Hell's Gift

-7-

-5 months later-

"Time for our next test, Princess." I rolled my eyes as Wesker walked into my room. 

"What delight is waiting for me today?" I scoffed, standing up from my seat at the window and following him through the corridors. Since he'd kidnapped me, Wesker had learnt my word was good, and I'd do as he asked so long as no harm came to Jill. He'd given me a room in the facility that allowed me to gaze out at the deserts of Africa, and provided me with a stereo. 

"Actually, I think you'll enjoy today's experiment," Wesker replied, walking me to our usual room, where most days he'd have another victim who'd die or come close. 

"Yeah, right. I hardly see how you forcing me to kill people is enjoyable." I hissed, hiding the upset that had been building up.

He opened the door, and I stopped at the sight. Instead of the usual person or infected that waited, there was a table, and on it, a cake with a single candle. "Happy Birthday, Princess."

"What the fuck?"

"I believe you're 23." It wasn't a question, he was telling me my own age, reminding me he was in control, he would keep me here for as long as he wanted. 

"Yeah. If you say so, it's hard to keep track of time when you have no access to any devices or a calendar." I sighed, walking inside and thinking about how long I must've been locked up now. I missed Leon, Claire and Chris, my weekly calls with Sherry, the team...I'd do anything just to hear their voices, to tell them Jill Valentine is still alive. "I'm giving you one day to choose what you want to do. Say it, and we'll do it. Within reason, of course."

"I want to go to the garden. And I want Jill to come too." I requested, thinking to the flowers that had been growing. They may produce the virus, but I'd do anything to see some life again.

"Alright." Wesker nodded, watching on as I refused to touch the cake. "You're not eating?"

"You think I trust you?" I raised an eyebrow. 

"I wish you would, I think of you like a daughter I never had." He admitted. 

"Shame I think of you as shit stuck on my shoe." I responded, causing him to shake his head as he looked to the floor, then back up at me. 

"Oh, Princess, when will you learn I'm only trying to help you? You've come so far, I mean, you've stopped wearing your gloves after all." He reminded.

I looked down at my hands, he was right, because of his forced experiments, I'd begun to gain control over the G-Virus in my veins. I've slowly been letting go of the fear, the number of people I'd killed taking its toll and making me numb. I'd be calm when I went in, and so long as I wasn't under stress of any sort, I could remain in control.

The slamming of the door brought me from my thoughts, "now everyone's here, let's go to the garden." Wesker smiled, and I looked over, seeing it was Jill who had entered. I walked over, looking her in the eyes, it wasn't the real Jill. Every now and then, when I'd break and beg her to fight back against Wesker's control, I could see her true self shining through in her eyes, and I'd remember why I was fighting. For Chris. He was so broken when he came back from the mansion, and it was one the first times I'd seen him cry. I'd never forget it, seeing one of my biggest heroes break. 

"After you," Wesker sped over to the door, and opened it up, holding an arm out for me to go ahead. I looked at Jill once again, before walking out and making my way down the corridors. I'd only been there a couple times, but my memory was above average, another side effect of the G according to Wesker.

"So, Albert, when can we finally stop the experiments?" I spoke up, using his first name to annoy him. 

"When you're completely in control. Then, you'll join me out in the field." He replied.