Chapter 2

II. Custody

I STOOD UP IMMEDIATELY right after I saw his face and my expression darkened. My face contorted into a scowl, waves of memories came rushing back as if they were mocking me, playing over and over like a goddamn movie.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded, clutching onto the kettle I was holding. He tried to take a step toward me but I stopped him. "No. That's close enough, Henry." I said with a sharp tone.

The memory before his appearance added fuel to the anger I was feeling. I don't think anger is the accurate way to describe what I'm feeling right now; I feel extreme disgust and hatred, whirling altogether, and those overwhelming feelings make me feel nauseous, I can already feel the bitter taste of bile in my mouth. Moreover, how did he get the audacity to show his face to me? After what he's done to us?

But even though I hate him so much... why... why do I feel like my knees are going to give in?

But the damn bastard didn't even oblige, like he hasn't heard a single word I've said. He marched into my direction and held my wrist firmly then yanked it, a bit harsh, pulling me into him. It all seem too familiar, not even Wesker had hurt me like that. No one has ever touched me in a harsh way like that... except him... and I was starting to panic.

"Let me go!" I screamed as I tried my best to wrench away from his grasp, resulting to me dropping the kettle and letting the water flow out of the container. I was having difficulty breathing, no... but... I still kept my composure.

"We're going home, Cheryl. God, you don't have any idea how much I had searched for you!" Henry still had his thick German accent as he keeps on babbling nonsense, his tone sounded desperate as if he had already lost his mind. He had really lost his mind if he thinks that I am going with a devil like him! He left me and my mother to die!

"No! I'd rather go to hell than go with you! Let me go, you bastard! LET ME GO!" I screamed bloody murder, my heart was thumping so fast I'm afraid he might hear it. After all these years, I was still so afraid of my own father, even if I hate him so much. I was silenced when his palm met my face. I dropped to the ground with the impact, my left cheek stinging with pain. I held it and looked up at the devil. Just as I thought, he never changed. He's still the same chauvinistic pig I've always known. I felt the sticky wetness on my palm and realized that I was crying. Oh, my God... no... I've always hated how helpless I was when it comes to him.

"I'm still your father, Cheryl!"

No! You're not my father! You were never a father to me! I wanted to scream those words but I couldn't find my voice, my lips quivered as a sob escaped my mouth.

Henry moved toward me and I immediately backed away.

"Hey!" A voice called out, and before I could even blink, Henry's body flew to the ground.

"Piers!" Chris called out the man who shoved Henry. The BSAA has arrived on the scene, restraining Henry who tried to stand up and get back at the man named Piers.

"Cheryl, are you alright?" Chris asked urgently, and held my shoulders.

"C-Chris..." I sobbed as I clutched on his body for dear life, shielding myself from the devil. My blurred gaze focused on the man in front of me, who had his broad back facing me. It couldn't have been...

"You deserve so much more than that." Piers spat, venom seeping through his voice.

"She's my damn daughter! You don't have the right to restrain me!" Henry yelled like a madman, struggling to get out of the soldiers' grasp. Now that I had calmed down a bit, Henry does look and act like a madman.

I could feel Chris' eyes on me, and I shook my head. He gently pried my arms from my hold, which made my head snap back at him in panic. He gave me an encouraging smile and a nod, telling me to leave this to him.

"Piers, get her out of here." Chris ordered and he immediately obliged. Piers' stoic expression softened when his eyes landed on me. He tended to me and offered a hand.

"Can you stand, Cheryl?" He asked me, and I looked at his face before reluctantly accepting his hand. He wrapped an arm around me, helping me balance on my feet. Somehow, his warmth made me feel at ease, might be because he was the most familiar person to me. "Let's go."

"Piers..." I whimpered, and it was as if strength had completely left my body because my knees were jittery, they were trembling with fear... my whole body was. Piers, without a word, picked me up and carried me back inside the rehab center, Henry shouting my name in the background. I remained quiet and leaned my head against his chest, closing my eyes as another batch of hot tears escaped my eyes. I heard him tell one of the staffs to bring him an ice pack and a first aid kit or something like that.

"Cheryl," Piers called out which made me snap out of my trance, we were already in my room. I released my hold on Piers' neck and he gently sat me down on the bed. He took a chair and placed it in front of me, and took a seat on it. He was quiet for a while and with a sigh, he said, "Not the kind of scenario I was expecting when I see you again." I had stopped crying and his words were enough for me to give him attention, raising my head to look intently at Piers.

"Yeah, well, me neither." I muttered, sniffing, "I also didn't expect to see you nor Henry. Everyone must have thought I was dead."

