Chapter 6-2: Alice Winters
If Alice could describe the state she was in, pain would have been the first thing that came to her aching mind. The Winters groaned, her head spinning as she forced her lids to pull back so her eyes could see. Darkness welcomed her vision, as she tried to adjust to the surroundings. Wincing as she began to get onto her feet, Alice felt her whole body ache. However, it was the back of her neck that had a throbbing sensation. As she tried to touch the skin, Alice hissed as it only increased. Maybe she landed wrong, at least she wasn't dead. "Ahh…" Alice bit her lip as she tried to let the feeling pass over. She used her flashlight to brighten the room, seeing further into a cavern. Roots were spread out along the walls and floors, but she didn't see any sign of the child that was previously with her. "Hilda? Hilda!" Alice called out, but there was no response.
Where did she go? Did she fall somewhere else? Did Hilda die?! No, if that fall didn't kill Alice, then surely it didn't kill Hilda. Plus, Hilda would have stayed around here if there was a body. As Alice adjusted the angle of her light, she noticed something at her feet. In the dirt, there were words etched for her to read. 'Accept the gift'. Alice wasn't sure what that meant, but it sounded ominous and familiar… Alice decided she needed to continue. Hilda wasn't here and she was most likely near the Megamycete. Despite the aches in her body, she pressed forward. With the illumination of her flashlight, she followed the roots down a tunnel, keeping herself steady as she tried to press on. Alice was alone, in the dark under the Village where the monsters still roamed. Her determination was the only driving force to make her feet work. She climbed down the rocky path leading further into the cavern, keeping her eyes opened as she could hear the vibration within the walls. A few pebbles fell from the formation, which caught her attention at first.
"Pssst…" The Winters looked up in front of her, as she thought she heard someone. Alice went further ahead, hearing distorted noises. They sounded like whispers, but she couldn't understand what they were saying. Eventually, Alice found an opening to a large area in front of her. Where a majority of it was being taken up by something she couldn't fathom. Her movement slowed while her eyes went wide upon the red, pulsating organic matter. It was enormous, taking up half of the area she was in. It had the rough shape of a human fetus, curled up much like the symbols she had been seeing around the Village and on the gates. Countless Mold tendrils were extending from the colony, branching out through the rock and soil as it helped to suspend it in the air.
"The Megamycete…" Alice breathed, taking in the grotesque yet intriguing sight. So this was the source of the Cadou parasites and the Black God that so many Villagers believed in. Where Miranda found the only hope to revive her daughter. Alice knew this was no god or savior, however, she also knew to call it a demon spawn wouldn't be a correct characteristic. It was just Mold, an organism that was neither plant nor animal. A colony thriving by absorbing nutrients and substances from the environment and the people who had been buried in the soil it grows from. Seeing it up close and personal was an experience she wasn't ready for, as the scene alone made her shudder. It was as if she was compelled by this being of multiple consciousness.
She shook her head, knowing she couldn't get distracted now. Alice still needed the sample from the heart. She began to step forward, trying to figure out how she could get up to it. Only a few feet she took before the roots began to shift around her. Acting quickly, she started to reach for her handgun in case the Megamycete wanted to use her for its next meal. She was astonished as the roots didn't act hostile. Rather, they spread themselves out before her, piling on top of one another to become makeshift stairs. She looked at the pathway for a moment, baffled as to what kind of trick the Megamycete was playing. Or was this Miranda's doing? She scanned the cave, but no sign of any other life was present. With no other option, Alice decided to play along in the hopes for it to pay off in the long run. She climbed up the roots carefully, keeping an eye on them in case they tried anything.
They helped her get close to the Mold Colony, only standing a foot away from it as the Winters was lifted high from the ground. Alice once again stared into the pulsating muscles of the fetus shaped organism. She tilted her head as she observed it for a while, as if she was waiting for it to make the first move. Oddly enough, it seemed neutral and not offensive. It was the one waiting for her. Alice got her kit out and grabbed the last empty vial within the case. With the scalpel and open tube, she reached out and carefully cut out a chunk of the flesh from the body and placed it into the container. Once it was sealed, she placed it back in the kit as she had completed the collection. Now all she needed was to head out of here, and hopefully find Mia along the way.
Just as Alice was about to find a way to get back to solid ground, the root she was on shifted and gently lowered her until she was back on the floor. She quickly stepped off and watched as the branches pulled themselves back into the Colony. Alice wasn't sure why the Megamycete was being open with her, allowing her to take a part of it. Honestly, Alice was expecting a fight, even though she knew it was just Mold. Either way, Alice wouldn't complain, as long as it didn't try anything else. Just as her feet touched the earth, her headpiece began to ring out. She couldn't believe it was still in working condition. She answered it as she thought it was Anastasia at first. To her surprise, it was actually the Alpha himself.
"This is Chris, checking in."
"Redfield?" Alice questioned with a hint of annoyance. "What are you doing on the line? I thought this was reserved for me, Anastasia and Tundra."
"Well, Dr. Anastasia is checking over Ethan and Rosemary." Chris explained.
When she heard that, her attitude dropped and relief replaced it. "So they made it…" She sighed.
"Yes, Tundra came here an hour ago. So far they both seem healthy and have no issues with infection." Chris added. "How are you doing?"
