âBreathe, Alice. They canât touch you anymore, Iâm not going to let them.â She doesnât say it out loud, the words remained in her head as she thoroughly checked the lounge. Making sure they wouldnât be bothered. Nadia wasnât one bit surprised at the difficulty Alice was having with stringing a complete sentence together. No doubt thereâs hundreds of questions that needed to be answered.Â
Once she was positive the room was secured, she moved over to the lockers and tucked her knife away in itâs sheathâ before yanking the locker doors open. The first couple had nothing, except for papers and books. Luckily, the last one had a jacket and a pair of pants. Better than nothing. Probably should go find a military surplus store, and Nadia knew there was one down the street at the corner.Â
With the clothes in hand, she made her way back to Alice and concerned blues intently watched the woman for a moment, dread and an ill feeling violently attacking her nerves. Nadia was silent for a moment, mulling over all the options of what she should tell Alice right now as she held out the clothes for the woman to take. Knowing well just dropping everything on her wouldnât do any good, especially in her current condition.Â
âI was leaving work early to go see my brother, when it happened.â A pause, and her features became crestfallen. âRed Queen, the A.I. unit of the underground laboratory where we both worked at⊠she sealed the HIVE, and killed everyone down there. I was on the train when they released the gas on it as well. I saw you⊠and some other guy in the Mansion after I woke up, being taken away by Umbrella.âÂ
âAnd I tried to stop them, but I was too slow, and outnumbered.â
    She takes the clothes offered to her, grateful, and pulls on the jacket. One arm, then the next, removing the paper before pulling the zipper up, up, up, then the pants. Killed everyone. Thereâs that p a n g against, striking a chest like a hot iron. She knew. She didnât want it to be true, sheâd been in denial. But she knew, her gut told her so, and she trusts that more than she trusts the blurred memories that still flash behind her eyes.Â
    A man. Mansion. Right. What was his name? âMatt.â Saying it out loud helped, it wiped a streak of fog away. âHe helped me.â Everyone did. Everyone was. âI have to help him. Even if--â Even if she was already too late before she begun. âI have to try.â She owes Matt that much, and then some. âI find Matt, I find more answers.â
    She goes to step forward, hand reaching out to touch Nadiaâs arm then gently grasp a wrist. âHey,â Gaze meets another, face hardening. âYou got out. You survived. Thatâs so important. Thatâs good. You did good. And you didnât have to come back. But you did. Thank you.â Do you hear that? The sincerity in her voice? She means it.Â