June 26th, 2023 - Two weeks after the 'Manhattan Outbreak'
154 kilometers to the south-west of Alice Springs, Australia
Mia Winters wiped the sweat off her forehead with a rose-motif handkerchief. The scorching sun was unbearable in this inhospitable locale and her brown wide-brimmed hat was hardly sufficient to protect her head from the overbearing heatwave.
With dark bags under her eyes, Mia allowed her weary gaze to roam across the sun-seared plains that dominated the landscape before focusing on gargantuan plateau in the distance. The ambient heat was intense enough that the surrounding plains were shimmering.
She wished to be anywhere but here, but fate left her little choice in the matter.
Not taking her eyes off the impressive plateau far in the distance, Mia attempted to wet her parched lips, but even her tongue was seemingly unable to provide the needed moisture. Her throat felt driest it has ever been in her life.
"Thirsty?"
A bottle of water was suddenly thrust before her face. Mia did not hesitate in making a grab for it, before greedily chugging it all down her throat. The relief she felt from the chill liquid was unfortunately limited to alleviating the dryness of her throat; it did nothing for the ache in her heart. Still, she was grateful to her partner in crime for the gesture.
"Thanks, Seb."
Mia knew Sebastian Hale for a very long time. As a matter of fact, Mia first met Sebastian even before Ethan Winters entered her life. And for as long as she knew Sebastian, she knew him to be a selfish, manipulative man; a snake who was only in it for himself and his little material goals of further enrichment. He never had any qualms about sucking naive little girls like her onto the dark path from which there was no return - he never cared about who got hurt as long as he got what he wanted. The end justifies the means for that petty little man - the end being meeting the deadlines for the shitty projects he was in charge of; a promotion in the Connections and a fat bonus so he could get smashed drunk on the best liquid, with all the expensive whores money could buy at his side.
Gulping down the rest of the water, Mia couldn't help but consider the fact that even this seemingly shallow man did not emerge unscathed from this whole ordeal. The string of defeats suffered at the hands of Ethan, followed by being relegated to play a second fiddle to Fettel made him start questioning the life choices he has made up until that moment; the direct part he was forced to play in the atrocity that was the Bioterror attack on Manhattan had really driven that point home and seemingly made him reassess his values and life goals. Somehow, it appeared that doing basically the same thing had a drastically different impact on one's psyche when overseeing it from a gilded office on the other side of the world and when being right in the thick of it, surrounded by death and misery.
Still, Mia would've never taken Sebastian as someone who would've gone against his direct orders by sabotaging one of the C-Virus bombs, with his only excuse being that he had 'never signed up for this shit'. Mia wasn't sure if Sebastian simply wanted to spite Fettel with his little act of defiance or if he genuinely sought to limit the casualties, but she was content with his choice, nevertheless. Like him, she never signed up to orchestrate a viral outbreak in a dense population center, but was simply unable to quit due to being far too deep in it. It seemed like she and Sebastian were more alike than she originally thought…
Even more than his sudden change of heart, Mia definitely did not expect him to actually come back for her once she had contacted him after having escaped from the Anti-Connections Task Force HQ. Yet he did. More than that even, the man has proven just as resourceful as a fugitive on the run as a talented headhunter and project overseer for the Connections. Even with the organization in question crumbling all around them and their limited resources and contacts dwindling by the minute, Sebastian had managed to safely guide them out of the quarantined Manhattan; past all the security checkpoints and vigilant patrols - it was amazing how much a fat wad of cash or a sob-story about an ailing grandmother could accomplish, but Mia had no qualms about admitting that Sebastian had a silver tongue. He had managed to talk her into joining an international crime syndicate, after all; she shouldn't be too surprised that he also managed to talk their way past a couple of national guardsmen.
But there was one patrol, headed by a particularly meticulous guardsman, they could not talk their way through. Something more substantial had to be done. This is where Haru has proven his merit by - at Mia's command - simultaneously infecting all five troopers with his elongated mold tentacles. Thankfully, their barbed edges, expelled with unnatural force, were capable of penetrating the guardsmen's biohazard uniforms. Unfortunately, the inoculations the biohazard-rated troops underwent rendered them highly resistant even to the mind-controlling mold strain.
Instead of taking over them completely like he was designed to do, Haru could merely paralyze them, and even then, only for as long as he maintained the connection.
Out of time and knowing that more guardsmen could show up at any time, Mia had no choice but to leave the child behind, therefore ensuring her own escape. Even as she swallowed the tears of grief at the realization of her own depravity and selfishness she prayed that Haru would end up better off for it - perhaps someone would be able to reverse the harm she had done upon him and grant him a second lease on life.
Not that escaping New York City was the end of Mia's and Sebastian's trials - only the start of them, however.
With the tables turned, it was their faces now that were all over the wanted posters and on every goddamn TV screen. It took their combined wit and cunning to elude their many pursuers: the righteous lawmen and vengeful rivals - eager to get a bite out of the dying alpha of the bioterror world. The last two weeks were a testament to their will to survive, as well as their grit and resourcefulness. Spending their days hiding in abandoned hovels or forgotten ruins, with nights used for concealed movement - these activities were not for the faint of heart. Nor were cutting deals with most unsavory types imaginable - the kind that would sell out their own mother for a thousand bucks.
As she went through this horrid ordeal, Mia truly had no time to worry about anyone but herself, though that did not prevent her from hoping that her own loved ones fared better than herself. Her own mother for once - the poor elderly woman could likely suffer from a heart attack just by reading the newspaper and seeing her own flesh and blood portrayed as a murderous terrorist on the run.
At least Mia could be certain in Rose's well-being. Ethan might've been a stubborn jackass who could've possibly avoided all this unpleasantness by simply joining their side when offered, but he was also one amazing fucking dad who would turn the world upside down to protect their daughter. Even with the spark of love between herself and Ethan fading seemingly for good, Mia could trust him to do that much for their daughter.
Perhaps also guided by that comforting knowledge, Mia was able to somehow overcome the many challenges of the last two weeks - sometimes by literally crawling through the piss and shit down in the sewers. And now, the two of them, as well as a bunch of like-minded former colleagues and now fellow fugitives, found themselves in the most inhospitable continent on Earth - Australia.
It was deeply ironic, some would even say karmic that the former B.O.W. researchers and peddlers found themselves hiding from justice in a region most ravaged by bioterror. Nevertheless, anyone who knew anything could see the merit in such a decision. Inland Australia was a desolate and lawless land, home to myriads of violent gangs of mutants and outlaws. No hand of law could ever hope to reach it, nor would any agent of justice be brave enough to come search for them here.
This was a highly dangerous place, but as long as they remained in favor of the local warlord, they could be relatively safe. Mia felt like gagging as she recalled the warlord's pockmarked and deformed face.
It was nothing short of a miracle that Sebastian managed to talk the half-mutated freak into granting them a temporary asylum - it only took the promise that Sebastian would reveal the hidden caches of weapons and schematics that the Connections had in the area. Mia dearly hoped that Sebastian wasn't just talking out of his ass when he made that promise. She wasn't looking to be eaten alive by the cannibalistic locals that eyed her like a particularly tasty piece of meat when they had passed by them.
"You're welcome. Tired?"
Somehow, out of all the crazy stuff that happened, it was the most incredulous thing to Mia, that despite everything that occurred, Sebastian still managed to retain that air of courtesy he always had when addressing her. It didn't even sound faked during this whole tumultuous interval of time.
"Yeah…"
Tired was an understatement. Mia was fucking exhausted, with every muscle aching and every bone feeling as if it was about to break from even a minor further exertion. The way into this forsaken hellhole was not easy by any stretch of the word - a condition that was only further exacerbated by the fact that the surrounding area was simply too rugged and uneven for most vehicles, forcing the small group of fugitives to traverse it on foot.
