The characters from the game belong to Capcom. The OC's and story background belong to me.
Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
A/N: I'm not English native speaker, so you might find some typos or grammar mistakes, I do apologize for that.
Bohma, Hotel
Piers arrived in Bohma first, but as soon as he got there, he received a message from Chris telling him he was on his way with Kate to Bohma as well.
Initially he didn't understand why Kate was coming along, until Chris told him about the notice. It was when he checked his email and the mail in the spam box.
He couldn't believe Lionel had given him Pierce Northman's property, although, he didn't know if he should accept it.
He decided to stay at the same hotel they did the last time, and as soon as he entered the reception, he recognized the beautiful redhead, Yana, welcoming him and an instant attraction surged between them.
"I'm surprised you recognized me. You must see so many faces…"
"I don't forget a pretty face, especially a particular foreigner's one…with all the respect sir."
He grinned, "Well, it's alright, I understand that. It's hard to forget a particular redhead, with all the respect as well…"
She smiled while she delivered him the booking papers to sign, "Do you like redheads?"
"I guess I have a thing for them…"
She discreetly bit her bottom lip, "Did you come alone this time?"
"No, my boss and his girlfriend are coming tomorrow…they were with me as well, maybe you remember them."
"I may remember something…are you taking about a big guy and the drunk girl…"
He laughed, "Yeah, the big guy and the…drunk girl"
"I thought she was your girlfriend"
"Oh no…she wasn't my girlfriend… she is his…"
"Humm, so how do you want me to book your room, only for you or to share with them?"
"I want a room just for me!" he spoke in a flirty way
She grinned, "Not into sharing?"
He laughed catching the double sense in her sentence, "That depends…"
"On what?"
He leaned closer on the counter and whispered only for her to hear, "On what and how…"
"How?" she raised an eyebrow
He grinned with a wink, "I'll explain later when you're not on duty…"
"My duty ends at 3AM. Welcome back to Bohma Hotel, this is the key to your room."
"Thank you. 3AM… Room 3D" he said with a flirty tone
The following early morning Chris and Kate arrived at the hotel and booked a room. Coincidently they stayed in the same room they did the other time.
"So here is where it all started…until half the way…" Kate commented looking around
Chris laughed, "It's not in half the way anymore…"
"Partially correct. In this exact spot our history there is still unfinished business…" she spoke in a flirty way stepping closer to him with a seductive look
He smiled taking in her seduction and leaned to give her a kiss.
She kissed him back. She was on fire.
Chris broke the kiss for her displeasure
"Is Mr. Captain of the BSAA tired or is this room cursed to put out my fire?"
He laughed, "Nothing is cursed nor I'm tired… I have to talk to Piers…I told you this is a work trip for me. The sooner I end this, the sooner we conclude all the way later. So don't have to worry about pendency."
"I know…that's why I came ready to entertain myself…"
"Did you bring your 'best friend' with you?"
"Unfortunately not, but I've got 10 bffs with me…" she said moving her fingers
He laughed loud, "I can't compete with that…"
"No you can't my friend…Now go to work hard while I'll play harder"
They gave a goodbye kiss.
Chris walked the corridors until he reached Piers' room. He raised his hand to knock the door when he frowned and leaned his ear closer to the door. He should've had called before leaving his girlfriend alone in flames.
Piers was the best soldier working with him currently, but he should've known better the younger man's age and still elevated hormones when alone at a hotel.
Then he returned to his room and found Kate taking a shower. Quickly he removed his clothes and opened the shower's cabin door to join her.
"Are you done with Piers already?" she asked enjoying him rubbing himself against her back
"He's busy…" he replied turning her to him
"What?"
"Work can wait" he spoke kissing her passionately
No more talking. There wasn't only Piers with elevated hormones…
"The strongest warriors are time and patience." Leon Tolstoi
Piers and Chris reached the summit of the hill and saw the immense sand valley and rocks that formed the famous mountain complex that hid the legendary Forbidden Cave.
