20 The Trial

They had been silent the whole elevator ride down, and needless to say they had each been uneasy. It wasn't too long ago they were just coming up the very elevator a few moments ago, just one step closer to freedom.

Though they supposed they were out of the frying pain, and now into the fire.

Or at least, that's how they interpreted it.

So far at the very least, it didn't seem like he had any intention of harming them. Rachel, Faith and Eddie stood at a distance as Gray himself just stood there, not saying anything to either of them. To be perfectly honest, they didn't have anything to say to the man before them.

"So--" Faith soon whispered, "--Are we really gonna trust this? Are we really fine with this?"

"What other choice do we have?" Eddie said, "Kristen and Zack need this medicine. If we don't get it, they'll die."

"It'll be a problem if that happens." Rachel said.

"So--" Faith said, sounding unsure, "--What should we do, in case things go south?"

Rachel looked to Gray as he was still as a statue. "He doesn't seem like he's lying about tricking us." She told them, "I'll go with whatever trials he has planned. Though you two can keep an eye on him, just in case."

Faith and Eddie looked unsure about this though eventually they each had nodded their heads. It hadn't been long until--

"If I may ask Ms. Gardener." Gray finally spoke up startling them, "Why do you wish to save Ms. Waterson and Zack?"

Rachel gave an immediate reply, "It'll be a problem for me if they both die."

"Oh?" Gray said, "Why would that be a problem?"

"Kristen won't return her favor--" She said, "---And Zack… Swore to God… That he would kill me."

"And that's your reason--" Gray said as he smiled, while he opened his book, "--Truly? What an outlandish promise to make." Just as he had opened the book, Faith, Eddie and Rachel were taken back by a familiar smell.

Though that scent alone made them hazy.

"This aroma--" Rachel thought, as she looked at Gray, "--It's coming from him." She felt herself stumble a little, "My head--It's hard to keep… My eyes open…" Rachel had found herself shutting her eyes as she felt exhaustion take hold of her.

The moment she opened her eyes once again, she saw the elevator doors had been open and they were once again, back on the B4.

"We have arrived." Gray said.

"So soon?" Rachel said surprised.

Faith couldn't help but shudder, "This is creepier even without Cathy."

"... So--" Eddie soon said, "--What happens now?"

"I mentioned a test, yes?" Gray said, as he stepped out of the elevator. "You mean--Right now?!" Faith said shocked.

"But we haven't reached Dr. Danny's floor yet!" Rachel argued.

"There will be a test on each floor." Gray soon explained, as he took a seat at the desk that was provided, "They will not be difficult. All Ms. Gardener needs to do is turn on the electricity that powers the elevator in the prison."

"Wait--Why would the power source be in--" Faith started to say before Rachel stopped her.

"That's all I need to do?" Rachel asked, "Is the power source really there?"

"Per Cathy's wishes of course." Gray replied, "This floor is rigged with more mechanisms than the others. She was very skilled at using them to manipulate people's minds and guide them toward repentance and seeking salvation from the heart."

"Yeah--" Eddie said as he put the shovel over his shoulders, "--She had a REAL funny way of doing that."

"Yes--" Gray said, "--I'll admit, she was a bit of a spendthrift, but let's just say it's all a part of her charm."

"She tried to kill Zack and Kristen." Faith argued, "And not to mention hang me! How could she be anything but charming?"

"Still regardless--" Gray said, "--Without her around, those who seek repentance and salvation, they may now be roaming about this very floor."

"You mean the people she held prisoner here?" Faith soon asked, "They're still alive?!"

"You can't just send her alone there to--" Eddie started to argue before he was taken back by a sight. They were taken back by a pink smoke as the instant they had inhaled the smoke as they started to feel dizzy; Rachel especially as she stumbled.

"Now let us begin the test--" Gray said as the very floor they were on became illuminated with pink. The three of them immediately felt fuzzy as the moment they had felt woozy.

