Hello, beauties! I'm back from Madrid, it was very nice but VERY caliente, if any of you are traveling to Madrid I'd love to help you finding things to do and places to eat, just a tip :)

Reminder: Everything except minor characters and Sylvia belongs to Capcom, the rest are mine.


"Are you prepared for what is ahead of you? The journey, the loneliness you'll experience while being out there, the cold and wet weather, the knowledge of not knowing whether or not you'll survive or..." Samir inquired. "...Do you want to stop and go home?"

Another deep breath pushed through, coming from me. The place Samir and I were situated in was a bleak, hoary one and the metal chair I was sitting on was uncomfortable. At first when I entered the room, the fright of it being a inquiry with Samir emerged but I calmed down once realizing the look on Samir's face was nothing but pure tranquility, nothing of seriousness was showing.

"No," I muttered. "I want to continue."

"You don't sound very determined." He pointed out, remaining calm and relaxed.

Another breath. "I am more than certain I can and will carry on."

The look on his face changed from a calm one to a supercilious one. "So it doesn't scare you, the thought of dying?"

His words and expression felt weird, as if he never had been the light-hearted guy who managed to make a funny joke even if it wasn't the appropriate time.

This morning we had been ordered to dress rapidly then head to Samir and Rama for reporting, they were sitting in the usual classroom, as the rest said it was now, and one by one we had been called upon from the room next door where Samir had first went to, Rama went somewhere else. The person who was called wasn't allowed to come back because after both Matt and Simon didn't return and the rest of us looked perplexed and rather frightened. I figured out it was going to be a sort of test but what kind of test I was unsure of, though it must be an important one as there was so much weight put in it and from the grievousness being carried around it.

"Are you going to answer the question?" Samir inquired again.

"No." I said. "To your former question."

"What about your friend's deaths?"

"I don't have any." After slipping it out I regretted because of the look erupting from Samir.

"Why? Are you better than the others is that why you refuse to admit to having friends? Isn't Kevin your friend?"

"We get along, that's enough." I said, ignoring the first questions.

"You still haven't answered all my questions."

I was quiet for a moment. "First of all, it is easier to say I don't have any friends, it makes things less heavier on the emotional part and no, I don't believe myself to be better than anyone else."

Another moment of silence.

"What about your family? Wouldn't it be difficult for them to know you might get killed?"

The word "family" felt as if I had been hit in the guts but my expression was yet the same.

"They understand why I am here." I lied.

"Well, Marie told me there was a family issue that had distracted you from practice and if it would happen during a mission-"

"It won't ever again happen," I said fiercely, upset that Marie had informed him of it.

"What was the family issue about?"

"It's not important."

"Yes, it is."

I tried coming up with lies and reflected which one to use - it was a sickness in the family, an accident, an issue over money...

"Money stuff. You know how that can ruin things sometimes."

Samir glared. "Okay, Charlie then, why do you think he is trying to attack you."

"I...I believe..."

"Yes...?"

"I think he's jealous."

"Your proof isn't really valid, we need something less abstract than your beliefs of what his intentions are. He passed all the tests to come here, why would he want to attack you?"

I knew Samir was trying to play mind tricks, attempting to break us down and see if we could easily be taken down by a few words but I wouldn't let it happen, the words were nothing compared to what I had experienced.

"People aren't always as good as they make themselves to be."

"You need to be able to trust your soon-to-be co-workers, these people are going to be partly responsible for your safety and how would that work if neither one trusted each other."

It wasn't a question but a statement.

"I'll trust him when he deserves it."

Samir looked at me again, awaiting for me to say anything else.

"Fine. You can pass through that door and you'll have more information about what's going to occur." He didn't pointed at the door I entered but the one behind me.

I left Samir, noticing the other door led to the outdoors. The only one standing there was Rama and he seemed to be as serious as his companion, neither Matt or Simon was anywhere to be seen. In front of Rama was a backpack, larger and more equipped than the previous ones I had encountered whilst being on the course. Was there more hiking to be done?

"You'll find everything you need in this bag for you journey. A tent, rain clothes, water bottles...-"

"Am I going to stay outside during the night?"

Rama held up his hand. "In a minute, be patient. Anyway, as you probably have noticed this is another test and a more difficult one. You have being given a location, the map you'll find in the bag, which you must reach within forty-eight hours."

