As I sneak out of the residence's back door, the door whose existence they - my lovely S.T.A.R.S. members - don't know about, I can't help but stop and wonder... Do you know what it feels like, Christopher? Do you know what it is to be hunted?

I'm not sure if you do. But you're a hunter yourself, a trained special forces team member, equipped with the best weapons available. Granted, I took steps to make sure you weren't too well equipped as you entered this mansion, but you still have that combat knife, the gun that Jill dropped, and the shotgun poor Richard left behind as he died. You might be armed with something else as well. As far as I know, there are other firearms around this mansion. You might've found them. You've managed to survive for the longest time, after all. Ah, magnificent.

I make my way to one of the warehouses they have failed to notice. Of course - they don't know every hidden corner of this area like the back of their hand as I do. After all, I'd spent years here as a researcher once. I know where everything is around here.

I release the lock of a cage designed to hold Hunters, and step back. I'd already let a couple of them loose into the mansion while Chris was busy with the overgrown plant. This one already knows its target. Hunter Alphas have a highly developed sense of smell, and the ones here I've sent to track down one specific target. Chris Redfield.

The green-skinned creature steps out from the cage slowly and looks around. I don't notice it paying any attention to me, and that's how it's supposed to be, really... William told me they ignore their creators. He was right, as always.

The Hunter runs off, charging after its designated prey. I only smile, watching as it vanishes from sight. It could've killed me with one swipe from those deadly claws, but it has different orders. Those orders don't include avoiding harming me, but as I said - I've never seen William Birkin proven wrong.

Do you know now, then, Christopher? You're the prey. So there are other creatures around here... Even I have to go around the zombies, dogs, and other such creatures. They, unlike the Hunters, don't separate one prey from another. They go after anything that's alive. Oh well, not much of a problem, when you know how to move around here like I do.

A gunshot, followed by another. Hmm? A shriek, then a wailing scream as the creature dies. You managed to kill the first one, didn't you, my dear Christopher? You're better than I thought. Heh, I didn't expect any less from the best marksman of my team. Hope the others I placed upstairs from the storage room don't get you. It would be a pity if you died too soon. I still have use for you, and I haven't gathered as much battle data as I would like to. I'm sure I'll have enough material soon, though.

Ah, there you go again. Another gunshot. I sneak behind the window and glance in shortly, careful not to be noticed. Yes, it seems you just met Hunter number two by the staircase there. Excellent. Another short glance in shows me that the creature has you pinned against the floor... And then you slash at its throat with your knife and it falls down, dead. Hmm, great work on disposing of the thing, Chris.

You escaped into the storeroom to catch your breath, I see. Good. Rest for a while, my dear Christopher. You have all night, after all, and I wouldn't want you to exhaust yourself too much. I still want to see more.

I hope you make it through here alive. I could use you as a test subject, perhaps... or, maybe to satisfy a certain personal interest I have in you. It's such a pleasure watching you, Chris, although I'm sure you've never noticed that I like to do so. You apparently don't pay any mind to what's behind these dark glasses.

So handsome, so strong, but still slender. I wonder what you look like under that uniform? Hmm, perhaps I'll get a chance of seeing that before this night is over. Or maybe I should've captured you instead of Jill. I'm sure I could've found a couple of hours to spend in the labs, while the rest of my precious team runs around this old mansion trying to figure out all the sick little puzzles Spencer devised.

I enter the mansion through another door on the side. The door's unlocked. Huh, I'm sure it was locked before. Chris has probably been out here. No matter. I would have been able to open the door even if it had been locked, with a master key I carry.

A series of curious clicking sounds greets me inside. Another one of my Hunters is waiting in this corridor. Patiently waiting until its target comes. It stares at me, intrigued, but ignores me in the end and returns to stalking the corridor. Heh... Don't worry, my dear little Hunter. I'm sure your prey will come by sooner or later. Then you'll have your chance with him. Whether you win or lose won't matter to me. You'll serve your purpose well.

Gunshots again, from somewhere upstairs. So you went to check from there again then. Good. I'll wait somewhere around here where you can't see me. Could just as well stay around this Hunter for a while, since they're quite effective at keeping the idiotic creatures away. I sit by the wall, watching as the man-sized, lizard-like monster walks to the other end of the corridor. Patiently waiting.

I'm sure you'll learn, Christopher, if you haven't learned yet. You've turned from the hunter to the prey. Hunted. I'm still sure you'll survive through this nightmare, with your skills. You should be able to take on your hunters, and walk away as the survivor. Perhaps not completely unscathed, but you'll survive. For now, I'll rest for a moment before I follow you.

You see, Chris, I too am your hunter. I look forward to meeting you again.

Author's notes:

Written as a part of a personal challenge. Wesker's POV, in case you didn't figure it out.

- Lady Harken (May, 2004)