Chapter 4: Lost Together
Rebecca groaned, feeling the heat wave sweep over her body. Her ears were ringing, but she could faintly hear the sound of crackling fire. She blinked her eyes open. They came to focus and she saw Billy just inches from her nose. She must have fallen on top of him in the crash.
"Morning, cupcake."
"Ack!" She leaped backwards, falling on her butt and pulling Billy up with his locked wrist. She growled, feeling the pain of her body pulse from the crash. She glared at him. "Some brakes those were."
"Are you hurt?"
Rebecca grunted at his words. She was surprised he would even care. She was fine, but she had one hell of a sore tailbone. She had minor scrapes and bruises from the crash. Billy looked like he was in the same condition. They were both lucky.
"I'm okay, thanks. How about you? I have some medical supplies in my pouch."
"I'm good," Billy sighed. The two of them got to their feet slowly. They looked around for an exit, noticing that the only place was a ladder that led up to the roof of the engine car. "How did you know the code to the manual brakes?"
Rebecca glanced up at him. "It was a math equation. I figured it out quickly."
"That's impressive, especially under pressure like that," Billy chuckled.
Rebecca shrugged. "I guess what I don't make up physically, I make up mentally."
"So tell me how an eighteen year old gets into S.T.A.R.S."
Rebecca flicked her eyes away from Billy. He started up the ladder first. He climbed with only his right hand, letting his left arm fall down so Rebecca could have more stability. He helped her up onto the top of the train, and they realized exactly how lucky they were. The underground chamber they were in was flooded with smoke and fire. The Ecliptic Express lay in ruins all over. The train cars twisted and bent in a sickening matter. The flames illuminated the sea of glass shards that littered the cement floor.
"How long were we out, do you suppose?" Billy asked.
"I don't know. But I think we should get out of here before anything else decides to explode."
"I'm with ya on that, doll face."
"Stop calling me that!" she grumbled.
He only chuckled as they walked over to the edge of the train. It was a good fifteen foot drop to the ground. Rebecca hesitated, feeling her ankles ache already. They would have to time their jump perfectly; otherwise they were going to throw each other off balance if the cuffs tore at their arms.
"I graduated college. I advance in chemistry and health, and so the S.T.A.R.S made me an offer I couldn't refuse."
Billy gave her an odd look, like he was surprised by her words. He then smiled at her. "I had no idea. You know, you surprise me more and more. At least now I know who to go to if I have a boo-boo."
"Again, you aren't funny."
"At least I try. So you are a whiz kid, huh?"
Rebecca sighed, trying not to smile. She hated to admit it, but Billy was quite charming in his own way. She had to remember that he was a criminal though. "Okay, if we time it right, we should be able to jump to the bottom without breaking anything."
"And by timing it right, you mean so I don't make you fall face first to the floor?"
"Let's count to three. One…two…"
Before Rebecca could say three, she noticed that Billy wasn't getting ready to jump. He did, however, throw her off guard by picking her up bridal style and jumping off himself. Rebecca screamed in surprise. Billy put her down once they were safe on the ground floor.
"Three," he chuckled.
"Don't you ever do that again!"
"Alright, calm down. I was just trying to help."
"Okay, let's find a way out of here."
"You are really light, you know that?"
"Can we please focus here, Billy?"
Billy raised his arms in defeat, taking along Rebecca's arm in the process. He smiled again. "Just saying." He then noticed the door over in the corner across the chamber. It was getting harder to breathe from the fumes, and the fire was starting to spread even more. "There's a door!"
"Let's go then!"
They started heading for that direction. The floor was covered in rubble and glass. There were embers here and there, and sparks of electricity would snap from loose wires. Rebecca noticed burned, silent bodies cooking slowly in the heat.
"Watch your step, princess."
She grumbled out loud. "Don't call me princess!"
"Oh, why not? It's fun."
"It's Rebecca…Re-bec-ca!"
"I hear ya, doll face."
She gave up. He gave her a triumphant smirk. He opened the door, checking the other side before letting her follow after him. They were looking down into a flooded tunnel. Rebecca immediately disliked the idea. It wasn't the getting wet and dirty part that unsettled her. With all the monsters they have faced so far, what was there to expect from murky water?
