Chapter Twelve
Marcus sat back in his office chair, looking at the various jars of leeches that were adorning his laboratory. They swam in circular loops, occasionally looking as of they were stopping to gaze at him that way he was at them. James chuckled, running a finger down the nearest glass casement. Okani had mentioned he would fly someone out immediately to collect him and the new data…but it was left at that. All his babies…experiments…would be left behind. The various BOWs that Umbrella had manufactured from his science were of no consequence. After all…who would want to ship a Crawler? And where would they keep it? Poor assistant Mary Sue….she had been a transfer student from Harvard, and under orders had been one of the first to receive the virus. Burrows had no idea that the dog cage that he kept covered was where Mary now lived…
Chuckling at himself, the old man realized one thing: Umbrella had turned him into a monster just like Spencer. Sure enough Ozwell was more direct in his arduous acts, but he was far more….devious. And that possibly would make him all the more a powerful enemy once the deals were secure. Idiot…what was Spencer thinking to try and get rid of his top viral engineer? Did he not think that there would be some retaliation? Fool….they all were, even those two men that were at his every beck and call. Drumming his fingertips together, Marcus looked at his wristwatch. Okani's assistant would be there within the half hour, and it was time for him to get ready for departure…
…
Angelica nearly vaulted through the car door, whispering much thanks to a rather shaken looking Brad. "If I am not back within the next fifteen minutes, leave the car. I want you to go on your own…here, these are the keys to a Sedan that is parked on the other side of the building. Go into town and don't come back. Leave my car in an alley some where…bust out some of the windows if you have to make it look like it was stolen. And when your superiors ask what happened…tell them a bunch of us were drunk and kicked you out of the limo…say you went back on foot till you got a signal and called a cab?" Swallowing and looking deathly pale, the young man gingerly took the set of keys. Stuttering as she moved away from him, Vickers finally asked the question that had been running through his mind. "Miss, you aren't doing anything..ya know…illegal…are ya?" Angelica looked over her shoulder, a smile forming on her pink mouth. Winking as she moved off from the car, the young woman appreciated the stranger's curiosity. "Not if I don't get caught…"
The car rolled away into the shadows as she ran up the sidewalk. Angelica had traded in her heels for running shoes, and the dress' skirt had actually been a pin-on. Now wearing black shorts, she sprinted across the field effortlessly. The night air felt frigid and wintry, her rapid breaths puffing out in steamy wisps. Marcus' lab was on the second floor, half way across into the Annex area of the training facility. Across from that and three halls away was Wesker's office, accompanied by a joint one with Birkin. Praying that Ada hadn't decided to work late that night, Angelica made her way to the sideway entrance to the building. She had been distracted earlier…and never saw the woman arrive at the party….. Sliding her keycard through, Angelica moved her legs in place, waiting for the door to blink green. It seemed ages ago that she had been in the Artic, wearing her turtleneck sweaters and feeling at home. Sighing in relief as the door swung aside, the shivering female stepped inside.
Peering down the hallway, she took relieved breaths of warm air. The lights were dimmed, giving the hallway a haunted, unlived in feel. Shaking off the unnerving thought that something was going to jump out at her, Angelica pushed off the wood floor and into another sprint. She was going to have to make quick work of these halls…
She was running out of time…
….
William slid into the passengers' seat of Wesker jet black, Porsche. The leather seemed uncomfortable compared to his old, cloth version of a vehicle. Annette had insisted on a mini van after she had found out about being pregnant…and ever the loving husband, he had obliged. Wesker seemed at home in the surroundings, his foot seemingly made of lead as it applied ever surmounting pressure to the gas pedal. Birkin frowned, catching sight as the tail end of a limousine pulled out of view. Wesker gave him a sidelong glance, confirming the fact that he had seen the same too. Inwardly, William began to panic, his hand moving to the cold steel in his coat pocket. "You don't think he knows…I thought it was mandatory for everyone to attend..What if Spencer is setting us up, Albert?"
Wesker shook his head, withdrawing a block of mechanics from the console in his car. It was the prime of style, phones in cars, and he was the first to have enjoyed the luxury. Pulling the receiver to his ear, the stoic man growled into the speaker. "Miss Wong, we have an unexpected guest arriving this evening. Make sure that they are….well taken care of." Birkin's eyes went wide as his friend hung up the telephone, his every move becoming stiff. William's voice rose as he softly asked a simple question. "Are we going to be murdering two people tonight? Or do you have any idea who might be interrupting just the one…" Wesker's gloved hands tightened as he slammed the accelerator down fully. His mouth was set in a deep line, azure orbs narrowed into thin slits. "Oh, I have an idea who it might be…."
….
Annette searched the room with her eyes, frowning when she did not see her husband. Where had he run off to? A soft rustle moved into the seat next to her, and she smiled and turned, happy that her spouse has returned. Her happiness was undone however, when the smile of an unfamiliar woman met her gaze. "Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were William. Forgive me, you are?" The red head looked surprised, and embarrassed. Sticking out a welcome hand, the woman giggled softly. "Sorry, did I take his seat? Lisa…my name's Lisa Trevor. You must be Annette?" Annette smiled politely, even though the tensing in her abdomen was becoming increasingly often. Taking in a deep breath, she nodded. "Ah, you are Albert's assistant. I've heard a little about you. Says you type like a squirrel on caffeine." Trevor blankly stared, not sure whether the statement was a compliment or not. Chuckling, Annette went to stand. "Well, I had best be looking for William. I'm not feeling well and want to go hom….oh!"
The woman abruptly sat back down, clutching at her stomach and looking pale. Lisa moved to her side, a gentle hand upon her arm. "Ms. Birkin? Annette? Are you alright? Annette?" Annette Birkin merely shook her head, her face becoming red with pain. A soft whine was stifled from her lips, her head shaking as if in disbelief of something. "Oh no..not now…I can't….I have three weeks….I can't…" The other female looked horridly confused, her green eyes wide and afraid. The sudden sound of water rushing came dripping from beneath the chair, causing Trevor to leap upwards.
Trent came running from behind the crowd, seeing Lisa moving so abruptly. His eyes were wide and confused, until they focused on the woman that Trevor was talking with. It was Annette Birkin….the eight and a half month pregnant…Annette…Birkin…
Rushing to her side, Trent supported the woman with a strong arm. Annette clutched with all her might, making the man wonder of she may snap him in two… Lisa still didn't understand, even as the people around them moved backwards and away from the display. "Charles, what's going on! Ms Birkin?" Annette screamed in expectant agony, her eyes wide and angry with the world. "AHHHHHHHHHH"
"AAAAAAAAH GOD She's going to break my arm…..LISA GET SPENCER! Get…owowowowow woman…. Annette's going into labor!" Trent gasped as Annette went through another round of pain sharing gripping, his own face becoming reddened and stressed. Trevor stood dumbstruck, her mouth open in horror. For once in his life, Charles Trent was desperate beyond measures. The crowd began to chatter and babble, but none went to help. Yelling at the top of his lungs, the man instructed Lisa to get the one man that they didn't want the attention of this evening. "LISA, GO GET SPENCER….NOoooooowwwwwwwwwwwow damn…." Annette's hands lodged themselves about Trent's collar, pulling him dangerously close to her face as she hissed in misery.
"Where is my husband?"