Red Canary 8
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Might write an epilogue.
The large room was utterly silent as the young Redfield woman sat on the elegant sofa, trying to wrap her head around what had happened just moments ago, 'I guess this is it then, those were my last goodbyes to my friends', Claire thought as she looked up with hollow looking blue eyes to see Wesker standing in front of her with his shades on.
'It is almost strange to see him wearing those…he never needs shade when he is here…why would he when I'm so used to his eyes?' Claire wondered and she found it almost funny how accustomed she had become with those red eyes that always looked so malicious. For many years, those unnatural cat-like eyes had evoked only fear in her, but now she found them almost comforting and familiar, natural even. The young Redfield felt like the world around her stopped moving as she stared into Wesker's eyes that she could see glow dimly behind those black lenses that were unable to hide the malicious and possessive look in them.
Without saying a single word, the tall man lifted his hand and offered it to his prisoner and lover who looked utterly defeated and tired, broken even. Even during the night she had gotten herself hurt, Claire had not been defeated or broken and she had stayed spirited and bullheaded...but now, it truly felt like she had given up fully, admitting her defeat to Wesker who had planned this from the start. As Claire gazed at the blond man in front of her, she couldn't decide whether he was utterly cruel or if he had a glimmer of good in him, after all, he and let her see Leon and Jill one more time before they'd leave for Africa. But, the encounter had been heart breaking and a part of the young woman wondered if she had been better off never seeing them again.
Whichever the truth was, it hurt none the less and it was now clear that there had never been any hope of her escaping to begin with. The man before her took off his shades and pocketed them, reveling those cold and unnatural eyes to her that had never felt more threatening and dangerous. He looked confident and smug, as if he knew he had claimed her fully.
'He knew I was still hoping that they'd save me; that Leon would take me away from here, away from this gilded cage, Claire thought as she looked directly into those molten red eyes that felt so cold and emotionless right now and Claire felt like he was looking directly into her soul 'he has severed all the connections I've had to the world outside,' the young woman closed her eyes and smiled sadly, 'heh, it is almost easier this way. It almost feels like I'm free of everything.'
"I guess I should have let Excella kill me. At least then my friends would have believed me to be your puppet and prisoner," she laughed, her voice filled with both bitterness and amusement. Chris's wish had been for her to live, and no matter what, she'd cling to the life she had been given, even if it meant that she'd have to kill in self defense. She knew that Excella had been blinded by her one sided love and desire for Wesker, and that she had tried to kill her in hopes that the blond would take her as his partner. Claire understood that she couldn't have possibly reasoned with Excella who had been desperate and probably pushed over by Wesker himself or someone else...Claire didn't really care to know.
It just hurt so much to know that Jill and Leon considered her now to be Wesker's partner and companion, never giving her the benefit of the doubt. Even though her captor had planned this from the very start, it didn't make it any less painful or easier to bear. The sad fact was that her friends hadn't believed enough in her. Leon probably had some doubts of her quilt and alliance with the ex S.T.A.R.S captain, but Jill would never be able to forgive her for Chris' death, hell, Claire wasn't sure if she could forgive herself. She understood that her brother's ex partner needed someone to blame, and in this case it was her.
'I can live with that, if it helps Jill keep going,' Claire thought. Both Chris' and Excella's deaths were on her shoulders and if she had tried running away, only more people would have gotten hurt because of her. It was better this way.
The man's chuckle echoed slightly in the room as he stared down at her, "How cruel of your friends to leave you like this...They must really think you to be my partner in crime, dear heart."
'He could have killed them in front of me like my brother…yet he didn't,' Claire realized sadly as she stared at the hand in front of her, 'Ada probably just wanted to protect Leon so that he wouldn't put himself needlessly in Wesker's way and thus get himself killed,' Claire wondered and she didn't really care to know, 'I should probably thank her.' All that mattered was that they were alive and ok for now and that she got to see them one last time, even if the meeting had torn away her last hope of an escape and broken completely.
Seeing the people she had called friends leave her like this had killed and buried whatever hope she had nurtured inside her heart. That small burning candle light had been snuff out. Ahead of her, Claire saw only a future of her on Wesker's side as the world was engulfed by darkness that was Uroboros. It would wash over the continents like a tidal wave that would tear away everything in its way and from the ruins of that storm, Wesker would build the world anew with her on his side. She was a witness and a partner to him.
'I should have warned Jill and Leon, but would they even have believed a word I would have said?' Claire sighed in her mind, 'They would thought me to be completely insane..not to mention they would have become threat the Wesker and thus give him yet another reason to kill Leon and Jill.'
The room suddenly felt cold and it almost seemed as if the world had lost all color in it. The sight of Excella's bloody corpse reminded the young Redfield of her sins and own mortality. If she had not done anything, the body on the floor could just as well be hers. 'Why couldn't I just disarm and apprehend her? To knock her unconscious like Chris taught me many years ago?'. She now belonged to Wesker, body and soul, but then again, hadn't she given herself to him already by willingly sleeping with him and enjoying her time in his company? Instead of fighting and resisting Wesker's will, she had wanted to find silver lining in her miserable existence and just feel something else than sadness.
'I'm the worst,' Claire sighed in her mind, feeling guilty and weak for wanting to find some happiness in her life after Chris' death. The past year had felt like an eternity and after she had accepted Wesker and started obeying him more, her life had become bearable, 'and it had only cost my self respect and friends' Claire almost laughed. Wesker had been her only human contact along with HUNK who was a rather rare sight...it had been only natural that she'd eventually be drawn to the ex S.T.A.R.S captain, wanting to feel physical contact with someone.
