Corin sat helplessly, trying to console Chase, who was shaking like a leaf. Ever since being attacked by the River Ghost, and then the hounds, he hadn't been right in the head. One of them had nearly torn his arm off. He was lucky to still be alive. I guess, thought Corin miserably. He didn't actually know if being alive in this mess was such a good thing after all.

He hated seeing his friend in this state; so spastic and always on the verge of a breakdown. He had given Chase his thermal blanket, so he could help control himself. Chase seemed content twisting it around in his hands and biting down on it whenever it suited him. It was certainly an improvement over him screaming and jerking around all of the time.

Adahy was dealing with the same problem Sain'ja had; figuring out what prey could be considered worthy game that was honorable to kill. He knew the male that looked like he was about to come apart wouldn't be even need to be questioned, but what about the other? The other was healthy, strong, and sane, but would the first male die as well if the second were to be killed? Is he dependent on the latter? If so, then he could touch neither. He could perform an entertaining test to find out.

Adahy pulled out a large metal pole from his waist, pressed a button, and out of the pole's sides came two long large blades, forming a spear. With well-trained precision, he tossed it so it would stick into the adjacent tree. Right above the heads of the two males.

When the pair saw the spear flying, both unnecessarily ducked. The spear lodged itself into the tree with so much force it also buried itself all the way to the center. Corin jumped to his feet and grabbed his gun, pointing it around and holding out his hand to gesture for Chase to stay behind him and get down. Adahy climbed down until he was hanging just a few inches from the still standing male. With one hand holding the branch, he reached down and picked Corin up by the back of his shirt. He was actually pretty easy to pick up.

Corin struggled in Adahy's unknown grasp. Soon he felt himself being lifted up into the tree and dropped his gun below. He would've shouted for help if he knew there was any, so instead he kept fighting back at whatever had grabbed him. He reached a fork in the tree when the force finally let him go, setting him down there. Corin grabbed hold of the trunk in order not to plummet to his death.

Chase had backed away to the other tree, pressing his spine firmly against it, too out of it to even consider grabbing either his or Corin's weapons. Instead, he held the blanket tight against his chest like a toddler might do. Leaves scattered as Adahy jumped to the ground two feet in front of him. Adahy uncloaked, staring at Chase.

He begin screaming instantly, until he remembered what Corin had instructed him to do and began biting down hard on the blanket, closing his eyes, rocking back and forth feebly, and screaming into it. Adahy rolled his eyes under his helmet. Yep, he'll definitely need some help, won't last a day otherwise. He recloaked and left again, figuring the stronger male could get back down on his own, smiling about freaking out the pair.

Chase was really starting to lose it, figuring Corin was killed and he was alone. Then all of a sudden, he heard, "Umm? Up here." Corin hung by his arms, trying to make it back on the ground.

Nina felt a cool, gentle breeze on her face. She smelled and felt fresh grass, not rough and sharp like in the jungle, but like some that was in a meadow from a fairy tale. One by one, she cracked open her eyes to look up at a clear, blue sky. One that was just like on…Earth.

She sat up, wondering what was going on. What had happened? Was it true? Was she back home? Nina looked at herself. She was six again, her hair a little shorter and her body back to its small, meek size that she had before at that age. She had forgotten how the world seemed so big when you were so tiny. She was wearing a simple, light blue T-shirt, denim shorts, and light up sneakers. She stomped one foot one the ground and grinned when she saw that they worked. Looking at her skin, she noticed all of her wounds had vanished. Her leg wasn't broken anymore and she felt perfectly fine.

Is…Is this what it's like to die? she thought. She pinched herself, but felt no pain.

"Nina!" A strong, male voice called out to her. Nina looked up and her heart stopped. It was her father, cleansed of gore and scars, wearing a white shirt and cargo shorts, smiling at her just from the edge of the woods. She recognized the place now. It was the same forest she would run and play in as a child.

"D-dad?" she asked quietly, her throat tightening up. He nodded, his eyes shining down at her. Nina ran to him, crying tears of joy. He kneeled down and hugged her tightly, kissing her forehead again and again. She had missed that embrace so much for so long, but never forgot it. He was strong and solid, but very gentle at the same time. They stayed like that in silence for a while. Billy was the first one to finally stand up and let go.

He took his daughter's hand and started leading her through the woods. "Everyone's waiting for you. Your mother, your friend, Mike, and all of the gang. Well, except for Dutch, he hasn't made it yet."

Nina surprised herself by saying, "He was always the odd one out." Her father laughed.

As they walked, they hopped over the creek, listened to the sounds of birds, and best of all at midway, saw a familiar tree house.

