Sophie reacted slowly, completely caught off-guard, as the world around her became a fiery, black ball of smoke. She was buffeted as a wave of heat and shock washed over her and she choked as smoke filled her nose. Small pieces of debris rained down on her just before a second explosion sent her rocketing backwards. She hit the wall and sank to the floor, letting out a loud gasp. A short distance away from her, she could see Mr. Roberts lying on his side. He was making short gasps and his sides shook with each breath he tried to take in. Almost nervously, Sophie crawled forward, ignoring the dull aching in the back of her head. When she reached Mr. Roberts side she reached out and flipped him over on his back. When his face came into view, Sophie had to hold back a scream and she turned away. Mr. Roberts' eyes were wide and his mouth hung open as he tried to breath. The reason for his struggle was the large glass shard embedded at the base of his throat.

"Mr. Roberts?" Sophie asked, turning back to the man.

"She…she…has been growing and…we knew that…she would…find…a way to…break free," Mr. Roberts sputtered in between breaths, "You must…run, Sophie…she will be coming…for you!"

Mr. Roberts shuddered and he took one last sputtering breath before his head fell back limp, eyes still open wide. Sophie shuddered and looked away; she couldn't bear to look into such empty eyes. Thick, black smoke still rose into the air, clouding much of the area around Sophie, but as she looked up, towards the large gaping hole, she saw a figure climbing up. In a panic, Sophie scrambled to her feet, backing away from the hole. When her back hit the door she didn't think; she ripped it open and took off down the hall.

Sophie looked left to right, trying to find a place to hide, her terrified breathing sounding too loud. A door nearby caught her attention and she quickly ducked inside. The room was the security room and had a large TV screen that revealed all the floors, rooms, and hallways in the building. Sophie, however, was surprised to find the room empty. She moved to the screens and studied them closely, quickly finding the room that she and Mr. Roberts had been in, however, the smoke was still in the air, restricting the camera's view. She looked around the other screens, but Ali was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, Ali came into view on the camera, walking down one of the hallways. Sophie's heart thudded loudly in her chest when she realized Ali was on the same floor as she was. Without another thought, Sophie tore away from the screens and began searching for a hiding spot. The door knob rattled just as Sophie tucked herself in between two large crates.

The door swung open so hard and fast that it banged into the wall and bounced back, however, Ali stepped out of the way just in time as it slammed shut. When Sophie peered out from behind one of the crates Ali had moved to the screens, standing exactly where Sophie had stood moments before. Ali's head moved left then right as she scanned the monitors, obviously looking for Sophie. She had two guns holstered at her hip and several grenades around her waist. Her fingertips dripped red with fresh blood.

Sophie squeezed her eyes shut and tried to push herself back behind the crates. But as she pushed her hand along the floor her hand slipped and her head thudded against the crate next to her. Sophie let out a gasp as her head flared up in pain again. She quickly covered her mouth when she realized she had made a sound and she looked around the crates again. Ali had given no indication that she had heard the noises and it angered Sophie that Ali's once perfect hearing had been ruined.

After a few more minutes, Ali turned and left the room. Sophie remained where she was, afraid to move, in case Ali hadn't left. But after a few more minutes of waiting, she crawled out from around her hiding place and moved over to the door. She opened it slowly and peeked out before venturing out into the hallway. She had seen Ali taking a right once leaving the room so, to stay on the safe side, Sophie went left. She also decided the best thing to do was to get out of the building as quickly as she could.

The hallways were deserted, which unnerved Sophie to no end. Granted, when she was with Mr. Roberts she hadn't seen any people then, but this seemed different. The eerie calm gave her the impression that something horrible had happened to the remaining personnel in the building. Sophie forced those thoughts out of her mind as the sight of the exit came into view. Thinking she was safe, Sophie let out a grateful laugh and picked up her pace, eager to get out of the building.

She heard the shot and dropped to the ground almost instinctively, screaming as she did. She wasn't fast enough and her thigh burned as the bullet ripped through it. A second later, there was a loud explosion and debris fell on her head.

"Found you," a voice said behind her.

Sophie shuddered and clutched her leg, feeling the warm blood ooze between her fingers. She looked over her shoulder to see Ali standing behind her, a dark grin on her face, and a black gun in her hand pointed at Sophie. It then occurred to Sophie that walking directly to the exit, out in the open, was a bad idea and that she had walked into a trap.

"Ali, please," Sophie pleaded.

"Wow, Sophie, that looks painful," Ali said, tilting her head slightly.

"Why?"

"Why what?" Ali asked.

"Why are you doing this? You said you didn't like killing."

"You're right," Ali replied, "I didn't used to like it, I didn't used to like the feel of warm blood sliding between my fingers. I didn't used to like the sight of those empty eyes staring up at a dark sky, the wide open mouth that still screamed its agony, the terror they felt just before they died. But that's all changed now, I can't get enough of it, I enjoy it!"

"Ali, please, you can't do this," Sophie whispered.

"What?" Ali put a hand to her ear.

"You're not a killer, Ali! I can see it in your eyes!"

Ali's eyes darkened and she lowered the gun. "You know, that's one thing I always envied about my family. Without their eyes, no one could tell what they're really thinking. See, that's the thing with you humans; you make up what you want to see in someone's eyes, just like what you're doing right now!"

"That's not true! I can still see the compassion in your eyes!"

"They lie! There is no longer any compassion for you; you betrayed me!"

"No—"

"Enough! I won't stand for this anymore!" Ali said, "I'm going to leave you now, but when you see me next my hearing will be back and I'll have solved that little eye problem. I don't want you dying thinking you know what I'm feeling!"

Ali then placed the gun back in the holder at her hip and walked past Sophie, not making eye contact. Sophie held her breath, afraid that Ali was lying about waiting to kill her, however a shot never came and when Sophie looked over her shoulder, Ali was gone.