Author's Notes: About a year and a half ago, I had started a rewrite of Tangled Web to enhance the early chapters and flesh them out more. The revised prologue is more in line with the rewritten version than the original version; the same will be true for several chapters leading up to the abduction.
I hope you all enjoy the new and improved version of Tangled Web. I have been making use of an AI writing program (Sudowrite) to help enhance the story. The program has helped me rebuild the story to great effect; I hope you all enjoy and appreciate the results.
The only characters I lay claim to are Elliott, his family, and Claire's co-workers; everyone else is the property of Capcom.
Prologue
Claire Redfield's vision blurred as she clung to the cold, metallic railing of the dimly lit stairwell. Pain coursed through her body with each contraction, which now came mere minutes apart. Claire couldn't help but think it felt fitting, in a sick way, that the hell she'd been through for nearly two years would end in suffering and screams.
"Easy now, just one step at a time," Chris, her fiercely protective older brother, offered from in front of her, his muscular build tensed as he held onto her other hand carefully guiding her down each step.
As she struggled to move down the stairs, her swollen belly making each step an ordeal, Claire felt a twisted sense of deserving such misery. Being ripped from the sterile confines of the delivery room for a frantic dash to freedom seemed like a divine punishment for any sins she'd accumulated during these torturous months.
"Easy... easy," Jill murmured from behind, her hands hovering inches away from Claire's back, prepared to catch her if she fell.
A particularly sharp contraction suddenly gripped Claire, causing her to misstep. A searing pain shot up her right leg, and she screamed, her grip on the railing slipping. She felt herself teetering on the edge of the stairs, her fall imminent, but Chris and Jill acted quickly. Chris pulled her forward while Jill steadied her from behind, their movements fluid and coordinated.
"Easy, sis," Chris murmured, his voice strained with worry, "We've got you."
Claire leaned into Chris, the warmth of his chest providing her a brief moment of solace amidst the chaos. Her gaze remained transfixed on the stairs beneath her, as she took several panting breaths, each one a desperate attempt to quell the pain that threatened to consume her. The relief that washed over her as both pains subsided was short-lived, however.
"Damn it," Jill muttered, her eyes darting around the dimly lit stairwell. "Claire's making too much noise, and we're moving too slow. Delivering the baby will increase our odds of getting out quickly and quietly."
Claire shot her brother a panicked glance, noting the fury etched deep in his features as Chris slammed his fist against the wall, sending echoes reverberating throughout the cramped space. "Damn it to hell!" he roared, eyes flashing with unbridled anger. Claire's heart clenched at the sight; she knew how much it must have hurt him not knowing her fate for those two torturous years, but the raw emotion on his face brought the reality crashing home.
"Chris, we need to find a place to hole up," Jill said, worry etching lines on her face. "Claire can't keep going like this."
"Wait! I can make it," Claire protested weakly, fear and desperation seeping into her voice. "Just... how much further?"
Jill hesitated, then reached out to gently touch the side of Claire's face. Her fingers were cool and soothing against Claire's flushed skin. "Too far," she admitted softly. "We have to stop. You're not going to make it out of here without giving birth."
"Please," Claire whispered. "I need to…"
"Hey, listen to me," Chris said firmly, squeezing her shoulder and forcing her to meet his gaze. The intensity in his blue eyes, coupled with the unyielding determination etched across his face, reassured her more than any words could. "You have to trust us, Claire. I don't know what all you've been through, but I promise I won't let Wesker get his claws into you again."
Claire shut her eyes at the mention of the monster who had been holding her captive for so long. Just the thought of Wesker sent a shudder down her spine; his presence seemed to seep into every corner of the facility, haunting her even now. "This facility is still his territory. He'll find us."
"Then we'll make sure he doesn't," came a deep, accented voice from behind them. Claire looked up to see a tall, muscular man with dark skin and kind eyes approaching. She did not recognize him, but his accent hinted at African origins, and his confident stance exuded strength.
"Sheva and I can break off," he continued, nodding towards a graceful, fair-skinned woman standing nearby. "Create a distraction elsewhere to try and buy you some time." He paused, focusing on Claire, and added, "We'll do what we can to keep you safe, Miss Redfield. I wish you the best for what is to come."