"Do you want me to carry you through here?"
She glared at him. "I'm not worried about getting wet; I'm worried about something trying to eat us in the water."
"Well, I guess there is only one way to find out."
Billy hopped down into the water. It stopped at his shins. Rebecca knew the murky water was going to go to her knees for how much shorter she was compared to Billy. He threatened to pull her in using their sharing handcuffs. She hopped into the water before he really did pull her in.
"So, I answered your question. How about you answer mine," Rebecca suggested as they walked through the water filled tunnel.
"I already know what you are going to ask, but go ahead and shoot."
"How did you end up on that train? You were with that transport in the forest. What happened?"
Billy sighed. "The van got attacked by monsters. The soldiers transporting me were killed. I had just enough time to undo one wrist so I could escape."
Rebecca was wanting to make a remark about how it was his perfect opportunity to make his escape for it, but then something made her stop before the words spilled out. Even though Billy had killed twenty-three people, he sure wasn't acting much like a cold-blooded killer. Part of her of warning herself that it was all an act, and that Billy could betray her any moment. However, she had to admit that she didn't think he would do such a thing.
"You got quiet. What? Are you thinking to yourself that it was the perfect escape?" Billy scoffed as they reached another platform out of the water. There was a ladder that lead up to a sealed covering the next floor up. Billy glared at her, as if her silent words hurt him.
"Actually…to tell you the truth I wanted to say that…but…I really don't believe it."
"Well, then…you're the first," he replied. He then nodded for the ladder. "I will go first…just in case."
Rebecca nodded, letting him start up the ladder. Again, Billy lowered his arm so Rebecca could have more stability in the climb. Billy pushed open the metal covering with ease. He peeked his head up to scan for danger. When there wasn't any, he carefully climbed up the rest of the way and helped Rebecca to her feet.
They were in some sort of facility main hall. The white tiled floor was dirty with years of no care. The lights were working fine, but the building hadn't exactly aged well. There were several doors around them, even up on the second floor of the building. Rebecca noticed the huge portrait of an older man up the first case of stairs. Billy followed her up. There on the floor was a giant symbol of a red and white Umbrella…The Umbrella Corporation's logo…
"Umbrella?" Billy grunted, as if he was confused.
"This is James Marcus," Rebecca informed, pointing at the picture.
"Yeah? Know him?"
Rebecca shook her head. "Only the name."
"Well then…which door shall we go through first? Want me to do any many miney moe?"
"Huh?"
"Or how about skunk in the barnyard?"
She snorted with laughter. "Okay, are you eight?"
"I got you to laugh," Billy stated, smiling.
Suddenly, their ears were splintering from the harsh screech of old speakerphones. Billy and Rebecca moved closer together, getting their weapons ready just in case. The screech died down, and then a man's voice came out to echo across the main hall.
"Attention, this is Dr. James Marcus. Let us be silent as we once again remember our company's motto. Discipline breeds obedience. Obedience breeds unity. Unity breeds power. That is all."
They were silent for a moment after the voice went dead. The main hall became quiet and still once again, creating an uneasy feeling within Rebecca. She glanced at Billy, who only shrugged his shoulders.
"O…kay. That was weird. That sounded like our old Marine motto…creepy. He sure did put a lot of emphasis on breeding, didn't he?"
"Maybe we should start moving again," Rebecca said, looking around the large hall. Something told her that the Ecliptic Express was only the beginning.
***
Albert Wesker couldn't help but to smile as he saw the two survivors of the Ecliptic Express wander onto the old Training Facility. One of them was a rookie member belonging to his S.T.A.R.S unit, Rebecca Chambers. He did not recognize the male. What was even more amusing to him was that the two managed to survive this long cuffed at the wrist.
He heard the annoying sound of slurping next to his ear. His partner, William Birkin, was trying to finish his soda that remained in droplets amongst the ice at the bottom through a straw. He cringed at the sound, and glared at the creator of the G-Virus.
"William."
