Disclaimer: Dont own.
So, the third chapter, enjoy, I know its long...took me an eternity to write it.
EDIT: Different ending and lot of typos fixed. Well, some.
Chapter 3
Wesker ran his hand through his blonde hair as the cold water washed over his strong muscular body, erasing the sticky blood of the now dead businessman. The cool water cleared his head from all unnecessary thoughts, making room for more important things. The dawn of uroboros was approaching fast and soon they would be on their way to the African base to continue the research with the key element, stairway to the sun- flower, which had held the virus that had developed the first of many viruses, the t-virus. Working in the area close to the important resource was vital for perfecting the deadly virus that would bring the new and better world.
Wesker closed his eyes and focused onto the feeling of the cold-water drops hitting his face.
Her touch still lingered on his face and even the water couldn't wash it off.
Claire's soft hand on his face, touching him gently, almost in caressing way as she washed off the blood on his face.
Slowly, a small grin formed on his thin lips when he thought of their earlier conversation. The look on Claire's face when he had told her that his only regret was that he had not taken her with him a long time ago.
And he had not lied, not on this matter for least.
Wesker's mind travelled back to the time they met again in the Antarctica with Chris. A small part of him regretted the fact that he had not taken the chance to take Claire with him back then, but of course it had not been the best situation. He had been more focused on getting his revenge on Chris.
And besides, his desire for her had only back then emerged from being dormant. His feelings…. no obsession for Claire was like a virus. He had been contacted with it all those years ago, when he had met her, and then it had gone dormant…and after many years, it had emerged stronger than ever.
It had, so to speak, mutated.
He opened his eyes slowly and closed off the water. Wesker grabbed a white towel from the rack and tied it around his waist and walked out of the bathroom. He still had lot of work to do…
Claire strolled back and forth in the safety of her room. She couldn't sleep. It was 4 am in the morning and she had woken up an hour ago, again because of a terrible nightmare, this time the dream involving Chris leaving her to the mercy of horde of zombies.
She winced when she remembered one specific part of the dream.
A horde of hungry zombies was after them. Running from them was easy, at least it should have been. She panted and tried to force her legs to move, to run even a little bit longer to get away from the horde. But no matter how hard or fast she ran, the horde seemed to be always only few steps behind her. Chris was running without much effort in front of her, almost as if the act didn't even wear him down. Her lungs burned and sweat was running down her face. She couldn't run for much longer.
Claire let out a small scream when she tripped and fell painfully to the ground. Chris stopped and turned around, with annoyed look. "What now? You fell?" He asked with mocking tone. Claire glanced back and saw that the zombies were close. She tried to get up but couldn't, as if the gravity wouldn't let her. "Chris help!" She yelled but her brother glared at her angrily "Why? I've done enough for you." He replied coldly and turned his back at her. "You are a burden."
Her eyes widened in horror when Chris started to walk away slowly, leaving her behind. "Chris no! Don't!" She screamed but the zombies had reached her. Claire managed to stumble up and take few steps forwards.
In her moments of panic she managed to see another figure ahead of her, standing still, watching, waiting. She couldn't' see who it was and it didn't matter.
"Help! Please! I don't want to die!" She cried out. She was sure that the person had heard her, yet he didn't seem to react in anyway. And by then, it was too late; one of the zombies grabbed her and pulled her back. Just before she was overwhelmed by the horde she reached out with her hand screaming. "Help! Wesker please help me! Don't leave me here!" But her voice was cut off when rotting teeth gnawed her throat open, splashing her blood all over the feasting horde….
She had been lucky enough not to scream, since that would only have interested Wesker to come and provoke her in some manner or way. Claire let out a small sigh; her nightmares seemed to get more terrifying each passing month.
Claire bit her lip in anger; she could already imagine the smirk on Wesker's face and some biting words. She turned around and kicked a pile of clothes on the floor; she really didn't bother to clean up much. Finally, she walked over to the table in her room and picked up a book Wesker had bought for her few days ago. Her expression was pure disgust when she realized that the book was a collection of short stories written by H.P Lovecraft.
"I can't believe it…He has to mock me with literature choices too…" She muttered.
With one more glance to the alarm clock, still 4 am, she sighed and changed to jeans and black t-shirt. She picked up the book and opened the door to the empty corridor. It was quiet, and with curtains hanging over the windows the atmosphere around the penthouse was quite spooky. The wooden floor was cool underneath her bare feet as she sneaked to the living room. She was rarely up before Wesker, usually they met only briefly before he left to work, or to whatever he did.
She opened one of the white curtains to see a morning mist cover the quiet city beneath, it was eerily quiet and serene scene to look at. Claire put on few lights in the living room and sat down on a couch, opening the book from a random page. Somehow she had managed to open the book from point where a new short story started, and couldn't help but stare the title of the story; "An Outsider".
The name of the story had piqued her interest enough to start reading the story, and it was just as intriguing to her, and yet, it made her somewhat sad as she kept reading forwards.
The story told about a being, an ancient thing that had forgotten what the moon and stars looked like, but remembered vaguely what they were. The main character in the story couldn't remember what it was and how it had ended up in an old moulding and damp castle.
