(Floor 20 - 9:25am...)

J-L

Well, here's a question. What are you, what are you supposed to say if someone tells you that you're immune to a virus that turned people into different types of infected? Because, I honestly didn't know.

Now that I'm looking back on this, I'll admit that I found myself remembering a fictional character who had a pretty similar ordeal to my own and... if you've heard of a video game franchise called The Last of Us, then I imagine you'll know who I'm talking about. Though I wasn't able to play the games myself, I've watched multiple playthroughs on YouTube and I related to Ellie for a... quite a few reasons, come to think of it:

1. I was fourteen years old at the time of the first game's release. So technically, if she was a real person, we'd either be the same age or there would be a gap of twenty years between us. Who knows?

2. We're both interested in the artistic side of things. She enjoys reading comic books, whilst I enjoy writing stories and poems. We also enjoy playing video games.

3. Regarding our personalities, I suppose we could be slightly similar? I mean, I remember her actress saying that Ellie probably wouldn't have fit in at school and that was me in a nutshell before I started college, so... maybe?

4. We're both immune to different pandemics.

As for differences, the only one that I could think of was the knowledge that she didn't have autism. Plus, she's romantically interested in girls, whilst I... wasn't a hundred percent sure. I'm going to be honest, this sort of ties in to why I secretly felt nervous about the thought of returning to Old Town. I mean, I was fine with going to Camden's lab to get an MRI done, but...! But Melanie, Rahim and I also had quite a bit of history with that part of Harran. And a quick FYI - you might want to remember that history is supposed to be a key word here. Why? Well...! Argh, you know what? I'm just going to spill the beans another time, because honestly? I'm really scared to do so now.

When I do tell you, I... I hope you'll understand why.

In any case, another reason why I remembered Ellie was because I started to wonder how she must have felt - after she discovered that she was immune. I don't know exactly when she did, but if it wasn't long after what happened to Riley, then... I imagine she probably wouldn't have been excited. If that was the case, then I wouldn't have blamed her. I wasn't particularly impressed with my immunity either, so much so that I started to wonder why some of my lost loved ones couldn't have had the same thing - you know? Why couldn't have they been immune, too?

I know that's a stupid question to ask. And it's like Henry said, you couldn't avoid funerals in Harran...

"Well, uh," Melanie spoke, whilst the two of us ascended the staircase to Floor 20. "That was a weird turn of events, wasn't it?"

"Yeah," I agreed solemnly. "How'd you, how'd you think Jade's doing?"

"I'm sure she's fine," The older girl reassured me, as we turned a left and begun walking down the hallway towards my room. "I mean, she's like the toughest woman here - so, I'm sure she'll resolve whatever's happening between her and... Crane," Oh dear. Her brows then furrowed. "What do you think about him?"

"Oh, he's not bad," I commented kindly. "Once you get to know him, that is," Brilliant timing there, Lib. Since everyone knows he's a GRE operative by now.

If my best friend could sense my thoughts, I couldn't tell. "Okay - I thought I'd ask, because, ah," A concerned frown. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried that he intentionally hurt you,"

I glowered at her with surprise. "No, no, he wouldn't do that," Are you sure? "I mean, I'm not happy that he lied, but he has been good to us. Truly,"

Hearing this, Melanie's eyes softened. "Oh! Well, I'm glad to hear it," Cue a playful nudge. "Wouldn't want anyone messing with my girl and our friends now, would we?"

"No," I giggled shyly, earning an amused chuckle.

Once we both arrived at my base of operations, I decided to place my rucksack by my door and make a quick dash into the small bathroom I had. Okay, first things first. I'll admit that it was another aspect I remember having to adjust to, because I didn't have one in my old house. Silver lining? Probably not, but who knows. It had a small space with the walls painted in white and the floor covered in grey tiles. The left side of the area was home to your average shower and toilet, whilst a single white sink stood proudly on the right.

Simple, but decent.

After turning on one of the latter's taps, I splashed water all over my face and begun to wipe off the blood coating my chin, jaw and neck. Unfortunately, my hopeful expression soon morphed into one of annoyance - when I noticed that I was essentially smearing it everywhere. Seriously?!

"Oh, for god's sake," I muttered under my breath. "Well, at least some of it's off," Now for my teeth.

