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Something about this new area. Leanne can't put her own finger on it. Let alone have the leftover strength to figure it out.
Was it the sunlight she never saw in... around nineteen years? It can't be, she saw the sunlight earlier near the Men/Women's locker rooms. Though it was faint, she could tell it was genuine sunlight. Even being mesmerized for a minute. And even then, she's not getting any nostalgia from the sun.
It could be the fact she's finally free from that hellhole she woke up in. And yet again, those traps were set to keep her from escaping. But she was outside, a baby in her arms too. Still not feeling any old bliss thinking about the church, despite growing up within.
The wind gave out a sharp, yet sudden blow to her. Yelping as it hits. It's fine though, the wind shouldn't hurt her, right? She just isn't used to being outside. Being cramped in an underground base for most of her life.
She tried to let out a cough, careful of the baby. Nothing but dust came out. Oh her throat stung so bad from the screaming. She craved water, but there probably wasn't anything fresh for a long while.
Poor Leanne, she was in a lot of pain. Some of the cuts on her body weren't healed yet, so feeling even the slightest touch against it stung. Some were still bleeding out, though not as bad as before. And the countless amounts of bruises made her sensitive to even moving an inch.
Regardless, she pulled through. The flowers looked like it would make a comfortable spot to rest. The petals are very gentle.
Maybe that was what made Leanne feel nostalgia, the flowers alone. She was always reminded of Emile whenever she saw them. A vibrant, scarlet red. It's everywhere. It spread like some sort of infection. She remembered how Emile always sang lullabies to her in those flowers.
She subconsciously started humming the melody of one of them to the baby. Her voice is still scratchy and poor. Looking down at the sleeping face.
Shit, the baby is waking up— is what she thought. The baby squirmed a bit, but only cooed in its sleep. It only made Leanne adore the baby even more. Like it was some motherly instinct.
She looked around, maybe this was a perfect spot to lay down for a bit. She'd put her body through so much danger for being too curious and refused to stop, even if it meant killing her. She kept going because she wanted to know who she was.
When she knelt down, she collapsed and fell onto her knees. The soil was wet, maybe it had just rained recently. It would definitely explain why the grass looked so healthy despite no one being near the church in a long time.
Well— of course except for Leanne, her now deceased mother, and the baby.
She stared at the baby for a long time. Not having any thought about anything. Just quietly observing the breathing. Chest rising and lowering.
"Leanne."
She grew startled, it was a cold voice. Breathing gently with the wind. It reeked of blood. She recognized this voice and smell almost immediately. Like she'd seen it a million times.
Because she has.
"Leanne Scarlette Theresia." The voice barked. It was even colder than before, clearly trying to get her attention. She knew this was Emile, who had just caught her with a baby. Another human;with Leanne...
She jolted her head back in fear. Expecting the worst, expecting to see a bloody silver haired woman looking at her.
But... she only saw the sky and a bit of the ash. She swore she heard Emile talk to her. She heard it so clearly..
....
The wind howling was the only sound she heard for miles. It felt nice once she got used to it. She could still smell the dew from the rain.
Slowly, but surely. She found herself standing up despite what she planned to do. She wanted to step around in the wet grass some more. The dew smelled so nice and fresh. She wanted to embrace this smell. It was much better than the awful stench of rotting corpses and blood..
...
She smelt blood again. A familiar smell lingered into her nose. A nauseating one, one that made her hunch over and hurl. But nothing came out, she had hardly eaten anything in days, all that came out was desperate gasps and spit.
But the moment she looked up, she saw a woman, the same silver haired woman she'd seen a million times. She stared in absolute surprise, too stunned to even say a word.
Her mother, Emile, was standing right in front of her. Still looking majestic; like a goddess, in the flowers. There was only silence, nothing more.
Leanne took a moment to rub her eyes as a response.
Again, the moment she looked, Emile wasn't there. She looked in disbelief, she was hallucinating. She couldn't get over the loss of her own mother. It was too much to handle, after bearing with all those traps. She just found her cold corpse in the office so suddenly. One moment, she's mad, and the next moment, she's weeping.
After everything, Leanne still can't let go of Emile. No matter how many times she reminds herself of the vaccine, she still grieves.
She held the baby she nearly forgot about in her arms. Still fast asleep, nested with care in bruised arms. She sang another familiar lullaby, brushing through the baby's strawberry blonde locks. Each note is nearly perfect by memory. She knew it by heart.
The baby slowly started to wake up mid-song. She felt hesitant on whether she'd keep singing. As she quietly continued, the baby only cooed and smiled. Seeming to enjoy it as much as she did when she was little. She smiled. A genuine, motherly smile. The baby wanted more, so she kept humming the notes.
She heard another voice join, like a duet. It was Emile's voice again. The same cold voice, singing the same childhood lullaby. The sound was faint, but she could still hear it. She felt naturally drawn to it. Rising up from the grass with care, she looked to the right.
"M-mother?" She whispered. There she was, looking at Leanne. It seemed like she was waiting for her. Reaching her bloody hand out.
Drip.
A drop of blood stained the flower below. Leanne felt even more intrigued, almost thinking that her mother actually was still alive, that this wasn't a hallucination.
"Leanne. Stand up." Her hand was still out. Freely letting more blood taint the flowers.
For the first time ever, Emile was smiling at Leanne. It didn't feel genuine, deceitful in a way even, but she didn't care. It was the first smile from Emile to Leanne.
She quickly stood up, limping her weak body to Emile. Her excitement was hardly containable. She could be with Mother again. After so long, all she wanted was to be with her. It could finally happen.
She stopped singing, but Emile didn't stop. She kept singing, except it grew more eerie. Her voice croaked into creepiness. Although her singing was becoming a bit unsettling, she started to run towards her mother. Months– maybe even years of built up tears finally having a chance to spill out. Such pure and happy tears, glistening in the light.
She ignored the pain in her leg, she ignored how she was treated. She ignored the fact she had a baby in her arms. She kept running towards the illusion.
"Mother!" She cried out loud. Laughing like a maniac in an empty field of flowers. She felt so many overwhelming emotions; Anger, sorrow, euphoria... pain...
"Leanne." the same voice called.
She never wanted to leave her side again. Unaware of her surroundings, not caring if she could trip over a rock. She had one goal in mind, and she grew one step closer.
Only to be stopped by a wave of exhaustion. So much running can only take her so far. Her eyelids fluttered, now struggling to see Emile properly. One moment she's there, the next she's gone again. But now, Leanne was too tired to process anything. Her mind is playing even more tricks on her.
The moment she reached her hand out for Emile's. She smiled so wide, so full of joy and insanity.
"M..mo..." she whispered, she grasped onto her hand. The stench became stronger; a disgusting and putrid smell.
She blinked again.
But this time, she was gone. She couldn't process anything. She still fell for these tricks.
"Mo...ther...?" Her final words spilled out like blood as she collapsed. Unsure if she had died or passed out. This was the last thing she remembered. Reaching out for what she thought was her mother. Finally realizing the harsh reality she tried to avoid.
Mother was still gone, burning in the church behind. No matter how many times she sees her.