Simon hadn't given the taxi a destination. It followed a series of loops, moving through neighborhoods, along shopping centers and down freeways to create an inconsistent and hopefully untraceable direction. The CyberLife link had been automatically disconnected when he hacked the panel, and luckily this taxi was equipped with an LED license plate which he was able to scramble. It was only a temporary solution. The taxi system would eventually note a discrepancy in the number of vehicles and identify the problem car. Or else the car would run out of power first. It was too risky to stop long enough to charge it since all the charging stations monitored each individual vehicle. They were surviving on borrowed time.

Kate had been fairly silent for most of the journey which was now entering its third day. This would have worried him but for her occasional tug at him, pulling him into the back seat so that she could curl up against him, drawing her legs up and settling her face into the space at his neck. She would stay like that for hours until she fell asleep, or Simon had to move to the panel to change their direction and monitor the endurance of the taxi. The rest of the time, she would gaze out the window at the passing buildings, her face mysteriously blank as though she were lost in deep thought.

They'd had to stop a few times, and Simon had to strategically maneuver to avoid surveillance cameras which he knew from the distant memory of his link through CyberLife. Kate had been barefoot during their frantic run from the android. A combination of the icy ground, rough terrain and the trauma of running had left her bloody and bruised. It took him a while to convince her that they needed to address it. After a few hours, he finally found a quiet enough store to risk stocking up on medical supplies and a pair of shoes. He knew the transaction would be tracked, so after leaving he altered the taxi route to keep them far from that area.

The taxi was running low on power. There was also the issue of food and water. Kate hadn't mentioned it, and Simon knew it would be up to him to make her eat. So on the morning of the third day, he stopped the taxi again in a remote area. The snow had melted enough to reveal the features of the city, creating an even greater contrast between the sleek skyscrapers and drab older buildings. Pools of water collected at the edges of the streets and in the parking lots. The older areas like this hadn't been modernized, and therefore the chances of encountering another android or being caught in the security feed were much lower. Still, Simon preferred to take his chances with vending machines than to interact with anyone.

Kate was asleep on the back seat, resting as comfortably as she could manage with one arm hanging off the edge. Simon watched her for a moment, a subtle worry building in him. She had been sleeping only a few hours at a time. The taxi was frustratingly uncomfortable, not to mention unreliable. Kate couldn't get by like this for much longer. They would need to find a place to stay, and soon.

He quietly opened the taxi door and closed it behind him, moving towards the store as he contemplated their options for the thousandth time. Staying in a motel was tempting, but he steered himself from it. The risk of being identified as well as having to pay was too dangerous. There was no one that he could trust in Kate's short list of contacts to keep her safe, and he knew by now that everyone was aware of his and Kate's disappearance. There was always the option of hiding in one of the many abandoned buildings in Detroit, but something inside him deeply resented the thought. He had to do better than that. If he couldn't find a way to keep her safe then he would need to make a more rash decision. She was suffering with him, and they were running out of time.

The vending machines were on the side of the building, and he connected to one of them remotely. As he proceeded through the checkout, he found himself frozen in dread. Susan's card had been deactivated.

He let out a heavy sigh and closed his eyes. He should have known this would happen. Their situation was only getting worse. Now their list of options became even shorter.

He pressed his hand against the panel of the vending machine, syncing with its software and bypassing the payment. The panel flashed in strange shapes, then the machinery whirred into gear, dispensing water bottles and energy bars. Burying his frustration, Simon scooped them up and moved back to the taxi quickly before the attendant noticed the malfunction.

Kate shifted onto her back and ran her hands over her face as Simon opened the taxi door and dropped everything onto the seat next to him. He closed the door as Kate sat up, her hair falling over her face as she seemed to recover from sleep. Simon watched her for a moment, a deep apprehension burning through him as the taxi began to move again. She looked exhausted.

She straightened slightly and ran a hand through her hair so that he was able to see her face. Her eyes were dark and weary as though she were fighting to keep her eyes open. She looked up at him, her posture gaining more strength, and then she noticed the items on the seat. She was silent, but Simon could tell from her face that she was stunned.