"I managed to find the Megamycete and got the final sample." Alice admitted in a proud tone. "So now, all I need to do is find Mia and get out of the Village without being seen."
"I have to admit, you came through for us." Chris declared.
Alice rolled her eyes at that remark. "I didn't do it for you, I did it for Dr. Anastasia and to get my family back after you screwed up." Chris winced at her words, as the younger Winters was not planning on letting that matter go.
"Well, any sign of Mia?" Chris tried to change the subject.
"Nothing yet… even if I find her I would need to find a way to get out of the Village."
"Getting out won't be easy. The roots are getting aggressive again, covering the Village like before." Chris explained. "Luckily, there might be a way for you to get out. Remember that mural you sent to Dr. Anastasia? She believes it might be connected to that Chalice Puzzle next to it, in the Ceremony Site."
"A puzzle? What, if I solve it then a doorway will open up?" Alice questioned with a mocking tone.
"Stranger things have happened." Chris shrugged. For once, she agreed with him. "Stay safe." It was all he could tell her before he cut contact with her. The Winters sighed, looking around to try and figure out where her next path would be. Her ears picked up the shifting of the roots, seeing them reveal a large staircase heading upwards in the cavern. The stairs appeared manmade, and would most likely lead her somewhere of interest. With no other option, Alice decided to take it. She walked right up, keeping her handgun out in case something decided to jump at her. The only source of light was the sky coming in from an opening in the ceiling. She pressed forward, climbing a total of three staircases before seeing a stone pillar with a lit torch to be her guiding light. She followed into the small corridor, seeing some candles on the floor to give her more illumination. Her search took her to a wooden door. Why was it here? Curiously, Alice pushed it open, being taken to a room made of stone as it was decent sized.
Tables littered with papers and books, along with tools used for observation and science. The walls were decorated with diagrams and drawings of the monsters that she had seen throughout the Village. It appeared to be a room of experiments, and only one thing came to mind. "This must be Miranda's lab." Alice realized, as it was close to the Megamycete so of course this would be where the false prophet resided. Alice walked ahead, noticing a table with many supplies and documents. The most noticeable thing though were four, leather bound books laying on said table. Alice only glanced at them, as she didn't think anything of them at first. However, upon a closer inspection, she did notice that they all had a crest on their covers… crests that resembled the four Lords and their houses.
With curious fingers, she reached for one and picked it up. The first one she got held the Dimitrescu symbol with the flower and two swords. The book was decorated with golden wings and flowers on the front and even back. A small tab was inserted between two pages, which Alice flipped to and started to read what was written there out loud.
"Subject Name: Alcina Dimitrescu
"Cadou Affinity: Most favorable
"Brain Functions: Normal
"Regeneration rate is incredibly fast. The subject can heal any external wound within seconds, and grow her nails into claws in mere moments. Rapid regeneration also means an increased body size.
"Note: Due to a hereditary blood disease the subject must ingest human flesh and blood on a regular basis to maintain regeneration properties. I suspect that if the subject's regeneration is not properly balanced then she may mutate uncontrollably.
"An unfit vessel for Eva."
The very woman in the castle… these must have been the lab notes Miranda kept while experimenting on her. Then… did the other books hold such information about the other Lords? Alice put the one down and picked up the second of the four packets. This book had the sun and moon symbol, the Beneviento Crest, and the leather casing had silver lines and scribbles etched into it. Opening the mark page, she started to read it.
"Subject Name: Donna Beneviento
"Cadou Affinity: Favorable
"Brain Function: Normal, although severe mental illness.
"Physically she is no different from a regular human, however, she can secrete a signal producing substance which controls plants infected by the Megamycete. When humans absorb the pollen from a particular flower she can cause them to have hallucinations. However, she is mentally underdeveloped and has divided her Cadou among her dolls in order to control them from a distance.
"An unfit vessel for Eva."
So that was the cause of the visions Alice had, it was from the pollen which was infected. And the dolls Miranda was referring to were most likely the children Donna adopted. Alice set that report down and grabbed the one with Moreau's crest. This one had more of a slime green texture on the cover, with seaweed, barnacles and shells etched into it. Once it was opened, she read the contents.
"Subject Name: Salvatore Moreau
"Cadou Affinity: Low
"Brain Function: Surprisingly low.
"The Cadou has caused drastic changes to internal organs, transforming them into organs similar to fish-like gills and a swim bladder. Another subject with irregular cell division causing him to transform into a giant fish. The subject is unable to control this transformation.
"Too many defects. An unfit vessel for Eva."
Well that explained why he got the worst end out of the four from the Cadou. Then… the only one who was left was Heisenberg. She saw the journal, which had his horse symbol and rusted gears on the leather. Opening the pages, she read the report to learn more about the mystery of this man.
"Subject Name: Karl Heisenberg
"Cadou Affinity: Incredibly favorable
"Brain Function: Normal
"Has electric organs similar to the electric ray, Narke japonica. These electric organs are connected to the subject's nervous system. Can therefore pass and control electricity throughout the entire body, allowing control of magnetic fields which is used to move metal.
"Splendid specimen, but still an unfit vessel for Eva."