"Can we play? Please?" Nina begged, forgetting everything and already feeling welcomed and at home. Billy smiled down at her. The rest of them were longing to see Nina again, but it had been years since he'd had the chance to actually see her face in person and touch her once more. He couldn't deny her this and was looking forward to it himself. Besides, now they had all the time in the world. He nodded, racing her to the tree house.

Everything was exactly how it had been years ago; There was a pair of binoculars by the cut out window that her father had gotten her for her birthday when she was five, so she could play "Look Out Scout," a game he had invented so she could pretend to be a recon soldier. She would have to spot things with them that he had hidden around the woods, and then he would go and get them for her as her "army". The walls were covered with drawings of butterflies and animals she had stuck up there with thumb tacks. A few Barbies and stuffed animals rested in one corner. The floor was covered with a soft, green rug.

She went down the connected slide, done with reminiscing for now, and her father caught her in his arms when she reached the bottom, tickling her softly and making her giggle. The two went over to the wooden swing he had built for her as a toddler, and he pushed her in it, obliging whenever she would ecstatically shriek, "Higher, higher!"

Nina had missed moments like this, never thinking she would feel someone's gentle caress again, never really wanting to let anyone in after losing so many people in her life. Now, for the first time in forever, she felt, well, happy.

They never tired or fell short of breath, but eventually decided it would be best to go on ahead to their old house. Nina admitted to herself that she was genuinely curious of what her mother looked like, having been too young to see her other than in photos. She failed to recall what Dillon looked like either. He had left earlier than the others because he had joined the CIA after exiting the military the first time.

They got to the house and it too was exactly so. And her father had been right; everyone was there, but Mike. After many more hugs and kisses, she asked what had happened to him. They told her he had gotten bored just waiting and said he would come back to visit her later. By now he should be off somewhere with Jarred.

Nina's mother was a picture of beauty. Every feature on her face and body seemed perfect, a true angel inside and out. She had baked some cookies that were still warm and soft. Even though no one had to eat anymore here, she still enjoyed cooking.

Blain and Mac kept passing a bottle of liquor to one another as they told Nina firsthand of some of their favorite adventures. They were scolded by both her parents when they offered her a swig from the bottle, but they shrugged it off, reminding them that since they were all dead it wasn't going to do anything to Nina. Eventually they gave up and she was allowed a small sip, but never took a second one. The liquor had an odd, burning taste that made her pucker up as if she had bitten into a sour lemon. Everyone standing on the porch burst into laughter upon seeing the look on her face. "That's my girl!" he father exclaimed, glad to see his child wouldn't be drinking, even if it gave her no terrible effects here.

Poncho and Billy played with Nina in the yard, while the others talked. Hawkins kept on trying to get Dillon and her mom to laugh at his jokes, which her father said he rarely accomplished. Nina had been sitting in her father's lap, telling her own stories about when she was alive, when suddenly everyone frowned at her. She wondered if it was because she had been killed by a Predator like most of them here had.

"What's wrong?" she finally asked.

No one said anything. Some of them gave sorrowful and sympathetic looks her way. Poncho made a cross gesture around his face and chest. Finally, Nina's mother spoke up, "It would be best of you told her."

Nina looked up at her father, who was staring at her sadly, "Alright," he finally whispered. He picked her up and carried her to her room. She had just caught a glimpse of Poncho waving goodbye and her mother cupping her hands in her face before the backdoor closed behind them.

Billy carried his daughter too her old room and set her on the bed, covering her up with a fleece blanket and having her lay down. "Daddy, what's wrong?" Nina asked again. He sat beside her, trying to find the right way to put this, and stroking her arm.

Sighing, he let it out, "You're going back Nina."

"What?"

He nodded his head slowly.

"But…but I don't want to. Why can't I stay with you?"

"Because it isn't your time yet. You've still got a long life ahead of you. And someone over on that side is trying hard to make sure you come back."

"But I'm already dead. No one can bring back the dead."

"Nina, your life has been fading in and out. Between this world and that world. You were weak and injured before, and now you're beginning to lose your will to live." When she didn't respond this time, he hugged her. "Baby girl, I love you, and I want you with me as much as anyone else here does, but now's not your time. You'll see."

She looked up at him, "Who's trying to bring me back anyway?" she asked in a clearly annoyed tone.

He chuckled. She did have his spirit. "Guess you'll have to go back over and find out."

Nina crossed her arms, not wanting to go back. She wanted to stay here with her family, not return to the place where killers waited for her at every corner.

"We'll see each other again, I promise," her father said, sitting up and leaning over, kissing her on the forehead, "And remember; just as always, I'll be watching."