Alrighty, I am putting this off hiatus and resuming it. I will now be posting every new chapter on friday. Canadian time. And, as to why my absense has been so lenghty, I don't think any excuse is worthy so, I won't be making one. But, I do wish to apologize and say sorry to the people I was Messaging and I hope we can continue our conversations.

-mrssherrymuller

Chapter 17

Good Egg

Poisoned Claw's Base, 2006

Drake and Claire stepped along the side of the dusty highway that would soon allow them to find the infamous Poisoned Claws. Once they arrived at the colossal mansion, Drake was dumbstruck. 'How could he be so oblivious' Drake thought to himself in regards to his total obliviousness to the large estate. 'How could I not notice.' Drake and Claire were swiftly stepping down the gravel walkway that lead to a Queen Anne style mansion. The mansion's walls were composed of red panelling and white embellishments. Dark wood sat on top of the gigantic house as its elegant roof. The pair approached the door to see a handsome man in the late 20's waiting on the front porch. His platinum blond hair hanging off his face in a fringe. He seemed to be waiting for something. He saw Drake first and was quick to react by swiftly pulling his gun out. Drake raised his arms in surrender. The short redhead then stepped towards the blond and smiled sweetly.

"Leon, you are way too jumpy!" She joked, causing the man to lower his gun. She pointed to Drake and said casually. "This is Drake, he's blackmailing me."

"It's not like that!" Drake defended seeing the deep scowl set on the man named Leon's features. "I'm here to find out what happened."

"I hope you know what you're getting into." Leon said in sympathetic tone. He redirected his attention towards Claire."Claire, did you find the key-card to get in here?"

"Drake has it."

"Ah, I see." Leon turned back to Drake and polite asked for the keys. Drake passed it to him and he directed Claire and Drake to the other side of the door and spoke quietly. "Be careful, I believe the claws have moved on but, whatever they left behind will still be in there." The two nodded and watched as the tall blonde slowly pushed the door open letting a breeze of dry air pass by the group. They stepped carefully in to the mansion into a lounge area. It was extravagant display inside. Except, for the paint job of course. The dark red blood splattered across the regal gold wallpaper and it slowly dripped of the wooden tables. In the room that was gorgeously adorned with gold tapestries and fine paintings they're was a particular issue that arose. The heavily mutilated corpses being a one that concerned the group particularly. But, no the most worrying feature of the room was actually the gigantic slimy creature that was currently feeding off them. It was hunched over the body of a man, using it's sharp talons to pull it's victims organs apart and shovelling them into it mouth.

"I don't think it notices us." Claire whispered to Drake as Leon motioned the two to get down and to find cover. Leon and Claire found cover by the two marble column near the front entrance. Drake situated at a desk that had been tipped over onto its side that was in a great position for a flanking assault onto the creature. But, he didn't dare to attempt an attack upon the huge creature. Well, at least not without Leon's say so.

"How do you think we should handle this, Claire." Leon said just loud enough for Drake hear him.

"Maybe, we can sneak around." Claire stated.

"Okay, I'll go first. We'll go column to column until we can exit through that hall." He pointed to the corridor that was on the center of the left wall. "Drake, you'll follow after me."

"Why him?" Claire said insulted.

"Your brother would kill me if something happened to you." Leon responded.

"Fine, but, just know I'm disgruntled." She said jokingly. Leon nodded then swiftly moved to the desk where Drake was squatting.

"When I give you the signal move to the next pillar." Leon dictated. The group swiftly crossed to the last three pillars near the large door of the corridor. Leon swiftly turned and quietly stepped into the corridor and examined it for any signs of more B.O.W's. He looked to Drake and motioned him to come forward to the hallway, then to Claire after him. The group then, slowly pulled the corridor door's close trying not to alert the huge creature licking it's blood stained lips. "Okay, we need to find the computer laboratory. It should be in the basement. We'll search the other corridors after we've secured this one." He stated in a hushed voice, he looks to Drake and passes a loaded Heckler and Koch pistol to him. "Do not use it. Unless you have to."

