MATT

Why was I here? I tried to remind myself as they fussed and worried over my cuts and scrapes. When Carlos began poking at my ribs I just about lost it then and there. I wanted to scream and holler for absolutely no reason. I was cold and my insides were on fire each time he touched my ribcage. But I held it in by biting my tongue and looking over his shoulder at Alice who paced back and fourth worriedly.

My body trembled when Carlos had stopped his examination. I couldn't control them, but I could at least try to reduce the shakes as much as possible so nobody would notice. It wasn't that I was cold, but my insides hurt. I was on fire on the inside, what felt like a thousand needles tried poking their way out of my ribcage. I was in pain, but didn't want them to know.

I turned my eyes down as she spoke up, mentioning me needing rest. Indeed I needed some time to relax, and possibly sort things out. But I wasn't about to admit it. I glanced over at a rather sleepy looking Angela and gave a slight nod. The child would need some sleep, and she deserved to sleep in a nice warm bed.

Without any fuss, I climbed from the front passenger seat and crawled into the back, by damaged eye facing the window so Alice wouldn't stare at it again. I didn't realize it until now, but I could only see things clearly from my left. My right was useless. What happened to me?

Alice once again put the blanket around me, but I paid it no mind, just stared at the back of the seat in front of me in deep thought. What felt like hours was only about fifteen minutes before I spoke up.

"Who…" I croaked and paused, swallowing but only getting the taste of blood in the back of my throat. "Who is Lisa?"

"Who?" Alice glanced at me.

"Lisa… I keep seeing her face. And… her death. I feel like I lost somebody important."

"Your sister." She replied and I could feel tension building. Was she excited or worried?

"My sister." I gave a nod, understanding why I felt she was a great loss. "Infected by the T-Virus. Killed by the Red Queen." I was beginning to remember, and I wished I didn't. I felt a pull on my heart. I lost my sister… my only sister.

Instinctively I reached out and took Alice's hand. When we were in the car before, she held onto my hand and I felt a sense of peace… I tried to find that feeling again as the whirring pictures flashed through my head again. Slow down. I tried to remain calm as everything started spinning. I closed my eyes and rested along the back of the seat.

When Alice gave my hand a gentle reassuring squeeze, I relaxed a bit.

"DESTROY" That demonic voice chirped in and I jolted upright and looked around frantically.

"Matt?" Alice's voice sounded so far off I barely recognized it.

"KILL STARS… Kill Alice"

"NO! I wont! I wont do it." I released Alice's hand and brought my hands up to my head, trying to calm the sudden sharp panes that pierced my temples. I could hear a loud buzzing whistle that felt as if it would burst my eardrums.

"Activate the Nemesis program now." A voice echoed, something from a memory. I saw an ugly beast standing, staring in the mirror, and breathing the word "STARS". Lipless mouth curled in a sadistic smile. The sound of gunfire, the blast of a rocket. Dead bodies strewn across the ground, blood running along the pavement…

"Matt?" Her voice caught my attention and I snapped my head up. The images stopped, the sounds, the memory of the smells… Everything. "Matt, are you alright?"

"What have I done? What happened to me? Were those… real?" I swallowed the lump in my throat. What were those? Was that me inside that monster? Maybe it was just a nightmare… Yeah that's it.

I couldn't help myself; I leaned over and gently lay my head on Alice's lap, now lying across the seat. "What happened?" I whispered again, fighting to keep tears back. I stared at the back of the seat in front of me, not looking up at her. If I wanted to, I'd have had to turn my entire head, my ruined eye was no good.

"Do you remember now?" Alice whispered, putting a hand on my face. "What happened to you? To us?"

"No… I can't remember anything." As much as I fought, I shed a tear. "I'm so confused." And scared… I added silently to myself.

"Give it some time." Alice said comfortingly, gently stroking the stubs on the top of my head where hair was trying to grow.

"Is everything alright?" Angie asked as she looked over the seat at us. "Is he okay?" She asked worriedly.

"He's fine." Alice assured the girl.

I sure didn't feel fine. Was that voice a memory too? Why did it want to kill Alice? I felt strongly toward her and right then and there I promised myself to protect her at all costs. I wasn't about to lose her a second time… Second time? Did I lose her before?

"We need to find a motel or some shit." LJ said, breaking a slightly uncomfortable silence for me. I stayed there in Alice's lap, feeling at ease. But I knew we were in the town mentioned before. I needed to take a shower and wash up these cuts. The dry blood caked on my body was beginning to get to me and make me feel sick.

"Lets try here." The car came to a stop and Jill jumped out to go to the office of the hotel.

This is when I sat up, looking at Alice with a grateful smile. "Sorry." I whispered and pressed myself against the opposite wall of the car. I don't think I really should have done that, laying on her lap like that for no reason. I was embarrassed to say the least. Pulling the blanket around myself tight, I looked out the window, avoiding her gaze.