Note: I was finally able to finish this fic. I had this chapter abandoned in my drafts for months, as I was stuck with the two last scenes. My deepest apologies for taking so long. I was in a very dark place regarding my mental health.
Eastern Europe, Village - December, 2021
The small pub in the middle of that Romanian village became more and more distant as Hank dragged me away, to the middle of the woods. The distance, as well as the loud music inside, would make it impossible for any of the Dimitrescu sisters to hear my muffled noises. Even with their advanced hearing.
I struggled, attempting to break free from his hold. He tightened his grip around my body. It was useless to try to escape, Hank was a lot taller and more muscular than I was. I'd have to use my mind and wait for an opportunity.
Once he placed me on the passenger seat of his car, he finally uncovered my mouth.
"LET ME GO!" I tried to scream, as loud as I could. "HELP!"
"Come on, Gab..." Hank held me again, pressing his hand against my mouth to muffle my screams. "Don't make it harder than it should be..."
He reached for the glove compartment. Inside I spotted handcuffs, a gag and a syringe with possibly some tranquilizer.
That psycho had been planning to kidnap me. That was his only true intention to come to the village. I needed to act fast. Changing my strategy was the smartest choice.
"Come on. Were you planning to use that on me?" I lowered my voice, trying to sound calm and cooperative. "There's no need for that. I... I'm going home with you."
Hank looked at me, not very convinced. I noticed his dilated pupils, as well as his sweating. He was under the effect of drugs.
"I mean it," I gazed deeply into his eyes. "I'm sorry. But you freaked me out when you grabbed me."
"I had to do it. Otherwise you wouldn't be coming with me."
"I would. I was going to tell you by the morning. The girls... they were throwing me a goodbye party in the pub."
"Really?" He was still conflicted.
I nodded in agreement. But if I wanted him to fully believe me, I'd have to go further into my acting. I leaned forward, fondly touching his cheek. His first reaction was to pull away, but then he relaxed.
"Really. God, I missed you so much..."
I went for his mouth, pulling him into a deep and passionate kiss. While I held the back of his neck with one of my hands, the other one traveled down his back... to his waist and then to unlock the passenger's door.
"What... What are you doing?!" He asked, pushing me away. I didn't let go, not before biting his lower lip as stronger as I could, drawing some blood.
"YOUR SON OF A BITCH!" I punched his nose just like he taught me, years ago. Those lessons really paid up, because I could hear the bone cracking. "Just fucking leave me alone!"
"YOUR SLUT!" I heard Hank yelling as I projected myself out of the car and started to run, headed to the woods. "You're going to regret this."
I had no good memories from that forest, especially at night. Nobody knew what dangers could be lurking in the dark, but I'd have to count on my luck. At least until Cassandra noticed I was missing.
I touched my pockets, searching for my phone. Unfortunately, Hank had probably took it. "Fuck!"
A loud bang echoed through the silent night, followed by heavy footsteps. That bastard! I hoped that if the noise attracted any bioweapons, that he would be the one to get killed first.
"A gun?!" I shouted, as I continued to run. "Seriously, Hank? Are you planning to shoot me now?"
"If you're not mine, then you won't belong to anybody else!"
"Oh... shut up!"
By the sound of his voice, I could tell he was approaching me. To avoid giving away my location, I didn't run. I slowly walked a little bit further, until I found some bushes to hide.
"Come on, C..." that would be the right time for her to pull her best Cullen act and come rescue me from the trouble. "Where are you?"
Eastern Europe, Pub - December, 2021
It felt too stupid to say it aloud. Or even think about it too much. But for the first time in her entire life, Cassandra was feeling insecure. If Gabriela said she wouldn't be going anywhere, then why she was still feeling so anxious? Why she had that impression something was about to go seriously wrong?
Glancing at the table where they were sitting moments before, she noticed her girlfriend's seat was empty.
"Where is Gabriela?" Cassandra asked to everyone around her. "Where has she gone to? She was sitting right there only a couple of minutes ago!"
