You sit up and bend your knees as you prepare to stand up and follow Wills and Bella. Grace presses his palms firmly against your shoulders, in a bid to stop you. He tells you, "You should get a little more rest."

You insist that you're feeling okay now. Grace lets out a defeated sigh, and assists you. He pushes the IV pole forward as you slowly walk towards the door. You immediately catch notice of Bella standing outside one of the rooms. Both of you approach her, and listen in on the conversation going on inside.

"How do you expect me to forgive you when you almost ruined my marriage and my life?", yelled a voice of a familiar timbre.

What seems to be Wayne's voice replies, "Raine, leave Carlos for me. I am a better provider."

You peer over Bella's shoulder, and see Wills stand beside Raine. He restrains her when she attempts to raise her arms, possibly to hit Wayne. Bella becomes aware of your presence, and she gestures for you and Grace to be quiet.

Raine says, "That doesn't matter to me. You're a despicable person!"

A brief pause.

"If you think I was intent on cheating on Carlos with you, that's where you're wrong.", she continues. Her long, lavender-dyed hair sways to the movement of her head as she faces Wills. "And you, let go of me!" She squirms and struggles to break free of Wills' grip on her wrists. "This is my own fight."

"Your anger is not misplaced, that much I understand, but have a little more consideration. This man is sick!", sternly exclaims Wills.

Raine shoves Wills away from her. He flinches, but steps back and regains his balance.

"I'm impressed, Doctor. You can still forgive this man even if he almost killed you?" Raine points at Wayne. "I wish I can be like you. But I can't. This man threatened to kill me or my daughter if Carlos told anyone that I was working for Wayne. That's when I decided that enough was enough. You must be asking, 'Why work for such an abhorrent person in the first place?' If I told you that I only worked for Wayne because I was gathering information to use against him, I would be lying. Yes, I wanted to help Carlos take this to the court of law, but I spent a lot of my time trying to understand why he ended up this way. I wanted to see if there was any way I can change his mind about his intense hatred for aliens."

"You had me, Raine. We could have lived happily, but you threw a good life away, just to be with that good-for-nothing!", exclaims Wayne, with much anguish in his voice. He falls on his knees and starts to cry. His voice trembles as he continues: "You were the only beauty I had in my life. Without you, everything lost its meaning. Do you understand how it feels to be betrayed by the person you love more than anything else in the world? It's very excruciatingly painful!"

Wayne slams his palms against the ground, as his tears roll down his cheeks. "Time and time again, you claim to care about me, just to betray me. Did you know that everything started to fall apart for me when you left me? I could no longer see the goodness in other people. You're the person who taught me that. Eventually, you started to sympathise with these…", he pauses as a look of disdainful disgust spreads across his face. "These interplanetary immigrants!" He glares at your general direction, before he roars, "It's all because of THAT CARLOS SANTOS!"

Raine's skin pales, and shock colours her face. Wills releases his hold on Raine and crouches down to rest his palms on Wayne's shoulders. "Now, now, calm down."

Wayne abruptly leans backward, which pushes Wills off him. He turns around and looks upward to face Wills, who stands back up. "Don't tell me what to do, alien scum! Because of one of your kind, I lost that residency position that I saw as my ticket to redemption. I did not want to become this destructive and hateful, but what can I do when the only purpose I had left for living was taken away from me? Psychiatry is the only thing I'm good for. If I could not leave my mark on this world in a good way, I figured I might as well be memorable for being a villain. I revelled in the fear that I brought into the hearts of the aliens I captured. It felt good. I manipulated a vulnerable woman and deluded her into thinking that I loved her, when she was just a replacement for you, Raine." He redirects his attention to Raine. "She did not fill the void you left in my heart. She never could. In the end, you captured her loyalty. She wanted all her life's savings to be given to you, Raine!"

Suddenly, Wayne's eyes light up. "Eros. He came to me. I found an ally in him. He told me that he'd help me capture the aliens I so despised. That I can harness energy from you," he says, as he looks at Wills, "by working on the SimuLife chips I've modified to detect whether someone is an alien or not. I can use that energy as an alternative fuel source, he said. Somehow, my faith in my ability to do something good for this world was rekindled. Little did I know that he would betray me, too. He only needed me so that he can take your energy to regenerate himself!"

Wayne punches himself in the face, which prompts Wills to return to his side, and hold both of Wayne's arms down. This time, Wayne does not resist. He hangs his head down, and sombrely says, "That's when I realised that everyone is fundamentally selfish. I started to hate everyone. A part of me still does." He sobs loudly, which renders everyone in the room silent, until his anger simmers into sorrow.

