[Sadrain]

December 4th, Chicago. Base.

Ryan took her hand as it reached for her, brushed thumb over it and smiled at her. That moment, he saw the brief vision, image, so faint he could only wonder if it was his imagination or something Alice had wanted him to see. He would later decide for the latter. The scene filled him with a strange warmth. But he couldn't linger on it for long, when the girl fell asleep.

He held her hand for a little longer, and then, let go and slowly, stood up. Carefully, Ryan put the girl on her back and pulled blanket higher up, although his left hand fingers were still weak and clumsy. He leaned, gripping on bed post awkwardly and kissed her on forehead softly, complying to sudden wish. She was so sweet and young, such gentle, easy dream... Yet so hard to accomplish in this torn world, where everyone was a vulture. But they could fight for it, yes, they could...

Ryan sat back down in his chair, looking at Alice, until sleep claimed him as well, and after a little while, nurse came to check on them. Seeing them asleep, she took the man back to his room and postponed the procedures a little so the two could rest.

December 5th, Chicago. Sewer #17.

Around the outpost, various rumors were going. Some spoke about a strange creature crawling trough the sewer tunnels, on the walls and even ceiling. No one had been killed yet, but everyone was scared of it. Some other rumors spoke of Amante and the strange "magnet" that drew him to Base. Leila didn't listen very carefully to either, but took note. That's why she had taken extra weapons to the patrol today.

Still angry, although calming down the deeper in the sewers she went, Leila was vary of her surroundings. But there was nothing suspicious, no sounds, sights or smells to catch her attention. Until something, strangely alike snoring, reached her ears, coming up from above. The girl threw her back and narrowed her eyes, staring at where the noise came. Light shining up there was faint, for it was a gloomy day, but it was enough to assure that there was someone up there. What's more, she could bet it was Amante.

"That man..." she thought. To be up there, he had to be dead or passed out, in one way or another. How he had gotten up there, she had only vague idea, though. Various ideas came to the girl's mind, such as slaughtering him then and there, and many ways how to do it, without becoming a suspect, but something, just a thin thread of restraint held her back and made her chose a different path.

Leila's fist clenched by her side and shadowy wings spread from her back. With few movements, Leila was hovering next to the man. Her face was stiff, eyes narrowed, and more like a mask than face of a human capable of emotions.

"Wake up, you snooping bastard," she hissed, and kicked him solidly in side, sending Amante off the pipe. Leila did not want him to fall, though, and even if he did not manage to catch on the pipe, shadow tentacles would tie the man to it. "Listen up! I offer you a simple deal: you promise me to get the fuck out of my way and stay there, to not involve your self with me and my business anymore in any way, and never snoop trough my stuff again, and I help you up, scum." She paused, and then her boot came dangerously close to his hand - yet slightly out of his reach. "Or, if you don't, you fall, and if you're not dead instantly, I finish you off. Really, that would even be nice of me, even, to relieve you of pain." Her voice dripped with malice. "No one will suspect me, and even if they do... I don't give a damn."