Yet it had managed to escape its prison and seek out other people, only to realise that it itself had been a monstrous being, so horrifying that people had ran away screaming.
After reading the story she closed the book and placed it onto a table in front of the sofa and just for a moment she stared into nothing, buried in her thoughts.
Claire couldn't help feeling like she was that being, forgetting slowly what stars and moon were, what a normal life was about. It was like she was locked up in a cold evil castle and Wesker held the key to the gate.
She didn't know how long she had sat there in her thoughts before she reached out to pick up the book again.
Just when she was about to pick up the book a she heard a soft familiar voice "Morning Claire, rare to see you up so early in the morning." Claire turned to see Wesker standing in the doorway in full clothing, holding a briefcase.
"Couldn't sleep." Claire said and picked up the book and started to search for another interesting story.. Wesker walked behind her, trailing his hand on her shoulder and hair "Nightmares?" He asked softly. Claire didn't answer and tried to focus on the book, but she couldn't when Wesker brushed his fingers across her cheek and neck. "Maybe I can help put them to rest?" He said quietly. But before Claire could reply, he left her and moved over to the kitchen "Do you want coffee or tea?" He asked, Claire frowned "Surprise me..." She said angrily and muttered afterwards quietly "I couldn't care less…" and before long Claire could smell the sweet aroma of coffee, and soon Wesker came back with two large cups of steaming coffee. Claire glared at him while he walked over to her and placed the other up in front of her onto table and sat down on a red armchair across Claire.
"Do you enjoy it?" He asked and sipped the coffee. Claire closed the book with a sigh "I was enjoying it, even though I'm not a greatest fan of horror stories." She said and picked up the coffee cup.
Wesker's expression was amused "They do tend to get…dull, once you experience the real thing." Claire kept her cool "Like running around a city full of dead people walking, hmm? Like Raccoon city for example?"
"For example yes." Wesker agreed with amused look in his eyes and drank more of the coffee. Claire felt anger seep into her again "Or seeing you steal both Steve and Chris away from me?" She snarled and drank almost all the coffee with one gulp.
Wesker smiled "Now now Claire, I did kill Chris, but I only took Steve's dead body, I didn't "steal" him from you." He said and added with a soft chuckle "though his corpse did offer a fine chance to study the disappointing veronica virus."
Claire almost slammed the mug onto the table with an angry glance directed at Wesker who enjoyed the dark brewage slowly. "You really are a devil, you know that?"
"Quite many have that opinion about me, dear." Was the only answer she got. "Which story were you reading Claire?" Wesker suddenly asked and placed his cup onto the table next to the book and studied his captive with curious look in his cat like eyes. Claire stared Wesker into eyes and raised her other brow "The outsider," are you familiar with it?" Wesker gave her a rare smile, not smug, but neither a joyful one. "Quite, I've read it through couple of times in my life. Quite fascinating stories, I thought that you might enjoy it." Claire shifted her eyes from Wesker's eyes to the book.
Claire gave a snarky smile "Didn't think you to be fiction reading type."
Wesker drank the rest of his coffee and placed the empty mug next to Claire's "What did you think of the story?"
Claire frowned "What? Are you thinking that I don't realise the same elements in the story as in my life? Being trapped inside a cage for so long time that eventually you wont even remember your own name?" Wesker placed the empty cup in front of him "You draw conclusions out of nowhere, I was simply asking how did you like it." Yet, he gave Claire a devious look "And I'm sorry that you feel that way my darling, maybe I could expand your "cage".
"It would still be a cage. It makes no difference if it in covered in gold and filled with diamonds." Claire snapped back and moved her right leg to rest on the left one, keeping her eyes on Wesker all the time.
"I'm sorry that you feel that way Claire, and I didn't mean to agitate you, I merely wished to have a nice conversation with you." He said with small hint of mockery.
She didnt like the fact that the man was smiling at her the fact she hated even more was that she had fallen into his trap again with letting herself be provoked by his words.
"One doesn't simply sit down and have a decent conversation with you. You are always after something."
Wesker smiled "There is no point doing things without some sort of reason or objective."
Claire sighed "Especially if you are the one benefitting from it, right? " She kept a small pause and sighed and looked at Wesker with almost kind look "At least you even admit it yourself."
She stood up and walked over to the window to gaze down at the scenery. "What's the point in this…you keeping me here. You said you wanted me, that I would surrender." She looked over her shoulder at Wesker "I don't see a point in this game." She said casually, with no hate or anger. "Doesn't this bore you? The cat caught the mouse only to play with it, but don't oyu get bored of this pointless game?" She closed her eyes and heard how he captor got up from his seat and walked behind her, placing his hands onto her shoulders. "Think what you want Claire, you cant outrun the inevitable. " Claire didn't even flinch when she felt Wesker's hot breath against her neck "And that is?" She asked.
Wesker smirked with hint of mockery "Dear heart, you shouldn't ask questions to which you know the answer, its not polite."