"Oh, sorry. Okay, so our Delta Team got killed, but these two kids have survived this long? Oh, look. They are handcuffed together! How funny is that?"
"The girl is Rebecca Chambers. The newest member to S.T.A.R.S," Wesker said, leaning back in his chair. William remained standing, but he kept watching the forms of Rebecca and the man with great interest.
"She apparently doesn't know how to use a pair of handcuffs. They make a cute couple. How long do you think they will live?"
"Will, if you are implying on a bet, I don't have the time."
"Kind of how you didn't have the time to watch Sherry the other day."
Wesker sighed. "How about we stay focused? The virus has already spread to the estate. You need to detonate this facility before it gets any worse."
"And exactly what are you going to do?"
"Just as we agreed. I will bring my team into the mansion."
"Oh, yeah…test data. Well, I will tell you now that the T is no match for my G!" William chuckled.
The overhead speakerphones screeched on. Wesker and William flinched from the sudden, sharp noise. They saw Rebecca and her attached male companion have the same response.
"Attention, this is Dr. James Marcus. Let us be silent as we once again remember our company's motto. Discipline breeds obedience. Obedience breeds unity. Unity breeds power. That is all."
"That was sort of creepy. That hasn't played in over ten years," Will said, scratching his head while looking up at the silent speakerphones.
Their video feed to Rebecca's position was cut off. The video was replaced by a man wearing a white robe with long, brown hair. He was singing opera, and they knew only because it started seeping from the speakers.
"Hey, he's pretty good…though…he sort of reminds me of somebody," William said, rubbing his chin. "Who is he, anyway?"
The man in the white robe ceased to sing, and now was laughing like a mad villain. He grinned up at the screen, knowing all too well that Wesker and William were there watching him.
"I was the one who spread the virus! You know why? Revenge of course! Revenge on Umbrella! I will make them suffer from my wrath!"
Behind him, an older man stood up, silent and still but very much alive behind the younger, robed man. Wesker was surprised. The old man was none other than his old mentor, Dr. James Marcus. William recognized his old mentor as well, grunting out loud at the sight. The partners glanced at one another, then back to the screen.
"Dr. Marcus?" Will asked out loud, puzzled.
"He was murdered by his fellows within Umbrella. You two had something to do with it…didn't you?" the man in the white robe asked. Marcus remained silent behind him. "The only two people he truly trusted. And you betrayed him!"
"It was his idea," William answered quickly, pointing down at Wesker.
Wesker glared at him. The man in the robe only laughed at the two of them. He walked around for only a moment, and then peered back up to the camera again.
"No, I remember too clearly. Nice try, William."
The screen went blank. After a moment, the original feed popped back on. Rebecca and her partner were nowhere to be found on the video footage. William blinked for a moment, then looked down at his old friend.
"How can he remember? That was like…ten years ago and he…oh…crap."
"How interesting this night is," Wesker chuckled, getting to his feet.
"Hey, you can't leave me! Our old mentor is hunting us with his pack of nasty leeches!"
"Get the facility locked down to detonate. I will bring my team into the mansion."
"And our psychotic mentor that is back from the dead?"
"You will be fine," Wesker stated. He then pointed to his headset. "Keep in contact. Let me know when you are ready or if you have trouble."
"Aw, you do care!"
Wesker heaved a sigh. He checked his gun quickly, and then turned to leave the security area. William watched him go, looking from the several screens back to his partner.
"Oh, don't forget that tomorrow is poker night."
"Will, everyone in the mansion is dead."
"Oh yeah…well undead. If you happen to come across Scott's wandering zombie self, kill him and check his pockets. He owes me from the last match."
Wesker twitched a smile. "I will be sure to do that."
He headed for the elevator, leaving William behind to watch the monitors alone. William heaved a sigh, sitting down a moment to take watch on what was going on in the Training Facility.
***
Billy and Rebecca re-entered the main hall through the front exit of the facility. The double doors slammed shut behind them, pulling them back into the warmth and silence of the inside. The front exit didn't provide them with an escape. The bridge in front of the facility was completely destroyed. They were going to have to explore this building in order to find a different route of escape.
