I Looked My Demons In The Eyes, Said Do Your Best, Destroy Me

Title is from Empty by Ray LaMontagne, with slightly shortened lyrics.

Again thanks bbz, to all the reviewers, ha! Yous are too sweet! :D

Quiet fell between the two young lovers. Chris patiently stared at the computer screen before him. Watching intently as the marker moved along the street view, indicating the movement of Claire's mobile. The marker was stationary momentarily, and then moved off once more. After some time, fear bubbled within the young man,

"Something's wrong..." His words echoed through the room.

"Why?" Jill stuttered slightly. She had become accustomed to the silence, and his words drew her out of her thoughts.

"It's moved off, and we haven't heard from Claire." He said, pointing to the computer screen. Jill chuckled softly, the fear his words brought slowing dissolving within her.

"Chris, relax. Give her time, she'll be fi-" Chris's phone began to vibrate loudly against the glass coffee table, abruptly interrupting Jill.

"Steve? Tell me Claire's okay." Chris answered, placing the phone on loudspeaker. Steve agreed he would follow close behind Claire, to keep an eye out. But he had to maintain distance otherwise Wesker could sniff him out.

"No, Chris listen. Wesker grabbed her, she's gone."

"What? Where the hell were you?" Chris clenched his fists, attempting to displace his anger.

"I couldn't get to her. He sped off before I even had the chance to put it into gear...We have to do something." The younger boy's voice began to crack under the immense strain and pressure he was put in.

"We're still tracking Wesker, so he mustn't have caught on. As long as we have this, we can still find her, Chris." Jill said. She was always the better of the two in bad situations, always the calmer of the two, always the thinker. A comforting hand found its place on Chris's leg.

"I'm going to get back to you guys, and then we'll track him." Steve said, hanging up on them.

Chris's lips formed thin line, and Jill squeezed his leg slightly to let him know she was still there for him.

"Come on, we need to get ready." He said, brushing her hand away, and rising from his seat.

"Ready?" She grabbed for his arm, to slow him.

"Gun, Jill. I've had enough of this bullshit!" He wriggled from her grasp and preserved on into his bedroom, followed closely by Jill trying to keep up with his fast pace.

"But you had to give it back." He ignored her briefly, as he rummaged under his bed and retrieved a tattered brown leather box.

"I gave back my work gun. I still have a couple of my own, you know. Never know when they might come in handy, or when I might need them." Jill grimaced slightly at his words. She didn't like how easy going he was towards the guns. There was no mention of having them for protection, and his voice implied he had the desire to enforce pain on a human being – something Jill couldn't sympathise with.

He handed her a small handgun, and picked up the slightly larger one himself.

"You have two?"

"Got to be prepared," Chris removed magazine of his gun, loaded it and slipped it back in. "I'm going to blow that man's brains out." It seemed the monster within him, reared its head once more.

"Chris! Do you hear yourself, right now?" She always thought of him to be kind natured, but his anger brought out a different side of him, a lesser side. "You're no better than him."

"...Are you saying I'm like Wesker?"

"No, I didn't mean it like that. I just... don't comprehend how you could gain so much satisfaction from the pain of another person."

"And what about all the suffering he's caused?" He asked.

"I know he's caused us pain. But you can't turn into some bloodthirsty hound." Chris sighed, and his fury began to melt. She was right; he wasn't that type of person. Yes, he had shot a person with his job once before, but he never enjoyed it. He did what he had to do.

"It's Claire, Jill. I have to do something, he can't touch her. I'm just...I'm so scared." He said. Jill smiled lightly, and cupped his face.

"I understand, I do. But you have to relax. You have to think, not be blinded by fury. It won't help you, and it certainly won't help Claire..." She said soothingly. Chris closed his eyes and nodded,

"I know, I'm sorry." Jill reached up and placed a gentle peck on his cheek.

...

"Do you know how to use that?" Chris asked, winking, "For your own protection, of course."

"I think I get the gist of it. Pull trigger, boom." She smiled.

