•Thicker Than Blood•

•Chapter 10•

Genevieve, after a long walk, finally arrived home. Her head hung low while she turned the knob, letting herself inside the place she called home. Instantly, she could hear the rapid typing coming from her mother's office. Her eyelids drooped while she made her way to her room. Stepping on the balls of her feet to avoid making a sound. Though, to her dismay, her mother heard her on her way in.

"Genevieve?"

The girl paused, holding back an upcoming sigh as she turned to face the doorway of her mother's office. Her mother was hunched over the computer, the screen illuminating her brown skin. Her hair was tied up in a smooth bun and her glasses rested on the downturned bridge of her nose, occasionally she would push them up. After another brief
moment of typing, she turned around to face her daughter in the hallway.

"Yes, mother?"

"Did you find Sherry Birkin?"

"Yes, mother."

"Do you know who she's with?"

"She left Raccoon City and is living with Claire Redfield and Leon Kennedy. They found an abandoned property and fixed it up. Mr. Kennedy got a job at the QuarryBend police department. Ms. Redfield is a mechanic at the auto shop in town."

"Perfect. I have another task for you, dear." Her mother turned back to her computer.

"What might it be?" Genevieve asked, holding back another sigh. Heart heavy with dismay.

"I would like you to find out where she lives. My colleagues are quite interested in finding the three of them." Her mother stated. "You can use this to track the location when you get there." She tossed her daughter a necklace.

"All three of them? What could they have done? Is it bad?" She caught it, analyzing  it carefully.

"Considering they were some of the only survivors from the outbreak in Raccoon City... I'd assume that they want to ask some questions. I wasn't told very much, dear."

"You don't think they want to hurt them, do you?"

There was a moment of silence. The typing came to a quick end. Goosebumps grazed Genevieve's skin. Silence wasn't a good sign. Silence was never a good sign. Hesitantly, she took a step back, her hand touching the door frame as a sort of comfort. Her mother rose from her seat and turned to face her once more, arms now crossed. Her expression lay somewhere between frustrated and sorrowful.

"It's not my job to ask those sorts of questions, Genevieve. I'm not willing to risk my job to protect a family we don't even know. I have you and you are my responsibility. I'll keep the roof over your head and I've given you the task to help me. You'll do just that, no matter the circumstances. You hear me? We don't need another situation like your father's."

Genevieve gripped her arm tightly, so tight that her nails dug into her own flesh. She grit her teeth, her heart racing a million miles a minute. She turned her head to the side, refusing to make any sort of eye contact with her mother. She hated when she mentioned her father like that. Her mother took a step towards her, reaching a hand out to touch her face. The young girl raised her hand and stopped her mother from getting any closer.

"Don't talk to me about dad. I'm going to go do my homework."

Without another word, she turned in her heels and descended down the hallway. So, that was it. She had to pretend to be friends with Sherry to get the information her mother needed. As if she were a spy on the inside for Umbrella itself. She despised the very thought of it. She knew exactly where being sneaky could get her. She'd end up just like her father. Her greatest fear. To be wiped off the face of the earth as a punishment. Her own life laid at the hands of a higher power she didn't even know the face of.

Not only this. She had to risk the lives of three other people. One she considered her friend. In her heart, she really enjoyed talking with Sherry. She didn't want to give it up. Sherry was a sweet girl. Someone she felt she finally related to with how their families were involved with Umbrella Corporation. Her conscience pulled her heartstrings while she laid in her bed, staring at the wall ahead of her.

She truly had no idea why Umbrella Corporation was so secretive. What did they know? Why did they take her father away from her? What were they hiding? These were questions she may never know the answer to. The pressure weighed on her. She had no other choice but to give in and obey what her mother said. She was all she had. If she did anything against them, who knew what could happen.

Genevieve curled up into a tight ball in her bed, hugging herself tight while she swayed from side to side. As if she were trying to self-soothe herself. She didn't make a single sound while she cried. For she didn't want her mother to hear her. The tears spilled down her cheeks while she ripped at her dark brown curls. Alone with her own thoughts. Alone with her own worries.