Author's note: I'd like to thank the readers of my first chapter for their comments. Hope you'll enjoy this one. Chapter 1 – 3 was going to be about Fiona's memories of her journey with Leon and Hewie in Belli Castle. Also, her past life in the arms of her family.
Chapter 2: Downfall
"So, why wouldn't you tell the reason why you're having flashback? Or tell us what flashback you were having?" Sherry asked inquisitively.
"Because it's too embarrassing to talk about." Fiona replied with a smile.
"No, it's not…" Manuela claimed, "You were thinking about your past, is it? Before your life here in custody…?"
Fiona's smile faltered a little and bowed her head, to take a glance at Hewie who was resting on her feet. The three of them were having fresh air on a balcony of Ms. Pibbleton's elegant house. The position of the house was in the middle of the beach, and since they were in the balcony, they could see the beautiful view of the mountains and the sea while gulls are gliding through the white clouds, either mating or catching fish.
"Past is past…I want to forget every single bad memory in my mind…But, I didn't know it would be difficult…" The blond woman strokes her canine's white fur as she spoke.
"You once told us about your experience in Italy…In…Belli Castle…?" Manuela said, her voice became low when she mentioned about the bizarre manor. Fiona could sense that her friend was trying to help her. She made a friendly smile.
"You were right, Manuela. I was thinking about it. Before I came here in America…Before I was rescued by the government and by Leon…I can't help but to recall my past…because it kept going back…"
Her two friends, Manuela and Sherry sat down beside her. Manuela held her hand whilst Sherry rested her head on her shoulder.
"You're not alone, Fiona. All of us experienced pain and suffering…All of us witnessed the tragic fate of our parents. But that doesn't mean it's the end of our lives…There are lots of people here wanted to help us…to love us…That's the reason why we still live…"
Manuela's words made Fiona's heart warm. She hasn't realized that there are tears falling down from her face. She smiled again but not wide this time, then looking at Manuela.
"Thank you, Manuela…" She couldn't think another word but to say 'thank you' to her friend, yet with these simple words, Manuela could feel how grateful her friend was.
She wanted to scream out loud for what she saw…
As Dr. Whitlam squeezed her face and held her neck tightly to stab her with the dagger, the sharp blade never came to her womb. The dagger, instead, fell down from the scientist's hand; his face froze in pain; and bloods streaming down from his mouth. Dr. Whitlam's eyes widened when he caught sight of a man's hand pierced through his chest. The scientist screamed, as his heart being pulled out, blood streaked down from his body, staining his white coat in scarlet red. Fiona screamed and backed away from the man who murdered Whitlam whilst Hewie barks angrily, guarding his owner.
The man kicked the scientist's lifeless body away from him, and Fiona heard him muttered, "Filth…" She somehow familiarizes the man's voice, though she thought that it doesn't make sense.
The shadow of the man is coming nearer and nearer…attempting to approach her, "Ahh…My dear Fiona…"
She couldn't see the man's face because he was standing in the dark area…
"Who…Who are you…?"
As the man stepped out from the dark, Fiona gasped in surprise, after seeing the man's face.
"…Daddy?"
The middle aged man only made a menacing chuckle as he continues to approach her. Her bare feet stepped back, over and over until her weak legs reached the ignite walls. Sensing that his owner was in trouble, Hewie bit the man's leg, yet the man felt no pain, and simply kicked the poor dog, flinging the animal away.
"No! Hewie!" She cried.
Fiona flinched back to the wall when he cornered her, slithering his hand to her soft face. "My dear holder of the Azoth…"
She shoves away his hand from her cheek, "What's going on? You're not my…"
He ignored what she was trying to say.
"Azoth is the essence of life…We alchemists have the ability to convert it into power! We can live forever!"
She couldn't believe her eyes that day she saw the very face of her very own father. Yet, it was not her father at all; it was none other than the true head of the Belli Castle and the great alchemist, Aurelous Lorenzo Belli. Then bizarre things happened; she witnessed how the middle aged man turned youthful magically.
He took a deep breath in satisfaction.
"Come to me, Fiona. I will now extract the Azoth latent within you…in order to realize the everlasting life of Aureolus Belli."
In flash, the huge door burst open, making the youthful alchemist looked back, but calmly. From the doorway, Fiona could see Leon standing there, aiming his gun at Lorenzo.
"Sorry to bother your sweet nothings to her, but she's coming with me…"
He blasts the gun several times at Lorenzo, the alchemist was hit in the chest and his left shoulder, making him fall to the ground. This gave Fiona the chance to escape from his clutches, and called her dog to come with her.
