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Chapter 7: A New Enemy

Another day and a half passed, and Claire and Wesker had a routine going. She slept, but with difficulty, and he worked. She sat in the corner, and read, daydreamed about escaping, or ate, and Wesker worked. Around noon, he took a break, despite not needing one, and they would talk. They also spoke sporadically throughout the day, but Claire almost always initiated it when she could no longer stand the boredom. There were times when his dark words troubled her, and times when she made a smart comment when he was not in the mood and earned her the threat of punishment or a hard hit. But there were also times she almost liked talking to him, almost.

She looked at him and saw blood on his hands. She saw Steve dying, and she saw her brother's enemy. It always kept her from being friendly, but they were okay with each other. With no outside world for context, Wesker did not always seem the monster, and the outside world, after a week of isolation, did seem distant. Claire was more cautious about what she said when he was talkative, because he seldom was, and she tried to glean any information that she could. When he looked at her, she still couldn't read his mood, and there was always a touch of fear that he might do something to her.

"Dear heart, gather your belongings. We're leaving," he announced later that morning. "Your dear brother is probably already at the airport, waiting for us." He had cleaned the lab and packed his notebooks and samples into a new briefcase.

"You won't kill him, will you? This is a fair exchange?" Claire questioned. Wesker sat beside her, a syringe in his hand that she eyed warily.

"He'll die." Claire's heart dropped. "But not today. It's a shame I could not have more time to use you against him, but there are more valuable things than personal revenge. I'm not finished with him," he said softly, almost like he was promising Claire. "And your part in this game isn't finished." Claire shuddered. "Now, you can either take the sedative or another knock to your head," he said, suddenly professional again. Claire sighed and rolled up the white sleeve. Wesker chuckled and stuck the needle into her arm. She flinched noticeably. She hated needles.

*****************

Claire stood beside Wesker, and the two waited for the signal for her release. She shifted anxiously while Wesker was ever cool. People bustled by them in ignorance of Claire's precarious situation, and Claire envied them. Wesker had told her point blank that, if Chris messed up, he would hurt her to send him a message. He had also insisted she change from lab scrubs. So now she was wearing a set of khaki trousers, a sea-green, wrap-around sweater, and black pumps. She didn't recognize the brand names, but she knew they were too expensive for her wallet. She insisted on wearing the backpack, even though it ruined the classy look. Screw classy, Claire thought. Wesker was trying to annoy her.

"Yes?" Wesker said as he answered his phone. "Meet me at the car." The phone shut. "Miss Redfield, our ways part here. Do give Chris my love." Claire felt a weight lift from her shoulders, but just then Wesker bent close to her ear. "But I will see you again soon." Claire frowned, but defiantly faced him.

"The bruises you gave me will remind me until then," she spat. Wesker moved even closer. "We'll stop you. We won't let you get away with your plans. If Chris doesn't kill you, I will."

"For Mr. Burnside?" Wesker mocked, moving his shades so she could see his eyes. She was scared, and extremely angry because of it.

"For everyone," she answered coldly. "I-"

"Hate me with a passion. Charming. Goodbye, dear heart." He disappeared into the crowd, and Claire moved to sit on her designated bench. Her heart pounded in her ears. He was going to come back for her. She wanted to scream, even feeling the sunlight on her face and knowing that no one was about to harm her. She breathed the air of freedom and could only picture Wesker walking to his car and smiling smugly over the terror he left in her mind. Her heart swelled with hate as she thought of his arrogance, his threats, his blatant treatment of her like an object, and the way he damaged her spirit and then acted like he could comfort her. Lies, her mind screamed.

"CLAIRE!" The voice made her jump out of her seat.

"Chris!" She saw him, running down the escalator toward her. He was still a distance away, but she leapt with joy and waved. She hadn't seen him in months, not since he left for Europe. "It's about time, you dolt," she said to herself as he kept approaching. He was talking into a walkie-talkie, probably telling the rest of the team that she was safe. A man moved up closer behind Claire, but she did not notice him in her excitement over her brother.

"Miss?" a voice gruffly asked. Claire, puzzled, turned to find a man in a long coat looking at her. He shifted his coat, and Claire saw a gun in his hands. "Come with us." Claire's energy flared to life.

"Like hell I will!" She lashed out quickly, kicking the man's gut and doubling him over. She kicked him in the face once he was down. Wesker's going back on his word, she thought darkly. She began running for Chris, who had seen the attack and was calling for backup. They were almost there when a man ran from the crowd and seized Claire about the waist. "Chris!" she screamed, desperate.

"Claire! Hold on!" The man lifted Claire and carried her away from her brother. A large baggage train blocked Chris' path, forcing him to climb over it amid yells from airport security. More men had appeared and bound and gagged Claire. Gunfire forced Chris to duck behind a counter. He peered around it and saw Claire's terrified eyes as sliding doors closed behind her retreating form. They screamed wordlessly for help and tore Chris's heart. "Claire!"

"Chris, we have to go!" Leon shouted as he ran up behind him. "Security will be here any second." Chris shrugged him off and lunged for the doors, but Leon grabbed his shoulder. "Chris, there's no time."

"Claire…" Chris muttered to himself as he followed Leon's lead. Claire had dropped her backpack in the rush, and he retrieved it. Had Wesker gone back on his promise? No. It was too sloppy for Wesker. He would have smoothly taken Claire from Chris again without causing a public spectacle. The question remained, who had Claire?

In the van, the team sat quietly. There were some eight people who worked in their small unit, but only Leon, Jill, and Rebecca had accompanied him on such a personal mission. The rest had kept working in France, but Chris didn't see how he could return to them, not with Claire missing somewhere in the states. He opened Claire's backpack and loving examined the contents.

He noticed a piece of folded paper tucked in with her pencils and retrieved it. Opening it, he found an interesting series of notes. Brazil was circled several times. There was also a name: Nash is a thorn in Wesker's side. Chris didn't recognize the name, but he put the note in his pocket, knowing it was important. He would speak to headquarters about taking leave to investigate this and find Claire.