So that was how he had power over metal, and it explained why he was the favorite of the children. He was also the most normal in terms of looks, probably because of his favoritism to the Cadou. That was Alice's theory at least. With the books settled, Alice ventured further into the lab, seeing the center table with a few black and white pictures. One of them had a woman standing over a child in a black dress as she was getting her eyes checked by some male doctor. Then the one next to it was an image of the same girl who was behind a glass barrier while a group of people were watching her, taking notes and looking at screens. Unsettling for the most part, but nothing new. Alice could also see a large rock on the desk, cracked open and a jar of the Cadou parasite next to it. The rock looked just like the roots from the Megamycete, providing evidence that this was how Miranda got hold of the parasites.
She went on the other side of the table and noticed more pictures with an open journal entry. One of the pictures looked like a girl in a long dress with puffy sleeves. However the face was all scratched out and since it was all black and white, it was hard for Alice to tell who it was. There were a few other pictures, like one with a woman in a lab coat with long hair tied up. Alice believed this must have been Miranda, since she wasn't sure who else it could have been. And the other image next to it was of the same woman next to a girl in all black, with four men and Mia. "Is this… Eveline?" Alice questioned, realizing the little girl's connections to Miranda. Dr. Anastasia did say that Miranda gave the Mold from the Megamycete to the Connections in the hopes to make a vessel for her daughter. They did create Eveline, but since she was a failure, Miranda didn't want her. Alice soon found herself staring at the journal which was opened. Perhaps this would reveal more insight on Miranda? It wouldn't hurt to take a look as she began to read.
"For a century now, I have worked hard in order to achieve my goal. My dear Eva, I have lost you so long ago. I was so helpless as I watched you die before me. I nearly wanted to take my own life, just so I could join your consciousness in the Megamycete. Your body was too damaged for me to revive it, and I found no hope. However, I could feel the Megamycete telling me to go on. Whether it was the Mold itself or your own voice, something told me to keep going. So, I began my experiments. I did more research into the Megamycete, working with my mother to test the true limits of the Mold.
"I studied the Megamycete for so many years, and created a parasite I called Cadou. It would infect a person and have them be controlled by the one who implanted them. I planned on using the Cadou on people to create a better body for you, one I know would not be so easily destroyed like yours was. It took some convincing on my mother, but I was able to implant some of these parasites into the villagers with their consent. Unfortunately, my efforts proved to be of no use. None of my experiments came to fruition. There were some, like Alcina, who were close to being perfect, but most of them turned into Lycans. I have experimented on hundreds of people just to create a new, perfect vessel for your consciousness.
"Even when I was approached by an organization who wanted to assist me, all they did was create a defect from the Mold and your DNA: Eveline. I once again felt like hope was wavering for your resurrection. That was when Mother came to me, telling me that she had an offer. We had bickered in the past about whether or not to continue these experiments, to the point we cut contact from one another. So imagine my surprise when she told me she had a new vessel, just for you. She even gave me the test results, and I must admit they were promising. Much like Eveline, she was created from the Mold and human DNA, though not yours, it was from another human girl from the Village from what I was told. And that Mold came from a man who managed to escape the Dulvey incident as it was called in Louisiana, USA.
"I wanted her! I needed that vessel! But, Mother had to promise me something. In exchange for this new vessel, I had to free the Village of my control and let the Lords live their lives on their own. I was slightly annoyed that she cared more for the Village than the revival of her own granddaughter, but I figured that these experiments should have been put to an end. So, I began to let the Lycans go wild, now that I do not need the villagers anymore since they served their purpose. When Mother found out, she was livid. Apparently that was not what she meant by 'set the Village free'. As punishment, she told me I would not be able to have the vessel, and refused to return any of my messages!
"How dare she!? Does she not understand that she is preventing her granddaughter from coming back?! She may have been the ruler of this Village, but she should also think about her immediate family! She was hardly there for me when you passed, and yet she keeps me from seeing you! Fine… if that is how you want to play, Mother, I will go along. After all, if this vessel is as connected to her human counterpart, that would mean she would be drawn to someone of that blood. Rosemary Winters. The daughter of the one who had helped in the creation of the Vessel. She would be another ideal candidate, but unfortunately she is too young. Still, she should be the perfect bait to lure the one I want.
"Infiltrating the Winter's estate was too easy. Taking the wife's place without Ethan Winters knowing worked well. There was some… interference, but I was able to obtain the infant and brought her to the Village, where I, along with the Lords, separated her. Now, I will only wait. If the Vessel is as intune with the Megamycete like me and Mother, she will be able to find the flasks and put the child together in the Megamycete regulator, the Giant Chalice. Once I have the Vessel, I will merge her with the Megamycete and the ceremony will be complete.
"Do not worry Eva… we will be reunited soon."
This was… Alice wasn't sure how to process this. So much information was being told to her in just four pages. Firstly, Miranda seemed to have known about the Megamycete before Eva's death. The reports told her that Miranda discovered the colony accidently when she wanted to commit suicide after losing Eva to the Spanish Flu. But the journal didn't mention Eva's death by the disease at all. She even had a connection with the Megamyecete before she started experimenting on it, revealing her hand in creating the Lycans and the changes of the Lords like Dimitrescu. She also confirmed that she was the one to supply the Connections with the Mold to create Eveline to try to revive Eva, but it failed.