Navigating through forgotten minefields, treacherous tar pits and snake-infested swamplands was no joke - even with the aid of the experienced guide from the settlement of Alice Springs, whose services Sebastian managed to procure, Mia got far too close to having her journey cut prematurely, more than once. She hated fucking snakes.
The price of safety was high indeed - a fitting punishment for her many transgressions, Mia supposed.
"I've prepared a tent for you… get some rest." Sebastian's offer was not only welcome, but reasonable, as well. With the scorching sun overhead, most locals took to shifting their sleep patterns in a bid to avoid its wilting gaze - adopting a more nocturnal lifestyle. Mia could see the wisdom in that, even if she found the aforementioned locals to be a repulsive bunch of deformed mutants.
Deciding to follow up on Sebastian's suggestion, Mia has finally had enough of the savage yet picturesque view ahead of her and slowly turned her head to regard the man next to her. Truthfully, she had always found Sebastian to be a physically attractive individual and few could blame her for that.
Sebastian was a tall, well-built man with a handsome face and soulful green eyes. Previously, Mia had found his overly groomed appearance pretentious and pompous, but that issue was solved quite handily by the events of the last weeks.
As Mia gazed on Sebastian's weary face, she could detect no hint of his previous air of self-importance. Instead, all she could see was a notable increase of ruggedness to his features; with an according decrease to unhealthy body fat the man previously possessed due to his hedonistic lifestyle. His once-suave haircut was replaced by hand-brushed tangled mess and his previously clear-shaven jawline was hidden behind a stubble that was on its way to soon becoming a proper beard. The haughty arrogance that was ordinarily present in his eyes and expression both was replaced by resignation and composure in equal measures.
Overall, this new look of hardy perseverance suited Sebastian… as far as Mia was concerned anyway.
Mia had expected this harrowing experience to break this little-minded man… instead, it seemed to have an opposite effect by forging him into a gritty survivor. It was an unexpected development, but certainly not an unwelcome one, given the fact that their fates were tied together now.
"Rest sounds good…" Mia's words were followed by a grateful smile, directed at Sebastian. The man smiled in turn - not his usual kind of a smile that only served to convey his superiority, but a simple, soft smile that had no particular underlying meaning. Mia found the smile charming.
Slowly moving towards the aforementioned tent, with Sebastian shadowing her steps, Mia let out a question she has been thinking about, "How long do you think we will have to lay low out here? I hate this fucking place already…"
The man matched his pace with hers as he took his place by her side. Sebastian's face adopted a pensive expression as he thought hard about her question. He wasn't a highly ranked executive in the Connections for nothing, so the answer came swift yet was thought-out and even somewhat precise.
"I share the sentiment, but you know that this is the best place to just vanish from the face of Earth - exactly what we need to do for a while…" Sebastian wiped the sweat off his forehead and took a deep breath of air, before continuing.
"There are a lot of moving parts to consider, but I think we should do our best to lay low for around ten to twelve weeks." Before Mia could ask for him to provide the reasoning for such a count, he did so himself, "My inside source assures me that B.S.A.A. current fervor for hunting Connections' personnel can not possibly last long. The Bloodfang gonna dominate public awareness in the comic weeks and the pressure from it will force the Alliance to refocus their efforts on our terrorist friends. Then, I anticipate that their attention will be wholly taken by all the wannabes crawling out of every fucking hole in the ground, trying to fill the Connections shoes. That won't leave them any time or resources chasing ghosts like us."
Mia nodded, consenting with his notion. Entering her tent - which was thankfully a proper high-tier product with an in-built AC unit of some kind - the woman plopped right on the mattress, though her gaze lingered on Sebastian's face. Somehow, even though she should've known better, Mia felt like this was a face she could trust.
She felt uncharacteristically open and vulnerable at this moment. The accumulated grief and exhaustion finally reached its spilling point and she could bottle her feelings no longer.
"I just want to see Rose again some day… I just want to see my baby…just hold my dear girl close to my chest…"
Even though tearing up was the last thing she wanted to do, it was exactly what happened, complete with sobbing and shaking. Surprisingly, instead of mocking her or telling her to get her shit together, the man said nothing.
Instead, Mia felt a pair of strong hands curling around her back. The gentle, soothing motions that followed miraculously managed to drive the despair away. That gnawing knowledge that she was all alone in the world had no hold on her heart, not when someone - anyone - displayed such compassion towards her. And maybe she would've been utterly disgusted if Sebastian dared to lay his filthy hands on her years ago, but now…? Now, to her utter shock, she found his touch welcome and even truly comforting.
They remained like that on the mattress, just an amoral B.O.W. peddler and a selfish monster breeder, locked in a warm embrace that brought solace to them both, for it showed them that they were not alone.
After half a minute Sebastian pulled back, but remained on his knees as he looked at Mia with his soulful green eyes. She never truly appreciated how beautiful they were… not until today.
There was an unmistakable hint of compassion on his face and Mia was certain that it was not faked. "You will, I promise." Sebastian paused for a second, before collecting his thoughts and providing further good news, "I have… an acquaintance working in Terrasave here. She owes me big, and I am certain I can get us smuggled to Vladivostok as soon as things with the B.S.A.A. die down a bit. There, I should still have a forger contact who should be able to provide us with new IDs. From there, we should be able to regain some freedom of movement."
Mia could only nod in response, followed by a genuine if small smile. That sounded like a solid plan, and a solid plan was the best thing one could find in times of such chaos and uncertainty. Feeling utter exhaustion creeping in, Mia could not hold in a yawn, the sight of which made Sebastian let out a chuckle.
"I'd say that I wish that things would turn out differently and that we should just play the hand we've been dealt, but…" Sebastian swallowed, momentarily nervous, "...but that would not be entirely truthful, I guess."
That was the most weird fucking sentence Mia ever heard from the conceited and self-important executive. Didn't he just lose everything? The accumulated prestige, all the underlings he ordered around, all the luxuries he possessed, his bank accounts and savings - all gone in a poof. Yet he didn't appear too broken over his obliterated fortunes at this moment… instead, the man seemed almost upbeat - as if he gained something equally precious in turn.
Before she could fully process it, Sebastian stood up, made a show of dusting his jeans - an old habit of his - and proceeded to exit the tent, though not before shooting Mia a wink.
"Get some rest."
The curtain closed, leaving Mia alone with her many thoughts. Too tired to dwell on them further and soothed by the pleasantly chill air inside the tent, the confused fugitive merely shrugged her slender shoulders before crashing down on her mat and falling asleep in less than a minute.
For once, her frantic mind was not tormented by countless worries, for she knew that Rose was safe and well and Ethan would continue keeping her so no matter what. And at the end of the day, that was what mattered to Mia the most.
Mia's dreams that night were blissfully simple and quiet. Rose was the only guest that frequented them, and in it they were finally reunited - like mother and her child should be.
For once in a very long time, Mia Winters smiled as she slept.
September 11th, 2023 - Three months after the 'Manhattan Outbreak'
Prague, Czech Republic
Chris Redfield skimmed through the digital copy of a report with bated breath, until his tired eyes finally arrived at the verdict at the end of it.
Mold proliferation/stability: within acceptable parameters
Observations to continue. No further action is mandated.
The veteran let out a deep, relieved sigh as the implications sunk in. Allowing himself a short break from his virtual mountain of digital paperwork, Chris groggily staggered towards his fridge, eager for a can of ice-cold beer.
The freezing liquid that soon soothed his parched throat felt heavenly as Chris downed the can in one go before crumpling it with his powerful fingers and flinging it in the garbage bin.
Stretching his sore neck, the formidable captain allowed himself a further moment of peace as he stepped up to the window to admire the night city that was open to his gaze.
