Chapter 25 is here...things aren't getting any better in Black Falls, and some of this story's ensemble of heroes are facing the most uncertain moments of their life. The title of this chapter refers to four important players and how the ghosts of their pasts insist on haunting them...in the case of one, Sheva Alomar, she's being haunted *literally* because of the inexplicable supernatural evil that's gripped the town! But as unsure as things might be, the bottom is about to fall out...the monstrous Reeve Meyers is preparing to take things to the next unspeakable level, and he has some help. Who is this mysterious bald man he communicates with? What role does he play? Don't ask, because I can't say!

You SILENT HILL fans will know what I mean when I say the darkness is about to hit Black Falls, and it will hit hard...

RESIDENT EVIL X SILENT HILL: JUDGMENT DAY

written by Charles Spencer,
inspired by Ygure

Chapter 25:

"ECHOES OF THE PAST"

-1-

Black Falls, Vermont. It was once a place where nothing happened. That and many things have changed because of the unrelenting, zealous evil of the last remnant of a cult that wanted to remake the world in their image.

Reeve Meyers, the High Priest of The Order's Sect of Valtiel, the First Servant of God. He was in the relative saftey of his enclave in the town's City Hall. Reeve just had every adult hostage here executed because they became worthless to him...but their children - nine boys and girls, the oldest of them eleven years of age - still held a terrible purpose for the cult leader. But such unfortunate things were for a later time.

As the agents at Wyler Community Hospital were redeploying into the spectral, unyielding mist that took hold of this small Vermont town...as Cheryl Mason had just freed a supermarket taken over by a group of predatory thugs only blocks away...as Claire Redfield and those with her barely won a battle for their lives against demonic enemies at a derelict gas station...the High Priest was in the recently deceased mayor's office, cloaked in his black robes as he stood safely in the center of a large mystical ward five feet in diameter. It cast its blood-crimson glow on Reeve from under his feet as he stood there, and it accented the angry expression on his face. The leader was angry because he was frustrated...and he wasn't the only one.

In the office with him, slowly stalking around the circular ward, was a bald man in a black suit...he wore dark glasses, but the expression on his face communicated he was also far, far from happy. This mystery man was as silent as he was foreboding in his aura, and his gaze was locked on Reeve as he paced slowly. Reeve didn't just look back at his guest, he turned slowly to keep his eyes on the bald man. In spite of his standing as the leader of what was left of The Order, his tone was careful, respectful...even in deference to the bald man as he spoke, but the reasons for that were known only to them.

Reeve Meyers said, "I know it has been taking too long. I am as frustrated as you are." He paused for a brief moment, listening...but if another was there, they would have heard nothing. That was because this visitor communicated to Reeve by thought. "I am sure what you want is necessary. I would not ever question you. We both serve the will of God. We both want Her holy glory resurrected to remake the world into Paradise.

"But you must remember we each have...different perspectives on the situation."

-2-

Claire Redfield asked that she and Sherry Birkin have some time alone to talk.

They were in the storage room of the gas station at the moment, its gloom illuminated by barely-working lights, like most of the town...Sherry had lost her shirt in an attack from a hellish creature, but Claire didn't hesitate to give the girl the beige buttoned shirt she wore. The brunette still had on the red long-sleeved shirt she wore under that. The attack the blonde girl she knew and loved for fifteen years would have killed or at least crippled an ordinary person. But Claire saw with her own amazed eyes Sherry Birkin was anything but ordinary.

Now the incredible blonde girl who had faced the most terrifying threats imaginable too early in her life was emotionally desolate. Sherry wept quietly as she looked away from Claire, uncaring that her modesty had just been restored. For this beautiful young agent, her world might as well have blasted into pieces. She withdrew into herself, unable to look at her hero, the woman she secretly desired more than any other, because of the overwhelming shame she felt.

Only a few feet away, hating to see Sherry this way, Claire Redfield approached her patiently. Tenderly. Her voice was full of questions as she said, "Sherry...I don't understand, I was told - you told me long ago that the antivirus Leon and I made to save you years ago worked and purged the G-Virus from your system. That was part of why the government kept you in protective custody until you were an adult, just in case something changed over time - !"

