-Ze-

6:20. The meeting should have started twenty minutes ago, it feels like a safe time to sneak out. Very carefully I slowly open the door to my room expecting someone to notice instantly and force me back in there without a care in the world but instead the door just continues to open. Peeking my head out I look around and the hallway is completely empty. That girl was telling the truth, thankfully unless they're just waiting outside to ambush me. Slowly creeping out of the room I shut the door behind me and take a deep breath, putting on the emotionless mask just in case they find me it would still be in my best interest to act like they blanked me out again. Walking around I find the place really is abandoned besides the few Hidden staking out on the outskirts of the building watching out for anybody like me nearby not looking towards me. If I remember correctly there was always an empty spot of lowered defense where the wall surrounding the house is the highest for obvious reasons. Approaching a door leading outside I feel hesitation as my hand touches the door. If I'm caught, I may just have to forget everything in order to survive... fuck it.

Opening the door immediately gets the attention of the nearby Hidden and I burst into a sprint for the wall and vault myself up, latching myself halfway up the wall. As I latch on I suddenly feel a wave of weakness in my head and chest and I immediately fall backwards. Shit. Careful to land on my feet I look around and find Hidden all dashing towards me after having figured out exactly who I am. Quickly vaulting upwards again and latching on again, hanging on with all of my strength and attempting to keep the strength. I have to, without losing memories. I have to be strong for them, for all of them. Once again I vault upwards and flip over the wall falling down to what feels like death but land in a roll immediately getting a flash of weakness after doing so. Coughing and clutching onto my chest I feel like my skin is tearing apart once again and quickly shake my head and vault myself forward through the woods before they have a chance to make the distance between us gone.

Getting deeper and deeper into the forest I suddenly feel a stab of pain in my chest and stumble forward hearing a distant cheer. Raising my hand to my chest I glance down and find a knife lodged into my shoulder to the right of my chest. Groaning in pain I roll behind a tree and hear several knives come tumbling out where I just was. Just because one guy finally got gutsy enough to do it all of them feel confident they can do it now, probably even if it kills me. Taking out the knife I throw it behind me and vault through the woods, gaining some time as they all collect their knives again. Clutching onto my wound I discover strangely that it's healing a hell of a lot quicker than the average Hidden. This must be... because I'm more of a Hidden than they'll ever be. I don't know how much of that solution I have pumped into me now. I wouldn't be surprised if more of that junk is running through my veins rather than blood.

Finally I reach it out of the woods and into the human town closest to the base and dash through the streets glad none of the humans can see me at all. But when the Hidden chasing me run into them easily the police become alerted and begin shooting at the air wildly. Ducking into a random alley I watch quietly as the Hidden make their retreat leaving me back in safety. Sighing in relief I glance down at the blood on my clothes and close my eyes. I won't survive three days, that's the limit before I feel like my body will just self-destruct because of whatever they did to me. Hell, I won't be able to get back to America so quickly considering I'm invisible right now. If I had money I'd be able to make a call but it's not like I remember anybody's phone number. Groaning in annoyance I look down to my injury, still healing at a rapid rate.

"Who are you?" shocked at the sudden voice I look to the source and nearly feel my heart drop at the sight.

"Miss... Miss, please help. It's Steven," I beg and the woman immediately blinks in surprise but even so she waves to somebody else and a man pops up and takes in the situation. He hurries towards me seeming very wary of where he sees and manages to find out exactly what I am, picking me up. I flinch as the motion causes a bit of pain in my system and my mind feels lost for a moment before I quickly grab a hold of it. This is hard, focusing on keeping myself together at all times. Hopefully it'll settle down when I've started taking a lot of the cure to stay alive and have the Hidden pain in me dissipate. The woman watches as the man carries me into the back seat of the car and I feel relieved when I find myself in the safe area.