"Let's go!" Leon said, grabbing her hand and pulling her out of the room. The two of them, along with Hewie, have descended the steps and runs away as fast as they could.
"He will not die easily…" Fiona said as the move by rapid steps.
"I know…" The American replied, "Because of the Azoth, right?"
"How did you know?"
"It's a long story. I'll explain to you when we get outta here…"
"The door to the outside was locked. We need to find the key to unlock it."
"But where we could find it?"
"I don't know…" They stopped on their tracks."Maybe it's hidden somewhere here in the House of Truth."
"Great. Guess we have to look for it first. To tell ya the truth, I'm fed up with this place."
Fiona agreed. "Same to me…By the way, what happened to Riccardo?"
"He's dead…The crazy old guy injected himself with the viruses, turning him into a bulky monster…Luck came over when I had a weapon against him…" The government agent explained.
Silence fell over them. Fiona hated the man for murdering her parents, but that doesn't mean the death of Riccardo makes her happy. It's for his own good to be killed, to stop him for suffering her, either mentally or physically. The American rested his gloved hand on her should, and looked at her directly in her eyes with concern.
"You alright?" He asked.
Fiona only nodded in response, sadness plastered on her face. Abruptly, Leon stroke her soft blond hair, which she least expected from him. He gently put her head to his warm chest; letting her body nestle to his. She noticed that he's not wearing his jacket; maybe he had lost it. The embrace didn't feel intimidating to Fiona; she was never hugged by a man she barely knew. They only met in the castle, yet there's something about him that makes her trust him, but will this trust last long?
"Don't worry, Fiona…He's gone…We'll get outta here soon enough…" He said to her ear, telling her not to lose hope.
Fiona closed her eyes shut, hearing the beating heart of Leon. She wanted to prevent her tears to fall, so she pulled herself gently from him, turning back, "Let's…Let's find the key…"
She said, calling Hewie to come with her.
Leon just smiled as he watched the woman shyly walks away.
Moments Later…
With Hewie's help, Fiona managed to find the key from a small cave which was hidden behind a wall. Not wanting to waste time, the three of them went to the machine where the key fits. Minutes later, the main doors to the outside were unlocked. Leon noticed that in the middle of the room, there was a pit of lava.
"It's getting hot in here." He said. But as he held Fiona's hand…
"Your effort is for the naught…"
The three of them took sight of Lorenzo who suddenly appeared in front of them. His distance is too far away from them, but even with this, Fiona felt nervous for his eyes never wavering, looking straight at her.
"How long do you plan to keep this up?" Lorenzo asked disappointingly, not to Leon but to Fiona, as if he was scolding her.
Leon frowned, "How long do you plan to follow us?" He asked back in mockery.
Lorenzo closed his eyes and shook his head, and started to chortle.
Then gave a ferocious glare at Leon.
"When you die…" Slow but dangerous, he took steps to get near to them. Leon and Hewie guarded Fiona as they moved back.
The alchemist simply put his hands on his back, cocking his chin upwards while walking.
"I do not understand why do you keep stealing her away from me…Who are you to defy me? Go back from whence you came. She belongs to me!"
"SHE BELONGS TO NO ONE!" Leon snarled, "Can't you see, she hates it here!"
"The Belli Castle is her TRUE home. Fate has brought her here…to be with me…" The alchemist said in soothing voice. He glanced at Fiona who was hiding behind Leon. "Fiona…Why are you causing me so much grief?"
Fiona didn't say anything. She only tightened her clenched fists because of her hidden anger. He may be the one who have been giving messages to her, helping her to keep away from Riccardo as best as he could, yet all of these concerns was all a lie. Lorenzo did all those things so that he could claim her Azoth for himself. And now he wanted to finish off her friends for the fact that they would be bothersome to his plans. She wouldn't allow that to happen!
"Let's finish this, Fiona…"
In one flick of an eye, he vanished into thin air. Alarmed, Fiona and Leon looked around for his presence. Hewie started barking aimlessly. The alchemist became visible in front of Leon, kicking the gun away from him, and then strikes the American with his powerful hand; Leon flung away, with his arms closed to his face, dropped to the ground heavily. In seconds, Lorenzo was standing in front of him again. Leon rolled over to avoid Lorenzo's punch, the ignite ground crashed. Leon gets up quickly, with dagger in his hand; he swished his weapon to Lorenzo, yet he evaded it with an ease, disappearing in one place to another. Until he got Leon's both fists, preventing him to attack.