Forty-eight hours? Two fucking days? The weather was freezing and raining and the thought of spending it out there was more than upsetting, it was agitating.

"You have been taught how to read maps, so that's no trouble. You'll have basic equipment to make fires and cook food. The tent you ought to know how to put together considering you're very bright."

I blushed at the compliment, Rama wasn't as good as Samir when it came to pretending to be someone they're not.

"You have food but must be caucuses in how you handle it. Stay clear from roads and other places, as everyone have been given different locations no one is going to be assisted in this and if you realize someone is coming closer to you, you have to get away from there as fast as possible. If you are caught by anyone, the test will end for you. You'll carry a clock with you since it is necessary to know how much time you have. The only way to pass the test is to reach the location on your map within the forty-eight hours, understood?"

I nodded, as he was speaking an adrenalin-rush streamed through my body and I was scared yet excited to prove my worth. It shouldn't be so hard to reach the location, really. Everything from Samir's questioning seemed unimportant, his attempt of trying to shock me didn't quite work as I was shaking eagerly to get started.

"Any questions?" Rama asked.

"No." I said.

"Then you can start...now!" He shouted, looking at his clock. I ran to put on the raincoat that had already been taken out of the back, picked up the backpack and hurried into the forest.


The map was harder to read than earlier conceived, it was difficult to exactly interpret where I was standing or which direction I was looking at. Our previous classes with Rama and Samir had taught us that the most vital rule when it came to reading a map was adjusting the map so it pointed correctly. But I had trouble to use it since whenever I stepped to the right, left, back or any direction at all I had to re-center the map correctly. At the moment I was confused to why it showed I was looking north since in front of me was an anthill and I knew that ants preferred to build their homes looking at the south because of the sun and warmth, also why the map showed the military base was at the right side of where I stood than behind me because I could still see it from the low hill I posed on. Eventually I succeeded making the map point right and from there on could continue. From having read the map I learned that the location I had to progress to was at the end of it, close to the hills where we had hiked and that the forest was larger than I thought. At our first run with Chris the forest never gave much of an impression but the map showed that the forest was actually split into two due to a highway but the forest was connected at the end of the highway. Why an engineer thought it was good to design a road like that, I didn't know since the road reached a dead-end to a forest.

I walked and walked, once a while glaring at the clock Rama had handed me, it didn't show what time it was but how many hours were remaining for me to reach my location point. The sun had begun to peak from the clouds, thus ending the rainy weather and when supposedly four hours had passed since I left the facility a rainbow appeared. It was beautiful, I stopped to look at it but remembered not to be distracted. I hadn't even gone properly through the backpack I carried on me, the first thing I saw in it was the information-paper which explicated where I had to go and the basic rules to the test was being performed. We were not aloud to help each other, the paper had mentioned, I wondered if Kevin would help me if he saw me. I didn't want to stumble upon anyone, let alone Charlie and Simon but if Kevin emerged from a tree it wouldn't be so bad because the company could help make the task less tedious.

Suddenly the sound of a creak erupted and I frooze still, the sound had came from the bushes near and rightfully so I saw glimpses of someone sneaking behind the bushes. Slowly I crept back, keeping my gaze at the person until finally that person decided to turn around and head back. I sighed thankfully, and instantly sprinted the other way from where the person had appeared. I didn't stop until I found a good spot to hide where a few fallen trees surrounded a large hollow one in the middle, I crawled into the hollow tree and listened if someone else was nearby. After a solid minute of hearing nothing but my heavy breaths I decided to get up and continue, since I had sprinted from the road leading me to the highway I had to re-read the map again and find a new route. Defeated, I began my new journey. Another four hours passed of nothing but walking and reading the map until I had to go through my backpack, once more I found a remote spot to go through my things. I first awaited to see if anyone else was close then proceeded. The information-paper laid on top of the neatly packed tent, there was extra clothes too, a first aid kit, a knife, rope and lastly the food which consisted of three bananas, three apples, three bars, a pack of butter, uncooked potatoes, mushrooms and the supplies to cook the food - a pot and a sleeve. I never ate mushrooms, they were the only food I would never place in my mouth so they wouldn't be touched therefore I resolved the bars would be breakfast and lunch, the potatoes dinner and the fruits I could eat whenever my stomach would start growling. I only had one bottle filled with water so I realized it would be necessary to find a river for collecting water.

