The Park Gates

She strode confidently down the path between the gates, it was a pleasant evening the sun low in the sky gave everything a warming comforting reddish tinge. She was heading towards the lake a walk beside its still waters would help calm her mind, her thoughts raced mostly concerned about the big man (Edgar) who looked distinctly out of place. He might be security she mused though something about his demeanor denied that, and the other man the smoking drunk, a reporter perhaps lost in her thoughts she strolled towards the lake.

She didn't break step until the men were out of sight, she'd noticed them following her and decided to find out what they were up to. Leaving the path she trotted over to the bushes as best she could in her skirt and heels. Reaching up to part the shrubbery with her hands she followed the two men into the undergrowth. Now where did they go she mused?

Noises could be heard ahead of Bella, and then voices-one of which was rather sniveling and high pitch in tone: "Sir, Yes-Yes I know...but we can't keep adding last minute details to the plan....I know, but Dr. Crane insists we feed the damned thing before it gets loose too early. I know, the agent was sighted nearly a half an hour ago, and the damned thing is already trying to pry open its holding cell and do it's..."THING". Alright, yes sir... I understand." the man then closes his phone. The man is a balding, unkempt, bespectacled man in a pair of torn jeans, a faded black Metallica T-shirt with a spotless white lab coat over top. He slips the outdated cell phone into his pocket and turns to the two men in suits. 'Metallica' as we will call him for another moment adjusts his glasses and clears his throat. "Well, where have you two been? Hurry it up, before it gets too dark to open the entrance." he says, leading the two men off, further into a slightly more wooded area of the park; all three unaware of Bella's movements as they walk past her without raising any alarm.

She was confused, how could they know she was here, were they even talking about her, she had no idea, but the name Crane rang a bell. Dr. Crane was on her "to do" list a priority target. She followed behind them unarmed as she was she could still gather intel and find out where they where going and maybe even what it was that they were so worried about.

One of the men in black pause, turning to look behind him, almost spotting Bella if it were not for her quick and stealthy movements. He grunts, turning back and following the other two again.

(continue to Undisturbed Grove)

Ben arrived at the park he stood in front of the gate, he didn't push the gate open to go inside he just stood there at this exact moment memories were flashing through his mind he closed his eyes. "Flashback moment" He was stood in front of Raccoon City Park Ben was completely shocked he looked around everything was normal once again he was back in Raccoon City before the outbreak before his life had gone to hell he walks through Raccoon Parks main gates and stood before him was Rachel his childhood friend and in later years fellow R.P.D Officer/girlfriend, She waved to him to come over to her he made his way over and greeted her with a hug along with a kiss they then walk through the park Rachel turned to Ben and said “Why didn't you save me you left me to die”
Ben turned to Rachel and couldn't give a reply suddenly it started raining and Rachel continued to ask why Ben had left her voice becoming more demonic and distorted each time there was a crash of thunder which snapped Ben back into reality. “End of Flashback” Ben had come back around and reopened his eyes his knees felt a bit shaky and weak he sits on the small wall just outside the gate and pulls out a cigarette and lights it after a few puffs of the cigarette he throws it to the floor he then pulls out the picture of him and Rachel and just sits looking at it words are forming in his mind but he can’t summon up the courage to say them these words were the truth of what happened back in 2004 yet Ben chooses to believe that the events unfolded differently. He puts the picture back inside his wallet and looks back at the park gates and decides not to go in as he stands up he says to himself don’t want any more unpleasant memories to resurface as he walks away a small part of him wants to go inside the park he sits back down his trousers pretty much soaked now he leans his back against the wall lights another cigarette and just lets his mind drift away for a moment….

After a couple of minutes Ben's mind drifted back into reality he stood up and remembered the metal case that Rachel had left to him she gave it to him just before their last mission together, Ben said he would open it when they returned from the mission the case remained unopened due to the fact that Ben returned alone he could never bring himself to open it despite the fact Rachel's last words were "Open the case it will reveal everything". Ben closed the umbrella and threw it over the park gates and he then said to himself "I know what must be done" he then sprinted back in the direction of the maple lodge.....