I really wanted to write a new story but kept being stumped for a story idea. I finally came up with this. I'm not entirely sure how it turned out but I hope everyone here likes it!! Feedback is greatly appreciated =]
Imagine if when Sheva and Chris were fighting Jill their actions had a different outcome which affected the lives of everyone in the Kijuju mission.
One Day at a Time: Chapter One
His eyes glanced through the paper work scattered over his desk. The sound of pouring rain echoed through the cold draft that filled the small one-bedroom apartment. All he felt was cold and emptiness. Suddenly he heard the jingling of keys as she unlocked the front door. His distant cold demeanor instantly changed to a complete polar opposite as he greeted his loved one home.
Chris rushed over to Jill. He kissed her on the cheek. She giggled as she noticed his exuberant happiness that filled him so much. The both walked side-by-side into the sitting area. "Its so bright in here," Jill said deflecting the sunlight with her hand as she closed the drapes.
Chris somewhat stunned. "Was… wasn't it raining out?" He asked her quietly.
Jill smiled slightly as she leaned her head down smelling the lilies on the nightstand near the bed. She brushed her hair behind her ear as she turned to him. "No… it hasn't been. Its suppose to be raining later tonight though," she commented.
Chris stared at her blankly. He noticed her vagueness. Anger seem to protrude despite the painted smile on her face. "What's wrong honey?" He asked caressing her hands as he approached her.
She smiled as she raised her head and gazed into his eyes. A sensation of warmth and comfort furnished inside Chris. "Everything is fine," she answered gracefully batting her eyelashes. "Do you remember?" Jill asked nonchalantly. Chris stepped back and questioning her. "Nothing," she said hostilely as she marched into the bathroom shutting the door.
Chris scratched his head as he sat back down at the desk. All the paper work was suddenly arranged in a neat pile. He paused for a moment trying to collect himself and come to a realization. He took notice to a photograph at the edge of the desk. Chris with his arm around Jill. Beside them Sheva Alomar and her mentor Josh Stone as they arrived back from their mission in Kijuju.
His gaze broke, the latch from the bathroom door distracting him. "Jill, please. Talk to me." Chris pleaded as she paraded herself past him.
She opened her closet. An assortment of colors and outfits poured our of the overcrowded closet. She grabbed a hanger. "How can't you remember Chris," she said raising her voice. She shook her head and continued back to the bathroom.
Chris followed her. Jill pushed the dress dangling from the hanger against her, modeling in front of the floor length mirror. "Remember… remember what," Chris persisted as he walked beside her.
He stood shocked as his stomach fell to the floor as he looked into the mirror and noticed Jill wasn't there at all. "Do you remember what you did to me now?" She asked turning and facing him. Chris extended his arm. His armed slipped right through her. He ran out to the hallway. He turned to see an empty bathroom. He ran through the apartment frantic. The closet was suddenly empty with naked hangers swinging from the passing air. He grabbed the photograph on the desk. He slammed the frame down cracking the glass realizing Jill wasn't in it.
"Do you remember what you did," he heard again. The words kept repeating over and over. He grabbed his head as thoughts of Jill flashed through his head. He then remembered.
He heard Sheva screaming at him. "Don't shoot! You're going to kill her," Sheva shouted at Chris as he fired his weapon. He didn't want to hurt Jill. He was so persistent to remove that device from her chest. He felt so guilty and so enraged with himself. He needed to save her. He fired the weapon again. As soon as he pulled the trigger he knew what he had done. A sudden feeling of relief and pain rushed through his body. He saw the blood gush from Jill's chest as she fell to the ground. She extended her arm as if she was pleading with Chris. Despair filled her eyes as life was taken from her.
A tear ran down Chris' face as he awoke from his dream. He realized that his one true love… his partner died by his own hands. His own bullet. The walls and floors crumbled from his home. The roof blew off as the rain came pouring down. The rain stopped. An umbrella covered him. He looked down the metal rode and saw hands. Black gloves covered. He looked up. She smiled trying to reassure him. "I'm so sorry, Chris…" Her voice was soft and sympathetic. "Chris…" She repeated.
"Sheva…" Chris said. He looked down at the tombstone.
"Our partner. Our Friend. Our Hero. Jill Valentine. 1974-2009"
"What… she… she… she's really gone," Chris stuttered.
Tears filled Sheva's eyes. "She's still here. Inside", she said as she pressed her fingers against Chris indicating that Jill will always be in his heart.
Chris arrived home. Pouring rain outside. He sat himself in front of the desk. The picture at the edge. An absent Jill Valentine. Hangers clanked against each other. The sound of keys jiggling ran through his head. He kept rushing to the door to never see it open. He stood in the hall. He glared at the door. He pressed his back against the wall and crumbled as he fell to the floor. His face wrinkled as he cried out. He buried his face into his legs.
He opened his eyes. Dark inside. Rain against the windowsill mimicked through the apartment. He wiped the dry tears from his face. "I must've fallen asleep," he thought to himself. He looked at his watch. He tapped the glass with his fingers. The time has stopped. He grabbed onto the wall and pushed himself up.
"Chris," a woman said from the other room. He looked stunned in that direction. "In here," the woman called again.
Chris walked slowly through the dark hallway and turned the corner. There she sat at the edge of the bed. He looked up and down as a tear fell from his face. His face showed mixed emotion of happiness, hopefulness, confusion, fright. "Jill," he spoke as the woman glared at him.