2004

A woodland city street comes into view from the autumn haze of blur colors from the distance. The sidewalks cobblestone sidewalks extend from a large building. Flags and logo's suggest this to be a university.

Through the glass panels on the wooden doors, girls can be seen chatting as they make their way out into the quad. Two arms reach from out of view to open the two doors. As the first girls exit, one of the suited men whispers into his sleeve "Roger, subject is leaving the building now."First, a red-head emerges with short curly hair in plead, next a burnet in a hoodie catches up and motions for someone else.

Last, out walks a short blond in a skirt, furry orange top and boots. Her short blond hair seems to bounce with her breasts as she laughs and breathes slowly. Catching her breath, she lifts her purse over her shoulder and looks up.

In a high-pitched perky voice, she motions for the men in suits to go ahead, but the secret service ask them to stay together. "Guys, were ok on our own going back to the house. It's only two blocks away." the blonde insists.

"No can do Ashley... Err... Ma'am. You're all high priority targets now since the recent threat, and we can't have you all wandering off, we need to stick together." said the buff serviceman. The burnet stares magically at him, obviously turned on.

The girls talk about the news and election briefly, but soon as the talk along the sidewalk about everything form work shifts to cute boys and singers and what they'll be wearing at the dance. The girls wave goodbye to Ashley as they move along. Ashley and her guards prepare to walk down the turn toward her dorm, the first walking on ahead per protocol like every other day, when a car explodes further out.

Ashley stands there in disbelief as she is shielded by her second handler, before he holds her back with his hand. "Stay here." He motions for the other to hurry back while he investigates...

In the confusion, Ashley is now completely vulnerable in this brief window of opportunity.

A swift wind is heard as the view from the distance moves in towards Ashley like a man running, Ashley seems to be moving in slow motion as she turns around. A reflection of the sunlight on a familiar looking blade appears in the white muscular hands from behind the camera. Ashley turns as the man appears right in front of her and begins to scream.

Everything goes black and time begins to stand completely still, as the noise around her becomes muffled like her now blurred sight.

A secret service man calls "Ashley!" as the sound of dodging and pistol fire turns to a mutation sound followed by an impairing noise and the coughing of blood , as well as the soon to be familiar smell of death.

Resident Evil: Illumination

Ashley's head rises up from a blue pillow in a pink nightgown screaming, lightning shining through the side window to the sound of loud thunder and the sheets of rain pouring outside.

She managed to calm down and curls up into a ball with her legs out in front if her, sobbing.

She had the nightmare again.

Frustrated with herself, she rolls her eyes before falling backwards back into her bed exhausted.

Late January, 2014

Ashley yawned some hours later and hits the alarm clock with her hand. A house keeper opens the blinds. "Time to wake up Ms. Graham, it's the big day." Before leaving, she checks to confirm that she is indeed up and about.

Ashley slips out of her clothes and walks over in her feet to bathroom, She begins to run the water and goes into the steamy shower. A small television in the other room was on. She could hear from the loud volume talk about the inaugural ball and the vice-president officially coming into his first official term in office as Commandeer in Chief... after the events of Tall Oaks.

Popular subjects of the elections were the economy, job growth, and bio warfare. At this point, a dark hand reaches out towards the TV and turns the volume down on the television Ashley did no remember having turned on in the first place.

It went on to mention years ago today about the president's daughter Ashley Graham being kidnapped walking home after class at her college in Massachusetts with two senators' daughters and the secret service, leaving one guard dead, impaled through the waist, and another mortally wounded with a knife wound to the throat.

Since then, security has been an even bigger issue, and as Ms. Graham continues to support self-defense classes for young women. Even before president Benford's family took office there was still the eluding feel of another plot related to BOW's, having received similar threats to the FBI of those just before the kidnapping almost a decade ago.

To avoid such an incident repeating, now that the new president (Adam Benford's vice-president and successor) was about to enter his first official term as Potus, rather than the traditional Inaugural Ball, there was simply going to be a small gathering at Camp David under tight security, letting a few groups into the sanctuary for the first time in an attempt to keep the first family safe.

Ashley had just shut the water off and reached out for a towel. But then she heard something... Or someone.

"Who's there?"

Slowly she moves the glass door of the shower and screams, backing up for and reaching for a tub scrubber, but quickly covers up with the towel as she responds to another woman screaming.

Agent Hunnigan is sitting in the room, guarding her as usual of late per the agency's request.

"You never did get use to this before, did you?", Hunnigan asked sarcastically.

"One more day, Ingrid; then I get to cut you loose." Ashely replies. They smile meekly at each other.

Ashley had been staying under Agent Ingrid Hunnigan's protection since her arrival to the area for the vice-presidents official inauguration celebration under personal security requests. After the threats were made on the traditional building the party was to be held at, in addition to moving the location by recommendation to Camp David, all of the more high profile guests were required to stay with an agent.

Ashley had made a request for a particular agent, but when he was found unavailable se decided that as would instead rather stay alone. However, she found out the very agent that was unavailable had instead recommended a personal friend of his to stay with her so Ashley would not feel so awkward being with a secret service security guard after so many years not being the presidents daughter.

After all, it was now officially 2014 now and Ashley was 29 years old, going on "the big 30" as her friends called it this upcoming month. She had changed a lot upon graduation and had done her best since her kidnapping. Today, she had now become a strong independent woman.

That morning she arrived at a female self-defense class, talking to the group as a guest speaker before showing a move or two in demonstration. It seems to do a number on the buff target.

She then met up with a few friends for coffee outside of a café, secret service still around, albiet more subtly hidden in the background. She talks about how she missed some of these brave men and women looking back... especially Joey and D.J., who gave their lives trying to save her.

Ashley at one point thinks she sees something in the distance, but realizes its' just her nerves still acting up since her bad dreams had started back up recently, and now seem to occur all of the time. Saddened a little, her friends try and eventually do manage to cheer her up as they all continue to gossip and chat.

Finally, she is applying eyeliner and looking into the mirror as she admires her gold colored shiny dress and steps out to get her ride for the party.

Author's Note: Hey guys. A big major thanks to those who've come back for round 2. I WILL BE ADDING TO THIS AT LEAAT ONCE A WEEK. Maybe more than once; i know these segments are short, but I want to make sure they are perfect and I do not have a lot of time in my busy schedule to do so. Anyway, i hope you enjoy. If you do, PLEASE LIKE/subscribe.