A place so dry and arid, how could it harbor life when there was not even a trace of existence of water in the vicinity or vegetation?
The renowned BSAA soldiers studied the site with perplexity. A perplexity that did not come from the questioning of the production of the famous Black Herb, but a perplexity coming from the subconscious of each one. Of distant memories recorded in the intimate of those men.
Memories that occasionally appeared in the form of strange dreams. Sometimes by an indescribable sense of nostalgia.
Piers who had hitherto shown no interest or recognition of the past - of that past - now showed a certain paralysis in facing that renowned place. A place that "magically" lit a spark inside him. A feeling of déjà vu.
"This place ..." he thought as he recalled an old dream when he was a child that even after so many years still remained intact in his memory
On the other hand Chris Redfield watched the wide desert and mountain range that hid the entrance to the Forbidden Cave.
"From above it doesn't look like there was any recent human activity. We should go down and investigate the place more closely" the captain suggested
Without questioning, the young follower only adhered to the plan of his leader.
Walking slowly, the soldiers noticed a few traces left by the local investigation. Boundary tracks bordered by a hidden entrance further south of the mountain complex that housed the infamous site.
"There are no records of this entry in the soldiers' diaries of that time nor anywhere else. There are only detailed records of Leonard Keane and Pierce Northman about the day of the incident..."
"They imploded the "garden" and exploded the main entrance that gave access to "room" that gave access to the garden where the herbs grew. It wasn't such a genius idea, but it was effective for the time where the technology was precarious. It declared the extinction of the herb to drive away scholars, but with the advancement of technology and the endless human acumen in exploring what should not have be brought back by the curiosity. At the time Mr. Lionel was the regent of the country and decreed a strong 24hrs security to the place that became a clause that is in force until today, however knowing the human character, he knew that there could be corruptions, so he even decided to watch himself the place on the sly from time to time..."
"I thought you didn't read your flash drive..."
"I didn't read Christopher Reed's romantic bullshit and Katarina's bitch's or their personal journals, but I read the files about the Black Herb that were in a separate folder. That's what matters to me, and not the fables of people who have died!"
"I understand... So do you think Mr. Lionel's real motive to ingest the very thing he protected was to avoid greater evil or could there be a darker motive behind all this "protection"?"
"I don't know... I somehow want to believe Mr. Lionel was a B.O.W. with good intentions and that in fact he did not want the recurrence of that incident that could happen in much larger scales in the hands of the present lunatics after so much technology and the advance of biomedicine, etc..."
"I also want to believe it ... But it's ironic that someone became what he protected..."
"Are you talking about the Guardian of the Black Herb?"
"Yes. Have you read about him? "
"Honestly there was nothing to be read. There was only the mention of it in one of the files I read, but no detail. That's why I believe that the guardian is Mr. Lionel himself, after all, that's what he did, right?"
Piers shrugged. He had nothing to question because it seemed logical his boss's explanation. However, something caught his attention, the fact that only Chris would be allowed to enter the cave. Why?
The young soldier wondered if this answer would be in the captain's flash drive, but apparently there was not. And that intrigued him even more.
"Do you think we should go in and investigate further?" The young man suggested
Chris stared at the small entrance of the cave and frowned thoughtfully. Something was uneasy inside him. He sighed deeply and let it out heavily, "Since we're here, let's do the job right! I'll check inside, and you stay here on guard, just in case..."
"Okay..."
Chris turned on the flashlight and entered the dark place. Initially it seemed to be an ordinary, narrow and uninteresting cave. Due to the evident absence of water in the surroundings, it was dry inside. Uninhabitable. There were no animals of any kind: bats, reptiles, nothing of the type that lives in the desert. And that's what caught his eye.
It was too clean.
It looked like a porch made of stones. It did not seem to be a natural work, but a human excavation.