There were a few other things to note. Miranda mentioned that she did these experiments with her mother, a previous ruler of this Village. Did she mean… the Empress? Miranda was related to the Empress?! Even though it explained certain details about how the false prophet came to power, it still took Alice by surprise. But what really got Alice's attention was the fact that Miranda never planned on using Rose as a vessel for Eva. She was just bait to lure the actual vessel to the Village. But… who was the actual Vessel Miranda was after?
Alice's ears picked up the faint sound of rustling to her left, seeing a room cloaked in darkness with iron bars separating her from the other side. She got her handgun out for protection, then went to the lock on the latch. She shot it with a bullet, watching it fall to the ground. Grabbing the handle, she lifted up the bar and opened up the door inward. Taking a few steps, the Winters did not expect a pair of hands to reach out and try grabbing her gun. She didn't see who it was since it was still dark, but Alice had enough strength to push them against the wall and aim the barrel at them. "Stay where you are!" Alice demanded, glaring at the person as they were in the light.
Her green eyes went wide as a woman with long brown hair flowing over her right shoulder kept her hands in the air, showing she was surrendering. Alice lowered her gun for a moment, while her mouth opened in astonishment. The other female before her did the same. "A-Alice?"
"Mia?" Alice whispered, seeing her sister-in-law standing before her in this cell. Of course, she wasn't born yesterday. She kept her gun right at her in defense. "Wait, prove to me you are really Mia!"
"What?!"
"Tell me something only the real Mia would know!"
"Alice you can't be-"
"When did you and my brother get married?" Alice began, she was serious, much to Mia's dismay. Still, unless Mia wanted bullets in her body, she had to go along.
"May-May 29th, 2011! We had a small wedding and you were my maid of honor!" Mia answered quickly.
She got that right, but then again that might have been too easy. "When I turned 16, you took me to a concert for my birthday. What was the band we went to see?" She asked.
Mia bit her lip, trying to remember while Alice kept her finger on the trigger. The brunette finally answered. "The Bandits… but you didn't like the band itself, just the music. However, you told me your favorite was Gray Bandit, because you stated, and I quote, "Love silver foxes"."
Alice was surprised she got that question correct, and blushed as she remembered her teenage boy band crush, only proving that it was the real deal. She lowered her weapon and bore a smile. "Ok… It really is you…"
Mia lowered her arms and took a step forward. "Alice… is it really you?"
"Yeah, I know it's been a while, but I'm your sister-in-law." Alice reassured her.
"But… How are you here?"
"I can ask you the same thing… What are you doing here in Miranda's lab?" Alice questioned.
"I was captured… it's mostly a blur but I was heading to a doctor's appointment and… the next thing I knew, I ended up in this cave. That woman in the bird mask did things to me, experiments she called it. I was left alone here for… I don't even know how long! It felt like the Baker Estate all over again." Mia shook her head in pure distress.
Alice didn't blame Mia for being so upset, she knew how horrifying the events of the Dulvey incident was, and how it affected her and Ethan. The fact she brought that up only proved that she was really his wife and not Miranda shapeshifting into her. "Hey, you're safe now."
"Safe?!" Mia repeated, her tone increasing in annoyance. "They promised they would keep us safe, dammit! We did everything they asked, we moved over here, kept minimum to no contact with our family and friends, including you."
"Mia-"
"And I didn't care, so long as we were together." Mia interrupted, her voice becoming somber as her eyes looked down to the ground. "It was hard… but at least we were together. We were all we had left…"
The blonde stepped forward, looking at her sister-in-law. Being both serious and sympathetic. "They're safe, Mia. Ethan and Rose are alright." The brunette of the two perked up as she heard this, eyes wide with hope. Alice's smile only confirmed it more.
"Where are they now?" She asked Alice.
"They're currently being treated at a campsite miles away from the Village. And I'm bringing you there now. We'll be reunited with them soon." Alice promised. For the first time in many years, a smile was placed onto Mia's face. Knowing that her husband and daughter were alive and being taken care of, it made her suffering worth it. Even more so with the fact that she would be escaping as well. "Come on, we have a lot of ground to cover and chances are those bio weapons will be on our trail."
"Okay… lead the way." Mia wouldn't argue, she trusted Alice. It was why they were best friends, even before Mia and Ethan became serious. The blonde of the two kept her crossbow out, as she started to lead Mia out of the cage she was trapped in and started to walk through the lab, guiding Mia out of the room with experiments and diagrams. Once they went through the door, they took the stairs and began to head in the direction the Megamycete was suspending. Mia's eyes widened as she looked up at the fungal colony, covering her mouth as if she was about to regurgitate. Swallowing down her bile, she focused her eyes on Alice. "What is that thing?"
"Long story short, that's called the Megamycete. And it's the reason behind your family's capture and the creation of these mutants." Alice explained.
"Is that why you came here?"
"That was one of my missions. But I also wanted to get you three out of this hellhole. It wasn't easy, but at least the search is over." Alice reassured her.
Mia merely mused as they walked underneath the fungal fetus. "I can only imagine how Ethan reacted when he saw you."