"Just like a typical horror film. All of the obvious escapes are destroyed and it leaves the two main stars to find another, probably more dangerous route to freedom."
Rebecca glared at Billy. "You aren't making anyone feel better."
"Oh, sorry, doll face."
"It's…never mind."
The two fell silent, taking in the scenery around the main hall. Rebecca was amazed. This building must have been old, considering the architect and artwork that hung along the walls. The second floor held several doors, as well as the first floor. They were at a lost on which one to try first. Just as she was trying to see what the large statue was on the second floor, she felt the cuffs give a sharp pull, and she was suddenly being dragged by Billy.
"Hey!"
"Well, come on. We don't have time to stand around all night."
They came to the door that was on the west side of the main hall, to the left of the stairs. Billy tried to turn the knob, but it didn't budge. The door was locked.
"Locked," he grumbled.
Rebecca wished that Jill Valentine was here. For her short amount within S.T.A.R.S, Rebecca didn't know the older woman very well, considering she was with Alpha Team and not Bravo Team. However, she heard many stories from within Bravo Team about their fellows. Jill was supposedly the 'Master of Unlocking' and could break into anything.
"Let's just try the one on the-"
Before Rebecca could even finish saying her words, Billy was kicking the door with strong force. She drew back in surprise, though the link of their handcuffs didn't allow her to go too far. On the fourth kick, the lock snapped, and the door burst open, breaking off one of its hinges.
"Ta-duh," he said dryly. "Now let's go."
They hesitated at the threshold, awaiting any zombies or other monsters wanting to attack. The hallway in front of them remained silent with no movement. Billy went to step forward first, but Rebecca figured she should take lead. She couldn't have Billy dragging her around everywhere. She needed to take control once in awhile.
"Hey, ladies first," she said, stepping forward.
He gave her a look, and then he slightly smiled. "Any other time, I would say yes…but not here."
"Huh?"
"I am not allowing you to go first when there are crazy monsters running around trying to eat us."
Rebecca glared at him. "I can take care of myself, you know!"
Billy sighed. "I didn't mean it like that. I think you have proved yourself, right princess? I am just trying to prevent you from getting hurt."
Rebecca was stunned by his words. Why was he being so protective of her? They hardly knew each other, plus he was a criminal and she was an officer of the law. It baffled her to the point that she had to look away from him. Billy must have noticed the look on her face, because he softly chuckled at her.
"Yes, I am one of those men who, even though know a woman can protect herself easily, still believes it is the man's duty to protect her."
It was Rebecca's turn to laugh. "Even if you hardly know her?"
Billy scowled, looking away. He slightly shrugged at her words, getting his handgun ready. "It has been my duty for a long time to protect others…why stop now?"
Before she could answer, Billy was stepping forward into the next hallway. Together, they explored it in silence. There was a door on their left, and then the hallway turned to the left up a ways. Down at the other end on the right was a metal door that was locked. There was no way Billy was kicking that one down. They decided to check the first door, which led them into a dark, cold bathroom. The mirrors above the sink were shattered, and years and years of grime and dirt had built up, creating an aroma of musk.
"Well…now's the perfect time to go to the bathroom if you need to," Billy stated, checking every corner of the place.
"How did I know you were going to say that?"
"Aw, we are starting to get to know each other."
Rebecca tried to hide her small smile, but Billy seemed to have noticed it. There was nothing of use to them in here, and neither of them had to go. Rebecca hoped she was long gone from here before she had to go pee. On the other hand, her stomach was already growling in complaint for food. Rebecca knew all too well not to think about eating. They were probably far away from anything edible.
A crash sounded behind them. Billy and Rebecca spun, both catching their wrists from almost going too far from each other. Around the corner of the bathroom came a sickening formation of leeches. They became the impression of another man-like creature. It waddled for them on unsteady legs, but the thing's arms lashed out at them. Billy and Rebecca fired their guns. The bullets took chunks of leeches out, but the figure just seemed to grow back. They ducked to avoid a sweeping arm whip.
"It's not stopping!" Rebecca yelled.