Sherry's voice was quiet and sounded like a glass slowly breaking: "I lied to you, Claire." Tears flowed down her pale cheeks as she trembled. And she had wanted to tell her hero the truth, only minutes before, but then those damned monsters attacked. "God, I hated to lie to you, but...but my guardian told me it was for the best."

The lovely brunette looked at Sherry and frowned softly. "Derek Simmons." Only months ago, he had been the President's National Security Advisor. In secret, Simmons was a corrupt power broker and manipulator, a traitor to his country of the first, darkest order. And he had been Sherry's legal guardian since Raccoon City.

Sherry managed, "The antivirus only s-saved me from becoming a host to my father's...offspring. Government scientists figured out almost immediately that...that my genome was dramatically altered by the G-Virus, anyway. The regenerative powers in my cells evolved because of what my father did to me. You already saw how fast I can heal, but you have no idea how it's also affected my longevity." She shook her head slowly as her slender arms wrapped around herself. "I've been told I'm virtually immortal, Claire. I-I'll never age...I'll never even be able to die unless the circumstances are extreme enough to destroy me."

Claire had no idea...she couldn't even imagine how the girl she adored felt. "Sherry...!"

"Simmons told me it was for the best, and I believed him. God, I believed him and I lied to you, Claire, I...!" Sherry sobbed quietly as her eyes squeezed shut, but it didn't stop her tears. "How you can even look at me now...?"

In the silent darkness broken only by the sound of Sherry crying, she heard Claire's voice gently, sweetly reach out... "You were manipulated by a monster, Sherry. You had no idea what kind of person Simmons really was, no one did until...until recently." Claire's voice had slowly gotten closer. "But Simmons is dead now. He doesn't matter anymore." Closer...and then the blonde felt warm, slender hands touch and caress her shoulders. She heard the loving voice say, "Sherry, look at me...please look at me." Weeping, despondent, the girl turned and saw the beautiful face of her hero and idol. One of Claire's hands lifted to softly wipe one of Sherry's cheeks as she spoke. "It's all right, Sherry. I understand why you kept your special abilities a secret from me - !"

But Sherry slowly shook her head again as there seemed to be pain in her lovely expression. "No, you don't. You don't understand at all. How can I tell you how it feels to be so different? So different from everyone, from...f-from you?" Her face tilted down a little as she closed her eyes. "You're right...Simmons doesn't matter. In the end, I couldn't tell you anyway because I was so afraid of what you'd think of me."

"Sherry..."

"You and Leon tried to save me fifteen years ago, but you couldn't. I don't blame you for that, I'd never ever blame you. I blame my father and the monster he turned into, that...G-Type." Claire felt the girl shudder. "What he did to me...it's the only thing either of my parents really gave to me." Sherry smiled briefly, almost tempted to laugh, but there was no humor at all in her expression. Only the pain her memories brought to her. "How pathetic is that? B-but I was trying to be stronger, Claire. I was trying to get up the courage to tell you the truth, I really was..."

Claire gazed upon the girl completely patient. Loving. "I know, angel. I believe you." She had no doubt the girl told the complete truth.

"Then those things attacked and..." Sherry was silent for a beat before she said with elemental sadness, "You saw for yourself what kind of monster I am. Oh god, I don't know what I am and I never had the strength to tell you, I'm so sorry...!"

Claire Redfield clutched the blonde girl in her arms in an embrace, wishing so much she could take Sherry's pain away with her warmth. And she sought to do so with words that came straight from her heart, words that were pure and perfect truth in the brunette's soul. "Sherry, shhh...ssshhhhh. It's all right. I swear to god it's all right. I told you before nothing would ever change how I feel for you, and I meant it." Claire pulled back a little so she could look into Sherry's wet blue eyes. "I truly did mean every word, angel. You're more precious to me than any treasure, and I'll be damned if you're a monster." Her hold on Sherry relaxed only because Claire lifted a hand to caress the girl's cheek. "You are brave and beautiful and an absolute marvel. I've always been so proud and blessed to know you...I love you and that will never change, Sherry. Never!"

