Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Wrapping arms about herself, Angelica stared at her new home. After being escorted to the residential area, both she and Lisa had finally separated for some down time before the mandatory meeting later that morning. The Raccoon Training Facility had been losed down for several years, but now quietly reopened to gather the scientist team that would be transferred to the soon to be opened Arklay Mountain labs. The room was dusty, to say in the least. Arming herself with a damp rag, Angelica began wiping the various furniture. Spencer's love for antiquities did have a colorful splash whenever the man had a hand in designing any particular structure. She could only imagine what the mansion looked like…
Tossing the now dirty washcloth into the wastebasket, Angelica patted down her bed. Clean bedding felt smooth under her fingertips. Perhaps there was a maid who didn't believe in dusting did work here after all..
Plumping down one of her many suitcases, the woman unzipped and rifled through the items within before picking some attire from the now rumpled pile. Moving to the small desk that stood in front of the wall across from the bed, Angelica began to unbutton her sweater. A personal computer terminal sat upon the desk, the light blinking upon the keyboard confirming that the machine was indeed connected to a power supply. Switching to using one hand for her clothing task, Angelica used the other to press the power switch. The computer whined to life, the prominent Umbrella logo flashing upon the screen. Raising an eyebrow as she tossed the sweater behind her, Angelica slipped on the white tank top she had chosen over her sleek body. Typing with one hand and brushing her hair from her eyes, the woman used her company information to log into the outdated system. After a matter of seconds, all her main research information and files splayed out in cold format. Smiling in satisfaction, Angelica shut down the machine, pleased that she would be able to do some of her work in a private environment. A sharp knock on the door caused the woman to jump from her seat surprised. Rushing to answer the persistent noise, Angelica nearly tore the door open. Lisa stood grinning like a child, but her mouth quickly shifted into an expression of horror. "Honey…what Are you wearing?" Angelica looked down at her attire, eyes wide at the question. She had been in the middle of a change when the computer had caught her attention… A semi short business suit skirt hugged her long legs, but the sleep shirt looked completely out of sorts. Or at least, she considered tank tops sleep shirts. Living somewhere cold had forced the shorts loving woman to turn turtleneck, and had never been seen in anything less than two layers since. Burrows' cheeks turned dark pink as she looked up at her friend. She hadn't shown this much skin in public since her teenage years. "I suppose I should get my sweater…" Lisa cut her off by a sudden jerk of the hand, nearly knocking Angelica off her feet. Literally dragging her from the room, Trevor kept pulling hastily. "No time! We are due to be at the orientation meeting in five minutes!" Burrows gasped, sliding sloppily into the shoes she had kicked off earlier. Throwing her long, gold hair into a high ponytail, the woman slammed her door shut. All done with an urgent assistant clinging and yanking on her right arm. Making their way down the hall, Angelica sighed. Grinding her teeth in exhausted anger, the tardy woman followed Lisa as quickly as possible. If they were late….there would be retribution. This was not going to be good…not good at all.
….
The orientation meeting was held outside oddly enough. Folding chairs and a makeshift podium stood out of place upon the lush, emerald lawn. Men and women sat in various groups, maybe forty people in all. Some were conversing quietly; others seemed bored at the early hour of in which the meeting was being held. Breathing in the slightly chilly air, Angelica slipped into a seat which was placed towards the back of the rows. The young woman prayed no one noticed her late arrival. Tucking one leg under the other, Burrows silently observed as their overseer finally walked over to his podium. Dr. James Marcus pressed a forearm against the wooden slab, dusting an invisible piece of lint from his suit sleeve. The years had left tracks across her old professor's face, wrinkles spidering around the smooth skin of his eyes. His dirty blonde hair had grayed, shining within the sunlight from the overabundance of hair gel he used to slick it back oh so severely. William Birkin, Albert Wesker, and Charles Trent stood in a circled trio behind, watching the crowd in hushing glares. All chatter fell silent, every last person turning their full attention to Marcus and his Project Managers. Lisa fidgeted in the seat next to Angelica, prompting her to place a steadying hand on her friend's knee. As James Marcus adjusted the mite sized microphone, he cleared his throat in preparation.
…
He didn't like it. Years had passed since this particular facility had been used for training operatives. He had gotten used to it being empty, at his own disposal. Marcus grit his teeth together, silently resenting Spencer's order to temporarily reopen. He had been so close to his crowning breakthrough…
Plastering a false smile across his thinning lips, James Marcus faced the expectant crown.
"Welcome to your temporary home, ladies and gentlemen."
…
Wesker stared at the man before him coldly, his azure eyes narrowing. Marcus had changed since his self imposed seclusion, becoming slightly….deranged, if he had to place the exact word that was coming to mind. After an earlier meeting with him, it became more and more evident that James had turned his work into obsession..
This man had been his mentor, his friend…..
Panning his gaze over the crowd, Wesker let his eyes stray to the late arrival in the back. The crooked smirk that had painted across his lips quickly faded as he watched her. Angelica Burrows met his gaze apologetically, her ice blue hues quickly diverting to the man in front. The autumn air agreed with her it seemed, or perhaps it was embarrassment that flushed attractively at her normally pale cheeks. The sunlight shimmered across the alabaster skin of her arms and shoulders alluringly, causing the normally collected male to widen his eyes. Wesker let his critical stare to wander briefly down the woman's curves, parting his lips to let out a breath of appreciation…
Birkin nudged at Wesker's shoulder, forcing the younger male to avert his eyes from their appreciative glance. Forcing his attention forward, the man listened carefully as his predecessor began his flagrant speech.
"Welcome to your temporary home, ladies and gentlemen."
…..
"You will be staying here a period of three months until the Arklay Mountain Laboratory has been completed. During your stay, you will be acclimated to the city area. We are to remain inconspicuous and effective during this time. I trust you all have been assigned your teepees?" Hazel eyes crinkled at their own joke, a low chuckle murmuring throughout the crowd. Marcus seemed satisfied with the reaction and continued. "Our top viral engineers and project managers will be as follows. You will listen, work for them, and above all else, do not question them. These people have proven themselves worthy of their position and will be your progress supervisors. Albert Wesker, William Birkin, Charles Trent, and….Angelica Burrows." Turning around, Marcus furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. Gruffly whispering, he addressed his colleagues. "Where is Dr. Burrows?" Growling under his breath, Wesker leaned forward, speaking under his breath. "I do believe she was a bit tardy in her arrival…." Marcus nodded at the information, leaning back towards the microphone. He beckoned with an outstretched hand. "Dr. Burrows, please step forward." Wesker quietly watched the woman addressed freeze in her chair, a smug smile spreading across his lips.
…
Angelica froze, silently cursing that she hadn't gotten there earlier. Lisa was prodding her to move, but her limbs refused to obey their owner. Seconds seemed to drag on into eternity, the familiar heat returning to a flush of crimson to her cheeks. Painstakingly slow, the numbness within her body turned into a rushing adrenaline. The former student rose from her seat, striding forward to take her place amongst the teachers. Creeping quietly to her old friend and professor's side, Angelica stared at the gathering of new colleagues. Marcus smiled stiffly, returning to his presentation. "Very Kind of you to join us, Dr. Burrows. All of you have been assigned to your various groups according to specialty. The timed schedules for meetings and mealtimes will be sent electronically to your personal terminals. Without further ado, again I welcome you to the Raccoon Umbrella Training facility!" Clapping ensued, drowning out any questions Angelica was forming in her mind. Things were moving faster than she had ever expected…