I carried forward despite feeling blisters and abrasion on my feet and ignoring the heavy backpack, it was difficult and I got hungry so I ate an apple but it barley calmed the hunger. Several times the sounds of coming from a person was heard and several times I had to sprint away so they wouldn't find me, it could be Kevin but there was also the chance of it being Charlie or Matt, not to mention we aren't allowed to help each other and I wouldn't want to turn down helping Tim or Simon, Damian I would love to deny help to ever since he refused to let me drink from his water bottle.

There weren't a lot of animals in this forest although every so often a rabbit or squirrel turned up but jumped or climbed away the moment they sensed my present, minute by minute the task felt even more tedious. Night time arrived and after losing track of where I was heading too often it hadn't been way until past midnight I reached the highway but I remembered Rama and Samir teaching us to stay away from roads and keeping in mind that we were being tracked down, dwelling on a low profile was vital. Hence I strutted along the high-way, still in the forest so I could reach the place where the forest connected and pass through there, hidden by the trees. After some hour or so I acknowledged it was best if I rested for a while. A tree with many branch was near a river so I climbed up it, thinking of a book where the protagonist had to sleep in trees because of it was safer. There was a thick enough branch for me to lay down on but before closing my eyes I tied myself to the tree, preferably an oak, so I wouldn't fall down and instantly fell asleep not minding the discomfort from the solid branch and the awkward position I was in.

Four hours was enough to sleep, I decided, I had woken many times during the rest but now it was time to continue even if the sun merely up. The breakfast consisted of the last drops of water and a bar. I made a fire when the sun had appeared, just a small one so I could boil the water from the river and whilst the water was heating, killing the unwanted bacteria I persisted on taking a look on my feet.

It was shocking to see my blood-drenched socks and that my feet were covered in abrasions and blisters which were burning and stinging simultaneously, the shock of viewing the sight acknowledged the pain I had attempted to ignore and I moaned loudly. Another moan but from relief erupted as I placed the wounded feet in the river, turning the water around the feet lightly red because of the blood. After some well-desevered cleaning, plastering and massing the feet I put on the extra pair of socks, cleaned my shoes so my feet get rid of having to be in dirty shoes, I gathered the water and packed the supplies, then continued. But now, as I was aware of the wounds on my feet it made me walker slower and if I continued in this pace the chance of reaching the location point was smaller. Though it was possible to walk faster, my foot had to be dragged by the other one, one step at a time. Twenty hours remained and only two bars, five potatoes, half the butter and two bananas remained when it was mid-day. I had reached the connecting part of the forest at least, yet I felt someone was watching me so I tried to look for a gestalt but a blow to the back of my head left me in total darkness.


"Shhh, you'll wake her."

Naked trees...soft raindrops...my body being pulled on the ground...I attempted to keep my eyes open, to take in the environment but I was exhausted, the pain exploded from my head, blood wetting the hair...darkness took over.

"Ugh..." I lightly moaned from being awoken once more, water flooded my ears and I was entirely wet...my eyelids heavy, my body still in pain.

"Look, she is trying to open her eyes."

"Shut up."

Two people held onto my feet, dragging me, the ground was no longer water but rotten leaves, molted branches and dirt and since I was refused by m body of receiving the sight of the two people who were dragging me I gave up and closed my eyes. Suddenly I was struck by stumb and no longer holding in the screams I shouted so loudly crows creaked and left the trees they were sitting on.

"Shut up!" This time it was directed to me and once more I was hit by a hard object.


"Sylvia?"

Tim's face was inches away from mine and I smelled his breath, he had just eaten a bar I supposed. Tim looked very concerned and he repeated saying my name, I wanted to answer but had no energy to open my mouth, let alone breath normally.

"Don't worry." Tim said calmly as my breathing became panted. "Help is on its way."

"Good..." I mouthed. Tim smiled weakly then lifted my head to lay it gently on his lap. I closed my eyes from the fatigue.


I woke up in my room, feeling I had been taken care of, no longer bleeding and well patched, Marie had done a wonderful job the pain was number yet I had survived but I was hungrier than ever. It was embarrassing, I understood what had occurred now as I was conscious, I knew this was the doing's of Charlie and Matt and although I never had a clear view of who was dragging me across the forest I recognized their voices.

