Resident Evil

Eden Project

By Marie B.

: Second chapter: A knight and his angel :


Rockfort Island

When Chris Redfield arrived to the island, he wasn't surprised to see it under debris and ashes. The place had been overrun by zombies and monsters after all. However, that got him worried. There were no survivors in sight. Did he arrive too late? He hoped not. His sister must have been hiding somewhere. She was intelligent. She survived Raccoon City. She could also survive an outbreak on an isolated island.

After walking randomly around the various installations, Chris ended up in a sort of military facility. Parts of it were totally destroyed. There were some zombies lying on the floor, their head exploded by gunshots. The wounds seemed fresh. They have been killed recently. Claire could have passed by that way or it could be another survivor. Chris walked slowly towards one of the corridors, his gun ready. He then heard a soft groan coming from an office. The man opened the door carefully and saw a man seated on a couch. He was injured and looked very pale. Chris could tell that he didn't turn into a zombie yet, but he seemed to be in a critical condition.

Chris slowly approached the man, his gun pointing towards him.

"My name is Chris Redfield. I'm a cop. Who are you?" he said loudly and clearly.

The man groaned again and lifted up his head with difficulty to look at the newcomer.

"Redfield?" he whispered. Chris didn't hear him as he continued to approach him.

"I said: who are you?" insisted the S.T.A.R.S. member.

"My name is Rodrigo…What…did you say that your last name was?"

"It's Redfield. Do you know a girl named Claire Redfield? She was brought here. I'm looking for her," said Chris, his hopes getting up.

"I do. But she's not here…she left the island with other survivors…"answered Rodrigo, his voice fading. It was difficult for him to stay awake.

"Do you know where they were going?" asked Chris, but it was too late. The man called Rodrigo was dead.

Chris heavily sighed. His task became a lot more complex. His sister wasn't on the island anymore, but at least, she was safe. The man then looked around him, unsure of what to do next. He had to leave the island, but he had no clue of where his sister had gone to. The first thing he was sure of was to find a mean to get out. He concluded that you could only leave the island by plane or by boat. He had to find an airport or a port, and quickly before he could meet zombies and other creatures that could still be roaming around.

- - - - -

Like he had assumed, there was an airport. He had to go in a submarine to finally arrive in an empty port. No plane in sight. The survivors took them all. Chris felt really helpless. But, he couldn't give up. He had to escape and find his sister wherever she was. Coming back to the surface, he returned to the military facility in hopes of finding something, anything that could help him. What he found wasn't help, but despair.

As he passed through one of the many corridors of the building, a sort of machine spotted him with a red beam. Little did he know that seconds later, a creature known as a Hunter arrived to end his misery. The man didn't let it do its duty as he exploded its small ugly head with several shots from his gun. Whatever the hell happened, he was sure that he wasn't the only living human on the island anymore. Being more aware of his surroundings, Chris continued his exploration in the facility. He suddenly arrived in a large bright room with capsules. Very Umbrella-like room. He couldn't tell why, but he was sure that someone was following him. Slowly, he headed for the next exit when he heard a chuckle behind him. A chill ran through his spine. He knew that voice, but that couldn't be him, right? Chris didn't dare to turn his head. His follower answered his doubts instead.

"Long time no see, Chris…"

- - - - -

Chris couldn't feel more relieved when he saw the magnificent jet-plane in front of him. He had found the way to get out of the island and he finally knew where his sister was.

"The Antarctic, huh?" he said to himself. "I should have brought warmer clothes."

He couldn't lose any more seconds by speaking like a lunatic. He quickly hopped in the plane, warming it up, feeling the engines roaring with pleasure. How he missed that feeling. He missed the time when he was a reckless, but respected pilot. He was the best. The plane was his wings and the sky was his playground. Truth was that he was always feeling better in the air than on earth. He felt as if nothing could touch him. He was invincible.

Pushing aside his dreamily thoughts, he concentrated himself on his true goal. He had to head to the Antarctica or so what said his arch-enemy who was supposed to be dead. It hadn't been thirty minutes since he had met the man. Wesker.