This was my last chance of seeing my friends again…I got to say my farewells, something I couldn't have with my brother, Claire understood and she almost wanted to lull herself into false sense that Wesker had done this out of kindness. But she knew he had not. 'No, he wanted to show me that I can never get away from him, like I didn't know that already', Claire snorted and smiled in slightly melancholic manner, not sure if she dared to take Wesker's hand. But, whether she took that hand or not wouldn't change the fact that she'd be flying to Kijuju with Wesker as the completion of Uroboros project drew nearer. This would merely determine whether she'd go as his ally or enemy.
The young woman felt oddly comforted now that her captor was here with her and she couldn't help but recall his dark promise; that he'd hunt her down if she ever tried to escape him. As sick and twisted as it sounded, it felt good to know that someone wanted her, that there was someone who wouldn't leave her no matter what; even if that person was Wesker who was the source of her misery.
'There is nothing I can do to stop him, I'm not strong or resourceful enough...I lost myself to him from the very first time I let him embrace me', Claire thought as she reached slowly for Wesker's hand, but stopped midair as a sense of hesitation and dread washed over her, 'No...he put a claim on me the moment we met in RPD.'
For some reason, the young woman feared that if she placed her hand on Wesker's, his touch would burn her and brand her as his property for all eternity. Even death wouldn't be a respite. Claire knew she had no other choice but to accept his offer but it still made her afraid, not so much for herself but for the future of the world.
'I know he planned everything, that I'd kill Excella in self defense', Claire realized and was unable to shake the terrifying suspicion that Wesker had total control over her actions and psyche. 'Does he really have that great a hold of my mind?,' Claire wondered and she slowly came to the realization that she had no one left in the world anymore, except Wesker. By killing Excella she had made herself a murderer, even if her actions were partly justifiable. She had never felt this alone in the world and her sins kept eating Claire from the inside. She just wanted them to stop hurting her.
'He is the only one I have left now.'
''Steve, Chris, Leon, Jill…they have all left me to rot in this cage to remain as Wesker's little canary bird,' Claire acknowledged her abysmal situation and she bit her tongue lightly, trying to accept the fact that she had no one else but the blond man now. 'I should hate him with every cell of my body, for putting me through this hell', Claire thought with hollow look in her blue eyes, only to form a smile on her lips. As crazy as it was, he couldn't live without him anymore. Hating him would be useless.
The pony-tailed woman knew there was no one left to judge her for killing Excella, but she had to pay for her sins in someway and what would be a better punishment than letting Wesker take her completely.
"I...I have no one else left," Claire whispered utterly defeated and she feared that her voice would fail her. As she gazed up into Wesker's cold red eyes that shone with something dark and primal, the young woman understood that he was waiting for her to take his hand and to seal her fate. It felt as if she would be admitting her defeat if she placed her hand on that leather gloved one; that she'd give herself fully to Wesker and relinquishing all the right she had to fight or escape him. She'd accept her fate on his side, never fighting him. They'd see this through together.
"I know, dear heart," Wesker purred darkly and grinned knowingly at her, "You know I'm strong enough to survive anything, that I'd never leave you. You won't have to fear of me disappearing anywhere," the tall man told her, but Claire just gave the ex S.T.A.R.S captain a short laugh with pained and anxious look in her blue eyes. There was a ghost of a smile on Claire's lips and she looked like she didn't believe anything Wesker had said to her, "Until you get bored of me that is," she murmured quietly and shook her head gently.
Wesker just smirked and chuckled darkly at his captive in a way that made a shiver run down Claire's spine. Those dark red eyes shone with possessiveness and need to control her, to own every inch of her body and soul so that she wouldn't even think of being able to leave or live without him, "I will never get bored of you, dear heart."
The young Redfield still hesitated, trying to cling a while longer to whatever innocence remained inside her. It felt like what was left of Claire's past life was crumbling away around her by the minute and only thing that remained and stayed constant was Wesker who had been a part of her life for so long already. His threat and presence in the young woman's life had grown slowly over the years as she had delved deepr and deeper into the world of bio terrorism with her brother who in the end had lost his life.
'It is pretty safe to say that this can't get much worse,' Claire snorted in her mind slightly amused, but her blue eyes remained hollow looking.
She had lost her home, school, friends and family along with her freedom, but she was strong, strong enough to rebuild her live anew if given time. To be honest, Claire had started to find things she enjoyed and had focused on them. Playing the piano, the conversations she had with Wesker and HUNK, the books the two had brought her and the times the ex STARS captain had taken her out had all been moments and shards of happiness she had collected throughout the year. She had simply tried to survive and find some good in her existence. Perhaps she had let Wesker get too great of a hold over her, and seeing Jill and Leon again had made her realize it. Their accusations had cut deep into her soul. However, it was too late now.
Claire knew that the door to her cage was going to open soon, yet she didn't feel ready to walk through that door that had been left open by Jill and Leon. Not without Wesker.
"I…can't face the world beyond that door, Wesker. I can't after what I've done, no matter where you'd take me," Claire whispered quietly, feeling utterly defeated by the blond man. She had never felt such need for someone before and even though her reason said that she should loathe Wesker for what he had done to her and her loved ones, she wasn't able to. In the end it was her friends' fault for not understanding her and for believing everything Wesker had showed them. Jill was still mourning and had wanted to blame someone for Chris' death and she found culprit in her while Leon had been just fed lies by Ada who wanted him all to herself.
"Claire…you know you don't have any other choice but to go with me," the man's words cut through the haze of her mind like a sharp knife. Claire had thought that she had no tears left for anyone, least for herself, but much to her surprise the young woman found her eyes tearing up slightly as she finally reached out to place her hand onto her captor's larger gloved one.
"You win," she finally admitted, her voice so quiet and thin that she feared that it would fail her completely, but thankfully it held. She had finally admitted her defeat fully, letting Wesker have her completely, mind and body, "You are cruel beyond anything, but I can't live without you even after everything you've done to me," Claire laughed sadly and wiped away the few tears before they managed to fall down her cheeks.
