"How badly do you want to live ?"
"I don't"
Being the hero of the day, maybe even the hero of the decade, should be wonderful. A life of happiness, major accomplishments, and praise from others who look up to you. People admiring your strength, wits, and courage. People wanting to talk to you, be a part of your life, wanting to be you. Countless awards on the walls of your large glamorous house. Millions of articles written about you all over the world, your name and picture on front page. It's crazy, it's marvelous, it's… not exactly true for everyone... especially not Chris Redfield.
"There's nothing that I can do Chris… except prescribe the anti-depressants-"Chris Redfield put his palm up to stop his therapist, Dr. Dole, from speaking.
"No," He grunted, getting up from the long couch in the center of the room. Dr. Dole sighed, sitting across from him in a large chair "I'm not sad or crazy."
"It doesn't mean you're crazy! It's just a little help to get you up, and help you complete the day's task. Beats sitting around doing nothing, laying around like an upset sack of potatoes."
Chris chucked sarcastically, "I've done plenty the past 12 years. I just want to start a normal life. Go golfing, drive to Las Vegas, get pissed drunk, waste all my money at the Casino, and do it all over again… I want to sight see, travel for entertainment not for work. I want to-"
"Start a family?" Dr. Dole interrupted. The room was silent for a moment as Chris closed his eyes… remembering…
"Yes…" He breathed out, "I want to do all those things without worrying that an attack is going to happen… without pulling out my gun because a stranger brushed against me." He started walking towards his jacket hanging by the door. He turned to Dr. Dole, tears in his eyes, "I want to sleep…it's been years since I've had a good night sleep… there night terrors, they get worse and worse… and any little sound wakes me up…"
Dr. Dole ripped out a sheet of paper from his prescription pad, got up, and started walking towards Chris, "Please Mr. Redfield…' he begged extending his arm when he was close enough. "Take the prescription."
After a moment of hesitation, Chris snatched the sheet from Dr. Dole's hand, and stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
-
"Claire Redfield? You're just a Raccoon City survivor. A nobody sidekick to the real heroes."
"And you're just a low-life drunk from the local bar, but I'm not saying anything."
It's one thing to spend your whole life making sure the ones you love are safe, and okay. It's when they're ungrateful, and rude. That's when you lose your cool, but you'll never let them know how mad you are, or how you truly feel. You don't want them to know how weak you can be. You're just as strong, witty, and courageous as them… or you've convinced yourself that you are. Maybe you're scared, worried, and sad… maybe that was exactly how Claire Redfield felt.
"You're not going to work? What!?" Claire Redfield cried out, headphones in her ears. She pressed on the phone they were connected to reading the time. Chris should have been home by now.
"Yep. With this stupid arm injury I'm going to be out for about a month." A man on the other end said. Claire looked around her brother's bare and empty kitchen. He hasn't been shopping in ages. His fridge full of Chinese take-out, an old box of pizza, and lots of beer. His cabinets contained expired boxes of pasta, oatmeal, and sauces. The kitchen was such a sickly white color with a small table and chair in the corner. She looked over to his front door where many sticky notes stood, and walked closer to read them.
"Have you ever taken a day off of work?" she asked, looking over the notes. "Rent due… Meeting with Dr. Dole… July 1998… Claire comes Thursday 2 pm…"
"Not one day." the man replied with a chuckle. Claire's face fell with sadness as she turned away from the notes, walking towards the table.
"This should be the best month of your life!" She exclaimed, a smile forming. "Do you think you could make it Saturday? To Chris'? We leave Monday to New York… he's kind of moving in with me."
"Oh…" the man began. "It's that bad?"
"It's not horrible, but Dr. Dole suggested that maybe living with me would make him more comfortable, and help him to relax. Maybe help him remember better too." She answered, opening up her laptop as she sat down.
"Well I hope it does help him." the man said "I can't come Saturday, but maybe I can come Monday to New York? I would like to spend some time with Abby and Angela this weekend. It's been a long while since I've been able to stay home with them."