Raine walks closer to Wayne, and kneels down beside him. She looks at him intently, with pity. "Wayne."

"Yes?", he asks. Wayne glances at Raine for a moment, before he reverts his sight to the floor he is curled up on.

"It's hard for me to understand how all of these happened just because I broke it off with you, many years ago. I never knew you that well, but I know that you weren't like this before."

"Are you saying this because you suddenly have pity for me?" Wayne looks at your general direction, again. "And you all. What are you doing there? Listening to a private conversation to satisfy your curiosity? Do you alien scum pity me, too?" His morose composure breaks into an angst-filled countenance as he yells, "None of you really care!"

"You were making a lot of noise while our patient was resting in the other room. I had to investigate--", says Wills, before Bella interrupts him. She then yells, "Dad!"

Grace walks closer to Wayne. He sits on the floor, in front of him. He tells him, "I knew you were trouble, and I didn't want to deal with you directly. You abducted so many of our workers and patients just because you suspected them of being aliens. Do you think I can just sit here and pretend nothing is happening? No!"

"Not you too, Grace!", screams an irritated Bella.

"Huhu, did you want me to lie, Bella?" "No, but--" "Do you think Bella will heal you if she didn't care about you? No!"

"That's only because our professional ethics dictate it. If we weren't doctors, will you even bother with me?", Wayne snaps back.

"I still would.", solemnly declares Bella.

"But why?", inquires Wayne. The wrinkles on his forehead soften as he relaxes his tense facial expression.

"I was in a similar boat to you. My first interactions with humans went well back in our home planet. I eventually met some bad people along the way. I thought there was no middle ground, and that my father was right after all, about humans being evil and selfish. I met more people who challenged that notion, and helped me see that all of us ultimately choose to be good or bad. We may be put into situations beyond our control, but it's up to us to remain hopeful about the future or to fall into despair." Bella pauses to smile at Wayne. "It's never too late to change for the better. While we are alive, there's always hope."

Wills chimes in, squatting beside Bella. "Life isn't just about the legacy you leave behind. That's important, too, but being remembered for helping out your fellow men will be a fonder memory than infamy due to the ruin of many lives."

Raine locks Wayne into an embrace, and says, with a reassuring voice, "You were broken, and I pitied you. I wanted to heal you. But you can't pity someone you don't care about, can you? Care and love took over as our relationship took its course. I can't deny that the eros between us fizzled out. I just couldn't see myself spending the rest of my life with you. You were a good person. I just… don't know. I still cared about you. I still care. When you threatened the life of my family, and even my own life, however… that's when I thought that you were beyond redemption."

Wayne starts to sob again, in her arms. "I was too drastic. I told myself I'd be a villain to the world, but I'd always be good to you. I lost myself, somewhere along the way. My angst corrupted me."

Raine gently pats Wayne in the back, then releases him from her arms. "Seeing you like this, I can see that you are sorrowful for everything. I don't know when I'll forgive you, but I think I should, eventually. Maybe when I've seen that you've really gotten your life together and changed for the better. For now, I'll try to understand you."

"Will you give me another chance, Raine?", Wayne asks.

"If you promise me that you'll strive to become a better person and truly regret your misdeeds, whether you will be set free or land in jail, then yes, I will be here for you as a friend.", she replies.

Wayne keeps his silence for a few moments, as though deep in thought. He then looks at Raine, and reaches his arms out for her. "I think that's good enough for me. It's going to be hard, but I'll try to be happy for you. As a friend. Just give me time."

Wills, Grace, and Bella stand up and return to where you are standing. Bella then remarks, "Let's give Wayne and Raine some time. It was probably rude of us to just barge in like that. Let's go back to the other room and get our friend discharged."

You walk back to the room you previously occupied, just to notice the doctors missing it. You follow them as they head to the opposite end of the corridor.

"Well, they were making too much noise, and they even ruined a perfectly fine vase." Wills shows all of you a lavender vase with visible traces of cement gluing together some of its fragments. "But all's well that ends well, right?" He gleefully lets out a hearty laugh.

"He'll still go to jail, anyway.", Grace says under his breath. "At least those two have been reconciled at the most opportune time.", he continues, in a more audible voice.

"Oh, it should be close to the New Year back in Subeta, right?", notes a slightly frantic Bella.

Grace nods. "Yes, just a few minutes from now."

