Chapter Twelve

As the morning peeked in the dark sky, Chris moved into the lower levels. His eyes felt sore and tired from lack of rest, but still he pressed on. It was like a winding maze of buildings, every corner looking the same as before. Slowing to a stop from his trek, the man slid across the opposite wall. He could swear he had heard thumping… A sliding door gave way into a private laboratory, various beakers and cylinders of liquid casting a greenish hue across the white walls. Every muscle in Redfield's body felt tight, over worked… Yet still they coiled as if on a live spring. The noise was louder this time, and it was coming from the back of the lab… Rushing as silently as he could towards the ending of the large room, Chris paused as he reached a steel door. The noise resonated from behind the entrance, very audible and heavy. Creeping closer, the man placed his left hand upon the handle. He could go back, he didn't have to open the door… What if he got himself killed? How would he help her if he had let some experiment out and got injured? As if in answer, a soft voice cursed in the darkness. Whatever it was….it was not some sort of a monster.

Flicking the handle to the side, he found that the lock must be from the inside as the door swung open. Dashing through, he raised his weapon at the ready. Emerald eyes widened as a bound and gagged Jill looked up. She had been raising herself by he straightened arms, smashing her bound legs down onto the metal clasp on the floor. The outer bonds were frayed, but not enough to give way. Whoever who had tied the woman up knew better than to use a chain with a lock. Thick, knotted cord cut into Valentine's wrists, the skin red and white from the foreign object. The gagged woman sighed in relief as she mumbled garble to her husband. "Ishf bomded terf oo maef iigh." Yanking his Bowie knife from its sheath on his back, Chris knelt next to his wife, severing her bonds. Pausing before he ripped the tape from her mouth, Redfield winced as the resounding ripping noise proved a red mark upon her pale skin. "Oh thank God, I found you…What did you just say?" Jill rubbed her legs and wrists, her throat sounding dry and hoarse. "I said, 'It's about time you made it.' Where the hell have you been? Taking pictures?" Chris frowned, his face creasing with exhaustion. "You shouldn't have run off like that…you could have got us both killed. What has been with you lately? It's like you are new at this…" He knew he shouldn't have said that as the hurt swelled up in Jill's azure eyes. Chris stammered the sorrow feeling like icy fingers on his stomach. "Look..I'm sorry…I shouldn't have said that…" Wiping at her eyes, the woman waved him off. "It doesn't matter…we have to go…we have to hurry…it's dangerous.."

"There's no hurry, Jill…and here I thought we had come to an agreement…" The voice hit Redfield like the kick back shock off a car battery. Turning slowly to look behind him, his hands blindly searched for the weapon he had put away seconds before to free the appendages. What met his eyes made the man instead raise his hands above his head. Angelica Burrows was pointing a small hand gun to the both of them, her face shrouded by shadow, but still recognizable none the less. Her pale skin reflected what light was on her back as if it was on a piece of paper, the black contrast of her leather coat shielding the rest from sight. The red eyes…why wasn't he seeing the red eyes.. Jill clicked her tongue in her cheek, stepping close to Chris with he hands in like fashion. She just prayed that the woman before her would be merciful. "Angelica, I can't…you know I can't…it's wrong, and we have a job to do, and that is to take you into custody." Angelica stepped forwards, her hair falling over her face. "Jill…how long have you wanted a chance to atone for what sins that you did in Africa?" The question caught Redfield off guard as he glanced to his wife. Evidently it had done the same for her… A hurt look etched into her features, deep signs of exhaustion beginning to show in set lines across her face. An odd shine came into her eyes… "That would be none of your business…"

"Oh but it is my business…Everyone needs a chance, and that is all I am asking for her. She is my redemption, Jill…the only thing I can atone for to make sure the world has something better than people like me and him. You can't deny her a chance…All I want is a chance.." Jill snapped forward, fire in her eyes. Chris lurched after, his hand about to close over her slim bicep. Who was this "she" they were talking about? What was really going on… "We don't owe you anything, Angeli…" As her outburst was as suddenly thrust out of her throat, the woman began to wobble to the side. Her eyes glazed over as dizziness took over, the woman passing out nearly on the floor. Angelica reached her seconds before Chris could scoop his spouse up, her arms enclosing protectively. Chris knelt, frantically trying to figure out what had happened. Angelica pressed her doctor's hands to the unconscious woman's forehead, checking her pulse. "How long has she been like this, Chris?" Redfield growled as Angelica questioned him, his hands trying to forcibly remove her from Jill. "Get your hands off her…" Angelica raised her handgun, pressing it against Chris' forearm threateningly. "We have to move of we are to get her somewhere safe…You will have to trust me…"

Angelica pressed a touch button intercom on her wrist contraption, her voice quiet and hushed as she spoke to the person on the other side. "I need Alpha clean up two in sick bay nine twenty. She will be in the containment beaker forty two for Raccoon City…We have her…guard here to transfer as well..debrief him upon arrival. No questions, understood?" The chirped response was in audible as she shut off the device, but Chris guessed as much that she had gotten confirmation. Standing as she set Jill gently down, Angelica pointed her weapon at Redfield. "If you want safe passage…do as I say, when I say, and I can guarantee that you both will get out alive…."

…..

"Where's momma?" She watched as her doctor tugged at her hand. He had a suit case and several of her dolls in his other hand. The pump he had installed on the back of her neck hurt a little as she tried to run, but at least she could actually run now… Her doctor looked down, a small smile creasing at his lips. "She will meet you on the trip, but she had some pressing matters to deal with…are you hungry? I can get you something on the plane?" The little girl sighed, her stomach givin her away as it growled in hunger. Nodding slowly, she bit her lip. Slowly a devious grin spread. "Could I have some…ice cream?" The doctor nodded as he led the child down a long hall. He had prayed that the small thing would not be much trouble, and she hadn't …yet.. If the plan was going to work, she would have to be co-operative. "Of course….and guess what…

You can have everything in it you want…"

Including sleeping pills…

…

Wesker watched as Angelica was strapped into the same device he was. They seemed to be a matched pair, the devices that is. They were cylinder contraptions, the arms and legs being locked into a electromagnetic system that spread the limbs separately. Angelica did not speak, did not even look him in the eye as she was incarcerated into her prison. He on the other hand was watching her, every move…every breath. They both were considered dangerous even when human…and they were right in doing so. "It seems that chances are not being taken with the both of us in securing that our escape is impossible.." His own voice sounded hallow, as if forced conversation actually had made him feel…nervous. She did not answer, her sapphire eyes staring out of the back of the window. They had been put in a cargo hold all by themselves. The whine of the plane engines began to make the metal walls resonate and vibrate with energy. Her could feel the take off in his bones. As they both drew closer to Raccoon, Wesker could almost feel the cloying taste of freedom in his throat… Looking at the woman before him as she shifted her gaze, Wesker felt his heart stop. She was trapped, locked away, and untrusted. She had become like him…a relic… a toy…

Then why was she smiling…