"Oh, Claire..." No one else could have had an affect on Sherry Birkin in the way Claire did. Her hero, someone she held more sacred than anything or anyone in Creation. Her soul lifted from the desolation she just felt, so reassured, so happy, so completely grateful. Her voice thick with emotion, Sherry said, "I love you, too...oh, I love you...!" And the overwhelming feelings in the girl's heart impelled her to do what she did next.

Their faces were already so close as they held each other, and Sherry closed her eyes as her face tilted a bit to one side...and she spontaneously kissed Claire's lips. The kiss wasn't brief, either. The girl kissed her hero for a long, tender moment and she knew pure elation...

...as Claire experienced sheer surprise from this wondrous and singluar expression of love from her angel. No part of her wanted to raise a defense in any way. Not against Sherry. But her eyes were still open, it felt like her being was suddenly on hold as her slender hand touched the girl's cheek...she felt a surreal amazement as she began to realize how deeply and completely Sherry loved the brunette...

...and then Sherry gently disengaged from Claire's lips...her eyes opened...her smile expressed her unbridled euphoria simply being so close to the brunette...

...but Sherry's smile faltered slightly as she saw the surprise in Claire's expression...the uncertainty...

"Hey!" They were both surprised and turned to the doorway, where the young commando Rain stood. The girl said, "Sorry to interrupt, but more of those ugly fuckers could be coming our way right now. We can't stay."

The two shared an awkward glance, but they both knew Rain was right. Claire Redfield frowned as she nodded. "Yeah. We'd better get out of here."

-3-

Reeve kept his gaze on the silent bald man as he paced around the leader of The Order. Reeve said, "In this world that still lacks our God's blessing of order, too much is left to that mercurial intangible called chance. What seems to be the sure path can just as easily bring...complications."

A moment of silence...the bald man's stoic expression didn't change, he didn't speak, but Reeve almost defensively responded, "I know...yes, I know. Even with the present state of affairs, with Black Falls become holy ground under our control, events are proceeding too slowly. Alessa Gillespie is still evading our reach, even with my powers. But you must understand, what you want...any number of things could go wrong. What you want may bring the Mother of God back into our possession even faster. With just as much speed, her fate and this pathetic world's will be sealed.

"But. If we take this step, the state of affairs in Black Falls will be that much further beyond my control, and I say that in spite of the increase of my own powers. There are the agents from outside to consider, too. What you want might guarantee their ends even as we use them to find Alessa, but remember the great infidel who denied God's rebirth long ago."

-4-

Sheva Alomar learned far too early in her life how dangerous this world and her fellow humans could be.

Once, Sheva was an ordinary girl living a happy life with her parents in her homeland in West Africa. Her country was a poor one, like neighboring regions, so much so the government was in constant conflict with rebel guerillas frustrated by their leaders' inability to improve their lot. Machine gun fire was a sound regularly heard by Sheva and other children as they grew up, but there were signs of hope. A massive pharmaceutical corporation called Umbrella recently established the 57th Plant, a bio-chemical facility not far from Sheva's hometown which employed most of the local adults as laborers, including her parents. But unknown to everyone in her land, Ozwell Spencer established the 57th Plant in reality to conduct illegal bio-organic weapons production, which was a precursor to more ambitious operations in secret locations like Raccoon City in the United States. In 1994, when Sheva was only eight years old, a terrible accident resulted in nightmare creatures being released from their storage tanks - the things went berserk and began to slaughter everyone in the area. Sheva's mother and father were among the fatalities as her homeland fell into total chaos.

Umbrella responded by sending in heavily armed mercenary forces to 'sanitize' the area and reestablish order...Sheva managed to escape but then found herself lost in the Savannah, hungry, frightened and alone. Luckily, a truck driver chanced upon her in his rusted yet sturdy vehicle and took her to his home, where he all but adopted her. As time passed, as the girl got stronger, she discovered the kind, middle-aged man was secretly part of the guerilla forces. They long suspected their government leaders were bought and paid for by Umbrella and knew the truth of the incredibly dangerous operations of the 57th Plant...and now the local military was openly working with the corporate forces to destroy evidence and eliminate any potential witnesses. The combined military and corporate forces killed everyone left in Sheva's hometown and wiped it off the map. In righteous fury, desperate for justice, Sheva Alomar joined the resistance against her government and Umbrella as a child soldier.

