Lost Hope - K3nnfield
3. CHIMERA
⚠️THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS VIOLENT THEMES⚠️
Word count: 3,371
The faint hum of electricity rings into your ears, just as your eyes flicker open. A small but liminal space surrounds you, only a bed. Well...more like a prisoner mattress on the floor placed in the corner of the room with a few cabinets and drawers standing tall and ominous.
Your eyes slowly scan the room as best as you can manage, an overwhelming sense of dizziness falls over you, making it incredibly difficult to stay focused and awake.
You eventually spot a table covered with folders, a familiar symbol on the front, red and white. Looking around the room again, you focus on the same symbol painted on the walls and machinery stored at the opposite end of the room.
Umbrella.
Your mind focuses back to Raccoon City, the police station, the sewers, and the underground laboratory that belonged to Umbrella.
Why the hell are you here?
Your gaze falls onto yourself, rope tied carefully and tightly around your wrists and ankles, the rope digging uncomfortably into your skin leaving indents and marks, attached to an uncomfortable chair placed in the centre of the room, a camera positioned directly at you.
You attempt to remember anything before waking up here, failing to recall what happened. The only memory standing in your mind before appearing in this unknown room had been walking home from O'Neils and worrying about the black SUV.
The SUV...
Before your mind can wander further, an electrical buzz draws your attention towards the door, where a man in a white lab coat walks in holding multiple folders. His hair carefully slicked to the side, frown lines evident across his face with glasses balancing at the bridge of his nose.
His build is large, not so much in muscle like Leon, instead he makes up for it in height and leanness with broad shoulders. Making his presence feel alarming and ominous just by simply standing in silence.
He analyses your face, your body language, your eyes, you feel uncomfortable not being able to do anything about a random, intimidating man looking at you like this.
"Hello (Y/N)." The man speaks politely yet stoically.
You stay silent, your face saying more than words can at this point.
"I understand this may be frightening for you right now"
"But rest assured, you're in safe hands."
Hah, right, It sure does feel 'safe' so far.
The man walks closer to you, forcing you to look up at him to hold his eye contact.
"We have been searching for you for a while now." The man adds, a faint smile of achievement settled on his face.
"What do you want from me?" you manage to spit out.
The man tilts his head, almost in sympathy. Before a smile reappears.
"You see" he sighs out, slowly circling around your tied, helpless self in the middle of the room.
"You are a crucial part of a puzzle we have spent a year attempting to solve. A plan, a mission. Alas, the first step has begun."
"What plan? Step for what?" you respond partly fearful of what might happen to you, partly confused on where this is heading.
The man stays silent, walking to the side of the room and placing down the folders in a neat and organised order. Straightening each paper to be equal to the others.
"You bastards made a mistake taking me!" you snarl out after receiving no response.
The man slightly turns his head to the side, a smirk drawing out of his lips.
"And why do you think that?"
"Because my boyfriend will find me! His team will come looking for me, you're screwed!" you shout back.
"Ah yes, Leon Kennedy. Correct?"
Your breath hitches in your throat, your stomach drops with your heartbeat beginning to race. You swallow back a gasp, not wanting to draw any attention to your reaction.
"You really think he will find you?" the man draws out, in a mocking tone of voice.
"Yes."
He lets out a low chuckle, shaking his head in amusement before picking up a folder, flicking through the pages until he stops halfway.
"Let's hope you're correct, for both our sakes."
"Both our sakes?" you ask quietly.
He makes his way over to you, his eyes glued on the contents of the paper in his hands. You look around the room, desperately trying to find something of use to escape or be free. Soon realising that everything has carefully been placed, planned perfectly to ensure nobody can get out. So that you can't get out.
The man hands the folder to you without saying a word, paying close attention to your eyes and body language. You take the folder from his hands, your eyes landing on the page in front of you. An image of you staring out of the window of the apartment, dated January 18th of this year. The day Leon had left for his 4th training trip since becoming a part of the DSO. You swallow deeply, taking a breath before turning the next page.