She asked but never got her answer, for Wesker moved away and picked up his suitcase "See you in the evening Claire." Claire turned to see Wesker walk away to the door, but before he left she whispered, "Leon and Jill are still out there, they might not know that I'm alive, but I know they are. Someone will stop you, I might be helpless here, locked away and hidden, but others aren't. " Wesker turned around to see Claire glaring at him, with piercing eyes. With something that she didn't have so often anymore; determination. But when Wesker stared her down, Claire lowered her gaze to ground "They are alive…" She repeated and then held her silence.
Wesker didn't see a reason to respond this and decided that he had lingered long enough. "See you in the evening Claire." He said and left the room, leaving the red haired woman to her thoughts.
Claire's eyes regained a small amount of determination when she thought of her friends. "They are out there, they…Leon is alive…"
Then she laughed softly, looking longingly through the window
"I still have hope."
She got up from the seat and walked over to the window. Claire had noticed, and Wesker mentioned the fact that she spent a lot of time standing over the window. Staring the quite normal city scenery below. Yet, she couldn't help it. Watching people doing their daily routines gave her comfort when she had none. Claire admitted to herself that she felt often a bit bitter when all those people went on living their lives without any idea of the impending doom awaiting them if Wesker succeeded in his plans…if he finished the Uroboros virus. A part of her wished if she was one of those who had never learned what really was going on in the world.
Even though BSAA and TerraSave had exposed Umbrella, bringing the truth about zombies and BOWs to the public, it really had no meaning. Wesker worked without any problems with an organisation funding BSAA… The situation really seemed to be hopeless, but she couldn't give up, not while Leon was still out there, fighting against those such as Wesker.
It was like she lived inside a tiny fragment where time didn't exist. She closed her eyes again and pressed her head against the cold glass of the windows, she raised her right hand against the glass as well. She hated this place because had all the time she needed to think about every mistake and choice in her life. Maybe she was doomed to live this way for the rest of her life, in a cage, but she wished she had even one item or item to remind her of Chris. He was gone and she had accepted it, but she couldn't bear to think spending the rest of her life without anything to keep he memory of his face alive. But she knew that Wesker would never bother to care about the longing after her brother. But yet, would it hurt asking him to get her a memento to hold onto? With sigh Claire turned around and leaned against the glass which was bullet proof and gazed around the room "So…what to do today?"
Eventually she picked up the book and continued reading, drowning herself into the pages and her imagination.
Hours passed as she read through the book, story after story. Reading had become one of her most favourite activities ever since Wesker had captured her. It gave her a chance to escape the boundaries of her cage into her imagination. She wondered about the recent weeks of her life. How Wesker had been almost caring with her. What would it be like if she accepted him? What did he even mean with that? Even if she accepted him as her…husband, companion or whatever, what would it change? She would still be caged, with no real freedom. Her eyes saddened as she closed the book and rose into a sitting position on the couch. "Maybe it only was the illusion of freedom he offers me." She whispered. The words had a bitter taste in them.
Even when Wesker took her to theatre or to walk in park, they had hollow taste in them. Knowing that there ere always more than one pair of eyes on her made it quite depressing.
She had tried to escape so many times without any success. Either Wesker caught her in seconds or HUNK in minutes.
She glanced over her shoulder back to the city. She missed the simple joys and burdens of life. This luxury felt wrong and didn't suit her and she had never been so lonely in her life.
She looked up to the ceiling with sad eyes. She could accept this life she had no choice really. Wesker wasn't known for making mistakes and that meant that he would never let her go willingly. She felt how her eyes started to water and soon few tears rolled down her cheek. "Chris…Why did you leave me." If only she had a single picture to remind herself of him, something to keep the memory alive. She snorted and wiped the tears away. Wesker would never get her a picture of her brother. But…if she really meant anything to him, perhaps …perhaps he could be swayed.
She stood up and left the book forgotten onto the glass table. Claire moved over to the grand piano she had and opened the lid to see the black and white keys. She lightly brushed her hand over them, not pressing a single one down. This piano was her only friend in her new life. She found comfort in the music she played when Wesker wasn't around. She had memorised many songs and could play a lot more with notes without a single mistake.
She hated to admit it, but part of her was grateful for Wesker to get her this. When she had been younger she had always dreamed of getting a grand piano, but it had always been nothing but a dream. She or Chris could have never afforded for such a pricy item. But now she played one almost daily. But that dream was also corrupted now. Claire bit her lip. Wesker had the talent to destroy or corrupt all her dreams by just handing them to her. It was disgusting. It was hard to explain. It was as if all her dreams and wishes were given to her in perverted and disgusting form. There was no joy in getting them, no memories to cherish or enjoy, these items held no stories or joy. They were hollow.
As she started to play one memory she had never really cared for came.
She hated to admit it, but when she had been younger…she had had a small crush on Wesker. Nothing lasting, but it had been there. Few months after the fight with Chris and spending night in Wesker's apartment, they had met again.
"No Miranda, I'm spending the week end in Raccoon city, I wish I could come with you guys, but I'm here already, so no can do." Claire laughed as she talked to one of the school friends via cell phone while walking the streets of the Raccoon city towards the police station. Her friend had called her about a weekend trip to beach and all, but she was already in Raccoon city to meet her brother so it was out of question.
She took a turn around the corner and was pretty close to the station. She sighed, "You know my brother, probably swimming in paperwork, well see you next week!"
