for me, I have to, "I found myself falling in love with you. So no, Chris, I'm not here to hurt you anymore."
What was once an open canvas is now a blank slate. He masks his emotions well as he thinks over the words I've just spoken. I'm biting my lip again, unsure of how he's going to take it. For now, he seems to have calmed down enough to talk. Which is good, that's where I need him to be—ready and willing to listen. But all of that can change in the blink of an eye. One bad word and a bullet's going through my chest.
"Tell me," he states, seriousness replacing the curious tone from before, "What are you here to do, then?"
It's an easy answer because, for the first time, I'm being completely honest with him, "I'm taking down the Director and saving Insane City. And you're going to help me."
He smirks ever-so-slightly, "Pretty big balls to be giving me orders like that."
I smirk back, the tension between us a million miles away, "Learned from the best." I can't stop myself. I move forward, lips locking with his. He kisses back instantly, heat and passion raging where anger had previously been. He tastes amazing, like before, but this time it isn't animalistic. He isn't trying to get his fix. It's zealous and warm. And if I didn't have so much fucking shit to do, I'd have him take me on the stairs right now. But with time dwindling down and my opportunity even smaller, I break the kiss, looking into those deep chocolate eyes.
A full-on smirk breaks across his face; that look of confidence that drives me crazy, "You know exactly what to say and do, Cole." He pauses before saying, "Uh, Piers. Piers Nivans?" He looks at me for acknowledgement.
I give a nod, "Yah, Piers Nivans." It's that insanely warm feeling that floods my veins every time he says my name that gets me. God, it really is like I'm in the fifth grade. "So, Ada's in there?"
He gives a nod, "She is. She's the key to unlocking this conspiracy."
"She's also the key to bringing the Director out of hiding." It's possible that I can use Ada as a hostage, to force negotiations with the Director. At best he'll come in person and we can discuss things mono-a-mono, at worst he'll give me the bird and send a bunch of gangsters my way. Guess I'll just have to wait and see. Looking Chris in the eye, I ask, "You ready?"
"Hell yah."
I step up beside him, positing myself on the other side of the door. In unison, we throw our weight into the door, forcing it open with ease. It breaks from its lock, slamming into the wall beside it as we stumble into the dark hall around us. It's impossibly black inside, not even the light of dusk filtering in. Only the angry hue of the staircase to illuminate and that doesn't even puncture more than a couple of feet. Our weapons are up, eyes trained.
"You sure she's here."
"I followed her here. If it wasn't for that locked door and your heated confession, I would have been right on her heels." A small blush crosses my face but I swallow it down.
If it wasn't for him becoming so enraged with my betrayal, letting her slip away while he shot me, she wouldn't have even made it this far. But I keep that piece of truth to myself. No point bickering over a moot point anyway.
"So Piers, which way?" The hall splits in two, both paths wandering into the darkest of black. I regret on having thought to grab a flashlight or something. "Do we split up?"
That sounds like a bad idea. "Let's head right." Chris follows after me, the door to the stairs closing and darkness swallowing us completely.
It's incredibly slow going. Each step is felt out, one hand on the wall while the other holds the gun forward. From behind me, I can hear Chris grunt in annoyance. This isn't at all how he'd planned on apprehending Ada. It wasn't nearly as cat and mouse as he'd hoped, I'm sure. All the better, though. I'd rather sneak around to find her than be following after her. Sure, she can hide this way, but I've also got the element of surprise. Also, she can't lead me into any traps. Learned that the hard way in Kazakhstan.
Feeling a door on the right, I stop, Chris softly bumping into me before coming to a stop himself. Gently, I turn the knob and push the door open, more darkness revealed. Waiting for the longest time, I listen.
Nothing.
"Let's keep moving." I speak softly.
"Shouldn't we check the room?"
"She's not in there."
"How do you know?"
How do I say 'my many years of CIA training' without sounding like a dick? "Trust me," is what I settle for.
To my surprise, Chris doesn't say anything and when I begin to move forward, his footsteps are following me. It actually makes me smile a little, knowing he decided to trust me after all. But I don't let myself get carried away with the pleasure. I need to focus.
More rooms, more nothing. It isn't until I slowly worm another door open that a bright, blinding light switches on that I know we've finally found her.
My corneas sting like a bitch as I step back from the doorway, pressing my back against the wall. Chris is beside me, giving a growl. He's no doubt suffering just like I am. From inside I can hear her voice, confident as ever. "Well, well, finally found me?"
Red shouts beside me, "Ada! You're going to tell me where Wesker is!"
"Oh really?" She sounds so coy, like it's all a game. What a bitch.
Finally, I force open my eyes, absorbing the flushed white images around me. The hallway, long and narrow, is bathed in pale light and I can distinguish several doors further down the hall. So that's what this building was: a Hotel. Ritzy, too. Ada's style.
Taking my automatic with both hands, I peek around the doorframe only to have several bullets pop into the frame. If not for my CIA training, crimson would have been against the walls as well as white. "Damn it!" I hear Chris curse beside me.
"Sorry I'm not making this easy for you, Red." It's the most unsympathetic apology I've ever heard.
Chris growls, "How do we take her?"
Oh, would things be different if I had a grenade. I quickly check through my inventory: an assault rifle and a handgun. Useful. Chris is carrying every gun under the sun but nothing that'll knock her off her game. I try to poke my head through the frame again but the shots rain down as fast as before.