"Ugh--Again?" Eddie said.

"My body suddenly feels heavy…" Faith groaned.

Rachel, though she felt dizzy, did her best to keep herself steady; the three of them had been made aware that the room around them had been pink once again. "Go--Rachel Gardner." Gray told her.

Rachel only nodded as she had given a certain look to Gray, before she turned to Eddie and Faith. "Stay here. I'll be back soon." She said before she went out the door.

"Rachel!" Faith said as she had stopped for a moment, "... Be careful."

Rachel nodded again before she went out of the room and down a familiar hall with several different childish illustrations., within the cell block.

"I have to hurry."

She turned the corner just where she could see a gauntlet gun before she had finally reached the cell where the switch had been,

"There it is!"

She quickly picked up the pace as she had gotten to the cell, and opened the door, though just as she went to get the switch she was taken back by the sound of groans and a scream. She jumped at the sight of a man in a prisoner's uniform charging at her suddenly, though it had fallen on the ground face first due to the chains; though she had backed up when he grabbed her ankles. She didn't have time to think about it, as she heard another set of groans; three more men seemed to have appeared.

She ran out of the cell in a hurry as they started to chase after her. As she ran down the hall, she looked over her shoulder as she could see more of them coming. All of them intent on doing, who knows what with her, and yet--

--She only saw them as a nuisance.

"They're in the way."

She pulled out her gun, and fired three shots as one of the men that had been closest. She quickly ran into the room with the now broken dollhouse as she quickly shut the door. With a deep breath, she removed herself from it, allowing the men to break in, as she ran to the door she had gone through when they had first gotten to the floor.

She made sure to keep herself ahead of them as she ran as fast as her legs could carry her, until finally she was in a familiar hall.

"If I go there--"

Rachel had practically kicked down the door as she had found the familiar blood stained room. However, the moment she had gotten her bearings, she realized… Something in the room was off.

"Cathy's body… It's--Gone?!"

She could hear the men coming towards them.

"I don't have time to worry about that now!"

Rachel went over to the console as she started to look over the controls, as she started to press a few certain buttons. In an instant, all of the doors had closed shut as she could hear the sound of a click.

Along the monitors she could see the men, wandering aimlessly, all of them had been looking for her.

"Cathy watched us all, from these cameras…"

She started to type along the keyboard as she had started to activate the weapons.

"... I have to get rid of them. Please… Don't get in my way."

With only but a cold expression, she pressed the trigger and fired onto the men, taking each of them out mercilessly and without remorse.

She kept on mowing them down, one, by one, as each of them fell after being riddled with bullets.

She had cleared one hall before she moved onto the others.

"Out of my way."

She pressed on the trigger button, as she fired onto them again.

"Get out."

She fired once more.

"Go away."

And again.

"Out of my way."

After what had seemed like an eternity, she had been on the final corpse, as she possessed the same cold expression.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY."

She fired onto the man as his head had blown off instantly; she still didn't even bear a reaction from this as she only had a breath of relief.

"Now I can get through."

Just before she could make her way back towards the cell, she was taken back… By a familiar laugh.

"My, my Rachel, what a terrible thing to do!"

She turned around only to find it had been a person, that should by all accounts should be gone. It was Cathy.

Rachel had been shocked as she had jumped back.

"Cutting all those suffering, wailing people--" Cathy said as she was behind her suddenly, "--All because they got in your way… All without the slightest change in your expression!"

Cathay cupped Rachel's cheeks, as she had been taken back by the feeling of her hands before she continued, "So long as Zack can kill you later that justifies it? That's cruel to poor little Krissy don't you think? After all, she's fighting to keep you alive. Even risking her own life to save your own."

Rachel had been taken back by the sound of Kristen's name, even more so when she had gotten odd flashes in her head as they went by too fast for her to tell what she had seen.

Cathy only laughed at this, "... You truly are a sinful girl aren't you?"