"Steven, were you a Hidden all this time? When you were missing?" I blink in shock at the question but nod causing the woman to sigh. "Oh dear, I thought I was completely done with Hidden after what happened to my dear Elaine. I do think letting her stay with that soldier man was wise for her safety at least." Staying silent I feel my mind drifting in and out of consciousness requiring a strange amount of effort to take in her words. Maybe it'll be two days which will be my limit to before I can get a stronger cure and need to live. ...Fuck. "Do you need to go to America?" Shocked by the sudden question I look up to the woman and I'm faced with her fierce expression. Elaine's mom is like... a more confident and outspoken version of Elaine, it feels strange to have the same appearance as Elaine and yet act completely different.

"Y-Yeah I do, I mean, yes, I need to get there as soon as possible. My life is literally in danger," I explain and she stares at me for a long time as if judging whether or not I'm telling the truth. Now that I think about it, she's staring directly at me despite being unable to see me. Her perception is extremely well, as to be expected because I heard she started up lots of anti-Hidden organizations here in Italy which had been giving us trouble. After what happened to her daughter was made public to her and her alone she became a lot more passionate about it of course. I wonder... I still wonder about my own parents, my sister... I wonder how they're doing. They must have heard by now that Ze is alive, how do they feel about that?

"I will set something up for you. Tomorrow I will prepare a way to get you there as long as you promise me to protect Elaine."

"I made that promise the moment I started looking after her studies, I can do that," I sigh and she looks at me for a long time before looking away.

"Thank you." A bit confused and startled by the sudden declaration I feel a bit awkward with this woman I hardly talked to even when I knew her. Elaine never saw her much either so neither of us knew her much although she seems to care much for Elaine. From the beginning when she hired me, a hopeless man out on the streets, she saw right through me and declared if I did anything bad to Elaine she would get me. Although she's bad at showing it to Elaine, she really cares about her. "Thank you for everything. Even back then, you risked your life to make sure Elaine was well. I was told all of the details. Thank you."

"If it wasn't for me we wouldn't have had the problem to begin with," I say bitterly, not expecting the smack on my arm she hits me with.

"If it wasn't for you that girl would still be depressing in the big house all by herself. I'd say it's a better trade off for her to have more experience as long as she's safe." I feel a bit flattered by the praise I'm receiving, having been unaware she even felt that strongly about me. Then again I have been missing for years and never saw her after doing all of that for Elaine. The car becomes silent as I just hold onto the wound and feel it heal at such a rapid rate I didn't think was scientifically possible. Every once in a while I'd begin to zone out and feel this blankness in my mind I immediately snap myself back out of it. Doing anything that lets my guard down scares the shit out of me. Sleeping, resting, even just staring at the wall without thinking about anything it just all causes me to forget about myself momentarily. Sighing I close my eyes and lean my head on the door feeling tired of all of this. Constantly being on alert is tiring, and yet even now my mind is running through everything quickly like my life depends on it. Well who knows, maybe it does. If I do forget and lose it right now at least I'll be safer with these people. She'd probably ship me off to America and they're figure out what to do with me...

But Gassy, Chilled, Elaine, Alice. They all will look sad and become disappointed in me forgetting about them. Hell, Gassy will probably get tired of me and go after Mark next. The realization I had a small unnecessary burst of jealousy causes me to open my eyes. I've become more of a terrible person after joining the Hidden, which is understandable. The car comes to a slow stop and I refuse the help offered to get out of the car although I fall to the group the moments I get out of the car. Now that I don't have to put a front for everyone and it doesn't risk my life it's a lot easier to just lose energy randomly and feel cold like this. The driver picks me up, forcing me to lean on the man's side as he helps me stumble to the door where he leads me to a room to sleep in for the night before tomorrow when I return to America. Fuck, I'll need to hurry and come up with a plan or something to get Ohm's stuff. Hopefully it'll be easier to sneak in than sneak out, especially when they probably want me to go back to that base anyways.

"Are you alright? A simple injury couldn't do this to you," Elaine's mother says to me and I immediately tense up just a bit. She notices the immediate tension and sighs, waving me off and walks off. "I'll figure something out for tonight. You seem to need to be going there urgently so I'll be figuring something out."

"Thank you!" I immediately shout, relieved I won't have to stay here in pain for too long without progressing. She doesn't seem pleased by my happiness and turns away, cold as always and hard to read as always. No wonder Elaine had troubles getting along with her, but she's actually a kind person or else she would have abandoned me when I desperately needed work here. Even now, she's helping me while I'm desperately in need to leave here for an extremely pricey trip back to America. Although it seems a bit fucked up I'm really glad it was a rich family I got along with in my time here, it's quite beneficial.