He wasn't dead. He was alive and kicking. Chris thought that the bastard would have killed him back in that capsule room if that woman hadn't showed up on the monitor screen. He was alive, but different. Chris couldn't even tell if he were human anymore. His eyes…those freaking eyes…they weren't those of a man…but of a snake. Chris couldn't accept the fact, but he knew deep inside that he was truly scared of the blonde man. His strength wasn't human. He had only received a kick from him, but he had flown away and hit the wall with such impact. Back at that moment, he had been sure that some of his ribs were broken. Luckily that wasn't the case. And then, Wesker told him a lot of valuable information. He was on the island to capture that woman, Alexia. But, he found out that she was in the Antarctic, at the same place as Claire. Chris had no doubt that his enemy would be there as well, waiting for another chance to kill him. But that time, the ex-S.T.A.R.S. member would be prepared to welcome him properly.

"Wait for me, Claire. Your big brother is coming for you."

- - - - -

Snow. More snow. Chris now knew why there weren't many tourist attractions in the Antarctic. There was only snow and nothing else. White cold snow. Maybe some penguins, but nothing more.

"Well, maybe not…" said the man to himself as he noticed something in the eternal whiteness.

It looked like a mining extraction facility or something like that. There were also three or four crashed planes. One of them was literally crashed into the facility. Traces in the snow were still apparent which meant it occurred not a long time ago. Chris looked around, but didn't see anything else that could resemble to an Umbrella secret base. He then guessed and hoped that his sister landed into that installation. There weren't many other chances that she could be somewhere else in that frozen land. Flying over the place, the man saw another jet like the one he was piloting. It was landed on an interior pad which only had access from the sky. Chris then made his descend slowly and set foot beside the other jet. The arrival of that one seemed also recent. He doubted that Wesker had used it, so who could it be?

Chris prayed it wasn't another enemy. He had enough of them, thank you.

- - - - -

Her back against the cold wall, Claire could only look with desperate eyes the once boy she had grown of, who she had started to get really fond of, smashing the gate with raging power. The beast wanted blood. It wanted her blood. Claire finally decided that nothing worse could happen to her.

She was wrong.

The gate was about to be ripped open when she heard another noise coming from just beside her. She saw with utter horror a large tentacle moving in front of her with great speed. She was so shocked that she forgot to move when the new enemy hit her hard on her right side. It happened so fast that the girl didn't register that she had flown crashing directly into a wall. After a second, she realized that she was on the floor, her vision blurry, her right ribs hurting as hell and her left shoulder burning from the pain. She wanted to vomit, to scream, but she wasn't able to do any of these when the same tentacle came back charging at her.

This time, it enrolled itself around her frail and bruised body, holding her tight and lifting her up from the floor. Claire couldn't breathe anymore. It hurt so much that she thought she would lose consciousness. Her legs were frantically kicking in emptiness, trying to get her free. But the tentacle didn't lose grip on her like a snake would do with its prey. She emitted some groans of pain, her heart beating in her ears. Was she going to die crushed by that creature? That realization brought some tears to her eyes. What a shameful way to die…

Klang!

The girl managed to lift up her head to see where the loud noise came from and her lips started to tremble. Steve…no, the Tyrant was still there and it successfully made a way thought the iron bars that were separating it from her. It was panting and grunting heavily. The giant made some large steps towards her, the halberd still in its claws. And now Claire understood the scheme. It was so cruel and cowardly. The tentacle was only there to stop her from moving so that the Tyrant wouldn't have any problem killing her. That bitch…that woman who did this to Steve…she wanted to test her new doll, her new warrior…and she wanted him to kill her when she perfectly knew they have been team-mates or maybe more. Claire was sure that that whore was presently looking at them, waiting in extreme pleasure that her new creature would do what she ordered him to do. If only she would have seen her face, Claire could have cursed the woman before dying, curse her to suffer and die in the most painful way. But Claire whimpered when she saw her headsman coming closer. The only thing she could think of was her misadventure on the island, when she escaped with Steve and the short time she had spent with him in this hellhole. She was happy to have met him, and even though it wasn't the greatest love story of all times, she had enjoyed being in his company and she only regretted that she wouldn't see him anymore. However, while a part of her had given up hope, another part wanted to live. She didn't want to die like that. She had to find her brother, to make Umbrella pay from everything they have done. She wanted Steve to come back like he was before. She wanted…