My ears are ringing from the close proximity of the bullets lodging into the wood.
How do we take her? I suck in a calming breath, centering myself again. The CIA has prepped me for all scenarios possible. Except the ones I inevitably find myself in. But whatever. Regardless, there's got to be a way to level the playing field.
Looking at the wall parallel to the door, I can see the brilliant white stain of light across its entire surface.
She's not standing in front of the light, so she's got to be off to the side somewhere. Based on how those bullets have lodged themselves into the wood, I'd say she's standing to the right of the entrance, probably behind whatever's casting that light.
"Piers?" It's Chris. Doesn't he know I'm thinking?
What is casting that light? There's no way I can get a look inside but maybe I don't have too. Looking at Chris, I speak quietly, "I need you to bring me something large enough to cast a shadow but small enough to be inconspicuous. The look he gives me is priceless, like I've just asked him to bring me the Pope. "Don't just stand there. Go."
He scurries after that, heading down the hall silently and poking back through doorways previously opened. With the bath of light now flooding the hall, I'm sure he can make out something in those rooms. And if I'm right about it being a hotel, I'm sure there's something for me to use.
Ada's voice is next, "You still there or did I scare you away?"
I don't bother to talk. Secretly I'm hoping it unnerves her some, not hearing anything from the hall. Let her sweat it out a little bit.
It feels like eons before Chris returns, grinning like a puppy who just caught the stick. In his hands is exactly what I'm looking for: a bible. Not that I feel particularly good about using the holy—at least to some—word as a tool to gauge light, but it's along the lines of what I'm looking for. Taking it, I place it on the floor and slide it out into the opening. From inside, I hear Ada say something about it but I'm not listening. I'm calculating.
The distance of the shadow, its length, its darkness. The way the light trickles over the cover and onto the wall.
A deep breath enters my lungs and the world around me goes quiet. All I can hear is the beating of my own heart which is in time with my thoughts. My hands tighten around the gun, the muscles creaking at the tension. Another deep breath.
In a single instant, I turn into the doorframe, gun already raised and aimed. I can hear Ada's body moving swiftly, arms rising and trigger tensing. The automatic pop of bullets leaving their chamber follow but it's already too late.
I've taken my shot and turned back against the wall. In that very same second, the shattering of glass and electrical equipment sounds and the entire area is shrouded in darkness. I don't waste any time with confusion or adapting to the lack of bright white. I move into the room, Chris' confused voice behind me.
The angle of the shots, the way the entered the wood.
I know where Ada is standing.
My gun is out of my hands and I'm lunging, tackling her body to the ground. She gives off a surprised yelp and I feel her trying to squirm away, trying to fight, but I've managed to pin her down. Straddling her waste and holding her arms down by the bicep, her struggling quickly comes to an end. "Well," she says, for the first time slightly out of breath, "who knew you'd be such a 'take charge' man."
"Enough of this, Ada. Where is Wesker?" I ask, voice sharp.
Chris comes in behind me, his heavy footfall accompanying his voice, "Piers, did you get her?"
Ada actually sounds honest-to-god shocked. "Piers?"
"Sorry, Viper. Chris and I are working together."
"Now color me impressed. Chris Redfield is stupid enough to work alongside the people trying to take him down."
I can practically hear Red bristle behind me, "What did you say!?"
There's a harsh warning in my tone. "Chris." I don't have time to talk him down, talk her down and figure out where the Director is. Turning my attention back to the woman under me—which is actually the first time a woman has been under me—I speak coldly, "Where's the Director?"
"Why don't you call him and ask?" God, she just sounds so in control, so non-chalant. It's no wonder she's the head of a gang. Nothing makes her sweat. Ever.
"For every minute of my time you waste, that's a finger you lose. And don't think for a second I'm bluffing."
Her smile isn't lost in her words, "Well, just promise to spare my ring finger. I'm still hoping to find Mr. Right."
Duly noted: intimidation doesn't work on her. Time to switch tactics. "He's going down, Ada. You don't have to ride that ship. You're smart."
"I am, which is why I know you can't touch him without my help. Tell me, Agent Nivans—" how the actual fuck does she know my name? "—who's really sinking here?"
It's the sound of the safety being clicked off that immediately makes my heart stop. Chris' breath catches in his throat and I can hear the shuffle of his clothes as he slowly raises his arms. Fear clutches at my heart when I hear who speaks next. "I should have put a target on your back when you called me, Nivans."
My blood runs frigid. I begin to shake. He's here. Standing behind us. Gun aimed at Chris' head.
The Director of the CIA is here.
A/N: I apologize for the wait. I've been working 10-11 hour days at work and while my bank account appreciates the boost in hours, my writing and sleeping schedule do not. It's only fair you guys know this trend will probably continue, too, making the weekends my only real time to write. So, I'm hoping to get the next chapter out by next week, but it might be a couple of weeks like this last chapter. But, so you know, it WILL be coming out! I'm finishing this story, damn it!
Thanks to those of you who reviewed! I love reading your words of encouragement! And thanks to those of you who tune in every update. It means a lot to me to know that there are people still interested in this story even though I've been working on it for 2 1/2 years now (off and on, granted). Thanks for sticking with me, guys and gals!
See you next chapter!
Emil Lime