Chapter 50: The Rift

July 27, 1998, 3rd floor of the Raccoon City Police Department, S.T.A.R.S. office.

On the second day of administrative leave, summer sunlight cut diagonally through the half-drawn blinds, casting mottled light and shadows on the files scattered across the floor.

The ashtray was piled high with cigarette butts, and the air was filled with a faint smell of tobacco and a lingering sense of anxiety. The incessant cicadas outside only intensified the suffocating atmosphere inside.

Chris, Jill, Barry, and Rebecca were gathered around the desk. Brad, who had just entered from outside, huddled on the sofa in the corner. His face was pale, his fingertips trembled uncontrollably, and even his posture betrayed undisguised panic.

Three days had passed since the end of the Spencer Mansion incident. Deputy Chief Raymond had honored his promise, changing their suspension to paid administrative leave. Irons hadn't bothered them for the time being, but the overt and covert surveillance had never ceased.

The strange black car loitering at the police station entrance, the occasional harsh static on the office phone, and even the furtive figures flashing by near their homes—all were silent reminders that the eyes of Umbrella Corporation had never left them. One slight misstep, and a lethal reckoning would follow.

"I can't stay in Raccoon City anymore." Brad broke the dead silence first, his voice tight with irrepressible panic. "My tires were maliciously slashed twice in the last two days, and there's been a black car lurking at my front door. That's definitely Umbrella Corporation's security team! We have their dirt in our hands; they will never leave us alive. What exactly are you planning to do? We can't just sit here and wait for death, right?"

This pilot, who had risked an explosion to save everyone, was ultimately a bit cowardly at heart. He cared more about saving his own life than toppling the massive Umbrella Corporation. The days of surveillance and threats had long since exhausted his last shred of courage.

Chris raised his hand to stub out his cigarette, his fingertips tapping lightly on the desk. He then took a newly received fax from the drawer, pushed it slowly to the center of the table, and spoke in a firm, steady tone:

"I've already contacted a former comrade from the Air Force. He works at the FBI headquarters in Washington D.C., specializing in transnational crime and corporate cover-ups. He is willing to take on the Umbrella Corporation case, provided we can provide substantial evidence that can withstand scrutiny, and a key witness who can testify in court."

He scanned the group, his gaze finally landing steadily on Jill, his eyes filled with unquestionable solemnity: "The experimental records, virus data, and Wesker's operational directives we have are ironclad evidence. But the most powerful, irrefutable witness is Chloe."

"She is a direct victim of Umbrella Corporation's illegal human experimentation. She was imprisoned in the research facility from the age of 8 and served as a test subject for eight full years. Her personal experience and what she witnessed inside the facility are the keys to nailing Umbrella Corporation to the pillar of shame for good."

"I intend to organize all the evidence, take Chloe with me, hand her over to the FBI for full protection, and use federal power to expose the truth completely."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jill immediately raised her head. Her gaze was sharp, and her tone was decisive, leaving no room for negotiation: "No. I absolutely do not agree to handing Chloe over to the FBI."

"Jill, this is the only way to topple Umbrella Corporation right now!" Chris furrowed his brows, leaning forward slightly, trying to persuade her.

"The law enforcement systems in Raccoon City, and even the entire state, have been thoroughly infiltrated by Umbrella Corporation. Local police are simply unable to resist. Only federal-level agencies have the capability to go head-to-head with this multinational giant."

"Only by exposing their crimes completely under the light can we truly protect Chloe. Otherwise, Umbrella Corporation's minions will find her sooner or later. By then, we won't even have a chance to resist, and we'll only be able to watch helplessly as she is taken back!"

"Protect? Handing her over is pushing her into a pit of fire!" Jill's voice rose slightly, her eyes filled with disapproval and heartache.

"Chris, have you forgotten that she just turned 16? She has been locked in a dark isolation chamber since she was 8, suffering blood draws, injections, and live experiments day after day. She finally escaped that hell and finally touched the edge of freedom."

"You want to treat her like a piece of evidence, push her to the forefront of national attention, and make her peel back her most painful, unbearable scars again and again in front of countless strangers, media, and prosecutors? To a minor, this is secondary trauma from start to finish! It's completely crushing the freedom she just grasped!"