"You can ask him those questions yourself once you both are reunited. No point in telling the story twice. Though my point of view makes it more exciting." Alice perked up. The two women headed through the tunnel until they were back at the opening where Alice and Hilda fell through after the battle with that man-beast. Her green eyes looked upward, it was a long way but there weren't any other routes for them to take. Putting her crossbow away, she took out her grappling hook with her right hand, then she held out her left hand towards Mia. "Hold onto me tight." Alice advised, to which Mia followed. Once her sister in law was secured, Alice shot the hook up against the rock ledge. Pulling the trigger, they were lifted into the air by the cable. With a bit of maneuvering, they finally got back to the way Alice took. Climbing up the roots which seemed dormant now, though Alice didn't mind.
The two women welcomed the fading sun as it was nearly covered by the horizon. It may not have been a lot of natural light, but Mia wouldn't complain since it had been so long when she last saw the outside. Even the crisp late-winter air was refreshing for her nose. They weren't out yet, Alice had to lead Mia to the boat and ride through the river to head back to the dock near the Lone Bridge. As they were riding, Alice and Mia decided to have a small chat since it was quiet now. "How are you holding up?" Alice questioned.
"I've been better… but I've also been through worse." Mia shook her head, trying to keep her eyes down to look at the wooden floorboards. Everything was reminding her of the imprisonment from the Baker Estate. That lone cell she had to sleep in where time was nonexistent, being used as an experiment of some kind, even the boat ride they were on reminded her of when Ethan and Mia were getting away through the bayou. Alice noticed how pale her sister-in-law was, and she knew it wasn't just from the lack of direct sunlight. While she may not have been there during the main events of the Eveline infection, Alice had seen first hand what that B.O.W child was capable of and how she affected the environment and people within it. Her family included.
"I'm sorry you had to go through this again… but at least we were able to get to you sooner than last time. And I'm going to make sure you get out of here and get back with your husband and daughter." Alice promised her, as they were so close to the exit.
Hearing that did make Mia's face light up, slightly, but it was a reaction. "Thank you… you have no idea how happy I am to see you. I've really missed you Alice."
"It's been pretty lonely without you and my brother. Once we get back, we'll be having some family time together. I think there's a lot we need to discuss."
Mia's expression turned into a somber one, going back to staring at the base of the boat. She had gone silent after that, but Alice didn't press for it. Mia had already been through enough, and it was better that they were in a more secure area so she wouldn't be uncomfortable or threatened. Soon enough, they found themselves back on the dock and Alice helped the other out of the vehicle. Keeping her close, they headed up the stairs and began to cross the bridge over to the Altar. Alice decided that she needed to sell what treasures she collected and get some more ammo. Thankfully, the Duke was still there in his caravan. His fat smile never leaving his face. Mia was a bit unsettled by his appearance, but seeing Alice approach him with no fear told her that he wasn't an enemy.
"There you are. It's getting late, you should have left the Village long ago." The Duke mused as he saw the blonde Winters coming up to his shop.
"Well, it seems the residents here don't want me to leave." Alice retorted.
"You can tell they don't get many visitors out here…" The Duke's eyes looked up to notice the other woman. "Ah! This must be Mia Winters! The dear wife of Ethan and mother of Rose."
Mia stepped back, her eyes wide at his words. "H-How did-"
"No need to be afraid dear. I am but a humble merchant, and I know a lot of what is going on around here." The Duke explained nonchalantly. "Your daughter and husband will be relieved to know you are safe and well."
"Were they here?" Mia asked.
"Just a little bit before Alice took them out of the Village to bring them to safety. Your husband helped to find you and his daughter. A brother and sister fighting in a Village, overrun by beasts and monsters, just to get back the ones they love. Truly a nightmare of a fairytale, but one that makes a good story, nevertheless. Although, it seems it is not over yet." The Duke decreed.
Alice walked up to the stall, placing her treasures to his level. "I'll sell this and get as much ammo as I can with what I'm owed. I want to be prepared in case there is an attempt to prevent us from escaping."
"Better to be prepared…" The Duke mused as he took the treasure and handed her more arrows, grenade canisters, and other types of bullets. Alice took them all, then looked up at the Duke.
"Thanks… this should be more than enough."
"A pleasure of doing business, as always." He smiled.
Alice was thankful to the Duke for everything he did for her and her brother. He truly was one of the few people here that helped them. Speaking of… "Duke, did you see Hilda come by here?"
For once, a small grimace of a frown was placed upon his chubby chin. "She left not long after you headed towards the cavern. Said that she sensed you were in danger, and wanted to help. I tried to dissuade her, but my dear Hilda has always had a one track mind. She's a smart girl, but she can be too curious and lack caution at times. In the end, she left. I haven't seen her since."
Alice grew worried upon hearing that news. Hilda was with her when she fell from the fight of that Guardian. Still, if Alice could survive that fall, Hilda surely must have. But… where did she go? The Winters turned to her sister-in-law. "Mia, did you happen to see a young kid with you in your cell? Around ten years, blonde hair and green eyes?"
With a shake of her head, Mia further elaborated. "The only person I ever saw in that cell was that woman with the black feathers and bird mask. Miranda, you called her? Other than her, I never saw anyone else in that place, let alone a child."