"Hey!" Bela touched her shoulder, forcing her to stop and face her. "Chill out. She has probably gone to the toilet."
"I'm going to check..."
"Come on, if you're going to control each one of her steps, how do you expect this to work? You're acting like mother!"
Her older sister was right. There was no reason to freak out like that. She took a deep breath as she returned to their table, keeping her eyes locked on the toilet's door.
"Don't you get paranoid sometimes?" She asked. "After everything that happened to Aleena?"
"Of course I do," Bela told. "But I gotta give her space. She hates when I act overprotective."
"I know, but something is not right. I can feel it. It's like being on a hunt and sensing the beast is watching you, ready to attack."
"You were too stressed about that whole thing with her ex. You should try to relax a bit."
Cassandra drummed her fingers on the table nervously. Five minutes had passed. And then ten. It was becoming more and more obvious Gabriela wasn't there in the pub anymore.
"Maybe she felt uncomfortable because we were drinking," Daniela suggested.
"Yeah, she probably went back to the castle," Bela added. "You should try calling her."
Cassandra grabbed her phone, dialing Gabriela's number furiously. There was no answer. She tried again. And again. Her sisters were staring, a little bit impressed by her behavior. When it became obvious something was wrong, their expression changed.
"Uhhh... the signal is always going dead," the youngest suggested.
"Shut up!"
She stood up abruptly and headed to the door. Outside, she heard a noise. A noise she was familiar with. She dialed Gabriela's number again. That was her ringtone. Cassandra kept walking until she found it. Her phone was lying on the ground, a few meters away from the pub.
"What about now?" She asked her sisters, who were following right behind. "Do you still think I'm being overprotective?"
Eastern Europe, Woods - December, 2021
A loud growl made me hold on my knees tighter, while I waited for the right moment to leave my hiding spot. Hank was still walking around, my ears could detect, not only by his footsteps but also by his constant swearing.
"What the fuck is that now?!" He yelled. "Come on, Gabriela. Stop playing hard to get! If a wolf appears I swear for god..."
I muffled a laugh. Hank, the drug dealer, the leader of a gang, was afraid of a wild animal. He was capable of beating a woman, but not able to handle a wolf. Werewolf. Deep down I hoped it was one of the Lycans Cassandra told me about. While my ex-fiancé got torn apart, I'd definitely take the opportunity to run.
"More likely a Lycan," I yelled back, as I noticed he was walking in the opposite direction. "A human/werewolf hybrid. It's common in this area."
"Haha very funny. What? Are we going to run into Santa Claus too?"
While Hank looked around, searching for me with a flashlight. I moved to another hiding spot, behind a tree.
"Oh, no. But you better pray my vampire girlfriend won't find you. She knows these woods like the palm of her hands."
"Vampire girlfriend?!" He let out a loud laugh. "Guess you're not so clean as you claim. Do you think I'm afraid of some yokel with a shotgun?"
The noises grew even closer. I could easily hear the creature's breathing and sniffing for fresh human meat. It was a matter of time before it found us.
"What the... AHHHHH!"
Hank's voice was cut by a long and brutal howl, as well as the noise of the Lycan's jaws tearing the fabric of his clothes. And maybe his flesh, I prayed.
I had to run, right now, before I became the next prey. I closed my eyes, trying to remember the castle's direction from the day we fought that scientist and his bioweapons.
I took a moment to breathe and I wondered if Cassandra could be out there, searching for me. I wondered if she had even noticed I was missing. I couldn't tell how much time had passed since I left her at the pub.
My face skin was starting to burn due to the low temperature. My ankles were hurting intensely, but I could feel I was close. I almost could see the castle's front grounds.
"Stop! Right there!" Fuck, Hank was still alive. Somehow he managed to escape from the Lycan's attack.
I looked back, but I couldn't see him anywhere. I just could hear as he pulled the trigger. And the loud noise that echoed through the night.