Bearing this in mind, I pulled out my blue toothbrush from a nearby grey cup holder and squeezed a small amount of toothpaste onto the aforementioned brush. I then inserted the latter into my mouth and started scrubbing away. Okay, toothpaste - please co-operate with me. I hope I'm not asking a lot?

"Lib?" Melanie suddenly caught my attention.

"Hm?" I turned my head to face her.

"Is everything alright?"

I quickly raised a finger. Hold on, Mel...! "Mmh, Mmhmm," Cue me to spit out toothpaste into my sink, and... "Yeah, yeah, everything's fine," A sheepish smile. "I'm just trying to clean myself up. Sorry about this,"

"No, it's okay," She flashed a reassuring grin, before sneaking a glance at a piece of... folded paper she had picked up? Hm, wonder what that is? "So, just a quick FYI - I think Jade might have written something for you," Oh?

"She did?" I asked, whilst I turned off the tap and wiped my jaw over with a grey towel.

"Yeah," Mel answered, placing said letter in the bottom left pocket of her jacket. "I-I haven't opened it or anything, but it's here whenever you're ready,"

"Okay, sure, thank you," I responded in a friendly manner. "Maybe we could have a look at it, after we make a start on the mind-map?" Oooor we can have a look at it now- No. No, listen to Mel. Jade should be okay. Just give her some time.

"Good idea," She commented, just as Rahim limped into the room with a weak grin. "Hey,"

"Hey, Goggles," Melanie's brows furrowed. "Shouldn't you be resting?"

"Yeah," The poor guy chuckled shyly. Aww... "I, uh, I just got bored of everyone arguing - so, I thought I'd come see what you're up to," A concerned glance. "Is everything okay?"

"Course," My best friend reassured him. "We're just about to start drawing a mind-map, because Lib's been remembering a couple of things about this city called Villedor,"

Hearing this, Rahim sent me a worried look. "Flashbacks?"

"Mmhmm," I confirmed his suspicions, clutching my left wrist. "Plus, I feel like I've been to the city - but I can't seem to remember that? If that makes any sense?"

"Course, it does,"

"Yeah," Mel agreed, before addressing him with: "Hey, you want me to grab an extra chair for you? Because I'm just gonna head to my room to get them,"

"Uh, sure, thanks," The older boy answered in an appreciative manner. "Do you think you'll be able to manage carrying two?"

Our mutual best friend scoffed playfully. "Rahim, please don't take this the wrong way - but I can see why you and Lib get along, since you both worry too much," Cue a shared chuckle among the three of us. "And yeah, I'll be fine," A friendly smile. "I'll be back in a flash, okay?"

"Sure,"

"See you in a bit, Mel,"

Once she had left us to it, I... I could have sworn that the atmosphere had changed within seconds. Why? Because Rahim looked like he was beginning to tremble and it didn't help that his breathing had glitched. Bonus points also went to the knowledge that he was avoiding eye contact with me. Oh god.

"Rahim?" I spoke up cautiously. What's wrong?

"Libby," His voice was seconds away from cracking. "L-Look, I-! I'm just gonna make this quick, okay? I want to tell you that...!" An anxious gulp. "I want to tell you that I am so, so, sorry," What?!

"What for?"

"For sending you into the nest," Tears began to brim in his eyes. Oh nononono! "If you had died in there, that would have been my responsibility alone and...!" A slow breath. "It's bad enough that I'm responsible for what happened to Omar...!"

"Omar's death isn't on you," I gently assured him. "We, we couldn't have known what was going to happen and I don't think he knew, either,"

"I know, I know," Rahim responded, deeply upset. "But it still doesn't change the fact that I almost got you killed...!" He furiously wiped his eyes. "I can't lose you, Lib!" Rahim...!

Despite my heart giving a painful lurch, I tried to offer him a soft smile. "I'm still here,"

"What if that changes?" He asked tearfully.

"Hey," I found myself placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'm not planning on going anywhere for a long time now, alright?" An innocent shrug. "I mean, if you ever fancy hiring a wing-woman some day, I wouldn't mind signing up for that,"

"You wouldn't?" My best friend frowned with surprise. Good news, however: he was gradually feeling more at ease. Nice!

"Nope," I answered, smiling. "I think it could be fun helping you find the girl of your dreams," Cue a playful nudge. "You know, one who will put up with your pranks?"

Thankfully, my comment appeared to lift his spirits - because he was chuckling within seconds. Whooo!

