July 11, 1967 (5:30 AM).

I awoke with a start, eyes flickering about, chest panting. My fingers searched frantically the area of which I had been impaled. I found no wound, just my hammering heart and shaking fingers. I steadied my body, willing it to slow down and relax. A frown creased my face as I thought about the dream.

Surprisingly I remembered every single detail from the cloudy sky hovering over Raccoon City to the rotting skin of the zombies that had haunted the streets. I remembered the form beside me on the roof and the drying blood at my feet.

One image came starkly to mind and that was of Albert Wesker standing at the base of the stairs, smirk flashing as we talked, though his words brought only confusion. Gift of premonition? He and I the sole survivors of something?

I didn't understand what he meant and I knew that I wouldn't be able to figure it out unless I had more clues.

I leaned up in my bed, rubbing the bridge of my nose while my eyes shut out the light streaming in through my open window. I heard the birds outside chirping and crowing and I felt the warmth of the sun outside as it glowed across my floor.

"Saria! Breakfast!" I heard father call from downstairs and so I hurried to get ready. Last night had been a blur. I remembered after changing I had gone downstairs and talked with Adela and Dimitri before they had to go home. I had hugged them and told them I was dearly going to miss them. I wouldn't be able to see them today. Afterwards I had stayed up well until the late night writing in a notebook. Once tiredness had tried to overtake my system I had changed into pajamas and fell asleep listening to the low and soft drizzling rain beat against the rooftop.

I grabbed the clothes I had worn yesterday and slipped into the bathroom where I took a shower. Afterwards, when dried and dressed, I searched my bedroom for my silver bracelet that mother had given me.

My thoughts turned to my younger brother who was still missing and yet.. why was no one asking about him? Why was I the only one worried?

I had detected a sudden flicker of uncertainty and regret from my father when I questioned him briefly about Derick, but it was gone the next second and he responded by changing the topic when mother had entered the room. Something didn't feel right.

I kept that in mind as I walked down to join the other awake people in the kitchen. I arrived to find dad cooking while mom set out the table in the dining room. Nolan was reading a newspaper at his place at the table. Lee was missing and so was Frank. Footsteps echoed behind me and I turned to see Spencer making his way toward me.

He bowed his head before moving past me to enter the dining room, saying a greeting to all present by way of name. "Mark, Nolan, Marissa.. miss Saria." He sat across from my brother.

I said a low good morning before taking a seat next to Nolan, leaning against him. He glanced to me as I nuzzled his bare shoulder with my left cheek. He was in simple red shorts. He set the paper down to ruffle my hair with his hand, smiling.

"Morning, lil sis." He chuckled at my sleepy behavior.

Today was the day we leave for dad's workplace, which was safe to say probably an Umbrella laboratory. Today was the day I became an assistant.. and also the day I figured out what the hell was going on.

A thought occurred. What if I could change the game's storyline by messing with the atmosphere? Warning people what was going to happen?

I could seriously ruin the game. I grinned. "Morning, Nolan." I said back. Time to take this one step at a time. I'd let Bradly and his allies find Derick while I took down Umbrella before it could even cause too much damage to repair. I could save Raccoon City.

I glanced towards the kitchen and saw mom moving over to set a plate before me. She brushed hair from my face and kissed my forehead, smiling. "Good morning, darling."

Spencer arched a brow at us and I glared at him in embarrassment. "Mom, stoppp." I whined. Truth be told I was a daddy's girl through and through.

"Haha, alright sweetie."

"Where's Frank?" I glanced around and didn't see him.

"He went home late last night. Dinner will be done in a few." She said, turning to leave to go back to the kitchen.

Spencer leaned across the table, a slight smile present. "Are you ready for the trip?"

I paused, thinking for a moment. Nolan looked to me as I nodded. "Yeah. It'll be a blast."

He chuckled, oblivious to my hidden joke. "Perhaps we can yet make a scientist out of you, if interested."

I full out laughed and the pair present joined in. Soon enough the food was placed around the table and everyone was seated and digging in. I munched on a piece of bacon, savoring the crunchy taste.

Lee and mom was talking back and forth with dad and Nolan. Spencer was quiet and so was I.. but not for long.

"Oh, miss Saria." Spencer started, gaining my attention as I set my fork down to take a drink from my glass of milk. Everyone else talked about some political topic of interest. "I just recalled that you are on summer break from school and will be a junior this year. While you are with us you will be home schooled by a personal friend of mine at the request of your father. He wishes for your education to continue even while gone from your home."

I nodded my head. "Fine by me." I simply stated. Suffice to say I had a gut feeling my education would be the least of my worries soon enough.

"Good, good. I would hate for you to miss out on your fundamental lessons for your future." He said with his slowly gained trademark smile.

I shrugged. "I know plenty to get by in life. Science was always my best class aside from History and Italian."

"Oh?" He asked, giving me his full attention. Admittedly I was drawn to science and I had been since I was little. I loved to blow stuff up and whatnot.

"Mhm. I get straight A's in science." I beamed a real smile. I was proud of whatever I did great in.

Spencer's face became thoughtful as his smile shifted to a distant one, his eyes looking past me. "Interesting."

We turned our attention down the table as dad held up his glass of milk and grinned, obviously preparing to make a toast. We all raised our glasses, though mine had little in it and Lee's was empty.

"A toast.. to our prosperous family, my loving children, beautiful wife and my successful career and job. To the years to come that we will smile upon." Mark said.

We cheered and tapped our glasses against each others before downing them. Lee went to get another glass, chuckling at our random moment.

Spencer winked to me as he drank his and I finished mine off in two gulps.

A few hours later 9 AM rolled in and it was time to go. I had to trust that Bradly would find my brother and that Nolan would be safe when he returned to the military next Sunday.

I stood before the doorway, staring out into the yard and towards the driveway which sat a luxurious white car I knew not the name of. Spencer would be driving with Mark as the passenger and me in the back.

I wondered briefly why Spencer had no bodyguards, no personal driver to drive for him.

"Time to go!" Mark called as he waved from the right side of the car. Spencer was standing by the left side and our bags were packed into the trunk.

I turned to see Nolan and mom staring at me. My brother had his arm wrapped around mom's shoulder as she smiled. "We're going to miss you, the both of you, sweetie." Mom said sweetly.

"Yeah, I know." I said almost dryly.

"Stay safe, sis." I saw a nervous glint in Nolan's eyes as he said this. He was holding something back. "Help dad out."

"I will. You too, bro." I said in thought of his own job. The military was a hard thing to do but Nolan did it well.

I turned after giving them each a hug and thus walked briskly to the car. Spencer opened my door as I climbed in and I thanked him. He and Mark got in and then we were on the road.

"You should sleep, Saria. It's a two hour drive to Raccoon City." Dad said and I felt my heart skip a beat at the name. Jeez, how many more surprises could I handle before I had a heart attack?

"Nah, I like looking at the scenery." I said without much conviction. I was too busy watching my mom and brother wave to me. I waved back.

Spencer and Mark exchanged a glance. "What?" I asked suspiciously.

"Nothing." Dad said and leaned back in his seat, sighing contently. "You're going to love it, Saria. Raccoon City is a beautiful city. I should have taken you there years ago but you wouldn't have been able to appreciate the beauty so young." He turned his head against the seat to smile at me.

I smiled back, though only I knew it was fake. The rumble of the low motor was just barely present. "Yeah."

The car went silent as we all mused about whatever or stared outside the car.

It was going to be a long two hour drive.