Chapter 13: Confessing a Nightmare
Author's note: Okey dokey! You guy's said you'd like to read the next chapter tonight, so here it is! I couldn't wait any longer; I had to upload this now! I have to say this is one of my, if not the most, favorite chapters so far. I really like how it turned out and of course I like what happens even more! I won't spoil it for you all, so please, read on :).
To Sheva Redfield: Jill did have a tad of an attitude, huh? But it's understandable. I think it's sweet that he wants Sheva there :).It's probably not too much of a secret what happens in this chapter. But read on and see if you were right! (You probably are!)
To Sivan IXXX: Hahaha, he's getting the 'ohlala' for Shev ;D. And thanks! I did my best to make her sound possessive and territorial but leave enough room for possible sympathy later with her. Hope you like the update!
To Justsomegirl17: I thought it was so cute in Jill and Josh's DLC when they talked. Totally flirting! I feel that Carlos is a bit of an airhead but I like him a lot, haha. You should watch 'JimmyPMV' on YouTube for his series of 'The Umbrella Chronicles'. I don't know which video is with Carlos, but I think he's shown really well in that one! I think it's time someone invent that darn time machine already! I'm the youngest in my family so I don't know what it's like to have a younger sibling :O. Chris is finally opening up, yay! Uh huh, that's what 'arrivederci' means! Google Translator is deceive and likes to play cruel jokes on people! Nah, I kid. Thanks and I hope you like the chapter! Arrivederci, love!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the RE characters that are included with this story. Capcom does.
Sheva could feel her cheeks redden. Chris had just told her that he wanted her there with him. She needed to hear that; to hear that her presence was preferred and appreciated. Even though Sheva was confident in her looks and skills, she always felt second best to people. She was always the sidekick or the one that tagged along. So to hear him say that made her feel warm and welcomed.
"Thank you," she said looking away from him, hoping he couldn't see the blush in her cheeks.
"Don't mention it," he said with a smile. He noticed her blushing and felt proud of himself for getting such a reaction from her. He sat on the edge of his bed, looking at her sitting on the small couch. He was disappointed that she wasn't sitting next to him anymore. He wanted her to come back over to him so he could hold her against him again.
"So, how's sobriety treating you?" Sheva asked in humorous tone.
Chris shook the idea of her near him and answered her, "I must have a strong constitution, because I don't feel a thing."
She laughed aloud and grinned at him. "Well good. I'm glad. I can't imagine you otherwise."
The two talked lightly and joked around for a while. Chris admitted he enjoyed her company. He would catch himself checking her out from across the room, but he didn't feel guilty about it. He enjoyed the view. She sat straight and removed her sweater. But in Chris's mind, she removed more clothing. He was lost in tranquility when he realized she had been calling his name.
"Chris, you alright over there?"
He nodded, "Yeah, sorry, got distracted, what is it?"
She smirked, "You seem to be getting distracted a lot today. Anyways, I know it's a heavy topic, but do you remember anything about Kijuju?"
Chris puffed air from his lungs. "It rings a bell, yeah. It's a spotty memory though."
'Of course, one of the times we spent together, the memory would be spotty,' Sheva thought to herself. "What do you remember?"
Chris told her the things he could recall. He said he remembered it was extremely hot. That he remembered people screaming things and chasing him with intent. She informed him that these people he spoke of were called the Majini and that they were infected with the Uroboros virus. He remembered that Jill was in Kijuju and that he saved her. He also told her how he remembered who Wesker was and that he had such a vengeance for him and that in the end, Chris killed him.
When Chris came to the conclusion of the story, Sheva couldn't help but note that he hadn't mentioned her once. She felt defeated. This mission that they had done together was the most memorable of missions she'd completed. Not just because it was such a major and dangerous mission, but because it taught her so much—Chris taught her so much.
Chris noticed the distant look in her eyes and it was his turn to call out for her attention. "Hey, no name, you still alive?" He caught her attention finally.
"No name? Is that what you've decided to call me?"
He just smirked at her, "Well, if you prefer, I could call you be your name. As long as you tell me what it is."
Sheva giggled, "Nice try."
She watched him as he sighed and lay back on the bed. She felt slightly bad for keeping her identity from him, but she felt it necessary. She felt that if she told him her name, he'd tell her that's all he wanted to know and then block her out. A silly thought, she knew, but nonetheless it existed in her head.
She took a deep breath, readying herself for her next question; fearing the reply. "Do you remember me at all?"
He slowly sat up, surprised by her question. He rubbed his chin. "I do."
Sheva could feel her shoulders lighten a little. She thanked God in her mind that he actually remembered her. "If you don't mind me asking, what do you remember of me?"
He stayed quiet. The silence quickly creeping around the two. 'Oh, God…what does he remember of me?' she nervously thought to herself.