He picked up a water bottle and handed it to her. She took it and immediately wrenched the cap off, leaning back slightly as she drank. Within a few seconds she had finished most of it, resting her back against the seat and letting out a relieved sigh. Simon tried to ignore his anxiety as he handed her an energy bar. It took her a moment to notice it, and she gave him a warm smile as she took it, bringing back a flash of her cynicism as if reminding him that it was still there. Simon checked the panel as she brought her legs up and sat cross-legged on the seat, carefully unwrapping the bar. He felt another wave of dread wash over him. They had only a matter of hours before the car was out of power.

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose and clenching his eyes shut. He had to find an answer to this. There had to be something he was missing.

When he lowered his hand, he realized Kate had stopped eating and was watching him with her weary smile. She bit her lip and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees.

"You know…" Her voice was surprisingly soft despite not having spoken in several hours. "Humans do that when they're pissed off."

Her smile gained strength, and Simon couldn't help but feel slightly comforted. He leaned back against the seat, struggling to think of what to say. He didn't even know where to begin. Their situation was so hopeless that he couldn't offer one bit of positive news. He ran a hand over his face as he forced himself to think one more time. There had to be an answer somewhere. The contacts, abandoned buildings, other vehicles, charging stations... and motels were now completely out of the question. And then there was the other option. The option that his mind was fighting against even acknowledging. It filled him with horrible shame. He was failing her in the worst way possible.

Something touched his arm, and he looked up to see that Kate had moved forward. Her eyes were tense as she gazed at him, clutching his uniform and pulling him towards her.

"Hey…" She slid her hand along his neck, running her thumb over his cheek. Unwittingly, Simon felt part of his apprehension leak away, replaced by a faint shadow of charged passion. He automatically moved forward into her as she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him onto the back seat with her. He let out another frustrated sigh and ran his hands up her waist, taking in the contact that was in so much danger. He was losing this. There was nothing he could do to stop it.

Kate moved onto his lap, running her hands along his neck and he felt her lips against his temple. "It's okay," she said quietly. "It's okay…" She moved back in front of him so that he was able to see her face. He brushed her hair back behind her ear as he took in the sight of her. She was trying as hard as she could to look strong but he could still see the exhaustion in her hazel eyes. She was so exhausted, both physically and mentally and yet she was gazing at him with such hope and confidence as if he was the one barely surviving. He hardly felt worthy of her.

He let out a breath, drawing up his resolve as he ran his hand down her cheek. He shook his head. "We can't stay in this taxi."

Kate's expression tensed, and she nodded. "I figured that."

"We have three hours and seven minutes until the power runs out," he said. "We can't risk a charging station or another taxi. We need a place to stay."

Kate leaned sideways slightly, resting her elbow against the side of the car as she stared off. "There's motels…"

Simon shook his head again. "We'd be detected immediately. Also, your mother's card is deactivated. I have no other source of currency."

Kate looked at him. "Deactivated? How did you get this?" She raised the bottle of water. Simon was unsure what to say, and Kate dropped her hand. She closed her eyes and smiled, and for a split second Simon was reminded of her old frustration towards him. "You stole it…"

"I'm not going to watch you starve to death," said Simon. He held onto the side of her neck. "I just… need to search harder. There has to be somewhere with no surveillance, no androids, and free of charge."

Kate shrugged her shoulders. "A dumpster?"

Simon tilted his head. "That's not helpful."

"Why not?" Kate moved to the side and sat next to him, drawing her legs up. "I'm already homeless."

Simon looked at her. She was gazing at the floor, her eyes tense as if saying that to herself made her believe it. He closed his eyes and drew up his strength, feeling the shame build up in him as he prepared himself. "There is another way. Another option that will keep you─"

"No."

He faltered, his system stammering. He looked at her and saw that her face had tensed, her hazel eyes narrowed and her mouth clenched. He shifted slightly on the seat. "Kate, if it's between that and dying─"

"Then I'd rather die." Kate stared at the floor, her hands clenched on her arms. "I'm not going back."

"I can't accept that option," said Simon. "You're all that matters."

Kate looked up at him, her eyes lit in a fierce determination. "And you're all that matters to me."

