My eyes shifted to so many different drawings and writings that Subject 16, or Clay Kaczmarek, had left behind. It disgusted me to see so many. The Bleeding Effect had gone too far, Abstergo had gone too far. Not wanting to see anymore, I exited the room examining the large room the Animus dwelled in.

"Caroline?" Desmond wandered into the room after me. My hands folded behind my back, I didn't turn to my friend, "What the hell is going on?" I shook my head, pacing back and forth.

"Stillman needs to come back, without Vidic," I muttered, continuing to walk back and forth. Desmond watched me pace, "I have a feeling, but I don't know if it's true." His intent eyes followed me, then looked away.

"It's only been a few days, and we've gotten through a few years of one man's life," he sighed, sitting in a gray swivel chair across the room, "strange that some bed structure can do that," My eyes moved to him, a slight smile spread across my face. He looked at me with a confused expression, "What?"

"It'll only take two weeks to get through important parts of a lifetime, Desmond. You haven't seen anything," I replied, folding my arms. His senses triggered and he thought I was getting cocky.

"Oh yeah? You've seen a whole lifetime?" he folded his arms back at me

"Yes," my gaze rested on him and he became uneasy, unfolding his arms again, "I'm lucky not to have gone insane yet. My mind is still intact, which is weird." Desmond remained silent.

"Why are you so interested in me?" he asked. This made the situation too uncomfortable. I shifted my feet and looked at him again.

"Sorry?"

"What do you want me for. I know Abstergo wants me for my ancestor's memories. But what do you want me for?" he asked. He knew her too well. He remembered her from the Farm, he just wouldn't admit it.

"Escape," just as she said that the door to the lab opened and Lucy Stillman, covered in blood, but alive, barged in.

"Lucy!" Desmond exclaimed, standing up extremely fast.

"Desmond, get in the Animus," she snapped, fast walking towards the memory seeker.

"What?"

"Do as I say, we don't have much time!" she began playing with the computer.

My gaze shifted from the two blabbering to the doorway. It was wide open, free for escapees. Hope danced in my stomach, could I now leave? I glanced at Lucy, who was busy on the Animus computer. After taking one step, she noticed I was leaving.

"Please, Caroline, stay," she said, pressing one last button on the Animus. Regret and longing flashed across my face. Lucy walked over to me, "we really need you on this." I was about to speak when she turned and woke Desmond up.

"What the hell is happening?" he immediately asked. Lucy stared hesitantly at me, "Who was that kid?"

"We're escaping," she muttered, still staring straight at me. My heart skipped a beat. Was she going to help us escape? Why? So many questions flew through my head as a look of disbelief crossed my face. Lucy nodded at me and I couldn't believe what was happening anymore.

She began to walk out of the room, Desmond right behind her. Before I left, I walked up to the Animus. The bed-like structure sat in front of me as if expecting me to lay in it. I unsheathed my hidden blade and stabbed it straight into the spine of it. Sparks flew and the power almost went out for a moment. I pulled my blade out, and left the room, leaving behind the thing that had ruined my life.

I caught up with Lucy and Desmond, and being himself, Desmond asked where I'd been. Without answering I passed, sprinting and turned straight into a guard.

"Woah!" he pulled out his weapon. I dodged his first strike, then stabbed him in the left ribcage. Quickly sheathing again, I began sprinting with the two assassins at toe. We landed at a locked door. Lucy pushed us aside and got us through using her pass.

Sprinting through the parking garage felt strange. I hadn't run in forever, and it felt great. The constant numbness in my legs was disappearing and my feet began to regain strength. The faster I went, the better it felt.

Suddenly, eight guards turned the corner ahead of us. We would have to engage. Eager to do so, I sprinted faster. Two of the guards charged at me with equal force. I slid onto my back and cut one of the guards' legs with my blade. Still on the ground, I dodged one of their attacks. I lunged forward, sinking the blade into the guard's stomach. I quickly stood up, stopping one guard's fist from flying into my face. Grabbing his tricep, I flipped him onto the hard concrete floor with a deafening crack.

After a few more violent minutes, we had defeated the band of men. Lucy led the way to the small silver car that was awaiting us. Popping open the trunk, she told Desmond to climb in.

"What? Why me?"

"Just do it, Desmond!" she snapped, pointing at the carpeted trunk. Without any more complaints, Desmond entered and Lucy slammed the door shut, "Go shotgun, I trust you with a gun more than him." I ran to the right side of the car and quickly got into the passenger seat. Lucy handed me a gun, loaded and ready for fire. I gave her a look of disbelief.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked, giving her a hesitant half-smile.

"Oh, absolutely," she grinned in return, spinning the car wheel. A thud echoed from the back, "Oops, sorry Desmond!" Slamming the gas pedal, we screamed out of the parking garage and out onto the open road. I gaped in awe at the next sight. Sunlight glinting off of city buildings shined into my eyes. Lucy cast a glance at me, a slight smile spreading on her face. I hadn't seen the city for a few years.