"I know, and that's why I want you, Dear hear," Wesker chuckled without any compassion or remorse.
Claire suddenly felt like she was stepping into oblivion when Wesker grasped her hand and pulled her gently up and against him. The young woman found her body to be weak from the emotional distress and she almost fell against the man so that he had to support her slightly. It was clear that the pony-tailed girl was still in shock from killing Excella and seeing her friends for the last time like this. Wesker had burnt down what ever had remained of her previous life, and he had let him.
"Dear heart, you are still in shock, lets go," Wesker said almost softly as he guided Claire away from the large room and into the hallway that led into his bedroom. The wooden floor creaked slightly beneath their feet and the air felt cold to Claire, making her want to just press herself against Wesker's s tall and muscular body in order to feel safe and warm. When the two of them left the living room behind, one could hear rustling sounds and heavy yet swift footsteps when someone entered the area where Excella's corpse was losing its warmth by each passing moment. Claire could hear how the woman's body was being dragged away by someone who probably was HUNK and it almost sounded like he was humming.
'Well at least someone is happy', the pony tail haired woman snorted in her mind, but she knew that HUNK was not the only one enjoying his time. Wesker was probably loving every moment of this as well.
'They better clean up that mess well, else Wesker is going to be in serious trouble,' Claire laughed silently inside her head, as if such thing could happen, 'what am I thinking? HUNK is a professional in killing and removing people'. Sure, Jill and Leon had seen her next to her dead body and heard her admit the deed, but they would have disappeared by the time the BSAA could react. Surprisingly enough, Claire found herself wondering more about HUNK rather than what would happen once BSAA found out about Excella's death. Would the mercenary be joining them in Kijuju or would Wesker just get rid of him once he no longer was useful to him? 'I'd be sad to see him die...he is surprisingly kind and nice to me.'
"We will be gone before anyone even has a chance to react to this in BSAA, aren't we?" Claire found herself asking as she stopped for a moment to glance through the large windows that completely formed the other wall in the corridor. For a moment, the young Redfield woman just admired the night city that basked in the light of the moon and silvery stars far above them. They looked so bright against the pitch black sky. She could only imagine the distance those shining objects had to one another and right now, Claire felt like she shared that distance with the rest of the world. The normal world now felt so alien and hostile towards her, and the only moments she felt safe were when she was with Wesker.
The ex captain took a moment to admire the night city and the relatively busy streets with his captive and lover, but where Claire saw beauty, Wesker only saw something to be destroyed by Uroboros that would cleanse the world. Soon enough those cars and buildings would be abandoned by the people as the world became infected with the virus…the mankind would struggle for survival, but eventually the next step in the evolution of human race would take over and start rebuilding the destroyed world. And, he would lead those people with Claire by his side.
"Yes, the flight to Africa will be a long one, and you'll have all time to recover once we are there," Wesker replied to her question as Claire eyed the city that was basking in the light of the moon and street lights, 'I wonder what will be left of this city once Uroboros is unleashed upon the world,' Claire thought sadly as she realized that somewhere on those brightly lit streets, Leon and Jill were running with Ada, having no idea that their trace would run cold soon after. This had simply been a bittersweet farewell.
"Does it hurt, Claire?" Wesker asked in quite emotionless manner, knowing very well in what turmoil his captive's mind had to be in right now. The look in Claire's eyes grew more sad as she searched her feelings, trying to find proper words to describe the pain inside her soul.
Wesker was clearly trying to keep the malice out of his voice, but Claire was sure she could hear it hidden there. 'I guess he can't help himself, he was never a good person to begin with', she laughed dryly in her mind with slightly hollow look in her eyes, yet the young woman somehow managed to form a smile onto her lips, 'it is not like we love each other. He is not above tormenting me.'
"It does… I wasn't prepared for it," The red haired woman admitted as she glanced down at her clothes that were partly covered in Excella's blood, "to see Leon and Jill one last time like that. To have them just appear in the doorway moments after I had killed ," Claire continued and felt like she was choking on her words as she recalled the look of disbelief and anger on Valentine's face, "I can't bear the idea of them believing that I wanted this, that I killed Excella because you ordered me to...but then again, you had planned it to go that way, hadn't you?" Claire asked quite angrily and wept slightly against her captor who was so cruel, but whom without she couldn't live, "Jill probably thinks I let you kill Chris..."
'I need him…' the young Redfield sighed and pressed herself against her brother's killer, wanting to feel Wesker's warmth and heartbeats that were the most comforting thing she had right now.
The tall red eyed man couldn't help but feel a sense of thrill now that he had cut the remaining connections Claire had to the world beyond her gilded cage. He had erased all other people from her life and now his lovely captive had no other choice but to choose him and world he had created for her. He had fully taken her into the dark world of viruses, monsters and shadows that was completely separated from the normal world where ordinary people lived their lives, blissfully unaware of what was going on behind the scenes and in the shadows..
"Who knows, maybe they do, but it doesn't really matter anymore, Claire," Wesker chuckled and Claire got a look of distress and fear in her blue eyes and she just knew that he probably loved the idea of Jill loathing them both, "how painful it must be to know that the world has fully abandoned you, dear heart. They left you with me," Wesker almost purred before pushing Claire's back against the reinforced glass window with a possessive look in those golden-red eyes, "There is nothing for you out there anymore, Claire... I'm the only one who you can trust, the only one who even cares you exist..." Wesker whispered maliciously at Claire who tried to look away but was unable to.
"You have nothing else left but me...no other choice but to choose me," the man grinned and whispered against her ear before kissing her, "and you know it."
Eventually ex captain led Claire into his room and closed the door quietly behind them so that they wouldn't be disturbed for a while. They were on the clock right now, but there was plenty of time before BSAA or anyone would come here. There was enough time to do one last thing before they'd be gone.