I laid in the bed, emotionless. There was nothing left to do but to wait and have someone explain the situation, all I had conjured was that Tim had to be one the who found me and someone else could have been with him, possibly his brother or Kevin since Damian would never help anyone but where were Charlie and Matt be, and what will happen to them? If they were caught, I assumed, they must have ran away otherwise I wouldn't be in this bed. I wondered if any of the superiors had called my grandma or my uncles, were they here right now? God, if they were...the whole scenario would perfectly fit in a terrible movie about some innocent girl that was being billed and attacked in school, then the girl would be saved by the hot, popular guy who no one would ever believe could fall for the bullied girl, maybe that good-looking guy could be Chris...I imagined Chris comforting me, caressing me in armful, encircled by his strong arms.

What the hell, Sylva? Is that what's occupying your mind right NOW?

Shut up. I told myself.

BANG, the door was pushed open, Kevin stood in the doorway.

"You're up." He screamed, running to sit on the side of the bed. He viewed me, his eyes wandering from the plastered arms and the feet that were sticking out from the fluffy blanket I had been handed.

My eyes were watering from the distraught look on his face. "Sylvia..." He murmured.

"I know, why did this have to happen to me?"

Kevin sat closer, lifted my head as Tim had done and laid me down on his lap. It felt nice to have to someone comfort me after the disaster.

"It's all right, your injuries must be shitty to deal with but Marie said you can continue if you want to."

Still in pain from the wounds and upset from the attack the news merely brought any joy. Did I even want to become an SOA after this? Yes, I wanted it more than ever, I was just upset from all of the exhaustion.

"Mhm. I think I can still walk and do stuff, you know. It's just it wasn't so comfortable being pulled on the soil. How long have I been here?"

"I believe half the day has passed from when we found you."

Kevin began stroking my forehead, the feeling of calmness appeared and I sensed a warmth eruption from his hand and entering my body. We remained in this position, it was more than nice, I enjoyed it too much so when the door was opened yet again I was angered.

"Chris?" Kevin asked, surprised.

Too indifferent that he had so rudely entered the room I didn't bother to acknowledge his arrival.

"Is she still up?" Chris asked, I couldn't help but notice a distinct sound of irritation.

"Uhm, I don't know, maybe she fell asleep again.

"All right," Chris said, more annoyed. "Get out."

Kevin who usually never spoke up refuse the order, still stroking me over the forehead. "Do I have to?"

"Yeah, get out."

Carefully he placed my head back on the cushion and left without closing the door behind him to which Chris pointed out and Kevin slowly closed it.

"I know you're not asleep." Chris muttered.

I opened my eyes, he was standing next to the bed, giving out a victor feeling.

"Yes?" I asked cooly, did he never attempt to be nice? He was so confusing, why the heck did he have to change his behavior so often?

"You are aware of who attacked you in the forest?"

"Yes."

"Can you say who?"

I sighed. "Charlie and Matt."

"Right. Do you know what they planned on doing with you?"

"No."

Chris was quiet.

"Were are they?" I asked.

"Gone." Now he was the one who sighed.

"What?!"

"They apparently left your body," he said but stopped as I shoot him a mean look. "I mean you, they left you, sorry."

I scarcely smiled, I managed to make him feel guilty. So it was so easy to guilt-shame him?

"They left you in the forest and Tim found you, he managed to scream for help and Kevin came, he took on look at you and knew he had to run back to us." Chris sat down. "He ran the whole way, he was barely breathing when he arrived." Then Chris uttered something I didn't hear well.

"What?"

"He really cares about you." Chris said. "Don't take that for granted."

Was Chris jealous of Kevin being the one who helped me, for being the guy in shinning armor as people said, it would feel oddly satisfying if it was right.

"I won't." I said, sounding less cold.

"We should have listened to you. I'm sorry, Sylvia." I only heard Chris saying my name, the rest didn't matter. He pronounced the end of my name with a "Sylvi-AH" and I had no idea why the hell I acted this way, my stomach was upturned and my hands clenching onto the sheet. This was also the second time Chris visited me in bed...that sentence sounded bizarre without context.

You're in love, a voice in my head teased.

I shook my head. Chris glared. "What is it?" He asked, that bewildered look on his face was cute, it made him appear puppy-like.