That breathtaking sight of a bustling metropolis, alive and brimming with life even so late in the evening was always something Chris found particularly inspiring. Many might take it for granted, but Chris never forgot that indisputable fact that behind every little light out there, was a human soul that sought safety from a harsh world that sometimes felt like it was out to get them all. Naturally, that thought process brought him back to his dear friend, the one he let down so many times.
Even though he was on the other side of the planet right now, just like the majority of this city's inhabitants, Ethan Winters was once just a normal human civilian, getting by on his modest salary and hoping for a peaceful life. Unlike them, however, Ethan was exposed to a soul-crushing experience of being entangled in the barbed wire of intentional bioterrorism - the experience that should've utterly obliterated any ordinary civilian… yet Ethan Winters emerged all the stronger from it, though he still longed for a life of peace and love - a life Chris was determined to ensure happened. Even with the Connections dismantled and all who wished Ethan ill dead or on the run themselves, that was not as simple as one might think.
Three months ago, in that Blacksite facility near New York City, the B.S.A.A. technicians were left speechless as they tested the Ethan's body and found it composed almost entirely of mutated mold cells. 99.1%, to be more precise - and they all mimicked the human analogues they replaced perfectly. It was a far cry from the first time Chris had chosen to cover up for his friend - back then when his mold composition was a mere 2.6% and when Mia had promised to keep an eye on him.
"What a fucking splendid job she did…"
Chris never felt himself quite as much of a fool as when Mia had revealed her true colors. She played them all like a fiddle with her half-truths and masterfully-weaved deceptions… For seemingly a thousandth time, Chris couldn't help but briefly wonder just where the hell Mia was now. Despite their best efforts to locate and apprehend her, it seemed like the woman simply vanished from the face of Earth and now the B.S.A.A. was more or less forced to redirect their attention elsewhere.
She is smart, I'll give her that… probably hiding out in Australia where locating her would be harder than finding a single needle in a field of stacks of hay. "Ah, to hell with Mia…"
Regardless of Mia, with Ethan's state being as it was, it was hardly surprising that there were a number of voices that had demanded his immediate extermination, or, at the very least - an indefinite containment.
But Chris would have none of that.
Ethan's cellular composition be damned, Chris knew that this was still the man he had met all these years ago, that same earnest, kind-hearted and good-natured man. Ethan was still the same man who would eagerly go to hell and back for his loved ones, with no obstacle being insurmountable when they were in danger. A true friend, and a father like no other.
And so, Chris had pulled on all of the strings he could, called in every favor, only to allow for Ethan to experience that bliss of peace he had fought so hard for.
But even that was not enough for them to leave Ethan alone - the B.S.A.A. high command insisted on mandatory weekly tests and each single one of them could spell instant doom for Ethan Winters.
If he would be found to be either contagious or unstable, there could be no freedom for Ethan, regardless of how much he had bled for it, and reluctantly Chris had to consent with that notion. One man's freedom, no matter how hard Chris sympathized with him, could not endanger the well-being of so many others.
Chris was the one who took full responsibility for Ethan's continued freedom and that made him the man who would be called upon to take it away, if it was proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that Ethan was dangerous for all those near him.
That is why Chris felt like the weight of the world was taken from his shoulders each time he confirmed that the worst possible scenario still did not occur - and God willing - will never occur.
Letting out a tired sigh as his no less tired gaze lazily swept across the myriad of lights, Chris willed the dark thoughts about his good friend away; instead replacing them with different ones.
After all, Ethan Winters was hardly the only object of worry that occupied Chris' mind lately.
Now, three months after their daring action that resulted in the global uprising of Replica Platoons - with a singular directive of obliterating the Connections, the full scale of damage inflicted upon that nefarious organization was more or less clear.
The efforts of the Anti-Connection Task Force - with the so called 'moldy gang' at the forefront of action, were not in vain. Armed with secret knowledge provided by the late defector James Sallow and with Eveline able to hijack the psychic signal by taking over its biological host, they were able to turn on the entire Replica Force against the organization.
For all their international prowess, the Connections had little defense against legions of cloned supersoldiers sent their way. Most of their facilities relied on subterfuge rather than physical defenders to protect themselves, but even those that did not stood little chance against the tidal wave of superhuman bodies that crashed against them. For the Connections, it was like a biblical flood of old, and unfortunately for them, they had no Noah to build an ark to protect them from it.
Not a single marked facility survived the carnage of these several bloody days; the death toll of the Connections' rank-and-file was staggering, with even some executives falling prey to the unexpected assault. Their lines of supplies were utterly ruined as well, leaving little hope for those remaining to pick up the pieces.
In a single stroke, the Connections were obliterated, leaving behind top managers and their closest lackeys - but even these found their international deposits frozen and a global manhunt like no other declared for their heads. The vast majority of the Connections' middle management and even the elusive Council of Twelve were either dead or behind iron bars; with only occasional hold-outs like Mia and her handler Sebastian still out in the wind.
But even beyond the mortal damage they inflicted upon the Connections, the fallout of Replica going on a rampage led to a downfall of Armacham Technology Corporation, as well.
Seeing how their Replica soldiers worldwide suddenly abandoned their posts and went on their way to murder and destroy had a profound impact on all those who had a stake in the company. Contracts were broken, investors pulled out and legal action was taken, leading to the mega-corporation declaring bankruptcy a mere month later; with their CEO found dead in her own office - the cause of death being a self-inflicted gunshot to the cranium.
Likewise, faced with the death of their leadership and indisputable accusations hurled their way, the United Nations had no choice but to launch a massive internal investigation, aimed at rooting out the remaining corruption within and returning the international organization to its noble origins. Naturally, under pressure from the interested parties, the acting Secretary-General swiftly removed Ethan and Dimitrescus from the U.N. Most Wanted list, citing that the old corrupt management had a personal vendetta against the innocent group due to them possessing compromising information on the former.
As far as Chris was concerned, all this was a huge win for Ethan in particular and against the evil of their world in general; but it hardly brought the War against Bioterrorism to a definitive end - but it did much to expose the deep roots of the corruption that took hold in their world. Unfortunately for them all, a great many people chose to focus their limited attention on the flashiest event, rather than the underlying causes that led to it being possible in the first place.
The Bloodfang's outrageous attack against the citizens of New York was as sudden as it was bloody. Over thirty thousand confirmed dead, with ten thousand more declared missing - the people were crying out for vengeance against that terrorist organization in particular.
Moreover, once the info about B.S.A.A.'s operation against the Connections were leaked, a new accusation against the international guarantor of safety was leveraged - that in their dogged chase against the Connections they failed to note the preparations Bloodfang took before their fateful attack.
There was some painful truth in that accusation, but overall it appeared laughable to Chris, as he knew well that people like Bloodfang were armed to the teeth precisely by organizations such as the Connections, yet under enormous public pressure (which was further egged on by interested parties on social media), one month ago B.S.A.A. had no choice but fully refocus their attention on the Bloodfang, to the detriment of their ongoing hunt for the remnants of Connections as well - and more importantly - the chase for those who had a stake in it.
Today, little was done to indict the powerful associates of the Connections, despite their identities being known both from Sallow's reports and B.S.A.A.'s own cross-reference efforts. The lawyers of these influential figures threatened legal action for merely mentioning the so-called 'circumstantial evidence' the organization possessed, and with the debacle that was the Manhattan crisis, B.S.A.A. had no choice but to let most of them go.
Chris could not abide that.
These powerful men and women might not have been a direct part of the Connections, but that whole organization was possible in the first place due to their deep pockets and insatiable desires. These highly influential people - CEOs of pharmaceutical and PMC corporations, Ministers of Defense, Chiefs of Staff and even some local warlords were all responsible for funding the Connections' R&D and production efforts. They were the ones who ordered the monsters in the first place… and the vast majority of them were walking scot free as B.S.A.A. found it 'infeasible to pursue further legal action in the current political climate.'