On the sandy floor there were many other footprints, most likely of the murdered researchers.
Chris continued to stare intently. Every detail, every bit that the light revealed. Even though he was alone, he felt watched.
Chris brightened up every corner of the room, walls, floor and ceiling. He frowned with a very serious expression. Deep down, there was an almost unnoticeable micro camera hidden in the ceiling.
Thoughtfully, Chris stared at the camera.
"Chris" Piers entered the location causing the captain to turn around, "Jerry's out…"
Without further ado, they both left the scene and met Mr. Lionel's assistant.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your investigation, but you still don't have the jurisdiction of the venue, because Mr. Lionel's asset-sharing has not yet been finalized."
"Why is there a camera in there?" Chris asked ignoring the warning
"For the safety of the place."
"Safety? You call those plastic safety tapes? Do you call it guards? What's going on here?"
"Nothing is happening here…"
"5 researchers died here! How "nothing" is happening?"
"Five unfortunate fatalities! But the camera is only for the remote monitoring of onlookers. Watchmen are paid for the night"
"So during the day no one stays here?"
"During the day we have the camera and the motion sensor that alerts us if we should call the police... It is not only people who can enter the cave... animals too"
"Animals?" Piers asked in disbelief. There was no evidence of any animal presence anywhere.
"It's not common. Most of the time they are just curious people and adventurers who visit the place."
Piers and Chris looked at each other. Both had the same thought. There was more there than was not being told and obviously Jerry had been well trained not to reveal any information on the subject.
Without alternatives, the BSAA soldiers returned to the hotel and chatted at a couch at the reception.
"I don't believe this night watchmen thing. One of the researchers was killed at night and nobody knows anything? Something doesn't smell good on Jerry's ragged excuses!" Piers commented.
"I agree his explanations were a bit vague. 4 researchers were killed on daylight and one at night, and no one can explain why? If at night there are lookouts, why can't anyone explain the death too?"
"Or some watchman killed him, or maybe they killed all of them, or there is simply no watchman at night!"
Yana the receptionist listened to the boys' whispers and looked at the clock. Taking advantage of the fact that she was close to her break, she called in a substitute and waved at Piers to call for a discreet conversation in another place.
"I'm sorry to get myself in your business, but I couldn't help hearing you're investigating the researchers' deaths..."
"Do you know anything that might help us?" Piers asked taking advantage of the proximity he had with the redhead
"I don't know if I can help..."
"It's very important Yana! The local media is not helping at all. We don't even know the condition of their deaths" Chris pushed a bit
"It's not for bad... people are scared..."
"Scared of what?"
"Scared of reprisals?" Piers asked
"Not exactly, but..."
"But?" Chris asked
"The people here are mostly superstitious ones..."
"The type that believe in the supernatural?" Piers asked
"They believe in anything!"
"But what does this have to do with their deaths?" Chris asked
"Everything! People are afraid to relive Arthena's panic. Did not you realize the ghost town it became? People still believe that the dead will rise from the graves and so most prefer to burn loved ones after the death instead of burying them. We heard of several incidents in the world that are very similar to what we experienced in the 18th century because of Katarina and the Walker brothers... there are people who believe she will come back and bring disaster again... Then out of fear people don't talk and not even the media... Katarina O'Gregon has cursed us and we are not willing to pay for it again"
"We understand, but pretending that nothing is happening also won't stop the curse of Katarina or any other lunatic just like her..." Piers commented
"And we can help, that's why we're here." Chris amended
"I believe you, and so I decided to talk to you, but I don't know if what I have heard can help you at all..."
"We decide whether it helps or not" Chris replied
"And I promise your name will not be quoted at any time," Piers assured her
She bit her lips reluctant but let out a sigh, "Parts of their bodies were dissolved by some acid or something like that..."
"Acid?"
