[Ishu]

December 11th, Chicago. Base. Hospital.

Amante growled in his little viewing room and, at the sight of Ryan, he yelled and started to hit the window. There was no reaction. He could not be heard or even seen from outside the room. Any onlooker would just see him standing about, seemingly in shock. He watched Ryan hurry over to Alice and cradle her body to his chest.

"You have seen her weakness for days. Alice is sensitive but she knows what she wants."

Alice cringed as he adjusted her and she pressed herself against him. It felt like metal rakes were scratches at her inside her legs. She whimpered and reached her shaking arms up, folding them around his neck and over his shoulders.

"Driving Ryan away was a mistake that you had to make to know the truth."

With him here, she felt like she would be ok and that the pain would subside. She eased against him, her breathing and heart rate calming. Alice opened her eyes and looked up at him, sniffled and hugged him close. She thought she'd lost him forever to... she didn't even know.

"Ryan gives her the will to live. If you continue to separate them, Alice will die."

Amante gulped, inhaling sharply and letting out a subtle cough. He was fighting back to tears and the pain he felt from the situation. It wasn't fair- it wasn't fucking fair! Why couldn't he take care of her? Why didn't she want just him? He could do it- all of it.

"Amante. She is not to be your concern." The figure stepped out, a pair of black mary janes clicking to the floor with both steps. "Ryan is to serve his purpose. Stop intervening." The figure had taken the shape of a small girl, whom Amante could see through a reflection in the window.

The room was starting to normalize, the putty floor hardening as the pain left her and Ryan's presence came as a calming effect. Alice pulled her arms back down and curled them up between their chests. It sounded like she was going to fall asleep...