Chapter 1 – Reminiscence
Part 1
Everything that surrounds her seems perfectly harmonious. A placid, blue sky above her soothes her mind. Trees and the sound of the chirping birds made her feel like she's in deep tranquility. The entire burden in her heart vanished. No more horrible nightmares she once encountered. No more darkness that frightens her. No more pain and suffering that kept haunting her.
Fiona Belli was no longer feeling in danger anymore.
She comfortably sits in a wooden bench, taking a nap for almost a minute. She wanted to rest her head a bit, after all the days she spent studying hardly when she continues her education in a prestigious American university. The exams are rough and tricky, yet she managed to answer all the each complicated test papers. She made some friends in the university like an average student, but she couldn't join them in social parties because she's not used to being in the middle of the crowd, also for the reason the her custodian always reminds her not to wander too far away, and not to trust strangers too lightly. Her custodian may be strict at times, but she's just showing her concern and deliberately cares for her safety. And so, here she was, in a peaceful park, waiting for someone.
"ARF! ARF!"
A familiar bark can be heard nearby, which was later added by a girl's giggle. Still sitting in the bench, Fiona saw her canine companion chasing playfully after her new friend. She watched happily as the girl and her dog run passed her, hearing her say, "Catch me if you can, Hewie!" Fiona's smile widened.
'It's a good thing the Sherry and Hewie became friends' She thought to herself.
WHOOOOSHH...
Suddenly, a strange wind gently blows onto Fiona. For some reason, she felt unease. She looked over her shoulder.
...
Fiona made a surprise expression when her cerulean eyes unintentionally glanced at the figure of the man who was standing from a very distant position. Fiona frowned a bit and she has no idea he was standing there without even moving. He was staring at her like for eternity, which made her feel nervous, for she's not familiar with this man. The wind kept blowing; leaves of trees are clamoring on one another, although even from afar, she could clearly see the man's long pitch-black cloak which was very contrast to the fresh green grass he was stepping on. Unexpectedly, he lifts up his right hand, as if he was offering her to come with him. Fiona's heart beats frantically in her chest.
'Who are you ..?'
"Hey, Fiona! You're coming with us?"
A girl's voice interrupted. Fiona hastily turned her head behind her, seeing her South American friend grinning at her. Her serene blue eyes cheerfully looked at Fiona, saying, "We're going to have some burgers "
And yet, Fiona turned her head once again to see if the man's still there.
Surprisingly, he disappeared, and was nowhere to be found...
"Fiona, are you alright?"The girl asked worriedly, noticing how Fiona looked uneasy.
"Um..." Fiona nodded lightly, "Yes, I'm fine I'm just imagining things." She shook her head, trying to forget what she saw before. Her fear was placed with relief; somehow her brunette friend's pigtails look admirable on her.
"Well, come on. Ms. Gomez is going to be here any minute." The brunette girl grabbed Fiona's hand' both of them ran through the stepping stones until they reached their destination. . A car parked beside an oak tree. A woman around mid-thirties comes out of the car and looked around. Spotting the two of them, she waved her hand. As the two came closer, the woman greets them.
"Hello, girls. Where are Sherry and Hewie?"
But just as Fiona was about to answer, the girl and her companion appeared. Fiona smiled.
"You two are just in time..." She said. The dog came near to Fiona, and she rubbed its head.
"Time to go, then." Ms. Gomez invited them to ride into her vehicle, "The burgers are waiting for us in this new restaurant. We'd better get hurry."
Whilst in deep thought, Fiona was looking out of the windshield of Ms. Gomez's sedan car. All that she can see outside is just normal. Tall buildings, elegant boutiques, passing civilians and so on. They were in the middle of the slight traffic and some automobile horns are honking by some impatient drivers, probably because they're late in their work or some sort. The music in Ms. Gomez's radio sound romantic, somehow the lyrics calm her up. The air freshener's scent has an agreeable, sweet that made her nostrils in pure heaven. As she examined the whole areas of the car, she decided to examine everyone. She was sitting on the backseat with Hewie, who was sticking his tongue out while looking brightly outside the window with Manuela, who was busy singing along with the radio. Her voice was so calm and gentle, which is why she is suitable to study the art of Music in collage. Sherry, on the other hand, was sitting on front with Ms. Gomez, who was on the drive seat.
In the meantime, Fiona solemnly recalls about her past…
It is precisely a long story. In the beginning, when she still lives in Italy with her parents, she was having a normal life, exactly how she lives in present. She couldn't forget those memorable days in the loving arms of her parents, and she always thought that she was the happiest person living on earth.
