Chapter 14
The crow behind her flew off in a frenzy of feathers as Charlotte backed into the metal
railing. Her mind flashed back to her accident at the tactical range. Though she hadn't know it at the time,
Forest had been there for her. He was the first face she saw when she awoke. He had been smiling then.
Now, as his ravaged body stocked towards her on this old rusting balcony she wished he had walked away.
That she had woke up alone in that hospital room. She wished she had never known the kindness of
Raccoon's finest, and she wished, oh how she wished, that when she pulled the trigger her suffering
would end as well. 'But it won't. You'll keep suffering until your time comes.'
Forest lunged fast and nearly caught her in a daydream. Ducking under his arm Charlotte raised her
gun again. Knowing that behind those unseeing eyes the man she loved was no longer there. Turning around
a hungry, displeased moan escaped from his torn mouth.
"Can you forgive me? For what I have to do?" Charlotte took a step back as he started towards her
again. "You promised you'd protect me! How about... if you just promise to wait for me? I won't be long." She
took aim as he began to quicken his pace. "I promise," - and pulled the trigger.
Jill heard the gunshot as she moved along the muddy pathway. Looking back at the mansion she could
see the lights of each room illuminated like a hundred eyes watching her through the trees. Pushing onward,
she focused on the building ahead - a guesthouse. She felt it had been a beautiful little cottage in its prime.
Now, as she wiped a film from the window pane it looked no more inviting then the mansion did. 'There's a
fire in the hearth.' Taking the steps two-at-a-time, she reached out for the door handle. With a slow fluid motion,
she opened the door, scanning the entry way a small piece at a time. 'Slicing the pie' they called it at the
academy. Walking into the cabin, Jill was met with the pungent odor of human waste.
"Is there anyone here?" She called out. Stepping into the warm sitting room she caught sight of a little
porcelain doll, her face broken, on a nearby chair. She couldn't help but feel her blood begin to boil. It
disgusted her when people abused children. "Hello? My name is Jill Valentine. I'm with the Raccoon Police
Department. I've come to help you." She hoped that if a child were near they would be more trusting of the
police then a stranger, but the response she received was far from what she had hoped for.
"Motherrrrr?" a raspy, distorted voice called back. The sound seemed to be coming from all around her.
Ascending onto a small landing, Jill looked into one of the adjoining room but saw no one.
"Hello?" her call was quickly silenced as someone struck her hard from behind.
"Motherrrrr!"
Charlotte watched from the window as the creature in chains rose its arms over its head then brought
its restraints down hard on Jill. The woman had dropped instantly.
"Shit!" She spat as the creature began to drag it's victim towards the light of the fire. From the multiple
faces sewn onto its skin it could be assumed that Jill was going to be added to the collection.
Ever since Jill had found her way from the mansion Charlotte hadn't been far behind her. She should
keep moving, but not without making sure Jill had a chance at survival. Unshouldering her machine gun, Charlotte
made her move, ducking through the door just as she had that day on the range. This time, she was prepared
for what awaited her. "Trevor? Lisa?" The creature released Jill's unconscious body and turned towards her.
"Motherrrr?"
"Not quite, but won't your father be happy to know his 'golden child' is alive and... well." Comparing Wesker
to a father figure was far-fetched, but as far as the creature being his 'golden child'? - Every artist has their favorite
piece. Lisa froze as if she was unsure she should believe the woman in front of her. Then, with renewed anger, she
swung her chains towards the intruder. Holding her weapon in front of her, Charlotte was able to block the attack,
but as Lisa hauled her bonds back again for another blow she took the machine gun with her.
Pulling a smoke canister from her web gear Charlotte pulled the pin then threw it towards the abomination.
Igniting, the smoke sent Trevor into a panic of raging screams for her mother. Without wasting another moment,
Charlotte grabbed Jill and heaved her over her shoulder then ran for the door. The freak had disappeared in the
chaos though Charlotte was betting she was still nearby.
Once outside, she followed the winding path through the trees. The muck splattered from her boots to her
pants as she ran through puddles the rain had left behind.
"Not far now," she assured herself as the light of the storage shed appeared. Reaching for the doorknob she
had it when the door opened to meet her. The man that stood there looked anything but amused as he raised his
pistol. "DON'T SHOOT!" Dropping his guard, Chris took Jill from her. Setting her down on the cold cement floor he
turned back to Charlotte who still stood in the open doorway.
"What happened? Chris shouted as he raised his weapon at her. "What part have you been playing tonight,
Lieutenant?"
"Chris?" He motioned to her mud-covered uniform. The Umbrella logo displayed prominently on her breast.
With one quick motion Charlotte rid Chris of his gun. "Sorry about this, Chris." Then landed a firm fist to his jaw
causing the officer to reel backwards. That was all the time she needed to disappear into the darkness of the wilderness.
From the safety of the shadows she leaned against a tree trunk watching as Chris shut the heavy door. Her
chest felt like it was going to explode. She was tired, aching, mentally drained and feeling as if the whole of the world
were against her. Chris surely wouldn't let her get away that easily. Wesker had warned her about him, but with
everything that had happened, with everything that Umbrella had done - she was now the cause of it in the eyes
of Chris Redfield. Charlotte just wanted to get the hell out of there. Finding Wesker was the only priority left in her
mission.