A/N: Thank you so much for your patience and lovely reviews! My Word documents were acting up and I had a fever, so it was a tad delayed! So please enjoy this chapter! And I'm so happy you guys are happy Miles and Young-ja are together again!

And the THE OUTLAST 2 TRAILER CAME OUT! HOLY MOLEY! THANK YOU, GAME GODS! IT COMES OUT NEXT FALL! THE HYPE IS REAL! WHOOOOOO!

Ahem! Please enjoy this chapter! And I welcome all readers, new and old!

(Young-ja)

I don't remember how I ended up in that locker.

I just followed the wall and prayed no one would find me.

'Have to find Miles….have to find Miles,' was my mantra as I trudged forward, the wooden floor like glass against my torn up feet.

The dead silence put me on edge, and I hoped whoever was screaming earlier would occupy Trager long enough for me to find Miles and get out of here.

Eventually I found myself in another patient ward and felt right at home with all the other mangled souls.

I considered stopping to rest, but when I heard a "Buddy, wait up!" in the distance, I scurried from the room as fast as humanly possible.

I raced into the first room I saw and winced as I realized it was a bathroom. But there were a few lockers off the side, and I quickly hid in one.

My haggard panting filled the confined space, and my throat burned like hell while I listened for any footsteps.

Not a second later, someone busted into the room and slammed the door behind them, almost sending me into cardiac arrest.

'Who could it be? A patient? …Trager?'

Holding my breath, I creeped towards the slits in the metal door to see who it was and nearly fainted.

It was Miles.

My Miles!

HE IS HERE! HE IS ACTUALLY HERE!

Tears poured down my cheeks, and I wanted to kick the door open and jump into his arms.

To kiss and hold him with all my might and never let go.

But the sound of Trager banging on the door knocked me out of my fantasy and I knew Miles was going to be in some deep shit if I didn't act now.

As he raced by my locker door, I whipped the door open and yanked him inside before slamming the door shut once more.

I held my hand over his mouth and everything went still as Trager waltzed into the room.

Feeling Miles' warm body next to mine after so long..was…was pure Heaven.

'You're here…' I silently wept, resting my forehead against his back. 'I've finally found you…'

His body stiffened as I moved closer, and my heart cracked when he forcibly pushed me away the moment Trager left.

I knew Miles didn't know it was me, but it still hurt.

"Hey…," Miles voice shattered the thick silence and I couldn't help but smile at the familiar sound. "Thanks."

I just nodded, even though I knew he couldn't see me.

I just wanted to him to talk some more, so his beautiful voice could warm my chest once again.

But instead, the locker was suddenly filled with light and we both stumbled back in shock as we finally saw each other face to face.

There were glass shards poking out his scalp, his face and neck were bloodied and bruised, gore and grime caked his entire body, and his…Oh, God, his fingers…! Bones and torn cartilage jutted out from the crimson stumps, making my stomach churn and knees buckle.

What was worse were his eyes though.

His eyes, though wide in surprise, were dull and lackluster-nothing like Miles' usual fiery gaze.

He had the eyes of a dead man, and he was looking at me like I was some kind of monster.

That is what broke me.

"I..I'm…so.. sorry.." My voice was like bubbling acid against my larynx and that fact that I was crying didn't help, but this needed to be said. Now that I've seen what this place has done to my husband. "I'm so..sorry..I couldn't…protect..you,..Miles-"

A pair warm, familiar hands reached out and cupped my face, silencing my blubbering instantly.

I gazed up to find Miles gawking at me, a swirling storm replacing that dead gleam in his eyes.

Then, like I was made of glass, he gently pulled me in his arms and laid his face against my neck.

"Miles..?" I croaked, immediately reciprocating the gesture, closing my eyes in euphoria.

'This touch….Oh how I've missed it…!'

He said nothing, just held me with a feather-like touch.

Then, slowly…tremors began to shake his body, and my husband's tears streamed down my neck.

"What have I done to you?" His voice quivered. "Fuck..what have I done to you?!"

Tears sprung to my eyes once more, and I yanked him closer, ignoring my body's screams in protest.

'No! This isn't your fault! Please don't blame yourself! Please! '

So, there stood the two of us, reunited at last.

But no kisses were shared.

No screams of joy and happiness were exchanged.

There was nothing beautiful about it.

Just tears of anguish and the lingering aura of remorse.