But everything changed when tragedy came. The traumatic car accident that she barely forgets that causes her father and mother met a bloody fate. And when she woke up, she found herself in the Belli Castle, lost and confused. Then, she met lots of strange residents including the deformed gardener, the monotonous housemaid and the self-proclaimed keeper of the castle. They're all deadly and wanted to get something from her, apart from Debilitas, who only seemed to realize what he had done was wrong. The main reason why she was in the castle is because of one thing that lives inside her: the Azoth.
It almost took away her life because of what Riccardo called it "gift."
Riccardo… She cursed him for murdering her parents and for ruining her life. She wanted to avenge the death of her parents, yet she has no power against the obsessive stalker.
Thankfully, she met Hewie. After she freed him, the white German Sheppard became loyal and obedient to her, accompanying and helping her with all his might.
Abruptly, an unfamiliar outsider unwittingly trespassed inside the Belli Castle. While thinking ways to escape, she and Hewie crossed paths with an American scientist name Dexter Whitlam. She remembered how relieved he was when he found her.
"Oh, thank God I found a human… " She heard him panting, "I… I need help… " Then she replied compassionately, "Where did you come from? How did you get here?"
"I was… I was looking for my elderly scientist, Dr. Isaacs. He went missing when we parted ways. I need to find him immediately!" The he blurted out all sorts of how he nearly died in booby traps around the castle. That's how she expressed when she first got here.
"I was a former employee in Umbrella Corporation." She heard him say while both of them finding a way out, "I worked there as a researcher… A scientist… I have learned the most powerful things of all; the mutagenic viruses like the T-Virus and my precious G-Virus would make my world complete. Since Dr. William Birkin had died, the remaining G- Virus belongs to me now… and so as the T-Virus …"
Although Fiona had no idea what he was talking about, she was familiar with the Umbrella Corporation. He showed her capsules which contained samples of the viruses. "But …there is something I wanted to look for…" He added, "Dr. Isaacs led me here in Belli Castle. He mentioned me his secret discovery." Fiona frowned at him, "What is it?"
"The existence of Azoth …" He said, looking at her directly. "I came here to search for such essence of life. I used to become powerful once, when I injected myself with the G-Virus and killed those bullying bastards when I was a kid. They tortured me and the deserved to die .But if EVER that someone WRONGED me again, I can use the Azoth to make me more invincible. A great combination of the viruses and the Azoth…..Oh… It would be PERFECT!" Fiona's spine tingles that day when he spoke those words. He was vengeful and power-hungry. And if he wants the Azoth so much, that means would be in trouble, if ever he learned about her secret; the secret of being the Azoth carrier.
She kept silent as she possible as they were still together, yet one time he asked about how well she knew about the castle and the whereabouts of Aurelous Belli. She never said anything.
Then, things became disturbing when Daniella appeared and tried to attack them. Because of this, they separated. It seems that Daniella's "creator" does not take outsiders lightly, same goes with Riccardo and Debilitas.
Then, came along with another outsider. That time Fiona hardly trusts another stranger, so she runs away and hid with Hewie. But it seems that the man able to track them down and caught them. Fiona still remembers his words when they met. "Hey, take it easy!" The American tried to calm her down when she struggled. "Hewie!" Fiona cried, yet Hewie wasn't doing anything against the man, much to her bewilderment. As if the Alsatian knew this man before. "Calm down I'm not going to hurt you." The American added, "I'm gonna let you go, but you have to promise me not to run away from me again " The young woman looked at him, feeling tense. She nodded and the man smiled.
"My name's Leon… Leon S. Kennedy... What's yours?"
"Fiona… " She answered timidly, "Fiona Belli…"
Then the three of them formed an alliance. He further explained why he was in Belli Castle, "I came here on a mission to find the former Umbrella scientists. Their names are Dexter Whitlam and Dr. Matthew Isaacs."
"Why are you trying to find them?" Fiona asked.
"They had "something"…And they fled here to Italy for unknown reasons…"
"You mean the viruses ?"
When Fiona said that, Leon looked at her firmly, "How did you know that?"
"I met one of them. Dexter Whitlam was with me before… "
Leon came closer to her," He showed you the viruses? Where's he now?"
"I don't know… We've got separated when 'someone' attacked us… "
Leon put his hands on her shoulder. "Those viruses almost destroyed our world years ago… killed millions of innocent people… I need to take those viruses away from those scientists because they might take advantage to its power…"
Fiona silently listened.
"I must find them, Fiona and since you know a thing or two about this place will you help me?"