Simon sighed, a helpless exasperation flowing through him. As much as it pained him to push the suggestion, he couldn't bring himself to force it on her. He would do anything to keep her with him, if there was anything he could do. The thought of losing her sent his system into a dark region of programming that he had never been aware of. It told him exactly what he should do if they ever got to that point.

He felt Kate brush his cheek, regaining his attention. The determination had left her eyes, leaving them soft as she gazed at him. "You said we'd stay together no matter what happens. Don't go back on that."

He shook his head. "I have nothing to work with. I've checked every location, every contact, and I still can't find a way out of this. I can't find a way to make this work."

Kate looked to the side, her eyes narrowed. "Contacts. You mean my contacts?"

"Yes. Your mother will no doubt have checked with them to find you. We can't risk anyone nearby, and the only others not in Detroit are states away."

Kate was unusually tense. A deep worry reflected in her eyes, causing her whole posture to become slightly rigid. Simon watched her curiously, leaning slightly in an attempt to catch her attention. Before he could speak again, Kate drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"You went through all of my contacts? Every one?"

Simon stared at her, narrowing his eyes. "Yes."

She was silent again, her eyes still closed. It was almost as if she was surrendering to something horrible. Simon felt a pang of fear grip his system. If she was accepting the fact that she needed to return home, then he would need to prepare for the worst. He didn't know that he would be able to. The thought brought him back to that dark region again, putting his system on edge. It terrified him. If she did go back, he wouldn't have a choice. His system would put it into action for him.

Kate let out a deep breath. "I know where we can go."

Simon straightened, his heart quickening. For a moment, he wasn't sure he'd heard her correctly. "Where?"

She opened her eyes, and looked towards the panel. "Can we still use GPS?"

"CyberLife connection was terminated, but the taxi can still plot a course," said Simon.

"Okay," said Kate. She seemed to hesitate for a moment, then pushed up from the seat, moving into one of the front seats as she navigated the panel. Simon watched her in powerful curiosity, reading the address that she was putting into the GPS. It directed the taxi to a house on the edge of the city in what he recognized as a very wealthy neighborhood. He stared at it, running it through his database. The house was owned by CyberLife.

"Kate, are you sure about this?" he said.

The intense dread was still on her face as she stared at the floor. "Yes."

Somehow that didn't convince him. He leaned sideways, reading her expression. "Who lives there?"

Kate closed her eyes and her shoulders rose as she drew in a breath. "No one will find us there. We can stay as long as we want. There are androids but they won't bother us."

Again, Simon was stunned by the information. A dozen questions raced through his mind, but as he looked at her, he wasn't sure if asking them would make a difference. He had never seen her this uneasy, as though she were walking into a terrible trap. She was set in a rigid frame, her arms wrapped around one leg and her eyes shut in deep concentration. Simon cast another glance at the panel, quickly analyzing the route. They would be there in an hour, just barely dodging the power deadline.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Is there anything I should know before we get there?"

Kate shook her head, then opened her eyes quickly. "Just─" She looked at him, and Simon was aware of her studying his posture as if he'd caught her off guard. She relaxed slightly, her expression growing softer. "Just don't pretend to be…"

Simon watched her as she seemed to struggle to find the right words. He tilted his head. "Your android?"

Kate gazed at him, her weary expression growing strong like it had when she'd expressed her doubts. She tensed her eyes, her mouth opening slightly as if she meant to say something but couldn't. It spurred a kind of nervous energy in him. He didn't like seeing her do that. As if she was questioning what he felt for her. It made him feel helpless and lost despite everything he'd done to prove to her how much she meant to him. Before he could say another word, she drew her other leg up and wrapped both arms around her knees, turning so that she gazed out the window away from him.

They were quiet for a long time, and Simon knew not to speak to her even though the questions continued to multiply in his mind. He worried about the safety of the location they were headed towards even though Kate seemed convinced that it wasn't an issue. The address didn't appear anywhere in her contact list, and seemed to have no relation to her at all. At the same time, he found himself fighting the nagging doubt that any of this had been worth it. He thought nothing could deny what he'd done with her the night before they'd left. It had been the epitome of what everything he'd yearned for, the most blissful satisfaction. And yet even now, he wondered if it had been enough.

