Author's note: Here's for another short chapter.

Serena: You were right. "It was wishing you were somehow here again". You're cameo would have to be moved for a later chapter though, can you tell me stuff(physical) about yourself?

Chaos: You're eyesight is staggering, girl. Heh, well, trust me, I am uglier than hell, but I just get lucky sometimes. (I dunno, girls use me because at times I have cash to burn. Other than that, I'm practically replusive.) And thank for the advice, but asterisks really aren't my thing. I'll try to make things clearer though.   

Chapter 3: "Options"

"So...what do I do?" Rachel asked Emily as they walked along wallstreet that cold morning. The latter was a professor, although just at 26, she was considered to be one of the smartest women in the institute that she served. She had short, blonde hair, blue eyes and a child-like nature. This time however, she needed to be serious.

"You're paranoid." She simply replied as she drank from a cup of Seattle's best. Emily wore a green shirt underneath a black overcoat. Rachel on the other hand, wore a long-sleeved gray shirt and a blavk skirt. Both of them were stunning women, on every aspect.

"It's just that...I know that I can never compare to this... mysterious girl from the past." 

"You have the ring don't you?"

"...the ring doesn't matter if he's in love with someone else."

"Are you even sure it's her?"

"Yeah."

"How?"

"..."

"Rachel?"

"I just know."

"..."

"You know, when we first met...."

"Hmm?"

"When Leon and I first met...he saved my life you know?"

"Everyone does."

"Ha, yeah, it's like, a love story. Only with guts and guns."

"That sounds romantic."

"Sure was."

"I sense a but."

"...But, he just seems so different know."

"..."

"Three days ago, he told me I was the very best thing that happened to him, and now, now he won't even tell me what's bothering him."

"...Maybe it's just a phase."

"Or maybe he's just sick of me."

"Don't say that." Emily replied sternly.

"..."

"What's in your mind?"

"He gave me a reason to live."

"..."

"And if he...wants to be with someone else, then, maybe letting him go would be my way of..."

"Do not even finish that sentence."

"...Sometimes...I just hate being in love."

"I know the feeling, sister. I know the feeling."  

                Those very moments, Leon was still sprawled on the bed, still in the garments that he slept in the night before. No shades of light were in the room, not from the windows or from the door. It was as if the sun felt too weary to smile. "…What if I never left? What if I just stayed with Claire…until maybe she would have found it in her to tell me what was wrong? Would it have been easier if I never met Rachel? But I love her, too. Too. Jesus Christ. I am over her! I am…no, I'm not. She doesn't…but she doesn't deserve someone like me, right? That's why she let me go."

                He sat up, ignoring the numbing cold around him. He was used to it. "This is a bad idea. Maybe Claire is just…messing with me or something. She wouldn't do that, would she? She hates me. She hates me." Leon hated being alone. He hated having to face himself, what he felt. It always brought him down to hear his own voice, because it always was bad news getting broadcasted. "…I need to see her."

                With a deep sigh, he took off his ring, and raised it to his eye. There were the words, still clear, eight syllables that made a covenant between two people deeply in love. "Leon and Rachel forever." He silently read, staring right through the hole and into the blurry gray. At times he'd wish that he were out of the picture, that everyone wouldn't have had the misery of being able to know him. Then was such a time. "I have to find something to do."

                Claire woke up with tired eyes, her hands cold and numb. The handgun wasn't there anymore. The sudden realization was enough to alarm her into full consciousness as she jumped to her feet. "Sherry?" she called, as she made a quick turn for the young girl's room. Everything seemed so dull, but Claire did not wonder if the same shades of gray were over the world. For all she knew, everyone else would have been coated in gold and shiny silver. The world had a way to keep track of the people worth keeping.

                A small brown crucifix was hung on the wall, something she graciously passed as she reached for an old, wooden door. Before she grasped the silver handle, the door creaked open, stopping Claire in her tracks. Sherry was on the other side; a disappointed expression was evident on her face. It looked like she was ready for school, as she wore a pink turtleneck sweater and a pair of denim pants.

"You know I don't ever want to see a gun. Not in my own house." She reminded the older woman.

"…Where is it?"

"I thought you didn't keep guns anymore."

"Sherry, just tell me where it is…okay?"

"Why?"

"What do you mean, why? It's mine."

"But you don't need that thing!"

"…"

"I'm going to school. It's up to you if you want to find that thing or not. It's still in the house."

"…"

"Bye."

"…"

                Claire rubbed her temples as Sherry walked away with her small backpack. The girl took a small brown paper bag, something that she had made herself and Claire had just noticed. "Okay girl, stop…doing this. If I want to pull myself into some shit-ass hole, do not drag Sherry into this." She silently commanded herself as she heard the door slam shut. "I got to have my 9mm back."