I threw my fists in the air with sheer excitement. "Yes! There we go!"

"Okay," The older boy laughed. "Yeah, we'll see what happens," He then somehow managed to catch me off-guard by pointing a finger at me. Woah! "But I hope this means I get to be your wing-man?" Goddamnit.

"Deal," I sighed in defeat, failing to suppress an amused grin. "How did I know you were going to ask me that?"

"Uuuuh - because we've known each other for five months now?" Rahim shot back. Oi! "Accurate," The cheeky smile spreading across his face didn't help in the slightest. "Plus, who else gets to say that they've beaten you in nerf-gun matches?"

"Argh, show-off,"

"You looove it!" My best friend cooed mischievously.

Hearing this, I crossed my arms in a defiant manner and shook my head. "Nope. In your dreams,"

"Oh! Okay. Do you want to know how much I dream about that?" He's just winding you up, Lib. He's pulling your leg. Just play along.

"Noooo?" My brows furrowed with confusion.

"All the time," Dude!

"Oh, shut up!" I playfully nudged him with a scowl, earning a laugh. Annnnd cue a mental reminder to stop letting him pull my leg. That's what's happening here ... right?

"You can keep denying it all you want, Lib," He smirked, influencing me to giggle. "Because we both know that it's the other way round, okay?"

At this point, I was ready to roll my eyes and fire a joke about dumping a water bottle over his face by the time his next birthday came round. Retaliation at its' finest, I might add ... but instead, I found myself freezing in shock. Why? Because during our... conversation? (I think that's what it was), I failed to notice that Rahim had been stepping closer to me and now, our faces were only mere metres apart. Woah! That's a little too close for comfort, there...

"Oh! Well..." I innocently shrugged, forcing a smile on my face to hide the growing anxiety I felt. What's happening? "I kind of want to say that sounds legit?"

"Buuuut?" The older boy titled his head in a curious manner.

"Nothing," I responded shyly. "I genuinely don't know what else to say,"

"Eh, don't worry about it," He reassured me, moments before I caught sight of Melanie returning with two wooden chairs in each hand. Oh! Upon seeing us however, a smirk spread across her face and that only confused me even more - so much so that I found myself rapidly shaking my head and mouthing: "Noooo,"

Mel, I don't know what you're thinking - but whatever it is, it's a big No. Okay?

"Are you okay?" My best friend chuckled, turning round to follow my gaze and spotting the older girl disappear around the corner. "Mel?"

"Don't mind me, lovebirds!" She called out teasingly. Uuuuuh-! "You two just continue flirting!"

Hearing this, I spluttered out a surprised laugh, whilst Rahim unknowingly echoed my thoughts by exclaiming: "What?!" Yeah - I know, right?! Thankfully, I was able to snap myself out of my thoughts by briefly clenching my eyes shut and shaking my head again. Seconds later, I gestured for the older boy to follow me with an amused sigh. "Shall we?"

"Say no more,"

With that, the two of us ventured out of the bathroom and turned a left to join our mutual best friend - who was busy setting up one of the wooden chairs she had brought back. Also, one thing which might be interesting about her? I'm not sure if that was the right way to phrase it (if not, then my bad), but I remember her telling me that she used to work out quite a lot during secondary school - as evident by how muscular she was. So, the fact that she's able to carry heavy objects, such as two chairs, with relative ease is just... wow!

And this is coming from someone who can't hold a machete for more than five minutes, thanks to her gross motor skills. But, I digress.

"You need a hand there?" I asked her, whilst she grabbed the second chair from the floor and started setting it up.

"No, no, I got it," She was quick to reassure me, moments before deciding to change the subject. "So, um, you said you were having flashbacks earlier?"

"I did,"

"Do you remember anything specific about them?" The older girl asked curiously, getting her chair sorted and sitting down.

"Well..." My brows furrowed worriedly, as I perched next to her with Rahim following suit. "Yeah, I mean - the first one happened right after I got bit and...!" Oh god, this is going to be fun to remember. Not. "I'm sort of wondering if the scars on my left wrist have something to do with that, because I saw a needle injecting it," A nervous gulp. "Rather, rather aggressively, I think,"

Hearing this, Melanie grimaced. "Ouch!"

"Yeah," I agreed. "I'm not sure if it, if it was a blood test or something?" Cue a glance at my two best friends. "I mean, they're not usually aggressive, are they?"

