Chapter IV:

Life As You Knew It

The surrounding area around them stood at rest, the remaining leaves on the tree swaying as they tried to hold on to their branches a bit longer. The crimson backdrop of the sky emerged through, and Chloe only had one question at the moment, inquiring as if she were under trance. "What time is it?" Eddie stood in place behind the table his target was sitting on, eyeing her distinctively. "A little after four." He replied carefully, quietly. After years of adapting and learning to "hunt," Eddie knew he had to be precise in order to avoid scaring the girl, who appeared concentrated. Chloe fabricated that it was in fact 4:20 PM and momentarily envisioned a group of people assembled in various parts of the Colorado state enjoying similar highs. "Thank you." She said as she stood up from the picnic table leisurely placed next to the men's basketball court and finally met his gaze with a courteous nod, her eyes lowered to the ground. If it was after four, then her appointment with Dr. Carl was soon, leaving her little time to enjoy this last peace outdoors. Chloe took a moment to absorb the sight: a menacing atmosphere conflicting with mum nature and she didn't know that this would be the last time she knew true peace. "Eddie, I have an appointment to make but it's been so long since I've had the pleasure of being in good company. Would you like to take a friendly walk?" Her old-fashioned civility ignited a flame inside of him and he continued to grow impressed with his latest discovery. Certainly his previous victims shared the same cordiality, but Eddie couldn't shake that this woman possessed something more than any other woman he had encountered. "Certainly, darling. Where am I taking you?" Chloe tossed the basketball aside carelessly, grabbing onto her companion's hand and being one of few words, began to lead him in the direction of a shortcut through the gymnasium. Comfort was established when he didn't break the seal created by their hands and Chloe's finger gently massaged against his, their stroll beginning slow and soundless as the two pondered what to possibly say. These two, both with separate yet equally dangerous intentions for the other, plagued by a polite masquerade. Intrigued by his enthusiasm to walk with her, she finally spoke. "Why are you here Eddie?" Eddie's right arm trembled softly in her grasp and she immediately looked to his expression, worried that she had possibly offended him. Chloe's mouth had a tendency to get her into shit and she was well aware this. Yet somehow, she always managed to find a way to say the wrong thing. To her relief, his demeanor remained calm and collected as if he hadn't heard her; she then wondered if it selective hearing had something to do with his vice. "Your hands are freezing. Let's hurry and get inside. The temperature's beginning to drop." Chloe shook her head in embarrassment, realizing that was possibly the reason for his shaking. But Eddie's nerves were shot as he considered something he hadn't thought about: his approach. The streets of Colorado fared for him rather well when it came to charming a woman, physically that is. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for his mentality and given his ghastly past, the man he matured into bore the appearance of a gentleman and the personality of a monster. However, Chloe didn't dare judge, she knew better.

Dr. Carl looked over the first female patient assigned to him for the Morphogenic Engine program, glanced back at her chart, and back to her again. Chloe Wahl, only twenty four years old, housed in a place for the legally insane. Certainly young enough to be his daughter, and her playful nature would deliver a great substitution until he conceived one of his own. "Doc, I know I need help. But whatever the fuck that was -." He quickly raised his hand in objection and Chloe silenced immediately. The less she had to say, the better. "Ms. Wahl, I understand the intrusion the ME can have on the human body. Its design is, well. Never mind, that's all irrelevant. The company has decided to cut women from the program. Regrettably, a few of your peers suffered adverse effects resulting in…" He slow down, catching his breath as he examined her reaction to his statement thus far. Her semblance calm, she raised an eyebrow waiting for him to continue; before she could make an appeal, his case had to be made. "Well…for the few of you who have survived, we will continue to monitor you under a different agenda. I will schedule weekly appointments with you, maybe twice a month to catch up on progress. In the meantime, you'll be interviewing with staff other than myself. We will just see from there, alright? Today, let's just pick up where we last left off." Clo nodded, sated by the news that she'd never have to endure that terrible machine again, and readjusted in her chair to prepare comfort for the next hour or so.

