warnings ; anxiety , blood , swearing
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The rain was unrelenting this particular night, not giving up for even a moment. It was a feeling, the start of an answer from the universe. No one could read the complicated language the world was speaking, so this solution went on deaf ears. The spark of wires startled [y/n], making them second guess their decision, but they knew this had to be done.
One hand reached up, pulling themselves up with haste, slipping once or twice but not enough to ward them away. Lifting the sealed window proved to be a more difficult task, but despite the apparent challenge, it was still opened within seconds. Water dripped off their black hoodie, getting the carpeted floor beneath their feet wet, as they made their way to the room marked with a gold label, reading, "Private room, Umbrella Corp. access only."
"If you will all follow me, this is where our undefeated Spec Ops team captured and neutralized the Winter families known threats, Ethan and Mia Winters."
The tour guide seemed too happy to explain everything in the Winter's home that had since become a tourist attraction, sponsored by none other than the Umbrella Corp. It was suspicious how open and detailed they were about their betrayal to the Winter's family, but nothing seemed to bother the employees of this tourism site. They all looked happy to be paid.
"Uh, ma'am... what is that room for?" [y/n], one of the many student tourists asked, their demeanor showing boredom and disinterest in the current topic. They seemed desperate under their stoic expression.
"That area is restricted I'm afraid, but I am allowed to tell you what's inside!" It seemed counterproductive to tell them exactly what resided inside the room, but not allow them to see it but [y/n] listened regardless.
"Inside this room, located directly in the middle, is the many vials of Ethan and Rosemary Winter's blood. Said to have many healing properties, it stays locked up and protected at all times!"
The tour guide spoke with vigor, her hands flying every which way during her speech. It revealed her immediate interest in this room, rather than the rest of the tour. But as soon as the excitement started, it ended. The tour guide leads everyone down the directed path, continuing with the tour.
[y/n] stayed a few seconds, reading the door over and over again within their mind, mapping it. This is the only thing they needed, deciding to hurry back to the group, not wanting to alert any unwanted eyes.
The door stared back at [y/n], taunting them with such a simple lock that it felt like a trap. But they had no time to waste, their watch hitting the two-minute mark. It took them only seconds to reveal their lockpick, slowly working the lock.
Once again, only seconds had passed before the lock was popped. It took entering the room to make them stop and think. Is this what it's going to take to set things right? Is there no other way?
[y/n] shook their head, shaking away the useless thoughts. They couldn't have such thoughts plaguing their mind when trying to escape this place. No idea what would be waiting outside if they took too long and tripped an alarm.
With swiftness, they made their way to the middle panel, sitting directly in the center of the room as the tour guide explained. This all seemed too simple, but yet they continued to unlock the glass case that surrounded the blood-red vials.
Slightly shaking hands reached and removed one of the vials. Greed would kill them, so one was enough. That's all the ritual explained. Enough blood to cover the crown of those in waiting. One vial would be enough, surely.
[y/n] stepped off the plane, stretching their arms out so far they could hear the joints pop. It was beautiful, just as the brochures said. A small rural area in eastern Europe. The area felt so busy as if it being such a small town didn't mean a thing. It was a tourist attraction for sure, being a site for old Umbrella Corp. missions and such. The town folk didn't give any of the college students a second glance, carrying on with their busy days.
Their Professor gave explicate instructions to the students, hoping they were adult enough to make it to their hotel rooms in one piece, departing as soon as his speech ended.
Every student went their way, some following the Prof. to the hotel, others seeming to head to the shopping district if you could call the small shops that.
[y/n] was determined, their eyes darting around to find a certain shop. It wouldn't look like anything an adult from [country] would be looking for, which is why they wanted to go so bad. Their eyes landed on a sign with strange symbols on it, the wording reading, "library."
They made their way through town folk and mud to the shop, brushing off their feet before entering. It was a small, quaint shop. It had many old books, all the spines pale white from constant opening and closing of the book. Most of the covers were dry rotted, hinting to how old not only the books were, but the shop itself.
"Looking for something specific, my dear?"
An old lady comes from around the counter, her eyes barely reaching above it. She was hunched over, time having a toll on her posture. She seemed nice and comforting. Was it a tactic to sucker people in or a genuine personality trait?
[y/n] smiled at the old woman, trying to think of what exactly to say. She knew that most people that come to this area have a specific reason, a certain want. And, [y/n] was no different.
"I want to learn more about... the lore of this area." They offered this bit of info as if it was supposed to explain everything. Which, to the old woman, it had.
