Resident Evil: Tangled Web
By: PhantasmBabeIvory
Author's notes: For those of you who may be unfamiliar with it, the events of the Anime film, RE: Degeneration, are heavily referenced in this chapter. Hope you all enjoy the continuation.
Chapter Seven
"I must say, you are looking lovelier than ever. The years have been kind," Wesker said as he descended the stairs towards her.
Claire wanted to back away from him, but couldn't make her legs obey. Nor could she avert her gaze. She began trembling as he approached. Her voice was equally shaky when she spoke. "What do you want with me?" She hoped her reaction was enough to make Elliott stay quiet and stay put.
Wesker stopped a few steps away from her. "No need to be afraid, dearheart. I have no intention of physically harming you."
She wasn't reassured. "Then, why?"
His head tilted downwards a notch. The reflective lenses on his aviator shades showed her just how scared she was. "If you're asking why I had you brought here, you're in for quite a tale, Miss Redfield."
The sound of Elliott's raised voice made her jump. She tore her gaze from Wesker to look at her companion at the base of the stairs. "Not really interested in stories!"
Claire imagined that a grimace replaced the smile on Wesker's face. She warned Elliott. "Don't! Making him angry is not a good idea!"
Elliott scowled. "I don't give a shi..."
Neither she nor Elliott even saw Wesker take a step. The latter was just suddenly at the bottom of the staircase, one hand clenched around Elliott's throat. Claire put one hand to the stone railing to steady herself. Even though she had seen it before, Wesker's ability to move at inhuman speeds still made her dizzy. Anyone witnessing it for the first time would mistakenly think Wesker capable of teleporting.
Ironically, seeing Elliott in trouble was all it took to banish the fear in her heart. Claire darted down the steps and tugged at Wesker's arm with no regard to the foolishness of it. "Leave him alone!" she said.
It was impossible to tell what Wesker was thinking about the bravado behind her words. He didn't even turn to look at her. To Elliott, he said, "You'd do well to heed Miss Redfield's advice."
Elliott started coughing when he was released, rubbing at his throat with one hand. Claire impulsively moved to his side. She put one hand to his shoulder in a protective gesture, but he shrugged her off.
Given the way Wesker tilted his head, it was clear he picked up on the show of animosity. He didn't comment on it, however. To Claire, he said, "Just so there's no confusion, I didn't have you brought here just to even some score with your dear brother. Truth be told, my interest in you had gradually waned ever since Rockfort Island. Until last year, that is."
One statement in particular caught Elliott's attention. Looking at Claire, he said, "Rockfort Island? That's where you said the Umbrella prison was, right? Where you were held?" She nodded.
Wesker went on as though Elliott hadn't spoken. "I'm aware, Miss Redfield, that you were instrumental in shutting down a second corrupt pharmaceutical company. Wilpharma."
Claire raised her head a notch. "So this is what exactly? Some sort of twisted revenge because I destroyed a company that was in your pocket?"
Wesker scoffed. "Hardly. Wilpharma's head researcher, Frederic Downing, was a colossal imbecile who was far too sloppy at covering his tracks. He deserved to get caught for trying to sell viral weaponry on the black market." Wesker shifted his weight. "I had nothing to do with Wilpharma or its employees until Tricell purchased what was left of their company."
Claire's eyes widened. "No. Tricell helped fund organizations to fight bioterroism. You can't be part of them."
"I can and I have. For three years now. My contact with upper-level Tricell employees is limited to Excella Gionne. Her grandmother is the one in charge of any and all funding. At least, of the funds she knows about," Wesker said. "I've contributed quite a bit of wealth under the table." He paused. "You know, for someone anxious to know why she's here, you are wasting a lot on time on frivolous topics."
She frowned at the insinuation that she shut up. Nevertheless, she gave a consenting nod. Elliott too remained quiet. The glance that she threw at him indicated he was trying to absorb everything being said.
"When my people were combing through the wreckage of Wilpharma's headquarters, they were surprised to find traces of blood in an undamaged part of the building. The control room, specifically," Wesker said. "I found out from the video footage that you were the last one in there, dearheart."
Claire looked downwards, drawn into the memory. Her lower leg throbbed even though the injury had long since healed.