What was even more concerning were the reports from the newly developed Crisis Prevention wing of the B.S.A.A.
According to the wing's sources, perhaps emboldened by their apparent immunity, many of these businessmen and politicians now turned to the Connections' many rivals - who were eagerly claiming the void left behind by the aforementioned superorganization's demise. Nothing was done about all but the most egregious of these cases, as the tentative evidence they possessed was simply not enough to get through the walls of lawyers they surrounded themselves with.
And so the world moved on… it would not be long before another organization took over the late Connection's role completely at this rate. A year or two, and they would have another international peddler of B.O.W.s on their hands, and there was little anyone could do about it. Nothing legal, anyway.
In light of it all, Chris had finally turned in his badge and resigned from active service, keeping only an advisory position as well as his promise to handle Ethan, if it ever came to that. He did so with regret, as Chris remembered all the good things he had managed to achieve in the organization, but also acceptance, as he realized that he had achieved as much as was possible while constrained by the limitations of B.S.A.A.
Nevertheless, turning in his badge hardly meant that Chris would spend his evenings on his coach, watching footballs and guzzling beer. His remarkable expertise was still much thought for and his advisory role for the B.S.A.A. for more than just for show.
But more than anything else, Chris Redfield was determined to bring a lasting era of peace to his world, so that children could grow up without the fear of outbreaks always looming over them. He could not hope to do that while working within the tight legal framework, therefore he started working an angle of his own.
Some would call him a radicalized extremist for what he had planned; a murderer, but Chris found himself resolute to make sure that the hand of justice would reach those who had eluded it for so long while tainting the world with their insatiable greed. He has had enough of fighting monsters and terrorists on the ground, it was time to reach out to grab their many sponsors by the throat.
Were they aware of his plans, many of his own colleagues would feel like the brave B.S.A.A. Captain had finally gone insane after all the accumulated trauma, but that would not stop Chris from wishing to excise the cancer that had afflicted his world for so long.
Fortunately for Chris, there were a number of like-minded people who offered their silent support to his carefully-worded proposition. While naturally unable to openly embrace such an unlawful method, Leon Kennedy knew that sometimes one needed to get dirty to get things done. And that was something that absolutely had to be done, if they wanted to preserve the fragile peace that settled after the fall of the Connections.
Chris had the names of the people who had to go, he had the resources to commit to this course and he most definitely had the needed resolve to see it through. But he was but one man against the many influential economical, military and political leaders of this world, all of them with formidable bodyguards and PMC guarding their worthless lives; some even totting entire private armies. For all his jaw-dropping achievements, Chris was not delusional enough to think that he could handle it on his own.
Therefore, for the last month, Chris Redfield searched far and wide among his extensive list of contacts for suitable men and women who could potentially join his little crusade. Today, he had finally called for the meeting with his first potential recruits, to be held in two hours in this rented flat.
A sudden presence brought Chris out of his grim musings and his hand immediately but subtly reached for his concealed sidearm - a well-honed reflex that has saved his life more than once.
As swiftly as it tensed, Chris' arm relaxed as he recognized the tell-tale sound of oh-so-familiar buzzing behind him, which soon was replaced by soft breathing. Its warmth tingled the hairs on the back of his neck - it was a pleasant feeling.
They had this little ritual repeating for the last two months, but Chris still found himself quite willing to indulge into it, so he did nothing as two slender arms circled around his midsection while a hot tongue started to softly lick at the nape of his neck.
The ministrations continued for several moments, but Chris did not move an inch, though he was quite aware of his swiftly growing arousal, as well as a modicum of annoyance that his instruction to use the damn door went unheeded once again. I should really start locking the damn window…
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of teasing, the wet tongue stopped, only to be replaced by a haughty voice, so sure of its owner's superiority.
"You are tense, Chris."
"Maybe you should unwind me then," Chris shot back in an instant. A bit tired from her games and knowing from experience that she could play them all evening, Chris easily broke through her admittedly impressive hold, before turning around to face the intruder. His eyes swiftly took in her whole frame, starting from her fashionable fur boots, going up her curve-hugging denim jeans and stylish black leather jacket, all the way to her grinning face.
Expectedly, her full lips were black as night and her flowing brunette locks framed her perfect face in the manner she was so fond of - long from the right side, short from the left. A spark of mischief in her amber orbs was unable to fully conceal her own growing arousal as she took a gaze at the bulge in his pants.
"Someone is happy to see me…" A delicate index finger performed a light caress against his cheek, while a pink tongue traveled from edge to edge of her black lips, so teasingly slowly. At her gentle touch and teasing performance, Chris was unable to suppress a shudder of excitement, causing her to let out a light giggle.
In this moment, as he stared upon her gorgeous face and her athletic yet feminine figure, a different kind of force took over Chris Redfield. Far from being a selfless hero of his past, or a ruthless punisher of his potential future, this force took the shape of primordial, purely selfish lust.
Unable and - more importantly - unwilling to stop himself, Chris smashed his coarse lips against her own in a savage kiss of brutal passion, even as his powerful arms took possessive hold of her graceful body.
The woman in his arms - if Cassandra Dimitrescu could even be categorized as a woman - instantly reciprocated with ferocious desire of her own, nibbling on his own lips and enjoying both the taste of their kiss as well as drops of his blood as her arms roamed across his back.
Neither in the mood for foreplay, the closest sofa was chosen to act as a support for their latest act of wild passion. Somewhere deep in the back of his mind, Chris was actually surprised that its seemingly flimsy construction was able to withstand the impact; much less the intense sex that followed.
And their passion for each other was intense indeed, with this latest copulating session including more than one pose and several penetrations, with fervent kissing, biting and groping in between. Despite this activity repeating itself a great many times in the last two months, they still simply could not get enough of each other.
Only after they were able to get the excess desire out of their systems and thoroughly worn each other out did the clarity of thought return to Chris, while Cassandra simply rested on her belly.
Inspecting the smooth contours of Cassandra's bare back as he lightly pawed at it, Chris couldn't help but reflect upon the strange twist of fate that brought them together like this, even after the adventure with Dimitrescu was over.
Just like Chris had decided to take responsibility for Ethan, so did the Duke took charge over the Dimitrescu family, promising to keep an eye on them in return for B.S.A.A. abstaining from taking hostile actions against the vampiric clan. More than that even, the Duke pulled some strings and had a proper Romanian citizenship granted to all four members of that strange family (or, in Alcina's case, had it restarted, to the absolute shock of the officials involved). In that regard, it certainly helped that the majority of Dimitrescu victims - the unfortunate villagers of that forgotten valley were under no legal jurisdiction other than Miranda's own and therefore they were legally dead to the world anyway. Other victims - the lost tourists or kidnapped locals from the outlying regions were only vaguely tied to the whole mess, and therefore, the Duke was able to pin them all on late Miranda, to Dimitrescu's delight.
Barring a couple of minor exceptions, the Dimitrescu family was effectively free to do whatever they wanted and travel wherever they wanted, within the boundaries of the law, of course. Not one of them, not even the bloodthirsty middle daughter, argued when the consensus was reached that the family would leave their murderous ways firmly in the past, never to revisit it, not unless an absolutely necessity demanded it.
For the first month after their newfound freedom, the Dimitrescu family (also Sarah and later Haru - of whom Alcina took legal custody of) settled back in their ancestral castle in the forgotten valley, with plenty of local villagers eagerly signing a contract to work for a rich countess as maids and servants. With some apprehension, the Romanian officials had revisited that forgotten valley to reinstate the castle's legal status as the property of Dimitrescu family.
