A/N: So about the whole "accident" thing... it was something they did in the show. They would unfreeze people, pop them in a hospital bed, and when they finally woke up feed them some crap about being hurt and stuff. They play it off like everything is fine (since it's against the rules to discuss the past), and while they go along with their "temp lives" it was shown that some people slowly lost all their memories of their lives 2,000 years prior and others remembered very little. So I guess its safe to say the longer you're in Wayward Pines, you'll slowly lose pieces of the person you used to be before becoming someone "new." Thats the best way to explain it. lol Reviews are appreciated!

2.

Ren shifted uncomfortably as he stood in the doorway of a shabby hotel room. There was no TV, a small table that had seen better days, and a bed that was so tiny he wondered how he would be able to sleep decently on it. The bathroom was no better.

There was nothing to fill the void of silence save for the slow tick of the clock on the wall.

"I think I prefer the hospital over this." Ren mumbled as he watched particles of dust dance in the light of the midday sun.

"It's not a 4-star but it will do, at least until things are ready." Piper said. "I arranged for you all to be on the same floor so that is something to be thankful for. Try to relax and take it easy. It looks like you are still healing from your accident, someone will be by shortly to bring you food."

Piper turned on the hells of her pumps to leave when Ren reached out and grabbed her arm.

"Wait… wait." He said, shocked by his own movements. "Can you… help me into the shower? It hurts to lift my arms a certain way and my joints are still stiff."

The girl paused for a moment before giving a curt nod. She followed him into the bathroom, shutting the door behind them. Ren turned on the water before sitting down on the tub's edge.

"Are there any cameras in here?" He asked.

"No, but there are microphones. Then water should cover up us talking." Answered Piper.

"I told you, I barely know myself. I woke up in the same hospital as you. Hardly any memories of what was going on in my life prior to my accident. No one is going to talk to you if you ask them anything, they're ruled by fear."

"Fear of what?"

"Getting killed. If you step out of line here, even one, Ryuya Hyuga and the other cops will come for you and you will be reckoned in front of the entire town. It happened to my brother's friend. To this day we still have no idea what he did, but one minute he was fine and the next we found him hanging from a noose like a gutted pig. After that they've been keeping a close eye on my brother and I. Making sure we don't start anything, I guess. Shortly after that I got my job at the town square and my brother became a real estate agent."

"You can't be fucking serious."

"I am, and there's so much more you guys need to know. But if I'm here any longer they'll start to get suspicious. Remember, you are always being watching so follow the rules. They know where you are, so don't try anything stupid that will get yourself killed." Piper lifted his shirt, resting a hand on his bare right hip. "This is where your microchip is."

Her stare met his and for the first time, the blonde dropped her façade. Her bright blue eyes showed just how terrified she was. It must be extremely taxing keeping up such an act when one was all but dying on the inside.

"Be careful."

"Where can I find you again?"

"In town, the second largest building. I have to go."

XXX

Being alone honestly shouldn't be as bothersome as it was. Ren had thrived on it after his mother passed away, but now it was different. The circumstances were different.

Being alone in his bedroom in a large house was one thing, moving out on his own was nothing compared to being in a town he knew nothing about without any means of contacting his family (the only phones in town were landlines that made local calls, and nothing else).

He would kill to hear his brothers nagging him to death about his life choices right about now. What he wouldn't give to see his father's disapproving scowl. But now he was truly alone, with nothing but the four walls and clock as company.

Well, Ren had to admit it could've been worse. He could've woken up to this freak show without his friends, without anyone who knew him and knew he existed. They were all in this together, and apparently, their survival depended on following the so called rules. Ren scoffed at the thought, this had to be some kind of nightmare.

In reality he was still asleep from some night of hard drinking with Tokiya and Natsuki and they crashed at Masato's like they always did. He would wake up to Haruka scolding them as she made breakfast and Otoya whining like he always because he wasn't invited along yet again due to him not being able to hold his liquor. The boy was such a light weight. Even Syo could and Kaoru could drink him under the table and that was saying something.

Ren would wake up to his life, the life he wanted to have. The life where he did what he wanted when he wanted without being told to.

Not this.

Not some role he was being forced into by lord knows who.

Where his every move was being watched at all times.