(Miles)

When I imagined finding Young-ja at long last, I expected to see her safe and sound.

Maybe with a few scraps here and there from tripping over herself, but completely unharmed overall.

Yet, here she stood, her entire body smothered in bruises, gashes, and blood. The only thing covering her body was a tattered piece of cloth and her neck was shredded to fucking pieces.

And…Fucking hell…

I covered my mouth and braced myself against the metal wall behind me, trying to process what I was seeing.

Her arm…was gone.

HER FUCKING ARM WAS GONE

I wanted to scream.

I wanted to destroy everything in sight.

I wanted to slaughter whatever did this to Young-ja.

My fingers curled into fists, and my nails drew blood as I beheld my wife's state once more.

Someone had beaten her body until it was plastered in black bruises.

Someone had sawed at her neck until her muscles were barely visible.

Someone had ripped her arm off her body.

Someone had taken her clothes and-.

I couldn't finish that thought.

It was too painful to think about.

Then, breaking through the hurricane ripping through my mind, came Young-ja's voice.

Her once soft, sweet voice was now but a faint, raspy whisper.

And do you know what she did?

She apologized.

She apologized for not protecting me.

SHE FUCKING APOLOGIZED FOR NOT PROTECTING ME!

I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and demanded that she shut her mouth. Young-ja wouldn't have come here if I had called like I promised.

If I didn't get knocked out by that priest!

If I didn't come here in the first place!

Here she was, beaten to a bloody pulp and crying her eyes out for my sake.

Young-ja came to Mount Massive…for me.

FOR ME.

'No, it's my fault." I reached out to cup her face and wipe her tears away, my breath hitching in my throat as she looked up at me. 'It's my fault you are here.'

How could I even touch her? What gave me the right after what she's been through?

And how could she even apologize to me when she was worse off?!

I wanted to embrace her with all my might, to let her know I was here, to kiss her breathless and beg her forgiveness.

But I was afraid she would shatter, and I felt I'd done enough damage, so I laid my head against her neck.

And as my cheek touched her tattered skin, I lost it.

"What have I done to you?" I whimpered, damning Murkoff, God, and myself for the torture Young-ja had endured for my sake.

All for my sake.

"Fuck…what have I done to you?!" I wailed, the smell of her blood invading my senses and causing bile to rise up my throat.

And do you know what she did as I cried my fucking eyes out?

She held me with all her might and said, "It's not….your fault."

"How the fuck is this not my fault?!" I bellowed, striking the wall behind her. "You would be safe at home if I didn't come here! You would have both of your fucking arms if I didn't come here!"

But she just smiled, and my heart shattered as she reached up and caressed my face.

"We've….found each other, and….you are alive." Young-ja sniffed, wiping my tears away. "That's….all that matters now."

"…..You idiot." I whimpered, resting my forehead against hers. "You big, fucking idiot…"

Young-ja continued to smile, hoping to reassure me, but it did nothing but tear me apart.

"Nothing else will happen to you. I promise to protect you with every ounce of my being." I cradled her in my arms, still petrified of hurting her. "No one will lay a hand on you. Not anymore."

Young-ja said nothing, just stroked my cheek before lightly kissing me on the lips.

Oh, I'd forgotten how her kisses vanquished all my fears and made this screwed up world seem alright for a moment.

And I could still feel how much she loves me, even though my stupid ambition has dragged her through Hell and back, she still loves me.

'I'm going to get you out of here.' I vowed, clinging to her desperately. "And I'm going to spend the rest of my life making this up to you.'

Slowly, we pulled away and Young-ja reached out to open the locker door.

"Let's..go..Miles. Ae-cha is…waiting for us."

I nodded, took her hand in mine, and we waltzed out of the abandoned bathroom, ready to escape this hellhole.

Together.

A/N: I really tortured Miles in this chapter. *punches self* He loves Young-ja and knowing she came here for him is tearing him apart. And she really did have it worse off then him up until this moment. And Young-ja is just happy Miles is here, and she said she didn't care what happened to her as long as Miles was safe. So that is why she is so calm-ish. My bbys! *holds them* But they are together now and I hope things work out! Not very reassuring from the author. Lol. The confrontation with Trager is in the next chapter, and Miles will find out Trager's involvement with Young-ja's condition. Ooooh, Miles is gonna be pissed, to say the least!

Look forward to the next chapter! And Happy Halloween!