Thanks to the efforts of dozens of paid workers from a company recommended by the Duke, the neglected castle was swiftly and efficiently transformed into a lively place fit for a noble family once again, though it did not take long before the daughters sought to test the scope of their freedom beyond its boundaries. The wider world called for them, and all three daughters answered its call.
Claiming that she was following her heart, Bela decided to move in with Ethan and Rose and that little family settled in - at least for now - in a small suburban house in Los Angeles, back in the United States.
Daniela, ever afflicted by wanderlust, somehow managed to convince her overbearing mother to permit her to tour the whole wide world, with just Tom for companionship. The duo should be somewhere in Egypt by now, likely admiring the pyramids before settling out to explore other monuments of humanity as well as natural wonders that hid in the nooks of their world.
Likewise, Cassandra had clearly decided to continue her unhealthy relationship with Chris Redfield and now followed him wherever he went - not that he complained too much about that. An occasional grunt of protest or a word of displeasure was about as much as he was willing to provide when Cassandra violated his private space in public - and the brunette vampire so loved to test his boundaries. She reveled in the attention Chris paid her, as well as that of those around them. Not all of it was positive, though that seemed to only encourage her further.
In turn, Chris realized full well that this whole thing they had was just plain wrong on so many levels.
He had dedicated his life to combating the bioterrorism, while she was a murderous B.O.W. herself. He was a proponent of Order, while she was an agent of Chaos. That's not even to mention something more superficial but still glaring like that fact that she appeared almost young enough to be his daughter, even if in truth he was the younger partner in the relationship.
Chris knew that there were many things that plainly told him that they could never be together.
Chris also knew that he did not give a fuck about any of them.
It might sound cheesy if he says it out loud, but Chris just felt like Cassandra completed him - something that she also felt in turn, he was sure. Her careless selfishness was a perfect supplement to his duty bound ways; her unquenchable passion for life was akin to water beating against the rock that was his jaded outlook on it all - slowly softening it up. Chris was happy being with Cassandra, regardless of how twisted their relationship appeared from the outside.
People might be speaking behind their backs about how wildly inappropriate their weird fling is, but at this point in his life Chris found himself lacking care for what others - even those close to him - thought about what his personal life should be. Not that those closest to him were particularly judgemental about his surprising choice in a partner.
Claire was shockingly supportive of his choice, even if she did appear nauseated whenever she would come for a visit and Cassandra would launch into a sickeningly self-absorbed tirade about all the spots she and Claire's brother had sex on, while not going easy on the details. Naturally Cassandra was not allowed to torture anyone anymore, but apparently pushing people's buttons was the next best thing for her.
Likewise, Jill appeared genuinely happy that Chris was finally able to move past the trainwreck of their own relationship… It probably helped quite a bit that her old friend Carlos suddenly resurfaced in her life as soon as he heard about the crippling injury Jill sustained during the operation in France. There was definitely some bad blood between Carlos and Chris now, seeing the evil eye the former kept throwing at the latter, but Chris figured that he deserved it, so he held no ill will towards the Hispanic man - instead, he was determined to move past it as well and perhaps eventually forge a new friendship. Despite once being employed by Umbrella, Carlos Oliveira was a good man to his core and Chris was not opposed to the notion of him and Jill getting together. In fact, Chris was beyond joyful at the notion that Jill would finally find a slice of happiness of her own - something that few deserved as much as that selfless woman and something Chris himself could not provide.
Still, regardless of everyone else, just as Chris marveled at the softness of Cassandra's skin underneath his rough fingers, he now wondered at how easily he was able to accept this violent murderer into his own life.
Even when she, gripped by sensual passion, secretly confessed to him about her serial killings in Cuba - during the supposedly peaceful interval in the Dimitrescu family life, Chris found himself accepting her and rationalizing that most of these scumbags deserved to die anyway.
Even when she admitted that she was not sure how long she would be able to keep herself from killing again, Chris found himself determined not to let her go, as he had held on to her smaller hands with both of his; his weary blue eyes peering into her soul through her golden orbs. More than anything else, perhaps it was guidance Cassandra needed in life - an important goal she could focus her frenetic energy on… and perhaps Chris could provide just that.
In yet another twist of fate, Chris realized that he was quite happy with the notion of Cassandra following him along on this perilous path he was about to take. It was fitting, he rationalized.
Ethan and Bela might find the everlasting peace they so dearly hoped for, but peace was not for everyone. Peace had to be maintained; fought for. For Rose and a billion other innocent children to grow carefree and happy, a certain few had to hold a constant vigil, ever ready to combat those who sought to challenge this fragile peace of theirs - with deadly force, if necessary.
Chris and Cassandra would continue to walk the road of violence, and in it, Chris would continue forging redemption for Cassandra - a thing she secretly craved almost as much as blood and sex, even if she would never admit so out loud.
Cassandra may never be able to fully leave her sadistic inclinations behind, but if they could be diverted towards extreme yet ultimately benign intentions, perhaps that would be enough for her. Perhaps it would be enough for both of them.
Just like she had helped cause chaos and evil with her deeds in her service to Miranda, so will she bring order and goodness into the world by eliminating those who truly deserved it, alongside Chris.
The old Chris would've scoffed at the very notion that it was possible to find redemption with yet more cold-blooded murder, but the battle-weary Chris of today knew that sometimes you just had to get dirt and blood under your nails to get things done. Not everything could be resolved by kind words alone - a fact he had regretfully accepted long ago.
By chance, his gaze fell upon his watches - haphazardly discarded on the nearby nightstand, making him cease his ministrations of her back.
It was all too easy to lose track of time in the throes of their passion for each other, but now Chris could recall with perfect clarity that people upon whom he would like to make a favorable impression will arrive shortly. Considering the grim nature of their potential partnership it would be undue of him to meet them naked and sweaty, while covered in black lipstick and raw lovebites.
Ever dutiful, Chris did not hesitate in disentangling himself from his partner, though not before gracing a sensitive spot upon her upper back with a single yet particularly tender - uncharacteristically so, even - kiss.
While she never stated so, for all the ferocity of their lovemaking, Cassandra greatly enjoyed more subtle, tender signs of his affection for her. The dreamy sigh of contentment that escaped her lips only served to confirm that theory for Chris as he hurried to take a quick shower, reinvigorated and ready to take on the whole damn world if he had to.
For Chris Redfield, the unending War on Bioterror went on, yet somehow it was able to gain a certain blissful quality - now with his newest partner on his side.
November 13th, 2023 - Five months after the 'Manhattan Outbreak'
Maui, Hawaii
Gazing down at the two people he loved so much, Ethan Winters couldn't be any happier. His feelings today were a far-cry from the creeping loneliness he went through in the intervening month immediately after the shitstorm in New York died down.
Back then, when he had held his dear child and shared a loving kiss with Bela Dimitrescu, he thought that he had overcome his final challenge by besting Paxton Fettel and the life of peace and bliss had been finally within his reach.
He was not entirely wrong, but not entirely correct, either.
Bela, as well as the rest of the Dimitrescu family had decided to move back to their ancestral castle in Romania for the time being, and while Ethan and Rose were invited to join them there, there were simply too many bad memories of that place for Ethan to accept the invitation; not to mention his desire to restart his ordinary, boring life - something he could not do from the middle of Romanian nowhere.
Instead, the father had taken advantage of the Duke's generosity and found himself in possession of a small yet tidy house in the suburbs of Los Angeles - not that far from a flat he had rented all these years ago, as a matter of what.