But this was the reality, and it made him sick to his stomach.

Ren got off the bed and stepped into his boots. He slipped into his jacket, pulling the hood over his head as he walked out of his room.

"Where are you going?" Cecil asked, concern on his face as he eyed his friend. He was returning to his room across the hall, extra blankets in his arms, when he spotted the other boy.

"Out, I couldn't stand being in that room anymore I'll be back."

XXX

Ren stood in front of the large, obnoxious building. 'Welcome Center' was on a wooden plaque in French script above the double doors. He hesitated for a moment before hiking up the steps to the entrance.

The front room, which he guessed was the lobby, buzzed with life which struck him as odd. All around him women that looked like Stepford wives moved from place to place, each one carrying a different item. One of them, Ren could've sworn, carried a cherry pie. None of them seemed to notice him standing there aloof and bewildered, seemingly preoccupied with some invisible task.

"May I help you with something?" A brunette approached him with a smile. She had her long earthy hair tied back into a low ponytail, and captivating hazel eyes. Her full lips curved into what seemed to be an even bigger smile, if that was even possible. Her rosy cheek full of color, a rogue on her fair skin.

"I'm looking for Piper… Piper…"

Damn, he couldn't remember her last name.

"Piper Smith?" She mused.

"That's her."

"She's out with her brother showing new resdents their home. She should be bak shortly. If you like, I could tell her you stopped by Mr…?"

"Ren, and I think I'll just wait for her here. She got an office?"

"She does, follow me this way." The brunette turned to lead the way, gesturing for him to follow her.

"Piper is so nice, I just love being around her. I'm married to her brother Benjamin, I'm Holly. Are you a friend of Piper's?"

"Erm.. not really. I mean she's nice and all but I just met her. My friends and I are new here. She said if I had any questions about getting settled in to ask her." Said Ren. It didn't sound so far fetched outside of his head as he thought it would.

"Oh! Well welcome to Wayward Pines! Before you leave you must try some of Ms. Brown's cobbler, best berry cobbler in town. And if you're a friend to Piper, you're a friend to me. We have family dinner Sunday nights, you should join us." Holly beamed.

She reminded him a lot of his mother. She was always happy and optimistic, just like Holly. He found himself smiling fondly. Ren hadn't been to a family dinner since before his mother passed.

"Sure," He said eventually. "You sure Piper won't mind?"

"Of course not!" Holly directed him towards one of the hairs in front of a small oak desk. "You can wait here until Piper returns. It was very nice meeting you Ren, I look forwards to seeing you again."

And just like that he was alone once again. Ren scanned his new surroundings with caution. He didn't dare touch anything since he knew somewhere in there was a camera.

For an office, there wasn't much about it. Just a desk, a book case with some books on it (some he recognized, some he didn't), an old phone like his grandmother used to have, and a few pictures. Now he wasn't expecting a large, gaudy office like his father spent most of his days in, but this office left much to be desired and then some.

So Ren took to the pictures on the corner of Piper's desk. They were of the blonde girl and her so called family. Now that he actually looked at her, Piper Smith wasn't that bad to look at at all. It was quite the opposite, she was very appealing to the eye. And her brother was just as picturesque, the older male mirroring some of his sister's traits.

How he hadn't noticed this before?

In the past ladies loved Ren, and he loved the ladies. He had very few nights where he spent them alone. There was just something about a woman's touch that thrilled him, better than any drug known to man. And he was addicted.

Maybe he was finally slowing down in life.

It was ironic that it would be when he was far away from home in a place he'd never heard of before.

Wayward Pines, Idaho.

Idaho.

Fucking Idaho.

He tilted his head as he continued to stare at the picture of Piper. She wasn't what he normally went for. Not that he was into chicks with no morals (though a few crossed his path from time to time), but she seemed different.

She wasn't just talking to him to get laid or for the money that came with his name. She saw him as another human being.

They were equals.

They were fighting for the same cause- survival.

Ren needed to talk to Piper more. There were still so many questions he had and she seemed to be the only person who knew how to get answers in the brainwashed town.

He sat back in the chair and crossed his legs, Ren guessed he should be looking forward to Sunday night's dinner.

Besides, Ren couldn't stand berry cobbler.