The last thing she allowed herself to see was the gleaming axe lifted up in the air. That was it. The hot breath of the beast was washing over her, signalling her that it was about time for her to end this life. When she heard the weapon whistling, she couldn't bare to see her executer. She was a coward: she couldn't see Death face to face. But that didn't matter anymore. She was going to die anyway. Her eyes firmly closed and her lips tightly shut, she only wished that it wouldn't hurt too much. She then felt the cold metal of the axe against her hot skin. It was barely touching her but she could feel it hesitating. The only thing she could hear was the harsh breathing of the creature. In her head, she waited another second and when she realized that nothing was happening, she dared to turn her head slowly. She was as scared as a small kitten would be. When she looked up, her gaze had locked on with its. The monster's red gleaming eyes were looking down on her. She couldn't bear watching its gaze but for a flick of a second, she thought that she had recognized some humanity in them. Steve was looking at her right now. She then saw the monster's lips moving. She expected a growl or a battle cry to come out, but what came out shot a dazzling sensation through her heart.

"Cl-Claire…" it managed to say in a low guttural groan.

It was Steve. She knew it. Steve was fighting against the monster who took control of his body. Claire couldn't tell what was she feeling in that exact moment as she was still painfully crushed by the tentacle, but she could sense a little piece of hope in her heart. She didn't even have the time to think about the possibilities that appeared before her when she heard the beast, Steve, roaring loudly. She didn't have the time to see what happened when she found herself on the ground, half of the tentacle lying lifeless around her. She felt something moving rapidly and then heard screams of pain. It happened fast. Too fast. When Claire lifted up her gaze from the ground, she didn't see the tentacle. The room was too dark; it was difficult to decipher things. She guessed it went back to the place it came from. As she tried to focus her vision, she looked around her. The green beast was nowhere to see. Where was he?

Her heart skipped a beat when she saw something moving in the shadows of the room. Groaning, she managed to get herself up from the ground. She didn't know why she was still able to stand up. Maybe it was the adrenaline. She slowly took a few steps towards the form lying against one of the walls. It still had green skin and excrescences coming out of its shoulder. The monster was still there. But Claire gasped when she saw the body changing. It shrank back to a normal human body, green tick skin changing into pale soft skin, excrescences, claws and fangs disappearing to wherever they came from. What remained was the pale, bruised and naked body of a seventeen year-old boy and a large bloody wound on his abdomen.

Claire couldn't divert her eyes from the sight in front of her. She was sure that her heart had stopped beating. She could also feel tears coming to her eyes. She was trembling, unimaginably trembling. She even thought that she would collapse as her knees were weakling at a fast pace. She didn't know what to do, what to say. When she opened her mouth, the only thing that came out was a whisper.

"Oh, Steve…"

When she took another step, she did collapse on her knees. She was mere inches from his body. He wasn't moving, but she saw his chest slowly rising. He was still alive. She was so relieved, but somehow she knew that it wouldn't end like she wished it to be. Steve still didn't move. Hesitantly, the girl moved her hand to his abdomen as if she could heal his wound. It didn't bleed anymore, but she could tell that it would kill him if he wasn't receiving medical treatment in the upcoming minutes. That thought made her heart ache. She, however, pushed that kind of thinking aside. He could still be saved. Before she could touch him, she felt the coldness of his hand around her gloved one. The touch made her gasp. Claire then looked at his face and if the situation wouldn't have been critical, she would have blushed. He was…beautiful. Half hidden by the shadows and by his copper-red bangs, his green eyes were gleaming with such intensity while all of his facial muscles were relaxed. His mouth was slightly opened. He looked so serene and handsome. She almost didn't recognize the Steve she had met on the island. Her heart was beating furiously as she wanted badly to touch him, to kiss him, to feel him. But she didn't do any of these as she watched him with sadness and curiosity lifting up slowly her hand to his cheek. He was so cold, but she didn't move. She then felt his head cuddling her hand.