Claire opened the main door to the police station as she looked down at her phone to close the call.
Then out of blue she hit something hard and tall. Claire let out a small yelp and dropped her cell phone. But the sound of the metal and plastic hitting the ground never came since a gloved hand moved fast to catch the small item in mid air.
Claire who had recovered from the impact looked up to her brother's captain looking down at her. His eyes were hidden behind black sunglasses, making it hard to read his expression. "Captain Wesker!" Claire said surprised.
The blond man handed the cell phone to her "Ms. Redfield, surprise to see you here. Looking for your brother I assume." He asked casually, or at least Claire thought he was being casual. Claire took the phone and put it into her black shoulder bag. "Yes, I'm spending a weekend here, Chris told to meet here."
Wesker tilted his head to right a bit "Last time I saw Mr. Redfield was writing a report on…" But what ever he was going to say was interrupted by Chris who rushed over to them "Claire!" He said and got his sister's attention in the crowd of people with different dilemmas. They both turned to face the STARS officer who was clearly irritated. "Captain." Chris acknowledged Wesker before he turned to Claire "Sis, sorry but It will take a hour from me. I..." he started but went silent, clearly because Wesker was present. The older man's expression was cold "Lost a bet to Mr. Burton during lunch, I'm not blind." His captain said.
Claire wanted to strangle her brother for making her wait another hour but then again she couldn't say that she was surprised.
She let out a small sigh "Chris, tell you what, go write that report, I'm off to the café I could use a cup of coffee after that train trip." Then she remembered something and turned to Captain Wesker "If I remember right I owe your captain a cup of coffee. Care to join?" The blond man didn't seem to notice or simply care about the fact that Chris was staring at him. "I could spare the time, dear heart." He said much to her surprise, she had been quite sure that he would turn down the offer. Then he added with smirk "But I'm buying." He said before the headed outside, leaving her brother stranded.
Claire swirled the spoon in the hot dark brewage and looked outside the window to see busy people walking on the sidewalk and few cars passing the cosy café they had chosen. It was quite pretty and busy place with lots of people enjoying their afternoon tea and coffee before heading. They hadn't really shared any words; Chris' captain seemed to be made from stone and ice when it came to conversations. "Nice place, do you come here often?" She opened the conversation casually while waiting for her coffee to cool down enough to be drinkable. Wesker, who still had the sunglasses on, and had ordered a tea, responded her question with short answer "No, first time here. The place seemed pleasant enough."
Claire wasn't sure if the man didn't like her or if he simply preferred silence. Then, suddenly Wesker reached up and took of his sunglasses, placing them onto the table. Claire could feel butterflies in her stomach when Wesker looked at her. His eyes were steel blue and piercing, almost if he was looking at her soul.
"Chris talks often about you." He noted before picking up the cup of tea. Claire smiled "Good things I hope."
"Mostly." Came a somewhat awkward answer…one which reminded her to have a little talk with her brother later. "You two seem to be close with each other." He continued and placed the cup again onto the plate.
Claire didn't know really how to feel, the man was so blunt, clearly a "no nonsense" type. "Yes, I owe Chris a lot. Mostly for taking care of me." She said without going to details about how her and Chris' lives and crashed after their parents had died. "Yes, of course." Wesker said casually and added "What were you thinking about doing after you finish your studies?" It took all of Claire's mental strength to prevent her from raising her brow in disbelief and snorting. Such odd topics. "I honestly don't know." She admitted and sipped the coffee "Id prefer to do something where I can help people."
"What do you major in?" came next question. "Psychology and social studies. I'd like to work with people, helping others in some way…though I'm not sure in what…" She answered and was sure that she caught a hint of a small mocking smirk on the man's face. Somehow she started to think that the whole idea about the coffee had been a bad one. "Sounds intriguing." The man said, almost as if her career choices were amusing to him… Claire felt bit angry and wanted to point out that he was a STARS officer whose duty was also about protecting people. But since Wesker had not been outright rude with her…
"What is it like to be a captain of the best of the best of Raccoon city police department? Serving the people hmmm?" She asked trying to sound polite and sincere, but Wesker could catch the small hints in her tone and in the type of the question.
She noted how the man's eyes narrowed slightly; he had caught on. Claire felt her neck hair rise as she was under the man's gaze, yet she couldn't look away.
"It's a job, one I'm good at." He said.
Claire smirked and leaned slightly forward "serving the people and all?" She asked.
Wesker smirked coldly "Don't understand me wrong dear heart, I was chosen for my skills, not for my cause. My job is to lead a team."
Claire felt frustrated, she had imagined the captain to be someone admirable but she disliked the man more each passing moment. It seemed like he disapproved on her views on helping others, yet he worked to serve the people of Raccoon city, clearly just because it gave him a paycheck. Her previous meetings with the man had been brief and even the night visit had been "brief" since she had been unconscious/sleeping most of the time, giving little time for conversation. But she had still imagined him to be different.
"Clearly you aren't from police academy background, let me guess, military?" She pressed on, wondering slightly if the conversation was going to turn ugly. Wesker tilted his head to left "No, Private organisation." Claire held back a snort "Figures." She merely said.
