[Sadrain]

December 11th, Chicago. Base. Hospital.

RYAN!

The name rang trough his mind, consuming all thought. His body convulsed from the power washing trough him, as tables and chairs crashed into the walls, shelves spilling their content. The nurse screamed in surprise, as well as pain, as she painfully hit table corner with her side. But Ryan did not notice any of this. There was just one thought in his mind, sounding over the echoes of the call - Alice.

The man spun around and ran, leaving the chaos behind him. He hadn't even known where Alice's therapy room was, but now he was heading directly for it. Ryan ran like he had never ran before, not attempting to avoid anyone, or pausing to apologize for people he pushed aside or to the nurse who dropped her plate to jump back. Turning around the corner, he nearly literally crashed trough the doors of therapy room. However, now Ryan fell in a slowing trap - the shoes got stuck in the thick goo-like floor and he stumbled, nearly falling in it with his face. Somehow, he managed to regain his balance, but his eyes were fixated on the pale girl, writhing on the floor.

"Alice!" he called out, eyes gaining faint glow as energy field separated him from the sticky substance. The invisibly circle carried him over the unsafe area, nearly literally dumping him on the small solid spot. "Alice, Alice," he whispered, kneeling down and gathering the frail body in his arms. Even in this state, careful to not crush her with his new-found strength, Ryan clutched the girl to his chest, cradling like a child.

"Get out!" He growled at the hospital personnel, partly because their presence bothered him, but also because it was not safe for them to be here. Hurrying, to their best ability, the nurses and doctor complied, also wishing to be as far from here as possible.

"Alice, oh Alice, I am sorry, I am so sorry," Ryan whispered to the girl, his face paler than ever before. He was scared - but not for what was happening. Only about her. "I am sorry it hurts, I am sorry. No one will ever hurt you again. No one. Ever." He swore it to her, in this moment, a pledge he would give his life for to fulfill. Alice's pain was his pain, even worse than that. It was his heart that felt this torment, not his body.

"It will go away soon, Alice..." he whispered her name over and over, with tenderness and gentleness even Ryan didn't know he possessed. For someone watching, it would be hard to make out two forms in the slumped form on the floor, so close he was holding her, leaning over in protective manner.