Something I've been contemplating but yet to do is, I think I'm gonna induct into my portrayal is: there's a theory that in the original build for REmake, Ashley had a section at the start of the game, as hinted at by...
this scene in the reveal trailer,
this scene as well,
and this poster leading up to its release,
and builds that people have been able to access, Ashley was meant to have a portion at the beginning of the game, presumably before the scene with Leon. In this build (I'll find a link shortly), you play as Ashley - alone - using her cellphone as a light. She's said to have a startled / tripping motion play out, and there's a Cultist nearby as this occurs; so, she loses her light, which then results in the first image / GIF shown, with Leon essentially following a bread trail (finding her cellphone, etc. along the way) until he meets up with her later.
SO, what I think they were aiming for is Ashley somehow manages to get away / get out of her restraints, and she barricades herself in the church to protect herself. This was later changed to Ashley being stored there by her kidnappers / for the Cult to "keep her safe," and while I think both have merit, I think I want to include my deduction into my portrayal. Ashley's smart, strong.. ish. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility for her to wait for an opportunity - get freed - run wherever for however long. Her cellphone would be an oversight here, but we could assume that they crushed it / she used whatever vague lighting the screen would have because she didn't have much for options, BUT.
She does get her own playable section in the game of course, but none of the imagery matches here. SO. I'm gonna' go with that, personally. I think. Please don't eat me