Gradually the scenery changed from the old suburban neighborhoods of western Detroit to the layered levels of skyscrapers as they neared downtown. The shiny white and blue pillars of technology contrasted against the red brick architecture, threatening to swallow what remained of the original city. The highway they traveled on took them up and around on a kind of ramped speedway so that they were right in the middle of it. Simon looked up at Kate occasionally, wishing he could see her expression but she continued to stare out the window in silence. He hoped she was simply lost in the scenery and not dwelling on the doubts that he'd seen on her face.

As the city dwindled and then faded behind them, he noticed Kate seemed to be growing more tense. She clenched one hand against her leg and the other pressed to her lip. Again, he felt a restless urge to comfort her but held himself back. He didn't need to ask her to know this was something he would only make worse by prying for information. All he could do was exist with her in this ominous transition from escape to what he hoped was sanctuary.

The trees grew thicker and taller, obscuring the landscape and hiding the city completely. Between the trees on their right, Simon caught glimpses of light reflecting off water letting him know they were travelling along the Detroit river. He watched the houses curiously as they changed from quaint to luxurious, some of them hidden behind a forest of pine. They passed what appeared to be an old statue, warped from years of restoration. Kate watched the statue in particular, and Simon saw a hint of her face as the statue flew by them. Her expression perplexed him. She looked both nervous and relieved at the same time.

The taxi began to slow and move to the side of the road, and Simon heard Kate draw in a deep breath. Then the taxi stopped, and the doors automatically opened.

Simon moved forward, preparing to help Kate out but she was still sitting tense with her legs drawn up. He couldn't help the nervous energy that flowed through him. He reached forward and brushed her hair back, and felt a small amount of relief when she seemed to relax into him. She closed her eyes and released her legs, stretching slightly in the seat. With a bit more confidence, Simon pushed the seat so that she rotated towards him. He waited for her to look at him, trying his best not to let her worried expression weaken his resolve. After a few moments, she finally raised her eyes to him. Her mouth softened and her eyes gained strength.

She moved to get up, and Simon kept one hand on her shoulders as she stepped carefully out onto the curb, straightening with visible difficulty after having been in the small environment of the taxi for days. Simon stood up next to her, and the taxi doors swung closed behind them. With a final light crunching, the taxi rolled away.

At first, Simon wasn't sure they were even standing in front of a house. Tall pine trees swayed over a line of thick shrubs, broken by a wall of dark stone slabs. A rectangular archway indicated a driveway which curved out of sight. Simon couldn't help but gaze around at this new scenery. It was a drastic change from the modern city that he was used to.

Kate moved forward, her arms still wrapped around herself in her usual defensive posture. Simon followed quietly next to her, still monitoring her expression. Her face had gone blank, though she was still slightly pale. As they turned onto the driveway, the house came into view at the end of a circular lot. It was two-story and made of the same stone slab as the wall, built in an L shape with a grand front door at the top of rounded steps. The house was enormous and modernized in many of CyberLife's accessories that Simon recognized such as the garage door mechanisms, light fixtures, and mail receptacle. The house was practically built entirely from CyberLife technology.

He had to suppress his hesitation as he followed Kate to the front door. Despite his anxiety, he was curiously aware of how familiar Kate seemed to be with the place. She didn't stare at the house like he had. In fact, she seemed to follow a set path around the crescent shaped driveway unusually close to the ferns, and Simon noticed with a strange fascination that the driveway seemed to be faulted, dipping slightly towards the center which made it easier to walk closer to the garden. They approached the rounded steps, and Kate finally lowered her arms, drawing in some unknown strength. Simon continued to observe his surroundings as they approached the front porch. A welcome panel shined brightly next to the huge double doors.

Simon looked at Kate who was still expressionless. He touched her shoulder. "Do you want me to speak to them?" he asked.

Kate shook her head. She moved in front of him, and tapped the panel lightly.

"CyberLife Technologies," said a man's voice, and Simon recognized it as an android's. "Do you have an appointment?"

Kate seemed to be frozen for a moment. Then she drew in a breath and closed her eyes. "Can… can you tell the owner that Kate's here?"

There was silence. For a while, Simon wondered if the connection had been interrupted. Kate seemed not to react, her eyes still closed and her body rigid.