"No," The older boy answered. "At least, I don't think so,"

"Yeah, I haven't heard of any doctors or nurses behaving like that," The blonde added, just as I grabbed the pen laying atop my notebook and opened said book to a new page. Huh - I'm assuming Jade must have used this. Okay, fine with me. "So, could you tell who was, um, injecting you?"

"No, I couldn't see who it was," I responded. "But, uh, I'd say that it was a man," Cue a grimace, followed by the realisation that I was subconsciously allowing my anxiety to flare up again. Fuuudge! Why is this happening now?! "Sorry, I'm just going to write this down,"

"It's alright," Mel reassured me, whilst Rahim gently began to rub my upper back with his thumb. Aww...

I took a shaky breath to calm myself down. "Right, okay," Here goes nothing.

VILLEDOR

Multiple injections in left wrist. Not a blood test, because I doubt they're repetitive. Male doctor. Scars still look fresh after... eleven years? What's the doctor's name?

"Heyheyhey, slow down, Lib," A concerned Melanie suddenly caught my attention. "Why are you thinking eleven years?"

"I-I don't know...!" I stammered as I pressed a hand to my temple, which was throbbing in pain. Ooooww! Why can't I remember the doctor's name, for god's sake?! "I think it's just," Cue me swallowing back a sudden wave of nausea. "I think it's another thing my brain's telling me,"

"Okay, so..." The older girl continued. "Eleven years back would be 2006?"

"Yep," Rahim confirmed her suspicions.

Hearing this, her eyes lit up with surprise. What's wrong, Mel? "Right, I think I remember reading an online article about this, uh," A worried frown. "GRE scientist who got fired back then,"

"What would scientists have to do with the GRE?" The Turkish boy asked in a confused manner, whilst I quickly jotted down the new information. 2006. GRE scientist?

"I have no idea," Mel innocently shrugged. "But apparently, they fired him - because he had a hobby of experimenting on kids," It didn't take long for her brows to furrow with disgust. "Kidnapped some of them, too," Experiments. Kidnapping.

A horrified glower painted our mutual best friend's face. "Seriously?"

"Yeah,"

"H-How did he-!" Rahim questioned her. "How did he get caught?"

"A fire broke out in his lab," She answered solemnly. "But, uh, four of the kids thankfully got out of there and they reported him to the cops. One boy and three girls," Fire burnt down his lab. The doctor was reported to the police by a boy and three girls. Who were they?

Just as I finished writing, I could have sworn that my anxiety was slowly kicking into high gear - so much so that a series of visions had struck my mind. I wasn't able to tell exactly what I was seeing, but...! I do remember seeing fire spreading everywhere, a-! A dark-skinned and black-haired teenage girl holding... my hand, during a walk to a police stati-?

Oh my god.

I'm one of the girls, aren't I? Another girl helped me get to a police station.

"Aiden!" So, when I was bailing out of the volatile nest earlier - that was my seven year-old self that I heard. Okay...

"No! Libby! Nooo!" Then, who's this Aiden kid?

Goddamnit, I don't know how much longer I can think about this...!

"Guys?" I tried to speak up in a fearful manner, unaware that my right hand was beginning to twitch. "I-I, I think I'm one of the kids who reported him,"

The brief, astonished silence from my two best friends didn't help at all. Please say something! "I don't know how exactly I ended up in that lab, but there were like...! A dozen other kids there with me a-and-!" Cue another wave of nausea, accompanied by glitched breathing. "He was experimenting on all of us...!"

At this point, I felt like my walls were slowly crumbling by the minute. I was rocking back and forth against my chair, inhaling and exhaling to calm down and violently trembling in shock. I also found myself rolling up my left sleeve and staring at the angry scars on my wrist, almost as if I was desperately hoping I had imagined them. I know, I know, I'm being a dummy. Bonus points go to me thinking: Naaah! You're worrying for nothing again, Libby - you always do!

Except, how is this worrying for nothing?

"Lib, I'm...!" A horrified Melanie decided to break the silence. "I'm so sorry that's happened,"

"Yeah," Rahim agreed sadly, giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze. "I didn't think the GRE would go that far, either - considering what we know, now," His brows contorted in deep thought. "Is there any way we can find out more about this?"

Upon hearing his words, an uneasy glower spread across my face. Oh god. "Yep,"

I'm going to have to ask Crane, aren't I?