26th of January, Sunday.
Clara Swan awoke from a nightmare, drenched in cold sweat. She sat up on her bed.
"Enough already… Get out of my head…" she said in an exhausted tone of voice.
Ever since her "death" from the Tosla expedition, she's been having terrible nightmares about the angel that ended her life.
Although it happened inside a dream, it still felt too real. The others that had died as well had already recovered, both mentally and physically.
So why… why was she still being affected? Why has she not recovered yet? Even Vincent, who died in the dream through burning, had already recovered.
Her nightmares always ended with her getting stabbed by the angel and burning to death.
She wants it to end already. She wants the nightmares to end. She wants the angel out of her head.
Clara got out of bed, and left her room. Every night, it was always the same thing. Wake up from a nightmare, get out of bed, leave the room, drink a glass of water, and then…
"Clara."
Her sister, Sylvia.
"This is the fourth time now. Tell me what's happening." Sylvia was standing on the doorway to her own room. "Tell me."
Clara put down her glass of water, her back facing her sister.
"Nothing's happening. Nothing is happening, Sis," she said, gritting her teeth. "Everything's fine."
Sylvia scoffed. "You think I'd buy that? I've known you your entire life. I can tell when you're lying. I can tell when something's troubling you. I'm your sister, for f*ck's sake."
She paused for a moment, and continued, "Clara. Let your sister help."
With that, Clara slowly turned around. The flickering white light coming from a billboard outside illuminated Clara's face.
Stained with tears. Crying. Exhaustion.
Upon seeing this, Sylvia immediately approached and embraced her younger sister.
She tightened her hold on Clara. Whoever did this to you… will pay tenfold.
Clara trembled as she clung to her sister. I'm sorry, Sis… But I don't know if you can help me…
"Now, tell me. Tell your sister what's wrong. I'll see what I can do."
Clara was too tired of keeping it to herself. She's already told a certain someone, so what's the harm in letting her sister know of her suffering?
Ten minutes passed.
Clara sat silently on the sofa, while Sylvia sat from across.
Sylvia Swan felt as if she could burst a vein if she wasn't careful.
Whoever this angel was, she'd make sure they pay dearly.
Clara took a quick glance at her sister who was silently seething with rage.
I'm sorry, Sis… But… I don't think you can win… against that devil.
***
Three days ago, on the 23rd of January, Thursday, right after the Tosla expedition.
Clara sat up on her bed, sweaty and weak.
A fever.
She had woken up from a nap because of a nightmare. That damn angel. She got out of bed. But at the time she stood up, her legs shut down.
But at the same time… Sylvia opened the door. "Clara, I'm going out to meet a— hey!"
Sylvia immediately caught Clara, preventing her fall.
"A fever… Okay, you just rest. I think we still have some medicine." Sylvia gently put Clara down on the bed.
Clara watched as Sylvia left the room, and returned with some medicine.
"Here. Slowly."
She struggled to swallow. After that, Sylvia refilled the glass cup with water, and put it down on the desk beside the bed.
"I have to go meet up with someone. You just stay here, okay?" said Sylvia.
Clara nodded weakly. She felt like a little child again, being cared for by her sister.
After a brief caress by Sylvia on Clara's forehead, Sylvia turned around to leave.
Don't… don't go…
Clara didn't have the courage to say this. Nor the energy.
With that, Sylvia left the apartment.
After a long while, Clara's energy and strength was coming back to her, little by little. Medicine from Umbrellas works fast, after all.
She doesn't know how much time has passed, since the clock in her room would often stop working.
The AI assistant, Iris, was out of date, hence, it won't respond to her.
As for her phone, it was left charging on a desk far away from the bed.
Suddenly, she heard someone enter the apartment. And her sister's voice.
She tried to sit up, but to no avail. She tried again, and again, until finally, she got out of bed.
Approaching the door, she peeked through the crack.
Donovan.
Her eyes slightly widened. Why is he here?
Then, she witnessed him being flustered upon seeing Sylvia undressing.
Clara felt a strange, fiery heat in her heart because of this. She calmed down. Donovan was a good man, and she doesn't want to be angry at him just because of this.
From what I've heard, Donovan's one of the few who survived until the dream ended… I need to talk to him…
Clara made sure to not get caught peeking. If Sylvia knew she was out of bed instead of resting, she'd be furious.
After the two left, Clara popped another tablet to quickly quell her sickness. Then, amidst her suffering and struggle, she went to the bathroom.
Forty minutes later, she was dressed in a gray jacket, and gray sweatpants.
Grabbing her umbrella, she left her apartment building. Her destination: Donovan's apartment.
Earlier, she had asked her uncle who worked in the Headquarters of Umbrellas to find out where a person named Donovan Volgard was living.
It was quite cold outside. She walked instead of flying. She didn't take the bus or a taxi because she forgot her wallet, and she didn't want to go back to her apartment to get it.
Thirteen minutes passed.
Clara knocked on the door. No answer. She knocked again. No answer.
"Donovan… Open up… It's Clara…"
No answer.
Ugh, what gives? Why isn't he home? Suddenly, she gasped. A dreadful scene came to her mind.
A scene full of intimacy and desire…
No, no, that's impossible. They can't be doing that… They're… probably just out on a mission…! Donovan probably needed my sister's help for a mission…
Actually, wait… Didn't Donovan say he was at Category 4 of Shower Rank? After the Tosla mission, he's now at Category 5… So he needed my sister's help to advance to Storm Rank… That must be it.
Clara shook her head. She then left the apartment building.
Ugh, what do I do…?
She looked up at the sky. Flying vehicles flew past. With a sigh, she walked away.
But suddenly…
"Clara?"
She heard a voice. Turning around, she saw that familiar blonde hair, and that face…
Dean…
"What are you doing here? By the way, your nose is running."
Clara blushed and blew her nose into a tissue.
"Um, I'm here to talk with Donovan, but he's not home…" Clara sniffled. "Do you know where he is?" she asked.
Dean shook his head. "If he's not home, then he's on a mission."
Suddenly, Dean seemed to realize something.
If Clara's here, in front of this building, then that means Donovan lives here… Huh.
"Oh… I see," said Clara with a sigh of relief. "Um, anyway, what are you doing here, Dean?"
"I live here," he answered.
"Oh."
Dean looked at Clara up and down. She seems so different now compared to two days ago… She's cuter this way. Unlike that ice queen personality of hers…
"So, what did you want to talk about with Donovan?"
Clara looked down, her gaze landing on the ground. Then, she came to a realization.
Dean's also a survivor of the dream… This is perfect…
"Dean."
"Hm?"
"I need to talk to you."
Upon hearing this, Dean sighed. He was really not good with women, especially after being slapped by Sasha in front of everybody…
And he was just on his way to get himself a bubble tea.
"Uh, I don't know…"
"Bubble tea. My treat."
"Alright."
Success… W-Wait, oh no… I forgot I didn't have my wallet with me… Clara's smile froze on her face.
Hm, I guess it's fine. She seems troubled anyway. And how'd she know I wanted bubble tea?