She stepped forward, looking at Chris with a firm gaze, saying word by word: "First, we don't know how deep Umbrella Corporation's influence goes. Can you guarantee there are none of their people inside the FBI?"

"Once Chloe's status as a test subject is exposed, she might be sent to a shelter one moment and secretly abducted by Umbrella Corporation the next. By then, she will end up in a worse situation than she was in the research facility."

"Second, as a top-secret test subject for Umbrella Corporation, once she is under official control, they won't treat her as a victim. They will only treat her as a dangerous bio-weapon sample, imprison her in a laboratory for life, perform endless experiments, extract virus samples, and she will never obtain true freedom, living in a cage forever!"

Jill's words struck like a heavy hammer on everyone's heart. The office fell into a dead silence again. Chris opened his mouth, looked at Jill's firm gaze, and ultimately couldn't bring himself to say a word of rebuttal.

He had been single-mindedly thinking about the most direct way to topple Umbrella Corporation and avenge his fallen teammates, but he had overlooked the huge price that this young girl, who had just crawled out of hell, would have to pay herself.

Barry sighed heavily, breaking the silence first. He had sent his wife and daughter on a plane to Canada the day before, settling them with distant relatives in a place that was absolutely safe. The heart that had been hanging for many days finally settled halfway.

"Jill is right." His voice was hoarse, filled with lingering guilt.

"The thing I regret most in my life is being threatened by someone using my family, causing me to do things that betrayed my teammates. We cannot sacrifice an innocent child to topple Umbrella Corporation. Just having rescued her from one cage, only to personally send her into another—how is that any different from those bastards at Umbrella Corporation?"

He looked up at Chris, his gaze firm: "I'll go with you to Europe to investigate the Umbrella Corporation headquarters. After I go to Canada to confirm that my wife and daughter are completely safe, in half a month at most, I will meet up with you in Paris. I'll risk this life to atone for my sins, but that child, Chloe, must absolutely not be touched."

"I'm on Jill's side too." Rebecca spoke up immediately, placing her research notes on the table, her fingertips tracing the dense virus charts, her eyes full of heartache.

"Chloe's body is still very weak. Long-term malnutrition combined with being imprisoned for so long means she can't handle the stress. If we hand her over to the FBI, those people will only treat her as a research subject. They won't care about her feelings at all, they will only perform various invasive experiments, and she will live in more pain than before."

Brad waved his hand awkwardly on the sofa, looking like he didn't care, just wanting to get away as soon as possible: "Don't ask me. I don't want to be involved in anything. I'm driving to the neighboring state tomorrow to hide in a remote town. If you need a helicopter for extraction, call me anytime. Anything else, especially regarding that little girl, don't drag me into it. I don't want to be targeted by Umbrella Corporation's lunatics and lose my life."

The group's stance was clear. Chris looked at the files on the table for a long time, and finally nodded slowly, compromising: "Fine, I will abandon this plan for now and won't hand Chloe over to the FBI. But we cannot stop our actions. I will set off for Europe in two days to track down clues about the Umbrella Corporation headquarters. Barry, once you finish dealing with things in Canada, meet up with me as soon as possible."

After settling their plans, everyone packed their things, preparing to leave the monitored office. Just as Jill turned to walk out the door, Chris stepped forward quickly, quietly grabbed her arm, and brought her to a quiet corner on the inside of the office, his expression grave.

"Jill, I know you care about Chloe and don't want her to be hurt again." Chris lowered his voice, his tone full of worry, "But you must be clear-headed. She hides too many secrets, and she is far from as simple and harmless as you think."

"I finished reading all the encrypted files brought back from the research facility. There is an early record there, sent by The Ark to the Arklay Research Facility. It is written very clearly: Chloe has always been The Ark's Series 70 Test Subject. When other children were insane, violent, and out of control, she maintained absolute clarity. Not only clarity, but she was exceptionally calm. She can disguise herself, play weak, hide guns, hijack hostages, perform precise intimidation, and plan escape routes."

"Her intelligence, judgment, self-control, and stress resistance are all far beyond children of her age, and even far beyond adults."