Once upon a time, Sheva could have grown up carrying books to her school as she grew and learned...instead, she spent the next several years of her life regularly carrying an AK-47 assault rifle. By the time she was 15 years old in 2001, she was a warrior and veteran of many battles, but Umbrella and the corrupt powers that be were still firmly entrenched. Her people still weren't free. That same year, though, Sheva and her comrades met a group of American intelligence operatives...they were in her country with information that one of the high-ranking lieutenants of the resistance was about to make a secret deal with Umbrella for a B.O.W. The man wasn't just a traitor, he wanted to take control of the guerillas by using a monster to kill their rightful leaders. Sheva took part in an elaborate sting that stopped the deal, resulted in the traitor's death and the capture of the Umbrella broker, which went a long way to helping gather evidence for those like Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine who wanted to expose and destroy the corporation. In thanks for her help, the leader of the covert agents offered Sheva a chance for a new life in the United States...with not only the blessing but encouragement of her comrades, including the former truck driver and patron who became a father figure to her, the girl accepted.

With her U.S. benefactor's quiet yet generous sponsorship, Sheva Alomar learned English and earned her citizenship within months; at the age of 18, she enrolled in a university studying law. During that time, though, it was clear the warrior's fire still burned brightly in her heart. Even after the Umbrella Corporation was publicly destroyed and scattered to the winds, she still held her quiet fury against those who would corrupt and destroy the world for the sake of profit. The moral certainty that guided Sheva as she grew up a rebel fighting a noble cause kept her restless. Her benefactor understood and when she graduated in 2008, he suggested to Sheva that she join the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance. After eight months of training under the guidance of BSAA unit leader Josh Stone, she was accepted into the international organization...

...and it wasn't long after that Sheva Alomar was assigned to invesigate possible bioterrorist activity in Kijuju, not far from where she was born in Africa, with a new partner named Chris Redfield...

It was four years after those events...and Sheva, who had suffered more turmoil and tragedy than many would ever experience in their lifetimes, was forced to wonder if she was going insane.

The lady separated herself from the comrades who, like her, stayed behind at Wyler Community Hospital just in case the wayward half of Leon's Bravo Team arrived. At the moment, she was in the recently vacated room of an elderly patient who had been already seriously ill from sickness, but since the damn fog came to Black Falls, his condition deteriorated fast until he died only an hour ago. Many patients died since the fog arrived, since so much inexplicably and completely changed within the town, from nearly losing all power to the hospital's medical supplies and meds becoming useless for those who needed healing. Sheva Alomar was here in this darkened room...there was a large mirror on one wall, and she was quietly staring at her reflection. Her lovely body was rigid as she stood...within, she was lost in thought, desperately trying to make sense of her circumstances, and failing.

And more than once, she prayed...she prayed with all of her heart that she wouldn't experience what she did three times before since they left Black Falls' City Hall.

Those prayers, unfortunately, were unanswered...because the moment came that it happened again...she heard the voice, as if spoken by someone in the room with her, from behind her: "Sheva...Sheva, dear..."

Sheva almost cried out breathlessly as her eyes snapped shut...her expression became one of terror and despair as she tried to deny what she heard. Again. No...oh, nonononono!

Because the sound of that voice was her mother's...the woman who brought Sheva into this world, who died when the girl was only eight years old.

And then she heard the other voice, and her horror compounded because she recognized it, too. "Little one, why do you ignore us?" Her dead father.

A few times before, Sheva heard her parents' voices as she and her comrades made their way through the fog. They called to her from deep, deep within the gray mist. And oh god, it sounded like they were in the same room with her now. She remembered that Chris and Leon wanted anyone who experienced such a thing to tell them immediately. But she couldn't share what she had heard before. She was afraid to. It was far, far too personal. She heard her mother's voice ask, "You must remember us, dear? Have you forgotten your parents so easily?"

