Blue had to be the most calming color in the world. I had read that in a magazine before, but while the baby blue sky's all I could see for miles, it absolutely makes sense. Paired with flying, I was, at the time, at peace with the world.

Once I landed, that's when my racing thoughts hit me. About Phoenix, about the flock, about -shudder- The Umbrella Corporation. My greatest fear from the past ten years was them catching me again, yet one man never alluded my thoughts. Albert Wesker, the man who saved me from Oswell's grasp; who might have freed me to benefit his own agenda.

Landing in the small town of Hotchkiss, Colorado was an easy deal. I could freefall into the wooded area behind the town, quick enough that there mere one thousand residents wouldn't spot me. From there, I could walk a few miles to the town's epicenter and to their small inn, exclusively for tourists. I didn't look much like a tourist, but I paid generously to keep my visit quiet. My go-to story: running away from an abusive ex and I didn't want to be found. It works like a hot knife through butter on the older folk in these tiny cities. Plus, look at me, what kind of harm could I possibly do to anyone? Insert deviant smile here.

I tried to keep my mind silent on my walk back to town with no success. I couldn't believe it had been ten years already. And where had I gotten myself? Nowhere. All found information led to dead leads. A few years back any information at all was a rarity to come across, and at this point I had given up. There was technically one last lead... but it ended in going back to my captors or meeting Albert again, both were highly unlikely.

My stomach growled once the smell of barbecued food wafted my way. Zach's BBQ always had their grills running, making it super easy to know when I'm coming up on the town.

Casually I stroll behind the restaurant, not worried anyone would see me. It was still early in the morning, and the restaurant crew was inside getting ready for the day. Nearly no one was out on the street, aside from the early morning dog walkers and joggers. Surely no one who cared about my activities.

On the walk to the inn was a grocery store, where I figured I'd get something fast to eat while walking to my room. Tomorrow was my last day there before I moved on to the next small town, and I always made sure to eat out on the last day. I was definitely gonna go to Zach's.

The cool rushing air after walking into City Market refreshed me after strenuously flying. It was June; a warm, dry day for the small town. My windbreaker beaded with sweat at the crooks of my elbows.

I headed straight for the deli, although probably not the healthiest choice, and quickly order two large roast beef subs. Irene, who was one of several old women who worked behind the counter smiled, accustomed to my double orders.

"How's your day, Marie?" She used a name that I gave myself for this seperate city. I wasn't sure what the next name for the next city would be yet.

I watched her systematically place American cheese slices on the inside of the bread and then the roast beef, sliding both sandwiches into the toaster. "Not too bad, took an early morning jog."

"I can tell," she replied, commenting about the beads of sweat dripping down my temple. "I hear your last day is tomorrow?"

The toaster dinged, and Irene promptly removed the subs. She wrapped them carefully and placed them in a paper bag, handing them to me as I hand her a ten dollar bill. "Yes, ma'am. On to the next city."

"Where ya headed next?"

I fidgeted with the bag. "Not sure yet. I'll figure it out."

Irene flashed a hopeful smile. "I'm sure you will."

I nod and head towards the small seating area of the deli, figuring I'd eat one sub now and save one sub to stuff my face in solitude at the inn. I set my bag down at a small table and nearly sit down before a shadow catches my eye. The being disappears behind an aisle quickly, fast enough to even allude my reflexes. What small detail I did catch sent chills down my spine.

Blonde, slicked back hair.

How many people in the world have that same haircut, Maximum, I chastised myself.

Then again I haven't seen one in this town.

I had been in Hotchkiss for long enough to remember everyone's passing face and even make myself a regular to those like Irene. No one, that I remembered, had a haircut strikingly similar to his.

I scooted the wooden chair back in its place and figured it wouldn't hurt to just check it out. Trying to act collected, I picked up my bag and strolled over to the aisle, coming across an empty walkway.

See? Nothing's there. It's just you feeling hopeful again.

That was enough spooky for me. Before I had yet another anxiety attack, I made a beeline towards the exit, careful to not look anyone in the eye. Once I was outside, the refreshing mountain air chilled my fretful mind. I scanned the parking lot before heading out north towards the inn. Everything seemed clear, until I spin around to face my destination and nearly get bumped onto my ass.

A gasp rose in my throat as the man I had been waiting on for a decade stares intently into my eyes, not even a foot in front of me.

Albert Wesker was smoking a cigarette, shades over his eyes but his signature hairstyle more prominent than ever. He looked older now, a given, and even bulked up a little bit. He wasn't exactly scrawny before, when I last saw him placing me in the getaway car. He was definitely more defined, even through his black jacket and pants.

Swallowing extremely coarse spit, I prepare my mouth to speak. Before I can utter any noise, he blows smoke in my face.

"Need a lift, sweetheart?"

My cheeks lose their color, and I look around quickly for any nosy town people, and then drag him off to the corner of the building.

"Are you crazy? Someone's gonna call the cops on you," I spoke with a hushed tone. He simply laughed it off.

"Am I a wanted man around here?" He smirked, taking another drag of his cigarette.

"Something like that," I muttered, still in disbelief that he was standing right in front of me. I caught myself glancing from him to the ground often. "My shtick is about running away from a deranged ex boyfriend."

"I don't remember us being that close," he commented sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes as he led the way to his black SUV, parked in the way back of the grocery store's parking lot. The A/C, once he started the vehicle, felt like heaven on my sweat streaked forehead. I directed the way to the inn, but other than that, silence from me.