As she gazed at the large bed near the window, Claire recalled the nights she had spent with Wesker, letting him embrace her and do as he wanted. Even after the first time, it had felt very odd and sinful for a good while, making Claire often feel disgusted with herself afterwards. But eventually she had stopped caring and had just enjoyed the moments of bliss Wesker could give her. It was most often the rainy and stormy nights when she sought Wesker out, wanting to feel needed and safe. Those wonderful nights had really banished her loneliness and made her want to live.
Usually he was always gone by the time she woke up and it was very rare that she'd wake up next to the blond man. In fact, she was pretty sure it had happened only three times. Funny thing was that those mornings had been ones she had spent a lot of time self reflecting while staring at Wesker's sleeping form.
Claire shifted slightly on the white bed sheets when the the few rays of warm sunlight that managed to get through the blinds hit her face, making her roll onto her side with a small complaining 'mmmgh...' sound that was pretty cute. It was like a protest, a way to tell the sun to go away so that she could sleep a while longer. She had gotten used to the fact that she was always alone in the bed by the time she woke up as she stretched slightly her arm, she hit something hard and warm and realized that Wesker was still sleeping next to her.
The young woman pulled her hand quickly away and pulled the covers slightly over her, peeking from beneath them at the sleeping man. Claire felt odd staring at Wesker who looked so peaceful, disarmed even in his sleep.
'It is hard to understand that he is almost 50..." Claire thought as she studied the man's face that had only a couple of lines beneath his eyes, 'you almost forget that he is a monster when his eyes are close,' Claire laughed slightly inside her mind and just rested her head onto her arms and for a moment she studied the blond whose hair was slightly messy from the night before...he had been quite rough with her; a bad day probably but it was ok, she quite liked it.
It felt so right and wrong at the same time...they had no love for each other and yet, they both lusted for each other, wanting to feel some connection to the other, 'at least we won't have to worry about having children...'Claire snorted but couldn't help but feel slightly sad and confused at the idea of not having children. There was nothing to really do about it since Wesker couldn't get her pregnant, thank god for that...she wouldn't want to raise a child in a world that had destroyed by the virus, but still...the thought refused to leave her alone.
'I'm 30 soon...not that old but still, It might be late...' Claire thought and sighed heavily, feeling very melancholic as she stared at the sleeping man. This was for the best. It was bad enough that they didn't love each other in any way...if she was to bring a child into a relationship like this, it would only end badly for all of them.
'There is nothing left for me, I'd rather just forget about everything. I'm Wesker's now. Chris is gone along with my friends who didn't even bother trying to believe in me,' Claire thought sadly as she stepped inside Wesker's room and headed for the bed to sit down on it with empty look in her blue eyes, 'It would be more merciful to just forget all about them', Claire scoffed in her mind as she clutched the bed covers slightly with her hands, 'he is the only one who cares that I'm even alive'. The redhead woman gave a small smile as she felt the soft bed covers with her hand, 'So soft and comfortable...who could have thought I'd feel safe in his bed,'
Her strength and will to fight had faded away completely, and when Wesker sat down next to her, Claire pressed her head down onto his broad shoulder in order to seek comfort and physical contact from him. On her face Claire had a slightly sad smile and hollow look in her blue eyes as she stared at the window. The blond was the reason she had lost everything, yet she desired him more than anything else in the world. What had been the odds that all those years ago, it had been her who had caught his eye. Claire had survived through many living hells and nightmarish situations, just to end up as a lover and partner of a man who had been behind or at least partly responsible for those horrors.
'Fate truly had a sadistic sense of humour,' Claire noted bitterly.
Seeing Jill and Leon had torn open some wounds she had believed to have cured, but apparently those cuts in her soul had not healed properly. The pain and longing to see Leon again had been still killing her slowly from the inside. But now, she had cauterized those wounds and no matter how much it pained her soul right now, more than anything in a long time, Claire knew her heart wouldn't bleed anymore. There was nothing more left to be broken by Wesker who was caressing her head gently.
The red-eyed man glanced down at her with curious look in his eyes when the Redfield girl smiled sadly and shook her head slightly, as if trying banish some unpleasant memory.
"What amuses you, dear heart?" he inquired and from his tone, Claire knew that she'd better sate his curiosity. He'd get his answer one way or another.
"I couldn't even tell Chris' last wish to Jill," the redhead whispered sadly and the blond ex captain just put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her against him. The young woman smiled both sadly and bitterly as she felt the hard and coarse fabric of his outfit with her hand, pressing it against Wesker's heart. Claire cast her eyes down and they looked completely empty as she recalled the disgusting fact that Wesker had heard that wish also; after all he had been the one to pull the trigger and kill her brother in cold blood before taking her with him.
It felt like an eternity had passed since that moment.
'I can still hear the gun shot like it was yesterday', Claire recalled sadly as she felt Wesker's heart beat against her hand; it was so steady and calm, reminding Claire that he was really there and that he wouldn't be killed off easily.
There was no love between them, Claire wasn't stupid enough to even think it could be possible. Wesker had simply wanted to make her his partner and companion in the new world he worked hard to create, destroying and removing anything that stood in his way. He just wanted to have someone he could show it to, someone who knew who he was and had a history with him.
The red head closed her eyes as she gently nuzzled Wesker's chest and the coarse fabric of his shirt, it felt so rough against her skin, but then again Wesker was a very coarse personality to begin with. He only viewed people as tools and means to achieve his goals, discarding them the moment they served no further purpose. A part of her still wondered if he was going to throw her away once he got bored of her. He had told her "No" but that could easily change.
'I wonder if he lets Jill and Leon report to the BSAA, or have his men already killed them? I don't think Ada would let that happen since she always had a thing for Leon,' Claire pondered and realized that the Asian woman probably saw this as an opportunity to get rid of her and have Leon all to herself…. Life was wonderfully unfair.