A burning sensation hit me right on my left shoulder. I swallowed dry, avoiding to look at the blood that was starting to soak my hand as I pressed the wound. I could try to ignore the pain, but I couldn't ignore that smell. That smell was everywhere in the village I lived as a child. That smell filled the small house I lived with my family, as they got shot and nothing was left of them, except for their corpses. I started feeling so sick I was about to vomit.
I kept running as fast as I could until I reached the castle's front door. I entered the main hall, hoping anyone would be there to help me. I gathered all my strength to yell from help, but then...
"Gotcha!"
Hank's body landed right on top of mine, sending us both to the floor. The impact made my injured shoulder hurt even more. But I had to remain strong, I had to fight.
"HELP!" I screamed while I kicked him, trying to get away from his hands that kept trying to grab me. "SOMEBODY HELP ME!"
"You're not going anywhere, Gabs," Hank pulled me by my ankle, laying his body on top of mine. His weight was enough to immobilize me. When I closed my eyes, all I could feel was his breath on my face. "You're mine."
"No! I hate you, Hank. I hate you!"
He was ready to plunge that syringe right into my neck. I closed my eyes, waiting for my fate. I didn't feel the sharp pain from the needle. I didn't feel the burning substance going through my veins. Instead, I felt something warm being spilled on my face and then soaking my clothes.
Blood. More blood.
I opened my eyes, just in time to see long metallic claws going through Hank's body, leaving multiple holes into his chest cavity. His eyes widened and he still tried to clutch the wounds for a second. But then, he fell on top of me. Dead.
When I pushed his dead body aside, Lady Dimitrescu was standing right behind him.
"Thank you, Ms. Rodriguez," she said with a smirk. "The other girlfriend has never brought me any gifts before."
But I couldn't say anything. I could only focus on Hank's dead body and the puddle of blood underneath it.
Eastern Europe, Woods - December, 2021
Cassandra closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. The familiar tingling sensation started running through every inch of her body. Only to stop, a couple of seconds later.
"FUCK!" She yelled, kicking a considerably large rock in frustration.
She lost count of how many times she had already tried to shape into her swarm form and failed. The cold weather, and not consuming any fresh blood in the last few days, was blocking her abilities.
"Cassandra," Bela touched her shoulder. She pulled away from her contact.
"I'll never find her in time. We need a car!"
"Let's go back to the village. We can get the truck."
"I mean a real car, Bela. Do you think we'll be able to go any far with that useless piece of junk?"
She started to cough. A sign the low temperature was already causing damage to her body. Daniela was unusually quiet for a while now. That should be another sign. When Cassandra looked at her, her skin was already start to acquire a grey coloration.
"It's still better than walking in circles," Bela's lips were purple too. "We've checked every part of these woods. She's not here."
It could only be Gabriela's ex. And once Cassandra found that stupid manthing, she would kill him. She would certainly kill him. A long and painful death, that was what he deserved. And there would be some bloody torture too...
She took another deep breath to dismiss those thoughts. She couldn't allow herself to be distracted. Not at the moment.
The cold air burned her airways. Her breathing was also starting to become shallow. It was useless to fool herself any longer, her body was definitely starting to fail.
They followed back to the pub to get the truck. When they were ready to enter the vehicle, Daniela lost her balance, almost falling to the ground.
"We need to take her back to the castle," Bela told, placing their younger sister on the seat. "She's in a bad shape."
"We can't!" Cassandra argued. "We can't waste anymore time. If we take too long, he will have time enough to take her to an airport and disappear."
"Be reasonable, Cassandra. We will never make it so far, we've been exposed to the cold for too long now. Our bodies are starting to fail."
Even if Cassandra hated to admit it, she was right again. They'd be dead before they even reached the nearest airport. She kicked the truck's panel in rage. What made the tape, stuck inside the player for decades, to be ejected. She and Bela exchanged a shocked glance.
"Great! Now we can finally burn it," Daniela whispered. Though her voice was weak, she was still able to show some excitement.
"No," Cassandra spoke, as they started to drive away. "I'll keep it. This is the kind of music I'll be listening from now on. Now Gabriela is gone."
"You can go after her in London."
