A faint memory of me inside of him…took hold of his conscience and compelled him to save you…

I stared down at Gilbert's face. Peaceful as it was, his expression changed slightly ever minute or so. Oz and Ada, both next to me, couldn't keep their eyes off of him either.

We knew he was in pain but we couldn't do anything.

"I would say that he was lucky but his pain says different. He's suffered severe head trauma." With care, the young nurse positioned an ice pack under Gilbert's resting head.

She turned to us with a smile. Her warm blue eyes gazed down at us behind her thin-rimmed circular glasses. Lifting one finger, she pressed it against her lips. "Rest is the best thing he needs right now. I have to leave momentarily. Make sure you keep that ice pack under his head."

I glanced over to the window. Elliot stood against the window's frame, gazing worriedly at his brother. Once he noticed my gaze, he swiftly turned his head, focusing his attention outside.

"Well, I'm off." The nurse waved. All of our eyes watched her strut out the door; her dark brown chestnut hair swished behind her.

Once her footsteps had grown faint, all of our eyes fell on Gilbert again, even Elliot.

Break was a little too hard on him… as well as everyone else. I almost feel…a little sorry for him…he wasn't in control of his body.

Gilbert winced.

Oz gave Elliot a dirty look. "You're horrible. How did you manage to hit Gilbert over the head that hard?"

Elliot's eyes pieced Oz like daggers.

"Oz, stop." I grabbed Oz's arm. "Come now, don't fight." I watched Elliot. His eyes said he meant to kill but he didn't move or say a word.

Oz and Ada knew nothing of the intruder or the Chain. They had been lied to…by Break. Break had left out the part about the Chain and the intruder entirely and put all the blame on Elliot. Everyone had thought that Elliot in a temper had injured Gilbert. The story was unclear; Break had made sure of that. No one even asked any questions at all, Elliot was taking the full heat.

"Why did you hit him? Elliot! Give me an answer!" Oz shouted, his eyes blazing with anger. I was surprised at Oz. Normally Oz was either worried or just a happy-go-lucky annoyance, but he was seriously enraged with Elliot. Luckily, Oz wasn't very physically strong so I was able to hold him back with one arm.

"Oz - let him be. Sit down. What would Gilbert think if he saw you acting like this?" As I tried to reason with Oz, I tightened my grip on his arm. Oz did not look at me, but continued to glare in disgust at Elliot.

"Elliot…" Ada called in her small voice.

" I don't want to hear it!" Elliot snapped, ripping away from the window, and tearing out the door.

The room was silent. "It's strange, why would he hurt Gil on purpose…He's in so much pain right now." Ada whispered.

I looked over to Ada, who stared at the door in sadness.

"Poor Elliot."

"I'm not buying it. He hurt me on the first day of school. I passed out!" Oz raised his voice. "I forgave him for that…but I won't for hurting Gil." Oz tightened his fist. Both Ada and I became tense, expected Oz to fly out the door after Elliot.

But he didn't, at least not as we expected. He faced the door and turned the knob slowly.

"Sorry Ada…Ruin." He said before he closed the door behind him.

As I sprung to my feet, a soft pull on my sleeve halted me in my tracks. "Ada?"

She looked down shyly. "I think…they should be left alone."

"What?" I stared at her in confusion.

"We aren't really involved…are we? I don't think Oz will fight Elliot…or even the other way around right now…" Her dazed eyes wavered over to Gilbert's sleeping face. "It's strange…it's hard to imagine Elliot would do something like this to Gilbert."

Even I would think so, is Break daft?

"I know he's not a bad person. He has a temper…but I've seen him help the other students. He's quite nice…"

"Ada." I watched her, fascinated by her resolve.

"I don't mind…if Elliot hates me…truth is I really admire him." Ada whispered.

"Admire?" I was surprised.

But he talks to her so rudely…

"It's a little silly, isn't it?" She tipped her head, blushing.

"Sure is."

"Huh?" She stared at me, a little shocked by my answer.

"He treats you so badly, but you admire him."

"Yeah." Ada looked away. "I don't mind, so he doesn't like me, that doesn't matter to me."

"You're strange Ada." I tried to hold in a slight chuckle.

Ada gave a curt smile.

"Do you love him?"

"Huh?" Ada turned back to me, wide-eyed.

"Just curious."

Ada just smiled. "No, I love someone else."

"Really?"

"Yeah." Her face was tinted pink but she wore her smile proudly. I hadn't been this comfortable with anyone since Alice. I felt a little normal again. I felt grateful to Ada for this just as I felt grateful to Gilbert for saving my life.

"So this person you love…what are they like?"

"He's very charming." Her blush grew redder.

Charming?

"Do you like anyone Ruin?"

I stared down at Gilbert's face then up again at Ada.

"Is it a secret?" She smiled, coyly. "It's alright, you don't have to tell."

"So, Ruin, I heard you helping you are helping Oz find Alice." Ada clasped her fingers together on her lap. Her gold eyes traced me, beaming with curiosity.

"Oz told you?"