The group searched the corridor and soon they discovered a orange door that lead down into a spiralling staircase that lead down to a murky room that smelt of mothballs and blood. As the group looked around the room they noticed blood was slavered across the walls and floors. Claire and Leon raise they're guns warily looking for the source of blood. But, the room was too dark to see it. Drake examined the visible parts of the room and noticed a small switch near the entrance and he flipped it and it illuminated the room, revealing 3 heavily mutilated corpses with their guts torn out but, no B.O.W's in sight. "It looks like that thing has been in here."

Drake's stomach garbled as he looked at the gore surrounding him. He wanted to vomit but, he couldn't. He needed to find out the truth about this attack. He need to discover why his daughter was dead. But, Claire noticed what he was trying to hide.

"Drake, are you okay?" She said concerned. "You look sick." Leon turned towards Drake and asked.

"You sure you're up for this." He stated and, when Drake nodded yes, a unspoken bond of camaraderie among the to men formed as Leon grabbed Drake hand and pulled him forward towards the door and tapped his shoulder blade as they walked before immediately reaching for his gun once again as they continued to investigate their surroundings. They quickly noticed a blood drenched door. The group assumed the normal position. Leon on one side of the door and Claire and Drake on the other. Leon slowly pushed the door open and peered into the room seeing a small lab full of computers. It appeared empty so, he pushed the door open, and stepped into the lab holding his gun warily.

"It's clear." Leon stated as Drake and Claire entered the room. Leon's attention immediately goes to the humongous screen stationed on the back wall of the room. He stepped towards it and quickly typed away on the computer searching for the samples of the ganados and possibly the other one that they had seen before. He pulled up a file and viewed it on the oversized monitor. A picture of the enormous B.O.W appeared along with some information detailing the process of creation, its abilities and its weaknesses. Leon quickly pulled out a hand-held device from a pocket on his utility belt and pulled it in to the console.

"We'll get Andrea to examine this for future reverence." The device split into two pieces and revealed two screens on one the file was display then, the other showed its progress in downloading. Soon, the file had completed downloading and a woman face appeared on the devices monitor.

"Andrea, what can you tell us about the genetic make up of the B.O.W." Leon stated.

"It appears to be something new, it seems to be a concoction of the already existing viruses, it's almost seems incomplete thought. It is however extremely intelligent. The most intelligent so far. It states in the file that it's capable of trickery. It is able to lure it's victims into a false sense of security by feigning disinterest. Then, once they are in a tight spot that's hard to escape from it strikes. I'd suggest if this creature is around Leon, you get your ass out of there. Because, it definitely knows your there."

"Alright, make sure the helicopter is ready outside."

"Already there." Leon closes the device and the group start to rush out towards the hall. They reach it and discover the creature missing. No longer feasting on the corpses of the dead. They run towards the door then it appears out of nowhere and attacks Drake. The creature charges and tackles the oldest man down. Drake struggles under the fierce grip of the creature until shots are fired causing the creature to flinch in pain before, scratching shallowly underneath Drakes eye and backing away from the group just long enough for them to escape the hall and into the helicopter.

A beep sounds inside the helicopter and Leon reaches for the device and Andrea's face appears on the screen again. "Leon." The woman soft voice spoke. "The poisoned claws aren't the main group."

"What?" Leon growled.

"They're just an outfit of a bigger organization called the Bhai. I'm sorry your mission's not over yet."

The Elevator Shaft

The group has been climbing for what seemed like forever. It had been 10 minutes of pure torture climbing up the rusty and slippery ladder and it wasn't going to end soon. Andrea had been the first one to begin climbing so, she headed the group mostly because, she was the fastest and the most stable. Then, it was Leon then, Drake.

"Come on, it's not far now to the first floor." Andrea stated her voice bouncing off the walls. I can see it up there. Then, it hit them the smell of smoke and it caused them to cough and gag.

"Is something on fire?" Drake choked.

"Let's keep going we need to get them out." Andrea spoke and she continued up the ladder covering her mouth and nose with her blouse.

