Here is Chapter 2. I'll probably be updating the chapters rather quickly because I've gotten beyond chapter 5 written already. Therefore, you might not see a response to your review (if any) until later. Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own any rights to Resident Evil 4 (obviously), and all characters and events (which I may reference) of Resident Evil 4 or any other Resident Evil are copyright Capcom®.
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Chapter 2
2:24pm Dec. 11, 2004
Ashley Graham stood in the middle of her bedroom at the White House, scanning overturned piles of clothing, magazines, papers, and various other items. She put a hand to her forehead and let out a long breath. It had been 11:35 am when she'd started looking. It was now 2:24 pm.
"Need some help in there?"
Ashley spun around, meeting the friendly gaze of Clark Kensington, her bodyguard. He stood halfway visible from where she stood, peeking tentatively into her room.
"No thanks Clark, I've got it," she replied with an amiable smile, and watched him disappear from sight. She sighed. She didn't see the point of having her bodyguard stick around while she was in the White House. There was enough security in there to detect a mosquito. Not that she would mind so much if it were Leon, but…
She smiled to herself, and then frowned. They'd been separated so fast when they'd returned that she didn't even have the chance to say goodbye. She didn't even know if she'd ever see him again, since her subtle questions to her parents and some of the staff had either been ignored or unnoticed.
She shook her head and returned to the task at hand. She resumed digging through piles of clothing, the boxes under her bed, her dresser drawers, and her wardrobe- on top of which a small army of stuffed animals stared at her mockingly with sightless button eyes.
"What are you looking at?" She growled at them.
There was a soft knock on her door frame. "Honey, are you all packed up yet?"
"Almost, mom," Ashley replied without turning. She could hear her mother's shoes slide across the hardwood floor as she turned to go. Ashley turned around suddenly. "Hey- wait, Mom?"
Mrs. Graham stopped and turned, blinking her brown eyes.
"Have you seen my brown and tan sweater?" Ashley asked hopefully.
"Do you mean the one you were wearing when…" Her mother trailed off.
Ashley nodded, a little irritated that her mom still tried very hard not to mention anything to do with her kidnapping around her. "Yes, that one."
"Oh, honey, I think it got thrown away. It was so ratty after you came back."
"Mom!" Ashley exclaimed, "That was my favorite sweater!" She tried not to sound as horrified as she felt.
"Ashley, you have plenty of other sweaters, besides, that one might have been a bit small by now."
Ashley's face twitched. "Are you saying I've gained weight?"
Mrs. Graham's eyes widened. "That's not… no!" She cried as she tried to keep from laughing. "I'll ask one of the maids if they've seen it, all right?"
"Yeah, ok Mom," Ashley smirked a little.
After her mother had gone, Ashley continued to dig through her piles, drawers, and wardrobe. She knew it couldn't have been washed; she hadn't worn it since she returned. At least, she hoped it hadn't been washed… Finally, she flopped down on her bed, exasperated. She closed her eyes and tried to remember what she had done with the sweater. She mentally walked herself through her room, recalling what had been where and whether she had missed anyth-
"AH!" Ashley flew from her bed and practically dove under it. She shoved shoe boxes and storage containers aside and reached back as far as she could without crawling under the queen-sized frame and mattress.
"Come on… where are you…?" She mumbled as her arm felt through the dust and junk under her bed. Eventually, her fingers found a dusty garment box and pulled it out. She ripped the cover off and tore through the tissue paper, barely able to contain her glee. At long last, she held the sweater tight in her arms and, casting a furtive glance at the (empty) doorway, lifted it to her nose. Amidst the smell of dirt, ocean, and smoke, there it was- the faint scent of aftershave.
"Mmm." She smiled and allowed herself a little giggle before she tucked the box back under her bed and the sweater into her suitcase.
To Be Continued...
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