Claire felt uneasy as the man stared at her with calculating and measuring look in his eyes, as if deciding whether she was a worthy enemy or not. "I heard your brother taught you self defence and knife skills?" He asked.
Claire didn't like the way the conversation was going but went along "Yes, mostly hand- to hand combat, pistols and knives, nothing special."
"Don't you agree on that they are useful skills?"
"Of course, but I only use them to defend myself and my friends. I only depend on them when absolutely necessary."
"Like you depend on your brother to pay your studies?" He asked while sipping his tea, like the question had been as simple as talking about weather. Claire saw red. "That was unnecessary!" She hissed and rose up from her seat, getting several glances from other patrons. There was no way Chris ever told anyone about that, so the only answer was that his captain had done some digging up about his underlings. "You are nothing like I assumed to be, I'm sorry that I was wrong." She said angrily and took few steps towards the door when she heard Wesker ask her in amused tone "And what exactly did you assume Dear heart?" She looked over her shoulder with confused and slightly hurt look, but she didn't say anything to the captain.
"My advise for you dear heart. Never assume anything from anyone. It never works in your advantage."
Claire bit her lip to hold down a remark she would regret. She swallowed her anger "Enjoy the coffee." She said and stormed off.
She hurried over to the RPD and waited for her brother to finish the damn report. Soon enough they were in Chris' apartment drinking tea. Chris stared with curious look "You've been frustrated the whole time I've been with you today, did your "coffee" with Wesker go badly? Claire looked away in anger "The man is a complete…. Bastard! I though him to be different." Chris sighed "It went that bad?"
Claire looked angry "I can't believe he was so rude to me!"
Chris smirked slightly "Why are you so upset sis? Everyone knows that Wesker is a rude and blunt person. Unless you have developed a crush on the captain?"
Claire felt her cheeks heat up and was pretty sure that her face was red. "Chris!" She said angrily. Declaring that what he was saying was utter foolishness.
But she was lying really, she had had a big crush on her brother's captain and that's why his words hurt badly. Claire closed her eyes; she never wanted to see Wesker again.
Claire was dragged from her thoughts when she suddenly pressed a wrong key, causing the perfect harmony of the song to come crashing down. She looked down at the key, such a small mistake causing such discord.
Claire sighed and picked the songbook and shuffled through its pages, looking for something happier to play.
Wesker stared his laptop's screen without focusing on anything particular, his mind was away, and it made him annoyed. Not being able to focus on his work was most frustrating thing for him to happen, and if the fault was in himself it was even worse. His mind wandered to his captive again and again, leaving the Uroboros virus research forgotten. With hotkey he brought a picture of Claire onto the screen. He didn't know where or when it had been taken, but he had found it when he had done some background research back in STARS, and had never thrown it away. He had left it forgotten in files for years and had found it again after the Antarctic facility incident. Claire was pretty young in the picture, smiling at the camera with somewhat shy smile. Her hair was on the usual ponytail but her features seemed more soft. It was quite astonishing how she hadn't changed much over the years.
A small smirk formed on his lips as he thought of Claire, how she was almost his. He recalled all the moments when he had held Claire or when he had kissed her. He loved her innocence and how she was defiant to the end, never giving up even if the circumstances were hopeless. But everyone had their limits, their breaking point.
The Redfield girl was one of those woman who deserved to be adored and loved, those that deserve to be higher than others, in the manner of speaking. But he wanted to drag her down, lock her away and throw the key into abyss. She was his to the end, and only when the new world would begin would he let her out of the cage. But before that happened he would have to endure Excella and all the others who were all expendable.
It was a foreign feeling for him, to wish to hold on to something when he was ready to throw everything away, to sacrifice everything without second thought to achieve his goals. But Claire…he couldn't let go of her. It was rather strange feeling. The only thing he wanted to preserve from the old flawed world was Claire.
Wesker turned his attention to the door when he heard someone in high heels walk towards the lab. He put the photo off the screen just before Excella opened the door to the lab without knocking. Wesker fixed his eyes on the woman as she walked into the room, holding a metal case in her right hand, like she was already the queen of the universe.
"Ah Albert!" She said in graceful voice as she walked over to him. "The Uroboros virus has reacted to the altering just as you predicted! The breakthrough is near." She continued and sat onto the edge of his table. "Soon we'll be ready to move the operation to Kijuju and then no one will stop us, Albert."
Without any emotion Wesker looked up at her perfect face,´Just another pawn in my game. Your final move is at hand Excella.'
"Good, with the Uroboros ready for testing the new world is even closer for us to grasp." He said, knowing very well that Excella yarned to hear such promises, so simple minded even though being a genius in this field of science.
Excella smiled and pulled the case onto the table. With graceful moves she opened, revealing the content. A number of syringes was set neatly side by side, each one filled with liquid that was colourless.
Excella took one of them out of the case and flicked the glass few times before offering it to Wesker who took it and injected himself into arm with it. Excella shifted slightly "So, how is that little red bird you keep locked inside her cage?" She asked with hint of mockery in her voice. Excella never hid her dislike toward his captive.
"That doesn't concern you." The blonde tyrant replied calmly. There was no anger in his tone, even though he held no love for her inquiring about his relationship with Claire. He simply stated the facts.