"Do you hate me, dear heart?" Wesker inquired and broke the silence between them, making Claire scoff quietly, as if the question was completely pointless to her. Her blue eyes focused on the silvery moon was traveling slowly across the pitch black night sky, letting the city and Wesker's bedroom bask in its cold light that felt somehow foreboding, "What's the point? Hating you doesn't really help my situation, does it?" Claire asked and the moonlight reflected slightly from her eyes, "You said it yourself, I have no one else left but you, no one else cares that I exist."
Wesker smiled with amused look in his red eyes, "No, it does not," he admitted and Claire just sighed out loudly, blinking couple of times to focus her eyesight that had gotten slightly blurry.
Sorting out her feelings in this moment was so hard and Claire would have given anything to have some clarity, some certainty of what she was feeling. She was sad and partly broken but still, even though she was angry and dissapointed at Jill and Leon, she knew that she'd only feel worse if they died, 'I want them to live... as long as possible. Leon and Jill should have a fighting chance, even if they don't believe in me anymore,'
For a brief and fleeting moment, determination shone in her blue eyes, pushing the sadness, bitterness and anxiety out of its way.
"Though, I have to say that I might think a bit more highly of you if you let my friends go..." she replied and gazed into the man's slightly glowing eyes that burned intensely in the dark room. Claire felt a bit nervous when Wesker didn't answer right away and made her wait.
"Well? Will you let Jill and Leon live? Or have your men already hunt them down and shot them to death?" The young woman demanded answers quietly from her captor who was caressing and comforting her, as if he could cure the pain he himself had inflicted. The ex S.T.A.R.S captain couldn't help but smirk coldly at her when Claire didn't even bother to mention Ada because she knew the agent was working for him.
"You don't sound too worried for Wong's safety, Dear heart," Wesker chuckled quite maliciously, making Claire's blue eyes glimmer briefly with anger but it passed quickly, "Am I to presume that if my men happened to kill her, you wouldn't mind?" the blond man teased her further.
"Why should I? She was working for you, I could see it in the way Ada carried herself and acted...and besides, she happened to have quite convenient information considering my "betrayal"," the young woman replied quite emotionlessly and paused for a moment, "So I could say I wouldn't feel so bad if something happened to her...I won't wish it, but I wouldn't lose my night's sleep because of her."
Her answer seemed to satisfy Wesker who just laughed quietly, clearly entertained by his captive's answer.
"I will let them go for now, but should they become trouble again, I cannot guarantee that I will be as merciful next time. We will be long gone and our trail will have run cold by the time they get back here with reinforcements. The BSAA can do nothing to stop me or Uroboros," the man replied with smug and confident look in his burning red eyes, "So I guess it won't hurt me too much if I let your friends run around for a while longer."
The younger Redfield felt her heart starting to race slightly when Wesker took hold of her chin and leaned in slightly, "And even if they find us again, they can't save you from me, Claire," he stated to her possessively before kissing his captive gently as a sign that she belonged to him. The kiss started out gently, almost chastely, but the red-eyed man quickly grew more demanding, parting their lips only when his captive needed air.
'I fear for the world…' Claire thought sadly as she gazed deeply into those unnatural eyes that blazed with desire and the pure need to possess and control her. As far as she knew, there was no other person like Wesker. He was unique and probably the most powerful human on earth, if you could call him that anymore. But still, Claire wondered if that would change once the world was infected with Uroboros...would anything survive?
"I guess I should be thankful to you for letting me see Leon and Jill one more time, I just…" Claire whispered and paused for a moment when her voice trailed off, "I just wonder if there is any chance of me seeing any of them again," she continued, "or was this really my last farewells to Leon and Jill."
"You might if Uroboros attracts much attention in Africa. The BSAA usually send their best to deal with hotspots, and Kennedy and Valentine are the most experienced members," Wesker thought out loud before laughing in sinister manner, "though I find that extremely unlikely, Dear heart," the man said softly as he turned her head slightly to admire and study her facial features and emotions, "and even if they do find us, it will be too late for them to help you or the world. They'd only witness the birth of the new world, and they wouldn't make it."
Claire shot the Wesker a slightly challenging look and somehow managed to for a smile on her lips, "you don't know that, maybe they do have the genes to make it, to endure the virus," she said with half lid eyes, making Wesker chuckle dryly and tighten his grip slightly on his captive, "Claire, if that happens, I will personally kill them both...I won't need them in the new world."
'In other words he is saying "I don't want competition..."' She thought and somehow that idea made her feel wanted and appreciated.
Claire gave a short and joyless laugh as she reached out to put her arms around the back of Wesker's neck, hugging him tightly, "tell me, what would you have done if I had been stupid enough to follow them?" the young woman asked as she nuzzled her captor's and lover's neck with somewhat dreamy look in her blue eyes. "I need to reminded myself of what you are..." Claire continued, wanting to be reminded of what Wesker was capable of doing if angered.
She couldn't help but shiver when Wesker's sinister laugh echoed slightly in the dark room that was only lit by the silvery and cold moonlight, "Dear heart, you know how to amuse me. I knew you wouldn't be foolish enough to escape from me, but if you insist on hearing it, I'll be more than happy to entertain you..." the man gave a short and dry laugh as he let his hands roam Claire's back slightly; eventually placing them on her hips to make sure she wouldn't go anywhere.
"I would have found you no matter where you would have tried to escape to or hide in, Claire," Wesker stated and his red eye burned threateningly, "I would have killed both of them for trying to keep you away from me, and after I was done with them, I would have dragged you back here and make sure that you'd never step outside," Wesker murmured as he leaned closer, "I love your spirit dear heart, how you never back down, but there are rules in our relationship, and to my pleasure it seems you've learned them," the blond man purred as he nibbled Claire's earlobe possessively.
"I could almost say you've earned my trust," Wesker added in a tone that almost sounded malicious.