"Yup... Acid produced by the desert monster, or Arthena's monster or simply cave monster...you decide how to call it"
"Cave Monster?" Chris raised an eyebrow
"Yes. Mysterious isolated deaths have occurred from time to time, but generally they were local people or people that no one missed. But all of them were explorers... there are reports of brief appearances of a monster living in the Forbidden Cave. No one has ever been able to prove its existence, but sometimes one or another person dies in the vicinity of the cave and no one dares to approach there."
"So are you saying there isn't any keepers in that place at all?"
"The only visitors to the place were Mr. Lionel and his assistant, Jerry. They denied the existence of the monster, but there are reports that there is and that the monster evolves, as the mysterious deaths have changed over the years. At the time of my grandparents some people were mysteriously torn apart. Some believed it was due to animals attacks, but I and many others believe it's because of the monster or maybe cave monsters!"
Chris and Piers looked at each other thoughtfully.
"And I say more. Some people were afraid of Mr. Lionel as lovely as he was…"
"Why?" Piers asked
"Ah... because he was... too old... I do not know..."
"Too old?" Chris raised an eyebrow
Yana began to laugh, "Not because of being old... I don't know why, but I think is because Mr. Lionel was a very mysterious despite being a very nice person... and I think it scared a little. Some people said that he could disappear and appear out of nowhere and there are many who do not believe he died…"
"What about you? What did he think of him?"
"Me? I think he did die and I had nothing against him. He helped a lot of people and even being a little weird, it never bothered me since I'm a little different too and I think it's super normal!" She started laughing
"And do you believe he had super powers?" Chris asked
"Yes!" She paused, "His super power was the good heart! The power of hope. The power of generosity, the power of affability... the power of love... I used to see him as a humble king"
"A humble king?" Piers said
"Yes, a humble king! He was captivating and looked after us as a real good sovereign, and I miss his presence. Every day I used to see him go to the museum, check the whole city, the historical centers to see if everything was working properly. He was a light being, and his light was captivating, he enlightened the city. He loved the nature, the animals, the children, the inhabitants... he took care of everything even if he being very old..."
"Yeah... he surely is missed…" Piers agreed
"Yes! He loved to talk and always smiled. He did not lose patience with anything and hey, a lot of people tried! But it seemed that he could see people's intentions or simply see our moods. Whether we were in a good mood or not. If we were tired or sick... he could see people's needs... strangely he reminded me of Christopher Reed..."
"Christopher Reed?" Chris said in surprise
"Yes, a very, very old Christopher, but the Christopher before Katarina destroyed him..."
Chris listened intently to what the beautiful redhead was saying.
"In history classes we studied the history of our country, the periods of prosperity, the outstanding personalities... Christopher Reed is one of them. All the cities he ruled lived periods of abundance and glory. He was a very righteous ruler. Of course Katarina the witch also had her part, but Christopher, besides being very handsome - lucky Katarina witch and Angelique - he was also very kind. Passionate. Determined. He made people believe in a better future and they really had a better future... Unfortunately he didn't... But despite everything, he did not give up and lived until his old age spreading the beauty through the legacy of Angelique and the wonderful paintings she made, or simply by helping people even with small attitudes..."
Chris swallowed hard, "But there is a but... Christopher hated Katarina. Only Mr. Lionel adored her..."
She shrugged, "I bet to disagree, I heard he never stopped loving her, he just kept raving in disappointment. It was not real hatred..."
"He never stopped loving because he never loved her... you can't stop something that never started!" he contested
"Katarina Reed O'Gregon was the woman he most loved and we all know it ... That's why Katarina still has some legacy apart from her big mistake"
"Is that what you learned in your history books?" He said wryly
"We actually learned this from him... through the last lost letter he wrote the day before he died..."
Chris gritted his teeth discreetly. He remembered a file called "Christopher's Final Letter," but he didn't open it, despite his curiosity. Thankfully he didn't do that since he'd just learned part of the file's contents. Melodrama. He had more important things to do than worry about someone else's romance bullshit.