"Sure, it'll be easy as hell to find her. I just need to approach someone on the streets and ask where I can buy drugs from a guy named Hank!"
"If he kidnapped her," Bela said, pensive, "I don't think he'll be taking her back to London. He'll probably choose somewhere else."
"Can you be a little optimistic for once, please?" Cassandra rolled her eyes in disbelief and frustration. "At least during Christmas' month?"
When they arrived, Cassandra noticed the castle's lights were on. Great. Lady Dimitrescu had noticed their absence. Besides losing Gabriela, she'd have to endure another lecture.
Bela helped Daniela to walk, while she opened the door for them. Once she looked inside, she was surprised by what she saw.
"Gabriela," she rushed to her girlfriend's side. She was sitting on the floor, completely soaked in blood. Her face was very pale and her eyes were wide. She was in shock.
By her side, Hank was dead. For a second, Cassandra assumed the foreigner had been the one to end his life. But then she noticed the familiar wounds on his chest. Wounds that only her mother's claws could've caused.
"Oh, finally," Lady Dimitrescu was also standing there with a frown. "Before the three of you explain where you were, I need someone to take this piece of garbage to the cellars. He already lost too much blood. We need to save some for the next few days."
Cassandra didn't move. Screw Lady Dimitrescu and her orders. All she wanted in that moment was to take care of her human girlfriend. She held Gabriela protectively in her arms. That was when she noticed the gunshot wound on her shoulder.
"You're hurt. I... We'll have to take a look at this."
Castle Dimitrescu, Cassandra's Bedroom - December, 2021
Gabriela was still unable to express any reactions when Cassandra carried her to her bedroom. After getting rid of her bloodied clothes, she placed the foreigner on her bed.
The gunshot wound was her only injury, causing her a lot of pain and a considerable blood loss. If only Cassandra was in shape, she could simply feed her with some of her blood. But at the moment, it would be useless. She was too weak from being exposed to the cold.
"Okay," she spoke after cleaning the injury and checking if it had an exit wound. "First thing, we need to get this bullet removed."
Mrs. Petrova had brought her some medical aid supplies. Cassandra also ordered her to bring some medication Lady Dimitrescu had retrieved from Miranda's previous laboratory.
After injecting some anesthetic near the injury, she was finally able to remove the bullet and close the wound with stitches.
"Done. Look at that, not even Bela would have done such a good job. I could've been a doctor or a nurse if I hadn't became a monster."
Gabriela didn't laugh at her joke. Instead, she looked at the wound on her shoulder. Then, she projected herself to the bathroom, where Cassandra could hear as she emptied her stomach. She went there to help her to return to the bed. Once there, Gabriela wrapped her uninjured arm around her body.
"C..." she sobbed. "H-He took... he took me after I left the pub to answer the p... phone. I... I thought he'd take me away. I... I was hoping you'd... f-find me..."
"Shhhh," Cassandra kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry, babe. I'm so useless in the cold weather. I couldn't use my usual tricks to find you, walking on those woods took me a long time."
"Were you... were you going to give up?"
"Hell no! I was ready to drive to the end of the world to find you. I was scared that son of a bitch would take you to another country or something."
Gabriela raised her head, looking at her with teary eyes.
"He's dead, Cassandra," she spoke. "Hank's dead now. I... I didn't want it to end this way. Do you... Do you think this is my fault?"
"If he had respected you and left you alone, none of this would've happened. It's not your fault, don't blame yourself for that."
"Can I stay here with you tonight? I don't want to be alone."
"As long as you need, babe."
Castle Dimitrescu, Living Room - December, 2021
Due to that traumatic night, as well as the intense pain, I was only able to get some sleep after the painkillers Cassandra gave me started taking effect. I still woke up many times during the night with my heart thundering inside my chest. It was like I still could feel Hank's arms around my body, ready to kidnap and attack me. Or the moment when his blood got spilled all over me, when Lady Dimitrescu killed him.
Cassandra didn't get any sleep. She was awake during the whole night to watch me, to make sure I was alright. And despite of everything, when I was lying in her arms I knew for the first time in my life I was safe and well. As long as I was with her.