Oh good God, shut up. Stop, you've been attacked, you might have lost the possibility of achevining your dream-career and this is what you think?

"Sylvia, you don't continue the course, no one would blame you for quitting." Chris said.

"No, I don't have to but it's what I chose."

"Sometimes you make the wrong choices."

"This isn't one of them." Wasn't I just in doubt? Why was I lying? But it didn't feel as if it was a lie, it was the truth, I wanted no more than to proceed.

"Well, it is for the better after all." Chris said, massaging his shoulders and it made the hair on my arm rise, his muscles were so big.

"Why?"

"You're one of the best we'll have."

Maybe he likes you too if you're lucky...

Shut up, I shouted in my head but smiled at Chris.


Chris explained we would had to leave the room and head to the main room for dinner, Marie was going to explain everything, he has said. But first I had to dress and he hurried to leave. I dressed quickly and saw he was waiting for me in the corridor. Everyone were apprenrently waiting for me and what I was afraid occurred - everyone's attention was at me. It seemed extra weird having Chris accompanying me, Kevin had saved a seat for me and he eaglerly waved for me to sit down.

"You may know Sylvia was attacked by Charlie and Matt, this has caused quite a problem." Marie said, enhancing the word "quite". "There's a law here that says no harm should be done to any of you during the time of becoming special operation agents. We have reported the assault to administrative autorithy that deals with work-related issues as it is our responsibility to do so and as of now it is yet uncertain if you can continue your training."

"No!" Tim and Simon shouted, looking childish with their pouted lips.

"Why?" Kevin added. "Sylvia is recovering and she wants to continue as well as the rest of us.

Marie shook her head, she seemed as upset as the others. "I understand your concern but there is not answer until tomorrow morning, so this might be your last night."

"Does this mean the BSAA has to cease?" Simon asked.

"No, merely that this education-course will undergo an investigation and that it's up to the experts to determine if it's safely to continue using it for future SOA:s."

"So we can still become SOA:s?" The usually quiet Damian asked.

Marie nodded. "It does but as this can be your last night, it's better to have dinner and afterwards allow you to pack just in case you would have to leave."

I felt horrible for ruining the possibility of Kevin and the brother's becoming SOA:s, not for Damian though I didn't care about him, I expected a look of hate for having caused trouble but neither the superiors or trainees had any anger on their expression, not even Damian. Jane even smiled at me, with a worried look although but it was more of worry for me not for what would happen with her job.

"Rama, can you bring the food?" Marie inquired and Rama got on his feet and returned within seconds with boxes of pizza. The time for usual dinner had probably passed since all of us immediately reached for a slice and ate in silence.

"Sylvia, can I speak with you?" Marie wondered after half the pizzas were eaten. I arose and followed her into the corridor for the classrooms.

"I didn't tell you everything." Marie began, she took a deep breath after finishing her sentence. I remained quiet and allowed her to carry on. "It can be up to you if the education course stops, if you're willing to withdraw the registration to being gravely injured in a way that shouldn't occur in this training, the authorities might allow us to continue if you decide the assault doesn't need to reported."

Marie had played her cards right, first informing all of us that there is the chance of us not continuing and forcing me to see everyone's becoming upset, if she reveled everything in from of the others it would be obviously that she would try and guilt-trip me in the most distasteful way. But she wasn't aware that I had been willing to report the attack from the start, this could happen everywhere and I knew the BSAA worked hard against these matters, it was simply one of thoses times that happened one in a million. However I was still upset of Marie trying to put all weight on me.

"I'll have to think about it." I muttered. "Can I tell you after dinner?"

Marie nodded but I still saw glints of anger in her, I shouldn't try making enemies as I've barely lost the previous ones, Matt and Charlie were yet out there. So all in all I could do nothing but understand Marie's situation, they did also allow me to continue after having sprained my ankle.

"But I believe I might think it won't happen." I said, unsure of why I was allowing this pass by. "There's no need to abruptly stop our training and if we could finish it, I would love it since it'd be a shame if all this work went to waste."

Marie nodded with a relieved look. "I knew you would come to your senses. You're a clever girl."


THERE IT IS! Finally, I had written like 1000 words and when I tried to save the chapter it vanished...so I had to re-write the piece...:( But never mind, its here! PLEASE REVIEW? Makes me write faster ;)