She focused back on Wesker when the latter began speaking again. "I decided to have your blood analyzed on a whim. I truly didn't expect to find anything unusual. Let alone that Umbrella's most volatile compound, the G-Virus, had made its way into your veins." He stopped to adjust his sunglasses. "How you managed to avoid mutating is something I'd be quite interested in finding out the answer to."
"You're lying!"
"Even you aren't that naïve. Do you honestly think I would have gone to this much trouble just to tell a fib?"
"There's no way I could have gotten infected," she protested. "Especially not with the G-Virus. I've barely had any direct contact with it!"
"You may think that, but you were caught in an explosion at Wilpharma," Wesker said. "Infection would have been entirely possible under the circumstances."
Claire hesitated. She was terrified by the possibility that what he was saying was true. She had seen two people infected with this virus. Both had metamorphosed so much that they hadn't even been recognizable as human at the end. Why she was still normal was a mystery, if Wesker was to be believed.
She wasn't aware that Elliott had moved away from her until he spoke. "I don't even know who you are," he said to Wesker. "Or her, it seems. I'm not a part of this."
Claire lowered her gaze to hide the pain in her eyes. She didn't blame Elliott for wanting to negotiate for his own life, his own freedom. But she knew Wesker well enough to know he wouldn't be so merciful. And the last thing she wanted was to have an innocent's blood on her hands.
Wesker turned to look at Elliott. The former's words substantiated her beliefs. "I don't recall giving the impression that your future is open for debate. I will admit that your involvement was something I hadn't planned for. However, you'll serve a purpose nonetheless. I could always use another test subject."
She didn't wait to see what would Elliott's reaction would be. "No!" she said, stepping forward. "I'm not going to let you do this again!"
Wesker's expression was as inscrutable as ever. "Worried about our story on Rockfort Island repeating itself, are we?"
Knowing she'd lose her nerve if she stopped to think, she spoke hurriedly. "You don't get to go there! And you know I'll fight you every step of the way if anything happens to Elliott!"
The only sign that Wesker was intrigued was the way he cupped his chin in one hand. "It almost sounds as though you'd proposing a deal, dearheart."
Claire stood her ground. "Do we have one?"
"Oh, what I wouldn't give to see your brother's reaction to this conversation!" Wesker removed his shades and she heard Elliott gasp when he saw what the sunglasses had been hiding. As intimidated as Claire likewise was by the gold red eyes with reptilian-like pupils, she refused to give Wesker the satisfaction of showing her fear. "So long as you uphold your end, we have an agreement."
Elliott's reaction was to be expected. "What are you?" he said to Wesker.
"Someone who dislikes rude questions," their captor said. "Miss Redfield can fill you in on the rest, I'm sure." Wesker started for the stairs, beckoning them to follow. "For now, allow me to show the two of you where you'll be staying."
Wesker had some sort of remote control device to summon the elevator back. The trio were on their way to sub-level five within seconds. Claire found it fortunate that Elliott didn't dare put up a fight in the enclosed space.
The floor, such as it was, consisted of a long steel hallway with just three visible doors. Wesker spoke in an infuriatingly conversational tone as he led them to the second doorway. "I hope the accommodations are sufficient. I had this area specially built to house a single person. However, there is room enough for two."
"You can't be serious!" Elliott said. "You expect us to share quarters!"
Wesker's shades were back in place when he turned to face them. His expression was unreadable. Claire nevertheless got the impression that he was disappointed she wasn't the one arguing. She gave an inaudible sigh. If Wesker was going to be intent on testing her resolve, she'd have to watch her step.
"That is exactly what I expect," Wesker said. "I hardly have the time to construct suitable living quarters for a second person." He punched in a code on the keypad behind him without taking his gaze off them. A clicking sound was the only indication that the door was open.
Claire threw a quick glance around the main room. Wesker had gone all out with the furnishings. She had to admit that. If she hadn't know this was to be her prison, she would have felt right at home here. Once she and Elliott were sealed in, the emotional turmoil she had suppressed came rushing back. She quietly sat down on the plush brown sofa, hugged her legs to her chest, and had herself a good cry.