The young woman gave Wesker a quite and short laugh with half lid eyes; "so I guess I'm now trained well enough?" She asked from her captor who just felt her neck with his leather-gloved hand, "I do wonder if you are ever going to let me leave without a leash?"
"I do love your bluntness, Claire…It makes life so much more interesting," Wesker purred and his red eyes burned with dark desire and need to possess Claire fully, mind and body, "And if you had somehow managed to get away, I assure you, dear heart, I would have hunt you down even if it was the last thing I did. No one escapes me."
Clare didn't inquire further. She knew that Wesker spoke the truth and that no matter where she'd run, he'd find her and kill everyone who tried to protect her. No one would be able to keep her from him; there was no life for her without Wesker anymore. If she had attempted escaping with Leon and Jill, they would have paid the price. Wesker would have killed them in front of her just like he had killed her brother, without mercy and enjoying every moment of it.
'He killed Chris,' Claire reminded herself of that cruel fact, but it hardly mattered to her anymore. Even though her brother's death would never cease to hurt, she'd be able to live with it. If she had run, only more people would have ended up because of her, 'I'm protecting my friends and the world by staying with him and submitting to his will.'
'Even if I can't do anything anymore, Jill and Leon are resourceful…I have to put my trust in them to save the world…I'm not strong enough to live without Wesker, I can't act against him anymore.'
"I wonder…if they'd try to stop me, would you help them?" he asked from from the younger Redfield and she just smiled gently, as if she was amused by his words.
"I still don't want to see the world get infected by Uroboros, to have millions of people die from a virus," Claire muttered as she rested against her captor, loving the feeling of his arms around her, "yet, it is no longer my job to stop you," She admitted with sad look in her beautiful blue eyes, "I know when I've lost."
Wesker smirked at her words and was clearly satisfied with her answer caressed her cheek gently, his thumb wiping off few of her tears, "The new world I'm about to create will be perfect, it will be the next step of the human evolution, a world of perfect beings, Dear hear," the blond man promised darkly to her, "I assure you, Claire, you will come around and accept and wish it."
The defeated Redfield girl just smiled sadly and felt her body tremble slightly as she thought of the dark future that she was going to let happen, "that virus…" she whispered and placed her hands and forehead against Wesker's chest in attempt to seek comfort and hide her face, "And what about me and my genes? What makes you think I'd be accepted by Uroboros? By the sounds of the chances are minimal, impossible even," Claire found herself asking and Wesker just smirked smugly as he kept playing with her hair, "I'm not special or strong enough…what makes you think I'd be a fit?"
"Dear heart, you are worthy of power greater than what Uroboros could ever give you, Wesker stated in foreboding manner with somewhat dark and foreboding look in this burning red eyes, "you'd be above them, commanding those inferior to you and me…" The blond explained before chuckling clearly amused, "but of course, you'd till be beneath me, Claire…"
The young woman wasn't sure what to think of Wesker's words, nor was she sure what he was offering her, but she was sure of one thing. She wanted to get rid of the emotional pain that hurt her more than any wound she had ever endured.
"You've taken away my brother, freedom and friends," Claire stated and while her words sounded accusing, there was defeat in her voice and she didn't really have any more passion or desire to hate Wesker. "You are right to say that my options here are very limited...but it doesn't erase the pain.."
"I don't want to endure this pain anymore, I'm done fighting and resisting you," the redhead whispered desperately, her voice weak and thin as if she was almost fearful of admitting that she, for once, wasn't strong enough to face the burdens in her life, "I'd give anything to just forget all about the rest of the world even for a while and just be happy."
For so many years, she had survived and fought for her survival. In fact, she and Chris had struggled and battled all their life, never giving up before any obstacles no matter how overwhelming or horrifying they had been. Was it so bad to admit that just for once, she wasn't strong enough?
"I can't remove the pain or completely memories, nor do I want to, but…" Wesker whispered quietly as he played with Claire's soft red hair with quite malicious and possessive look on his face, "I can help you forget your friends and family until you are strong enough to endure the painful memories," the tall man continued cryptically, making the young woman blink in confusion.
"What are you saying?" she asked and pulled slightly away from the man's embrace and Wesker quickly reached into his coat's pocket to pull out a syringe filled with ominous purple liquid inside it that looked like it only promised pain and death.
The red haired woman felt her heart start to race and she wanted to back away, yet her body refused to, "That's a virus…. isn't it? " she found herself inquiring even though she already knew the answer to that question. The real question however was, why on earth was he offering it to her!? The look on Wesker's face told her what she already knew. His cat like eyes shone slightly in the darkness of the room with an assertive look on his face.
"It is, and it will make you forget for a while, but not permanently", Wesker explained and his eyes looked more and more threatening and dark, "it is my last gift to you, and whether you take is up to you Claire. But if you choose to take it, you'll be strong enough to endure anything in the new world I'm about to create with you…nothing will be able to hurt you," Wesker continued darkly as he held the syringe on an open palm, offering it as a gift to his captive who stared at it with widened eyes.
The ex STARS captain observed his captive's reactions with fascination, how her expression mirrored the emotions she was feeling…they varied so quickly from fear, disgust, hate, curiosity all the way to the hopeful and desperate.
'I can't believe it…this has to be some nightmare or a delusion. He just can't offer me a virus like this,' Claire thought as she stared at the syringe that almost called out to her, tempting her to just take it as a way to punish herself, 'if it really helps me to endure this pain and survive…why wouldn't I take it? It will only cost me my humanity,' she laughed bitterly in her mind. Yet, her brother had wished her to survive no matter what.
With slightly shaking hand, the young Redfield slowly reached out with her hand to touch the smooth and cold surface of the glass syringe with her fingertips. In her eyes shone the desperate desire to just get rid of the pain she had endured.
