Ey now back again!

"Burn it all."

His quiet order had sent chills down her spine. God, she hated it. She hated the thought being complicit in the killing of thousands of innocent children, especially when she was one of them..once upon a time.

Nowadays, she can't even call herself a good person after all she's done let alone an "innocent child". She scrunched up her face and fought back the tears as she watched this inhumane facility go down in flames with those poor kids still inside. Part of her wanted to share in her comrades' mentality, that doing this was for the best for those kids. The boss said it himself, they wouldn't survive without those machines attached to them...

And yet she couldn't shake the painful ache in her chest knowing she's assisted in murder, the murder of children who couldn't help themselves. In a twisted way, she's just like Mom. She hated that woman with a burning passion, the last thing she wanted was to be compared to her. But, it's true, and she hated it so..so much.

The return home was just as normal, everyone welcomed them warmly, like heroes. We're not heroes... She thought sadly as she gave her typical warm smile as everyone crowded them. She made a name for herself by being a "big sister" for everyone. Out of every member in her team, she's the closest with every child living here, making an effort to show them that she loves them and is determined to protect them. Just as she did all those years ago.

The boss gave his usual "I will free all children" speech that she was very used to hearing before he decided to isolate himself from everyone once more. Their team left to boast about their "victory" and the teen took this opportunity to speak her mind with him, alone.

He sat in his chair and stared at her plainly, already knowing what she wants to say. Among them, she's also considered the "rebellious" one. She isn't all about their views and methods, despite going through the same experience they did. She never seems to be on board with any new ideas they do and is always one to question or criticise the Boss's ideals. They often wonder why she's among the few so close to Mr. Minerva, but she isn't gonna give them a history lesson on herself.

"Norman.."

"Stop, Casey, you know I'm growing tired of your lectures. If you're so disgusted by our methods, why do you continue to work for me?" He demanded, snowy white hair nearly covering his pale blue eyes.

Casey was caught up on what to say next for a brief moment, "Because I need you to understand not only how dangerous this is but also how cruel it is. They didn't need to be punished just so you could complete your agenda." She argued back, her temper beginning to flare, causing her head to hurt a bit.

It seemed like his was flaring to, as his tone shifted to irritated, "You saw them, Case, you saw just how the demons destroyed their bodies, using them primarily for their consumption. They couldn't be saved!"

"Well, maybe they could've but you never seem to want to try! That big brain of your's is deluding you into thinking what you say goes and no one else's opinions matter to you. Emma would be ashamed of you-"

Norman closed his eyes angrily, "Casey, just get the hell out of here, now." His tone of voice got Casey to stop talking and the girl only huffed in response. She opened the door and slammed it shut as she walked away, seething in anger. She didn't realize how painful the headache had gotten until she calmed down. She stopped and leaned against a wall, sliding down against it as she held her head, the throb getting more painful. She whimpered as the pain eased with her calming breaths. It was only a headache, good. Due to the experiments done to her and her comrades, many of them suffered from seizures and other brain related issues. Casey often dealt with them alone unless it was a seizure which she hasn't had in about a year or so. They only happen when she gets worked up which is often, but she puts it off as nothing so no one would worry about her. Though, they probably wouldn't care anyway.

Casey sighed and rubbed her head before slowly getting up, careful incase she blacks out. She didn't, luckily, and she continued on with her day. Upon returning to her personal quarters, she subconsciously reached into her pocket and pulled out a small photo from her childhood. She was seven here, ten years ago, and joyfully embracing three little toddlers in her small arms the best she could. A small ginger girl had her arms wrapped around Casey's neck, a snowy white haired boy was laughing and huging her arm, and a raven black haired boy was smiling softly as he didn't participate in the hug but didn't seem to mind it either. Casey smiled warmly at seeing the picture, part of her wishing she could just go back to when life was simple, and she didn't have to worry about being eaten alive.

A silent tear then decided to form under her eye and run down her cheek. She always cried when she remembered the day she left those kids. Ten years old and preparing to be "adopted". Mom at her side with a gentle hand on her shoulder as she stood before the sniffling children seeing her off. Casey shivered as Emma's cry of dismay rang loud in her ears.

"No, Casey! Please don't go!"

Casey was pretty sure Emma was convinced she was gonna die or something out there, which she now knows was not a completely insane assumption. Casey could easily say that what she experienced was a hell of a lot worse than death, there were many moments were she wanted to just end it all because she can't take the pain anymore. But she knew she also wanted to live, to at least live long enough to know that those under her care and protection will be okay.

Speaking of living, she was ecstatic but also horrified when she saw Norman arrive at Lambda, escaping the "being eaten like cattle" fate like she did. She was fifteen at the time so she's been there for years, she knows why they would want him here and she was scared for his health and safety. The only reason she hadn't died yet at that point was because she simply refused to die. Herfamily's safety wasn't secured yet and she's planned on escaping Lambda ever since she arrived. Though, they wouldn't have escaped if it hasn't been for Norman and his intelligence. That saying can go for everything else her team had "accomplished". But the difference between then and now was that she and Norman were closer. Back then, in Lambda, he took comfort in her, admitting his fears about his plan for escaping and letting her assure him that everything will be okay, like in Grace Field. When she'd care for him when he's sick or comforting him because he was picked on for being so frail.

She looked after those three smarties especially, though for different reaons. Emma because no one can take their eyes of her, Ray because she worried about his introverted personality, and Norman because, to her, he needed to be protected. Casey wanted to think that the reason why she and Norman had gotten so distant since Lambda was because he was getting egotistical, but perhaps it's really because he wants to prove that he doesn't need to be taken care of anymore. He doesn't want to be seen as a fragile child anymore. She wanted to try not seeing him that way, but the more he pushes himself and isolates himself from others, it's only making Casey worry more.

The girl realized that she was rambling inside her own head so she put the photo away and took out her hair tie, letting her medium length hair fall, her bangs almost covering her eyes. She sighed and laid down on her cot and closed her eyes for an uneasy sleep.