Claire's face fell again, "Oh yeah. I'm sure Abby would be happy her daddy gets to stay home for a bit." She answered emotionlessly. Her laptop turned on reveling a picture of four young adults. Chris, Claire, Jill Valentine, and…
"Leon!" someone called in the background of the call.
"Ah, Claire I'll call you back tomorrow. Angela is home." Claire bit her bottom lip.
"Yeah, that's fine Leon. Go be with your family." She said.
"I will… on Monday." She could hear the smile on his face.
"Bye Leon."
"Bye Claire."
-
"One of America's greatest heroes, and you couldn't even protect your best friend."
"I did the best I could… it was out of my control."
"Your best wasn't good enough ."
Being a hero makes you feel like you can save everyone. Fix any problem that comes your way. No one can stop you because you are the greatest of all time. You feel on top of the world, but sadly Leon Kennedy was knocked off the top years ago.
"Dad, what's the matter?" Three year old Abby Kennedy asked, her long strawberry blonde hair blowing all over the place. She stood in front of the fan in the living room staring at Leon. He pulled her close to him, placing her on his lap with his good arm.
"Everything is fine sweetie." He answered smiling. Her hazel eyes sparkled in the afternoon light.
"You were looking over there," she said, pointing towards the window straight ahead "but there's nothing over there."
Leon looked toward where she was pointing. He might have spaced out a bit. Tonight was his flight to New York, to see the Redfield's. He was very nervous of course. He hadn't seen Chris since Claire and him moved to Florida after the Antarctica incident, and Claire he hadn't seen since WilPharma 5 years ago where he also met Angela… wait that might have been partly a lie. He did see Claire after that…
"Mommy says you miss your friends, "Abby said, looking at her father's broken left arm. Leon rubbed the top of her head, combing her hair out her face.
"Yeah I do. I haven't seen them in a while." He answered still smiling. Their eyes locked.
"Will you miss us?" she asked. Leon tilted his head, taken back by his daughter's question, but before he could answer Angela Miller walked in.
"Abby dear, why don't you go show Daddy what you made him for his trip." She interrupted. Abby's face lit up as she hopped from her father's lap, running out the room.
Leon looked up at Angela, her face red, eyes puffy, and hair in a messy bun.
"I'm sorry" was all he muttered at the heartbreaking sight in front of him. He stood up, taking a step towards her. Angela stood a step back biting her lip.
"Leon if you get on that plane tonight…" she started. Leon sighed.
"Angela I have to do this. I have to see them, they need me." He begged. Angela let out a sour laugh as tears streamed down her face.
"And we don't need you? It's not fair, we barely get to see you as it is." Leon cut her off with a half. She stood in place, arms to her side, sobbing.
"One week and I'll be back to spend the rest of my time with you guys. I'll probably get some desk work even after my recovery, just to be safe. I won't have to leave the country for a long time."
Angela maneuvered her arms over Leon's and squeezed tightly, out of anger. Pain ran through Leon's broken arm as it was squished between him and Angela.
"If you get on that plane tonight you can never come back here." She whispered, rage in her hazel eyes. Leon's heart pounded, but was able to push her small figure away.
"Then box up all m things Angela." He answered bitterly. Angela's mouth fell opened, surprised at his response. She quickly turned and stormed out the room.
Leon sat down again, tears in his eyes. How did they get here… to this point?
"Daddy look!" Abby screamed, running into the room a minute later. "I made you this stuffed Bunny!" Leon quickly wiped his face, and looked over to his daughter who had had the bunny in her arms. It had the 'Build a Bear' tag and was dressed in a black t-shirt, with a brown leather jacket over it. Leon chuckled.
"I love it sweetie. He looks great." Leon grabbed it from her. Abby giggled.
"It's a girl daddy! You can name her." She said with a huge smile. Leon got down to Abby's height.
"Why don't I name her Abby?" he asked. Abby's eyes widen.
"That's a great name Daddy!"