In the morning, I didn't feel like eating. My head ached and I was still drowsy and nauseous from the medication. I'd have spent the day in bed if I could.
My brain was finally starting to process everything that happened. Hank was dead. Lady Dimitrescu killed him. Right now, she should probably be consuming the remains of his blood and flesh. I also remembered how she just stood there, not offering me any help when she noticed I was injured.
I wondered if she would've killed me too, if Cassandra hadn't arrived. She would never find out. She would've thought I was alive, living somewhere else in the world, along with Hank.
I feared what would be coming next for me. Anytime I had to face something traumatic, I would engage in self-destructive habits. I feared I'd give in to the temptation and drown myself in alcohol and drugs again, to numb that pain. I feared this time I would finally accomplish what I had been wishing so hard and go to prison.
There was no way I could go back to London. Not now. In that village, with Cassandra by my side, I'd be safe from myself too.
I didn't see her for hours. When I finally left the bedroom, I found her in the kitchen, working hard to arrange some flowers into a bouquet.
"Crap! It seemed so easy..." and obviously failing. Such a delicate task didn't match Cassandra Dimitrescu's skills.
She didn't even notice I was standing there, observing the mess she was causing.
"What's next? Will you start to recite poetry too?" I taunted, letting out a small laugh.
"Gabriela!" I could swear her cheeks acquired a pink coloration. Her yellow eyes stared at me and at the flowers spread around the table. "I... I was... screw it."
She stood up and approached me, checking every inch of my body to make sure I was fine. The bullet wound certainly hurt, but the biggest damage she wouldn't be able to detect. The one inside my mind.
"You look cute when you blush," I pinched her cheek. "And when you try so hard to be something you're not."
I looked again at the flowers spread on the table. Some of them barely had any petals left. I giggled.
"Well, next time I better hunt something especially for you then."
"As long as it isn't a human, I accept."
"How are you coping?" Cassandra rested her hand on my waist.
"I'll be okay," I bit my lower lip and looked down, unsure of my own words. "But I'll need you to be there for me. I may do things that I'll regret. Things that will hurt myself, or even hurt you in the process. Can you do that? Can you be patient and accept me, even my worst side?"
"Sure. After all, you accepted me as I am."
I rested my head on her chest, listening to her heartbeats. We stood like that for minutes, in complete silence. And I knew for the first time in my life I had made the right choice.
Yes, I accepted Cassandra Dimitrescu as she was. And she was wonderful. She was all I ever sought for.
Eastern Europe, Airport - December, 2021
A couple of hours later, I drove Bela to the nearest airport. Cassandra had offered herself for the task, but I knew how much she hated saying goodbye to her sister. And I needed a distraction urgently.
"You should visit us some time. I'm sure you and Aleena will get along greatly."
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," I smiled. "We should start a conversation group on our phones - 'people heavily traumatized by mutations, infections and other stuff'."
Bela agreed, letting out a laugh.
"Gabriela, I have something for you," she spoke hesitantly, before heading to inside the airport. From one of her bags, she retrieved a cell phone. "She asked me to give it to you, after that day in the laboratory."
"What?"
"Ada. It's a burner phone, if you ever need to speak to her again."
I looked at the small device in my hands, unsure about what I should do about it.
"Thank you, Bela. Stay safe there, in California."
"Thanks, stay safe you too. And take care of Cassandra for me."
In the car, I turned on the cell phone. Apparently nothing was stored there, except for Ada's number. I bit my lower lip, considering my options.
As I drove back to the village, I reflected about everything that took me there in first place. I would never forget my family, my people and what happened to them, but I was ready to move on. At least for now.
I opened the window, throwing out the phone as far as I could.
Note ²: Thank you so much for reading and for your patience. I also wrote a couple of chapters for a sequel to The Devil In I and also a sequel to this fic. I'm still wondering if I'm going to post or not. I haven't played the DLC yet, so I'm hoping it will re-ignite my RE8 obsession.