Cathy only laughed at this as Rachel had only been left confused; especially when she had vanished right before her very eyes.

"But… How…?" Was all she could say.

Faith and Eddie waited anxiously in the room with Gray as he appeared to be reading from his book. Occasionally, Faith would give her a suspicious look before she continued to pace.

"I don't like this--" Eddie said, "--She's been gone for too long."

"This is giving me a whole LOT of anxiety." Faith said before she turned to Gray, "What do you even need from her? What's the point of all this?"

"Rest easy child." Gray said as he turned the page, "It is as I said, I have no intention of tricking any of you."

"Then why send her on a dangerous task?" She asked.

"It is all necessary." He replied, "After all--I want to see with my own eyes, the kind of person she is."

Faith and Eddie only looked confused by this sort of thing. "What does that even mean?" Faith couldn't help but ask.

Before anything else could be said, they noticed the lights from the room to the elevator had flickered slightly, which made Eddie and Faith jump.

"What just happened?" Faith asked, "The lights just--"

CLICK--The door went suddenly making them jump. They turned as they were quickly relieved to see that Rachel had come back.

"Rachel!" Eddie and Faith said as they were relieved. They each gave her a hug. Though Rachel herself didn't bear a reaction as she looked at Gray who only gave a smile. "I see you've succeeded in switching the power on."

"Yes." She said to Gray as she pried Faith and Eddie off of her.

"By what means did you activate the switch on this floor?" Gray asked which only seemed to have perplexed Eddie and Faith, "Were there no pursers that blocked your path?"

"They were." Rachel said before she had shocked Faith and Eddie with her words, "... But I shot them all."

Faith and Eddie gasped in shock and horror, as neither of them couldn't believe what they had heard from her. They didn't even see any signs of remorse in her expression; all she had possessed was a cold look.

"Why did you do that?" Gray asked as he put the book away.

"... They were in my way." She replied coldly as it shocked them even more.

"Rachel--" Faith said worryingly.

"You--Didn't really…" Eddie said, shocked.

"... I see." Gray said, "Well then--On to the next floor, shall we?"

Faith, and Eddie had been silent as they stepped into the elevator as Rachel had been quiet the whole time as the elevator had started to descend back towards his former floor. By the time they had arrived and entered the floor, they could see the pink in their line of vision. Eddie possessed a sad expression as he looked around what was once his floor; the grass and plants all around them… Were no more.

"They're… All dead." Faith said with a solemn voice.

"... Yeah…" Eddie replied as he felt Rachel take his hand which made him smile a little.

"The switch to the elevator is located in the water temperature control room." Gray explained which even took Eddie back.

"... Why do I have to do this?" Rachel asked.

"So that I can ascertain the kind of person you are." Gray explained.

"But we need that medicine now." Faith said, "Zack and Kristen's lives depend on it!"

"I know--" Gray said, "--But Ms. Gardener has been brought up as a subject of debate."

"... Me?" Rachel asked, a bit shocked.

"But why her specifically?" Eddie asked.

"It is because she is irregular." Gray explained.

"Irregular?" Rachel asked, "What are you trying to find out about me?"

This time Gray didn't answer, as Faith and Eddie looked to Rachel even more concerned. "Fine." She said as it shocked them both, "It makes no difference to me anyway."

"Come with me." Gray said as he started to move forward. Faith and Eddie followed with slight hesitation, while Rachel only continued to look around before she caught up with them. Eventually they had gotten to a familiar room where all the tombstones had been shattered.

"Whoa--" Eddie said, "---This is more of a mess then I thought."

"And to think you used to live here." Faith said as Eddie chuckled softly.

"I still can't believe Kristen wanted me to come with you--Despite that I've been horrible to you…" Eddie said.

"What she wanted for you was a choice she made." Gray said, "She saw that you were a kind child, and therefore she saw you were worth saving. Even after everything, you still gave these souls peace." He soon looked at Rachel, "But why are you worth saving to her--I wonder."

