Chapter Text
It was over.
He was over.
Wesker was dead. There was no way in hell he could’ve survived, she strongly believed. Jill was still shaken up from the emotional rollercoaster her life has been the past few years. She stared at the lava, unable to tell if the warmth she felt was from it, finally being with Chris again or having control over herself. Or maybe even all of the above.
Chris sighed heavily, snapping her out of the disassociation. She was happy but only a little bit, she still felt awful. Physically and mentally. Ridden with guilt for what she had done and how she had to have fucked up Chris’ life. God, she hated that thought, hated Wesker, but most of all she hated herself for everything that'd happened.
“Jill? You alright?” said Chris in a buoyant, yet exhausted tone.
Jill looked up to meet his brown eyes. They were so dull now, as if she had sucked the light out of him the day she ‘died’ .
“Yea, why wouldn’t I be?” Jill said while she bared her teeth to make a false smile. Chris could obviously tell she was lying, he always knew when a lie left her lips. Clearly, Chris didn’t want to push it, he was exhausted and knew she was too. Sheva had already fallen asleep. They’ve all had a long couple of days. Let alone years.
Chris finally started to drift in and out of consciousness while Jill couldn’t. She desperately wanted to—needed to—but she couldn’t, even though she felt extremely weak, she kept fighting off her drowsiness. Even though all threats to her or them had been eliminated. she was still on edge.
Fuck.
She grabbed for the scarab device, still able to feel the burning sensation it left in her skin.
Jesus what had she done?
She’d ruined her and Chris’ lives, she sure as hell knew it. He’d spent 3 years looking for her, depressed, and obviously suffering as she had been. She felt like a shell of who she used to be. To her, there’s no way he’d still think she’s as admirable as she had been. Pale skin, fragile blonde hair, terrible psyche, the constant nightmares. Even when she’d been brainwashed she’d have them. Nightmares of the mansion, Raccoon City, her various missions like the one on the Queen Zenobia. God, she ached thinking about how scared she had been that she lost Chris then. It was even worse now. She thought she’d never see him again. It was comforting knowing he still knew she was alive and wouldn’t give up on her, but she dreaded the thought of him hating her for what she had done.
The flight ahead of them was long, from Kijuju to the heliport. They were waiting for them at the main North American BSAA building, waiting for her just so they could take her away again. Just thinking about the testing she’d be subjected to again was bone chilling. More testing she didn’t consent to, but at least it was for the better this time as discomforting the idea was.
Jill decided to try and curl up in Chris’ arms since he had already been asleep on her shoulder and she took it as an open invitation. Chris tightly wrapped his arms around her as if it had been muscle memory for him. She gently brushed her hands down along his arms to meet his hands as she buried her head into the crook of his neck. She just wished they didn’t have to deal with any of this. All she wanted was a normal life.
Eventually, Jill was shaken awake by a couple of the med staff that were sent to check on her before they took her to a special unit. Some BSAA higher ups were talking to Sheva, Josh, and Chris about her, as if she needed them to speak for her.
God, were they gonna treat her like some lab experiment gone wrong or like a fucking human being?
They didn’t even try to ask her how she was feeling, but rather went for those who would never understand what she went through. She knew they thought she’d lost it, like she wouldn’t be a reliable source for her own suffering. She wanted to give them a piece of her mind but she was too drained; it probably also wouldn’t give off a great impression to the people she’d be stuck with for God knows how long.
The ambulance–like vehicle they were going to use to take her away was finally ready for her. Loading her into the car, stripping her away from Chris and her new acquaintances. The only people who she knew would help were going to be gone. As she sat in the back of the car, she looked out the window to see Chris arguing with the guards about something. She could only make out the words: “Jill,” “you’ll scare her,” and “crazy” from his worn lips.
The last of everyone joined her in the car as the engine started. Jill pressed her hand up to the glass, gesturing she didn’t want Chris to leave her. He only stood there in the street, watching as the best friend he’d just gotten back had once again been stolen from him.