"Yes, he told me. He told me Break bribed you with chocolate." She looked a little amused as she gracefully lifted a hand to her mouth. "Do you really like chocolate that much?"

Even though she had kindness about her voice, I was a little peeved.

"What of it?" I tucked my hand under my cheek, resting my head upon my arm.

"It's cute, Ruin." Ada said with a sweet smile.

I widened my eyes, blushing a little. "Thank…you…"

"You're welcome."

"You…" I started.

Ada observed me, awaiting the rest of what I was about to say.

"You…Do you like it here…at school?"

"Yeah, it's pretty fun. Learning…making friends and all" Ada glanced towards the window. The sun's glow was faint but the warmth of it was like a massive tight blanket covering us.

"Friends?"

"Yes." Suddenly Ada noticed my expression before I looked away.

"Ruin…have you ever had friends?"

I glanced in her direction. "Um…" I didn't know what she would think or what she would do, but I didn't want to lie to her. She really cared and she was honest with me. I just had to be honest. "Not really."

Ada looked down at her clasped hands. "…I see."

"I…" My lower voice caught Ada's attention and she glanced back at me. "…I have a friend here…now with me…don't I?" I smiled hopefully.

She grasped my hand tenderly and smiled kindly. "Yes…You do, Ruin." Her hand was warm and its warmth flooded through my hand.

"Ada…"

Suddenly, the door opened.

A young girl stood in the center of the doorway. Her eyes scanned the room while Ada and I watched her with uncertainty. She was very much like an emotionless doll, with white hair and cold grey eyes. She was clothed in a blue and white dress cut mid thigh complete with a black tie.

"Pardon." She said in a monotone voice.

I was lost for words, Ada also seemed unsure of what to say so we both just watched her strut quietly over to where Gilbert slept. I nearly gasped when I saw her face more closely.

"What's his condition like?" She glanced at Ada, then me. Her white hair styled in a bob was beautiful, but honestly what caught my attention more was the reddish mark shaped like a hand upon her left cheek. It looked painful and I couldn't help but feel sympathy for this mysterious girl.

"The doctor says he's suffered severe head trauma…but he's going to be alright. He's sleeping now. Please, don't wake him." Ada relayed the doctor's information to the girl, but my eyes drifted away from her gaze back to her injury.

Ada caught me staring and she nudged me. Even as she nudged me, she did not take her eyes off the girl. Gilbert had told me that Ada was the one who had given him his hat. It was pretty clear how fond of him she was. I was ambivalent about this outcome.

"Um…" Ada took the opportunity to talk to the stranger. "May I ask your name?" Her voice, usually quiet and shy was much more anxious. I was surprised.

"Echo." The mysterious girl answered.

"Nice to meet you Miss Echo." Ada said with a sudden smile, her voice was also much more gentle. "Do you know Gil?" Ada stood up from her seat next to me and moved over towards the girl called Echo.

"It's just Echo." The girl wasn't looking at us anymore, her gaze was back on Gilbert. "Echo came to see this man, his brother is very worried…but I now see that this man is well so I'll take my leave." The girl Echo motioned for the door.

"Wait, why did you come to see him? Who exactly are you?" I had already stood from my seat and began walking towards her. I was perplexed more than I was irritated.

What's with this girl?" By "his brother", does she mean Vincent? Is Vincent here?

" I just told you…I am Echo." The girl, any trace of feeling absent from her voice. A mindless puppet was what she reminded me of, or at the very least it was what I saw in her. I bit my lip.

Does…she work for Vincent?

"Wait!" I shouted, but Echo kept walking. It was as if she didn't even hear me, as if I didn't even exist. She didn't turn her head or make any sort of expression, no movement at all. When she touched the doorknob, I followed after quickly, reaching out for her hand. Once through the door, my hand only caught air. The girl Echo was gone.

Epilogue

Letting out a loud yawn, I sat on the side of the bed, about ready to fall asleep. I glanced towards the window, now closed – I had opened it moments ago for some fresh air although instead I was greeted with bitter cold. The ice along the panels of the window was slowly melting. The scent of the sweet cedar from outside and the soft breeze bringing with it new smells, was uplifting.

The room was now very warm and very cozy like a well-heated small log cabin out in the woods. The candlelight beside my bedside flicked, a fuzzy light in a very dim room. It was a long day and I was eager for some shut-eye.

I began to unbutton my royal blue coat, slid it off, and threw it beside me. Pulling up my white dress shirt, I squeezed my head out of it and tossed that to the side as well. The heat from the fire prickled my bare skin.

As I reached for the nightshirt folded neatly at the foot of my bed, I heard the door creak open behind me.

"Ruin, we need to talk."

My eyes darted up and met Elliot's who stood in the doorway. At the sight of me, he froze and his face began to turn white as a ghost. In any other situation, I would have laughed at him cause of how stupid he looked, but in this situation, I just watched him.

It was too late to grab my nightgown anyway.

"I…"

Elliot slammed the door behind him. I glared at the door a few more seconds as the sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway before I snatched my nightgown and continued getting ready for bed.