He looked at Jill, his expression growing increasingly solemn. 'Moreover, she is skilled at deception and even theft. What's more, the virus within her could go out of control at any moment, making her an extremely unstable factor. You're living with her day and night, putting yourself in immense danger.'

I still hope you'll seriously consider my suggestion. Even if you don't hand her over to the FBI, you shouldn't keep her by your side. This isn't just for your own safety, but for everyone's good. During this time, you must protect yourself well. Keep a close eye on any abnormalities in her behavior and don't let your guard down.'

Jill's heart jolted. Looking into Chris's concerned eyes, a flicker of doubt stirred within her previously resolute mind. She fell silent for a moment, then nodded gently. 'I understand. I'll think it over carefully.'

Without saying another word, Jill turned and left the office, driving towards the rental house. On the way, she stopped at a street-side shop and bought fresh ingredients, sweet fruit, and a light blue, floral-print cotton dress. The style was simple and fresh, the fabric soft—perfectly suited for a sixteen-year-old girl.

Pushing the door open, she found the living room quiet. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, spilling warmly and softly onto the floor. Chloe was sitting on the sofa, holding an old novel Jill kept at home, reading with intense focus. Her slender figure exuded an air of quiet obedience.

Hearing the door open, she immediately put the book down and hurried over. Obediently taking the shopping bags from Jill's hands, her eyes held genuine warmth as she said softly,'Sister Jill, you're back.'

Seeing the girl's cautious, utterly dependent demeanor, Jill's heart instantly softened. The earlier hesitation and worry were diluted by this pure warmth. Reaching out, she ruffled Chloe's soft hair and said with a smile, 'The weather is so nice today; it's a shame to stay cooped up inside. Change your clothes, and I'll take you to the city park for a walk, okay?'

Chloe was taken aback, a flash of delight instantly appearing in her eyes, only to be quickly replaced by a hint of unease. Clutching the bag in her hands tighter, she asked in a small voice, 'Is it really okay? What if... we run into people from the Umbrella Corporation?'

'Don't worry. I'm here. Nothing will happen.' Jill handed her the paper bag containing the dress, her tone gentle. 'I bought you a new dress. Go try it on. It will suit you well.'

Chloe took the paper bag. The moment her fingertips touched the soft cotton fabric, her body stiffened slightly, as if she had touched something precious. She hugged the bag, walked into the bathroom, closed the door, and only then slowly took the dress out.

The light blue fabric was printed with tiny white flowers, the skirt hem had soft pleats, and it felt as soft as a cloud to the touch.

In her previous life, she had been a man in his twenties. When she transmigrated into Chloe's body in this life, she had just turned eight years old. Immediately after, she was thrown into an isolation chamber at the Arklay Research Facility, where she remained for a full eight years. During those eight years, she had only ever worn washed-out, loose-fitting patient gowns. Forget dresses; she hadn't even touched a single piece of normal casual clothing.

At first, the gender displacement had caused her intense discomfort and resistance. But eight years of imprisonment in darkness, the daily blood draws, injections, and inhuman experiments had long since worn down all the edges from her past life.

She had long accepted the fact that she was Chloe, accepted this weak, helpless girl's body, and had almost forgotten what kind of person she used to be.

Yet, when a dress meant for a girl was truly placed in her hands, memories from her past life surged up uncontrollably, making her fingertips tremble slightly. An indescribable feeling of awkwardness and discomfort welled up in her heart. Clutching the skirt, she stood there for a long time before clumsily changing into the dress.

It was her first time wearing this type of clothing, and she fumbled for a while before getting it properly arranged. When she walked up to the mirror, she froze completely.

The girl in the mirror wore a light blue floral dress. Her slender shoulders and waist were outlined perfectly. Her pale cheeks gained a faint touch of color. Her hair, falling over her shoulders, lay softly. Stripped of the sickly pallor of the patient gown, she looked completely like a fresh, clean, and vibrant sixteen-year-old girl.

For eight years, she had only seen her own lifeless, bloodless face reflected in the glass of the isolation chamber. She had never imagined she could look like an ordinary person.

Her eyes reddened without warning. She raised a hand and gently touched her reflection in the mirror, fingertips trembling slightly. A mix of grievance, joy, and bitterness churned in her heart.