They both stared at each other directly in the eyes, before Fiona gave an answer…
"Okay… "
Part 2
In a newly opened restaurant, Fiona finds herself sitting in a comfy chair whilst in front of her was a decorated table. Beside her were Hewie and Manuela, front of her were Sherry and Ms. Gomez. All of them were waiting for their orders and Ms. Gomez wanted to share them the unique burgers of the restaurant. Minutes later, a waiter came and placed their food on the table, giving them a warm smile of gratitude, "Enjoy your meal, madams."
Ms. Gomez nodded and thanked the waited. She glanced at the girls, "Food is the first step for peaceful resolutions. Well, girls, what do you think?"
Sherry first had to taste her burger, she shrugged. "It's good."
"Delicious… "Manuela did the same.
"You know what's cool about these burgers? The patties are only made up of tofu! No beef and pork!" Ms. Gomez said cheerfully, much to the girls' amazement. Fiona felt relief after hearing the ingredients of the burgers. Truth to be told, she doesn't like to eat meat for the fact that she's a vegetarian. Hewie sniffed at his patty which was on the plate. Fiona spotted knife and fork to cut his food. "Here you go, Hewie…" She picked up a patty with her fingers and feed it to Hewie. The German Sheppard seems to like it. Manuela and Sherry giggled as they appreciate Hewie's cuteness. "You're one lucky dog, Hewie. You're the first dog to be able to taste the nutritious patty and to eat here inside the restaurant." Ms. Gomez said, laughing lightly.
"Thanks for the burgers, Ms. Gomez..."
"Nah, it's nothing girls. Besides, we're all family. You're all look like daughters to me." The custodian said, as she was driving. Ms. Gomez wanted to take them home.
All of their custodians were very caring and protective whenever they go. Speaking of these traits, Leon used to be like this when Fiona and he are together back in the Belli Castle. She lay her head on her seat, reminiscing about the government agent.
"Stay close to me… " Leon said to her as he held her hand. "This castle is really dangerous. We never know what's on our way." That night, Fiona couldn't help how uncomfortable it felt when he held her like this. It was the same as Riccardo did before so many times. The alchemist wanted to show her how pleasurable it is to hold her soft hand, much to Fiona's disgust. There are times that she could think that Riccardo has an obscene mind, changing her clothes while she's in deep sleep, stroking her face frequently. This made her a bit traumatized towards men.
Yet, Leon seems trustworthy, thanks to Hewie. Then another incident happened which made them separated, leaving Fiona and Hewie alone.
Another outsider appeared afterwards.
This man was also a mercenary just like Leon, but their personalities are perverse. He never said a word to Fiona; just staring at her with cruelty in his eyes, chasing her and Hewie barbarically with dagger in his hand, attempting to kill her. One time the man namely Jack Krauser cornered her in the Water Tower, she earned courage to spoke, "Why are you trying to kill me? What did I ever do to you?"
Krauser only made a menacing chuckle in spite of all the things he had done,
"You woman…. You had it all along didn't you?"
"What…. What are you talking about?" She asked frightfully whilst Hewie growling at Krauser.
"I couldn't find this Aurelous Belli who knows where the remedy is… Instead, I found you..."
Fiona's body shaken in fear.
"The Azoth was within you... I learned it in the alchemist's notes that the essence of life was 'in fact' within your womb..."
Krauser spin his dagger, pouring out a dreadful smile on his scarred face. "I'm going to cut you off to get that 'Azoth' out of you to give it to the man who has the right to be a god… "
Battle started when Hewie attacked Krauser, while Fiona helped out by using her chemical weapons including her Antimony and Magnesia. But when his patience grows thin, Krauser's left arm transformed monstrously, which made him more powerful. Fiona and Hewie was no match for him, but Leon was just in time to appear.
"Heard you were still alive, Krauser. Whitlam confirmed it..." Leon said firmly, holding his weapon.
"Hah! I don't give the damn about the scientists anymore... Nor the viruses..."
Leon stared dangerously at Krauser, "Then what the hell do you want from Fiona?"
Krauser sneered at Fiona with a malicious grin, "That's my little secret, comrade… "
Leon could feel that his anger pulsing through him. "I've said once, I'll say it again… You've completely lost it, Krauser …"
Krauser swiftly attacked Leon with his spiked arm, yet the government agent evades it. He yelled, "Run, Fiona!"
The maiden fearfully said, "But you..."
"JUST RUN!"
And so she did. She and Hewie had no choice but to follow his advice. They ran, but Fiona had a second thought. Krauser stabbed Leon's arm and was about to kill him, that is when Fiona ordered Hewie to attack Krauser , and Leon chose a perfect time to thrust him on the knees, causing the evil mercenary to fall off the tower.