In hindsight, that decision turned out to be a mistake, as soon after settling in his new house, Ethan was approached by a dangerous group of people wearing B.S.A.A. badges. They carried no firearms and spoke no open threats, yet what they had was the next worst thing - a pile of documents he was forced to sign - legal papers that not only obliged him to attend a mandatory full body check ups on a weekly basis, but also restricted his mobility to a point where he could not even legally leave the city limits without the organization's written permission. He might no longer be on the UN's Most Wanted, but it still felt awfully restrictive to Ethan. Not even his good friend Chris could do anything about it, merely asking Ethan to bear with it for the time being.
Doing just that, Ethan did not let sour note detract him from his original plan and the rest of June and the majority of July were spent trying to pick up the pieces of his old life - to find a new place of employment, to reignite old acquaintances and friendships he had with the people in the area. Getting back into the rhythm of an ordinary life was far harder than he'd thought it would be… and so very… terribly lonely. Ethan was sure that without Rose by his side it would've been unbearable.
The first week was the worst and not a single day went by where Ethan would not miss Bela's presence at his side and not a single night passed with him being spared of the most livid and most terrible of nightmares imaginable. He would not dare to unburden himself of them on Rose, though the empathetic child still did everything in her efforts to soothe her insomniac father.
The evenings were spent with Ethan struggling to brush up on his rusty skills as systems engineer in a bid to make himself competitive on today's market once again, while Rose busied herself in practicing her own chosen craft - that of drawing. Again, Ethan could peer at her works with nothing short of astonishment - he would've never expected a three-year old child to be able to draw with that much clarity and attention to detail. Her talent was undeniable, yet Ethan still wished to see less monsters in her drawings, as God knows they both encountered enough of those to last them a lifetime. Still, the child's and father's bond only deepened due to their shared passion for art, with Ethan eagerly sharing everything he knew with his beloved daughter and Rose even more eagerly taking it all in. Nevertheless, both Ethan and Rose missed the company of others dearly - it felt unusual to be on their own after spending so much time with the vibrant personalities they had been surrounded with.
The second week turned out to be more bearable, as Bela - thanks to the Duke's efforts, naturally - managed to reach out to him. First by simple telephone, soon after digitally. Spending literal hours on the phone with Bela brought unspeakable solace to the weary father, and hearing her gentle voice before retiring for the night managed to soothe the nightmare away, at least partially. To then see her gorgeous face, softened even further by her affection for him, made his soul soar in joy. Naturally, Rose loved to chit-chat with Bela as well and vice versa.
But still, the lack of physical contact was something that grinded on both Ethan and Bela, and they have exchanged more than a couple of conversations that would've made them blush if any third party would become privy to them. Thankfully, Rose was usually sound asleep when these happened. Of course, these could not replace real intimacy.
More than once did Ethan consider just dropping everything - including his newest civilian work contract, grabbing Rose and rushing all the way to that accursed castle despite the dark memories of that place or his signed obligations to keep to the bounds of California. Bela's calm but insistent urges to show restraint; as well as her promise of an 'imminent surprise' made the man sit tight where he was.
The 'surprise' came to stand before his door in the late evening, two weeks later - well into July - and Ethan struggled to pick his jaw from the floor as he gazed upon Bela Dimitrescu herself, dressed in a casual curve-hugging outfit and smiling upon him with both adoration and mischief. Poor Rose - who Ethan was sure was asleep by that time - could only wonder why the furniture was creaking so loudly that night.
After that point, things started to look up more and more with each passing day. Ethan, Bela and Rose spent a great many hours simply walking through the grand metropolis, exploring every nook and cranny with seemingly unending curiosity or endurance from the latter two - and the bliss from the former one. Bela's curiosity about the outside world, the customs of its human inhabitants and even the overarching nature seemed truly insatiable, with Rose eagerly following her stepmother-like figure along in their exploration of the world. In turn, Ethan was only too happy to oblige the girls, sharing what wisdom and knowledge he himself possessed with no restraint. Bela, in particular, appeared utterly entranced by this modern human city as she could now explore it without chaos of violence to accompany her.
Ethan was pretty sure that they had managed to visit the majority of establishments of Los Angeles - some of which not exactly fit for Rose's young eyes, making them leave the young girl with a temporary babysitter for an hour or two. Cafes, restaurants, night clubs, theaters, cinemas, concerts - these and a great deal of other venues were all attended by Bela and Ethan. Considering the monetary toll it all took, it was quite fortunate that Ethan still had some of his savings and Bela had access to her family's deposit.
It was no surprise that these days were filled with pure bliss for both Ethan and Bela, as they toured Los Angeles for everything it was worth. Indeed, while Bela finally felt herself free as a bird - a fact she took endless joy from, Ethan felt himself as a young, carefree man straight from a collage once again - with nothing but a bright future ahead of him.
Of course, their paradise-like life was somewhat marred by limitations imposed upon Ethan - and Bela, to a lesser extent - by the B.S.A.A. watchdogs, but even the mandatory testing Ethan was subject to eventually became less tedious and the implications of surveillance more bearable. In that regard, it helped a lot that upon October 1st, Ethan's mandatory weekly sessions became monthly, as well as his travel ban being partially lifted, to encompass the whole U.S.
Internally, Ethan knew full well what the B.S.A.A. agents were concerned with - the composition of mold his body consisted of, and whether he could become a dangerous vector for infection - that's why he did not protest the papers he signed in the first place, after all. He had no desire to spread his moldy spores to others and that's why he was so exulted when the restrictions upon him slackened - implying that the specialists at the B.S.A.A. started to consider him stable enough to the point where he was no danger to others. While he naturally craved freedom, the last thing Ethan wanted was to be a danger to others.
Bela shared his joy at the development, naturally. The trips they then made outside the city included picnics, the discovery of local natural and man-made sights, visits to nearby towns that Ethan knew had something noteworthy and wanted to share it with Bela and Rose, as well as more generic wanderings without any specific goal beyond soaking each other's presence in. It seemed like they could simply not get enough of each other.
In their sudden desire to explore the surrounding world they were quite similar to Daniela - who kept sending them lovely postcards from all over the world - though a bit more limited, considering they have yet to leave the state of California, while the redhead was on her world-wide tour. Ethan had a plan to rectify that a little, however.
An acquaintance of his, an experienced travel agent, recommended Ethan to take his child and the significant other to an island in the state of Hawaii - Maui. She had assured him that it's 'just splendid!' in November, since both the sea was warm, the weather pleasant and the trickle of tourists diminished compared to more popular summer and winter seasons. A romantic trip like no other. Ethan was only too eager to hop on board that idea; with a little 'extra' on top. It was a bit of a hassle to negotiate the vacation with his newest civilian employer considering how brief his actual tenure was, but even that hurdle was soon overcome and an accord reached.
For Ethan, this would be more than a simple vacation. It was about moving forward as much as it was about having a good time with his loved ones, if not more so.
While Ethan would never truly forget about Mia, the man was finally ready to move past their old relationship completely. He bore no ill-will towards his former wife, and indeed, even wished for her to find happiness if that was at all possible, but Ethan also desired to forge a new connection with Bela, perhaps even stronger than the one he once had with Mia. And Ethan was prepared to make the steps needed for that.
When Bela had learnt of his intent to take their strange little 'family unit' to what was, effectively, a vacation on a sunny beach, she quite literally soared up until the ceiling, before falling into his waiting arms to exchange yet another kiss full of passion and affection; with her amber orbs blazing with unbridled joy.
And while Ethan liked to fancy that he played a large part in Bela's elated state, he knew that the eldest Dimitrescu sibling - much like the rest of them - was beyond happy at finally being a part of the world that was denied them for so very long. One could argue that they got the first taste of it during their lengthy tenure in Cuba, but even there the Dimitrescu family was merely an isolated bunch of hermits - stuck on their tiny patch of land and rarely interacting even with the members of the local backward community, much less anyone in the wider world. The constant fear of being discovered and exterminated was far too great to risk that.