Her eyes squeezed shut, the lady shook her head furiously as she thought, Nononononononono you're not real you can't be you're dead you died when I was only a child please leave me alone please!

It shouldn't have been possible, her parents were dead, but she heard her father say, "Where are your manners, little one? We know you can hear us."

Her mother's voice was like honey as she gently insisted, "You do not have to be afraid, dear. We would not do anything to hurt you. We love you, Sheva."

The warrior's eyes opened reflexively, and she looked into the mirror again...and she saw in the reflection, as she looked upon her own agonized expression, her mother and father were standing there in the room not far behind her. She couldn't even gasp. She only stared, almost mesmerized, completely stunned. They were exactly as she remembered them the last time she saw them alive.

Her father's expression was seemingly kind and full of concern as he said, "You do not have to fight anymore, little one. You can come with us."

"Come, dear child," her mother seemed to sweetly implore. "We will take you where...you most belong."

Oh, to see her parents...to hear them after so long, and she remembered them perfectly because her cherished memories were all she had left of them...but at the same time, just as she also felt before when she heard their voices, there was something...wrong. Something in the inexplicable pull she felt in their invitation, something that drew her to them. Sheva's innermost instincts screamed alarm and she tried to muster her strength. Her brow furrowed as she stared at their reflection and her thoughts were full of denial: No! My mother and father did love me, but I have no idea what you are! You can't be real!

Her father frowned. "Why do you deny what you clearly see and hear, little one? That makes us sad - "

Sheva's entire being tensed as her thoughts shouted, Stop it! I remember my parents well, and you cannot be them! I don't know what you damned things are, and I don't want to know!

Her mother suddenly began to scold, "How dare you use such language to the parents who brought you into this world - "

With a sudden fury that came to her during the worst of circumstances, when she fought desperately against enemies to preserve her own life and those of her comrades, a fury she welcomed at this moment, Sheva Alomar suddenly spun around and screamed, "YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER AND FATHER!" The sound of her own voice was so loud to her...

...but worse was the sudden disorientation she felt when she saw that no one was there. She had been alone in the room after all. The specters were gone, but Sheva didn't feel comforted. She felt virtually off balance, like her head was spinning...oh dear god, what was happening...?

"M-miss?" Startled, Sheva turned quickly to the door to the patient's room...and saw the young candy striper Bea Montoya. The teenaged brunette who looked so weary asked out of concern, "I-I'm sorry, who did you just shout at?"

Sheva looked at the girl for a long moment before she said flatly, "Nothing. Absolutely nothing." And it was the truth, wasn't it. The lady's eyes examined the candy striper. "Can I help you...?"

Bea hesitantly, meekly said, "Oh, I was just...making my rounds, ma'am. I won't bother you anymore." The sad, tired girl began to turn away -

"Wait!" Bea almost whirled around to see Sheva Alomar slowly approach her, her expression imploring. "I'm truly sorry, you weren't bothering me. In fact, it...it would help if I wasn't alone." Sheva reached the girl and asked, "Your name is Bea, correct?"

Bea nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

"Please, call me Sheva." She extended a hand in offering. "I-if you'd like, I'll join you...?"

Not wanting to be alone either, clearly full of relief and gratitude, Bea took the warrior's hand. "I'd really really like that, thank you."

Sheva nodded deeply. "Then lead the way." They both left the dark silence of the patient's room behind, holding hands. Sheva Alomar felt so much comfort simply being with the girl, but she was still deeply disturbed by the paranormal experience she had. None of us have any hope alone in this fog we're trapped within. My friends are relying on me to help them survive and bring an end to this evil. I also know without a doubt whatever those apparitions are, they are NOT my mother and father. The moment I begin to believe they are...I fear I will truly lose my sanity.

-5-

Reeve Meyers' expression became hateful as he snarled, "Harry Mason stopped The Order and the worst of Silent Hill three decades ago, and he was only one man. And you know better than I do how Alessa herself defied God's will thirteen years ago, and that was before she remembered the power she controls now! There is as much of a possibility she will succeed again, especially with the help of that bitch Rebecca Chambers and anyone else!