Excella looked slightly sour but didn't press it. She closed the case but as she was going to pick it up, Wesker glared at her "Leave it, Ill have HUNK deliver it." He said, causing Excella to frown slightly. " He is…more suitable for the job." Wesker added after a small pause, enjoying how the words caused Excella to bite her tongue not to say anything back.
"As you wish, though I had looked forward to talk with ms. Redfield, locked inside that…." She had a small pause to find a fitting word. "Gilded cage of hers." She finished with a small devilish smile and laughed as she left the room.
Wesker turned his attention back to his work as soon as the sounds of Excella were far enough.
With few clicks he brought up a couple of documents onto the screen. They were closely detailed reports on his latest project, a further developed version of the experimental virus he was given by Birkin, the one that gave him his powers.
Wesker opened the table's drawer and pulled out a syringe filled with purple liquid. He held it up against the light to study it. Wesker was impressed how far he had been able to develop the existing virus, but he wasn't proud of his work, it was flawed. No matter how hard he tried, no matter how many times he had crushed the damn sample in his hand and started the whole process over, he couldn't bring it to the point he was satisfied with it.
Back when he had used it the risk of using the virus had been tremendous; and every one of the Wesker children had died except for him. Yet now he had mastered the virus with single test subject in mind, tailoring the virus to match the subject. But there still was a risk that the virus didn't work the way he wanted. The blond tyrant had managed to bring the success percentage to 98, but there was still a small possibility that the subject didn't react to the virus in the way he had.
And there was the catch; death was necessary for the virus to activate. Wesker ran his hand through his hair in frustration. The death also couldn't be lenient one. No painless poison or that kind of thing worked. The death had to be violent enough to cause the body such a trauma that the infected body would have to spent all the energy on repairing the damage, letting the brains have more time to adjust to the condition.
He was at his wits end and that made him angry, he couldn't make it so that the dead wouldn't be needed, but if that was the price for the power he had so be it.
He stared the vial with unimpressed expression and took the black sunglasses off to see his project as it was.
"My apologies dear heart, but this was the best I could do."
It was sad really. He had to kill Claire.
The shared words of the conversation they had had many, many times still haunted him, irritated him, the fact that her old love, Leon was still alive along with her friends. As long as they existed Claire was almost impossible to break. Her mind had faltered when she had learned that they had declared her dead so fast, that she existed outside her cage only as an empty grave. But no matter how hard he had tried to erase her existence from the outside world and lock her into an isolated world where only he, Excella, HUNK and millions of strangers existed, the fact that her friends were alive and well held her from submitting.
Another problem was that the BSAA and TerraSave had gained information about him and his dealings with the Tricell, With the Kennedy and Valentine investigating the case. His involvement wasn't clear or even visible, but it could be found out easily if you knew what you were looking for, and if Kennedy found out Claire was alive and with him, or worse Claire became aware of the situation, knowing that she wasn't dead to the world…It would destroy everything he had accomplished.
The dominating part of his mind wanted simply kill Kennedy and Valentine off as quickly as possible, but the problem was that Claire wasn't stupid. If her friends died just like that, he knew that he would be behind it one way or another…no…it had to look like he was not responsible in anyway, or better have it look like it was all fault of the anitumbrella activists. Their deaths could do either great damage, or great progress for him.
He processed the thoughts for a while; trying to find the best conclusions, best moves to make. Finally, he stood up, pulling out his cell phone and called HUNK…
Claire was deeply focused on the music she played every note was precise and the harmony was created. She heard the door open and close, and how someone walked towards in heavy steps. She guessed that it was Wesker. Sometimes he visited her during day, and no one else really had the access to the apartment. When she ended the song, the man behind her smiled and said "That was quite beautiful." Claire almost jumped when she realized that the man standing close behind her wasn't Wesker but HUNK.
She turned around and got up "Oh…I didn't expect you, Wesker sent you?" she asked. She didn't really know what to think of HUNK, he only hurt her if she tried to escape or such. The man was a mercenary, working for the one who had the biggest paycheck. He was in this for the money.
She then noticed the suitcase he was holding. "A new serum batch for him?" She said and noted towards the black suitcase. "Yes." He replied.
Awkward silence fell over them when neither of them had really nothing to say to each other. "So…how are you doing ms. Redfield? I see you've gotten even better at playing then before." HUNK said as he placed the heavy metal case onto Wesker's worktable. Claire smiled a bit "Thanks, well, I got time to practice." She joked a bit. "And considering the situation I'm in…I'm sure I could do physically worse…beaten up and all."
HUNK let out a small soft chuckle "True, Well, I'm pretty sure you wont have to fear that you'll share your brother's fate. "
Claire felt a sting in her heart when HUNK mentioned Chris' fate "Id prefer if you didn't mention my brother." She said bitterly and added, "Though I don't think that I would object if Wesker decided that I deserved the same fate."
The mercenary shrugged "My apologies." But Claire knew very well that the man couldn't care less about her preferences. Claire couldn't help but become curious when the man didn't leave the penthouse like she had expected. In stead he lingered, shuffling through the bookcase.
