Old Pains
The chapel, a big roman inspired building, stands tall above all the madness and mayhem. Standing beautifully, supposing to be a symbol of the greater good within humanity, with no concern for the thousands dying beneath it.
If God existed, he surely had no care for another end of the world.
Chris and Daniel make their way to the front door of the chapel, being chased by zombies. Luckily for them, the way to the door is on a platform, preceded by some stairs. Zombies try to claw up to them, coming closer and closer.
Chris quickly shoots the lock on the door and bursts in, scanning the church hall.
Not a single soul.
Daniel follows Chris as they make their way inside and shut the door behind them.
'So, what do we do when the bell actually starts banging?' Daniel asks, catching his breath. 'How do we escape the zombies?'
'Wesker.' Chris answers.
The guy with superpowers... Daniel nods, reassured.
Chris looks around and sees a staircase in the corner, probably the way up to the tower. But something else draws his attention.
He walks the hall, prayer benches on both sides, towards an altar with a small statue of Jesus Christ hanging from his cross.
He stares at it.
Daniel looks at Chris from a distance, confused.
'We should hurry.' he says.
But Chris seems in a different place of mind.
'You okay?' Daniel asks Chris.
I... I know how you feel. Chris thinks, surprised at himself.
x
Claire is hiding behind an empty schoolbus. Next to her are the little girl and Wesker, with no zombies in their current proximity. Claire glances over at the chapel and sees the staircase to the door swarming with zombies.
'The entrance is overrun.' Claire says. She then looks at Wesker, who's holding the hand of the frightened girl.
Could he really have changed?
Claire stands up and, hesitantly, takes Wesker aside, whom irritatedly agrees.
'I say we try to find a way through the back.' Claire suggests.
'What about the infant?' Wesker throws back. 'I would rather leave her behind and head straight through the front, but, as I predicted, since you couldn't let this infant perish in it's destined fate, it's become our inconvenience.'
Claire shakes her head softly. 'I can't leave her behind.'
'Of course, Miss Redfield...' Wesker replies. 'But it will be you that suffers from it.'
Claire turns to the girl and crouches in front of her. The girl has only fear in her eyes, as she looks to a corpse next to the schoolbus. Claire follows her eyes and sees... another child, just about the same age, half-eaten.
No...
Claire turns the girl's head towards hers, hiding her own terror stirred by the young corpse.
'Hey... sweetie, I haven't introduced myself...' Claire starts unsure. 'but I'm Claire, what's your name?'
The girl slowly comes to.
'It's okay. You're safe with me.' Claire continues.
'I'm... Myra.'
Claire looks her directly in the eyes.
'Myra... you have to be strong now. I'll try to protect you, but you have to do as I say alright?'
Myra doesn't answer but seems to understand her.
Claire takes Myra's hand and glances at Wesker. Wesker sighs.
'I'll lead.' he says and heads toward the alley next to the chapel.
Claire follows suit, looking at the psychopath that saved her's and this little girl's life.
I'll have to trust him...
x
Chris is climbing up the staircase to the clocktower, followed closely by Daniel. He hears someone above him...
'They are on their way. The package will cross once the street is clear.'
What package?
Chris and Daniel exchange glances and Chris slowly opens the latch above him. He peaks into the towerroom. A huge bell hangs in the middle, which blocks the upperbody of the man.
But... what Chris can distinguish is a blue umbrella patch sown into the heel of the man.
In an instant painful memories of the outbreaks in Hongkong and Edonia flash through Chris' mind.
He starts breathing hard, his pupils widen, his heart pumps uncontrollably and in one frantic moment, Chris jumps upwards, storms to the man and starts shooting.
No... not you monsters again...
Chris keeps shooting. The man, bleeding on the floor, begs for him to stop. He's not the bad guy, he's helping them, he screams. But Chris is in a different place.
When Chris' gun clicks empty, the Umbrella operative's blood covers the entire floor, seeping through the latch.
Chris smashes the floor uncontrollably, realizing what it means...
...then breathing heavily, slowly comes to reality.
Chris finally sees the lifeless look on the Umbrella operative and the blood covering the entire floor.
They were dismantled... how...
He slowly looks over at Daniel, who looks at him, shock in his face.
Daniel slowly starts approaching Chris.
'Hey...' he starts.
Chris meanwhile just stares at the dead operative.
Why are they back... again.
Daniel comes next to Chris. 'Whatever is inside your head, it's not here now.'
Chris eyes become watery, but he ignores it and searches the umbrella operative for clues. But everything useful, including the radio, is broken due to bullet damage.
Daniel softly puts a hand on Chris' back, trying to comfort him.
'Hey I understand. My brother had episodes after his service. And I can't blame you after what you've been through.' Daniel looks at the dead umbrella operative. 'And death to anyone who works for that company, right?' Daniel tries to brighten Chris up with a smile, even though fear hides behind his eyes.
Chris carefully looks back at Daniel.
Their eyes lock and...
...Chris sees what he before didn't want to see. Daniel's brown eyes, short brown hair, his young but striking face and the tough but sincere look in his eyes.
And for a moment... Chris sees Piers in Daniel's eyes.
I can't lose you again...
Chris recomposes himself.
'We should figure out how this bell works, before Wesker and Claire arrive.' Chris informs. 'You stay safe and figure it out, while I go down and help them get in.'
Daniel nods and turns to the intricate mechanisms of the bell. 'Can't be too hard right?' he jokes, trying to relieve the tension, as he feels uneasy walking through the blood of the man Chris just murdered.
Before Chris leaves he looks at Daniel one more time.
'Thank you.' he says.
'It's... it's alright. I'm here if you need me.' he responds.
And Chris goes down the stairs, blood dripping down on him from the latch. Looking down, his mind fades into darkness.
Piers stands in front of the escape pod, looking at Chris, who's furiously beating the glass.
'Why me?!' Chris shouts. But Piers can't hear him.
Why can't I save you?
Why am I always the one to live...
To see everyone die around me...
Once down the stairs, Chris stops to look at the altar again.
Is that why I'm with Wesker?
Because I failed everyone else?
Because I enjoy the abuse I deserve?
Chris walks closer to the altar and his eyes fall on the small statue of Jesus on the cross.
He then picks it up and throws the statue across the hall in frustration, shaking his head as his painful memories keep flashing in front of his eyes.