Billy saw the fire extinguisher on the wall. Hoping the tool was still good, he fired a shot at it. White matter exploded out of the red tube, making it shower all over the leech creature. They heard the little parasites cry out from shock. The leech-man fell away into nothing, and most leeches were starting to die.
"All in favor of getting out now?" Rebecca heaved.
"Aye," he grumbled.
They quickly made their way back into the main hall of the research facility. They caught their breath and reloaded their guns. Rebecca noticed that she only had two clips left. Billy only had one. They needed to find more ammunition, and fast.
"Okay, doll face. It's your turn to pick a door now."
"Your door wasn't fun enough?"
He snorted with laughter, letting her know that she caught him off guard with her dry humor. The large portrait of James Marcus watched them with cold eyes. Rebecca hurried to pick a door. The one to the east of the stairs was unlocked, so they went ahead and went through. There were a couple of zombies wandering around the large dining room. They took them out, and then started to explore a little. The door to the kitchen was locked, but Rebecca could easily go through the window counter to get to the other side. The tables were a mess with food, plates, and glasses. By this, Rebecca could tell that this area of the facility had recently been used. There were definitely pieces of the puzzle coming together.
Those serial cannibalistic murderers…they aren't real people…they are these zombies wandering around. Something is definitely going on with all of these monsters…but what does Umbrella have to do with it?
Rebecca couldn't think of any answers to go with her questions. The most she could hope for was that they could find some answers along their way; find some answers after they survived this and found Bravo Team.
"Rebecca?"
"Hmm?" she mumbled, noticing that Billy was watching her closely. She shook out of her reverie and pointed to the window counter to the kitchen. "If you give me a boost, I can squeeze through that and unlock the door. Maybe there will be water in there."
Billy held up the handcuffs. "You climb through that with these?"
"Your arms are long…just stretch them a little."
Billy gave her a boost up onto the counter. Stretching his arm out, this let Rebecca slide through the window. When she landed down on the floor, Billy was at his limit for stretching his arm. Rebecca reached for the door with her free hand, but to no avail. She even tried to stretch for it.
"Ah, doll face…my arm can only stretch so far."
"I…almost got…it."
Finally, her fingertips got the lock, and she flipped it unlocked. She relieved Billy's arm, climbing back over the counter so they could get through into the kitchen. The kitchen was just as messy as the dining area. Something must have hit these facility people by complete surprise. Rebecca and Billy found some water and edible food in the refrigerator. They took the water, but neither of them had the stomach for food.
"I have a feeling that this building isn't very small," Billy stated.
"We can't get so lucky, can we?" Rebecca asked. She very much wanted to find the rest of Bravo Team so they could get out of this nightmare. Edward was already dead. How many more of Bravo Team was dead? Was Captain Enrico even still alive? How about Forest, or Richard, or Kenneth, or Kevin? Rebecca sighed out loud. Were she and Billy even going to survive?
"Don't worry. We will find a way out," Billy murmured, as if he had read her uncertain eyes.
For some reason, his words comforted her. She could trust him. She could no longer deny it. There was something about Billy that eased her. He did not have the air of a cold-blooded murderer. He didn't have the eyes. Rebecca knew that in order for them to get out…they were going to have to rely on each other.
Yay! Another chapter in this story! I think I am neglecting my others. I meant to update in Cat and Mouse, Dark Evenings, and Bad Kitty, sigh...Been so busy!!! They are each almost done!!! Geez, maybe next week I will have them up, lol. This chapter was a lot of fun to write, between Billy and Rebecca getting to know one another and Wesker and William. Yes, I like to write William the genius as a quirky, humorous fellow. I think I was inspired by how ShadowLeggy portrays him with her videos lol. If you want more quirky, funny William Birkin, please read Bad Kitty and Dark Evenings. He and Wesker have a unique friendship and partnership in both, in which Wesker is practical and calm while Will is well...the opposite, lol. In Dark Evenings, he is definitely the genius, but with his funny, quirky nature. In Bad Kitty, since it is for humor, there is more quirky moments. Anways, I am getting off subject here, lol. It seems that Rebecca and Billy have come out of the water and into the frying pan. There will be much more awkward moments between them because of the cuffs, yay!!!! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Thanks!!! :D