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Ashley’s head perks up as the sound of a gentle knock echos into the room. The sun’s rays unable to pierce through the thick blackout curtains. “Go away.” Ashley grumbles with slight annoyance, not caring who’s on the other side.
“Not a chance.” Leon’s voice filters into the room through the thick wood, his tone kind as he speaks although there is a firmness that can’t be ignored, “Come on Ash, let me in.”
Groaning Ashley pulls the blanket over the blankets over her head. “Go away before I call security.” she threatens her tone not letting up as she curls into a ball under the blankets.
“Um, I am security.” Leon reminds with a sigh, leaning his head onto the door he speaks in a soft tone, “Ashley, come on. No one sent me, I promise. I just want to check on you, to see how you’re holding up.”
Ashley huffs, pushing the blankets off herself she walks to the door; Ashley places her hand on the cool doorknob, taking a deep breath as she slowly opens the door. Squinting at the harsh light of the afternoon “There you’ve seen me.” Ashley speaks in a monotone voice. “Happy now?”
Leon gives Ashley a look not of sympathy or pity, but instead one of empathy and understanding. “To see you? Always.” Leon gives a half-smile as he looks at the president’s daughter. Glancing into the darkened room behind her, he looks back at Ashley with a tilted head, “Can I come in?”
Ashley pauses a moment before stepping aside to allow Leon entry, her body tense as he steps into the room. Closing the door, she walks over to the window and opens the curtains just enough to allow some light to pierce through the darkness.
Leon glances around the room, picture frames lay face down on the nightstand next to a half-read book covered in a layer of dust. The vanity mirror covered with a sheet as if to hide away. “Ah, the old cover the mirror. Personally I’m a break mirrors kind of guy.” Leon laughs to himself as he turns back to Ashley who stands with her arms wrapped around her torso.
“What...?” Ashley’s voice laced with confusion as she looks at Leon, his words not processing as she hears his tone.
“I mean hey do whatever suits you but I’m pretty sure I have like....35 years of bad luck now.” Leon shrugs, glancing down at his scarred knuckles before looking back at Ashley. “So, how long?”
“How long what?” Ashley raises a brow at the government agent. Her arms still wrapped tightly around her middle as if to protect herself from harm.
“How long has this been going on?” Leon’s voice firm but gentle. His eyes soft as he looks at Ashley as he talks to her with clear concern. “Ashley, talk to me if anyone knows what you’re going through. It’s me.” Leon offers her his hand. He doesn’t move from his spot near the door, letting Ashley close the distance herself.
Slowly Ashley unravels her arms but doesn’t move from next to the window, instead she looks at the covered mirror. “I can still feel them....the parasites.” Ashley swallows a lump in her throat, “I wake up in the middle of the night and it’s like they’re still there. Still...in me. I can still hear.... Salazar’s laugh.” She cringes at the memory of Ramón Salazar’s voice. His giddy little laugh at her torment.
“The feeling of that black goo going down my throat. It’s like I can still-” Ashley purses her lips, steadying her breathing she continues with a shaky voice. “I can still hear Saddler’s voice in the back of my mind.” she finally admits, her breathing quickening as she relays the information.
“Is that why you covered the mirror?” Leon asks, “Just in case you see something?” In truth Leon knows the answer, it’s the same reason why he smashed his bathroom mirror the morning after getting back from Spain.
“I keep expecting to see those veins on my face, to see the parasites moving under my skin.” Ashley explains in a quiet, scared tone. Her hands shaking as she speaks, “It’s like... I’ll never be free of it, a;most like-” Ashley can’t bring herself to finish her sentence, the words getting stuck in her throat as the emotions flood back to her like a tsunami.
Leon stands there his hand still outstretched as he looks at Ashley, his presence comforting and warm. “It’s almost like you’re back there? Reliving every single moment?” Leon already knows the answer, he’s been through it more times than he really cares to count.
Ashley nods weakly, tears welling in her eyes. “How do I... How do I make it go away?” Ashley looks at Leon, her eyes reminding the agent of a kicked puppy as she takes one step closer to the man. “I don’t want to live like this.”
“I know. Believe me I know.” Leon reassures as he feels Ashley take his hand, “Do you, want a hug?” Leon’s tone low and quiet, as if the words were only meant for Ashley to hear.
Without second thought Ashley pulls Leon into a hug, her arms wrapped tightly around him. Her hands gripping his shirt like he’s her lifeline. Her face buried into his chest.
“Don’t worry, I got you.” Leon mutters, one of hands on the back of her head, the other on the small of her back. Shielding her from all that can hurt her. “I wish I knew how to make it go away. I wish I could make it all go away trust me I do. But you’re strong, you’re one hell of a fighter.” Leon rests his chin atop of Ashley’s head, his breathing calm and even as he comforts the young woman.
“Do you have nightmares?” Ashley asks softly, her grip not letting up as tears slip from her eyes. She hasn’t cried once since getting back from Spain. Her entire body for the first time since that day having become numb to everything and everyone.
“Every night.” Leon answers truthfully, he knows lying to Ashley won’t fix anything, it won’t make her feel better, and it more certainly won’t take away the pain she currently feels. “I can’t even remember what a full night’s sleep actually feels like.”
“How do you get over it?” Ashley looks up at Leon. Desperation in her voice as she tries to find something, anything to make this pain go away.
“You don’t.” Leon confirms as he looks down at her. Empathy flashing through the older man’s eyes. Seeing Ashley feeling the same pain he’s felt for years breaking his heart slightly. She didn’t deserve this, she was innocent. She didn’t choose to be the president’s daughter, she didn’t choose any of this.
Then again neither did Leon.
“So, what do I do now?” Ashley looks to Leon for guidance, the one person in the world who understands her in this moment. “Do I just live with this?”
“In time, you learn to live with it. It’ll take awhile but I promise I’ll be right with you the entire step of the way.” Leon reassures softly, looking Ashley in the eyes he smiles “Like you said, we make a pretty good team.”
Ashley can’t help but crack a smile at her own words being used against her, “Yeah, I guess I did say that didn’t I?” Ashley sighs finally letting go of Leon, “You know, you’re the first person to talk to me and not treat me like I’m going to have a mental breakdown every five seconds.”
“They’re just worried.” Leon sits on Ashley’s bed, his forearm resting on his thigh, “Although I will say you not being allowed any sort of sharp object is a bit excessive.”
“Tell me about it.” Ashley sits next to Leon, leaning against him, she continues, “I’m not even allowed a real fork.”
“After Raccoon city I wasn’t allowed any sort of thing I could hurt myself with. Including spoons.” Leon chuckles at the memory, “I had literally had to be monitored while eating cereal.”
“What the hell can you do to yourself with a spoon?” Ashley looks at Leon, her brows furrowed as curiosity and confusion fill her voice, “It’s a spoon.”
“Ask the United States government.” Leon rolls his eyes before his eyes rest on Ashley, fondness in his gaze as he nudges her with his elbow, “Hey? I’m proud of you Ash. You did good.”
“Thanks Leon.” Ashley leans against Leon once again, a small smile pulling at her lips, “I’m proud of you too.”