Chapter 1 – Day 1
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She clung to Rose as if something in the shadowy corners might snatch her away again. Chris left over an hour ago but Mia couldn't muster up the strength to get up from the couch. Her heart still felt like it might tear itself apart any second and her lungs couldn't get enough oxygen in. She was hyperventilating – she knew!- but her tears wouldn't stop. Her whole body was paralyzed yet trembling terribly.

If she couldn't get a grip on herself it would become a full blown panic attack.
Her prescriptions were safely tucked away in the bathroom drawer but even without Rose in her arms it was out of question to take another dosage right now.

"Mia, it has to be this way. There is no other choice. We don't know enough about her and her powers or how it might affect her in the future."

"She is just a child! No – you cannot be serious, not after everything we've gone through!"

"I am serious and I won't change my mind, Mia. She'll be taken into custody when she is old enough. Until then I want you to report everything to me in case anything changes. It may sound heartless now … but think about her."

With that said he had left immediately after.
Her throat felt dry and scratchy from her screaming.
She didn't want to lose another member of her small family but no one seemed to give her a choice in that matter.
Her first thought after Redfield (she couldn't use first name basis right now) left without another word – or did he say more to her but she didn't hear? – was to pack her and Roses things to leave, to run as far away as they could.

"I promised Ethan to watch over her. And I will. It's better for her to stay under close surveillance."

"Chris, you are talking about taking my little girl away. She is no science project! Rose is my baby and I am her mother! Ethan wouldn't …"

want them to be separated.
He fought so desperate for them.

Mia kissed her child's forehead softly, humming a tune from a song her husband used to sing to Rose.
No, she was sure that Chris was in the wrong here no matter how pretty he made it sound – for her protection.
It still was what he proclaimed.

"I don't know what to do …" she whispered into nothingness.
Was running away an option?
No probably not. They would find her. Probably sooner rather than later.
Who knows, maybe they already were being observed and … studied.

Mias gaze wandered to the kitchen window. It was already dark outside but she selfishly didn't feel like putting Rose down to bed at the moment. And her little angel didn't seem to mind either. She was wide awake, gurgling to herself.
A small string of spit pooled at her chin because she kept sucking on her fingers.

"You might be already teething, mh? Let me check, baby girl." Mia pocked her inner gums with a finger without feeling anything yet.

"Such a big girl already."

Ethan surely would have loved this. He took so much photos of her already.
Since her husband was currently labeled M.I.A there hadn't been a funeral yet. Nothing was left of that village so they wouldn't find a body no matter how hard they searched.
She guessed it was just some procedure they had to go through before confirming his demise.
It hurt Mia not to have a place to visit.

Suddenly her phone went off in her pocket and she took it out to see a text message from Chris. As if he got hint of her thoughts or something.

Mia, I am really sorry. It's the best for both of you. - Chris

He got some nerve! If he had the need to tend to his guilt then he should talk to someone else!

Angered yet again she put her phone back without answering and stood up with her daughter in her arms.
She couldn't understand what he saw in Rose. She was not his responsibility even if Ethan asked him to keep an eye on her – it was not meant to be literal.
Of course she knew they had to check on her as her father had been … more then human but so far the mold hadn't affected her in any way. And if it did, then she wouldn't know because they kept information about the incident sealed off to her.
For now, Mia decided, she would stay angry at Redfield as it keeps her mind off from other topics and she wanted to give Rose her full attention as of now. The soldier could shove is message where the sun was never shining, she didn't care.

"Seems like we are on our own for now, dear." Rose looked at her without knowing what she was talking about but that was fine.