Darkness

Gage wanders down the quiet hall, running his hand along the wall. Reese had told him that after Hope's evaluation, he had a good chance at freedom. But even that was only one of the many things on his mind tonight.

It had been a new experience, going to the fair with Sapphire. He'd never done anything like that before. The noise, the lights, the people. It had been a bit intimidating at first, but after she convinced him it was alright, he'd started to relax. Riding a ferris wheel for the first time had been great fun, and cotton candy really tasted good, even if it did stick to his teeth.

He'd been a little confused at Scott's behavior, but hadn't asked about it. It just seemed strange that Scott appeared to want to go, but after seeing Gage, had backed off. Was he afraid of him? Gage knew that was a possibility - he'd been Agency after all. But he was trying to change, he really was.

Reaching the end of the hall by the main floor, he turns around and heads back the other direction. Most people were gone home now, and it was time for him to head back to his room. He did feel a little lonely though.


Laura curls up tighter into Nate on the couch, her eyes falling shut, even though the movie was only half over. After supper out, and Maggie put to bed, they'd decided to watch an action flick, but tonight, she was too tired to pay much attention. It had been a tiring day at work, and right now, she was oh so comfortable.

Nuzzling her head into Nate's chest, she sighs with content. She couldn't have asked for more than this.


Jason sits alone at home, his feet up on the couch as the television drones on with a show he didn't care about. The orange bottle shifts in and out of his fingers, his jaw muscles tightening and relaxing over and over.

He'd found Katie's note before coming home from work, and almost hadn't believed it. Why hadn't she told him in person? Why hadn't she talked to him? He hadn't tried to communicate with her all day, but he'd figured she just needed some space. He hadn't thought she'd be taking off. Why couldn't she at least have told him without just leaving a note that Rick had to point him towards? He didn't understand.

He didn't understand why she had suddenly changed her mind. While much of him wanted to try this again and was glad to take the antidote again, part of him was confused. Had he done something wrong? Was this all his fault?

After reading the note, he'd almost spoken to Katie... but something had stopped him. If she'd wanted to talk to him about it, she would have done so. Communicating with her now might just complicate things. So... he'd remained silent. Was she okay? Had she driven? Flown? What time had she left? Was she there?

A headache starts to form, and a bead of sweat trickles down the side of his face. Jason's eyes are aimed ahead but he focuses on nothing. Trooper whines from the floor.

The pain in Jason's chest begins. He can feel it tightening, slowly, starting to suck the life out of him. It was a strange sensation, feeling as though he were suffocating, when there was nothing holding his mouth or throat.

Why he hadn't taken a pill an hour ago like he should have, he wasn't sure. Maybe he just wanted to make sure that Katie was actually going to go through with it first. Maybe he hadn't believed it. Maybe for the first time, he was experiencing doubt if this was the right thing to do.

He winces as a new wave of pain shoots through his body. He numbly tries to communicate with Katie, but his emotions are hurled back at him with force. Yes, she had gone through with it.

Enduring the pain for a few minutes, Jason finally pops the lid on the bottle and downs one pill. Tossing the bottle onto the table, he leans back in the couch, waiting for it to take effect. How long would Katie be gone? Would she actually come back? What was he supposed to do now? Did she want him to call? Did she want to see him at all? Or should he just let her have her space?


Gunner stares up at the dark sky, gazing at the stars that were so far away. Taking in a deep breath, he lets it out slowly before closing his eyes and just feeling the cool night air. Strolling to the low brick perimeter, he leans on it and looks out across the city lights, just able to make out brief flashes in the distance. It was another storm. He could feel it without having seen it - his head throbbed. It always did when it rained.

His fingers knead his head a moment before he straightens and wanders a few feet away, sinking down into the soft folding chair and looking back up to the sky. Some nights he didn't bother with his telescope. It was nice to view with his own eyes.

It was a long way up, on top of the Thomas J. Yates building. It was his place to hide. Cell phone off, no alarm clock, just the world... and a laptop disconnected from that same world, at least for the moment.

The apartment felt small tonight. I don't normally write so soon after having written, but I got a call earlier. They said Parks is dead. Been dead three years. I'm trying to come to terms with the fact that my parents' killer may not even be around anymore to bring to justice. He will stand before God one day, to be sure. But it just doesn't feel good enough right now. Then the question remains - have I even been going for the right man? My target has changed so many times, it seems, that I wonder who it is that I'm searching for. Maybe it's me. Maybe my hope is to find a piece of the past, my past, and somehow recall who I am.

My gut tells me that the man is still out there. Somewhere. Running free, when he should be hung for taking two innocent lives... make that three.

I don't know where this road is leading me. But be it lonely or stormy or raging with fury, I will find my man... and my past. And now I need to find a stick of gum.

Gunner closes his computer, setting it down next to him before digging in his pocket for his mangled pack of cinnamon gum. Last piece. Putting it in his mouth, he stands up and wanders back to the brick rail to lean on it and once again stair down into the lit streets.


Ryder clears off the coffee table from the popcorn he and Thirteen have shared, and lets the movie credits roll as he takes the dishes to the kitchen.

Returning, he leans over the back of the couch to look down at Thirteen. "Since... Katie's gone right now, if... you'd be more comfortable with someone else here too or something, we can work something out..."