The ex S.T.A.R.S leader knew Claire was a fighter, but he had destroyed her whole life and made her rebuild it within the cage he had created for her. Seeing her friends one last time like this had been the last straw, and he could only wonder how deeply it had hurt her.
"I'd turn into something like you?" Claire asked as she withdrew her hand with hesitation in her blue eyes, yet, Wesker could see that she was considering it strongly, "would I really be strong enough to survive? Would I even survive this?"
"In a sense yes, but not quite the same, I wouldn't want you to pose a threat to me, Dear heart," Wesker chuckled darkly, loving every moment of this. This was the pinnacle of their little game, getting Claire to willingly accept the gift and make the gamble.
Claire laughed slightly in her mind, 'Figures, he doesn't want competition. He wants me to be beneath him, not as an equal."
"Aren't you going to force me to take it?" Claire asked quietly, half expecting Wesker to just grab her arm into a vice like grip and inject her with the virus, but much to her surprise, he shook his head.
"No, as much as I'd love to just grab you and force this into your veins, Dear heart, I think you've earned the right to make that decision yourself, and besides," Wesker said with a small, barely hear able sigh, as if he was admitting defeat, "It is not perfect, it will be a gamble."
"A gamble?" The young woman asked all confused when she saw the disappointment Wesker had in his eyes, as if he had failed in his work, "wasn't your virus a gamble too?" She inquired, remembering something Wesker had mentioned once about how he had been the only survivor of the experimental virus.
"There is a risk you will not make it, and yes, it was…but I did not make it. This is my creation and I find it vexing that I can't create a better one," Wesker admitted and Claire blinked a couple of times as she tried to take in everything her captor was telling her and much to her surprise, she found herself asking quite calmly and collected, "how large failure percentage?"
'I can't believe I'm actually considering taking that. This is insane!' the younger Redfield thought as she eyed sadly the syringe in front of her, ' yet, what do I have to lose anymore? Well my humanity for sure, but I think I've lost that the moment I decided to let him take me," Claire smiled sadly as she imagined herself with Wesker, her eyes like his, 'Who would have thought I'd be the one to take a virus willingly. Chris must be turning in his grave right now.'
It only now occurred to her that she hadn't taken part in Chris' funeral, nor did she had any idea where he was buried…she had never said goodbyes to her brother in anyway, and it pained her soul.
'I just want this to end…I'm sorry Chris but a part of me just wants to forget about you until I can endure this. If Wesker lets me… I will find your grave and put flowers on it…I won't abandon you fully, I swear,' Claire thought as she closed her eyes for a moment and fought the tears while Wesker just stared at her quietly, "I will remember you when I'm strong enough.'
Claire reached out to place her hand on the syringe, "One in five…" She thought out loud and grasped the needle gently for a moment before taking it off Wesker's palm, "Will this really help me forget? To become stronger to accept all the things you've done to me?" Claire wondered out loud to which Wesker just chuckled darkly.
"The virus will inflict a memory loss that will last for some time, varying from few weeks to months. Eventually your memories will return, and I promise you dear heart, it will be easier to bear them when they feel distant," Wesker promised her and Claire scoffed quietly, not sure what to believe. Her face reflected from the cold glass surface of the syringe as the bright silvery moon lighted the room, giving it a very ominous feel, "You'll become resilient enough to survive anything. I'm sure your brother would have wanted that."
"I will take this," Claire murmured quietly before pausing with a sad look in her blue eyes that had lost some of their shine, "My friends think I'm a monster and they are right…I killed Excella…so I think this is a fitting punishment and a way to forget about Jill and Leon," Claire laughed bitterly, yet she somehow still managed to form a smile on her lips, "and I don't think death would be such a bad end either, I'd be free of you at least," she added with a slightly mocking smile that Wesker answered in kind.
"I only exist for you, so it is fitting I'd be like you."
The blond man watched quietly, his red eyes burning slightly more intensely now that the moment of fate was at hand. He was either going to lose Claire to the virus, or have her reborn, capable of bearing his children and becoming almost an equal.
"I don't really have anything to lose but my life and humanity," Claire whispered and sighed quietly as she closed her eyes and prepared herself mentally, bringing the needle slowly against her skin, "I guess this is the last thing in my life that you cannot control," the young woman whispered quietly and without another word, she injected herself with the virus.
There was barely a pinch when the extremely sharp needle pierced Claire's skin and it suddenly felt as if time itself slowed down around her. A brief feeling of regret washed over Claire's mind as she watched the purple liquid get injected into her blood stream, infecting her whatever virus Wesker had created just for her. They'd be unique creations if she managed to survive this.
Even though she couldn't' really feel or see it, Claire could imagine how the vile virus spread through her veins to every part of her body, leaving her body tainted.
It was all in lady luck's hands now and they both knew she was a cruel mistress.
When the syringe was empty, Wesker grabbed it and threw it away, making it hit the wooden ground and bounce a couple of times before rolling against the wall where it was left forgotten with few fractures on the glass. The blond man couldn't care less if someone found it, which was highly unlikable since this golden cage was going to burn soon enough.
The ex STARS leader started to take time by eyeing his wristwatch while Claire just sat on the bed, trying to feel if her body started to feel any different, but no matter how hard she tried to focus, she couldn't feel anything but the small burning sensation on her arm where she had been injected.
A sense of regret and fear started to take over Claire's heart as the realization of what she had done really dawned upon her.
'I might have killed myself with this virus…20 percent chance is much. What have I done?' She realized to her horror, but remained calm with only her heartbeat and breathing getting faster. Wesker noticed this, but didn't' say a word. The young woman looked through the window at the large silver moon that looked so cold and distant. It was the only light source they had and to Claire's terror it hid behind a pack of clouds, as if mocking her. 'That almost feels like an omen…' Claire pondered sadly and turned her attention to her captor who looked now completely serious and grim…almost hesitant, as if there was something he didn't want to do, but had to.