Piers cleared his throat, "Well, anyway, this matter has no relevance to what we're really interested in here"
"I know, I just made a random comment...Sorry about that" Yana said apologetic
"We understand… so back to where we were, is there any more information you can give us about the murderers?" Piers asked
She shook her head in denial with a shrug, "I don't think so"
After the conversation, the trio split up. Piers took the time he had to spend with Yana since the field investigations were on-hold at the time, while Chris returned to the room and found Kate lying in bed.
But deep down, he could not stop thinking about "Christopher's Final Letter"
"Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it."
Whist Chris and Piers investigated the cave site, Kate spent time exploring the town, delighted by the beauty of medieval architecture in contrast to modernity.
The streets were very clean and organized. The people were a bit quiet but hospitable. A very different atmosphere than Edonia's.
In Bohma Kate felt at home...
After breakfast she went first to the museum. She needed to check out the change she had suggested to Lionel about Katarina and to her relief he had complied with her suggestion. She smiled as she admired the picture of the beautiful, elegant brunette. And discreetly she tried to imitate the expressions and grimaces of the old empress as she took selfies.
After leaving the museum she continued walking around the city taking pictures and recording videos of everything she saw. The real tourist dazzled.
She sat on a bench in the Central Plaza to drink a shake of strawberry, apple and banana with oatmeal while she thought about the next place she would visit. In Downtown, the main sights were not far apart from each other until the young brunette had a "brilliant" thought of visiting her future house.
She smiled to herself. It was still surprising that the prospects of her life had changed overnight. Of course she was aware that she was not yet the owner of anything, nor wealthy, but the curiosity allied with the enthusiasm of the future made her uneasy. She wanted, she needed to see with her own eyes, to know the place that her inspiring muse had lived in during her youth.
And she followed the impulse and guided by a strong intuition of how to get there without difficulty. Unfortunately it was closed for visitors, but outside she could see the beauty of the land that to her surprise was well maintained. The grass and the garden around the house were very green and well cut. It was hard to believe that this place had been abandoned for so long.
Even without being able to enter, she could not stop smiling and a delicious feeling of homecoming was taking hold of her spirit.
Of course she took photos and recorded a video to record the exciting moment.
As she put the cell phone in her purse, she felt a cool breeze on her skin. Although that day was a sunny day, it was autumn. The local temperature was nice. But that breeze...
The breeze seemed to have accelerated her heart and she began to feel strangely watched. She looked around and saw no one. The block around the O'Gregon's house was empty. Probably due to the bad reputation of the old regent it was not surprising the locals avoided that place.
She looked at the floor and the position of the sun revealed the reflection of two shadows causing Kate to feel an absurd shiver from head to toe when noticing someone was behind her. She swallowed, paralyzed. The vocal chords were completely mute.
"The good son returns home..."
A slightly husky female voice broke the silence, increasing the tension with the shock that the young brunette took, and in reflex she looked back.
"You?" She said, recognizing the old seer staring at her.
"Were you expecting someone else?"
"Actually I didn't expect anyone! What are you doing here?"
"The same as you..."
"Are you following me?"
"Is this how you feel about your destiny? Persecuted?"
"Not by my destiny, but you!"
"Do not worry about me, I will not hurt you..."
"But you're following me..."
"I'm sorry if that's the impression I gave you... that was not my intention"
"So, what are you doing here after all?"
"I came to accompany you on your journey"
"With all due respect, I didn't give you such intimacy..."
"You do not need intimacy to have company"
"You came out of nowhere and I don't even know you! I'm not sure I want your strange company..."
"You do not have to want to. You need it..."
Kate laughed nervously. How did she "need" the company of that strange woman?
"You know I'm friends with Lionel and I'm keeping the continuity of his work"
"He didn't tell me anything about you" Kate spoke with a shrug
"Why are you so defensive? I always gave you answers... and company..."
Kate frowned, "Company?" She thought.