Another picture, this time of you and Leon on a walk together in the local park, dated February 13th. You had both decided to spend the day out of the apartment together for a change of scenery, briefly before he took you to dinner as an early Valentine's day gift.
The next page, a picture of Leon at the airport with his bag over his shoulders, dated March 2nd. His return home after facing one of the hardest training experiences at the time, overwhelmed with exhaustion and emotions that Leon couldn't process properly. It had been a hard time for both of you during the following days after that.
You frantically flick through the pages, each containing pictures of either yourself, leon or both of you together leading up to the present.
The final page holds a picture of you and your friends walking down the street, dated September 22nd. Your breath catches as you remember heading to O'Neils on Saturday, your eyes catching the black SUV from across the street multiple times that week.
Underneath it was a second picture of Leon outside the apartment building, dated September 24th. He was on his way home to you, a very subtle smile seen on his face, it softens your heart seeing him look so happy to be home.
Oh god. He is probably worrying himself sick.
Your breath quickens before you repeat "what did you mean, both our sakes?"
Not deeming it necessary to ask any questions about the pictures following you and Leon for a whole year, you clearly understand they've been watching both of you closely, but why?
"Let's just say, you have a purpose being here." the man states with the same stoic tone and expression.
"What is my purpose?"
He inhales slowly, taking the folder out of your hands before returning to the table. Carefully gathering the other folders that he hadn't shown you or opened. He places them back into a pile in his arms, ensuring all sides of the paper line up perfectly before moving on, making his way towards the door.
"Wait! What is my purpose?" you shout, hoping he'll give you at least some response that'll help you understand why you've been forcefully taken here.
Instead, he stands facing the door in silence. The door buzzes before it swings open, you're able to catch a quick glance at a pristine bright hallway, an Umbrella symbol painted on the wall, with a few other people wearing lab coats walking up and down.
You piece together that Umbrella has another secret laboratory, god knows what they're up to now, what other abominations are being developed within these walls?
The door closes abruptly, leaving only the sound of the light above you humming, and the quiet tick of electricity sounding from the camera above the door.
"It's okay." you whisper to yourself.
"Leon will come. Of course he will."
┈──┈˖˚⊹ ⋆♡⋆ ⊹˚˖ ┈──┈
Day 3
The days pass in a haze, with familiar visits from the same man who simply stands there watching you, paying close attention to how you respond and act. The camera flashing a constant green light, consistently reminding you that there are eyes on you at all times.
Other workers come in, all wearing the same white lab coats, often speaking to each other in low murmurs or whispers, writing notes that you've never been able to read.
After what felt like an eternity, a woman unties your wrists and ankles, allowing you to roam free in the space of your new room. You can't go far, but being able to lay down and move your body felt like a reward.
Indents lay deep into your skin where the rope once snaked around your limbs. The skin is tender to the touch, sensitive and sore from the constant friction and constriction of blood flowing through.
Before your eyes fade shut, letting yourself fall unconscious as an escape from reality, you remind yourself that Leon is looking for you, putting hard work and effort with his team to rescue you from this place.
Day 7
The room you've stayed in...more like existed within, grants very minimal opportunities for entertainment. No windows, not much food or water, just a 'bed' and some cabinets which contain nothing. Like it had been stripped of its contents in preparation for your arrival.
To pass the time, you began paying precise attention to how often the same man, whose name hasn't been shared with you as of yet, pays you a visit. Any time the door buzzes open, you take a quick glance at how busy the hallway appears, assuming that when its empty it is most likely late hours of the night.
With these methods, you have become able to count the days of being held here. A whole week.
A whole fucking week of staring at the same 4 blank walls.
It's okay, because Leon will find you, right?
Day 12
Visits from the nurses and doctors become a routine and normality for you, finding yourself awaiting their arrival. Their presence makes you feel a lot less alone, providing you a sense of comfort in such an unsettling place. Despite no communication being shared between you and them. They'd only observe you and whisper amongst each other out of earshot.
