Chapter 38
He rushed wildly through the trees, body throbbing in pain, swatting aside thick branches like they were beads hanging from a doorway. He leaped up and crashed through a tree into open air, sailing as if he was in free-fall, and landed hard on the slippery, muddy ground. His body seemed to pulse with fire, his skin burning as if coated with acid. It was not raining any longer, but the forest was wet from the previous downpour and his clothes were soaked.
He came around the side of the mansion and ran into the rear yard. Before him, silhouetted against the gray night sky, was the astronomy tower, rising above the mansion like a cannon turret standing watch over a medieval castle.
He knew about the tower. He used to live below it. The two intruders went there. He could detect their scent in the humid air. They used the descending room to gain access to his former home. He should follow them.
He could not remember why he attacked them, but he remembered that they had fought back and wounded him. They used guns, just like his murderers used guns against him so long ago. They killed him that time, but this time the guns did not kill him, they only wounded him. And already those wounds were healed. Guns were no longer a threat.
He loped across the yard, making his way through the knee-high grass in just a few steps. He jumped over the concrete railing and landed sure-footedly on the wide patio, balancing himself with one hand on the ground.
His thoughts escaped him. He remembered having a reason for following the man and woman from the train, but it was lost to him now. He stood there in the middle of the patio, breath coming slowly, his mind trying to focus on what he was doing there.
His fingers clenched into a fist so tight his nails dug into the palm of his hand, although no blood came forth. He felt his body tense, urging him forward, but still he held his ground. Why did he want them dead? They were not the ones who killed him last time. They were meaningless to him. But his body forced him to move to the tower and push the doors in. The broke right off their hinges and crashed to the dusty floor.
His real enemies were the ones named Spencer and Wesker, but these two were unknown to him. He let the girl live on the train because there was no reason to kill her, but his body resisted momentarily, as he jumped the railing and flew clear of the train. Now, his body seemed to have control of him. He tried to fight it, tried to remember what was happening to him, but there was only darkness and shadow where his thoughts traveled.
He grabbed the metal doors and pulled them apart like they were banana peels. Beyond the door was a hole leading underground. He could still smell them. They were not far.
He jumped down.