𝑩𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝑩𝒚 𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 | 𝘼 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙀𝙫𝙞𝙡 𝙁𝙖𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙘

Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ４３

I stood silently in front of the body mirror that was in my room—staring at my reflection in the mirror. Taking in my peaked appearance. As I gazed downed at myself, I noticed quite a few slight changes in myself. Instead of my skin being rosy-pale, it was slightly more pale than usual, due to the massive blood loss I sustained. Giving me a more ghostly appearance.

Besides my abnormal skin discoloration, there were a few other apparent variations I spotted as well. I also lost some weight, not gaining most of my muscle mass back since I've practically lost my appetite. Not eating much at all during my stay. I easily got cold, no matter how hot is actually was in the room or how many blankets I was covered in, prompting me to shiver more often than usually. Lastly, there were eye bags underneath my eyes—indicating I haven't been getting enough sleep for the past week. I let out a tired sigh, before turning around and grabbing my purse off the neatly made hospital bed.

As I hung the strap of my purse over my shoulder, I heard the door opening behind me. I glanced over—seeing Leon enter the room with a hospital bag in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, while Jake and Sherry waited patiently outside in the hallway. Quietly sipping their fruit smoothies in hand.

"Here." I turned around, as Leon held out the plastic bag to me. Which held the rest of my belongings inside. I gazed down at the bag, then redirected my gaze back up at him.

"Thanks," I mumbled, as the took the bag from him. When I opened it, I spotted a bunch of gauze, medical tape, ointment, and bandages for when I would need to redress my healing wounds. Plus a bottle of prescription painkillers, prescribed by Dr. Richards himself, that would last me about a month.

Next to my belongs, gifts, and medical supplies within the bag was my S.T.A.R.S. knife. Making my eyes slightly widen. I thought that I lost it that night in Seattle, but now I have it back. I couldn't help but smile a little bit, as I took out the sheaved blade out of the bag. I partially removed the knife sheaf—allowing me to gaze at the part of the sharp, polished blade and the S.T.A.R.S. logo on it. When I was done, I placed it fully back into its sheaf, before slipping it into my purse.

"You ready go?" Leon inquired.

I nodded my head at him, as I briskly took one last glance at myself in the mirror. Gazing down at my delicate appearance, before following Leon out of the room and leaving the hospital with Jake and Sherry trailing behind me.

***

"Where exactly are we going?" I asked Leon, while Jake was driving us to the airport.

He turned around—glancing over at me momentarily from the passenger seat. "We're going home, which happens to be in Richmond, Virginia," Leon responded.

"That's where Uncle Chris and his family live, right?"

"Yes," He answered, before turning back around in his car seat. "You'll be staying with them for a month to spend some quality time with them, all while you fully recover and rest up. Then you'll come up to D.C. to live with me and your baby brother,  Levi."

I nodded my at him, tilting back against my seat, as I sighed and shifted my gaze to my right. Staring out the window at damp weather, while it was practically pouring outside. Countless raindrops smacked against the glass-like surface, trickling down along the car window. Beforehand at the hospital, Leon explained to me the plan pertaining to my accommodations, that I'd be living with Uncle Chris, Aunt Jill, and their son, Nathan, as a way of being able to spend more time with him and his family. Thinking it would ameliorate the recovery process both physically and mentally for me.

When Leon told me about my baby half-brother, Levi, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt and contrition rapidly proliferate in my chest once again. Hearing from Leon about how much of a mama's boy is he, I already know that he ain't gonna be happy one bit by the time we arrive back.

But that wasn't on my mind though. For the past few days, I have been having nightmares. Nightmares about that dreadful night in Seattle, except they were worse. Worse than my current condition right now. I've had nightmares like these before throughout my childhood, but this one was different. It was the same one I've been having for the past three days in a row now; this was the only horrendous nightmare that kept repeating itself over and over again, like a never-ending roller coaster.

"Something on your mind, Laura?" I peered over at Jake, glancing back at me through the rear view mirror.

"No, just tired," I replied, as I yawned. Resting my head against the car window—closing my eyes and gradually falling into a much needed deep sleep.

Sherry's POV

As I glanced over at Laura, I noticed that she had already fallen asleep. Her eyes were fully closed—resting her head against the car and using her arm to support her noggin. I grabbed a spare blanket from beneath my car seat, draping over Laura's lap so she wouldn't get cold.

While I watched her sleep peacefully, I could help but gaze at her at feminine features. Mentally comparing her visage to Claire's. 'Laura is a lot like you, Claire. She's almost like a miniature version of you, except with blonde hair... Laura has your nose, your lips, even your bright blue eyes. She's kindhearted and considerate like you, thoughtful, strong, spirited, selfless, and definitely audacious. But now she's blue, despondent. Traumatized from what happened to her that very night. I don't blame her though. It's the same thing I went through as a little girl after that night in Raccoon City, then becoming a ward and guinea pig of the U.S. government. The most shitty experience ever in my life time.' I directed my gaze towards the window—staring at my reflection.

'I was just like her, sad, dejected, and miserable. But with a little guidance, consolation, empathy, and reassurance from those around her, I know she'll be able to get through this, just like I have. Claire had helped me so much over the years, more times than I can count, now it's my turn to help her daughter. To whatever I can to help Laura get better and recover both physically and mentally, that's what her mother would do if she were here.' I shifted my gaze back at Laura.

'Don't worry Claire, wherever you may be, Laura is now in good hands. She'll be well cared for and looked after by all of us. We won't let anything bad happen to her, I promise...' I thought to myself, as I sighed and diverted my gaze towards Jake and Leon sitting up front.

"Poor Laura," I mumbled quietly to myself, feeling remorseful towards Claire's daughter. "She's so young... She shouldn't have to go through any of this, especially at her age."

"I agree too, Sherry," Leon stated, he turned around in his seat to face me. Briefly glancing at Laura's unconscious form. "Even though there's nothing we can really do to undo any of the things she's seen or went through on the night, the only thing we can do is anything that we can to help her get better."

"Leon's right," I redirected my gaze towards Jake. "What Laura needs is time, time to rest, recuperate, and convalesce. I don't care how long it would take for my sister to recover, all I care about is her taking as much time as she needs in order to get better," Jake added, as he kept his eyes on the road; his fingers wrapped around on the steering wheel.

I smiled—nodding my head at them as I rested one hand on my stomach. 'Now isn't the right to tell him, Sherry.' I mentally reminded myself. 'When the right time comes, then I will.'