                Leon's mouth hung half-open when he opened his front door. It was three hours after he woke up, and the cold morning dreary was replaced by a bright yellow, afternoon calm. Rachel left him an instant message on his cell phone, stating that she had to do some things, and would be back at home for lunch. By that time, Leon had already taken a fresh, warm shower, and had put on a white, long sleeved shirt, as well a pair of black, Kenneth Cole pants.

                Rachel was standing in front of him, blushing profusely as she handed him a thin bouquet of roses. She was still wearing the same clothes that she did earlier on. "Uh, well…"

"Rach?"

"I just…didn't want to fight anymore, and seriously, no way am I buying you pizza this early…"

"That's…good."

"Pardon?"

"…Thanks Rach."

"…Listen Leon, I know I have no right to pry, and I'm sorry if I did-"

"Uh, why don't you come inside?"

"…I… think I still have a few things to do…"

"No, come on."

"But…"

                Leon held her by the hand gently, and then gave her a reassuring smile. "What is it?" she asked with a curious smile. She didn't notice how all the curtains in the house were closed, and that it seemed to already be sunset in their residence. Rachel half-turned to nudge the door to a close, and went deeper with Leon. She stopped as she entered the doorway to the dining room. Candlelight flickered on top of two silver candleholders on each side of the dining table. Leon stood by the door as Rachel went forward. There was a bowl of Caesar salad by the middle, and cut up lobster that was drenched in melted cheese right by it. Cream of mushroom soup was set by the china where they would eat, and a bucket of wine was by one end.

                The young police officer grabbed a green vase, thin, elegant, and shot the bouquet of roses inside. A second later, it was already sitting peacefully in the middle of the table.

                A small card was by the wine, and it read Rachel, motivation enough for the girl to slowly pick it up and read what was inside. "Dear Rachel, You know I'm not too good with words, and I hate messing things up. Yesterday, I really did, and I really hope that we could just forget about that. You're the only one that matters to me. I love you. I really do."

                She then felt two warm arms wrap around her waist from behind. Leon rested her chin on Rachel's shoulder, his heart beating faster than the percussions of Sum41. She could feel that, she could feel each beat as he rested his body on her. "Well…?" he asked her expectantly.

"Couldn't have said it better myself." She said in a whisper; a tear fell down her eye. Leon began to chuckle, and then, both of them were enveloped in laughter.

                Leon gently turned her around, and gave her a soft kiss. "Thanks for the roses." He whispered, then kissing her again. "Come on, let's have lunch." He said. "…Wait…" Rachel hesitated. "Yeah? "What is it?" asked Leon, both of them kept their voices tender, fearing that a single raise in tone would ruin the moment. "I just want to…stay in this moment." She told him, wrapping her arms around her neck. "The food might get cold." He said, even though he gladly wrapped his hands around her waist.  "…Then you'll have to be the one to keep me warm inside."

"It would be…my pleasure."   

                Nightfall came, and in the streets of Stoneville, it held a lot of negative connotations. Outside of Central Stoneville, where the elite and the powerful reside, were the outskirts that seem to have been refused any attention. It was a respectable place, but it was due to the residents' own perseverance that it was so. Even though the riverside area of Stoneville carried on its shoulders many a respectable person, there were still those who lived by the laws of the street.

                Gunshots rang out as three hooded men ran from a convenience store, leaving behind the bloody corpses of a young police officer and a middle-aged Chinese woman, who was the owner. Forty dollars were taken, and four lives were lost. Amazing what desperation leads to. Horrifying what if leaves. The Chinese woman had short, black hair, and she was slumped over the counter, her arm fell limply down, with a trail of blood in front. A rack of cigarettes fell over her head.

                A stray bullet had also hit her baby boy, but he wasn't dealt the lucky hand of the reaper. He had to live a vegetable. In a way, he had also died. Two isles away, pressed against the refrigerated glass doors, was Sherry. Still in her outfit earlier, she could only stare into oblivion. Spots of blood were by her shirt, and in front of her lay a young girl, a close friend of her from school. A stray bullet had entered her ear and left through her eye.

                Five minutes too late, men in uniform began to swarm the area, helping those in need, asking questions. Just another night of lost faces. One of them approached the little girl, and with an insensitive voice, asked her if she was all right. If she could have thought clearly, then she would have asked him if he was stupid. This was not the life for Sherry Birkin, and the option of leading a different one, shone brighter and brighter in her mind.

                It was the promise of leading a better life, and much more, the solace of not being Claire's burden. What kept her in the breast of sorrow? It was her own sisterly love for the female Redfield. At times, at most, it is the feeling of love that pulls everyone into the greatest despair of all.  

                          

Author's note: Trust me, I haven't forgotten about the fact that Claire is a survivor. I also haven't forgotten about the fact that the characters' attitudes and actions are (or were) based on people I know from real life. Leon reflects my personality, even though unlike him, people turn away at the sight of the aberration I call a face. Well, hope you lived through that horrendous chapter, till next time.