Oftentimes they came with a small bottle of water and some unappetising food, you can't even make out what it is, all you know is it serves its purpose of keeping you alive. Which they clearly want.
Leon will be here.
Day 20
As the days began here at Umbrella, guards would occasionally enter the room and forcefully pull you up from your elbows, dragging you out of the room shortly before reaching a shower room.
They had given you 15 minutes every 2 days to shower in an open room, similar to that of sport locker rooms. The guards would stand outside of the door, ensuring you wouldn't attempt to run out.
But of course, you knew there would be no hope.
You take the time to cleanse your body as much as you can, scrubbing viscously at your arms, legs, face and hair in an attempt to remove this place from yourself.
The intimidating man's visits reduce down to what you calculated to be every other day.
Occasionally he overloads you with questions, all of which are attempts to find more about you, although he's clearly discovered enough if Umbrella had been watching your every move for the whole year.
It felt almost obsessive. He would sit across from you. His arms folded against his chest, his white lab coat almost intensely clean with no wrinkles and no stains.
Leon is finding you, it's okay.
Day 30
You begin to notice more commotion outside of the room when the door opens briefly. Spotting many more doctors and nurses walking the halls, all holding folders and notebooks in their arms.
When you receive visits from the man, you watch as he speaks to people outside of the room before he enters, however you haven't been able to make out what he is saying, presumably it's about you.
Any day now, Leon will tear this shithole down.
1 month
A whole month passes by, at least you assume so from your previous calculations and observations.
Nothing has changed, only your appearance altering slightly from the lack of sunlight, communication and nutritional intake.
You have grown used to the same events taking place every day, visits from nurses, visits from the man, the camera beeping systematically.
During the visits with the man, he begins asking more questions, increasingly focusing more on Leon rather than you. As if he's gathered enough intel on you for now.
"Leon will be here." you hoarsely speak.
The man hums in response, not directly insinuating his agreement or disagreement before he exits the room once again.
3 months
The days continue to blend into the familiarity you have succumbed to. The same visits taking place every day as per usual. Never fully understanding what they are writing down about you or whispering to each other about.
Until one day, the same man enters the room, seemingly for another round of random questions in an attempt to gain more insight into you or Leon.
"Hello again (Y/N)"
You stay silent, avoiding engaging in conversation with any visitors you receive from the staff in this laboratory unless necessary.
"It seems that plans have changed as of late."
That turns your head up towards him. Your attention and curiosity peaking.
"What now?" you whisper in defeat.
The man simply smiles at you, a smile that fails to reach the eyes, disturbing. Walking closer with excruciatingly slow steps. Your heart quickens in anticipation as you contemplate what could possibly happen now after so long?
Has Leon finally found you?
Are they letting you go?
Instead of verbally responding, the man takes a vile out of his coat, followed by a syringe.
Your eyes widen as you realise what is happening, he's going to sedate you. You crawl further backwards into the corner of the bed, shaking your head desperately. Pulling your knees close to your chest, keeping as far away from him as possible.
"Please.." you breathlessly plead.
His hands find your face, thumbs pressing into your forehead with a firm grip, whilst the others cover your head to keep you still as he swiftly pricks your neck with the injection, your sight fading to darkness as you succumb to the familiar state of unconsciousness.
┈──┈˖˚⊹ ⋆♡⋆ ⊹˚˖ ┈──┈
Your eyes flutter open, taking in a new environment. A similar room as before, this time you find yourself strapped into a medical bed. A large spotlight held above your face, with all sorts of medical tools and equipment surrounding you on surfaces.
A wave of pain takes over your body as you reach your hands out, noticing your pale skin with miniature marks, like little dots, with dark bruises forming around them left on your arms from what you presume to be a result of more injections.
"My team have been working carefully on a new product recently." A voice speaks. A familiar deep, stoic voice.
A figure fades into view as they step out of the shadowed corner of the room. The same man as always.