A siren blasted into my eardrums as I realized we were getting chased. Lucy opened the sunroof, "Well? Gonna get up and shoot?"

"Are you insane?" I exclaimed. She glared at me, "Okay, fine." I kneeled on the seat and pointed the gun at the Abstergo SUV, "Let's get this over with quickly." I aimed straight for the grill and fired. A man leaned out of the passenger seat and began shooting at me. One of my shots successfully planted itself inside the grill of the opponent vehicle. A bullet flew past my head, missing by inches. The car began to slow, smoke exiting under the hood. "Drive!" I yelled at Lucy. She accelerated.

Before ducking into the car, I caught one last glance at Abstergo. I slid back into the passenger seat and Lucy continued driving away. I could barely believe our escape. Our luck. It felt strange. Someone was finally on my side.

After a few more hours of silent and peaceful driving, we made it to a small storage factory. I glanced uncertainly at the building. It looked unsteady. Lucy and I got out of the car and she opened the trunk. Desmond got out, rubbing the back of his neck. He stretched his sore muscles and Lucy began walking towards the building.

"We're staying here?" I wondered, following with Desmond at my side.

"You need to trust me, Caroline," she said, unlocking the door and wandering inside. I cast a glance at Desmond, who shrugged in return. We followed Lucy.

She climbed a number of ramps and stairs till we finally entered a room with two strange replicas of the Animus. Two people sat in the room. One man and one woman, both looking intently on their work. Once Lucy walked in, the woman looked up from her work and beamed in delight.

"Lucy!" she exclaimed, walking over with her arms stretched for an embrace, "You made it!"

"Hi Rebecca," she greeted in return, "I have something for you." She pulled a small chip out of her pocket and handed it to her friend. Rebecca went crazy, ranting on about how important and useful this was.

"Well if it isn't the infamous, Desmond Miles," the man walked up, hands inside his pockets, "Who is this?" his glance moved to me. I didn't notice, my gaze was on the Animus like structures not too far away from our conversation.

"Shaun, this is Caroline Archer. She's going to help us with our operation," Lucy explained. Actually paying attention, I gave a brief smile to the Brit. He gave me a slight nod in return.

"Now, shall we get to work?" Shaun said impatiently.

"No, I'm not getting in another Animus," I exclaimed. Shaun and Rebecca looked strangely at me, "I thought you helped me escape so I could leave this city and possibly go back to the Farm!" My gaze shifted to Lucy, who looked sympathetically at me.

"Caroline, please, can I have a word?" Shaun interrupted the silence that had spread across the room. I scowled at him, but I obediently followed him out of the room.

"Desmond? Are you willing? If so, we have a few minutes before Caroline's ancestor joins Ezio," Lucy asked. I had so many questions, but I knew I wouldn't be able to ask them for a very long time.

Shaun and I turned a corner and he turned back towards me.

"Why so private?" I asked leaning against the railing of one of the stairwells. Folding his arms, he studied me seriously. I gave him a slightly offended glance, shifting my weight.

"Why won't you get into the Animus?" he asked. My glare softened a bit. I hung my head, almost shameful of my stubborn attitude towards the Animus and the others.

"Danger, I guess," I lied, shrugging and folding my arms as well. He raised an eyebrow at me. This time, I told the truth, "Subject 16 and Abstergo. I'd rather not be driven insane by the Bleeding Effect."

He hung his head in understanding. Silently, he walked over to the rail I was sitting on and leaned against it, "Rebecca and I are assassins. You're aware of that, right?" I looked at him with surprise, "We're on your side, Caroline. This Animus doesn't carry the Effect as much as Abstergo's do. Plus, Ezio's memories are gonna be hard to crack without his adopted sister, Atronia. That's your ancestor."

"How much does a mere sister matter?" I replied, meeting his gaze. He smiled a bit.

"Well," he began sarcastically, "she does help him find a certain Apple of Eden. That's something, is it not?" I looked away from him. He knew he had won, I just didn't want to admit it. I got off the rail and brushed past him.

"Fine."

So I entered the Animus again. Rather, the Animus 2.0. Or 'baby', whichever you prefer.

"Hey, if we find the info we need," Lucy had reassured, "this will go quickly." So I closed my eyes, and I entered the reality of my ancestor, Atronia Auditore da Firenze, a Roman Assassin from the Renaissance.

Announcement: Hi guys! I know I only just posted, but I've been free with Memorial Day weekend and all. Also, I'm gonna be busy for the next few days, so I might not be able to write as much. Anyway, how did you like the chapter? Don't worry, Caroline will soften up. I hope you'll like Atronia. She's a sassy Italian teenager, what's not to like? I'll try to post again next week. Summer is almost here! LET'S DO THIS! :)

P.S. I'm sorry again for this font stuff. I'm not too sure what's going on... :D