Finally she couldn't help her curiosity "Don't you have work to do?" HUNK turned lazily towards her. "Yes, but not at this time of day." Claire glanced at the grandfather clock that was standing against the wall, next to the large bookcase filled with different books from research books to different genre novels Wesker had gotten for her. It was past 4 pm. She snorted and walked over to kitchen to get herself a glass of water "Figures, bodies are easiest to hide during night." HUNK laughed dryly, clearly amused by Claire's words "Quite so." He agreed and smiled at her when Claire returned.
Claire kept her eyes on the mercenary as he strolled around the room, studying all kinds of objects he found interesting. Claire noted that his manners were quite different when Wesker wasn't around. Finally the man sat down into an armchair, completely relaxed. "So, what do you like of your life in here?"
Claire had hard time believing that HUNK had just asked such a question so casually. Like it was some kind of conversation starter. She sat down on the sofa and examined HUNK with thoughtful look on her face "Well what do you expect it to be? Well its hell…" She answered and HUNK raised his brow. "Really? I imagined millions of women dreamed of this kind luxury." He teased her, causing Claire to glare at him. "I hate it here." She said with stone cold look in her eyes.
HUNK folded his fingers together and leaned his chin against them. "I see that, and even if you don't believe it, I understand you." He said.
The Redfield girl swallowed and turned her gaze away. ´What does he know about this? My life? He is just a gun for hire.´
"You hate it here because every day is the same, no routine, nothing…you feel like you are nothing, just a ghost of yourself. Fading away every day a little bit." The mercenary said and Claire had trouble breathing, every word hurt her soul.
"I don't want to spend the rest of my life in here, in this cage. I don't want to be Wesker's possession, not after everything he has done." She said quietly and looked down. HUNK leaned back, studying her with sparkles eyes "You know you could get more freedom if you just accepted what Wesker wants from you." HUNK noted but the advice merely caused Claire to look at him angrily. "I cant the price is too high." She answered.
"I can't lose to him…"
HUNK shook his head "you are fighting a battle you cant win, Wesker is a foe you cant fight against." The man said. " He doesn't follow the rules."
Claire growled "What? Did he send you to persuade me to surrender to his will? To accept my fate as his little puppet!" She snapped at the man.
HUNK looked at her with calm and collected expression. "No, I merely came to bring the serum batch."
"I don't believe you." Claire hissed. HUNK smiled "I have no reason to lie to you Claire, I'm offering you an advice, and I suggest that you heed them. I know Wesker, at least I think I do know him enough to tell you that it will be easier for you if you accept him."
Claire laughed and shook her head "No…I don't believe that either of us knows him, and no, I don't believe that it would be any easier, besides, I will not submit, not when I still have hope." Then she leaned back and eyed him suspiciously "besides, you have every reason to lie to me, he pays you after all."
Hunk looked curious. "Hope? Of escape? Defeating him? What do you mean?"
Claire could tell that the man was genuinely curious. "My…friends are still there, I know that it is only a matter of time before they peel away the layers of lies and discover that I'm alive and what Wesker is up to."
HUNK shook his head " I admire your resilience and determination, I probably can never understand the emotions behind them." He said.
Claire admired the man; he might have been a gun for hire, yet he seemed to be sincere. "I have to stay strong. I know that there are people working and fighting against Wesker that the antiumbrella organisations are there, fighting he good fight for better future. If I give up, I betray myself in every way possible."
HUNK stared her with grey eyes, thoughtful "You believe in your friends, how admirable. I rarely see such a faith in someone that it keeps them true to their ideals and nature. I see, so it's an endurance battle then." Claire felt really stupid, the man probably though everything with battle in mind.
"How long have you been here by now?" HUNK continued.
Claire felt her heartbeat fasten when she remembered the cruel gift Wesker had given her for their "anniversary". She looked down and bit her lip. Just thinking about the time she had spent with Wesker made her feel ill and distressed.
"Over a year." She whispered. Saying it out loud made it sound even worse.
"That's a long time." HUNK noted and Claire let out a small sigh "yes, quite a long indeed." And gazed out of the window longingly. Time went by slowly. Claire couldn't help but imagine what her life would be like if Wesker had used violence and torture to get what he wanted from her. She would have been broken quickly that was for certain.
HUNK noted how Claire stared out of the window with longing look in her eyes, as if she had forgotten his existence already "Do you long the outside world?" He asked.
Claire let out a joyless laughed, "Do I? Of course I do." She said as if the man was complete idiot.
HUNK raised his brow "Why don't you just ask him to take you outside? I understood that Wesker took you out if you asked." Then he grinned "oh, the times I tackled you when you tried to escape…." He mused, causing Claire to glance at him.
"Its not the same." She muttered while staring out of the window. "I'm still a prisoner. Its all hollow and empty of feeling."
"So you rather just huddle yourself up here and voluntarily seclude yourself from the world?" HUNK asked curiously, causing Claire to rise up from the seat suddenly. "That's not it! I…I."
"Do you fear to go outside?"
Claire swallowed and stared HUNK into eyes. His piercing grey eyes bored into her and held her captivated.
"No…. that's not it." She whispered.