"Did they put you in that weird experiment too?" The crunch of leaves had transformed into a wooden surface as they trekked through the gym and suddenly, Chloe found her voice again. Eddie's body ceased in response and Clo feared that her suspicions had been confirmed. Their hands were surprisingly still linked and she contemplated letting him go. However, his grasp was firm and secure, and she knew her companion took his role seriously. Playing escort meant he could make sure his prey was safe for his sake and pleasure. "Yes, darling. They've done...terrible things to me. This place isn't the most reliable for rehabilitation." Eddie joked sarcastically, the pair now approaching a series of corridors that would soon reach Dr. Carl's office and both knew they had to be mindful of what was said. Murkoff may not have cared what the patients did to themselves but dozens of cameras were placed carefully to watch everyone in the building. To monitor everything said. A blatant abuse of power and resource. "I can imagine. The sample I got was more than enough. You have my sympathies." Chloe replied quietly, peeking in wide open rooms as they passed through. "Anyway, I hope they cease for the men as well. It's the complete opposite of effective." A room of vending machines; they were getting close. Eddie listened to her, each syllable in her words music to his ears. It's as if she were in his mind, as if their spirits synced together through the depreciation suffered at the hands of Mount Massive and Murkoff. Eddie was sure; this woman was the one he'd long to find. This time, his masculine fingers massaged into hers delicately and Chloe's insides clenched. The pressure alone felt amazing, but a man's touch, something she hadn't experienced in so long, sent Clo into an internal rage. "No! Not before my appointment!" She bit her lip anxiously and without thinking, picked up the pace. She had to get to that office before a mistake was made, and possibly on both ends. "Why are we walking so fast so suddenly?" Eddie asked, a hint of contempt lingered in his inquiry and Chloe masterfully thought up a white lie. "I just saw a clock in the last room. I'm about to be late."

Her apprehension was alleviated moments later as they rounded a corner to be met by Dr. Carl's door. Chloe sighed and faced her suitor, a grateful grin of perfectly white teeth on full display as she prepared herself to say goodbye. "Thank you." She offered, deciding to keep it clean and simple but Eddie obviously had other plans. He raised her hands to his lips, leaving a gentle kiss. He didn't want her to leave just yet, as he was still weighing options on how to get her alone without distractions. To talk her into a plan of escape that would only end to benefit him. It was possible, he was sure of it but there had to be a way of execution. "Darling, I-." A door swiftly swung open and Chloe turned, snatching her hand from Eddie in hopes to create distance. "Ms. Wahl…Mr. Gluskin, what are you doing here?" Dr. Carl's sternly eyed the pair, his eyebrows raised quizzically. "It doesn't matter," he added, disappearing back into his office, this time the door left open. "They've been paging for you, Mr. Gluskin. For the last ten minutes, as a matter of fact. Report to your living area immediately. Ms. Wahl, bid farewell and quickly." Chloe glimpsed inside, her attention focusing on the news he'd provided for Eddie and she hoped it was nothing serious. But she didn't want to alarm him or Dr. Carl. "Thanks again, Eddie. Stay alive." She swiftly kissed him on the cheek, and broke communication with a smile upon the arrival of security. No doubt Dr. Carl had called them to escort Eddie but she had hoped he knew what she meant. She wanted him to stay as sane as he had been and being paged wasn't necessarily a hopeful sign. Not wanting to stay around for more conversation, Chloe ducked into the office letting the door close casually behind her. "Alright, Ms. Wahl." Dr. Carl began, dating the top of his newest document.

September 17, 2013

"You were here, weren't you? You cunting whore. I'll find you." The taste of copper filled her mouth and Chloe became unsure exactly what part of her face was bleeding but she didn't care. Something had gotten out, something that this big fucker was trying to "contain." Chloe could hear him repeating it over and over again, as he lumbered the nearby hallways looking for her. She didn't know who he was or what "it" was he was after. But the man had an apparent side mission of tracking down any patient he could find and with fight, Chloe barely got away. A little after her session with Dr. Carl started, his emergency beeper went off and it prompted him to end early. He seemed panicked but when she asked, he practically pretended all was fine. Later events would suggest he had lied; the halls were now painted in carnage, blood and body parts littered shamelessly as alarms rang in distress. In the course of looking for a hiding place, she was met by a security guard who warded her away, claiming the spot for himself. Chloe frowned in retrospect, as the guards still managed to be incompetent assholes even after a crisis. Regardless, solace had been acquired in a locker and in this temporary sanctuary, she agreed her best option for a weapon would be found in the kitchen. Now she just had to get there.

Author's note:
Here's the second part, as promised. :) So just a few things:

I'm loving the reviews, please keep them coming! They inspire, if you guys know it or not. With that said, to answer a possible Trager scenario: if they appeared in the game, they have every chance to appear in this story. Only time will tell.

If you guys didn't catch it, Eddie was paged to the scene where we meet him for the first time in Whistleblower. So we are pretty much down to where Mount Massive goes to shit. I can't wait to write it out.

I recently bought Ultra Street Fighter so if you guys don't see a chapter up, don't worry. I am still working on it. It's just that I have to balance my time now, ahaha.

As always, enjoy!

- FLCN