Thursday mornings meant two key things for me; the school week wasn't even over and my mom was missing as always. For as long as I could remember my mom would simply disappear for long periods at a time. She always blamed it on her work. But of course, being a part of the "famed" Umbrella Company meant living a secret double life her own daughter couldn't know of. It seemed like everybody in Raccoon City was brainwashed into the company's lies, except me. They were evil and couldn't be trusted. But after they saved us from the horrid city-wide economic crisis just a few years ago, it was as if they were our "saviors". Sometimes it hurt. My dad took off before I was born, and my own mother chose work over a child. I practically raised myself. Sure, the money was great, the mysterious all paid trips were great, but having a close relationship with my mother would be even greater. All dressed and somewhat prepared for the day ahead, I made my way down the wooden Victorian-style spiral staircase from my bedroom down to the first floor. I picked up my bag off of the kitchen counter, a small pink sticky note catching my eye from the refrigerator. Dear Shiloh, Gone for a few days... Go to and from school, no stops in between. Lock the doors, close the blinds, DO NOT let anyone inside. . Love, Mom XOXO Well that sounded reassuring... Raccoon City was small, cozy, propaganda free. But lately you couldn't help but be taken back by the rumors. It all started with the incident at the Spencer Mansion which little information was released about. It broke my heart to hear it had been burned to the ground just a few days earlier. I spent much of my childhood there since my mother, and apparently my father had been good friends with the head of the manor. Something really bad must have happened there, it was too great of an explosion to be by accident. Just another incident attempted to be covered up by Umbrella. Ever since the rumors spread and grew in detail. Many spoke of cannibalistic monsters prowling by the wreckage of the manor in the mountains. More and more hikers and search parties went missing each day, if they were found all that remained were half eaten corpses. Some blamed rabid wolves of bears, others believed it was far worse. I pressed my hand against the doorknob, hesitant of opening it. With all these events back to back I couldn't believe I was even expected to go to school. Whatever this all was, it couldn't be too bad seeming my mom hasn't shipped me off with her. Finally making my mind up, refusing to live in fear, I opened the door, closing and locking it behind me. The warm bright sun hit my crystal blue eyes as I quickly made my way down the street towards the large brick school building. First bell, the start to a shitty day... By mid third period all the teachers started going from classroom to classroom whispering to each other. Moments later two tall men dressed in black made their way into the classroom. "Shiloh Waterson, you need to come with us." Eyes wide I cautiously stood up, doing as the men said to. As I walked closer to them I noticed the iconic Umbrella Corporation logo stitched onto their suits. The simple sight of it made me snort, a sarcastic smirk forming on my face. As we left the building I muttered out, "Oh lovely, Umbrella's here to save me, woo-hoo!" As always, no response. So I spoke again, "Where are you taking me, what's going on." After a few moments, clearly spent trying to think of a response that wouldn't expose the truth, I finally received a response, "We have orders from your mother to bring you home, there's been an incident. You are to go inside of your house, lock the doors, close the blinds, and DO NOT answer the door no matter who it is. You are to then await a phone call from your mother with farther instructions. Do you understand?" "But what's--" "Do. You. Understand?" "Sure..." I stepped out from the large black vehicle, purposely slamming the car door as hard as I possibly could. Walking forward to the front door, I kept looking back behind me noticing the two men were staring me down like hawks. How creepy. After inside and the door locked, they sped off into the distance. In all honesty, I was pretty freaked out. So freaked out I actually listened to those two jerks and closed all the blinds. I plopped my body down on the living room couch with remote in hand. I started flipping through the channels on the tv, hoping watching something would calm me down a bit. --This just in Raccoon City news, this could clear things up. I turned the volume up trying to make out what the reporter was saying. Reports of flesh eating monsters wreaking chaos on the streets of Raccoon City -- Here we are live down town The screen switched to a male reporter surrounded by screaming civilians I couldn't help but laugh at how fake it all looked. Within a few moments the reporter started screaming , a half burnt alive mutant looking woman appeared biting into his shoulder . The screen went black and I couldn't help but burst out laughing. They really think I'm going to believe this! I shut the tv off , sitting in silence awaiting the phone call from my mother . But soon the silence was broken by a bone chilling scream from just outside the house .