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Ethan Winters ran out of time.
Everything hurt. From his sore feet to the top of his head. His hands bled and there was an empty hole in his chest, a cruel reminder that while he could heal, he couldn’t regrow and what he lost he will never get back. This was the lowest he’s ever felt and he was all too familiar with pain. He’s been stabbed, bitten and shot before, hell he was impaled not more than eight hours ago. By all accounts, he shouldn’t be here.
Rose’s cry resounded through the cave. He shushed her and with little strength he had he cradled her closer. No words could describe how grateful he was that she was alive. His brave little girl. She was so tiny. She needed to be protected, to be kept far away from all this bullshit, far from crazy people who would sacrifice a child for personal gain. Whatever power they claimed she possessed didn’t matter, not to him. Rose wasn’t a weapon or a pawn in someone’s plan. She was a person, unlucky enough to be his daughter.
Perhaps Ethan had damned them both. He has led them here, in this peril which would claim his life and change hers forever. Maybe she would never be a normal kid, always treated as a missile that could blow up any second. Perhaps it would have been best had she not been born at all, yet when she looked up at him with her wide blue eyes he couldn’t think of her as anything other than a miracle.
His miracle. He thought back to the camera he bought months ago, intending to capture every milestone in her life; her first steps, her first time riding a bike, her graduation. There was so much in front of her, so many experiences he wished to be a part of. The camera stood abandoned on the dresser now. He wondered if he’d ever get a chance to use it again.
It was eerily quiet. There were no gunshots, no screams or cries filling the cave, no sounds of the BSAA unit coming down to retrieve them. But worst of all, he realised with terror, he couldn’t hear his heartbeat either. He’s gotten so used to it; the steady thumps in his chest and the fast rattle when he ran; now, there was nothing. The thought almost made him throw up, but it wouldn’t have been possible even if he tried. He has barely eaten anything today.
Funny, how quickly he adapted to this situation, how easily he forfeit the need for food or rest. He almost forgot that this was not always his life, that he only got to the Village today. That yesterday he had a wife and a beautiful daughter and a calm, peaceful life that he fought so hard for. Why was it so easy to forget it? To get lost in this chase? Ethan blamed the adrenaline and ignored the small voice in his head claiming that maybe he liked it. No, the clock was ticking and one second off and he would lose. That’s why he kept on. For his family. For them, he crossed one road after the other, he killed more and more, leaving piled up bodies behind him and tried to convince himself he wasn’t a monster.
He’s been running for so long, sometimes it seemed like it was the only thing he knew how to do right.
“Shh, Rose.” He whispered. His throat was dry and he was straining it, but he tried to sound as comforting as possible. “It’s alright. The monsters are gone.”
He would have brushed her hair by now, as he always did, but his hands were useless, falling apart piece by piece. They didn’t even hurt anymore.
Everything dies eventually.
Mother Miranda’s cursed words rang through his head. His eyes were failing him, the world became a mass of white, it made his head hurt even more. Everything dies, she was right, her mangled body laying less than two feet behind him was proof enough.
And yet, he couldn’t help but wonder. Could he even die in this state? He’s never given it much thought before, he had no reason to. But now, knowing he’s been dead for three years and he didn’t notice any change, he wasn’t sure what death would mean for him. Scientifically speaking he wasn’t much different than the Lords of the village, nor Miranda herself, but none of them had gotten up after he killed them like he has.
With no small amount of shock, Ethan realised a part of him wanted to die. He could accept leaving now, but only because he couldn’t imagine a future in which he closed his eyes and woke up healed, with a new heart, feeling young again. He didn’t want to live forever and watch the world pass him by.
He looked at Rose, and he looked at his hands. They were crystalised. With a sad smile he understood. He was dying.
He used to take what he had for granted. The last three years almost allowed him to forget. He focused on Mia and reconciling with her, and he could pretend he didn’t dream of chainsaws and her screams. He found justifications for every move to a new country that didn’t include the words WIT-SEC. Then Rose came and she became his entire world. It was almost too easy, falling into their routine. He got too comfortable. He started to believe in ‘forever’ again.
And then Chris Redfield barged into his house and shot his wife.
If he had a bit more time, he’d wonder what would have happened had Chris told him the truth from the start. How different things would go with an ally by his side. He would never have been captured, he wouldn’t have been bound. He would kill, but at least not alone. And he wouldn’t grieve Mia. If he had more time, he’d be angry at Chris for betraying him and ruining his life.
But he didn’t. So instead he closed his eyes and imagined, like so many times before, his future. Him and Mia, sitting on a bench in their yard in the evening. The entire world at their feet, a green vast spreading onto the horizon. They were drinking tea. Mia looked at him, her grey hair shining in the warm, orange light. She smiled. Her face was wrinkled, but it was unmistakably her. Even at an old age, she was still the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.
“Ethan!” Chris’s voice rumbled through the air. “Ethan, we have to go.”
He wanted to respond, but nothing came out. A string of curses fell from his friend’s lips and he would have laughed at his desperate tone had he had any energy left. He vaguely felt being coaxed to stand up, a strong arm helping him move, but his eyes were on Mia.
The pressure in his ears built up and he could barely register Chris’s words anymore. He sounded far away, despite speaking directly into his ear. And oh, he realised with a bittersweet feeling, he was slipping away.
“When I hit this trigger, we can’t be anywhere near it!” This he understood well. A pause. “Mia is waiting for you”
He smiled slightly. Yes, yes, she was. She reached with her left hand and embraced his face. He leaned into the touch.
In a matter of minutes this village will burn to the ground. The castle, the factory, every single home will be destroyed, alongside its mutated residents. This place was cursed and he didn’t feel bad about letting it rot. He’s won. Rose was safe. It was all that mattered.
At that moment he knew he would stay. He’s fulfilled his duty. With his last strength, he pushed Chris away and grabbed the trigger. He said a silent goodbye to Rose as he let her go. He hoped one day she’ll be old enough to understand.
And Mia, for the last time, pressed a kiss to his cheek and said:
“I love you”.