She walks on the sandy beach of the island. With the sandy dunes and the grey water of the Baltic one could believe they were all alone. The town is hidden is hidden from view. The grey sky merges with grey water in the distance. She feels something she cannot fully understand. It can't be loneliness, she has always been alone. And yet gazing at the seemingly infinite sea merging with the sky one cannot help but feel alone. Loneliness is something she is familiar with.

The orphanage is mostly quiet at night. Yet Alex lays awake in her bed. Something has been bothering her. Something she know she should just ignore. There are less of them now. The tables have become shorter as there are less children. Seven from her class as far as she can tell. Adoption is what they tell them. She doesn't believe. Too many, too fast. They weren't the best, but they behaved. They weren't like those who lagged behind and got punished.

At night she could hear footsteps in the halls. Hushed voices. Doors opening. The children were not allowed outside their rooms past 9 PM. She looks out the window. There is a car outside but no other lights. Men in suits are carrying something out. One holding one end and the other man holding the back. It's a cocoon of black. They put it in the trunk of the car. Soon they are back with another. It doesn't concern her. Should not concern her. She pulls away and goes back to bed. It would not be good to get seen.

However it still troubles her. They were told to be the best at everything. To view the others as nothing but competition. Nothing less than perfection will do. She did her best. After all that was why they were all here. Wasn't it? To get adopted by the richest and most powerful families. Given the chances at a life that their parents would have never been able to give. Parents that abandoned them. Never tried to get in touch. Never cared enough to get touch. So how could so many average kids get adopted? It made no sense to her. But questioning the adults would undoubtedly lead to punishment. So she didn't.

It was later in the day when something happened that made her reconsider. She was reading in her room. When she looked up from her book she saw a girl in her room. It was forbidden to enter the room of others. The girl had long black hair and look like she was of Asian descent.

"Please, you have to help me." She said.

Alex said nothing, confused by this girl that should not be there. They were in different classes. She had seen her but never spoken to her before. Didn't even know her name.

"You shouldn't be here." Are the first words she speaks.

"Please. I know I'll be next. They're going to take me away. "

Alex isn't sure what to say or do.

A woman in a black suit enters the room.

"Yuki!" she calls" You know it's rude to enter other peoples rooms uninvited." She puts a hand on her shoulder.

Firm grip. Lifts the girl up. She is crying as the woman leads her out.

"Apologize" the woman says before leaving.

"I'm sorry." She says sobbing.

The door closes. Alex tries to read but she can't. the word are too blurry. It's only when a drop lands on the page that she realizes why.

She lays in her bed listening. Still uncertain about why she is doing this. They come. She hears them open a door. Soon in opens again. She waits they pass her room. Alex gets up. They get further away. She opens the door, follows. The two tall figures are holding something white. She stays close to the ground where it's dark. Out of sight of the men. The stairs creak. They are going down. She waits. Shoes click on the tiles at the entrance hall. She goes down stairs, avoiding the creaking ones. The rail block her. She hears the door open. It's in a faraway hallway. The children are not allowed in there. Unless they get sick. The medical bay is there along with many other rooms. She walks on the soft carpet making no sound. Past so many doors. There is an opening in the wall, stairs go down. Alex takes a step. Hands on the wall. The stairs turn at a platform. She can't see beyond it. She peeks around the corner. The stair ends at some white tiles and what seems to be a brightly lit room.

There are curtains, like in a hospital. She dives behind the closest one. Not looking around much. Too afraid to be here. Just a look. Just to see that it's not really bad. There was nothing going on. There is a body on the cold metal table. The skin is a greyish color with black veins. Alex knew him. Some boy she used to be in class with, before she got moved to the more advanced class for doing well. They worked on few school projects.

Another curtain. Another familiar face. Someone from class. Someone she had passed in the hall every day. Then on the left side was Yuki. She wasn't grey like the rest of them. She looked like she was asleep. Alex whispered. Calling her name. Not sure why. Still unsure of why she was here. It didn't feel real. Like a bad dream. This could not be real.

"Yuki" she call the girl.

She doesn't seem to respond. Alex feels more and more certain she needs to leave. Suddenly Yuki grabs her wrist. The girl sits up and her eyes are open but they are black and oozing black liquid. She tries to pull away but the grip on her is too strong. Alex screams.

There are voices. Somebody is running. But Alex doesn't really hear it. She needs to escape. But she can't. Yuki falls back on the table her grip loosens. But it's too late. There are men in white lab coats and black suits pulling aside the curtains. Alex is frozen in place. Unable to move. Unable to speak. The people are talking but she doesn't listen. In her mind she is running back to her room. Hiding in her bed. But in reality her body is paralyzed in place.

"How did?"

"We must dispose of her."

"Wait! She's one of the chosen candidates"

"Leave her."

"Sir?!"

"Proceed with the next phase."

"What about the girl?"

She wakes in her room. Body feeling heavy. Her head hurts. Her arm hurts. In IV inserted into her arm. They say it was bad case of the flue. She had a fever for days. Alex doesn't remember. She vaguely recalls the strange room downstairs. A dream they tell her. She wants to believe it. They tell her to pack up her things. The orphanage is closing for renovations. Everybody else has been moved out already. She is the only one left.

Holding her suitcase, on the grand stair case, she waits for the car to take her away. Lost in her thoughts about the strange dream she had. There is a hand on her shoulder but it not the usual one. Behind her stands a man she had seen in paintings around the orphanage. The one who made all this possible. The one they owe their lives to. But is not the only time she had seen him. He looks old. Long fingers grip her shoulder tightly. He smiles without kindness. An image flashes. The hidden room. He is wearing a lab coat. He places his hand on her shoulder and smiles. Alex shivers. The car outside signals for her. The hand is gone. She doesn't back.

She had been scared then. She had been scared many times in her life. She had thought she was alone. That she knew what it meant. Staring at the sea, she felt more scared and alone then she had ever felt in her life. The wind is picking up. A storm threatens to break on the island. She remains there standing. Tears streaming down her face. The new had come hours ago. Raccoon city is no more. He is no more.

The first drops of rain hit the sand. They are looking for her. She knows. Doesn't care. The rain falls harder, mixing with her tears. She falls, knees hitting the wet sand, and screams at the raging sea. But the wind and waves swallow it up. Somebody approaches. Somebody hold an umbrella over her head.

"Master ,Alex."

She doesn't respond. In her mind she miles away. In a city that no longer exists. In the arms of a man who no longer lives.