Fiona helped Leon with empathy.
"Oh, God...You're terribly bleeding."
"It's alright..." Leon said, still smiling despite of the painful wounds that Krauser afflicted to him While Fiona tends to heal his wounds, she couldn't help but to brought tears in her eyes. Leon noticed it, worriedly asked, "Hey what's wrong?"
"I'm sorry...It's just that you almost died because of me… "
Fiona sobbed. Leon wiped her tears... "Listen to me. It's not your fault I'm willing to save your life so don't blame yourself. Besides, you saved my life, not only once, but twice..." He placed his gloved hands onto her heart-shaped face, making her looked straight to his eyes. "And I'd like to thank you for that..."
She will never forget that memory. Leon's smile is one of the best memories she had. He's like Seraphim, a guardian angel who has a burning desire to protect the innocent. Finally, when they came to the House of Truth, they encountered Dr. Whitlam, who looked petrified. Fiona was first to approach him, "Dr. Whitlam, are you alright?" However, the scientist didn't respond. Leon came near to him, "Dexter, you have to come with us…Where are the viruses?"
Still, no respond. He seemed paralyzed with ma mixture of fear, shock and horror. When Leon was about to ask him again, someone appeared from afar whom Fiona knew far too well.
"Ah, so there you are, Fiona I've been looking all over for you and there you are, getting along with a meddlesome and insolent agent."
She took step back. Leon pointed his gun at the alchemist whilst Hewie bent his knees, growling ferociously at Riccardo.
"First Krauser and now you! What the hell do you want from her?" Leon asked angrily, yet Riccardo ignored him, continuously talking to Fiona, "There, there, Fiona… Krauser caused you much trouble, hasn't he?"
The government agent puts down his gun, "So… he works for you huh?"
"Ah, yes, but only for a little while… "Riccardo said simply, "You see, we had this...formal agreement to make acquaintance with him yet it seems that Mr. Krauser already works for someone else without my knowledge. So I have decided to extract the Azoth back that latent within him… "
Leon only frowned for he doesn't know what the 'Azoth' he was talking about.
Riccardo then caught something in his pocket, "On the other hand, I'd like to thank you, Dr. Whitlam for sharing these gifts to me… "
It was clear that Riccardo was holding capsules containing the samples of T-Virus and G-Virus.
The scientist hesitated," I never gave that to you… You stole it away from me…" He said, somewhat shaking in fear.
All of the sudden, walls popped out from the earthly ground, dividing the room into two; Leon was left with Riccardo while on the other side was Fiona, Hewie and Dr. Whitlam.
Fiona remembered how Dr. Whitlam felt hopelessness when he was trapped in the House of Truth with her.
"It's over He got everything… The samples were on his hands now Isaacs died and I'm going to die!" Then the decent into madness of the scientist happened. He became deranged after knowing that the most potent Azoth was within her womb.
"Why didn't you tell me about it, Fiona?" He grinned like a smile of a Jester.
"You had the Azoth... Why... WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?"
Fiona was aghast to see Whitlam held a mercury dagger, willingly…wanted to stab her, "I came here all the way with that old hag just to find the Azoth and what did I get? NOTHING! "
Fiona avoided him, as Hewie guarding her, "Doctor… Please calm down …"
The scientist dangerously approaching her with a sly grin, "No matter… No matter …The viruses will have to wait until I get what's within you womb… your blood Fiona...I WANT YOU!"
The woman gasped as the scientist lifted up his arm to attack her with his dagger.
"NO!"
"Fiona!"
Manuela's voice interrupted her reminiscences. Fiona found herself in the backseat of Ms. Gomez's car again. She realized that she was having a flashback for almost an hour.
"Fiona, are you alright? You've been quiet for the rest of the trip…" Her Hispanic friend said worriedly.
Fiona was trying to find an answer to respond… "I… I'm sorry It's just that I'm having a flashback… "
"Were you having nightmares again?" Ms. Gomez asked from the front seat.
"Uhm, no, Ms. Gomez …" Fiona replied, trying to assure to the custodian that she's fine. "My head's just pounding that's all… "
"Does Ms. Pibbleton know about this?" Asked the custodian again.
"Yes, she knows…"
"Well, don't worry, dear…We're almost there to you home You'd better tell about your headache again. You know, she can be forgetful at times.
Fiona only nodded in response. She felt dumbness for realizing that she's been observed by the rest of everyone for her long, complete silence. No wonder Ms. Gomez will inform to her custodian about her state of being absent-minded...