Chris wanted to go out to eat, so we did. It was great to see him again. I had been too sick to leave the house recently, so it was good to see him…

While we were talking, I stared at my coffee, too embarrassed to say what was on my mind. I was afraid I was going to look weak, even in front of him! And that fear took a hold of my heart, and squeezed…until I couldn't think anymore.

"How are you he asked?" his dark eyes studied my face with interest.

How was I? That was a complicated question. On the outside, I looked fine. I was beautiful, somewhat tall, thin and strong. On the inside…I was a wreck.

The antibodies inside my body couldn't tell the difference between good cells and bad cells. They attacked my lungs, joints, skin, and kidneys. The damage wasn't serious or life threatening, but it hurt like hell.

The doctor didn't seem concerned. I wasn't dying, so no steroids would be used.

Steroids were used for serious cases of Lupus, they quickly lowered inflammation and had a few nasty side effects of their own. They were only used in emergencies.

I should have been happy I was not on them. Because that horrible class of drugs had monstrous side effects, and I did not want to look like my disease.

I wanted to scream to the world…and say: "Does anyone recognize me?"

Did anyone feel my pain?

Chris looked at me with confusion. "What's the matter?"

I shook my head. "Nothing just thinking…"

I ran my fingers through my hair…now a brown bob of hair. I was happier because I hated being a blonde. And my eyes were as blue as they had ever been.

"Care to share?" he asked with concern. Chris always took care of me. He was a beautiful friend.

"I don't know," I began. "Do you believe I have Lupus?" I wanted him desperately to say yes…I just wanted one person to believe me, just one! Everyone else thought I was some kind of a lunatic…

He nodded. "Of course I do; I know you of all people wouldn't lie about something so serious. Anyone who doesn't believe is not worth your time. Times are hard for you right now. There are always going to people who don't want to believe. Forget them and move on with your life…okay?"

I laughed. "Thanks Chris."

He smiled back. "You're very welcome Jill…"

We got our meal and we started to eat. Chris looked up at me… "What have you been doing since the *incident*?"

Incident…oh he was talking about my possession and being controlled by Wesker. I thought I hated him the most out of everyone; but now I realized that I just didn't hate him enough.

"Well," I began. "I'm not working…I'm sick all the time and the Lupus thing is really getting me down. Other than that, I am okay."

There was a silence. Chris looked at me grimly. "How long has this been going on…the lupus thing I mean…"

I shrugged. "I've had it my whole life. But it wasn't triggered until now. The experience with Wesker, that's what woke the demon up…"

"I'm so sorry Jill," he apologized. "That has got to be hard for you."

I shook my head. "Don't feel sorry for me; it's not your fault. I'll be okay…I'm a warrior…I'll make it."

"You can't do all of this on your own," he explained.

"Yes I can," I argued. "I'm the only one who sees the truth…"

"Jill, I see the truth too…and I believe you with all my heart. There's nothing about you that suggests you're lying about Lupus…and all I want is for you to feel better."

I smiled. "Thanks Chris, it means so much that you care about me like this…"

"I'll always care about you," he explained. "I'm your friend! Come on, let's get out of here." After eating our lunch we decided to walk around town. It was a cloudy day, with a chance of rain. Yet we were still walking around without a care in the world.

"Chris," I began, looking into his dark brown eyes. "What have you been up to? You know, since the incident?"

He sighed. "Not much...I'm thinking about being a cop…or something…I'm not sure."

I shrugged. "Guess that makes two of us who have no clue on what to do in our lives."

He laughed. "Yes I guess it does."

We were walking through the town and came across an old, abandoned building. I nudged Chris. "Hey," I whispered in his ear. "Has that building always been here? I can't remember seeing it before."

He shook his head. "…No…I haven't seen anything like that before either…"

Something pulled at my heart. It was trying to tell me something. And I think it was trying to tell me that there was something magical and supernatural about that house.

"What do you think we should do?" he asked.

I shrugged. "It looks like nobody lives there so maybe we should just leave?"

But no, I couldn't leave…something was pulling me in the direction of that house!

"Wait…why don't we go back when we get more information on that house."

Chris nodded. "That sounds like a very good idea. Who knows what's in that place!"

Yeah…and who knows what was drawing me toward that house. I was scared. I had been scared before in the past but I was truly scared now.

At the house, Chris and I went over possible owners of the house. We had no idea how it had gotten there. Part of me thought it was some horrible mistake. But then why was I drawn to that house? Why was I thinking about the house even now?

"It's creepy," Chris broke the silence. "Like the Spencer Mansion in the Raccoon mountain region."

"Yes, it is." I remembered the Spencer estate, and the broken down building…looked similar. Why did we venture off? Why did we think that taking the shortcut across town would make things easier?"

The house looked like an old factory building. I couldn't have made much more out from that distance. It was strange that such a place was still up in existence. I thought that it was the town's job to demolish places like that.

Life certainly had its secrets. I wasn't particularly looking for any secrets though. This one just came into my life.

"What are we going to do?" I asked. "I can't forget about that place…it keeps appearing in my mind!"

Chris sighed. "I guess we could go see it again…but you can't go by yourself Jill. I'm worried about you; I don't want you to go alone. Who knows what's in that place!"

I smiled. "Thanks Chris. I'm not a fragile flower; I can take care of myself."

He shrugged. "Yeah but everyone needs help every now and then. Don't be afraid to ask for help Jill."

"I'm not afraid, I just don't need it."

"So you plan on going alone?"

"If I have to!"

"Well, I'll be your backup. We'll go tomorrow night, let's rest for now…"

Resting was hard for me; I kept tossing and turning in my bed. It was hard to get my blanket over me…my hands were so swollen and sore. I hated that feeling: the feeling that I was so helpless.

This disease was crippling me!

I admitted defeat and fell asleep eventually. But my dreams were no better than the reality I lived in.

I kept dreaming about that house. I saw ghosts and spirits floating around. Something was very wrong with that house.

Okay, now I was scared.

The next morning…I got up and made coffee. I had no idea that I was about to come into the terms of supernatural beings.

I never knew ghosts existed…until now…