Red and John set out, the crew waving from the boat they were leaving behind. It was an empty village, but the forest beyond it looked lush. "Another casualty of the institute?" Red asked. Hancock shrugged. They looked through a few of the houses but the village was empty. Moving farther inland they eventually found a small village. The villagers attacked at the sight of them so Red and John scampered away. They made camp wondering what to do next.
"Where are you from that you don't know about the institute?" John asked, staring into the fire. The shadows rippled across his scarred skin. He looked up at her, his eyes mysterious.
"I don't know. I don't remember much before I found myself in the woods by that village you found me in. I get hints of things, but it's like smoke, like it's only half there. I know it was bad, so I assumed I blocked it out."
"Bad?"
"Like heartbreakingly world shatteringly bad. Like everything I had, everything I knew to be true was just suddenly destroyed." She noticed her hand shaking and turned away from the fire.
"I shouldn't've pushed I'm sorry." He reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. It was warm, comforting.
"No it was understandable. We all have a past, right?" She shot him a sad smile. He shot a weak one back.