"I feel it's time to formally introduce myself."
"I'm Dr Volkow. Head of biological research here at our fresh new laboratory at Umbrella Corporations." he speaks. His voice sends a shiver down your spine as goosebumps cover your body head to toe.
"Why are you only now telling me who you are?" you ask him.
"Because, you have become my number one priority."
"During your stay here, myself and the team have continued to watch over you, analyse your every move, reactions and how you think."
"At first, your sole purpose was to entice Agent Kennedy to our location."
Your heart skips at Leon's name, confusion settling in at this sudden truth coming out now as you lay in a medical bed. Still, you remain silent, carefully listening to every word Volkow says.
"But we have decided you are the perfect candidate for our new technology."
"No.." you whisper out in disbelief, shaking your head frantically as tears fill your eyes, temporarily blurring your vision of Volkow standing ahead of you.
"Oh yes, new technology which grants great power to its host. Different from the...mistakes we've developed before." Volkow adds with pride in his tone.
"Wouldn't you like to feel in control? Powerful? Capable of the impossible?"
"A weapon?"
You continue to shake your head, squeezing your eyes shut in desperation as more tears spill out, silently praying that at any moment Leon will burst through the doors and take you in his arms, feeling his warmth instantly comforting you making you feel safe once again.
Instead, upon reopening your eyes, Volkow stands closer to the side of the bed. Holding another syringe with some sort of substance in its containment.
"Leon will kill you!" you cry out in hopes Volkow would back down.
Of course he doesn't, instead he offers you a smile, an unsettling smile that doesn't reach his eyes yet again. He raises his hand, lightly caressing your hair out of your face, the contact of his cold, calloused skin making you wince in disgust.
Volkow hums quietly, returning his hand back towards the side of his body.
"I'm not too sure about that."
"Wh-what do you mean..?" you stutter out.
Volkow huffs as another sympathetic smile crosses over his face.
"If Leon truly loved you, surely he'd have found you after 3 months, don't you think?" Volkow's words ring into your ears.
You shake your head, refusing to believe what he is telling you.
"Of course he loves me." you whisper, closing your eyes hoping for this to be over with.
Volkow extends his hand once more, the syringe coming increasingly closer towards your neck.
"Get away from me you bastard!" You shout, moving your head around frantically to avoid the needle making contact.
"Stay still. Don't make this harder for yourself."
"Let me go!" you scream louder in retaliation and fear. Continuing to move your body around, making it nearly impossible for Volkow to inject the substance into your neck.
Volkow huffs in disappointment. But not in defeat. Your body trembles as you watch his moves, Volkow reaches for his ear.
"Code 3, I require 'support' in procedure room 2." Volkow speaks in a low, instructive voice. The word 'support' spoken with an exaggerated low tone.
You stay quiet, your breathing continues heavily as your heartbeat drums into your ears.
Before you could process anything, a group of guards burst into the room, holding batons and tasers in their hands as they storm their way over towards the bed. Your heart leaps out of your chest, fearing what is coming next. Volkow steps aside, a frustrated look painted over his face.
"Why did you have to make this harder?" He mutters.
The guards, all wearing black, heavy tactical gear with face covering helmets concealing all skin and opportunities for identification stand closer to you as you continue to wriggle away in attempts to break free. Their presence alone is terrifying, turning your blood ice cold.
The guard on your left stabs your leg with the taser, sending jolts of electricity and pain throughout your body. Your screams echo across the room, piercing your own ears. The guard ahead of you uses another taser releasing another round of excruciating pain up your legs.
Finally, the guard on your right stares directly down at you, your screams continue as you choke on your own cries and hiccups. Tears pouring out of your eyes in a constant stream as your body takes on an overwhelming amount of agony and torture. His head tilts, just before he raises his baton and strikes the end against the side of your head, knocking you unconscious.
The guards fall back, allowing Volkow to come forward. Slowly letting the syringe penetrate your neck and inject the substance.
"Finally, Operation CHIMERA begins now."