"I do not understand what you're still doing outside when the gate is open... just enter"
"This house is not mine... yet..."
"You do not need permission to enter..."
"Of course I do!"
"Not you!" The woman spoke in a firm tone.
Kate fell silent. As much as that woman was mysterious and sometimes scary, something about her -or someone- respected that figure.
"What if someone..."
"Do not be afraid, nobody will catch you"
At that moment, a sudden fog appeared covering the block. Density hampered visibility beyond the boundaries of the terrain.
"What are you?" Kate asked impressed
The woman remained silent and gradually the aged appearance gave room to a more youthful appearance. She raised her hand softly. The serious features seemed more inviting.
"Are you ready to embrace your entire journey so far?"
A clang of metal was heard and slowly the rusting gate grille opened.
A torpor was taking hold of Katerina, her eyes heavy. The ground seemed to spin. Her body seemed to faint.
"Girl... hold on..." the woman spoke watching her attentively
The paradox of time was still too intense for Katerina to bear. Fear was flogging her.
"I cannot do this..." Kate spoke shakily, her legs reluctant to stand
"You can and you will!"
Kate closed her eyes, "The woman in black..." she spoke covering her eyes and holding her head
"Invite her... hug herself. This is your destiny, face it. Do not be afraid because I'm with you!"
Kate's legs finally succumbed to weakness, dropping her to her knees in a panic state. Confused.
The mysterious woman approached her and touched her chin, gently lifting her face and looked her deep in the eyes, "Katarina O'Gregon never runs away from the fight!" She said strictly
In that instant of time, the world seemed to be paralyzed.
The two of them stood staring at each other and flashes of scenes passed very quickly in her memory. Flashes that young Katerina had never seen even in dreams. Flashes still undecipherable for the young brunette on the ground.
"Ready to live the Return?"
The voice echoed deep inside her. Like a bell that awakens the attention, the voice had awakened it.
She took a deep breath and let out a long breath. Panic had dissipated. The confused face had become fearless. Serious. The transaction was complete.
She elegantly rose from the floor. There was no longer Katerina in charge of the emotions, but Katarina O'Gregon homecoming.
"We shall not waste any more time Moirai... All I need is inside there" the beautiful imposing young woman spoke taking the lead of the walk
O'Gregon Palace
"It is amazing how things are exactly the way they were the last time I saw them even after so many years... there is not even dust!"
"Lionel made sure of maintaining the conservation of all major locations"
"It must expensive keeping such a maintenance…"
"The price is insignificant, the value of the memories is invaluable"
"There are memories here that are not very estimable and I would like to forget..."
Moirai remained silent and patiently waited the beautiful brunette to familiarize herself with a place so full of memory so vivid at that very moment, where time and space were one.
Katarina had recalled several moments of childhood in the not so distant century. The furniture so nicely polished almost as if they were new. They seemed better than in her own memory.
The young woman with the old soul watched every detail of every room. From the floor of waxed wood to the crystal chandeliers of each room.
The dining room and library served as training to mold the gypsy soul girl into a porcelain doll that contained the strongest and most intense emotions and secret aspirations behind beautiful smiles and coldly polished gestures.
The little girl who loved playing in the garden and being in touch with nature was sharply molded into the most perfect object of royalty.
The girl with the romantic soul was coldly shaped to be rationally aspiring to become at least a princess.
The intense suppressed emotions gave room to one of the brightest minds in the diplomatics and conflict dealings that had existed in Bohma.
Of course, so much suppression had become a time bomb. One cannot ignore one's essence without consequences.
Perfect diplomacy had become flammable and needed only sparks to combust.
Years of suppression generated an imminent tragedy.
Not even the powerful Katarina O'Gregon could keep centuries of suppression.
Hate, anger, disappointments, grudges, shame. All repressed. It could only gone wrong!