When she walked out of the bathroom, her cheeks still held a faint blush. Her fingers kept nervously clutching the skirt hem. She didn't dare look up at Jill, her whole body radiating discomfort.

Jill looked at her, her eyes instantly lighting up, her tone full of genuine praise. 'You look beautiful. It suits you perfectly.'

Chloe's face flushed even redder. She hung her head lower, her fingers gripping the skirt hem tighter, even her steps becoming hesitant. At sixteen years old, this was her first time wearing feminine clothing, her first time appearing before someone else like this. An unfamiliar sense of shame intertwined with a secret sliver of joy, making her both nervous and deeply moved.

By the time the two of them walked to Raccoon City's public park, the evening heat had begun to dissipate. The evening breeze carried a faint scent of grass and trees. On the lawn, children chased dogs, laughing and playing. Elderly people sat chatting on benches. Couples strolled slowly along the lakeside path. The sound of cicadas mingled with laughter and chatter—a vivid, warm sense of ordinary life washed over Chloe, a human world she had never experienced before.

Chloe instinctively shrank closer to Jill's side. Her fingers still tightly clutched the skirt hem. Her eyes were wide open as she took in the lively surroundings, filled with both curiosity and timidity. Eight years of imprisonment had almost made her forget what the normal world looked like. The bustling crowd made her instinctively uneasy. She was even more afraid others would notice her dress, notice her awkward discomfort that set her apart.

Jill sensed her nervousness and gently took hold of her cold hand. The warmth from her palm was comforting and firm. 'Don't be afraid,' she said with a smile. 'Just stay with me.'

The warmth transmitted through their joined hands instantly calmed Chloe considerably. Her tense body slowly relaxed. Jill led her to sit on a bench by the lake, then went to a nearby stall and bought a vanilla ice cream cone.

She carefully took a lick. The sweet, cool sensation melted on her tongue, instantly dispelling all her unease. Her eyes lit up immediately. This was the first time in the eight years since her transmigration that she had tasted ice cream. The sweetness spread from her tongue all the way to her heart.

Watching her look like a kitten that had secretly gotten a taste of sugar, her eyes brimming with unconcealable delight, Jill couldn't help but smile. Gazing at the shimmering ripples on the lake, she spoke softly, her tone gentle yet firm. 'Chloe, no matter what's troubling you, no matter what secrets you have, you can tell me. You don't have to carry it all alone. No matter what happens, I won't abandon you. I won't let anyone hurt you.'

Chloe's hand holding the ice cream cone paused slightly. Complex emotions churned within her. She knew Jill had probably long since figured out her identity as the Subject S01, knew about her secretly taking the S01 Inhibitor. Yet Jill had never exposed her, instead protecting and caring for her without reservation.

She even mustered the courage to consider confessing that she was a transmigrator, that she knew Raccoon City would eventually fall, that she knew how this viral disaster would ultimately unfold. But the words reached her lips only to be swallowed back down.

She was afraid. Afraid that once spoken, this sole source of warmth would vanish completely. Afraid Jill would see her as a monster and never protect her again. Afraid the stability and freedom she had finally obtained would instantly turn to bubbles, disappearing without a trace.

In the end, she just lowered her head and said softly, 'Thank you, Sister Jill.'

The setting sun cast its golden afterglow over the two of them, stretching their shadows long, gentle and healing. Chloe slowly relaxed, no longer clutching the skirt hem desperately. She followed Jill along the lakeside path. The evening breeze brushed against her skirt, carrying the faint scent of grass and trees.

Looking at the gently smiling Jill beside her, at the lively, vibrant crowd around them, the corners of her mouth finally lifted into a genuine, relaxed smile.

She knew this peace might only be temporary. The countdown to the apocalypse had long since quietly begun. The threat of the Umbrella Corporation, the virus within her body, the hidden secrets—any of them could shatter this tranquility at any moment. But at least for this moment, she was free. She was being protected with care. She was alive.

And Jill, holding her hand, quietly pressed her other hand against the gun at her waist, her eyes filled with determination. No matter how terrifying the impending catastrophe, no matter how many secrets Chloe held, she would guard this hard-won peace. She would protect this girl who had escaped from hell. She would never let go.