"Thank you, Josh," Jill responded, her voice softening in gratitude. With a nod, he turned and headed back up the stairs alongside Sheva.
Claire's breath hitched as another contraction seized her, her fingers digging into Chris's arm for support. Her world narrowed to the pain; it was a consuming fire that threatened to incinerate her from within. For a moment, she forgot everything else – Wesker, the underground facility, even the baby she was about to bring into this twisted world.
"Easy, Claire," Chris murmured, his voice strained with worry. "Just breathe. We'll find a place for you soon."
The contraction subsided, leaving Claire trembling and weak, but still determined. With a nod from Chris, the small group began to move once more, soon making their way out of the stairwell onto the nearest floor. As they shuffled down the hallway, they tested each door, their collective anxiety growing with every locked entrance.
At last, they found an unlocked door. Jill pushed it open to reveal a steel-clad room. Metal gurneys were shoved against one wall, hinting at its past use as a science lab. The emptiness of the room sent shivers down Claire's spine, but she knew they had little choice.
"Here," Chris said softly, guiding Claire inside. "This will have to do."
"Hardly an ideal maternity ward," Claire muttered, trying to mask her fear with sarcasm. But deep down, she understood the gravity of their situation – there was no time for luxuries or comfort.
"Barry, stay by the door. Let us know if anything comes our way," Jill instructed, her tone firm yet tinged with worry. Barry nodded, taking up his post as lookout.
Claire's breath caught as Chris gently lowered her onto a blanket they'd brought from the delivery room. The cold, steel floor beneath her did little to ease her discomfort, but at least she was no longer standing. Her body ached from the exertion of their escape, and she leaned back against Chris, his strong arms cradling her protectively.
Jill rummaged through the sparse contents of the lab, her movements swift and efficient. She emerged with a lab coat and a pair of latex gloves, draping the former over Claire's knees as a makeshift privacy screen.
"Alright," Jill said, slipping on a pair of gloves she'd found in one of the drawers. "Do you feel like you need to push yet, sweetie?"
Claire's eyes flashed with anger. The endearment brought back a torrent of memories from her captivity that carried nothing but malice and cruelty. She couldn't bear the thought of her friends using the same term, even if their intentions were pure. "Don't call me that," she snapped, voice trembling.
"Okay, I won't," Jill replied, taken aback by Claire's reaction but respecting her wishes. She repeated her question, concern evident in her eyes. "Do you need to push?"
Claire shook her head, tears glistening in her eyes as vulnerability and fear threatened to overwhelm her. "Not yet."
"Okay, don't worry," Jill reassured her, trying to maintain an air of calm. "Everything will be okay. The walk from the delivery room might have accelerated the process. Just try to stay focused and let us know when you're ready."
Desperate to believe that, Claire closed her eyes, taking deep, steadying breaths in an effort to conserve her energy for the ordeal ahead. With each inhale, she tried to focus on the hope that they would all make it out alive, regardless of the odds stacked against them.
Without warning, a burst of static echoed through the room, causing Claire to flinch. It was followed by the last voice she ever wanted to hear: Wesker's. His words slithered through the intercom like a venomous snake, chilling her to the bone. "I will assume you don't know what you've stumbled into here, Chris, but I would ask that you return my property immediately."
Chris' muscles tensed around her, his fury palpable. "You're insane if you think we're giving her back to you," he snarled, protective instincts flaring.
Claire gnawed at her lip, anxiety coiling in her stomach as she thought, Did Wesker actually lie to me for once? She knew she needed to say something to calm her brother down, to keep him focused on their goal.
But then another contraction hit, and all thoughts of reassurance were swept away in a tidal wave of pain. Gasping, Claire focused on her breathing, each exhale a small victory against the agony tearing through her body.
Closing her eyes, she allowed her mind to drift, seeking solace in memories of a man who brought both comfort and anguish. The warm smile and gentle touch seemed so real, so close, and yet forever out of reach. This was the only way she'd see him again, and her heart ached with longing for him to be with her, in some form, during the birth of their child.
Elliott.