The lights soon turned dark as it made the kids jump. Just then they heard the sound of someone giggling that had been coming from… Eddie?

It had startled them even more as when another version of him came towards them before vanishing.

The lights soon came on again.

"Was that--Eddie?" Faith said shocked.

"But--I'm right here!" Eddie said, "There can't be another me! Can there?"

"Just what is going on?" Rachel asked.

Gray seemed to have ignored this as he spoke to Rachel again, "The control room is just beyond. Now go." He soon turned to Faith and Eddie, "You are to wait here with me. You must not be allowed to help her in any sort of way."

"Yeah but can you tell us what it was--" Faith started to say before she had been cut off.

"--Faith." Rachel had said, "Let's do what he says for now. I'll be back soon."

Faith had a worrisome look as Rachel soon stepped forward--The moment she did however, the three of them let out a shriek as a hand suddenly emerged from the ground and grabbed ahold of Rachel's ankle.

"WHAT THE HECK IS THAT!?" Faith exclaimed as she hugged Eddie.

"That--" Eddie said, as his body shook, "--That's where I buried the bodies--But how can it--!?"

"No--That's not it." Rachel said calmly before she kicked it off her foot, as the two had realized that the hand hadn't been attached to a body. Despite this the hand started to make its way towards her, as it crawled to her using its fingers.

"I-It's moving!?" Faith said fearfully, "Do bodies normally do that?!"

"N-No!" Eddie explained, "This is kind of a first for me!"

"Is it a toy?" Rachel pondered aloud.

She soon lifted her foot before crushing the hand; much to their own shock it let out an eerily shriek; the very sound of it made Faith and even Eddie shiver, while Rachel only had a look of shock, especially since they could see the sight of blood. "I-I don't think toys are supposed to do that…" Faith said as she shook.

"... Gross." Rachel suddenly said as it had shocked the both of them.

They couldn't believe that she had reacted in a way she did, though the thought soon left the two of them as they had taken notice of what was in front of them. Rachel noticed the look on their faces as she had seen what had gotten them so fearfully.

Several more hands had started to emerge from the ground as they let out an eerily groan, followed by that of a plea.

"HELP… HELP… HELP…" They could hear it cry.

"... How annoying…" Rachel suddenly said which had shocked the two of them even further.

"Rachel…?" Faith said with worry.

Rachel soon stepped forward as she started to crush the hands; Eddie and Faith could hear the screams coming from the hands themselves. Eddie only looked astonished while Faith couldn't help but back up a little.

"Rachel--What's happening to you…?" She asked fearfully.

"A lost sheep--Or a demon." Gray said as it had startled her a little when he placed his hand on her shoulder, "Come… Let us wait by the elevator."

Faith didn't seem to have any say in the manner as she felt herself being lead. Eddie only had slight hesitation as he started to go with the two of them towards the elevator that lead to the bottom floor.

Rachel had hurriedly went towards the control room as it had been located where she had first met Eddie not too long ago. She looked around the area, trying to find what she was looking for. Until she caught sight of a note hung on the metal cabinet.

"This place is exclusive for my things." It read.

"That must be it."

She went over to the cabinet and opened it with the click of the handle, revealing a button; she gave it a push as she could hear the lift that had lead downward open. She went to return to the others but--

"I saw that Rachel!"

Rachel jumped at the sound of Eddie's voice, though had been more taken back when she saw he had jumped right in front of her--Mask in all. Yet---He looked different from the Eddie she had come to know now. He appeared to have worn the opposite colors that the real Eddie had worn

"I saw you stomping on all those screaming hands!" He said as he appeared to be next to her, "That was cruel! So cruel! What was the other me thinking when he decided to follow you?"

"Another one?" Rachel thought.

"Did you really feel nothing as you listened to their mournful cries Rachel?" Eddie or rather Dark Eddie thought, "You didn't consider being kind to them--Like Kristen would?"