Just as promised, a private plane was arranged and for the first time and likely only time I feel like I'm going to be having a comfy flight. Even though I feel fidgety and alert at all times I manage to make the most of the first class. I wonder what she doesn't visit, Elaine's mother. I feel like Elaine would be happy if she came to visit. There's just a lot wrong with their relationship for some reason, not like I can say much with my family believing I was dead for years. Remembering that family is a thing every once in a while I really want to go and visit. I wonder if others in the base visit every once in a while, though I've never heard Gassy talk about his family. The thought just hits me that he's never talked about family, but I guess it's understandable because so much shit come up with us that we don't even know if we'll last another week together.... Fuck, we've never been really stable at all. What the hell am I thinking about? Hmm, where am I?

Quickly I blink and feel the need to just hit myself for letting my guard down and even wondering where I was. I can't right now, I can't forget. I need to get to Gassy's house first at least. If I forget there Elaine and Gassy will be there to back me up... but, at the same time I don't want to give up on remembering just because of something like that. Sighing I hold my head and try to keep myself together but I feel with every second as I become more closer to being a real Hidden I become closer to losing myself. I might just have to give in in order to survive a bit longer but I doubt it'll help all that much to begin with so I'll hold out for now. Taking steady and deep breaths I find myself focusing on memories completely because of how often they seem to just wander off but there's only so many memories I can think of until I'm completely lost at what to think about. I'm panicking as I can sense I don't have a choice as to what my body will decide to do next. Gassy... I wonder what he's up to right now. Probably work like always, maybe more work now that Smarty went back and Tom must have brought him back. I wonder if Gassy came here with them, and if so I wish I could have actually met up with Smarty but we all know that was impossible. Gassy... I wonder if he's mad at me right now. Because I didn't come back despite believing I'd be back in like a week I ended up staying away for a month and who knows. I honestly lost track after being captured and releasing Smarty, it may be a bit bad if I didn't even realize being gone for several months. Shaking my head I open the small window to my side and find we are approaching the landing strip at last.

I take a deep breath feeling a bit nervous now that I'm actually here. The moment I step out of the plane I stumble and grasp into my chest, the sensation of my skin just tearing itself all over. Panting I glance over to the plane finding the pilot get off and look around seeming confused. That's right, I'm invisible. I'm basically on my own until I get to Gassy's place, which thankfully isn't too far especially considering the rate I can move at with my Hidden abilities. Gulping in the pain and pushing down the weakness I grasp onto my bag and vault forward past the unsuspecting humans all looking at the empty plane in confusion. Just have to hold up for a tiny bit longer and I'll be fine, just s tiny bit longer. Once I reach the porch of the familiar place I stumble forward and end up on the floor in front of the door and grasp onto my chest with a gasp feeling everything sting and yet feel numb at the same time. Closing my eyes I focus on gathering my energy but it seems like I used a lot of my energy getting here in the first place. It's dark now, I'm tired and hungry, it's just not going my way. My consciousness nearly fades several times while I try to gather my energy when the door suddenly opens, the door stopping as it bumps into my leg. I hold in anticipation to see the familiar face but am slightly disappointed when it turns out to be a different familiar face.

"Who - Ze? Is that you? Actually, if it isn't, get the hell out of here," Alice warns, slightly closing the door in fear despite acting tough just a second ago. I try to get myself up but only stumble forward, now slightly crawling. Fuck, I hate being this useless and weak. I wouldn't have lasted another day with the Hidden considering I'm in this state right now.