Now, after years, centuries of rehabilitation, Katarina faced everything that shaped her emotional breakthrough. She faced everything she had ever won. All that one day she lost. All that one day she forgot...
Forgot for fear. Forgot for denial. Forgot for need and protection.
And remembered by acceptance.
Acceptance of the destiny that awaited her. Acceptance of the destiny she was drawing. Acceptance of the destiny she constructed. Acceptance of the destiny she chose.
As she climbed the stairs to the old bedroom she could feel very familiar presences.
Presence of the energies of those who were no longer there. Presences from other dimensions of time-space. Presences invisible to naked eyes. Presences invisible to unprepared eyes.
The old bedroom was the same as it had been before she left that house that mostly belonged to her parents. The luxurious red wallpaper. The luxurious curtains were open. The king size bed with red silk bedspreads perfectly lined. The wooden floor was waxed and shiny. The most noble wood of the furniture as if it were new. The floor mirror with gold frame she so loved. The leather couch. The chaise-longue that so often served for her to vent with her then sister Elizabeth. The dressing table she adored so much. And behind the wooden screen was a door leading to the bathroom of the time. She loved the bathtub made of ivory where she several times bathed in bath salts and flower petals with the help of her sister or best friend Lucy.
Everything so perfectly maintained. It was hard to believe that there lived no one but the memories of the ones that were gone.
Upon returning to the bedroom, Katarina noticed at the corner near the wardrobe the old trunk that she had never been able to undo even when she was arrested, and only death was able to separate them.
The trunk of the greatest secret of that time. The trunk of her life. The trunk of her greatest attachment. The untouchable trunk. Or almost, because the lock was different now.
"How can I open it?"
In silence, Moirai handed her the new key.
Katarina took a deep breath, staring at the object, "I do not know if I can do this..."
"That's what you're here for... to set free"
"Difficult to free myself when the present condition of this body reminds me constantly of what I lost..."
"Do not condemn yourself Katarina. You've done it for a long time. You know the worst judges are ourselves..."
"I just wanted to have a family and live a great love story... with Christopher... get my Christians back..."
"The Christian who lives in him is already with you..."
"But until when? Until when will he be able to contain that Christopher who cannot stand me?"
"There is a saying: "Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it." It suits both of you. If you really love him, love him when he least deserves"
"But what about me?"
"Love yourself... and stop torturing yourself. Forgive and let go…"
Katarina looked at the trunk again. It took a while to gather the courage to unlock the lock, and even reluctantly she opened the lid.
She bellowed. Rivers of tears flowed incessantly. Finally Katarina O'Gregon cried for real. It was about time to get out of that eternal mourning. She leaned over the trunk sorrowful.
A small light appeared beside her. She did not even notice it. She was still blind with sadness.
Five more lights entered the room.
"Mommy?"
Katarina looked up in shock. Even with her eyes soaked she seemed to see five figures of children around her. She wiped her eyes quickly and saw nothing else. Only Moirai looked at her with an expression of confirmation that she was not crazy.
"They are here…"
"Why cannot I see them?"
"Set free"
"How?"
"Forgive yourself"
"But I need to know... I need to know if they will forgive me..."
"Does not their presence tell you anything at all? They even came in the purest form of innocent children to remind you of the time when you were happy together..."
"There are only five..."
"Actually six."
"But I had seven..." Katarina whispered saddened with the realization one was missing
"'That One' is here, right next to you all the time"
"Christian?"
"Yes..."
Katarina was shaking with excitement. She looked at the trunk and the contents inside. Some of the old belongings of all the children she had, especially the clothes she made for them during the pregnancies. Keeping those objects so special was the only way she found to feel close to them even when she was away when she ran away. When she was arrested. And also when she found the final end in the barn. It was their memories that made company for the lonely old Katarina. And also the famous emerald necklace that Christopher had made for her when they were still young.
The necklace was already back with her. Just like Christopher. But the most important was missing: the children.
