Elle and Alex walked into their first-floor hotel room and shut the door. The one-bed room was completely dark and smelled strongly of cleaning products. "That was weird as hell," Alex said, collapsing on the bed.

Elle turned on a lamp. "What was?"

"The old guy, Ralph," Alex continued, "He was talking about my grandparents. David and Stephanie Shepherd were my dad's parents."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah," Alex replied. "They both died years ago, when I was a little kid. I don't remember a lot about them, but I'm positive that's them. It's just bizarre that that guy was friends my grandfather."

"It's purely coincidence," Elle said sitting next to him on the bed. "Toluca County is a small area, everybody knows everybody." Elle seemed to think nothing of it, but Alex still felt uneasy. It was true that all the neighboring towns were fairly close in proximity, but Shepherd's Glen had become completely cut off, and nobody else seemed to have noticed.

"He mentioned the founders of Shepherd's Glen, too."

"Connect the dots, Alex," Elle said. "It's not that big of a stretch, given the town was named after your family."

"Yeah, it just freaks me out a little, I guess."

"And," Elle added. "Don't forget, my ancestors were founders of Shepherd's Glen too." She paused for a moment. "There's no need to be paranoid, Alex, everything is alright now."

"Also," Alex continued. "Don't you think it was just a little odd that he immediately assigned us room 206?"

"No, not really," Elle answered. "Why?"

"That's the time that all the clocks were stopped at in Shepherd's Glen," Alex explained.

"I think you're overanalyzing things right now," Elle said.

As Alex thought about it, he knew there was more to it than that. From what he had gathered, he had supposedly been in confined to room 206 in Alchemilla Hospital. On the other hand, there didn't seem to be enough evidence to necessarily make it true. He recalled Adam Shepherd, right before his death, telling Alex he had been institutionalized. But his father had lied to him before in a very huge way. Having plotted his own son's death, Adam's credibility was compromised. Still, it didn't change the fact that the number 206 seemed to carry a bad omen.

"I guess you're right," Alex sighed. "I'm probably just worrying over nothing. It's gonna be weird adjusting to normal life again." Elle laid down beside him.

"I know it's difficult, Alex," Elle said comfortingly.

"So what now?" Alex said, contemplating their future. "I mean, where do we go from here?"

"Let's just take it one day at a time," Elle said. "We'll figure it out. Everything's gonna be better now, I know it." Alex acknowledged that he could potentially be happy again, but that didn't change the fact that he had been responsible for his own brother's death. As he dwelled on it, it hit him that he was responsible for Elle's mother's death as well. She had undoubtedly deserved it, but it was still extremely troubling to think about.

"Elle," Alex said quietly. "I never told you about what I saw in the lair."

"Do I really need to know?" Elle asked, seeming a little uncomfortable.

"No one else could possibly understand," Alex went on. "You're the only person I have to trust. I think you have the right to know what happened."

"Okay," Elle agreed. "You can tell me anything. I'm not scared."

As Alex lay beside Elle, he told her everything that had happened, withholding no details. He told her how he killed Judge Holloway in self-defense with a power drill, and explained how he had failed to accept that Josh had died because of him. He also mentioned how his father had told him he'd been in a mental institution rather than the army, but the truth of that matter was still unclear. He didn't quite know what to think, but maybe it didn't matter so much anymore.

"I'm okay with that, Alex," Elle said reassuringly. "Margaret was no mother of mine. You did the right thing." Alex was utterly surprised that Elle had taken it so well. Maybe it really wasn't that surprising considering all the crazy shit they'd just been through.

"I still feel this tremendous guilt over what happened to Josh," Alex said. "I guess I've accepted it now. I just want to try and move on."

"Seriously, it wasn't your fault," Elle insisted. "It was completely an accident." Elle's remarks were encouraging, but he knew that healing his personal scars wouldn't happen quickly. "My family is gone too, Alex," Elle went on. "But I can't stay resentful forever. My sister wouldn't have wanted that."

"You're right," Alex said. He laid next to Elle in silence for awhile, trying to think of what else to say. "Elle," he said after a few minutes. "Thanks." Elle reached down held his hand tightly. He looked over at her, and she smiled.

"I know what I could use right now," Elle said.

"What's that?" Alex asked.

"A freakin' shower, that's what," Elle said amusingly. She definitely knew how to make him smile, even in the most miserable of times.

"Same here," Alex laughed. "You go ahead, I 'm just gonna kick back for awhile. I haven't watched TV in God knows how long."