"Remember the danger to me and those close to me. We who have committed ourselves to our holy cause in Black Falls is all that is left of The Order." Outside of the unfortunate soldiers of the cult who were trapped in the fog outside, and their numbers were...eaten away in the past several hours. "We will have to keep this City Hall as our sanctuary and take far greater care or - "

Suddenly, the bald man stopped cold midstep at the fringe of the ward. He regarded the High Priest flatly, and if another had been there, they would have felt the air...thicken from a palpable aura of hateful energy. Reeve felt the shift, and his expression suddenly turned fearful and defensive as he shouted in denial, "No! NO! I am not being a coward, I would NEVER disgrace my God!" Emphatically, passionately, the pale man said, "On my soul, I would never disgrace you."

-6-

Leon S. Kennedy and the rest of his new Bravo Team came across a day care center only a few doors down from Wyler Community Hospital on Barker...they had only begun their renewed search outside, like Chris and those under his command. Seeing dim light from within one of the barricaded windows, they investigated. They were surprised by who they found inside: and handful of adults and over twenty children under their care. The children had been here as their parents, visibly and terribly absent, were busy at their jobs the afternoon before, much busier than usual because of all of the business with the County Fair.

The adults - led by a young redheaded woman named Allison, the manager of the center - were understandably apprehensive at first but quickly warmed to Leon and the team under his command when they realized the agents' purpose. So did the children, who were fascinated by the newcomers. It was a testament to the skills of Allison and those supervising the kids how calm their defenseless charges were in spite of the dark changes to the town. Bravo couldn't stay long, but they wanted to ensure that everyone, especially the children, were all right. They hated like hell to have to leave almost as quickly as they arrived, but they had their mission to help everyone in town and stop the evil of The Order.

Of all of the agents, Karena LesProux was the most affected by the prospect of leaving these innocent children...she had taken it upon herself to speak with many of the kids, and they were drawn to her by the woman's voice, accented by her native French, and a truly gentle, matronly persona her fellow agents hadn't seen before. Karena was on her knees in a play area, interacting gently with some of the children, as Helena Harper spoke to Allison not far away. The manager couldn't help but observe how natural it was for the lady, ready for battle in her black gear and blue biohazard mask, to be with children.

Leon quietly moved to the gathering and said softly, "Karena?" They had to go.

Karena turned to look at her team leader and nodded...but she said hesitantly, "J-just a moment, Leon. Please?" Leon nodded, and the lady turned to the children with her...she announced, "I am afraid we must leave. I promise, we will stop the bad people and make this place normal again. We will do everything we can to defend you. We...we will find your parents, wherever they are." She was reluctant to say that last; for all Karena knew, these children were now orphans because of The Order and the monsters they brought with them. "I swear my life on that, do you understand?"

One of the boys spoke for the other kids and nodded. "Yes, ma'am." But then on impulse, feeling safe with Karena, quickly moved and hugged the BSAA agent in black. He suddenly said, "Please don't get hurt for us, Karena, please!"

The other kids almost knocked her from her knees as they needfully embraced her in a group hug, too. A girl in pigtails implored, "Stop the bad people so they won't hurt you, either! Okay?"

"Oh, you sweet, sweet children...!" Karena did her level best to embrace as many of the little ones as possible in return...her face, just visible but with a ghostly quality within the illuminated glass of her mask, clearly smiled. "I will do my best, always. Stay strong." It took a few more moments simply to gently break away from the kids and stand...

...and when she did, as she turned and walked away with clear reluctance, Karena was looking down as the posture of her lithe, beautiful body became visibly stiffer. It was so hard to separate herself from the children, and Leon couldn't help but take notice as the agent drew closer to him. The DSO Senior Agent asked the BSAA operative, "Lieutenant, are you all right?"

Karena didn't answer right away...when she did, her voice was full of a deep sadness she could barely contain. "I...I would be lying if I said yes, Leon."