When 10 agonizingly slow moving minutes had gone by, and she still felt no different, Claire clutched the covers beneath her tightly and wondered 'Is something wrong? Why has nothing happened? Did I fail this?'
She tried to figure out what was going on, but was snapped out of it when the tall blond put his hand on her cheek. His touch was feather light and the leather gloves didn't feel too coarse against her skin.
"What will happen now?" Claire asked when Wesker reached out with both hands, caressing her head quite affectionately before leaning into to kiss her gently, as if it was a potential "farewell kiss."
Wesker kept his red eyes fixated on Claire's blue ones during the kiss, pulling back only when he had to, "We'll say goodbye for now…" Wesker replied without much emotion, and before Claire could say anything, the man moved his leather gloved hands to the Redfield's neck, and without another word he wrapped them around the infected woman's neck.
The room fell completely silent.
Claire's eyes widened in terror when Wesker's hands squeezed her neck tightly and cut off her air supply completely. Their eyes met and the cold, emotionless and utterly remorseless look in Wesker's eyes told Claire that his only intention was to kill her. Acting on an instinct, the young woman fought her captor weakly for few seconds before stopping resisting all together, as if she just wanted it to be over quickly. But still, she couldn't stop her body from reacting.
The ex S.T.A.R.S captain breathed heavily and his eyes shone slightly in the dimly lit room as he pushed Claire completely beneath him and against the bed covers, watching how the woman's life slowly slipped away. A part of him just wanted to break her neck and end it quickly, but he couldn't…it had to be done this way. A slow, painful death was what he needed.
'I guess Chris and I both got killed by Wesker,' Claire thought as she tried to endure the pain that was out of this world. It almost felt like the virus was reacting…her body felt hot and her mind was burning and each memory that flashed before her eyes caused pain. Her mind screamed her to resist, to fight and live but no matter what she'd do, Wesker had a upper hand and had her pinned against the bed. She had no leverage against him so it was completely useless. 'Just end it...' was all she could think of as she gagged and tried to gasp for oxygen, but Wesker's hands wouldn't let go of her throat until she was dead.
With her last strength, Claire reached out with her hand while staring into Wesker's burning eyes. The ex STARS leader was sure that she'd try tearing his eyes out or push him away, but much to his surprise, the young woman merely brushed her hand gently against his cheek before letting her arm fall lifelessly onto the bed covers.
Wesker panted heavily and felt his heart race when Claire stopped moving beneath him altogether and her eyes became glassy, a clear sign of death. Slowly, the tall blond man removed his hands and saw a clear bruises on the woman's neck. He had not been gentle, yet she had been surprisingly calm.
Without a word, the red-eyed man got off Claire and moved over to an armchair, sitting down to wait for the results…if there were any.
Claire felt like she was being pulled from some pleasant dream, yet she couldn't recall any specific details, but she had the feeling she had been with people she had liked, especially some man who felt very familiar and could even be her family. But, those details faded as her mind was brought slowly from the brink of oblivion back into the waking world.
The young woman opened her eyes and slowly rose into a sitting position, feeling disoriented and for some reason she had hard time remembering things, as if her whole mind was in disarray. Claire winced in pain when she felt her neck have a burning sensation that slowly started to fade away, as if it was healing quickly.
"Dear heart?" She heard a familiar deep voice and a name she had been called many, many times, but it wasn't her real name. The voice was comforting but also evoked strange emotions of dislike and fear…but they were pushed aside by a pure, overwhelming feeling of need and desperation.
"Claire…"
She found herself staring at a blond man with red eyes that reminded her of cat or some other creature. She knew him; he was someone she had hated, someone who had made her cry, but also someone who she needed more than anyone else in the world.
"Albert?" she asked, remembering the man's name…but it didn't feel right. It was not the name she liked to use, "Wesker." Claire corrected herself.
The man looked amused and Claire couldn't help but answer the dark smirk on the man's face.
"Welcome back."
For the first time ever, Claire was sure she had heard pure joy in the man's voice.
They drove through the night streets in a pitch-black car that moved gracefully and almost silently towards their destination, an airport where a private plane had been prepared for them. Everything else was ready in Africa where the Progenitor virus had first been found. Wesker glanced at his captive who was staring out of the window now that it had started raining slightly. Wesker tried keeping his eyes on the road but seeing Claire look at the large water drops that hit the glass gently and in calming manner with her blue cat like eyes was truly an enthralling and mesmerizing sight to behold.
The woman was still disoriented, confused and lost, but it was only natural and in time she'd remember everything that had happened to her, but by then, those painful memories would feel distant and wouldn't hurt so much anymore. She wouldn't even consider leaving him.
"How much do you remember, Claire?" Wesker inquired quietly as they drove out of the city and the blue eyed girl glanced at the man beside her, smiling a bit darkly.
"You killed me, and many people I've known throughout my life, "she said somewhat sadly and rested her head against the cool glass window, staring at the blazing tower in the city through the mirror, "Yet, I need you, " she whispered, "I chose to do this in order to forget painful memories, so I trust you."
Wesker smiled darkly, his red eyes glowing in foreboding manner, "You'll regain your memories in time, and when you do, you are strong enough to bear them, Claire," Wesker assured her and the young woman laughed and closed her eyes, shaking head slightly, as if trying to sort out her thoughts.
"That penthouse…it was a gilded cage you created for me, a prison," she recalled and Wesker just chuckled as he drove the black car drove through the empty night streets into the darkness.
"Don't stress yourself, Claire, you are no longer a canary inside a cage."
That gilded cage had been abandoned, its door left wide open as it burned to ash.
I think my hair turned grey with this one...I had to play RE 5 through again to get some sense of Wesker's character and I'm so rusty with him! Aaaargh, now I just need to write some short epilogue and then I'm done with this eternity project. It sucks so bad that I'm no longer the writer I used to be when I was younger.
