A/N: Yay, another chapter, and yay, no reviewers. xD It's alright I suppose, though I do love reviews. Anyway, enjoy. I don't own anything.

Images flashed in her mind, faster now, appearing and disappearing as her life flashed before her eyes. It was as though someone had pressed "rewind" on her life and now she could see it - every moment she'd lived, everything she'd been through. Carlos's face flashed in her mind, followed by Claire's. She momentarily saw the destruction of her prized motorcycle, and the time she'd spent alone in the desert. It was impossible to focus - and she had no desire to, for there was a specific time she yearned to go back to, and concentration may take her somewhere else.

It was strange, really. Everything that had occurred since she'd let Claire's convoy leave without her. She'd originally planned for the cure, yes, but whenever she was but an inch closer to the answer, it would evade her, and she'd been left helpless. It was then that the resident AI informed her of another formula that Umbrella had been working on. They'd deemed it "dangerous" and "unstable," not fully developed. Yet she may be able to make use of it, the AI had told her, if she were to fully develop it and allow her powers to continue evolving the way they were. Perhaps the superior strength her mind possessed would aid her, perhaps not. And now, she could only hope.

Seeing the plane crash, Nemesis, and the time she'd met Carlos sent a jolt through her. She remembered the time so clearly - neither dropping their weapon, both staring at each other, weapons clearly pointed. It had only taken Jill to stop them. Alice attempted to clear her mind, force her away from that memory, for it could only have bad results. More images entered her head, now those of what she'd labeled the "distant past." She'd have to pick the perfect time to concentrate, she knew.

And as that familiar face flashed before her eyes, the face she hadn't seen in so long, Alice knew.

The lights of the mansion soon began to fade into the background, and they had no choice but to stop. Matt's face clearly displayed his pain, despite having the antivirus administered. The day's events had left them both exhausted, both physically and emotionally. They'd have no other option than to find a place to rest. On the horizon, the sun was slowly setting, and the world around them was darkening quickly.

"We have to find a place to stop," Alice declared, looking at her companion with concern. As the light began to die faster, and for the first time since she'd begun her crusade to correct the past, she had no idea what to do. They were essentially surrounded. The mansion and Umbrella lay not too far behind them. To their left were woods - they could hardly sleep there - and to the right, Raccoon City. In front of them was unknown territory. They would have to stop at Raccoon City, but where would be safe? Undoubtedly, Umbrella would soon re-open the Hive in attempt to discover the events that had led to the deaths of Rain, of Kaplan, and the others that had never come back from the journey through the Hive.

Beside her, Matt nodded in agreement. He slowed to a dead stop beside her, struggling to catch his breath. His arm throbbed in pain but he ignored mentioning it. Exhaustion was setting in fast, after the day they'd spent in the Hive, attempting, if only, to get out alive. At least he was alive, Matt thought tiredly. Not like Rain. Not like Kaplan…

He felt so bad for them. They'd almost made it out. In fact, they'd been so close to the surface that they could taste the fresh air coming through the tunnels and rushing by the train. So damn close. And then everything had fallen apart. Rain had died, proving that the virus could be fatal if the antivirus was administered too late, and Kaplan had been mercilessly killed by a mutated experiment. He should have known it would come to this, he should have known that Umbrella's experiments would have eventually been fatal. He should have known all of it before allowing his sister to go into the Hive itself. He should have known that she would never come out again.

And if it wasn't for Alice, he never would have lived either. Perhaps if he had known, then things would be different. But he knew nothing of the struggles and the things she'd been through to go back and keep him alive. He knew nothing of her new missions, her new struggles. He only knew that he was alive, that he had survived, that everything would be okay. But it wouldn't be.

"Where are we going to go?" he finally asked, locking his gaze with hers. She looked as lost as he did, but there was a half smile on her face, as if she was attempting to reassure herself as well as encourage him. Suddenly, Alice turned, her eyes wide. Confused, he backed up a few steps and followed her gaze, but found nothing. Had she heard something?

"We have to go. Fast. They're behind us. I know they are." Alice grabbed his arm and veered towards Raccoon City, throwing a nervous glance over her shoulder. She knew that, in the end, Raccoon City would mean death, but she also knew that it would lead her back to the path she'd originally taken. Perhaps saving Matt would change things drastically - she knew that. Perhaps someone would die because of it. But she couldn't just run through open fields. Not when he was exhausted.

Not when she knew that Raccoon City meant Carlos. They'd have to lay low for a while, she knew. How long was a mystery to her - she hadn't had a sense of time the first time. The first time had been her first real experience with Umbrella - first-hand, up close and personal. They'd injected the T-Virus straight into her veins, providing her increased agility, strength, skill. The same blood pumped through her veins now, despite the difference in the occurrences, Alice was positive that her strength and otherwise still remained.

They broke into a sprint again, though she couldn't help but note his stumbling. It wasn't far to the main part of Raccoon City. They could stop at a hotel and rest for the night, doing their best to lay low and stay out of the way of Umbrella. It could be so easy, but she knew it wouldn't be. Something would go wrong somehow, and it would be another fight for their lives. Until then, however, she knew that their only hope was a place to rest before they collapsed.

The shining lights of Raccoon City became brighter and brighter as they walked, giving them more hope. Alice was still quite at loss of what to do - it wasn't the same as the first time, things were only more confusing than before - but she knew well enough the location of the nearest hotel. It couldn't be too far.

"Come on," she whispered to Matt, "not far now." He nodded and smiled, too tired to speak. They walked in silence for a few minutes before he noticed their direction, and his smile became more true. Just steps away from them was a hotel. With a newfound energy, he grinned at Alice and walked faster, eager to find a place to sleep. They entered the building quickly, both smiling now.

Their smiles faded quickly, however, when they were greeted with white coats and shining gloves. Alice pushed Matt behind her, silently signalling for him to flee.

It was happening again…

and there was nothing she could do to stop it.