"Kate Hayes?"

Kate swallowed. "Yes."

Again, silence. Simon watched the panel as though it would give him answers. The wind rustled the pine trees overhead, creating an even more unsettling tension as though he should be doing something. Before he could even think of what to do, the front doors suddenly swung open.

An older man stood in the doorway. His hazel eyes were wide under his swept gray hair, and even through a thick beard his shocked expression was clearly visible. He held onto the door with a clenched fist as though fighting to steady himself. Simon's first reaction was to shield him from Kate, but something about the man stopped him cold in his tracks.

The man was silent as he stared at Kate. It looked as though he wanted to speak but was petrified to the spot. Finally, Kate drew up her shoulders and let out a deep breath.

"Hi dad," she said.

Simon didn't have time to comprehend the situation before the man let go of the door and pulled Kate into him, wrapping his huge frame over her shoulders as though he couldn't hold enough of her. The man shook as he held her onto him, Kate's face barely visible against his gray bread and brown leather jacket. Simon watched them in stunned disbelief.

"Kate…" the man breathed through light gasps. "Oh god Kate…"

The man pushed her back gently in front of him and gazed at her, his hands on her shoulders. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Kate shook her head. "I'm fine. I'm just tired."

The man pulled her back in again, and Simon was startled by the man's strong reaction. His face was contorted, his eyes clenched closed and his teeth bared slightly as he breathed heavily. Then the man moved back again, taking a moment to compose himself as he straightened.

"Okay," said the man, taking a step back towards the house. "Okay, let's get you inside. It's going to be okay."

Simon followed them through the front doors into the entryway, still keeping warily close to Kate as her father led her with one arm over her shoulder. As they moved into the marble room, the front door closed automatically behind them, sealing with an electronic buzz.

"Your mother called me two days ago," said the man as he paused next to Kate, rubbing her shoulder. "The police have been all over looking for you. Are you sure you're okay? What do you need me to do?"

"Dad, I'm okay." Kate shrugged her shoulder wearily so that he loosened his grip on her slightly. "It's just been a long couple of days."

The man let out a sigh as he looked at her, seeming to gain a stronger posture. Simon continued to observe them curiously, a subtle nervousness building in him as though he shouldn't be watching. Then the man glanced at Simon, and without knowing why, Simon felt an intense trepidation at the man's stare as though Simon had no power at all. It took all of Simon's resolve to gaze back at him, the familiarity in the man's hazel eyes making it even more difficult.

He saw Kate look at him, and she made a light motion. "Dad, this is um… this is Simon."

Somehow an introduction didn't make it any easier. Simon forced his unease to the side as he held out his hand. The man continued to study him as he cautiously shook it.

"Simon," said the man. "I'm Kate's father, Richard."

"Hello, Richard," said Simon. He was glad when her father let go and returned his attention to Kate.

"Do you need something to eat?" said Richard. "I can make you something."

Simon was slightly surprised when Kate nodded. "Yeah, I guess I should."

Again, Richard wrapped an arm around her and led her down the house. Simon followed them into the wide gleaming kitchen with dark furnishings and a deep wooden table at one end of the room. Kate seemed to slide into a very specific chair, sitting sideways and drawing her legs up. She threw a nervous glance at Simon, giving him a small ounce of confidence at her acknowledgement. He stood to the side as Richard moved along the cabinets, and Simon felt another pang of nervousness as a domestic android stepped into the kitchen. Richard waved him away, and the android moved back out of the room.

"Let's see if I still remember how to make this right," said Richard. He gathered a cluster of ingredients on the counter. "One avocado, no mayonnaise, two slices of pepperjack…"

"Dad, it's fine," said Kate as she ran her hands over her face. "Just anything is fine."

Richard moved towards the table with a prepared plate. "I want to make sure you'll eat it."

"I'll eat it," said Kate. She took the sandwich from him and closed her eyes as she bit into it, the weariness on her face seeming to grow. Richard sat next to her, watching her carefully. Simon could see in his face that he was burning with questions, but the collected way in which he looked at her gave Simon the impression that this man held a deeper wisdom than he appeared. It made Simon's own concern for Kate feel inadequate compared to her father's.