Lorenzo made an evil grin. He crushed Leon's left hand, twisting it cold-hardheartedly; he cruelly punched Leon's stomach making the impotent agent vomits too much blood from his mouth. The alchemist made his last attack when he spurns Leon hardly; the American flew and hit the concrete walls. His body fell to the ground; couldn't stand up for he feels fatal pain in his injuries; Hewie lunged at Lorenzo and gnaws his neck violently to avenge Leon, yet he seemed unaffected with the dog's bite and simply pulled the animal away from him, and hit the dog's head, but only for once, since his main target for now is the government agent. He came near to Leon who was moaning for his aching body. He felt no pity for him and he grabbed the American's neck in vice-like grip.
He chuckled, "This is what happens to those who interferes me…As I have said before, she belongs to me…And you are NOT going to take her away from me…"
"NO!"
A sudden blast of gun hit Lorenzo's back. Then came along with another. Lorenzo slowly turned to see the one who's been shooting him. His grin faded away when he saw Fiona using Leon's gun against him. Although she was shaking, he could see the burning hatred in her eyes. He let go of Leon's neck and malignantly approaching her.
"I've had ENOUGH of you!" Fiona yelled, still aiming the gun to him. She could no longer bear the alchemist's tormentingness.
"If you try to kill my friends again, I'll…I'll…"
Lorenzo laughed, "Are you threatening me, dear Fiona?"
She blasts the gun again, yet he was still walking, coming at her…
"Oh, Fiona…My angel…"
BANG!
"Do you really think you could kill me that easily?"
BANG!
BANG!
CLICK!
Fiona gasped. The gun has run out of bullets.
In a flash, Lorenzo was in front of her, pulling her arm hastily and her weak hand unwillingly let go of the weapon. He chuckled and put his hand to her chin, lifting her heart shaped face, forcing her to look at his eyes.
"It's over Fiona…Your Azoth belongs to me…Now let me extract it from you. And you shall live with me forever…" Their faces are only few inches apart. Lorenzo wanted to reach her lips to his, but during this minute, Fiona stealthily pulls out something hidden in her thigh. This was the last straw for her. Enraged, she thrust the Mercury dagger to his right ribs, which she stole from Whitlam earlier.
Lorenzo's eyes widened, feeling the blade absorbing the Azoth inside him. Weakened, he backed away from Fiona and she pushed him. He looked down at the dagger which was impaled into him; he let out a roar when he pulled the scarlet blade from his body. Then he glanced at Fiona, laughing in a low tone. The dagger fell from his hand, and after he heard the blade's clang onto the earthly ground, he could feel his entire body gradually getting fatigue. He covered the blood that oozes out from his ribs with his rough hand. He took steps backwards, still chuckling. He couldn't believe the fact that a mere, impotent woman like Fiona outwitted him. The Azoth within him is decreasing, taking his precious life out of him. His right foot slipped through, body outbalanced, the alchemist screamed as he fell into the inferno pit of lava.
Later on, everything started to shake. The House of Truth is starting to collapse. Quickly, he helped up the injured Leon. Hewie recovered a little from his wound and follows the two of them. Even with his aching body, Leon used all his might to run, with his arm rested on Fiona's shoulder. The three of them ran as fast as they could, evading the falling rocks from above the ceilings. They were almost there to reach the exit…until a loud, emitting voice echoed all over the hallway.
…."FIONAAAAAAAA!"
Leon and Fiona looked back, seeing the figure of the flaming Lorenzo chasing after them.
"Oh, Shit!" Leon cursed. "He's still ALIVE?"
"RUN!" The Azoth carrier pulled Leon's arm and they continued to run, faster this time. The glowing doors to the outside are several feet away from them. Fiona wanted to get out of here for so long and she doesn't want to let Lorenzo get in her way again. Few steps will only be needed to get to the doors, that is, when the flaming Lorenzo moved hastily in front of them, blocking their way. His skeletal body is blazing with immense fire.
"GET AWAY!" Leon yelled at him, shielding Fiona from the inimical pyro of the alchemist's body. Hewie only barked violently against Lorenzo but preventing to near to him.
Unfortunately for Lorenzo, his life is nearly going to perish. The hellish fire is destroying him. He uttered a prolonged, piercing cry, squirming his body in throe. While Leon was holding on her, Fiona could see Lorenzo's reluctance and agony when he's covered in ashes, and for goodness sake, the great Aurelous Belli met his death, causing him to turn into dust.
Fiona, Leon and Hewie silently witnessed the alchemist's downfall.
'This time….you really are dead…you bastard…' Fiona thought to herself.
Leon observed Fiona's expression. It is somewhat mixed with anguish and hatred. But she cut off the silence, hearing her say, "Let's go…"
And so, the three of them went out of the doors, meeting the light of the outside.