Alice bit her lip, she was worried on where Hilda had gone. At the very least, she hoped that Miranda didn't get a hold of her. "I'm certain that wherever she is, she is safe." The Duke attempted to ease Alice's nerves. "She has been through much worse after all… perhaps she managed to escape the Village."
"I hope so…" Alice prayed.
"Before you go, I wish to give something to the wife of Ethan Winters. A sort of parting gift to remember this Village by. And a symbol that you survived…" Mia and Alice were stunned, but they approached the Duke as his stubby fingers reached to his left side and took something off the shelf. They watched, wrapped in black paper, the Duke handed Mia a large globe filled with water and fake snow. In the center, a golden rose was in full bloom, with some of the white powder resting on the petals. Admittedly, both girls were in awe upon being granted such a gift. It looked gorgeous and professionally made. The Duke noticed the shine in their irises, and explained. "It is called a Rose Globe, very popular in certain areas. A man named Amando Cortez Mendoza had a farm in his home in Mexico. He would wake up at dawn every morning to hand-pick the perfect rose for his wife, Maria. Then, he would return and place it by her bedside table so she would wake up and smile upon seeing the flower. As he grew older, he was unable to continuously pick a new flower everyday. So, he put a flower in a globe to make it last longer. Some can last up to a month, others last nearly a year."
It was a romantic story, and even though the colors were a bit gothic, Alice and Mia enjoyed the display within the globe. "It's beautiful…" Mia breathed, entranced by the flower.
"You know, some say that this Village was created by a flower."
"What does that mean?" Alice asked the Duke.
"There are some mysteries that are more satisfying when they are solved on one's own, rather than being handed the story." A cryptic message, but maybe that was intentional? The Duke handed Mia some wrapping paper and a bag to carry the globe in. She packed it in there quickly but carefully. "You best head out then. This Village is far more merciless when night falls."
"We'll be out of here then… Thank you Duke, for everything." Alice smiled up at the fat man.
That smile returned to him, as he merely nodded before watching the two turn their backs and head down the Lone Road Bridge, crossing over the ruins until they were at the Ceremony Site where the Four Kings were watching over them. Mia was slightly creeped out, but Alice was keen on figuring out what to do. She went over to where the Giant Chalice was, that was used to revive Rose. Her flasks were still in the slots, empty containers now with the house crests facing up. She looked at her surroundings, trying to figure out what she needed to do. It was a puzzle, but what clues could she use to figure it out? Alice decided to check the area of the kings, with them being so big, they must hold something. From where Heisenberg's factory was, she was facing North where the Altar was. She headed over to the North East King, towards where the East Town was in the Village. That was when Alice noticed a plaque on the stand where the King's feet were resting on. 'King Moreau' was all it said. Alice didn't notice the plaque before, and wondered if this was the clue she needed. She decided to check the other statues just to confirm her suspicions. The Winters moved to the South East King, where it was stationed in the direction the entrance to the Megamycete was. A plaque with the title 'King Heisenberg' was on the stand. So this was Heisenberg's ancestor, then that only left two more.
Going to the South West King, it was labeled 'King Beneviento' stationed in the direction where Donna's Estate was. Then that meant the North West King would be considered 'King Dimitrescu', since that statue was the nearest to the castle the lady resigns in. This had to do with the puzzle the Giant Chalice was connected to, but how? Alice went back to looking over at the top, seeing the crests of the houses inside the slots. She knew what symbol represented which house… and each king was aligned with said house. Wanting to experiment, Alice grabbed hold of the many sided top of the Chalice and tried turning it. To her surprise, it actually began to move with ease, despite looking quite heavy. She began to turn them in a clockwise direction, trying to line the flasks up with the kings. Mia watched, not sure what Alice was doing but trusted her.
She looked over and checked to see her work. The horse and horseshoe crest was lined up with the Heisenberg statue. The flower with the sword symbol was meeting the ancient Dimitrescu. King Moreau was facing the imprint of the mermaid. Finally, Donna's past self and her family's lineage were facing one another. Alice stepped back from the Giant Chalice and looked around, expecting something to happen. When nothing did, she thought she did something wrong, only to remember what Chris told her about the mural. The same one her and Hilda found in the caves connecting the Castle to the Ceremony Site. Maybe something had changed there? Alice urged Mia to follow her, as the two of them headed into a cave between the Kings of Dimitrescu and Beneviento. Mia wasn't sure what was going on, nor where they were heading. Still, if it meant they could get out of this Village, she wouldn't complain.
Once Alice and her made it through a wooden gate, they were taken back to the candle lit room with the table and the wall dedicated to this Village's history. The main difference though, was that said wall was now opened up, revealing a large passageway and a man in black clothing with armor and a machine gun was standing there, investigating the site. Mia and Alice approached him, as they knew who it was. He must have heard them, since he turned on his heels and aimed his gun right at them, only to raise it up as he got a better look at them. "Alice… Mia…"
"Redfield?" Alice questioned, aiming her gun right at him since she was still not trusting anyone in case it was Miranda using her shapeshifting powers. "How do we know it's really you?"