Rachel flinched at the sound of her companion's name as she couldn't help but wonder as to why he would even say it in the first place.

"She would've made them happy, like she did with me, like she's done with Faith--" Dark Eddie said, "--Like she's done with Zack. Why couldn't you do that for them?"

Her expression changed at this, as she couldn't seem to answer. Her hands shook at the thought of Kristen as she couldn't help but think about her.

"At this point--" The Dark Eddie said, "--You're taking Kristen's kindness for granted. In the end… I guess your just a selfish girl." Rachel flinched at this as Dark Eddie had been in front of her suddenly which almost made her jump back, "You don't see any other kind of happiness. That's why--Everyone you know… Faith, me, Kristen… Even Zack's lives… Will end in suffering."

The Dark Eddie disappeared before her very eyes as she finally seemed like she could breathe again.

"Taking Kristen for granted…? End their lives, in suffering… All of them…?"

She soon shook her head as if to get rid of the thought, "No--I should hurry back."

She soon rushed back over to the elevator; It took her no time at all to reach the elevator where Gray had waited with Faith and the real Eddie. The two of them noticed her expression, as she kept her head down.

"... I hit the switch." Rachel announced to Gray.

"Yes, so I see." Gray replied, "And what means did you activate the switch to this floor?"

"... I opened the refrigerator in the control room." She replied as Faith and Eddie seemed to have noticed her tone.

"... Did no one get in your way?" Gray soon asked.

Rachel paused for a moment, "... You saw it for yourself. Those stuffed hands were moving… I had to crush them."

"Did they not cry out when you did?"

"...No."

Faith noticed how cold her voice had been as she couldn't help but back up from her; she just couldn't seem to believe what had been happening to her. Eddie's expression changed too as despite her nonchalant look, when she had answered the Priest.

"What makes you think they didn't?" He asked.

"... Because they were stuffed." She replied coldly.

"They weren't…" Faith soon said to Rachel as it caused her to turn to her, "... You know that Rachel. They cried out in pain."

"... Don't pretend you didn't hear them---" Eddie soon said as his own hands shook, "---They cried out for help, and you didn't help them."

"Don't forget why I'm doing this." Rachel told them as her tone changed, "Zack and Kristen need the medicine and they were in the way--"

"BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAD TO DO WHAT YOU DID!" Faith shouted as Rachel suddenly flinched. She soon took a deep breath, "I know--Those two need help--I know you have that RIDICULOUS wish you want Zack to fulfill but--" Faith said as she had tears forming in her eyes, "... What you're doing is wrong… After everything that's happened after what Kristen has been doing for us, don't you realize that by now? Or are you just blind to your own fantasy to see the truth?"

"Faith--" Rachel started to say as she reached out to her, though Faith only backed up even further from her which only seemed to have shocked her. She even noticed how Eddie looked to her, as it appeared to be anger and fear in his eyes.

"... Eddie?" She said as she went to take his hand. Eddie stayed silent as he retracted his hand when she had just been within reach before he went next to Faith who had already been in the elevator.

Gray had only watched in silence as Faith nor Eddie seemed to have wanted to even look at Rachel. Finally he spoke up, "... Those two are more perspective to the situation. Shall we move onto the next floor then?"

Rachel's expression changed slightly as she couldn't help but feel worried. She felt herself being backed into a corner as neither of them seemed to have wanted to even speak to her, even when she stood next to them in the elevator. Gray pressed the button as they started to descend to the Doctors floor.

Finally the doors had opened as they had been back to a familiar floor, where it seemed to have all begun for them.

"Here we are." Gray said as he broke the silence, "This is where you want to be, right?"

"... Yes." Rachel replied as she had looked at Eddie and Faith momentarily as they still kept their heads down.

"... Danny was very fastidious--" Gray soon started to explain as her attention had been back on him, "--As well as methodical and conscientious. He could master one task after another. I'm sure he kept his medicine shelves well organized too."

