Chapter twenty? What? IT'S ALMOST OVER? * Weeps copiously * I love you all! Thank you! Thank you! Don't worry-there will be a sequel! My aim is to cover the last half of Wesker's Report and then maybe write Birkin's death scene (THE BEST DAMN FMV IN THE SERIES!) But anyway-this chapter less love-more sad stuff…
SHOUT OUT! To my longtime reviewers, Pinquicha, Sporty-Girl, and Hamster of Doom! You guys rock! Thanks for all your support! Also, to KELLY! For playing my Spy *huge grin *
Note: I have NO idea what the name of the raccoon newspaper is, so I'm improvising. My long hours of research couldn't find it-and I didn't have the patience to play the game again (right in the middle of silent hill) I apologize in advance-etc.
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Excerpt from The Raccoon City Times
Morning Edition
Monday, 1986
HANNIBAL MURDERER CAUGHT.
RACCOON CITY EMPLOYEES SAVE THE DAY
By Ben Bertolucci
Today mourning throngs of citizens filed out for the grand processional that was to commemorate the lives of two of Raccoon City's finest who lost their lives saving the city from the throes of a deranged maniac.
The Hannibal murderer left decomposing corpses on the doorsteps of various citizens' apartments, among them the Mayor and the Chief of the Fire Department. Raccoon City's Medical Examiner Sherry Delaney was the first to make the connection that the murders were actually the work of a marauding psychopath. Mrs. Delaney's body was found out in the woods on Sunday, along with the body of an unidentified male-who, police sources confirm, as David Gillespie-woodsman. Found nearby was the body of Raccoon City Fire Department Chief Michael Redfield-found in similar condition to the other four corpses.
Police believe that Gillespie might have actually left the bodies alive and then mutilated them, thereby explaining the theory behind the rash of biting and struggling that the victims attempted at the crime scenes. Although two police officers and one civilian were Infected-Umbrella Corporation has generously stepped in and offered to pay for their expenses-transferring them to a special hospital in Los Angeles.
In other news the body of an unidentified woman has been discovered in the river out a few miles from town…
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Church of the Eternal Light.
Raccoon City
The church was full to the gills of family, well-wishers, and mourners. A row of firemen in uniform lined the second front bench, across from the family. The Redfield family, at least all that remained of the Redfield family, sat all in black, heads bowed in the front row.
"Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for thou art with me… " The priest intoned. He raised his hands above the altar, his eyes toward the heavens, beseeching the mercy of the lord.
"Chris." Kevin Redfield prodded his son, "Don't fall asleep." In the front row all eyes were on them, save those that were moist with tears.
"Dad…" Chris yawned and started to stretch. Claire sighed and smacked her brother hard across the knee, "I can't help it!"
"Behave-both of you." Callista whispered, "Or else."
"Lord, look down upon this man in your infinite mercy-guide him through to your kingdom and bring him to ever-lasting life, in your name we ask this…Amen."
"Amen."
"Amen." Claire and Chris whispered together.
Kevin clenched his fist at his side and said a silent goodbye to the brother who'd taken care of him all these years. They had to have a close-casket service, Umbrella had paid for it (Odd that) the way the man had spoken, and it was like it had been their fault that Michael was dead.
Chris folded his arms across his chest and clenched his face in a snarl. Claire, looking like a dapper little gothic doll in black, fiddled with a strip of cloth on her dress. Callista patted her husband on the arm and reached over to squeeze his hand. Claire sniffled morosely.
It was over.
Kevin was the first to leave, taking his wife by the arm. Chris stuck his hands firmly in his pockets and hopped of the chair, followed by his sister who blinked and looked about bewildered at the people weeping.
"Mr. And Mrs. Redfield…"
Kevin turned abruptly and came face to face with a tall man with slicked back blond hair. Although he appeared far younger, Kevin Redfield was irked to find out that the man was taller-by at least a foot.
"Umbrella would like to express its condolences on the loss of your brother." The man said. His voice was oily, Kevin glanced back and wondered where Callista and the children had gotten to, praying they'd rescue him from this man…
"Thank you." Kevin said uneasily, "Do you-work for Umbrella?"