Kate was apparently aware of her father's gaze as well. She threw a glance up at him. "I guess you'll want to know everything."

Richard shifted slightly on the seat and took a slow breath. "You know I won't ask you unless you want to tell me."

Kate nodded as she continued to eat in silence. She seemed to be losing more energy as time went by, taking moments to simply rest her forehead in her hand with her eyes closed. Simon was paralyzed by the need to keep his distance although everything in him wanted to be next to her. To hold her and support her. For the first time, he felt that he wasn't the right person to do that. He felt horribly and pathetically useless.

Richard tapped his hand on the surface of the table. "I'll get you something to drink," he said and stood up. Simon watched him as Richard moved into the kitchen again. There was an unusual comfort associated with him that Simon couldn't identify. It reminded him of his own calm protective nature, though there was something less tolerant about it. Before Simon could examine it further, footsteps echoed through the room.

"Richard?" A woman with wavy blond hair entered the kitchen, her blue eyes scanning the room frantically. She rested a hand on Richard's shoulder as she approached him. "Richard, Clark just told me. Is she…"

Richard paused what he was doing as he turned to her. "She's here. She's okay." He spoke in a hushed voice. "Give her some space."

"What are you going to do about it?" said the woman, moving closer to Richard so that Simon had difficulty hearing her. "Did you call the police yet?"

"I'm not calling the police, Gloria," said Richard. "Just give me a minute and I'll talk─"

"What do you mean you're not calling the police?" Gloria glanced at Simon and her voice became barely a whisper. "It's been three days. They're looking for her. If they find out she's here─"

"Gloria, let me handle this." Richard put a hand on her arm and narrowed his eyes at her. "Don't tell anyone. Don't call anyone. I'll handle this."

Gloria made a noise and threw another glance towards Simon and Kate. She gave Richard a scrutinizing stare before she turned and left the room again, her footsteps fading through the large house.

Richard let out a deep sigh and for a while, he didn't move. Simon wasn't sure whether he should look at him or not. He gazed at the floor, making an effort to calm his worried thoughts. There was a tense urgency flowing through him and he found himself wondering if they'd made the right choice in coming here. He wanted to trust in Kate's judgement. She said they would be safe. Richard seemed to be respecting that. But at the same time, Simon felt helpless against whatever was about to happen.

Richard moved toward the table again and sat down next to Kate who had finished and was resting her forehead in her hands. He set down a glass of orange juice in front of her and leaned back in his chair. "Try to drink all of it," he said. "Sorry it's pulp free. I know you don't really like that."

Kate straightened slightly and picked up the glass, holding it in front of her as if contemplating it. "Tastes like orange flavored water," she said. She took a sip of it and tensed her face, tightening her lips and making a noise. "Yep."

Richard didn't say anything as Kate slowly managed to drink the juice. He seemed to be lost in his own chaos of thoughts, his eyebrows narrowed as he stared at the table. Simon continued to watch in silence as Kate ran her hands over her face, resting her elbows on the table. She let out a heavy breath.

Richard leaned forward on the table. "What else can I do for you, Kate?"

Kate shook her head, her face still in her hands. "I just um... " She sniffed and clasped her fingers together under her chin, her eyes closed. "I just want to sleep."

"Okay… okay…" Richard shifted back. "Your room's just the way you left it." He stood up and gently gripped her elbow. Kate leaned back, giving a small smile that Simon recognized as her usual defiance.

"I got it, dad."

She stood up and moved with him out of the kitchen. Again, Simon followed in silence as they moved back towards the entrance where a grand landing of stairs met the marble floor, travelling up in a spiral to a loft that hovered over the room. Beyond the landing, the house opened up into a massive living room lined with couches, tables, and bookshelves. He could see figures standing attentively in the corners of the room, their temples glowing yellow as they looked towards him. With a nervous jolt, Simon glanced down at the floor and avoided their gaze.

He followed Richard and Kate up the stairs and into an open sitting area which had two branching hallways. They moved down one of them, and finally stopped in front of a door at the end of the hall. Kate seemed to hesitate, one arm gripped on her elbow and her head bowed. Richard moved in front of her and opened the door for her.