Leon frowned. He could imagine why Karena felt the way she did. "I can only imagine how hard this is, to see these kids in this situation. I remember what you told me earlier, and It must make you think of - "

Karena suddenly, thinly said, "Yes, it does." An awkward beat, and Karena looked up at Leon...her tone was heartfelt as she quickly said, "I'm sorry, Leon."

Leon smiled warmly. "Don't be. You ready?"

"Yes, sir, ready to go on your order. Leon..." Karena LesProux moved very close and clutched one of his arms in her hand gently. She bowed and said thickly, "Merci beaucoup. Thank you for caring how I feel."

Leon almost bowed in turn. "It's no trouble, Karena." Karena moved away, and Leon felt another's presence...he turned to see Anne Cunningham, her green eyes gazing at him thoughtfully. He asked, "Are you set to go, Anne?"

The prison guard nodded and said, "Yeah, but...is it okay to ask something?"

"Of course."

Anne then looked and nodded toward Karena...she asked quietly, "Your friend from France...is she okay?"

"Karena's fine, it's just...personal stuff."

Anne quickly looked at him, her expression awkward. "Oh. I-I didn't - "

"You're all right, Anne." He paused. "Karena has two daughters of her own."

Anne Cunningham realized and nodded. No wonder the French woman was such a natural with children. "Seeing all of these kids must really bring out the mom in her. Are her girls doing well?"

Leon S. Kennedy hesitated only for a beat...before their deployment into Black Falls hours ago, when she was assigned to Bravo Team, Karena took Leon aside to confide some important personal information to him. As a precaution in case she didn't survive this mission. Leon answered truthfully, "The last I heard, yeah. But that's not important right now." He among only a few others knew anything about Karena because that was the way she wanted it...

...and Leon wished the truth of her situation was far, far different than what she had to live with.

-7-

Reeve continued to speak to his silent visitor: "My greatest worry is for Alessa Gillespie. If you take this step, then the danger to the Mother of God will increase dramatically, just as it will for all of the nonbelievers here. And I won't abide anything happening to her before she fulfills her destiny...I know you wouldn't!" He emphasized that last by jabbing a finger at the silent bald man. "Remember that in spite of the increase of power I shall enjoy, I will have little control over the threats she will undoubtedly face. I cannot guarantee that we shall regain Alessa alive and intact if - !" Reeve Meyers stopped mid-sentence as his pale expression became filled with irritation and impatience...as he listened to a voice only he could hear...

...and then the monster's eyes widened with shock...unfortunately, it was pleasant. "Oh! Oh! I-I had no idea, even after reading all of Claudia Wolf's journals...she had no idea - ! I understand now." Not for the first time, in a gesture of supplication, Reeve bowed deeply as he spread his arms before the man in black. "Forgive me." The mysterious visitor said and did nothing in response, simply staring at the cult leader. Reeve rose and smiled. "I know it will not take long for you to prepare. As you do, I shall endeavor to communicate with Alessa, have her surrender herself to me. If she does not, the worst possible thing will happen to this town." Reeve almost laughed. "It's not likely Alessa will simply surrender, but you never know. The silly little bitch honestly cares for others...she came here to end The Order before we harmed anyone else. She definitely wouldn't want anything to happen to Rebecca Chambers. It wouldn't hurt to appeal to Alessa's foolish compassion, and if I cannot..."

Reeve Meyers smiled, and that smile was terribly cold. "...you will know what to do."

For a beat, the bald man in dark glasses didn't respond visibly in any way...and then he turned and walked out of the office, just like that.

Reeve nodded with quiet satisfaction and cast his thoughts to another within the City Hall building. He spoke with his mind: "Ted, prepare yourself. I want you to perform your assigned task the moment I give you the order!"

Ted, one of his devout Order Soldiers, enthusiastically replied verbally, "By your word, Your Grace." Ted knew how important his duty was. He was in the basement of the building, at a control station that, because of Reeve's power, worked perfectly unlike most everything else in town. The control station was for Black Falls' outdoor civil defense system...

...which, due to The Order's manipulations, was recently retrofitted with an ancient mechanical air raid siren at the top of the City Hall's clock tower.

TO BE CONTINUED