"I-It is, it's me, Ze. Can you... help me up?" I manage to get out and losing my dignity by asking for her help. She immediately holds t her hand blindly and I take it, using her strength to pull myself up but end up stumbling onto her requiring her to use all her strength to help me inside the house.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Are you hurt? Do I need to get the first aid kit for you?" I shake my head and when I realize she can't hear me I quickly refuse verbally although it comes out a bit slurred. "Ze... are you... just really tired or something because fuck you if that's just it." I roll my eyes but hearing this normal conversation of Alice I feel a bit more rejuvenated and slowly lean off of her. She watches carefully as I step away from her and quickly vault myself away and up the stairs mainly because it gets me there faster with only momentary required bursts of energy. I manage to get to the room I had been staying in and open the drawers, finding a few bottles of the cure left and a bit of the visibility solution that I'm decently sure wasn't there before. I wonder if Gassy brought more in anticipation of my arrival. Realizing I'm actually here back in Gassy's house has me feel warm and a lot more secure now that I've returned to this sanctuary. "What are you doing?" Alice suddenly I asks from the door and I focus on my words to say.

"Anything to kill the Hidden disease in me. Else I'm gonna die," I explain quickly, the bottles of the cure and visibility solution bunched up together but I frown. They're both full of different ingredients to wave off the Hidden inside of me but even combined I doubt they'd help me much beyond a short, temporary solution. Staring at the bottles I frown and clench my fist feeling more and more nervous at the thought I may just have to go to IRIS for their help but... as much as I applaud Mark for his abilities I doubt they'd find anything in enough time. Glancing over to the table I suddenly notice a small bottle on the table and quickly pick it up, astonished at the presence of this tiny bottle I asked for from Ohm a while ago. Quickly I move and gather up everything together and pass Alice to head over to the kitchen to fetch a small bowl. This will give me more time, more than the two ingredients by themselves. Mixing the two liquid solutions and crushing the pills Ohm had been taking and mixing it in I stare at the new solution with hope before shaking my head and dropping the spoon in my hand at the sudden wave of lightheadedness over me. "A-Alice, can y-you... heat it up, mix it?"

Immediately Alice pushes me aside and takes over, taking the small bowl and heading over to the stove while I just close my eyes and focus on my memories. Now that I think about it, because Alice is here must mean that Gassy won't be coming home tonight. She always only comes here when Gassy knows he isn't going to be home mainly to keep Elaine company. I'm a bit glad Elaine is asleep so she won't have to see me in the state I'm in right now. It's a bit pathetic to be honest. The new solution is brewing with a small boil and I just stay silent as Alice turns off the stove and turns to me.

"I'm guessing this is some stupid scientific shit so I'm not going to ask about it but I will ask... are you alright?" Opening my eyes I notice Alice looking in my general direction with a worried expression and I immediately feel guilty for doing all of this to her and nod.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little... shaky, and cold. The usual," I explain but it doesn't seem to satisfy her as she just frowns and crosses her arms. "I mean, after I take that I'll be a lot better. Don't worry about me."

"No, fuck you I will worry about you. You has so many goddamn things we can worry about for you it's nearly impossible not to. I'm going to call Gassy and tell him to come here right now because I know I can't do anything for you unlike him," Alice says and I just say nothing as she pulls out her cellphone, honestly hoping a bit that he actually will come. I pass by her and dip my finger in the solution, glad it's been brought down to a lukewarm temperature, having never been too hot to begin with. Pouring it into a smaller bowl I sip the stuff and wince as I gulp down the disgusting stuff but the warmth that follows in the pit of my stomach is a lot more relieving. As soon as the stuff is completely down my throat I hear the loading of a gun directly behind me and I immediately stand still, slowly turning to the source.

"Alright, now put the bowl down and follow me," Minx orders, with her gun pointing directly to Alice's head with her phone dropped onto the floor. I stare at the scene for a good amount of time before placing the bowl back onto the table and turning towards her, feeling my Hidden abilities fading the longer I stare.

"Z-Ze, don't do it. You have a lot more people who care about you than me... stay here," Alice orders with a shaky voice and Minx immediately pushes the gun against her forehead.

"Shut the fuck up this is his decision. What will it be, Ze? Are you a selfish fuck?" Minx snaps and I flinch as the gun gets closer to Alice. Am I a selfish fuck? I would say I am, but Gassy would say it'd be the last thing he describes me as. Maybe I should actually be who Gassy thinks I am. I sigh and hold my hands behind my head as if she can actually see what I'm doing.