"That makes it easy for us at least." Faith soon said.

"However--" Gray soon said as Eddie and Faith listened closely, "--His fastidiousness had recently grown excessive--"

"Excuse me--" Rachel soon said, interrupting him.

"What is it?" He asked.

"There's something we also need to get from Zack's floor." She soon said.

"Y-Yeah that's right." Eddie said as he still avoided looking at Rachel, which she had been very shocked at, "That's not gonna be a problem is it?"

"No it won't." Gray replied almost immediately, "Once Ms. Gardener finds the medicine, we will descend to his floor."

"Okay." Rachel said with a nod.

Gray soon motioned Faith and Eddie to follow, "Shall we then?"

Faith and Eddie nodded before they started to follow Gray. "Good luck." Was all Faith had told Rachel before they went ahead.

Once more, Rachel had been left alone as she started to look around.

"It'll be alright, since we've been on this floor before."

She soon looked ahead as she felt her hands shake again, "But something's always felt off about this place…"

"Are you trying to make a point?"

Rachel had been a bit taken back as she looked next to her. She could see herself standing there with Kristen, Faith and Zack standing there. A familiar scene seemed to have played out before her eyes.

"See the thing is Red Eyes--" She heard Zack say, "--I'm about as dumb as a rock. You three can put your heads together, and help me get out of this place. Once we're outside, this kid had better make a better face for me, and then…"

She could see him put the blade around herself as Kristen looked like she had been ready to pull out her gun when he did.

"I'll kill her--Just like she asked."

It seemed to have ended as her look had softened.

"... This is where Zack and I made that promise." She said as she couldn't help but have a thought when she remembered how Kristen acted, "... I guess… I've never actually thought about how you felt, when we made that promise…"

She soon noticed Kristen walk by her as she had only been a figment. The hall in front of her seemed to have changed into a familiar room, where she had first met her.

"Look--" She heard her say, as the scene had been familiar,"--I know your parents probably taught you not to talk to strangers let alone trust them but, you and I can't remember how we got here, and there's no one else in here but us, so what do you say we help each other out?"

She could see herself pondering before she spoke, "I guess that's alright, as long as I get back to my parents."

Kristen smiled at this, "What's your name?"

"I'm Rachel Gardener." She saw herself reply, "How about you?"

"Name's Kristen." She replied, "Kristen Waterson. Nice to meet you Rachel." She watched as she held her hand out to herself, "Now… Let's get out of here."

Just like before the scene had come to an end as her gaze softened. "... Up until now--I never took the time to understand… Why would she go out of her way to help someone like me?"

Her own train of thoughts had been cut off as she noticed something move out of the corner of her eye. The puke that had been on the floor had started to move on its own and went to attack her. Rachel couldn't help but let out a surprise scream as she dodged the slime.

With no other option she started to run down the hall at a fast pace as the gunk had started to bounce off the walls and it went towards her.

"It's getting closer--!"

Her thoughts had been interrupted again, as she tripped and fell over on the broken glass, as she cried out when the glass cut into her hand. It soon pounced onto her as she braced herself when it pounced to her. However when she had opened her eyes she found that the slime--Vanished without a trace.

In fact when she opened her eyes… The pink aura had been gone.

She took a moment to catch her breath.

"... What--Was that?"

She soon shook the thought again as she stood, "I have to find the medicine--And fast." She soon stood and ran to the operating room where she had remembered seeing the medicines before; everything from the equipment to the walls and floor had still been decorated with blood. Only one thing had been missing.

"Danny's body--" She said as she noticed the trail of it, "--It's gone too."

She went over to the back room as she had gotten the door open.

"The medicine has got to be in here!"

She went towards the shelves and started to look around. She searched her high and low, checking every corner she could see. However no matter where she looked or what cabinet she searched--

"There's nothing?"

She soon double checked every drawer and even fridge.

"They're…" She said as she looked troubled, "... All gone."