"Are you here to learn about the lords?"
The young adult nodded their head, glad the woman could read them like a book. Though it did bounce around their mind, did she know exactly what she wanted to know?
"It all started long ago... when Mother Miranda became more than a savior to the people of the upper village."
The old woman gestured to the back room, beginning to walk, knowing the student would follow.
"Um, I know about the back story and how all the lords came to be..."
The old woman opened the door to the backroom, walking inside to sit at a small table, offering the seat in front of her to the other.
"Then my dear, do tell what exactly it is you want to know... don't be shy, I've heard my share of strange tales...
[y/n] took a deep breath, their arms gripping their knees in an attempt to calm themselves. It's not that the question was hard to ask. It was the explanation that comes afterward that would be awkward.
"How would I... bring them back?"
"To life. Ah, finally, someone interesting to talk to!"
The old woman barked with joy, finding it hard to keep in the excited laughter. She seemed to have been waiting for someone to ask that exact question or something along those lines.
She raised from her small seat, her tiny legs making their way over to a small bookshelf in the corner. She grabbed a book with a unique leather spine, the first book [y/n] had seen with a still intact spine.
They watched as the old woman made her way back to the table, dropping the ancient book onto the table. It had symbols and words written in a language [y/n] had never seen on the front.
She laughed, turning to a page in the book, giving a satisfying rip. The woman gave a nod while handing [y/n] the page, not caring about the damage done to the book.
"Are you sure? I can't just take thi-"
"Shh dear, now leave my shop. I have to clean up!"
The elderly woman rushed them out the door if rushing is what you could call it. [y/n] recognized that the woman held no malice when she spoke, she only wanted the student to get on with her plan.
[y/n] spent the entire night reading over the page that contained a ritual.
A ritual to revive royalty.
The one-minute mark hit, panic setting in quite harshly, as [y/n] stuffed the vial into their bag. It took no time for them to make it back to the window in which they entered. The rain seemed to be coming down harsher than when they had arrived.
[y/n] bit their lip, hesitant on exiting. They could see how slick the cement outside the building had become. Exiting was going to be tricky. [y/n] sighed as their watch hit thirty seconds, grabbing the sides of the window and slipping through the wide-angled pane.
They had their footing down well, making sure they don't slip as they make their way over to the gutter pipe.
The sound of a crow cawing caught [y/n] off guard, losing their step and tumbling over the side of the building. [y/n] made a quick move, now holding onto the side railing with one hand, their body dangling a few feet off the ground.
There was no way of getting back up, the rain making everything to slick. A sigh left their defeated lips, letting their once iron grip go. [y/n] braced themselves as they hit the ground roughly.
[y/n] could feel the air leave their lungs, their ribs bruised from the impact.
"That's gonna leave a mark..."
[y/n] gripped their side, holding the area of pain. It hurt, but not enough to get caught. The alarm set off and they watched as the systems inside rebooted, closing everything off with metal doors.
[y/n] stoic-faced turned to shock as they took a few seconds to check their bag, finding the vial still intact with only a crack of damage. It would hold until they were able to get tape.
Urgency hit their mind like a train, making them dart out of the tourist area, watching as the red and blue light become lighter and lighter in opacity until they were in the clear.
They unlocked their hotel room, flopping onto the bed with exhaustion. The night had begun and ended with an adrenaline rush. It would take them a while to come down from their high, so they opted on taking a nice warm shower, hoping to clean off their guilt and rain-covered body.
Morning came faster than [y/n] expected, especially after the night was filled with anxious thoughts and sleepless actions. They hurried and stuffed their once folded clothes into their duffle bag, preparing for their trip ahead.
Many folk around the town said that the trip up the mountain, to the village and castle, would be dangerous and lengthy. They were prepared to do what was necessary. A day's trip was nothing to them, but the initial anxiety was there.
[y/n] slipped into the morning light of the town, waking before their classmates and prof. opting on not telling anyone for fear of someone convincing them this was crazy.
Would anyone miss them? They weren't inherently close to anyone in their class or even their teacher. They had friends, sure, but none of them included them in their group activities. So, who would notice their absence?
And there is was another panic attack. It wasn't the fear of going anymore, it was the dread of not being needed or missed.
[y/n] could feel their body heat up, each digit pulsating as if they had their heart. Their crotch grew hot out of panic, making them crouch, holding their body in close. It would pass, surely it would pass.
They felt their breakfast of nothing starting to build in their throat, a morning of dry heaving was not what they wanted. They tried their breathing exercise. Finding things to focus their attention on, their focus zoning in on a bluebird playing in a puddle.