"I have some gas masks." Drake stated pulling out 3 gas masks out of his satchel. Passing them to Leon and Andrea. They all put the masks on. Soon they reached the first floor that had became almost impossible to see through the smoke. Andrea and Leon stood on the ledge and attempted to pull the door open but, it was to no avail. It was sealed shut. "Now, what do we do." Drake stated while standing on the ladder.

"We can climb up until we find the elevator and get into it and try to get in that way." Leon suggested.

"Just face it Leon you're girlfriend sent us on a wild goose chase for our government secrets." Andrea said sitting down on the ledge. Drake pulled himself up and did the same.

"Let's just get a plan and find another way in." Leon said before a strange voice spoke from no-one in the group. The sound had come from the key that Ada had given to the group for access to the shaft.

"I suggest that you'd get to the ledge quickly." Ada's voice resonated from the key, Leon sighed noticing the bug she had planted. Andrea looked up to him with frustration.

"You didn't check for bugs?" Andrea said harshly and opened her mouth to speak but, she was cut off by the screeching noise of metal skimming down the shaft. It was the elevator falling down the shaft. And it fell by there faces and it stopped so, the top of the elevator was touching the shaft ledge. On the top of it was a large car jack.

"A parting gift from me to you, Leon." Ada said through the bug before and small spark fired and the bug self-destructed.

"I'll go get it." Drake said warily stepping on the top of the elevator as Andrea stared daggers at Leon. Drake stands on the wobbly surface carefully and picks the car jack up and passes it to Leon. He then looks down at himself and looks around the platform. "Where is it!"

"What?" Leon stated as he pushed the elevator doors open enough that he could fit the car jack in between them.

"My daughter's locket." Drake replied as he looked around the shaft for it spotting it at the edge of the platform. He speeds towards it, earning a yell from Andrea telling him to be careful. Leon stands and tries to step on the elevator but, Andrea holds him back.

"It's too unstable." Drake reaches the locket and leans to pick it up but, loses his footing. He slips and is left hanging from the side of the elevator. Leon and Andrea gasp as Leon rushes to the Drake and attempts to pull him up.

"Leon... help me up." Drake states as he looks down the shaft to see the great fall he was in for. Leon attempts but, can't get him over the edge.

"Guys, it's falling!" Andrea stated loudly. Leon turned his head to see the cables holding the elevator up were slightly slashed. 'Probably, Ada's doing.' Leon rest of the cables were quickly breaking from the pressure of the two grown men reenacting a scene from titanic on top of it. "Just get him up, Leon!"

"I can't!"

"What? We can't just let him fall. Try again." Leon nodded and pulled Drake's hands upward to get him up but, he couldn't get him up.

"Shit!" Drake swore. Then the elevator fell a bit. "Get off the elevator. I'm screwed, man."

"No, I can't" Leon told him. Drake passed the locket to Leon.

"Bring this to Claire, tell her that she's a good egg. And, that I love you guys. And, make sure Andrea's okay." Drake pleaded.

"No, I can't leave you." Leon stated before attempting a third time to pull the elder up. After failing he sighed and took the locket in his hand.

"You have to, son. Come on, you have more to live for than I do." Drake smiled. "I had a nice life. And, I'll be with my daughter and her mother." Drake paused and looked to Leon's hands gripped on his holding him up. "Let go, Leon."

When, Drake noticed his hands gripping tighter by the second he opened his palm and shook off Leon's hands allowing him to fall. And as he did, Leon screamed "No!" Leon turned to see Andrea's face scrunched up into a expression of misery. As tears poured down her face and she collapse on the ground sobbing. Leon stood and made his way across the elevator as the cables wore out quicker and quicker. Then, the elevator fell a little bit causing Leon to run off the platform and jump onto the ledge where, Andrea was mourning.

"Leon, why couldn't you pull him up?" Andrea stated in a soft voice before turning to him. "Why? Why! WHY!" She yelled in a bitter voice. Leon peered down the shaft and said sternly.

"I don't know but..." This response earning a sorrowful howl from Andrea. "We can't let this happen again. We won't let this happen again."