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Chapter 3

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Subway system

The stench of the underground subway systems seemed to waft up the stairs where the two amnesiacs stood. The boy fished around in his pockets for his wallet he had reclaimed from the "Victim's possessions" box earlier. Pulling out a subway card granted them passage into the lower areas where the trains awaited. Upon entering the lower levels, many heads were turned at them. Was it the scrubs they wore? Or was it because the boy bore a striking almost uncanny resemblance to a certain dead emperor...

"Were we supposed to be dead?" the boy inquired.

"We certainly didn't have toe tags for no reason."

"I suppose...but our clothes. They were bloody weren't they?"

"Mn." The girl still sounded uninterested.

A pause.

"And there were holes. Bullet holes maybe. Do you think..."

"No, I don't know what to think. Remember, we don't even know who we are."

"I guess that complicates things. Just a bit."

The echo-y robotic voice announced the arrival of the train. The hissing sounds of hydraulics opening doors filled the air, followed by the hustle and bustle of passengers getting on and off the train. The pair walked into the train, unsure of what to do or where to go. The bodies of all the passengers swayed forward then backward as the train accelerated from a halt.

The boy laughed softly, drawing the attention of a curious passenger standing across from him. This whole "being dead" thing was starting to mess with his mind. If he was in fact murdered as he suspected, who was behind it? And the girl, she was probably murdered with me too. Why else would our ID numbers be right next to each other? Not to mention we were in the same exam room and our belongings next to each other. If we really were targeted and killed at the same time, do the killers know we're alive? And if they know we're alive, does that mean they're after us? Have they already found us? Or are they just toying with us to see where we are going? Is that it? Were we in hiding and were lured out to be killed? Who were we hiding from? And why? If the-

A tug at his wrist and a flash of green hair as the girl turned around and looked at him expectantly said he needed to exit the train. His train of thought halted, as did the train on which they rode. He couldn't tell whether the hissing he heard was that of the doors opening or his own mind beginning to fry as he sought answers.

"Come on, we'll find out everything soon enough. Besides, I have our 'death' files with me."

"Our 'death' files...did you steal the medical folders?"

"Don't be so worried. It's not like they needed the files anyway. Not to mention their information is outdated now. We're alive." She grinned mischievously as she faced the doors and walked out, half dragging the confused boy along with her.

"Where are we going?" the boy half-panted, half-asked. They had been walking for quite some time now, pushing and shoving through the busy streets.

"To our apartment, of course" the girl responded mater-of-factly.

"Our apartment? We live in apartment? Where?"

"Ha. That's funny."

"What's funny?" the boy was even more confused.

"You were more concerned where our apartment was, rather than the fact that it was OUR apartment."

She smiled deviously, emphasizing "OUR", realizing the full implications of sharing living quarters.

"Uhm. Well. Yeah. I mean. That kinda surprised me too. But..well. You know. Uh." he stammered, unsure of how to respond to this new information. They shared an apartment. Could this mean...no! Stop it. She's only messing with you.

"Oh you worry too much. Be more care-free! Like me!"

"Well you don't even know who 'me' is!"

"Doesn't matter really. We'll find out soon enough."

Still pondering this newfound knowledge about THEIR apartment, he completely forgot to ask how she had figured out where they lived. They.

"How did you figure it out?"

"From your wallet, actually."

"You took my-"

He felt around in his pocket, realizing there was a lack of weight he had grown familiar to.

"According to the address on your key card, we live right...here."

They stopped in front of a tall 14-story apartment building that pointed toward the heavens. At its base was an underground garage entrance as well as a lobby with windows as tall as the walls themselves. Guarding the lobby doors was a keypad and a card slot. While the girl was looking up admiring the height and grandeur of the building, the boy was taking notice of the number and placement of the security cameras, guards, color of the cars parked on the streets, and all the people hanging about the front entrance of the building. The girl noticed the ways his eyes darted around, absorbing every detail of his surroundings and storing them somewhere in his mind.

"You were a thinker."

"What?" The boy was brought back to reality.

"You were a thinker. I see you trying to assess all possible dangers we might encounter. You were also a survivor. You can tell when to run or when to act calm. You weren't a soldier though; our 'arduous' journey up the subway stairs said that much. No, you knew how to think and how to survive."

The boy seemed annoyed. Maybe it was because she thought she knew him better than he did. She didn't even know herself! How can she know me?

"Well done, detective. Now if only 'thinker' and 'survivor' were my names, I would feel a lot better. I have a feeling those aren't my names though."

"Oh cheer up. And let's go! You've been staring at everything around you for long enough. We're safe here."

They walked up to the front doors where he swiped his card. A gentle green glow followed by a rather audible *click* said they could enter.

"Ah! Welcome back! After I heard you two had been rushed to the hospital I was getting worried! Here's all the mail you two received while you were gone, sir." The guard's eyes seemed to light, as he recognized the pair.

"Oh yes, thank you!" the girl responded. "We're fine now! Just a small accident is all."

"Glad to hear that. Have a nice day!"

The guard waved to them as the pair walked to the elevator, which was already on its way down. The heavy machinery of the elevator quieted to a halt as the elevator reached the lobby. The doors slid open to reveal a young couple standing in the elevator. As they left, the other couple took their place.

"I suppose the guard doesn't know the full details of our 'accident' then?" the boy asked as the doors closed.

"No...he seemed innocent enough. Here, we live on the 8th floor."

"How'd you figure that out?"

"You probably were a thinker but you're not all that bright, are you?" the girl teased. "It says what room number it is to be delivered to, right here, on the mail. And look what else it says?" she grinned.

"Lelouch Lamperouge...is that my name?" the boy stared at the letter, as if waiting for the name to miraculously change.

"I think it is! Well this is our floor, Lelouch."

She emphasized 'Lelouch' to remind him he now had a name. Now they knew who he was, they had to figure out who she was. She felt her heart sink, at the realization she still didn't know who or what she was. The possibility she could be inhuman frightened her, as she remembered what had happened to the guard in the morgue. Remembering they had found out Lelouch's name brightened her spirits though, as they set off toward their apartment.

"What number?" the boy hesitated as he looked up and down the halls.

"It says...806."

"802...804...806! Right here! Care to do the honors?" Lelouch gestured toward the door dramatically, with one arm crossing his side and the other resting on the lock. The girl stepped forward, swiped the card, and with a resounding *click*, the lock went green. Lelouch turned the handle and pushed open the door, and for the first time again, they entered their apartment. Their.

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