Look at the bluebird, they told themselves.
Look at each intricate feather, how it pounces in the water without thought. It's enjoying this morning with no worries, just like you should be, they pondered for a while.
It slowly stopped. The ache, the burning sensation they hated so much.
[y/n] rose quietly, holding their hands to their chest in an attempt to keep the panic at bay. It seemed to work, because it vanished, slowly.
"Ma'am, there is one vial missing, and there isn't trace of who was here... all footage of last night was shut for what seems to be, five minutes."
The security guard spoke, his words laced with insecurity, how ironic. He seemed guilty, not being at his post for the night had resulted in travesty on a molecular level. Though it was a horrendous issue, the lady in waiting made no move to hurry the investigation. She just looked around, remembering this place from when she was a child.
"Don't worry yourself, all will be solved in due time. We all make mistakes and we are all human."
Her words brought clarity to the guard, his breathing slowing down to its normal pace once more.
The guard nodded, a small smile accompanying his features. He seemed to truly relax in her presence as if no threat had ever crossed his mind.
"I remember this place fondly... I was so young, so impressionable. Everything was complicated and difficult for me, being who I am. My father and mother fought for my freedom. They were such good people..."
"Do you miss them, Rose?"
She turned to him, a small plush monkey in her hands. This tourist attraction was once her home, but now it only seems to be a memory of terror. She came from a frightening past, but yet came out of it so soft.
"It was so long ago... two hundred years to be exact. I damn blood in my veins, keeping me from joining my mother and father. But, I know I must live on. The Umbrella Corp. needs me to clean out scum..."
She smiled, but it was filled with venom. Yet, she wore it with pride, a faltered smile built out of rage.
"And when I find the scum... I will purge them from this world, making it pure once more."
Hours had passed, the sun now beating down on [y/n] with no remorse. Though this part of Europe was gloomy, springs in this area proved to be the warmest they had ever experienced.
[y/n] thought to be close to the area, hoping only a few more hours awaited them, but that was washed away when their foot hit a cement rock, seeming to lead into a road.
They followed the laid-out path, seeing in the distance a small hut-like home. A smile landed on their face, taking to a small jog to make it to their destination a little faster. Arriving at the entrance of the village proved to be worth it. It was abandoned, letting nature take over the village. Green grew everywhere, covering everything man had made in this area.
Spring made this sad place look pleasurable. All the books they had read said this place would be broken down and ugly, yet here they are and all the books were wrong. It all looked so delicate.
The only thing that looked remotely new, despite the vines still covering them, was the floodlights that lined the village. They all had familiar symbols. The Umbrella Corp. symbol.
Everyone knew they had been here once upon a time. They ruined everything. But only [y/n] saw it that way.
Taking a few strides around the village made them brighten up, mood-wise. Something caught their eye during the walk, a circuit box covered in yellow tape. It looked as if they were meant to open this box.
They looked around, noticing every wire around town gathered at this spot, meaning the power all came to this place. Hoping they were right, [y/n] pulled out a box cutter and cut the yellow tape.
Flicking the razor back into place, they put the blade away and opened the circuit box. All that laid there was a giant switch. They gave it a minute before flipping the giant lever, watching as all the floodlights turned on at once. The light of the sun canceled out the unusually bright floodlights, but it would prove to be useful during nightfall.
[y/n]'s eyes looked down a particular path that was softly illuminated by the floodlights, looking as if it leads to the castle above the village.[y/n] gripped their bag tight, making their way down the path, looking behind them one last time before leaving.
Walking up the castle steps proved to be more nerve-racking than anticipated. Every step took made their heartbeat louder in their ear, before they knew it, the very last beat became so loud that they didn't notice they made it to the large front doors.
Without hesitation, they placed their hand on either door, giving their strongest push. The doors creaked open, revealing the elegant home behind them. [y/n] stared in awe at the room in front of them, everything depicting everything they had read about, almost to the tiniest details.
[y/n] reached out a hand, brushing it against the stair railing, only to be utterly confused. Not a single speck of dust littered the room. With a flip of a switch, the room was now light up. They looked at the untouched room, confused more and more by the moment. Everything was spotless, not a piece of dust in sight.
Their brow wrinkled in bewilderment, something was off. [y/n] made their way across the room, looking at the door in front of them. Better off to start here, they mused.
A single push exposed another spotless room. But not just that.
"Well, well, if it isn't a new customer?"