"That's about right. But let's hope you don't need it." Chris moved to his window, peeking through a small gap in the curtains. He saw Steve's car, sitting under the dim moonlight.

"Let's go." He said, leaving the house, picking up the computer as he went.

Claire fidgeted against the restraints around her wrists. She daren't make any action against Wesker, the pistol sitting on the dashboard accentuated her fear. So she watched out the passenger window, attempting to recognise her whereabouts, but it came to no avail. She knew she was in the outskirts of the city, but where? She didn't know. Normally, under this type of circumstance, the young Redfield would be either broken down in tears or fighting against the bastard who took her. But, as far as she knew, Wesker didn't know he was being tracked and the one thing Claire believed in most was her dearest brother. She had complete faith that he would save her.

"You're quieter than usual..." Wesker snorted, not removing his eyes from the road.

"I have nothing to say to you." He let out a small humourless chortle.

"Don't you want to know where we're going?"

"You won't get away with this." She said, ignoring his comment.

"Never thought I would." He momentarily glanced over to her, "But you see, it isn't you I want. It's Chris."

"...Why? Why do you have such a grudge, and why take me then?" She asked. Fear rose within her, she was a mere pawn in his plan. And once he was finished with her, who knew what he would do.

"You aren't a bright one, are you? Chris ruined my business and took my one of my most successful workers. He'll pay for his arrogance." Claire scoffed, but began to chew away her bottom lip. "Do think me so naive? That I don't know he's following us?"

"...What?" She asked, brought out of her daze.

"You people must think I am terribly stupid. The tracker? I wouldn't have expected anything less. He is a controlling brother after all. That, of course, means you told him about our little meeting... What shall I do with you?" He patronised her, and began to shake his head slowly.

"If you know we're tracking you, then why haven't you got rid of it?"

"Haven't I made myself clear? I want your brother to find me." He said, a smirk appearing on his older features. His gaze moved briefly to the loaded gun resting on the car.

...

"And here we are, my dear." Wesker drawled, pulling the car to a stop. He grabbed the pistol and placed it in his pocket. In true gentleman fashion, he opened the car door for Claire, and hooked his arms under hers to pull her up. She gazed upon the red bricked house. It was modest in size, but had much land beside it. Not a neighbour in sight.

Wesker led her into the house carefully. The house barely looked lived in, no pictures, no mess. It was like a show room. He switched on a dim light for the basement and escorted her down the stairs, ensuring she didn't lose her balance.

The basement was virtually empty, the light barely did anything, and Claire was struck immediately by the coldness of the room. Wesker grabbed a stray rickety chair and placed her on it. He re-tied her arms so the rope now weaved in an out of the holes of the chair, keeping her firmly attached. He retrieved more rope and did the same to her feet, attaching them to the legs of the chair.

"Now, we wait patiently for the fun to begin." He whispered in her ear, holding her shoulders. She shuddered at his voice and touch.

After some time, Chris had eventually caught up with the tracker.

"Pull over here, Steve." He commanded, and the young boy swerved into the driveway of the house.

"I always wondered where Wesker lived..." Jill said quietly from the back seat.

"Steve, stay here. Keep a look out and if anything happens call the police, okay?" Chris said.

"What? I'm not just going to stay here. I have to help Claire." Steve argued. He felt full responsibility over Claire's situation, had he have been quicker, she may never have been taken to begin with.

"It's good that you want to help her, but don't be a hero. You're only a kid, I can't let anything happen to you too." Steve sighed.

"He's right, Steve. You don't have anything to protect yourself with anyway." Jill piped up, placing a hand on the young boy's shoulders.

"...Okay. But if I hear anything, I'm going in." Chris chuckled at his confidence.

"Alright." Chris said patting him on the shoulder. He and Jill stepped cautiously out of the car.

"Maybe you should wait here too, Jill." Chris suggested, immediately receiving a frown from her.

"What did you just say to him? Don't be a hero. Chris you aren't going in alone. End of." Chris nodded reluctantly. She had her mind set, and there was no point in arguing with her.

