Chapter 09 : Strong and Caring.

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In a hidden room..

There are so many monitors and computer devices, etc..

"Everything seems to be working fine. I don't even need to try the program again. Whoever I can find. Only 15 left. Looks like I've collected enough of my prey. The rest, I just need to track them down. My cutest Campbell doll. I can't wait to find it."

On the other hand... in a fairly dark room, there were lots of bloodstains and lumps of flesh everywhere. But the cause of all that, there is something moving, something that is like the heartbeat of time. Not long after, several human skulls came out there which eventually fell scattered...

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Day 5.

At the BSAA medical center...

Chris was finally allowed to leave the medical room. Apart from his improved health, there were no other symptoms due to the incident. In fact, his hearing condition is also gradually recovering. He wanted to immediately continue his information search mission. But he decided to look for Hans and Rachel first. Strangely, as he walked down the hall... he saw so many people who were very busy and also looked serious. Moreover, Chris also accidentally saw that one of them was carrying a medical report sheet. Even though it was vague, he could tell that it was one of the BOW records he knew about. Until he realized that now, he had arrived in front of Rachel Campbell's door. He knocked on the door..

"Yes!"

Hearing that his knock was answered, he then entered. He saw that Rachel was now able to sit up even though she was still on the bed. Apart from that, he was surprised by Rachel's change. One of them is in her bangs. He still remembered that at that time, the white hair was only on one side. Now the white hair had covered Rachel's bangs.

"Who are you?"

Chris thought that Rachel couldn't remember yet. Or maybe she doesn't remember the incident that happened to her. He tried to remain calm as he approached Rachel.

"Rachel Campbell, right?"

Rachel was silent and confused. Until then, Chris sat next to Rachel. And introduce himself first.

"Nice to meet you. Ah! Maybe more like.. long time no see, Rachel. I'm glad you're okay at this moment. I'm Chris Redfield. Member of the BSAA. I think you've heard a lot about me from your older brother."

At first she felt confused about what Chris said. But not long after, she suddenly remembered what Hans had said before. One of them is about a man who used to carry her along with her older brother who was also carried on his back. The man tried hard to carry 2 children at once in order to get to the hospital without caring about their condition.

"It's you! It's hard to believe. My older brother has talked about many things about you. One of them, about how you saved us when we were still injured. And now you and my older brother are trying to help me from that incident. I don't know how to thank you."

Chris immediately stroked Rachel's head, smiling.

"There's no need to be like that, Rachel. Just seeing you awake and able to talk like this is enough for me. You might feel scared after what you've been through, right? But don't worry. No one will hate you, nor will anyone blame you."

Seeing Chris spontaneously stroke her head, made her smile and also feel moved. Chris's strong attitude, and also Hans' feeling of concern... it's hard to believe that she could feel something like that. In fact, as long as Rachel tried to talk... the two of them didn't mind when Rachel was being controlled and became a BOW soldier. They both just felt worried about Rachel's condition. Nothing less, nothing more.

However, not long after that...

"Uhm! Can I call you Chris?"

Hearing that, Chris smiled.

"Of course you can."

Rachel was silent for a moment...

"I'm just... not ready. I mean, after I found out about all this. I feel like I'm not ready to return to my normal life."

Chris understands the worries Rachel is currently facing. Although not as bad as what Hans experienced.

Until then...

"Rachel. Sometimes clouds can cover the moon and stars in the night sky. That doesn't mean that the clouds hinder the beauty of the night. Because behind the beauty of the clouds, that's where the wind helps them."

Rachel was surprised by what Chris said. For some reason, she felt like she had heard that before... But Chris immediately avoided it and instead changed the conversation.

"Ah! I found out that it was from someone I know. There's no need to think about it. Besides, many people think that she is dead. But I believe that she is not dead. Maybe that's why I can say that to you."

Chris suddenly stood up and wanted to leave Rachel. But before he held the door, he was silent for a moment.

"You don't need to rush in making a decision. All you need to do is be calm and ready. If the cloud that covers your soul has subsided. Then you will know the next step later. However, that cloud always gives rise to doubts in everyone. And if you let it, then despair will haunt you and always make you feel guilty. I can be like this, because I have good friends and also care about each other. Some of them showed me something I had forgotten a long time ago. Although in the end, some of them were ahead of me. Get some rest, Rachel. And also. Get well soon!"

Chris left Rachel's room. He was relieved because he could see Rachel who was starting to recover. But on the other hand... he could see that Rachel's reaction was almost the same as Hans.

Both of them were equally surprised when they could feel how someone cared.

(Hans. Rachel.)

As he walked, he couldn't stop thinking about the two of them. Not only that, while he was talking to Rachel, he noticed that on the table... there was Hans' combat knife and also a black pearl bracelet. But he chose not to talked about it to Rachel. Because he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable and it might slow down her recovery.

While he was thinking about that, he was also curious about what kind of life they had before.

Regardless..

He decided to immediately return to his duties.

As a member of the BSAA .