But now? Now they were finally unbound from the sins of their past, with the only ghosts of their atrocities remaining in their memories - but lacking physical shapes in the world that has forgiven them. A world that has given them a second chance; a blank slate, complete with quasi-legitimate citizenship and the true freedom to move where they please, to interact with whoever they want and to love those they desire to.
As long as they obeyed the law, took pains to conceal the unnatural aspects of their existence and submitted to minor and reasonable check-ups by B.S.A.A., they were free to live their lives in peace and happiness. An outcome none of them dared to even dream about, years ago. Something that even now they were not sure they deserved for the crimes of their past - a notion Ethan did his best to dismiss.
And so, on this beautiful sunny day, on this no-less beautiful tropical paradise, Bela was free to enjoy the goods things life had to offer: gentle warmth; bountiful sunlight; soothing sea; fairy-chill (about as chill as her physiology could take safely), moderately alcoholic beverages and last but not least - the loving presence of both Ethan and Rose nearby.
And Ethan was free to roam his gaze across Bela's slender body and fair features - not that anyone could blame him. With an hourglass figure, long blonde locks of hair flowing down her graceful shoulders, Bela was a beauty almost out of this world. Even her skin, which used to be deathly gray, now adopted a more lively shade of muted pink after the continuous exposure to direct sunlight.
Where she once had a horrific Cadou scar, was nothing but a tiny uneven line nowadays - hidden behind her long hair most of the time - the warm Cuban sun saw to that, as Bela had explained to Ethan when he had expressed curiosity about it, since he did recall Bela having a scar back in Romania. Seemed like only the perpetual chill of the Carpathian mountains was preventing that wound from fully healing.
Two years in Cuba was enough to make up for the decades of cold Romanian mountains for the elder Dimitrescu daughter, however, and the woman would take every chance she could get to expose herself to the warmth of the tropical sun. Bela even fancied eventually getting a tan, though Ethan was quite an admirer of her current pale yet healthy complexion - not that he thought he would stop finding her attractive if she actually managed to get a darker hue, of course.
Nevertheless, the blonde woman took her sun safety tips seriously on account of her skin being quite vulnerable to solar radiation - even more so than that of an average pale-skinned human. Ethan, being the gentleman that he was, was only too happy to aid the lady in peril by rubbing the generous portions of sunscreen onto her back. Perhaps his motions as he did so were a tad slow and maybe his fingers lingered on her soft skin for a bit too long, but Bela was not complaining as she gleefully soaked the affection both from the gentle sun above her and the loving man behind her. Never one to hoard happiness all to herself, Bela was eager to share the joy by returning the favor to the Winters family by carefully applying that same sunscreen to Rose's tiny body that rested on her knees.
Bela's interactions with Rose were not limited to merely protecting her from the sun's glare. Even as Ethan decided to further hone his body by swimming long distance, he could spy with his keen eye the way the duo entertained themselves in his absence, regardless of how short it was.
There they were, building a cute little sandcastle together after having their fill of splashing around near the shore. As if feeling Ethan's loving gaze on her, Bela's blonde head perked up before turning in his direction; her slender arm extended in a carefree wave, something that Rose repeated soon after, with Ethan naturally returning one of his own. There were not many moments in his life when Ethan felt as happy or fulfilled as he did now; Rose's birth and salvation were the examples of such, but all of them included something more than just himself, today being no exception.
Seeing the way Bela treat Rose with such affection and tenderness was nothing short of heart-melting for Ethan. Rosemary Winters was most definitely not Bela Dimitrescu's real daughter, yet a random observer could not be faulted for assuming the opposite just by looking at the unfolding scene: both Rose's and Bela's face expressed contentment that one would struggle to find outside the embrace of a person you truly care for. For Ethan the sight was particularly moving - the knowledge that the two people you love the most in the whole wide world having such a harmonic relationship is a source of endless joy on its own.
But even more than a source of joy, this knowledge served as the final validation for Ethan's chosen course. The last four months, filled with naught but endless love and boundless happiness, all lead to one moment - one moment that was drawing close. One moment that would confirm Ethan's and Bela's desire to tie the threads of their lives into a single knot.
After all the heartbreak and seemingly endless strife, Ethan was naturally somewhat hesitant about summoning this special moment forth, but now he had no doubts that the three of them: Ethan, Rose and Bela all wanted to enter a new chapter of their lives together, hand in hand. The love and affection they all shared for each other could not be faked.
Therefore, today, on the last day of their vacation, when little Rosie was comfortably tucked in and the adults went on their starlit walk, Ethan found himself determined to do something he had only done once in his life before.
The stroll on the paved path that led to the sandy beach was a fitting conclusion to the otherwise lively and eventful day - unhurried and quiet. Just the two of them, leisurely walking down the path hand-in-hand, with nothing but gentle sounds of sea to add to the calm silence. For now, there was no need for words, as both of them found themselves simply enjoying each other's presence on this still novel peaceful turn their life has finally taken.
Once again, Ethan was not above stealing an occasional glance at his beloved bug-vampire as they walked. Most of her stunning figure was partially concealed by a thin, semi-transparent cover-up dress, but even where it covered them, it did little to hide the delightful contours of her toned arms, slender waist or long legs. A gorgeous magenta orchid was tucked behind Bela's left ear, while her beloved ruby necklace decorated her delicate neck.
Though they have spent quite some time together already, Bela has not become any less of a joy to behold for Ethan's eyes. She was truly a beautiful person, both outwardly and within, and Ethan still couldn't believe his luck that fate saw fit to bring them together like that, especially during such calamitous times.
Merely walking together with her while simply holding hands was enough to fill the man with unbridled joy. Unconsciously, the man squeezed her soft hand just a little harder - a gesture she immediately reciprocated. In a grand scheme of things, this was such a tiny thing that it would be hardly worthy of note, yet Ethan still drew a no short amount of comfort from it.
It felt like nothing could sever that unbreakable bond that he had forged with Bela; nothing could hope to threaten Rose while both of them together were there to protect her. It was no longer a mere illusion of safety in Ethan's mind as far as his and Rose's fates were concerned - it was a certainty for as long as Bela was there. And she had no plans to leave his side any time soon.
At the end of the paved path Bela paused only to discard her sandals, allowing her bare feet to gently touch the sandy ground on their next steps. Even as he followed her example, Ethan's eyes did not fail to see the way Bela's toes curled, as if she tried to grasp as many of the still-warm pebbles as was possible. While mostly cooled since the sundown, they still held a ghost of the pleasant warmth that imbued them during the sunny day.
The man realized that in many ways this was the very definition of heaven for Bela Dimitrescu - she had told Ethan that much the other night, when she had awoken from a particularly vivid nightmare - with Ethan naturally right there to provide all the comfort the distraught woman needed. That nightmare, Bela had confided to him - was among the most dreaded ones she had ever had, for it was all too real to her. The notion that this whole new life of hers; all the freedom and love in it - was merely a dream and that she would wake up back in the cold dark castle - under Miranda's colder still gaze and surrounded by little more than death and misery, with only her beloved family to keep herself from completely surrendering to madness was a constant fear for Bela. Even though the full depth of that horrible, decades-long experience was beyond Ethan, the man could still relate well enough to be able to soothe that fear away; though only time could hope to dismiss it for good - for both of them.
Tonight, Ethan was determined to offer that promise of time to Bela, but it was up to her to accept it. Moving past the horrors of their former lives was a challenge like none other, but perhaps together they could accomplish just that.
"What a breath-taking sight…"
Even in the silence of the surrounding area, Bela's softly-whispered exclamation sounded quiet, yet the emotion of it was undeniable. Still holding onto her smaller palm, Ethan followed the woman's gaze to stare at the night sky and the infinite stars in it. The clarity of the myriad of lights out there was truly spectacular today, with not a single cloud or a source of interfering light in sight.