"You're…warm…" he whispered softly, his eyes closing.

Claire didn't know what to say. A knot had appeared in her throat and her body was like on fire. That scene could have been utterly romantic if the boy wouldn't have been on the verge of dying. They didn't have much time left. She couldn't let herself cry in front of him. She wanted to save him in a way or another. She bit her lip hard enough to not let her inner feelings take control of her mind. She wanted to tell him that everything would be alright, that he would escape with her like they had planned. She wanted to tell him that she cared about him, that she would never let him down. But none of these words came out when she spoke.

"Steve…" she whispered, fearing that speaking too loud would hurt him. "You…you have to hang in there…okay?" she then managed to say. She didn't sound convincing and she knew it. But she didn't want him to go, not yet, not ever. He had to speak, to stay awake. "We…will get out of here…together…and I'll take you to a hospital and…and…everything will be alright…" she continued, her voice weaker than she wanted it to be. Deep inside, she knew that it wouldn't happen and the boy also knew it.

She heard him chuckle. He was, without doubt, conscious of his state. Slowly, he reopened his eyes and met hers. "I'm glad…that you're safe…Claire…You can still get out…I won't be any use for you…anymore…" his voice was soft and low; it was hard for her to understand. Unconsciously, she had moved her face closer to his.

"Don't say that, Steve…Stay with me…I want you to stay with me…" saying that, Claire couldn't stop the tears that were now freely falling down her cheeks. Steve was now smiling at her. It was a sad smile and yet, it looked so beautiful on his dying face. "Don't…don't you die on me Steve…I don't know what I'll do…without you…" she gasped out, whipping her tears with her free hand.

Steve just looked at her, smiling. He then slowly raised his other hand to her face, stroking it gently. He then let it rest on the side of her neck. Claire felt him pulling her head closer to his. Their lips almost touched, one or two inches separating them. Steve opened his mouth once again to speak, his cold breath touching her skin and making her shiver:

"I'm glad that I met you…I…" he whispered, a smile still frozen on his lips.

And before she could reply, the boy closed the distance between them. The coldness of his lips made her tremble. He was so cold and she was so warm. Steve gently brushed his lips against hers. The feeling was so good. He wanted more of that warmth. When the girl opened her mouth to gasp, he made his way through her lips with his tongue. Claire moaned, inviting him with her own. She had her eyes firmly closed and didn't want to open them as she kissed him back. It was even warmer inside of her mouth. The kiss was gentle, almost innocent, and yet Claire thought it was desperate and passionate. She felt her body longing for more of the boy's lips. She didn't want him to stop. Steve didn't want this moment to end either, but he could feel his energy fading. But before he would go, he had to tell her. He then managed to exchange a few more seconds of pure bliss with his angel, with Claire Redfield.

The kiss finally ended. The two teenagers could only stare at each other, panting. Claire was blushing and some tears were still falling from her wide blue eyes. Steve was smiling, but it became a lot harder to keep his lips turned up. His eyes had started to flutter. Claire could also feel him loosening his grip on her hand. Time for him was almost up. But he had to tell her. She had to know. With his remaining strength, Steve gave her the best smile he could offer before saying his last words.

"I love you…Claire…"

That was it. He said it. Before he closed his eyes, he looked for the last time at her. She was so beautiful with her face flushed and with the traces of her tears on her cheeks. Too bad he wouldn't see her anymore. Maybe in another life. As he felt his heart stopping beating, he promised himself that he would save her again and again in the other lives that he would live.

He would save her because he loved her and because he was her knight in shining armour.

- - - - -

To be continued..

- - - - -

A/N: Finally done! Yesh! Ahh, I love this chapter. I mostly love the part with Steve and Claire (sadness, sexiness and sweetness overloaded!). Like I said to my friend, it took around 1750 words to describe 2 minutes of cutscene…hehe…I don't really like the Chris part though. Anyway, I didn't want to put a lot of effort on it because it wasn't as important as the second part of the chapter. I just wanted to situate people with what was happening with Chris. Don't worry; there'll be more of Chris goodness in the next chapter. Stay tuned! More darkness and despair ahead!