"Alright, but follow my lead, and stay behind me."

"Pfft, you never do let a woman in control, do you?" She quipped and gained a smirk in response.

He opened the front door as quietly as possible, and stepped inside. Glancing around, he saw no sign of life. Jill tapped him lightly on the shoulder, and pointed to the small amount of light coming from the basement stairs. Chris nodded and made his way over.

Cautiously tiptoeing down the stairs, Chris could hardly make out anything. Although the light was on, there were many shadows in the seemingly empty room. He removed the gun from his holster, and in turn, Jill followed his lead, glancing every so often behind them.

Claire had seen the footsteps go by from the small window at the top of the basement. She caught sight of Chris coming down the stairs, and wanted to scream but the duck tape Wesker placed over her mouth, prevented her from doing so.

Chris made out the figure of someone in a chair at the opposite side of the room.

"Claire?" He was flooded with happiness just to see her. He began to move towards her, until a shadow appeared behind her.

"Well, well, well. You took your time..." Wesker said, a smile playing on his lips. He placed his hands softly on Claire's shoulders, while she muffled something in annoyance.

Chris instinctively brought his gun up to aim at him,

"Don't touch her, Wesker. You're under arrest, you son of a bitch!" Wesker laughed slightly,

"I don't think you have that authority anymore, Chris. No badge, no authority." He smirked, devilishly.

"Let her go!"

"I think she's just fine, where she is." Wesker said, running a gloved finger along her face. "So how about you play fair, and drop your weapon. Everyone knows you aren't going to shoot me. You don't have the balls big enough..."

Chris fired a warning shot towards Wesker's feet, deliberately missing by only mere centimetres.

"You were saying..." Chris said. Wesker ran swiftly towards the two. Before either had a chance to react, he collided his fist with Chris's hand disarming him, and swivelled around to elbow Jill in the stomach. The force sent her stumbling back, and gave Wesker a chance to grab her gun. He removed the magazine and threw it carelessly across the room.

"That's better now, isn't it?" He teased. He slammed his hand up against Jill's jaw, sending her to the ground. She screamed in pain, as blood dribbled out of her mouth from where she had bitten her tongue.

Chris immediately smashed Wesker to the ground, straddling the man's waist, while laying multiple punches across his face. Each one portraying to Wesker, just how much Chris despised him. Wesker regained his composure, and kicked him hard in the groin. Chris tried to stifle a groan as he doubled over in pain. The older man took the opportunity to take the upper hand. He pushed Chris off, rose to his feet, and began to mercilessly kick him in the stomach. Chris chocked and coughed, and got the distinctive taste of iron forming in his mouth.

Tears pricked the corner of Claire's eyes, as she could just watch helplessly as he brother had the life beaten out of him.

Jill rose to her feet, and her heart sunk as she watched Wesker pummel the lifeless form. She grabbed him back, and as he turned laid a roundhouse kick to his face. He grunted in pain, grabbed her neck and sent her to her knees. He reached around and grabbed a chunk of her chocolate locks, pulling them back so Jill could feel every strand be forced from the scalp.

Her screams woke a dazed Chris. He stumbled up, wiping the blood from his mouth. Just as Chris was about to lunge once more, Wesker retrieved the pistol from his inner jacket and placed it to Jill's head.

"So much for playing fair..." Chris struggled to choke out his words. He glanced to his gun resting a few meters away from him.

"I wouldn't do that. See the difference between you and I, Redfield is that I don't do warning shots." Wesker threatened, keeping the gun firmly to Jill's forehead.

"Are you going now, Burton?" Leon asked in disbelief. He had met up with Barry at the RPD, to talk over the information retrieved from Ada.

"No time like the present. Besides we need to see if this info is good. If not, tomorrow we got to start from scratch again." The old man said, tying his red body warmer across his chest.

"Yeah, but it's the middle of the night. I have better things to be doing." Leon complained.

"Well I suppose you are a young man, probably got a million fan girls to cater for."

"I meant sleep, Barry." Barry chuckled.