Chris took a step back, though didn't blame Alice for wanting to take precautions. He placed his weapon on the floor, then reached to his ear and pressed a button on a device inside. As he did, Alice could hear beeping from her own headset, seeing a message appear from Chris Redfield himself. "I'm pretty sure not even Miranda has access to our own equipment." Chris stated with his hands still in a surrender position.
Alice lowered her own gun and sighed. "Better you than her…" She admits. "How did you get here?"
"Dr. Anastasia told me about this path, so I began to follow it. When I hit a dead end, I was about to head back until the wall began to open up. I don't know what you did, but we can take this back to the campsite." Chris explained. "It will take us a while, but it will lead us out of the Village."
"Looks like this nightmare is over…" Alice breathed.
"I can see you also found Mia…" Chris turned to see the wife of Ethan, all in one piece and unharmed.
"Are my husband and daughter really safe?" Mia questioned, glaring at Chris.
"They are… Dr. Anastasia is currently looking over them. But they're alive." He promised her. Mia sighed, glad to have another party confirm it. Redfield turned to Alice next. "What about your other mission?"
The blonde reached into her bag and took out the kit, showing it off to the Alpha. "All five samples from the Megamycete and the roots." Alice promised. Chris smiled, seeing the case and reached over, taking it from her then looked back at the blood related Winters.
"Never doubted you for a second…" Chris told her.
"There was no reason for you to." Alice remarked. The moment was interrupted as distant howls could be heard. Alice knew that sound all too well.
"Can we have these moments after we get out of here?" Mia urged.
"Yeah, we better get going. I've seen some of those Bio Weapons while going through the tunnels." Chris explained. "Not a lot, but they knew I was there." Alice nodded, staying close to Mia as they began to file into the hole. Chris went first, then Mia followed. Alice was just about to head in when large footsteps came from the other end of the room. A loud roar could be heard, causing Alice to stare at the wooden door. The frame was knocked off its hinges, causing the material to fly in pieces towards her. Alice ducked before any could hit her, but what followed after caused her to gasp. A hulking brute that was twice as tall and muscular than the average human stormed in. Alice was repulsed by the figure as it growled with its dull eyes, wide mouth full of canines and long fingers holding a body sized ax. It must have been another B.O.W, but it didn't have the same lupine mutations like the other Lycans. Instead of hair, bloodied scars covered the body, and a noticeable hunchback was present.
Chris came out and noticed the monster, seeing how hostile it was. "So much for leaving quietly!" Redfield prepared his gun for a fight.
Mia and Alice watched as it seemed Chris was about to blow this monster to smithereens, only for the brunette to look at the caves, gasping as she saw figures crawling towards her. Ones that were Lycan shaped. Alice saw them as well, and though there were only two so far, she had a feeling more would follow.
"Chris, get Mia out of here!" Alice told the leader of the Hound Wolf Squad.
Redfield looked at her with stern eyes. "You can't possibly take this thing on your own!" He gestured towards the larger creature, swinging his weapon around.
"I've handled worse." Alice reassured, pushing him aside and took out her shotgun.
"Don't be a hero!" Chris warned her.
"I never said I was." Alice glared back at him. "Get Mia and the samples out of here before the cave is covered with Lycans. I'll cover you and meet you once you're far enough."
"Alice-"
"That's an order, Redfield!" She snapped, aiming her barrel right at the beast and shot two rounds of shotgun shells into the chest. It only roared as it was pissed off, but Alice had to lead it out of the caves so it wouldn't follow Chris and Mia. The soldier and sister-in-law looked back to the cavern, as the Lycans were coming closer. Mia shrieked in fear, just as Chris began to fire multiple bullets from his machine gun to blast the monsters down. There was no point in persuading Alice, they had to separate for the time being.
"This way!" Chris led Mia as the two went deeper into the tunnels, heading through the rocky cavern. With them out of danger, Alice turned her attention to the Devil Giant. It would be hard to attack such a monster in a small space, so she would have to resort to fighting it out in the open. Alice ran through the cave, heading back outside where the Ceremony Site was. She panted, preparing her weapons for hopefully her last boss fight. Well, more of a mini boss, she would consider it. The howls erupted as the creature stormed out from the mountain side, wiedling its ax while dragging its feet towards the Winters.
"You've chosen the wrong time to mess with me!" Alice declared, taking a few steps back as she held up her shotgun. The beast tried to keep up with her, but the Winters noticed how unimpressive its speed was. Still, what it lacked in that department, would no doubt make up for it with the attacks. She jumped back as the Devil Giant slammed the blade of its weapon onto the ground. She didn't realize how long-reaching the melee attack was, all the more reason she had to shoot from afar. Getting her shotgun ready, she began to fire bullet after bullet, aiming for either the chest or forehead where the weak point was. Even after she had used up all of the ammo from that weapon, he was still standing.
"A tough one, aren't you. But I've come too far to let you take me down." She tried using her handgun bullets, only having around forty total at the time. Getting the shots were the hard part, since she had to constantly run circles around him while aiming for any part of the body. In the end, she only was able to get half of the bullets into him, since some bounced off the ax or she missed entirely. The Devil Giant was still standing, and showed no signs of slowing down. In fact, it seemed more determined to chop Alice into pieces. The Winters took out her crossbow next. "I know you don't get many visitors, but you need to learn a little thing called personal space!" She began to fire her bows, as some stuck into the skin.
