She woke with a start and groaned. The dim lamp glowing beside her revealed her old room in the depths of the compound. Looks like Weiss won the quarantine issue. She reached for the scroll on the side table to see if anyone left her an explanation.

How could you?

She blinked. Yang sent that?

We trusted you.

Dove…

Hopeless.

Even Book had given up?

What had she done to cause this? Angrily wiping at tears she scrolled through many similar messages from other people until she got to one from Weiss.

I knew you couldn't be trusted. We have no way of knowing

how many more trigger words he embedded in your brain. It was

hard enough to calm people down after you killed three of the residents

but this time there's no way I can cover for you. Since that stupid button

didn't work we have no choice but to leave you there where you can't

reach anyone. As many times as Dr. Cansado insists you had no control,

I can't believe him. You were clearly enjoying yourself. No more chances.

Goodbye.

Ruby dropped the scroll and curled up on the narrow bed. She had killed more people? The first time she had false memories but this time there was nothing… had she been killing in her sleep?

When her tears finally dried she looked around the room. She wore a simple shirt and pants made of flimsy material. No weapon, no books, no sharp objects at all. There was an extra set of clothing folded on a shelf, a small towel and simple bathroom with nothing more than necessary. She sighed and sat heavily on the bed again.

She was alone with her thoughts. When she tried to send a message to Yang she discovered that she had been blocked. It was the same with everyone. All she had were messages filled with disappointment and anger.

For three days she sat alone in the room. When anyone needed to enter a gas was pumped into the room that rendered her unconscious. She never saw the doctors. When she woke there would be food and clean clothes but nothing else. Most of her time was spent crying or staring at the wall wondering how long she could stand to live like this. Alone with only the vague knowledge that more than a few people were dead because of her and even her sister couldn't forgive her for whatever was done.

Then a chime thundered through the room.

She knew it hadn't been loud, she had just gotten so used to the silence that it seemed almost unbearable. She picked up the scroll, hoping it was Book or Yang… but there was no name beside the message.

They will never trust you. They will never let you out.

The text made her stomach churn. It was true…

Who are you?

She waited anxiously for a response.

The only one who still has faith in you. If you want me to

come get you I can show you how. You don't have to stay trapped

there with those people. I saved you once long ago and I can do it

again.

Ruby stared at that last line as a jumble of emotions flooded over her.

Uncle Qrow?

The response was almost instant.

I miss you, Ruby. Come home.

She clung to this scrap of hope.

Where are you? I haven't seen you here and Yang hasn't mentioned you!

It felt like the next chime took forever to echo from the walls of the room.

Still at Signal but I will come to get you out wherever you are.

He was on Ozpin's side. She pushed the scroll aside and cried into her pillow. Support the resistance and remain trapped here for the rest of her life or tell her uncle where they were and be rescued.

I'm sorry. I can't.

She typed with trembling fingers. Tears welled again as she accepted the fact that she had just condemned herself to this torture for the rest of her life.

Ruby woke with a start as the door slammed open and Yang burst in. "Are you okay!? I could hear you crying down the hall!"

She looked around, back in her apartment and the tears started flowing again as she clung to Yang. "I didn't kill anyone else?"

"Of course not. What kind of idiot would say the trigger phrase?" Yang said, hugging her tightly. "Do you have nightmares like this often?"

She shrugged but wasn't ready to let go of her sister just yet. It had felt so real… "Not… not that bad."

"You should probably go talk to Book. He can help. Without him I'd most likely still be dreaming about Ozpin cutting my throat in the middle of the night."

She nodded. "I will."

"You should come eat. Dinner is ready." Yang grinned.

"You're eating with us today?" Ruby smiled.

"Sure. Book wanted to get everyone together."

"Not surprised." Ruby grumbled, not looking forward to it as much now. How many people would be included in 'everyone'? She didn't mind her team and their families… but if he brought the council members in it would surely be unpleasant.

"Stop worrying. It'll be fine!" She grinned and pulled Ruby out of the room.

Dinner was awkward at best and Ruby escaped from the weight of Weiss' glare as quickly as she could. Though there were a lot of people pretending not to be worried, a lot of them also had their scrolls handy.

She excused herself to go to the bathroom and ran for the elevator as soon as she was out of sight. Without really paying attention, she hit a button low on the selection grid. Most of the higher floors were apartments while the deeper levels were dedicated to various work zones. She had loved being in the weapon workshop and wanted nothing more than to go back there. Rows and rows of shelves filled Smith bins full of parts as well as racks of broken weapons needing repairs or just waiting to be cannibalized for parts. It was so much more comfortable there than being surrounded by people who didn't trust her.

Just before the doors closed there was a whoosh and clunk as Book dashed in and hit the far wall. She sighed as he clung to the handrail, breathing hard. "You okay?"

"I just want to be alone." She said as she hit the button to stop their descent.

"You know, I've noticed people most want to be alone when they least need it." He pointed out. "Yang said something about a nightmare."

"Yeah." She slid down the wall and sat, resigned to having company. "I dreamed I went on another spree in my sleep... No one believed I was really unaware and I got locked in quarantine. Even you gave up on helping me... Then my uncle sent a message offering to break me out but I knew it meant Ozpin would find this place. It doesn't sound so bad now but at the time it was just... horrible."

"Did you accept your uncle's offer?" He asked, sitting in front of her.

"No. I kinda wanted to and that made me feel even worse. I couldn't betray everyone like that, though."

"You probably should have." He said thoughtfully.

"What?" She stared at him, dumbfounded.

"Realistically, this place will fall eventually. The people will get discouraged, the numbers will be whittled down through skirmishes and Ozpin's tricks. It's all a futile effort so why keep fighting?"

"You can't be serious!" She couldn't believe he was actually saying all that and she did her best not to let herself acknowledge the rationality of the words. She stood and glared at him. "Did he get to you?"

"He recruited me long before there was need for a resistance." Book smirked, pushed her against the doors and stayed close, hitting a button with one hand. The elevator jerked into motion as he smiled menacingly at her.

"I'm going to-" Ruby began.

"Oh, yes, I know you're thinking that you will kill me or turn me in but who do you think they are going to believe? The chief of personnel who has been supporting them all these years or Ozpin's little puppet who loses her mind every time someone says two simple words." He brushed a hand across the side of her face and pulled the earpiece away as the door slid open. "Hello, Red."

She barely had time to acknowledge the betrayal before the terror surged up and he spun her to face the 'Courtyard', one of the largest lobbies and a favorite for residents to seek out for socialization. Before she could take a breath to warn anyone the fear peaked and she was back in the alley looking out over the intersection filled with armed people ready to kill her. On the far side she saw Torchwick slide into a car and speed away.

Have to catch him, She thought resolutely as she took out her scythe and stepped forward. Have to stop him... and these men who follow him blindly. They will keep coming after me unless I stop them now.

The fear was quickly strengthened by rage and she ran in, her scythe clearing a path around her. This time she wouldn't let them come back for her.