Chris didn't know how to answer this. He only had one memory of her. It was the memory that haunted him every day for the past 5 months and a half. He scratched at his neck, delaying his answer. He finally got up the gumption a moment later.
"Well, I have only one memory of you…" he admitted in a small voice.
Sheva quickly felt the weight on her shoulders again, but this time they felt ten times heavier. All she could manage to utter out was, "Oh."
Chris could easily tell that the girl didn't favor his response. He wished he could take it back and say something different. But he went the honest route, that much could be said.
"It's actually a dream. Do you want me to tell you about it?" Chris instantly regretted his question. 'Why the fuck would she want to know that the only memory you have of her, she just so happens to die in it? You're an idiot,' he continued to curse himself in the not so safe walls of his mind.
He was caught off guard, though, when she nodded. He cursed extremely violent words at himself in his head some more.
Chris sighed and took a deep breath. "It always starts with you calling out to me—calling for my help. I can see you. You're being held by your throat in Wesker's hand. You call for me again. I run and I run but the faster my legs go, the farther you get." Chris could feel his throat tightening. "You try to fight him, but he's too strong. I yell at him to let you go, to fight me and to leave you alone. But he just looks at me and gives me the most deadly, emotionless grin. He says something and the next thing I know…you're on the ground, still and unmoving. I stop running and all I can do is look at you…and then I wake up."
Chris held his breath, waiting for her to say something. She was silent. She had a look on her face the he couldn't identify. He stood up, becoming antsy from the deafening silence in the room. He started pacing and he would steal a glance at her whenever he turned around to walk in the other direction.
He became impatient and took a step towards her. "Say something, anything. Please."
She finally looked to him. Her eyes were telling him so much; that she was scared, hurt, confused and the look he recognized most—one that he wore so often himself—she looked alone.
"I die?" she asked, her voice cracking and barely above a whisper.
He quickly walked to her and kneeled in front of her, taking her small hands into his much larger ones. "It's just a dream. Nothing more. You're here sitting in front of me, alive. That's all I want." He held on to her hands tighter, not wanting to let them go.
Sheva furrowed her brows and parted her lips to speak, but couldn't find any words or courage to say anything.
He noticed her loss for words and spoke his own. "I've had that dream for nearly every night and every time I wake up, I'm ashamed of myself. Ashamed, because I couldn't run faster. Ashamed, because I didn't reach you in time. Ashamed, because I failed you…I let you die."
Chris couldn't speak anymore. His mind was racing with so many thoughts that he couldn't pick one and speak on it. He never looked away from her. She looked into his eyes. He shivered from the sadness her gaze held. He felt her pull her hands away and suddenly he felt empty.
Sheva stood and looked to the door. "I need some air." She slipped past him and nearly ran for the exit. She disappeared behind the door.
Chris was still kneeling in the spot he had been when she left. He couldn't move. All he could think about was how bad he had hurt her. How bad he wished he could take what he said back and not tell her the dream at all.
He quickly stood and grabbed the nearest thing in his reach. He grabbed ahold of a table lamp and threw at the wall. It shattered and the sound of the crash seemed to echo the room. He was about to pick up the entire side table when suddenly an electronic chime caught his attention.
He scanned the room, searching for the noise that interrupted his much needed tantrum. He eyes settled on a small device resting on the couch. He picked up the phone and held it in his palm. The tiny screen on the front read: '1 New Text Message from Claire.'
Chris thought for a moment. He wanted to read what his sister had sent to the girl, but he didn't want to invade her privacy. However, he gave into temptation. He flipped open the phone and selected 'Read Now'.
'Sheva! I got a call from Jill earlier and apparently she found out that you found Chris. She's probably gonna call you or already has. Anyways, call me! xxClaire.'
"Sheva."
Chris's arm fell to his side and the phone slipped from his grasp to the floor. Suddenly, memories came rushing at him. Memories of the girl; memories of Sheva. He couldn't help but notice that all of the memories were good and happy ones. He heard the door knob turn and he looked to see who was entering his room.
Sheva took a step inside the motel room and looked at him. She noticed a pile of debris from what it looked like used to be a lamp. "What happened?"
She noticed her phone was lying by his feet, open. "You looked through my phone?" she asked in an accusing voice.
He broke his gave from her and looked to the tiny technology at his feet. "I-I…it was just sitting there…it went off…"
She strode over to him and bent over to grab her phone. Once she stood and was about to turn to leave, he grabbed ahold of her arm. She gave him a confused look and tried to pull her arm away.
Not having it, Chris pulled her into him and wrapped his arm around her waist, locking her against his body. He raised his free hand to her face and caressed her cheek. She tried to pull away, but soon he could feel her relax into him. She closed her eyes and savored his touch.
"I remember you, Sheva."
Author's note: He remembers her! Finally!
In the next chapter, well…things get…steamy ;D. That's all I shall say!
See you on Wednesday, Sarai.