"And why the hell does Irons have to come?" He pouted, "I hate that guy..."

"Yeah he isn't my BFFL either. But, he requested it. God only knows why, I mean I think we're fully capable. But now, we just wait for him, and we'll be off." Barry said, placing his precious magnum safe in its holder.

"Let go of her!" Chris yelled, the adrenaline now pumping through his veins, removing the pain he felt in his stomach.

Wesker leaned over and with his other hand, delicately rubbed along Jill's face,

"Such a shame..." He whispered. As his finger lingered over her plump lips, she forcefully bit down on his finger, enough to rip the flesh. He retracted his hand, and began to tut.

"Who taught you these awful things?" Unexpectedly, he collided his pistol against the tender flesh of her cheek; the pistol whip knocked her unconscious. Blood began to pour from the deep gash he had caused on her face, and formed a puddle of red on the cold floor.

Without a thought, Chris grabbed Wesker's arm and propelled him against the wall, he began to twist Wesker's arm until the older man grunted in pain and dropped his weapon. Wesker grabbed for Chris's neck, brutally pushing down, blocking Chris's trachea and making the younger man thrash out against him.

Steve glanced at his watch. It had been half an hour, with no word. He was getting impatient, he could only take so much worrying. He thought he heard a noise, so he switched off the radio and listened intently.

It sounded like a car approaching; looking over his shoulder he saw a car on the road, with its indicator on to come into the driveway. Steve panicked, he couldn't stay there, who knew who the car belonged too? He turned off the ignition and silently crept out of the car.

Steve shot a peep towards the small window on the ground level, and saw Claire tied up with tears streaming along her face. Without wasting any time, he entered the house, and made his way to the basement. He saw Chris and Wesker struggling against each other. Both sending various hits and punches to each other, but his eyes were drawn to the heartbroken girl on the chair. He silently slipped down the stairs and across to Claire, ensuring he wasn't seen.

Claire saw him, and her eyes lit up with hope. He slipped up behind her, and furiously removed the rope restraining her.

The police car stopped up at the address Ada had told Leon. Barry, Leon and Irons left the car, and inspected a deserted car in front of them.

Leon heard a shout coming from the house and immediately brought out his Beretta, and started to move toward the front door, until Irons grabbed him,

"Wait. Look over there." Irons whispered, pointing to the small window into the basement.

Barry retrieved his magnum, and stood behind the car, protecting their back.

Irons got down and lay on his stomach, to gain full sight through the window. Leon did the same,

"That's our guy." He said pointing to Wesker, who had begun punching the other man. He couldn't believe it, Ada's information was right. Leon got a glimpse of the other, "Wait. Is that Chris Redfield?"

Irons looked intently and nodded, confused.

"What's he doing here?" Leon asked.

"Doing our job, by the looks of it." He stated deadpan.

"We have to help him." Wesker had now resumed chocking Chris.

"You're right." Irons brought out his gun from the holster, and placed it up against the window, aiming for the two men.

"What? You can't be serious, Irons. Put your gun down!" Leon yelled.

"We have to help our compatriot," He argued. "Are you the Chief of Police?... Didn't think so."

"Don't do it, you can't get a clear shot. It's too risky." The younger man tried to plead with him.

Claire wriggled out of the last of her restraints with the help of Steve, and removed the tape.

Wesker had his back to her, and was still chocking the last breath out of Chris; she could already see he was losing his consciousness.

She slid over and grabbed the stray gun which was thrown close to her.

She picked it up, and aimed for Wesker. With a vigorously shaking hand and eyes firmly shut, she pulled the trigger. The bullet tore the flesh of Wesker's back. Within a fraction of a second, another bullet was fired by Irons, against Leon's advice.

The two enemies let go of one another, and collapsed in unison on the hard, bitter floor.

Oooh! The penultimate chapter, scary biscuits! I apologise, writing isn't my forte, and it's even worse when it comes to fight scenes. So I'm sorry if it's a little hard to follow.

Review, por favor! :D

Artichoke,

x