•Thicker Than Blood•

•Chapter 15•

The girls had gone out, more so near the barn. They went and sat up on one of the higher up shelves that surprisingly held their weight pretty decently. Different tools and items scattered around the same shelf. The chickens clucked from beneath them, walking across the barn messy floor. Sherry seemed so happy to be around another person her age. Little did she know.

"You know. Things have been really good since I left Racoon City. I was nervous that things would be worse without my parents... my home." Sherry looked up. "Though, I feel like things have been going better since I started living with Claire and Leon. They don't fight nearly as much as my parents did. Even when they bicker, they always end up laughing about it...."

Genevieve didn't say a thing, watching her with a solemn expression growing on her face. Looking down, she saw the necklace she had hidden under her shirt. Not just any necklace however. It was a device that would help her mother track her location. Alerting her of where she was with Sherry. Genevieve placed her hand over the object, closing her eyes. Her insides turned cold while a heavy weight crushed her.

"I don't think I've ever felt so at home before... even when my parents were alive. I've never had a real family like this before. As much as I loved my parents... they were never there, you know?" Sherry tilted her head back. "I've never had any real friends before either. I guess I was too... odd to be friends with."

Suddenly, Sherry turned and grabbed hold of Genevieve's hand.

"I'm really glad I met you, Genevieve."

That did it. Something snapped within Genevieve and the tears began to spill down her cheeks. She lurched forward and curled her arms around Sherry tightly. The other girl flinched, but she returned the hug. She rubbed Genevieve's back gently as she sobbed into her chest. It was too late. Genevieve wouldn't be able to stop it now. All they could do was... run. Try to get away. Try their very best to escape. Although, she doubted their abilities. It was worth the try for Sherry.

"Woah- Genevieve... are you okay?" Sherry was barely able to utter her sentence before Genevieve cut her off.

"We've got to go! Right now- come on!" Genevieve wiped her eyes and grabbed Sherry's arm, leaping down off the shelf. She made a bolt for the driveway. Sprinting towards the house and right passed it, past the parked truck, and down through the gate. Down to the open road. Sherry was barely able to keep up,tripping over herself as she dragged by her sleeve.

"Wha-!? Genevieve! Slow down! What's happening?" Sherry tried her best to keep up, reaching for the other girl with her free hand.

"They're coming for you! We got to go-!"

"What? Who?"

"Umbrella! Come on- Sherry! Run! Your life could depend on it- our lives could depend on it!" Genevieve shouted through her tears.

Suddenly, Sherry skidded to a stop, pulling back and forcing Genevieve to stop. The girl fell to the ground. Sherry took a few steps away from Genevieve. A horrified expression crossed her face, her head shaking slowly from side to side. She stared down at her friend. The necklace had fallen out from behind Genevieve's shirt, dangling beneath her on its chain. Sherry was able to recognize the Umbrella Corporation symbol right away.

"You- tricked me?" Sherry took another shakey step back.

"Wait! I can explain- but we don't have time, we have to go! They could get here any minute, Sherry!" Genevieve screamed at her in desperation, ripping the necklace from her throat.

"Why did you do it? Are you tracking me? You're leading them to me? All this time, you weren't really my friend after all?"

"Sherry, please! It's not like that anymore! I was just doing what my mom asked of me-! I want to help you!" Genevieve chucked the necklace down the road, back towards the house.

Sherry dropped to her knees, violently shaking as her knees were scraped against the asphalt. Her emission fogged heavily with tears till she could only make out the colors of the world around her. Her lungs tightened as if they were squeezed while she gasped for breath, grasping at her throat out of desperation. Genevieve released what was happening right away. Sherry was having a panic attack.

"What are they going to do with me!?" Sherry gasped out, falling down further while cradling her head.

Genevieve's heart shattered in her chest, running forward and taking Sherry into her arms. She couldn't run in the state she was in. Sherry desperately clawed at the other girl, trying to tear away from her as quickly as possible. But it was too late. Genevieve could see the Umbrella Corporation truck speeding down the road. Genevieve made one last attempt to pull her up and protect her. Sherry couldn't move her legs in the slightest.

Before she could react, the truck stopped in front of them. A man with slick blonde hair came out, sunglasses present on his face. Meanwhile, Genevieve's  mother was right behind him. Genevieve hugged Sherry close to her, shaking her head violently as a way of saying not to come near. But the child's pleas were not heard.

"Of course. Using your daughter as an undercover way in.. Well done, Mrs Ovega." The man in sunglasses said.

"Thank you, Mr Wesker." Her mother bowed her head. "Genevieve, it's time to let go."

The girl narrowed her eyes, dipping her head down and shaking her head towards her mother. She held Sherry, who was still in the midst of a panic attack, and backed up just a bit. She knew she wouldn't get far with or without Sherry. But she decided to make her position known. She was disobeying not only her mother, but one of Umbrella's own orders. If Sherry was going to be harmed, she would make it up to her, and stick by her side.

"Genevieve, this is a very bad time to disobey, dear.." Her mother began to grow anxious.

"Such a shame. I suppose they'll both be taken into custody now. No real harm done." Wesker didn't seem to give a single care in the world.

"But- she's just a child. She doesn't understand the weight of what she's doing..!" Her mother tried to plead, but was promptly silenced.

"I know exactly what I'm doing, I'm not doing anything without Sherry. I can't do this to her." Genevieve cradled the girl.

Her mother seemed to turn pale at the very sight. Suddenly, all the memories of her husband flooded back. Genevieve's father had the guts to disobey. Now Genevieve too. Was she really going to lose her entire family now? She couldn't risk it, she lowered her head and closed her eyes. Wesker merely snapped his fingers. Two of the Umbrella agents came forward, grabbing both of the girls and throwing them in the back of the truck.

"Now that we have Sherry, Kennedy and Redfield won't be far behind. Let's go." Wesker said, getting back into the truck.