The man just stared her with those cold grey eyes. That look, that piercing stare that looked straight into her soul. "I'm not afraid to go outside, I'm not afraid of the world. I don't have some…some ridiculous Stockholm syndrome!" She snapped.
HUNK didn't press the matter and Claire was grateful for him.
"Do you have cognac? I could use a drink before I start my mission." HUNK asked, clearly wanting to change the subject to something else.
Claire couldn't help but be amused "Drinking while on duty, I'm sure that Wesker wouldn't approve of that." Se teased the man who shot her a nasty grin "Still 8 hours to it, Ill manage, a small amount would be fine."
Claire shifted her eyes to a small cabinet with class doors where Wesker kept the few and extremely rare liqueurs he liked. Wesker rarely drank anything that contained alcohol, but on rare occasions, usually when work was going really well or some major research had been finished, he took a glass of cognac or whiskey with her, not that she really cared for such things.
HUNK watched with smile when Claire got up and walked slowly over to the cabinet and opened the class doors without making a sound. A proper hostess would have asked what the guest would have liked to have, but Claire wasn't one of those. She pulled the first bottle of cognac that caught her eye and snatched 2 glasses from another shelf of the cabinet.
´What the hell, I could use a drink as well. ´ She thought and strolled back to the mercenary who grinned when Claire placed the 2 classes on to the low class table. She opened the bottle and poured the small round glasses half full. HUNK snatched the other one and smelled it "Ah there is nothing better than high quality cognac." He said and sipped a bit. Claire finished pouring the other glass and closed the bottle, placing it next to the glass before picking it up. She tasted the drink. The liquid burned her throat gently as it travelled down. She had never really been much of a drinker and became intoxicated quickly.
"Did he sent you to kill someone tonight?" She asked and took another gulp. HUNK gently swirled the cognac inside the glass with slight hand moves "Only to steal some info, but if I have to kill someone, Ill do it without hesitation."
Claire nodded calmly, knowing that the mercenary never hesitated to kill if he had to.
HUNK gazed up to the grandfather clock, and Claire saw from his facial features that he had to go.
"I'm sorry miss Redfield, but I have to do some preparations before the evening." Claire watched as HUNK drank rest of the cognac with one gulp and got up " Thanks for the drink."
HUNK was about to turn around to leave but instead, he asked one more question.
"Tell me Claire…Do you honestly believe that you will be saved?"
Claire was taken back by the question, not only because it had come out of blue, but also because the tone held no maliciousness or pity. It was merely a question, nothing more.
She was silent for a moment before nodding. HUNK knew how to read people, and everyone else would probably have though that she believed in it. But he knew better. Her eyes betrayed her.
It was really pitiable…
She wanted to believe it but couldn't.
"I see, well, I have to go now. Maybe well see again soon." HUNK said politely and left. As he walked towards the door a small smile formed on his lips, and it wasn't a friendly one.
As soon as the door was closed he pulled out the cellphone without stopping. HUNK dialed Wesker's number and entered an elevator. "Yes?" Wesker's voice asked.
HUNK grinned, "I'm in…I definitely think that your plan will work."
Then he closed the phone and put it back into his pocket, whistling quietly as he slowly descended down.
Claire stared the bottle on the table. She wondered if she should take another glass to enjoy. Right now Claire's head was a mess, thousands of thoughts, ideas and memories came and went, making her mind fall into discord. Finally her facial expression turned into hate and she grabbed the bottle "To hell with this!" She growled and poured another glass.
Claire drank the bitter drink down with one gulp and then stared the lamp light through the glass. "What's the difference with dreams and real life if they all are just nightmare after nightmare." Her grip tightened around the glass and it started to fracture. Her hand shook violently and tears started to stream down her face. "I hate it, I hate it all...I hate Wesker, Excella, HUNK...I hate you Leon. Why don't you save me." The glass exploded under the pressure but Claire's hand had not stopped shaking. She didn't care about the pain the glass shards buried in her palm caused, or about the blood streams seeping downwards.
She grabbed the bottle next. A small smile formed on her lips as she studied the bottle hatefully. With sudden burst of rage she threw the bottle with all her strenght across the room. The poor bottle hit the door and exploded, splashing it's contains all over the wall and floor.
Claire shook her head and giggled softly before slumping against she sofa's back. She rested her neck on top of it and stared blankly the ceiling.
"That's it Leon, I've fallen to alcoholism."
She closed her eyes and smiled.
"I'm a disgrace."
...
"I wish Wesker would kill me."
EDIT: Edited the stupid mistake about the time Claire has spent...well...caged. I forgot all about the "anniversary" thingy. My thanks go to Necrosame who pointed this terrible fact out! Its fixed now.
And other thanks go to Naoko Suki! The bottle smashing idea was the best and I was mad at myself for not thinking about it! My writing skills are so rusty :( I spent writing this one chap like 5 months! And started to damn thing 3 times again.
Puuuh, took me forever. Anyways, have had a hectic year. I moved from my childhood home and started my own life. This chapter was more about what is going on Wesker's and Claire's mind and was a set up for the next chapter-
Thanks for all readers, you keep me writing even though it takes me forever to do anything. Thanks you!