A giant man sitting in a perfectly shaped cubby in the middle of the room. He sat there, a smile on his face, hand in hand out of excitement. The man looked ready to make an offer, any kind of offer.
"How- You-.... Who-... Are you the one that cleaned this place?"
"I'm everywhere and nowhere all the time, the name is Duke and why no, I don't clean. The place often feels alive, wouldn't you say?"
His smile never left, but instead, he let out a hearty laugh, rubbing his hands together once again. Despite answering their question, they still stood baffled.
"It's rude to stare you know! So let's discuss what I have to offer, and what you're ready to buy!"
[y/n]'s bag slide off their shoulder, the vial rolling out onto the porcelain floor. Duke's eyes landed on the red item, his smile turning into a more devious smirk.
"Awe, we will become good friends, you and I."
They blinked, watching him clap his hands and make a forward motion. [y/n] stepped forward without thinking, grabbing the vial off the floor. He kept his eyes on the vial, not even taking time to blink.
He opened the palm of his hand, gesturing toward the vial. [y/n] didn't know rather they should trust them or not, instead, she pulled out an old page, the one the old woman had given them, and placed it in his palm.
"Do you have anything to help me complete this..."
[y/n] spoke with vigor, demanding he gives up any info on the ritual, assuming he had any.
Duke pulled the page into his vision, reading over it diligently. He hummed over and over as he did, making notes of everything. Once he stopped, he yanked the page down, his old smile back in place. He returned the page to [y/n] while connecting his fingers at the tips.
"You're missing a few ingredients... assuming that's Ethan's blood you have there."
His smile showed knowledge, [y/n] could read that a mile away. They had so many questions.
"How did you know who's blood it is?"
"Well my dear loyal customer, that ritual is on reviving the lords, yes? I knew them too well, and since Ethan Winters was the one to do them in, it would have to be his blood to revive them. Simple."
[y/n] stood there, collecting all this at once. Their mind raced, not knowing what to do at that moment. Question him further? Ask about what they are missing?
"You need their corpses, correct?"
This shook them. They didn't even know the missing piece to the ritual. How would they get that, where even would those pieces be located? Getting the vial was hard enough, so getting their corpses would prove even harder.
"Good thing I am always able to provide for my customers. When Ethan defeated each Lord, he chose greed and sold each corpse to me. I kept them all these years, for such an occasion."
He reached behind him and pulled out each crystallized corpse, plus Donna's Angie doll. [y/n] was left speechless, their movements were just slow steps towards the corpses. Everything was there, they could do this.
Duke held his palm out to them once last time, his eyes on the vial in [y/n]'s hand. He had a price and they weren't certain they could pay it. With hesitation, they pulled the vial away.
Duke laughed, a good hearty laugh. His usual prices were outrageous, especially for an outsider. The man had other ideas and [y/n] was aware it involved the vial.
"I want a drop, just a single drop of that blood."
His palm stayed outstretched to them and it took them a minute to think it over. With a sigh, they placed the vial in his large hand. He smiled his devious smile once more and popped the vial open. The smell was grotesque, knowing the blood was much older than the person that had it in their keep.
Duke leaned his neck back and gently eased the single drop of blood out. [y/n] didn't think to question his intention, seeing as his price would stay the same even if they asked.
A satisfied groan left his mouth, his fingers gently placing the cork back into the vial. He looked at them, placing the vial back in their possession.
"As promised, the corpses are yours."
[y/n] nodded and stepped outside the room, reaching into their bag and pulling out each item for the ritual. They ushered themselves, wasting no time in setting up the circled octagram, cleansing the area to the best of their ability with herbs and a pine smudge stick. Once satisfied with their work, they began bringing the corpses in, one by one, setting them up at each point of the octagram.
When bringing the last corpse out, Duke spoke words that fuelled them with urgency.
"Bring them back and make it right, please."
They stopped at the door, holding Alcina's crystallized corpse in hand. With a single nod, they left the room and placed the corpse down at the last point.
They opened the vial, dipping a little bit of blood onto their finger and brushing onto each corpse's forehead, making out a symbol that was depicted on the ritual page.
Every last drop was used, indicating the last step of the ritual; sacrifice.
Pulling out their box cutter, they shook with fear. This is the part they dreaded, having to cut themselves for the sake of the ritual. Deciding to panic later they cut into both palms, one after another, and watched as the crimson started to run. Wasting no time, they rubbed their blood onto each forehead, repeating the words on the page.
"May wretchedness come upon us and our blood-stained throne."
And that's when things started to unravel.