Piers didn't respond and just stared instead, I was fine with that. A few moments later, Julia, one of the staffs, brought the first aid kit and ice pack just like Piers requested.

"How did that man get through the security?" Piers asked.

Julia shook her head, "I'm sorry, but it is already being investigated. We'll make sure nothing like this happens again."

"Better be." His tone was a bit irritated.

"I know, I'm sorry..." Julia bowed her head in shame, "I'm going to tend—"

"I'll do it." Piers said in a firm tone. She didn't argue any longer and just gave him the items without a word. She left after apologizing again.

I scraped my knees and right elbow, resulting to minor bleeding and a tolerable pain. My left cheek still stings, and my lip was cut because of Henry's sharp fingernails. Piers was gentle enough in tending to my wounds, and he was quiet all the while about it. I am safe now, but I was left with my hands still shaking uncontrollably. I didn't know that after six years, I was still this traumatized with my abusive father. I had already experienced things that are way worse than death... so why was I still afraid?

I snapped out of my pool of thoughts when I felt something cold on my left cheek, and realized that Piers had draped the ice pack on me.

"I... I can take it over from here," I murmured and took the ice pack from him. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Piers replied, his lips slightly tugging upward in a small smile.

Piers was also one with the BSAA. I remember him telling me a long time ago that he wanted to be just like his father, a brave soldier. It was more of a family tradition and he was more than fine with complying to it. It was their family's badge of honor, their zealous devotion to strive for the greatest cause. I admired him for that, and surprisingly, I still do.

Piers leaned in a little closer. "Cheryl, listen," He said, "I'm not going to let that bastard near you again, you understand? I'm here now... I'm not going to let anybody hurt you."

I tilted my head to the side, a little surprised and confused at his statement. "Piers, you don't have to feel responsible just because you used to know me. I can take care of myself."

Piers pulled back and slumped on his seat, crossing his arms across his chest. "Cheryl, I don't just used to know you. You were my friend."

Before I could even react, the door opened and there revealed Chris. He entered, closing the door behind him. He glanced at Piers whom he dismissed his salute then back at me. "How are you feeling now?"

"I'm going to be fine, Chris. Thank you."

He nodded and let out a smile, "That's good to hear. I've already talked with the staff and security. Cheryl, is he telling the truth?"

"What he's saying is true. He's my... biological father." I lowered my head with a sigh, feeling disgusted to admit that to the person who rescued me.

"I see." Chris trailed off, "Well, even though he was your father, we wouldn't let anyone near you with the intent to harm you." Piers looked at his commanding officer, and I could tell that they wanted to talk to me about something, and they were reluctant.

"You can tell me." I told them.

Piers and Chris exchanged looks. I was lucky enough to be rescued again by the BSAA. This might have been the last time they're going to, given the fact that Jill is done with her rehab soon, and she will most probably return to her services as a field agent once again.

"Ever since I was still in the Special Forces, I've been investigating him." Piers started, "Henry Hansen, CEO of the finest Camilla Chains of Hotels. Over the years, his business has been at the verge of bankruptcy, and he was trying his best to hold it together. His wife, or rather, his mistress had left him because of the predicament. He might still have some connections at least, because he found out that you were alive. And he also found out that you have the antibodies for the Uroboros virus."

"Which is classified information." Chris commented, to which Piers agreed.

"He had some connections, and he must have thought that he could use her. Otherwise, he wouldn't have a reason to look for Cheryl if she didn't have a use to him..."

"Use me? Use me for what?"

Piers stared into my eyes, "He's planning to sell you to the black market, Cheryl."

I exhaled the breath I didn't know I was holding in. I was shocked to say the least, and even though this was just Piers' theory and educated guesses, I do get the feeling that Henry would really do that. Even if I was his own flesh and blood. It made me feel even more disgusted with him than I already was. But more importantly, I'd realized something.

"Why'd you investigate him?"

"Because I thought that he had something to do with your disappearance. I know people like him. He doesn't give a damn about anybody but himself. I didn't find out until I joined the BSAA that you are alive because your existence was a secret then." He explained. "Our mothers, they were best friends. We found out that Camilla had died, but you were missing, Cheryl, so I figured..."

That was true, though. Piers and I were friends before, childhood friends to be exact. Our mothers were the best of friends since college. And, well, when my father left us for his whore, Camilla took me and left the city without a word, without even saying a proper goodbye to her best friend. I didn't say goodbye to Piers also. I was still not satisfied with his explanation. I wasn't that special to Piers for him to go through such great lengths as to investigate Henry. I still have a lot of questions to ask but my thoughts were arrested when Piers let out an outrageous statement.

"My mother wants to take custody of you."