"Do you need me to help you? Want me to bring you something later?"

Kate shook her head. "I'm good. Thanks." She cast a glance at Simon, her eyes lit in a nervous energy, then she moved into the room. Simon moved after her. Before he could stop himself, he looked at Richard as he passed him. The look Richard gave him seemed to freeze the thirium in his heart. He didn't know why. Richard's gaze was calm and gentle, his hazel eyes bright under his thick eyebrows. But there was something intelligent behind his gaze. It was as if he knew everything that Simon and Kate had done simply by looking at him.

Simon lowered his gaze as he stepped past him, entering the room. He felt a swell of relief when the door clicked closed behind him.

The relief at finally being alone was overtaken by his surprise at the room he was in. For a moment, he wondered if Richard had made a mistake. It was generous in size, although every wall and every corner was occupied comfortably by furniture. A large wooden bed rested in the center of the wall between two tall windows covered by yellow curtains. Next to it was a heavy dresser topped with an old stereo and cluttered with magazines. A bright yellow couch sat at the foot of the bed facing a television which hung on the wall over a computer desk. Several guitars rested in the corner, and along the last wall were bookshelves. So many shelves packed so thickly with books that some were nearly falling out onto the floor.

It took Simon a while to notice that Kate had moved to the computer desk, running her hand along the items almost in a trance. Her fingers skimmed over what looked to be a journal, and then over a picture frame. Simon had only a glimpse of it before she slammed it facedown, letting out a heavy sigh. Then she turned towards him, throwing a glance around the room and running her hand over her face.

"Christ, I forgot how much I used to like yellow," she said.

Simon wasn't sure what to say. He didn't even know if he should move. It felt as though he was never meant to see this. At the same time, he couldn't help but curiously examine everything from where he stood, each new item giving him new enlightenment towards the person he thought he'd known so well. Several dragon sculptures lined her desk, as well as what looked to be several hand-made mugs, necklaces, and scarves made by a child. One particular spot on the dresser was cleared for a flat wooden box lined with a round mat, a small female warrior figurine standing in the middle and surrounded by several oddly shaped dice. More than a few of the bookshelves were dedicated to what appeared to be cultist symbols, a planchet, and energy-measuring devices.

Kate moved in front of him as she headed towards the bed, gaining Simon's attention again. He watched as she rested a hand on one of the wooden posts, pausing a moment as if giving herself a chance to accept it was real. Her brown hair was over her face, obscuring her expression. Then she twisted slightly and lowered herself down onto the yellow sheets, drawing up her knees and facing away towards the opposite wall.

Simon stood frozen, still unsure of what to do. Everything felt so uprooted. So out of control. He didn't know what this place was and had no way of knowing what to expect. And despite the fact that Kate was finally in what she felt was a safe environment, he couldn't help but worry that what she'd lost what he'd found in her when they were alone together at her house. It all felt so different. As if it all happened ages ago. The things he was seeing in this room belonged to someone else. This was a person who existed before he was even built. Without knowing why, the thought unnerved him.

He stared at the floor, attempting to gather his senses. It was difficult to take it all in so fast. He had to remind himself that they needed to be here. As long as no one knew where they were, they were still safe. Even if it meant he was losing part of the life they'd had before.

Kate shifted on the bed, catching Simon's attention again. He felt himself let out a startling breath of laughter before he could stop himself. She was holding her hand out to him.

He moved forward and took it, letting her pull him into her as he lowered himself down behind her. He clasped his hand against her chest and rested himself in the curve of her neck, letting that satisfying closeness sweep over him. She shifted further against him so that she seemed to lock her body into the shape of his, smoothing her hand over his arm. Her touch seemed to melt his fears away, bringing back some of his assurance. They were here together, albeit in pieces, but still together.

Kate was asleep in minutes, the soft rising and falling of her shoulders in rhythm with her breathing. Simon gently ran his hand along her arm up to her shoulder, taking in her vulnerability. He didn't know what to expect. He didn't know who these people were that he'd brought her to. And he didn't know who the person was that had occupied this room before.

He'd survived unimaginable change once already. And as he relaxed against Kate's back, wrapping his arm carefully around her, he accepted that he would more than likely have to face it again in the coming days.