Agitation is still within Fiona. She holds the key to the main gates and tries to insert it to the keyhole, yet the tumultuous memories she spends in Belli Castle makes her hand move unstably, trying to open the gates in naught.
But this topped when a hand rested on hers. When she looked, the government agent gazed at her with his face softened. "Calm down…" She heard him say. Her canine companion beside her whimpered a little, tells her that everything's going to be alright.
Fiona made a content smile. Besides, there's no need to worry and panic about."Thanks, guys…"
She firmly turns the key, and the main gates were unlocked. Together, Leon and Fiona pushed the enormous doors widely, giving them a way out. Without warning, Hewie started to bark. The two persons looked back, seeing Debilitas came out of the castle doors from afar. Leon was alerted, but when he looked at Fiona, she seemed not frightened at all, showing no signs of timidity. She only stared back, and to Leon's surprise, the deformed gardener bows to her as an act of apology and respect.
"He will not cause us harm anymore…Let's just go…Come on, Hewie." Said Fiona.
They made one last look to the Belli Castle and to Debilitas, and left harmoniously.
As they were walking in a calm state on a concrete bridge, Leon, who was still laying his arm on Fiona's shoulder, starts to speak, "So…what're you gonna do now?"
"I want to go home…" The blond woman replied, "I wanted to see my parents' house once more and…and…"
She stopped. Leon knew it was coming. She bit her lip, wanting to control her tears from dropping. She looked away from the man; she doesn't like being watched by other people when she's crying.
"I…want to see them…" Her voice was shaking, soon placed with sobbing.
Realizing about her severe grief, Leon gently leaned on Fiona, giving her an affectionate embrace. Even with his injuries, he wanted to show her how he cherished her so much. He said, "It's okay, Fiona…The Government will come to pick us up…I'll ask them to find the bodies of your parents…"
Fiona sobbed harder, "Thank you…"
He rubbed her back, hushing her,"Shh….Shh-shhh…its okay, Fiona…Don't cry…"
"It's okay, Fiona…Don't cry…"
Her deepen sleep was interrupted when a familiar female voice whispered to her ear. She could fell that a hand of a woman caressing her head, like her mother used to do. She slowly opens her drowsy eyes, seeing a woman in blurry vision. She blinked stupidly, and sat up on her bed.
"Ms. Pibbleton!" Fiona said, startled.
"Were you having dreams again?" The woman asked.
"M-Me? No…" The young woman lied, "Why do you ask?"
"Because you were crying…"
Fiona widened her eyes. When she touched her face it was surprisingly wet. She could feel droplets of tears from her eyelids. No wonder her custodian caught her this time.
"Look at your pillowcase…It's drenched." Ms. Pibbleton joked, laughing a little.
Fiona's mouth dropped in embarrassment. "I'm terribly sorry, Ms. Pibbleton. I mean…This is…This is not originally my bed, it's yours and I-"
"It's okay…It's no big deal for me…Besides, this room belongs to you now. You live here…" The custodian said in motherly voice. Suddenly, Fiona's white canine appeared and hopped onto the bed. Hewie licked her soft hand which was so ticklish that made the blond woman giggled a bit. She patted her loyal companion.
The custodian smiled, "That German Sheppard was always there, waiting for you to wake up…"
Fiona giggled, "He's sweet…"
"I know…" Ms. Pibbleton begins to stroke Fiona's blond hair, then wiping her tears with her thumb. She looked at the young woman with full of concern. "Can you tell me what were you dreaming, Fiona?"
She knew she will ask her that question. From what she learned, Ms. Pibbleton is not only a government custodian, but also a professional psychiatrist. They've been through psychoanalysis and Fiona was convinced to put to therapy regularly for her treatment. This was due to her traumatic experience in her parents' accident and in Belli Castle. Also, to treat her androphobia, for the reason that she was deeply affected by Riccardo's sadism and his attemptability to sexually assault her.
Fiona changed the subject to prevent Ms. Pibbleton's question.
"I want to visit my parents…"
"Huh?" The older woman watched her gets up from the bed. "You're going to Green Rose Cemetery? When?"
"Right now…"
Author's notes: Ah, finished. Want to give ya some trivia guys? Dexter Whitlam or Dr. Whitlam from Chapter 1-2 was actually the character from a Resident Evil comic book (though I do not know what the title is). In the comics, he was a teenage student who was mercilessly bullied by his classmates. Then he discovered the G-virus and used it against the bullies. In the end, he was recruited as one of the employees of the Umbrella. In my imagination, he became a scientist or a researcher because he's intelligent in school. Too bad he was only killed by Lorenzo. X0
Ms. Pibbleton was my OC, though she's just a supporting character, also Dr. Isaacs.