She touched each of the belongings delicately, imagining she was touching them. It was time to move on. It was time for liberation. Homecoming.
With her eyes closed, she imagined each of them as she remembered when they were a happy family. Even the twins Henry and Melissa who were still babies the last time saw them.
A circle of light covered the old lady in black. Six lights.
She finally saw them when the tears had dried.
"Forgive me for failing with you... I never really wanted to leave you... But I tried to check on you even if at distance..."
"We know," said Philip
"We know mother" Beau said
"We know the truth" Lilly said
"Today we all know..." Maddy said
"Daddy..." Melissa said quietly, leaving the sentence in half
"Your father... I have hurt him a lot... but I have already forgiven him..."
"Hopefully..." Philip shrugged
"Yes, my son, I have forgiven him. I was the one who made the mistake for being so jealous..."
"She did not understand..." Beau commented looking at his siblings
"I did not understand what?" Katarina asked confused
"There's something you do not know..." Christian commented even though he had nothing to do with that story
"So tell me... what do not I know?"
"We can not... they are the one who have to tell you..." Maddy tried to explain with the typical sweetness
The children began to disappear. Just like the fog on the block.
"They who?" Katarina asked, starting to feel a very intense torpor.
"Daddy and Henry..."
It was all she could hear before she lost consciousness.
"Miss? Miss?"
Katerina heard a distant male voice. Her body felt heavy.
"Are you alright?"
She looked around. She was lying on the floor in front of the gate of the O'Gregon Palace and saw a man wearing a security uniform looking at her with concern.
"Who are you?" She asked, slowly returning to herself and sat down on the ground massaging her head
"I'm the security guard of the house. I was on my lunch break and when I came back I found you lying on the ground. Are you alright? What happened?"
"I'll be fine..."
"Can I help you in any way? Do you want some water?"
"No, thank you. I'm fine... just a bit tired..."
Katerina still looked confused, and was even more when she saw the security guard unlocking the lock that locked the chains curled in the gate rails. She didn't remember those chains, nor the padlock when she entered the property. Did she really come in?
She frowned in fear and got up quickly before the security man asked more questions than she could answer. She was very confused by what happened and returned to the hotel room and lied down in bed still thoughtful.
Thank you Pin for the review! :D
Some culture info =D
In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Moirai or Moerae, often known in English as the Fates (Latin: Fata), were the white-robed incarnations of destiny. Their number became fixed at three: Clotho (spinner), Lachesis (allotter) and Atropos (literally 'unturnable' but metaphorically 'inflexible' or 'inevitable' – i.e. death).
The Moirai in Greek mythology were the three sisters who determined the fate of both gods and human beings. They were three lugubrious women, responsible for fabricating, weaving and cutting what would be the thread of life for all individuals. During the work, the moiras make use of Wheel of Fortune, that is the loom used to weave the wires. The turns of the wheel position the individual's in its most privileged part (the top) or in its less desirable part (the bottom), thus explaining the periods of good or bad luck of all.
Cloto (Κλωθώ; klothó) in Greek means "spinning", holding the spindle and weaving the thread of life. Clotho acted as the goddess of births and beginnings.
Lachesis (Λάχεσις; lachesis) in Greek means "to draw" pulling and wrapping the woven thread. Lachesis acted out by passing the share of assignments earned in life.
Atropos (Ἄτροπος; atropos) in Greek means "to depart", it cut the thread of life. Atropos determined the end of life.
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So that's the last chapter of 2018, I cannot believe it! I'm writing this for so long but is just this long because I kept the saga in the same history. I could've separate them just like I did with my other stories that have separate files, but I thought that if I separated this one people could get confused about some details and wouldn't search the other link to understand the whole book if they started reading in a different order.
I appreciate everyone who still reads the book and I can say that more and more we are closer to the end!
Soon we will face a large time skip and after that Chris will have to make his final decision... O.O
Happy New Year!
We see next year! xD
Stay Tuned!