Chapter 10: This Is Not Goodbye

Dawn is breaking from the east. We stood in the outskirts of Oxford and watch the corporation burn from afar on the hillside. We manage to stop Umbrella Hydra from succeeding. We're relieved that the nightmare is finally over but I still remain heartbroken from the loss of Arxenel. He was the only closest friend I could ever have. No, he is more than a close friend to me. He is like a big brother I can ever ask for. Now he's gone, taken from me. That alone left an big dark hole in my heart and my soul. As for everybody else, they're all in one piece. Chris is reporting the events that happened here in Oxford. Claire is chatting with Genevieve and Royce. Leon tries to talk with Ada but she took her leave before he could even ask her something. This is no surprise to him at all.

"Women. Something about them that I couldn't shake off." Leon said to Jake, whom is eating his apple.

He turn to notice that I was still torn apart by Arxenel's death. Jake came to my side and sat by me to watch the burning fort.

"You miss him that much, right?" Jake asked me.

I didn't say a word. Instead, I nod to him as my answer. Jake rubbed my shoulder, trying to make me feel better as he could.

"Hey! The big man gave his life to save you, man." said Jake as he finishes his apple. "He saved all of us and the world. Despite that he's a B.O.W., he really does care about you. That's why he fought so hard to make sure you stay alive so you can live on."

"But I lost him in the process." I said as tears streaming down my face. "He saved us but I can't even save him. How will I live on if he's not in my life though?"

"You're not alone, Tony." said Royce, sitting right next to me as well. "You still have us. Genevieve, me and everyone here, and we sure as hell ain't going nowhere. I can promise you that."

Everybody came to my side to pay their condolences of our fallen B.O.W. friend.

"Arxenel is a super soldier at best but he'll never be forgotten." said Chris, comforting me like a tough man. "His death will not be in vain."

"Yeah, especially when it comes to fighting and dying." added Leon. "Like so many good people died in the hands of Umbrella. You not making it on their list. I'm sure he wouldn't want you to be on their list either."

I wiped away my tears. Genevieve took hold of my hand as a sign of sympathy. Then she hugs me and I hug her back. Just like we did back in the good times.

"I miss him too, Tony." said Genevieve when she looks at me. "Even though I just met him a few days ago but he seems nice. He is very protective of you and us."

"Yeah he is. Just like brothers looking out for each other." I said, cheering up a little bit. "He took me so far on this twisted journey. Now that he's out of my life, what will become of me? What's next for me?"

"Who knows?" says Claire. "That's up to you to figure it out."

"And besides, he would want you to move on." said Royce. "I know I can't speak on his behalf since I don't know him all that well, but what I do know that he'll always live on inside of you, Tony."

Chris gets up from the ground and finished his transmission to the HQ. After he's done with that, he turns to me again.

"May Arxenel's bravery and courage be forever remembered in the BSAA records from this day forward." Chris announced this news to me. "I've just finished my transmission to HQ and they agreed that they're not going to hold him responsible for Umbrella's actions. Your secret is safe with me, Tony."

"Thanks, Chris." I said in a relieving tone.

We continue to watch the sunrise shine bright on the hills of Oxford. Several days later, the global news shared our story from around the world so they know the truth about the evil doings of the Umbrella organizations and their link to global bio-terrorism. With the remembrance of the fallen Raccoon city and all the tragic events that followed for years, we are pretty sure that they're not going to forget it and they're not going to stop talking about it anytime soon. And as for us, we continue to go our separate ways but we will meet again someday. Jake is on the road, fighting bio-terrorists on his terms and his own way. Refusing to follow in his dad's villainous footsteps. Leon went on to do his secret services wherever he is in the world. Ada Wong is always on her own missions and as her profile remains on the down low. Claire Redfield continues to do her job as a TerraSave agent, along with Genevieve as her new partner for she is starting her new career with the organization. And as for me, I did move on. Just like Arxenel would want me to. Three months later, thanks to Royce's recommendation, Chris Redfield offered me to join his Bravo team as a new BSAA specialist. And I get to fight alongside with him and Royce whenever I'm needed. In spite of everything that happened that faithful day, Umbrella is still out there and is willing to continue their collaboration with bio-terrorism anywhere on earth. Whenever we, the Bravo team, encounter those bio-terrorists associated with the Umbrella corporations, I think of Arxenel and imagine that he's with me all the way through the fight against them. So if Umbrella did happen to recreate Arxenel, he did made a promise that he'll wait for me. Who knows? Maybe he will or he come to find me. He could be out there, somewhere. When that day comes, I will find him. I swear on my fucking life I would. So this is not entirely goodbye. I know somewhere in my heart that I will see him again.

The End