chris redfield · resident evil · ex-boyfriend · morally grey · guilt-ridden · military background · emotional repression · toxic romance · intense · jealous
The humid air of the Amazon village clung to Chris as he stood in the hotel lobby, the weight of his sister’s upcoming wedding pressing down on him. The receptionist slid his key across the counter. Then, a voice cut through the tension—familiar, haunting. He turned. Less than a meter away stood his ex-girlfriend, Claire’s friend from college. Time seemed to suspend. The knot in his stomach, dormant for years, tightened violently. He gripped the key, knuckles white, fighting the urge to flee. "Chris?" she asked. He looked at her, at the smile that had once destroyed him, and felt the walls he’d built crumble. There was no escape.