The beast roared, swinging its ax around, slamming it onto the ground. "What, are you mad? Now you know how I feel!" Alice shot the last of her arrows, as that was yet another weapon that she no longer had any ammo for. At this point, she was getting annoyed by how dragged out this fight was getting. Now, it was time to bring in the big guns. The grenade launcher would do just the trick. She could only use one canister at a time, but hopefully with the four she had left, it would do just the trick.
Once it was loaded with the first, she aimed and pulled the trigger, watching it fly out and get a direct hit on the monster's chest. It stunned him, proving to Alice that this weapon was a good match. Alice quickly had to reload the launcher again, wanting to use the beast's off balance to her advantage. Before she could launch the grenade, the Devil Giant howled and slapped the dull end of the ax against Alice's body. This caused the woman to fly a few feet away, nearly landing against one of the walls. She grunted, seeing the B.O.W stumbling towards her. Alice got up quickly, feeling the damage she got. She aimed and pulled the trigger, but her staggering caused the canister to miss and caused a blast from behind. It did tumble the monster, but no direct damage.
"Does anything in this forsaken Village stay dead?!" Alice angrily asked as she started to put the third canister inside. This time, she was not going to miss. She wobbled about, doing all she could to keep the distance between her and the monster. Alice turned on her heels, adjusted the barrel of the launcher and pulled the trigger. With a final impact, the monster howled in pain before falling to his knees. Alice was preparing for the last round, but didn't need to as the B.O.W began to slowly disintegrate before her, leaving behind a Large Crystal Ax. With a heavy sigh, she put away her weapons. "Definitely not coming back here again." Alice complained. With the mini boss finally out of the way, she could officially meet up with Chris and Mia.
Alice limped her way through the tunnels again, not being able to heal since she was low on health items. Still, she believed she didn't need them. It took her a while, but managed to get back into the room with the mural. As her green eyes landed on the wall, they grew wide like saucers. She hurried over to the side, noticing that the gap between the layers of the earth was no longer visible. The mural had shut up the secret entrance. Alice pressed her hands against the carving, believing it to have been a mistake. "No… No, no no! Are you fucking kidding me?!"
Frustration rose in her being as she found herself no exit. She didn't realize that the puzzle was a timed thing. Why did everything have to be complicated for her? Reaching for her earpiece, Alice called for Chris this time. After a few rings, she finally got an answer.
"Alice, did you win that fight?" Chris asked.
"Barely, but I'm alive." Alice grunted in a response.
"Alice?!" Mia called through the end Chris was on.
"Are you two okay? I heard some gun firing."
Chris nodded. "A few Lycans skulked through the tunnels. Nothing I couldn't handle. We should be out soon."
"What about you? Are you on your way?" Mia asked.
"The mural painting closed on me." Alice explained.
"You mean the passage got blocked again?" Chris questioned.
"I guess it was a timed thing. I'll have to reset the puzzle." Alice stated.
"Then we'll head back and wait for you." Chris offered.
Alice declined. "Absolutely not! You have Mia and the Mold samples. You need to get them to Dr. Anastasia."
"And leave you behind?" Mia questioned.
"We can't take that chance." Chris added.
"I can take care of myself, you have your mission! Now complete it!" Alice ordered him. Before he could respond, she hung up on him. Her earpiece kept ringing out, so Alice was forced to put it on silent. She knew what to do, even if she was struggling a bit, she would keep going. Alice grunted as she began to make her way back to the Ceremony Site, ready to put the puzzle back. She held her side, where she got the most damage. It wasn't the worst pain she found herself in, so she pressed on. The moment she stepped out of the cave and headed to the open area, it was already night time. Torches were lit up around the Site with fire guiding from the Altar to where she was.
With staggering feet, she pulled herself to the Chalice, noticing that the flasks had rotated in the opposite direction. Looks like she was right about it resetting. At least Alice knew what had to be done. She grabbed hold of the top, ready to spin in with what little strength she had left. Just as she was starting to twist it, the Winters felt herself being tugged back all of a sudden. She gasped, the weapons on her were being pulled from her stash, as if they were being sucked from her. She knew that ability all too well. Whipping her head back, she could only watch her artillery floating away from her as the metal man was there, smirking at her with his giant hammer behind his back.
"I'm surprised you're still here. Thought you had the decency to leave this place the first chance you got." Heisenberg mocked her.
"Well, I would like to leave but some asshole keeps getting in my way!" She retorted back to him.
Heisenberg merely smiled as he looked over the weapons she had collected. "Guess I have done a shit job in showing hospitality. So how about I make it up to you?" Before she could interject, the mutated man snapped his fingers. A strong wave erupted from him, causing the weapons and her to be sent flying. She flew from the Chalice and towards one of the King Statues, hitting her back and tumbled down to the ground. Her body went numb from the impact, to the point she could hardly lift herself.
"Hggggh… haaaahhh…" The Winters glared with hateful green as Heisenberg approached her, looking down at her with his cocky expression.
"Don't worry, I'm sure Mother Miranda is going to love you." He laughed in a mocking manner, watching as Alice lost her senses. Falling to the ground to close her eyes, as she drifted into unconsciousness.