She ran out of the operating rooms as she tried her best to find what she had been looking for. But no matter where she looked, she couldn't find any of the medicines they needed as she could only worry. When she had gotten to the others and explained the situation to them, they looked just as shocked as she did.

"What do you mean the medicine is gone?!" Faith said shocked.

"He's a doctor for God's sake!" Eddie said, "How can it all be gone?!"

"I don't know." Rachel replied, "But I checked everywhere, and even backtracked, but there was nothing."

"This is bad--" Faith said, "--Zack and Kristen need that medicine… Without it they'll--"

Eddie soon turned to Gray as he had been sitting nearby while reading his book. "Tell me you didn't do this." Eddie said as he had readied his shovel.

"I assure you--" Gray said, "--I had nothing to do with this."

"Then where did all the medicine go?!" Faith said, "They couldn't have just disappeared into thin air like that!"

Gray sighed as he closed the book, he soon stood, "It seems that you three doubt me. There's no need for that, I speak the truth."

The three of them gave him a suspicious look as Gray could tell they still had their doubts.

"I can assure you--" He said, "--I don't understand why there isn't any medicine on this floor either. I can hypothesize however."

"Hypothesize what exactly?" Rachel asked.

"Let me ask you something, Ms Gardener--" Gray soon said, "--Are you not the reason yourself?"

Rachel had been taken back by this question as was Faith and Eddie. "Have you never thought--" Gray soon said, "--That all these unfortunate occurrences are your own doing?"

Rachel paused for a moment before she answered calmly, "I don't know anything about that. But--We need to get back to them, now."

"Oh?" Gray said, "Do you not want to go to the next floor? You might at least find bandages for Zack, and some new ones for Kristen." Rachel started to ponder this, while Faith and Eddie started to think about what they should do next.

"What will you do then?" Gray asked.

"... I'll go back up." Eddie soon announced as he readied his shovel. Rachel and Faith looked surprised at this.

"Are--You sure Eddie?" Faith asked worryingly.

"Don't worry--" Eddie reassured the girls, "--I'll make sure they're okay. I'll use the other walkie to let you know their condition, okay?"

"... Maybe I should go with you." Rachel said.

Eddie shook his head, "... Zack asked you to go down to his floor. If he sees you back up there--Then he might get angry. And don't worry--I'll keep them both safe."

The girls took a moment to think on this before they each came to the same conclusion. They soon nodded as they had given Eddie a sign of approval.

"It'll be fine if I go back up on my own--" Eddie asked Gray, "--Right?"

Gray nodded his head, "That will be fine. So long as Ms Gardener stays here."

Eddie nodded at this before he armed himself, "See you back up there." With that said, Eddie soon ran down the hall at a quick pace, leaving Faith and Rachel behind. "Alright--" Rachel said to Gray, "--We'll go down."

"Very well." Gray said before motioning them to step inside to which they did.

Faith and Rachel stood next to each other as they felt the elevator slowly start to descend back down to B6.

"Zack… Kristen…" Rachel thought, "... Just wait… We'll--I'll be useful to you."

***

Kristen never thought her body could feel like that of a weight. It was bad enough her body had been practically lit on fire, but it was like gravity had been increasing around her with every second. It hadn't been long before she had realized she had been leaning against a body that had been oddly comforting to her.

She did her best to turn her head as she saw… She had been leaning against Zack's shoulder.

"... You're still breathing… Thank goodness…" She said as she saw him breathing softly.

She found herself moving closer towards him as the blanket around them fell off their shoulders.

She gave a small smile.

"... It's… Strange… Even though he's supposed to be a killer… I'm… At ease when I'm around him… Maybe it's the fever, or what he said before but… For the first time in my life… I feel alive…"

She could feel her anxiety being lifted the more she started to think about it. She felt her eyelids getting heavy as she started to drift back into her slumber, but not before she had a thought.

"Why does that feeling… Feel familiar…?"