Leon wrapped his arms tightly round her. Tears falling from his face.
"I love you baby girl." He whispered.
"I love you too." She whispered back. Leon couldn't stop the tears from falling.
-
"What is it with you Ms. Valentine? Chris says jump, and you'd ask 'how high?'"
"No I wouldn't… I'd ask if I can come down."
Rain taps against the glass of Jill Valentine's apartment windows. She could see the morning sun trying to peak through the grey skies. She stares out the window from her bed, listening to sound of the rain. It always helped calm her down, the sound of nature. It reminded her that like wasn't always about the evil. There was still good out there, beautiful, happy, funny good. She smiled lightly thinking about the good in people, the good in Chris Redfield. The bed stirred as she felt a rough, heavy hand on her side, but it was warm, loving, caressing her hip. She turned to face Chris who laid in bed with her.
His face was the face of an old warrior. A cut above his right eyebrow, a burn mark on his chin, creases on her forehead, and creases under his eye. His hair a lovely salt and pepper look. She put her hand on his face and traced a line from the side of his ocean blue eyes down to his lips, and he kissed it gently. She couldn't picture a morning more beautiful than the ones they share together. She loved him very much. With every ounce of her being.
"Why'd you jump?" He asked bluntly. Jill's face fell, confused.
"What do you mean?"
"You pushed him out the window. You pushed him and I thought you died." Chris screamed siting up in the bed. His torso was bare, and his muscles twitched with anger. Jill sat up too, putting her arms on him.
"Chris please! Calm down! I tried to protect you! I tried to end it!" She said. Chris pushed her hands off of him. A little too hard though, and she fell back off the bed on her side. Her chocolate brown hair fell over her face.
"All you did was worry me. Made me want to kill myself." He said standing up and walking over to her. Jill sat up, and looked up at him. 6 foot, veins pulsing, and his eyes turned a dark grey.
"Chris please…" she begged "I'm sorry."
"You should have just killed me." He whispered getting down to his knees. He grabbed the back of her head, and pulled her close to his face. Jill began crying.
"You're hurting me." She cried out.
"You should have killed me."
BANG
Chris and Jill locked eyes. Jill continued sobbing, and watched as Chris fell back, a pool of blood forming beneath him. Jill scream, crawling backwards until she banged into the nightstand. She looked down to her hands where she held a gun, and was covered in blood.
"Jill…"
Jill looked up, her heart pounding so hard she couldn't breathe. Chris was still down, coughing up blood.
"Jill…"
She began screaming even more and more until everything went black… then, in what seemed like a second, everything was bright.
"Jill?" someone called out. It wasn't Chris' voice… "Take is easy, don't push yourself…
Jill looked around until the brightness faded out, reveling her location. A completely white room… a lab actually, and next to her was a man dressed in a white lab coat, gloves, and a mask. She opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out. She went to move her body, but felt numb. Her face grew scared.
"Relax Ms. Valentine! I'm not here to hurt you! It's me! Roberts!" The man said, quickly removing his mask. "It's Frank Roberts!"
Jill stared at him still frighten. She was breathing hard now, as Frank quickly reached into his lab coat and took out an ID Card.
Frank Roberts… BSAA
"I'm a friend of Chris Redfield's." He began. Jill's eyes lit up.
"Chri-ssssh?" she mumbled.
"Yes! Chris! He wanted me to take care of you after the incident." Frank said with a smile.
"In-se-dan?" Jill mumbled again.
Frank nodded.
"Yes, I'm sorry Jill, but no more questions. You just came out of a month long coma, and we need you to be calm before we can explain everything, okay?" He said, adjusting the blanket over Jill. She tried to look down, but couldn't even do that.
"Numb." She mumbled. Frank frowned.
"We really needed you to be calm… sorry." He answered. Jill's breathing became heavy again, as tears streamed down her face.
"See… Chrissssh'?" She asked. Frank was almost out the door, but turned to smile at Jill again.
"Soon Jill, Soon."