"Alright then, lazy ass," Elle teased him. She walked into the bathroom and started the shower. She had left the door cracked, and from the angle Alex was sitting on the bed, he could see her reflection in the mirror across from him. As Elle took her top off, Alex debated whether he should keep looking. He didn't want to be some kind of perv, but he genuinely thought Elle was very attractive, more so than he had ever realized in the past. Throughout high school, Alex and Elle maintained a close friendship up until he left Shepherd's Glen, but they never really seemed to have any romantic substance between them. If there was any, he definitely had not acted upon it back then. Now, perhaps things could be different. As she reached back to take off her bra, Alex looked back towards the TV.

Shit, I really shouldn't.

He turned on the TV to distract himself. There was a show on about paranormal apparitions and hauntings. At the moment, a woman was being interviewed about her deceased family member speaking to her through visions.

Might have to skip this one.

Alex changed the channel. A commercial came on promoting most anticipated game of the season. It was being marketed as the best ever in the survival-horror genre. Alex thought it sounded lame—there was no way a videogame could seriously be scary.

"Okay, buddy," Elle announced as she stepped out the bathroom wearing a hotel bathrobe. "It's all yours."

"Great," Alex said. He slowly got up off the bed and carefully stood up. His entire body ached terribly. He attempted to take his shirt off as he walked toward the bathroom, hoping Elle would be impressed by his physique. Instead, he received an excruciating jolt of pain to his ribs as he tried to lift his shirt over his head. "Fuck!"

"Let me help you," Elle said, sounding like an exasperated mother. Elle sat Alex back down on the bed and helped him take off his shirt. To his surprise, he sported numerous bloodstained bandages across his torso and chest, and his ribs were heavily bruised.

"Oh my God, Alex," Elle said, gently touching his abdomen. "Does it hurt?"

"Hell yes it does!" Alex gasped. He breathed slowly as Elle's fingers lightly grazed his stomach and chest. It was unclear whether she was trying to comfort him or touch him just for the sake of touching him. Alex assumed the latter. He looked up at her, analyzing her looks really closely for the first time. He noted how all of her subtle features collectively made her so naturally sexy. Her stringy wet blond hair falling onto her shoulders, her stunning blue eyes, and her inconspicuous but undeniably alluring figure amounted to Elle looking remarkably attractive. She didn't flaunt it though, it was likely she didn't even realize that she was hot. Pondering deeply, Alex tried to think of any past boyfriends Elle had back in the day. He couldn't think of any.

"God, you look amazing," Alex suddenly said without thinking. Elle immediately stopped touching him and looked completely caught off guard. It was as if he had completely lost his interior monologue. There was a moment of silence.

"Really?" Elle asked smiling.

Alex realized he had completely horrible timing. But there was no turning back now.

"Yeah, really..." Alex replied, not being able to think of anything clever or romantic to say.

Shit, what a terrible reply. Gotta do better than that.

"…well, you've always been beautiful, Elle. I've really always thought that. I guess I just never said it because always just such close friends..."

Elle seemed to be hesitant, and Alex had no clue what her reaction would be. There remained an excruciating silence for quite some time. After what seemed like forever, she looked directly into his eyes.

"Alex, honestly..." She paused. Alex prepared himself for impending embaressment. "…I really love you." Her soft hands traveled up to his Alex's stubbly face, and she abruptly pulled him toward her. Alex felt her warm lips press against his. It seemed completely illogical that this was happening. Him? And Elle? It didn't make any sense, but he didn't want it to stop. They began kissing passionately. Alex's heart was pounding as he felt Elle's warm rapid breathing upon him. After a minute, Alex pulled away.

I don't want this to be awkward. This could completely ruin a great friendship.

"Elle, we've known each other for a long time," Alex said, unsure of what exactly he was really trying to say. "The thing is," he paused. "I just don't want this to make things…"

"Complicated?" Elle finished his sentence. She looked disappointed. "So after everything you've made it through, and everything we've been through together, the one thing you're afraid of is falling for me?" As stupid as it sounded, it was sort of true. "It's okay to feel something for a change."

"I want to," Alex affirmed. Elle leaned in and kissed him again and he kissed her back. She pressed herself on top of him, which was somewhat painful due to his multitude of injuries, but he figured it was worth it. Elle was more passionate and sensually aggressive than Alex ever would have expected, but he enjoyed every minute of it. She seemed to be doing all the work. While still on top of him, Elle reached down and unbuckled his belt. She slid down his body and then proceeded to take off his pants.

Wow. Didn't quite expect this.

Elle slid her robe off. It was almost surreal, Alex thought, that a beautiful woman was completely undressed on top of him. Since she had always been just a friend, it should have felt awkward. But it didn't. Everything felt right.

Okay, I got this.

Alex held onto Elle's body and gently switched positions with her. He was now situated on top of her. Elle giggled. "Oh, so you're taking the lead now?"

Alex took a deep breath and went for it. Elle gasped sharply.

"Are you okay?" Alex whispered.

"Yes. Don't stop."