Ethan felt himself sharing Bela's sentiment as he continued to stare into the sky, while gently caressing Bela's soft hand with his own. With his peripheral sight he could see a small smile blooming on her face from his ministrations.
Slightly tilting her head in his direction, the woman's lips parted to share her astrological knowledge, "Today is the New Moon. There is no better time to simply stop and look up."
Ethan suddenly recalled their wholesome stargazing session on top of the Duke's yacht, but even then the sky was not this perfectly clear. Truly, it felt like the whole wide galaxy was in the palm of his hand tonight. "It's… beautiful…"
Satisfied that he shared her love for the stars, Bela turned her head even further towards him, a lovely smile playing on her full pink lips. Her next words had a hint of introspective pondering in them, completed with just a tad of playfulness - making Ethan somewhat afraid that she was onto him all this time.
"Many believe that the New Moon represents new beginnings… a good time to plant the seeds of our future, don't you think so, Ethan?"
Slightly nervous but still fully committed to his chosen course, Ethan swallowed and wetted his lips before giving a small nod and responding in a surprisingly confident voice, "Indeed I do, Bela." This was not the time or the place for her affectionate 'Bells' nickname.
The woman finally looked at him fully; her interest piqued by his somber tone. By her raised eyebrow and parting lips Ethan could tell that she was about to say something, possibly inquire about his current tense stature, but he gave her no opportunity to do so by his next frenetic motions.
Firmly but gently breaking their handhold Ethan swiftly moved to stand in front of her before turning around and getting down on his left knee. For just a second, Ethan peered at the red woven bracelet around Bela's right ankle. Somehow, that simple but elegant accessory helped Ethan focus his body and mind. The man took a deep breath while slowly shifting his gaze to Bela's own eyes; he knew that the next moment would be one to remember, regardless of the outcome.
In turn, even though Bela had likely expected something monumental to occur in this moment in time due to Ethan's behavior prior, the shock of actually being confronted with it in reality must have been quite dazing for the woman, as her whole body froze, with her lips still parted and wide eyes locked with Ethan's own.
Not one to waste such a special moment by letting the increasing pressure get the best of him, Ethan procured a tiny box from the back pocket of his shorts and with deft movements managed to both open it and offer its contents to the woman in front of him. At the very same time, the words that left his suddenly dry lips made sure that there would be no way back - only forward.
"Bela Dimitrescu…" Bela's beautiful golden eyes widened even further. She knew what was coming next, but for once her rational mind was utterly overwhelmed by emotions, making it quite hard to process it.
"Will you marry me?"
Bela remained frozen for a second further, but then came the reaction that was quite unexpected to Ethan - though in hindsight he shouldn't have been too surprised, given his knowledge of Dimitrescu daughters' unique biology and prior experience.
Bela's whole body flickered and shimmered, and where was a woman a second ago was only a buzzing swarm of flies whose collective shapes strongly resembled a female silhouette.
The peculiar transformation did not last long and in a couple of seconds the flies came together to fully form a seemingly normal-looking human woman once again. An uninitiated man might have been frightened or repulsed by the arcane display; or at the very least, saw their special moment ruined.
Ethan, while somewhat surprised, was definitely not repulsed in the least, however - he had accepted Bela Dimitrescu for what she was long ago, after all. If not for his rampaging nerves, Ethan would've even chuckled at her otherworldly antics.
A bit red in the face from embarrassment, Bela nevertheless quickly regained control of her faculties and after spending one more second to assess the situation and confirm that she was not dreaming, fell right on her knees in a bid to even out the eye-levels between them.
Tears trickled down her cheeks but her lips were parted in a smile that radiated pure bliss. Ethan knew her answer even before she spoke it, though her words still sent unspeakable joy soaring through his moldy heart.
"Yes!" To Ethan it felt like her gorgeous golden eyes were brighter and more beautiful than any of the stars in the sky above.
A little more in control of her own voice, she repeated herself, with even more certainty this time.
"Yes… Yes, I will, Ethan Winters."
The tension was gone in a heartbeat, purged utterly from Ethan's body, to be replaced by the feelings of rupture and solace. Though it was quite a struggle to tear his gaze from her enchanting amber orbs, Ethan did so for just a second to grab the contents of the tiny box - a beautiful ring of white gold with a diamond-cut, one carat ruby as its centerpiece - before gently placing it on her delicate left ring finger.
In turn, Bela clearly struggled to decide whether she wanted to continue staring at Ethan or switch her gaze towards the precious stone that now adorned her finger. After a brief back-and-forth, her erratic gaze finally settled on the ring. The hue and the clarity of the gem in it seemingly matched the one in her necklace perfectly and for a second Bela was utterly awestruck at how thoughtful Ethan was with the engagement ring.
A further moment was spent gazing down at the symbol of Ethan's love and devotion for her; Bela has had enough of it for the time being. No matter how beautiful it was or how well it fit her, for the foreseeable future she would have eyes only for her fiancé himself.
Their gazes reconnected and their fingers intertwined. Ethan finally allowed himself to fall upon both of his knees as he stared into seemingly depthless amber orbs of his lover. A kiss of passion concluded this special moment, and through it the two lovers did their best to confer the full depth of affection they felt for one another.
And so Ethan and Bela started a new chapter of their lives, with their knees digging into golden sand on a starlit beach. Their individual decades of strife were over, but their mutual age of bliss was just getting started.
Author's Note:
So this was part one of the Epilogue for this story - hope you've enjoyed it all and are excited for the final, 50th chapter that will conclude this story... It sure has grown far beyond the original bounds I had envisioned for it when I started it, haha, but I sure have no regrets in writing it and I hope you have no regrets reading it :)
I've also realized I've slightly messed up the timelines in the story due to it becoming this huge, so I'd like to clarify that the story started (as in the first chapter - in Cuba and London, respectively for Dimitrescu and Winters) in late February 2023 - 2 years after the conclusion of RE8. Then, the adventure continued throughout the year and after some time skips and traveling around the party arrived in New York somewhere in early June 2023. Its a minor thing that I am sure most don't care about all that much, but I do like to have some clarity with stuff like that, nevertheless.
As always, any kind of feedback is greatly appreciated and if you have questions or suggestions, feel free to share them in the comments!
Regardless, I also wanted to take the time and share some other awesome Dimitrescu-related stories with you guys, though I imagine I am not exactly discovering America here xD. First, even though I honestly doubt anyone here is unfamiliar with it, I can't help but mention Blood and Winter by Eronald which inspired all this stuff in the first place. Honestly, that story truly transcends the boundaries of fanfiction in its superb writing and masterful attention to detail.
Somewhat less known but almost as good is Taming the Huntress by SilentWinters (only on Ao3), which sees an unusual twist by pairing Ethan with Cassandra while keeping their characters lore-friendly. A wonderful work-in-progress that definitely warrants a closer look! I've recommended it before in this story, but there is no shame in repeating yourself when recommending marvelous stuff like that!
Finally, a new work I've stumbled upon by chance is Fragmented Flies by Cr0ssb0w25. This story is about Cassandra and follows canonical events (her death). There is no romance in it so far, but the whole idea of reincarnation, fantasy world, facing your own crimes and sudden helplessness resonated incredibly well with me, so it would be a shame not to recommend it. This story is only in its nascency, but it definitely deserves some kudos and the wonderful author deserves some love, so I urge you guys to take a look at it. Moreover, the author is incredible at drawing, and every chapter includes a marvelous sketch of Cassandra :)
That's it from me for today! Hope you guys and gals have a wonderful week and are staying healthy out there! :)