"I have, for quite sometime."
"Nice of you to pay for the funeral-I-I mean I don't understand why you would have, Mr. Mr.-"
"Wesker. The body was on our land, we feel personally responsible." The man called Wesker stuck his hands in his pockets, "Are those your children over by the refreshment table?"
Kevin looked up and spotted Chris, helping his sister get a slice of cake. The entire community had been very generous, coming out in droves to thank the hero and his family. Everyone, from the police department to the fire department was here. Probably the biggest social event these people will ever get. Kevin thought jokingly, but this guy Wesker…
"Yeah." Kevin replied finally, "Claire and Chris. Only a few years apart, aren't they adorable?" Claire would remain forever a beauty, and his son had his wife's stoic chiseled good looks, "You married?"
For a moment the mysterious oily Wesker looked pained, "No-No I was but…I recently lost my wife. She passed away." He explained, "Very sudden."
"Oh." More death every day, "I'm sorry."
"It's quite alright." Wesker said removing a hand from his pocket and studying his fingernails, "Why worry about the past when the future is so very bright? You have very fine children Mr. Redfield, you should take good care of them."
"I intend to." Somehow the man's comment sent him bristling, "I'll always take care of my kids."
Wesker seemed satisfied with that. He shoved his hands back into his pockets and moved away amongst the mourners and the zombies all in black.
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Across Town
They had come back just in time for her funeral.
Annette sat on a patch of wet grass and studied the tombstone intently, as if staring could bring the dead back to life. Her hair was shorter now; she'd gotten it cut before leaving Los Angeles in a Beverly Hills Salon.
She wanted to look her best for the wedding.
I can't believe it sherry. She'd only known the woman for a short time, yet she felt a close kinship with her, Am I making your same mistake? Should I have said no? She'd thought about that on the returning plane, and the drive from Silent Hill. William made small talk, but he could tell she was upset by something-and he left her alone.
Sherry?
The wind blew softly; the world shrouded in a thin blue blanket of clouds that dimmed everything the color of water in the nearby lake. She and William didn't dare attend the funeral openly, but now she'd come to visit and pay her respects…
Daniel won't be so lucky. As per Umbrella policy, his body was going to Los Angeles for experimentation. So many of her colleagues were making that journey-both the living and the dead. Many of the survivors had become warped by what they'd seen at Arklay-
Evolution.
She and William had poured over the accounts of the tale. The virus, in its natural habitat-had evolved. When Irene (There was no denying it now) had opened the mansion and let loose a zombie (Sometimes that was all it took) it developed methods of defense. Trees, animals-it had gotten out and been contained relatively easy.
The Personal affects had been arranged by Irene-or so they thought. The graveyard of pictures, trucks, dolls, and memorabilia left behind by humans long dead had been disposed of. The mansion was in the process of being fixed-with new labs added on to where the morgue had once been. Umbrella had enough political power in the city and state government to make it so that their lives-for whatever they were worth-had been lived in vain.
No one would know.
The Hannibal murders would go down in history. The police department (According to Perverted wonder Brian Irons) was considering bringing in a special team that would handle cases and rescue missions of that sort. STARS was making a large fuss, saying that they should have handled the case. The Clean Up crew had been through, the evening news was plastered with images of "The Killers lair" David Gillespie's shack trussed up to look like he worshiped some daemon god.
Oh they were good.
I'm sorry Sherry. Annette pushed herself up off the grass quietly, Please forgive us. We're just doing our job.
The wind seemed to come a bit faster then, as if scolding her, or berating her humanity.
"Annette?"
William stood a few feet away, wrapped in a trench coat and looking at her with wide blue eyes. The sky darkened around them, and Annette dropped the floors directly atop the gravesite.
"Are you ready?" He understood her need to grieve. Sherry and she must have gotten close before Irene shot her…
Annette nodded once and jogged quickly down the hill. She wrapped her arm around William's and pushed the thoughts of the dead out of her mind. Together the two of them left the graveyard and returned to the world of the living.
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Author's Note: That's it? HOW ANI-CLIMATIC! Have no fear however-the Epilogue shall set things straight-including setting the stage for the glorious sequel. Mata-Na for now!