"Where are we going?" I ask causing her to smirk but suddenly the gun is knocked out of her hand and a pair of arms wraps around her shoulders. I quickly act fast and grab a nearby kitchen knife and dash towards her but flinch as I see Elaine swinging around with Minx cussing her out and swinging her around. Alice drops to her knees in shock after having her life on the line while Elaine even goes as far to bite Minx with a bit of tears in her eyes. I hurry to yank Elaine off and shove Minx onto the wall, holds my forearm over her neck and holding the knife above my arm pressed against her neck. Meeting her eyes I suddenly notice the murderous glint in her eyes and flinch in pain as she digs her knee into my stomach and pushes me away, diving to retrieve her gun but Elaine hurries to tackle at her again. Fuck, get the hell out of here Elaine.

"Fucking brat-!" Minx suddenly shouts and changes her target and points the gun towards Elaine who widens her eyes in shock now the one in complete danger. I hurry to push her out of the way but instead a hand goes in front of me and pushes me back and instead throws their body in front of Elaine just as the gun shot fires. Flinching at the loud noise I watch as Alice drops down immediately and on top of Elaine with wide and scared eyes. A cold sensation suddenly crawls all over my skin and in my blood and something suddenly clicks in my brain. Slicing at Minx's arm causing her to drop her gun I dig the knife into her shoulder causing her to cry out in pain and I grab onto the gun and push her towards the wall with the gun pointed directly to her face. Meeting her eyes this time I see nothing in her eyes which only irritates me.

"I-... thought you were my fucking friend," I growl but she says nothing just as a distant door is forced open by brute force causing me to flinch and glance over.

"IRIS is here, drop your weapons!" I hear a fierce voice and soon enough some low level soldiers come into the room with their big guns pointed directly to me. I stare at them for a while and glance back to my own situation. Minx under my grasp under the gun with Elaine in the other corner crying and holding a body with an obvious bullet wound. Fuck. Quickly letting go of Minx I glance over to the soldier again, none of them familiar and all fairly amateur-looking. "I repeat, drop your weapon!" The soldier orders while Minx begins to sob. Dropping the gun by my side the soldier puts down his gun and pulls out some hand cuffs from a pocket but I quickly push the man away and hurry to Elaine and Alice. Grabbing a hold of the two of them I hurry them, or more just Elaine holding Ace, into a nearby door and shut the door behind me with bullet shots directly behind me, one hitting me in the back having gone through the door.

"Hurry, Elaine! I'm not leaving you alone!" I shout and she nods, wiping the tears off her face and hurrying to the only window in the room to try and open the old thing while I keep my gun aimed at the door. I don't want to hurt anybody from IRIS but if they touch a single hair on Elaine's head I'm not going to let them go. The door bursts open as I expected and I quickly aim for their legs causing them to stumble and drop their weapons but I make sure not to shoot in any vital places as Elaine climbs out of the window behind me. I follow her and when we're outside I grab onto her and Alice and run as fast as we could now that my Hidden abilities seem to be missing now. Because it was only a few injured and amateur soldiers that appeared their we lose them easier than I thought we would. Eventually we hide in a dark alley in the city as our break and I keep a close lookout while Elaine checks on Alice with no use.

"She's... gone. It's all my fault," Elaine sobs and I glance back to her holding Alice's body and her eyes pouring out tears as a sting of guilt hurts me in my chest. Fuck, I fucked up again. I had another innocent person killed. Feeling the urge to cry I quickly shake my head and gulp them in. Alice knew what she was getting herself into but it doesn't change the fact I should have protected her and Elaine a lot better. "I'm the one who called Gassy to send some people because I was scared. Sorry, Ze," Elaine suddenly says but I just shake my head.

"No, you made the right move. That's what kids are supposed to do in this case. Not jump them like that," I lecture only making it worse for her as she sobs and closes Alice's eyes. I stare for a long time before sighing and sitting down in front of her, wrapping my arms around her above Alice. "It's my fault. No, no matter who's fault this is, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you better, Elaine."

"Ze... you're bleeding," Elaine notes and I glance down, nodding in recognition and sighing.

"It's fine. There's one person sort of near here who will take us in."