Once we got to my hotel room, I quickly shut the door. The residents were already suspicious about Albert's visit. I cursed myself for using such a harsh excuse to be 'running away' from. It's not like I anticipated Albert's return anymore. But yet, here he was, right in front of me. Looking... different. Not the lab science geek I was accustomed to. More high classed now, maybe? He definitely gazed at me the same way. Like he wondered how my mind ticked.

Hell, I was suspicious of Albert's visit. After all this time, what could he possibly want with me? I thought for sure he just forgot about what happened.

I sighed, relaxed once the front door was closed. The room was just like any generic hotel room: oddly patterned quilt, shabby carpeting, at least once mystery stain. You know, the usual. By then I had known exactly what it was like to live out of hotels, and it wasn't all that jazzy. Even though I had spent my time attempting to locate my daughter in nearly all continental states (a bit in Canada too), I still had an eerie feeling that someone, somewhere was still watching me. I guess I was right.

"After all this time," I started to chide, then my words fell short. Albert sat on the chair opposite of the bed and stared at me as if he knew I was going to scold him. I changed my route. "How did you find me?"

Albert half laughed and glanced at the backpack sagging down my shoulders. "What? After all this time you never bought a new backpack?"

Realizing there was a tracking device in the bag infuriated me. I ripped it off my back and threw it on the bed, promptly unzipping the pocket and pulling out the meastly cash I had left.

"I'm glad I didn't," I sneered, showing him the few thousand I had left.

"I told you, if you were smart, it would last you. And it did."

"I had no fucking clue what I was going to do when this ran out."

"Stop yelling. You've lived on the streets before."

"It was easy to beg for food when I was fourteen. They'd call the cops on scroungy thirty-four year old me."

Albert's tout lips turned into a half smile. The reflective aviator sunglasses were really starting to piss me off; all I could see was me looking back at myself.

"Don't look so stressed. Sit down, I have a proposition for you."

I crumpled up the bills in my fist and did as he asked, sitting on the corner of the mattress.

I had a feeling about what he wanted. Last time we spoke he made it clear that he would need me again one day. I thought he was just bullshitting, but his presence made me assume otherwise.

"There's been a series of cannibalistic homicides in the Arklay forest, namely a location very familiar to you and I. I'm currently the Captain of a tactical team in Raccoon City, and we need your help with the Spencer Mansion."

Laughter nearly burst out of me. "Cannibals, huh? You sure it's not the work of your bio weapons?"

Albert's face was unreadable. "I don't work for Umbrella anymore. I work to contain the mess they've made."

Reading through his words were as impossible as reading his expression. Usually I can boast about my ability to hear lies, but with Albert, it was truly impossible.

"So what do you need me for?"

"The override module in the mansion's mainframe is locked by passcode. I don't know the code, but I have a feeling you do."

"What makes you think that?"

Albert picked at his short nails. "Before I left Umbrella, Oswell was obsessed with you. I have reason to believe the code has something to do with you."

I sit silently for a few seconds. "Override module?"

"For self destruction."

Wincing, I looked down at the bills in my fist and relaxed my knuckles. "That bad, huh?"

"That bad."

We sit in silence once again.

"How's the search for your daughter going?"

I scowled. "I'm sure you know. You've probably been busy spying on me for the past decade."

The backpack thing still pissed me off. It pissed me off even more that I didn't catch onto it. I had thought about dumping the bag immediately after getting into Denver, but I was too busy studying every passing face to see if they were an Umbrella spy. For a few years, I was certain they were still after me, and they probably were.

He nodded. "I did know where you were, but I assure you, I was keeping you safe."

My reaction was a mixture of disgust and disbelief. "With all your expansive contacts, you couldn't help me find my daughter?!"

"I had other things to do."

The steam was rising. "What makes you think I'll help you!"

Finally, he took off those damned glasses. The heat in his glare and the fire it set in my chest made me prefer they'd be put back on. "There's a reason you haven't found any information about your daughter. Umbrella has a hold of her."

My teeth clenched tightly as a way to distract the tears. "You couldn't even find a way to tell me?"

Albert shook his head. "It's important that I tell you now instead of in the past. I have the perfect opportunity to reach Umbrella's mainframe: the Mansion. I can't do it without you, though. It's under a heavy passcode, and after you escaped, Oswell was obsessed with you. It's incredibly likely that the code has something to do with you."

"How are you sure?"

"I tried to get in before I left the lab. The usual password no longer worked, and at that time his obsession was still rampant."

"And I'm assuming you need the password? Not just for Phoenix?"

"Did you expect otherwise?"

I grinned slightly. "I guess not."

"I know you have no leads on your daughter but the mainframe can change that. I've got a lead of my own as well, an executive living in Raccoon City. He might have extra information."

"Don't really have much of a choice here, do I?" I muttered, hanging my head low. Albert stood and put both hands in his black slack's pockets.

"You always have a choice. But this is one good deal for you, and the only deal. Take it or leave it."

Closing my eyes, all the possibilities flashed past my mind. I didn't have a choice if I wanted to find my daughter. She was all I had left.

"Can I decide in the morning? I promised Zach I'd visit his restaurant before I left."

"Quite the charmer these days, I see," Albert mocked. "We should head out as soon as possible."

I've been lonely, I wanted to say but I kept my mouth shut. Instead, I stared intently at the bland hotel carpet.

Truth be told, Zach's restaurant reminded me of home. Jeb, my makeshift father, would grill meat every end of summer. That was a long time ago, and my daughter is my future.

"I'll go if we stay one more night."

"If you must be this difficult, fine."

W/N: I am truly embarrassed, I left my personal writer's notes at the top and I forgot to delete it . It's fixed now but the existential dread I feel at night has just begun