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Light shone from the bathroom, a shadow flowing about routinely within. The smell of cherries wafted into the bedroom, Rachel's signature smell, a smell you tried your best to inhale deeply, for this would be your last chance for a while. The soft sheets of the bed covered your body, your feet rubbing together as you waited for your lover to join you. Just then, Rachel's figure twirled into the doorframe, a rarely worn silk robe draped on her perfect body.
"How do I look?" She smiled.
"Gorgeous, amazing, stunning. I could go on." You chuckle, extending your arms out for her.
Rachel turned the bathroom light off and sauntered over to you, throwing the robe to the floor and jumping into your arms. Your arms wrap around her as if she could slip away at any moment, face buried into her wavy, golden hair.
"I'm gonna miss you so much..." You sigh, loosening your grip.
"I'll be back before you know it." Rachel's hand reached up to cup your cheek, her thumb rubbing softly under your eye.
You knew Rachel's job meant she could be ripped from your grasp at any moment; part of you hated it, never knowing if she'd be back or not. You could tell Rachel loved it, though, so as long as she was happy, you were happy. It wasn't uncommon for her to be gone for months at a time; hopefully this time would be different. She hadn't long come back from another mission, and you wanted to make up for lost time. You had all sorts of plans figured out: horse riding, sightseeing, and a meal at an expensive restaurant.
Rachel shuffled her body under the quilt and plopped her head onto the pillow, her hair sprawled out in every direction. Looking at her a second time, you could tell she was uneasy. Her eyes stared blankly at the wall, and her teeth chewed at her bottom lip.
"Are you okay?"
Straightening herself up, she looked at you and replaced her frown with a smile.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay! Just a little nervous is all."
Lying down next to her, you turn your head to face her. She tried hard to mask the knot in her stomach. Rachel loved the sea, but being on any sort of boat always made her queasy; she wished that was the reason why she was nervous.
You had seen on the TV about the terrorist organisation, Veltro, making a return. The same group that attacked Terragregia a year ago. Maybe the mission had something to do with that? You couldn't be certain.
"Everything will be okay. You'll finish that mission, you'll come home, and I'll have a big surprise for you." You smiled, placing your hand on her stomach.
Her head turned to face you, soft blue eyes locked with yours, and a grin plastered on her lips. "Is it horse riding?"
"Suppose you'll have to wait and see." You shrug and move to turn the bedside light off.
"Well, now I won't be able to sleep!" Rachel giggled, shuffling her back against yours. Smiling, you draped an arm over her waist and peppered her shoulders full of kisses.
It took a while for sleep to claim you. The gnawing feeling of loss nagging you at the back of your head. You hugged Rachel tighter and closed your eyes, waiting for the darkness to take you.
---
Placing the plate full of food down on the table, you swiftly grab a knife and fork and plop yourself down on the couch, the TV blaring some random show. It had been a few months since Rachel had left for her mission; every day you thought of her. After the two-week mark when her scent started fading, you would spray some of her cherry-scented perfume around the house, just to capture the feel of her still being in the house. You missed her dearly, and it sucked that you couldn't contact her.
A knock on the door woke you from your thoughts. You muted the TV and quickly swallowed any food in your mouth as you approached the door and opened it.
A brown-haired woman stood before you, a duffle bag hanging over her shoulder.
"Are you (Y/N) (L/N)?"
"Yes. Can I help you?" You ask suspiciously, eyeing the duffle bag closely.
"My name's Jill Valentine; I work for the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance. May I come in for a moment?" Her face softened a little as she spoke.
You hesitate before stepping aside and letting her in. Jill noticed the fresh food on your table and turned to face you.
"I won't keep you long." Her fingers unzipped the duffle bag.
"You are Rachel Foley's partner, yes?"
Your stomach dropped. "I am. Is she okay?" Your mind raced with every negative possibility.
Jill sighed and pulled a big Ziploc bag from her duffle bag.
"I regret to inform you that Rachel Foley has passed away. It's been long enough that I can pass you this diary. But, you need to know that its contents are... disturbing."
Your heart raced rapidly as the words fell from Jill's lips. Rachel's gone? But she was a part of the FBC, and this woman claims to be from the BSAA. How did she know of Rachel's passing? You take the bag from Jill, tears silently rolling down your cheek.
"How did she die?" Your voice wavered.
"Unfortunately I can't disclose that information." Jill spoke softly, a small sad frown on her face.
"Did she at least die quickly? Painlessly?"
Jill paused, looking down at the ground before looking back up at you.
"No. She didn't."
Time seemed to stand still around you. The sound of your heart thumping through your ears was all you could hear. Jill placed a hand on your shoulder and turned to walk out, closing the door after her.
You look down at the bag in your hand; the diary was crimson red, though you suspect that wasn't its original colour. Your face drained of colour as you opened the bag; the faint smell of iron filled your nostrils. The book only had a few pages written, though you suspect the journal was to document the entire mission had it gone to plan. Wiping your face, you flip to the first page and begin reading.
'I was forced on this mission. I had no desire to come here for a job that could get me killed. At any rate, stage one is complete.'
'I got the key for the freight lift. Now I can access the bilge.'
'This ship was used as the base of operations for the terrorist attack on Terragrigia one year ago. I found the UAV in the ship's foredeck that was used to disperse the virus.'
'Finding the UAV was good; getting attacked out of nowhere by an ugly monster was bad. I knew this mission would suck from the moment I took it.'
Your heart continued racing the more you read; you were essentially reading her final moments, something you thought you'd never do.
'My head feels like it's going to split open. I lost an eye already. It's hard to see. I feel like crap.'
'Arms are starting to feel weird too.'
'My right arm split into two.'
'Blood all over my body, can see my bones.'
'Need doctor bad.'
The rest of the writing was obscured by blood. So much... blood. Your body shook as you let out a sharp cry. Her final moments were full of pain and suffering; she didn't deserve that! There must be more to the story! There has to be. You slump onto the couch, journal hanging loosely from your hand. She was gone. The faint smell of cherry entered your nostrils, making you cry harder. Curse the FBC for putting her on that mission. They knew there was a good chance she'd lose her life, yet they put her on that mission anyway! She wasn't ready... She wasn't ready.
Part of you hoped this was a sick dream. Part of you knew this was real. You'd never see Rachel in person again, only through the pictures you had framed around the house. Her soft voice would never wake you up again in the morning. The smell of cherries would forever remind you of the amazing woman she was. And yet she was gone... forever.