Wait a second, if a new year is about to begin, how slowly does time go by in Atebus?

As though he read your thoughts, Wills tells you, "It's going to be hard to explain, but time flows differently when you're with us. You can easily go back to your normal life, where you normally live, with normal time. In the meantime, we perform our investigations. Think of dreams that continue from each other. Just like a dream, some of your choices don't make a lot of sense, do they not?"

Given the logic that most dreams are not stories that you are in control of, that seems rather plausible.

You then ask, "So, is everything just a dream?"

Grace replies, "Okay. Put it this way. You're with us, but also not with us. So, no, you aren't dreaming. It's more like… reading a story written by an author with an erratic schedule."

"That's one way of putting it. Do you have any other questions?", asks Bella.

You take the opportunity to raise another thing. "And what did you do to Eros anyway? There's this one panel in your sketches that you showed me--"

"How do I say this to you… just think of it as me pulling his heart out of his body. Eros is dead now." Bella lowers her head for a few moments, a dismal look on her face. "It wasn't easy for me to do that, but it was the only way all of this could end. Anyway…", she pauses, as she looks at Grace, "Do you think they'll have a fireworks show here in Atebus?"

"I haven't been here until now. Shall we go outside and see?"

"Yes, let's!" Bella gleefully runs to the exit, and motions for all of you to follow her.

He clicks his tongue and shakes his head. You look at the person who barged in, a woman in her forties or fifties, wearing a royal blue jacket and jeans. You follow her question up by asking if he is allowed to do that. He replies, "I'm the only one who does this. If I don't, who will?

The woman asks him what the memorial is for. The man dismisses her, stating that it's none of her business to know. She walks away from both of you, and pulls something from under her cloak. From where you're standing, you see a pendant resting against her right palm. She clenches her fist around it tightly.

(Proceed to "Follow after the woman" (2A) OR "Confront the man" (2B).)

You then say, "I'm reporting you to the police."

He shakes his head and sighs deeply, his eyes still on his work. "On what grounds?"

"You're defacing a public memorial!", you tell him.

"Mind your own business and bugger off!" He clicks his tongue and swats you away with his free hand. "You'll just waste time for both of us."

The man stands up slowly, and replaces his engraving pen into his bag. He picks up his bag and slings it against his shoulder as he walks into the trees behind the memorial. A newly etched name is revealed on the plaque: "Beck Kho".

(Proceed to "Report him to the police station" (3A) OR "Leave him be" (3B).)

She releases her grip on the pendant, and pushes a button close to its chain. It opens to a single photograph that appears to be a wedding photo. You cautiously step to the side to see her facial expression, and notice a tear roll down her left cheek.

You then tell the man, "You don't have to be so rude about it." Although his facial expression relaxes, the tone of his voice stays stern as he says, "You owe a lot to history, but you never bother to take it seriously. That's why you always make the same mistakes." The man stands up slowly, and replaces his engraving pen into his bag. He picks up his bag and slings it against his shoulder as he walks into the trees behind the memorial. A newly etched name is revealed on the plaque: "Beck Kho".

You look towards the direction the woman was headed, to check if she's still nearby. It wouldn't hurt to explain the significance of the Survivor Memorial, from what you do remember about Subetan History. Still, it's a surprise that someone would be unaware about the Pandemic. You chase after the woman, finding her right in front of a fountain close to the city hall.

She releases her grip on the pendant, and pushes a button close to its chain. It opens to a single photograph that appears to be a wedding photo. You cautiously step to the side to see her facial expression, and notice a tear roll down her left cheek.

Why… he looks familiar.

(Proceed to "You look familiar." (4A) OR "Maybe it's just a coincidence" (4B).)

After a brief pause, it occurs to you that he might be Carlos Santos from Lower Ziara. Overcome by surprise, you ask him if he's Carlos. His eyes widen, and he nearly chokes on his sandwich. He coughs his food out, and waves to you.

"Whoa! Hey! Didn't think you'd see me here?", he says, after he wipes breadcrumbs off the corners of his lips.

You tell him that it's surprising to see him in Centropolis, and ask what he's doing here.

"Raine, Rose, and I moved here after the New Year celebrations. Better yet, I'm a police officer now!"

(Proceed to "Congratulate him." (5A) OR "Report the man you saw to Carlos" (5B).)

You describe the man you saw in the memorial earlier -- a man in his early twenties to his early thirties, sporting short, pink hair with bangs, a fair complexion, heterochromic eyes, wearing a long, white coat. Before you can talk about him engraving a new name into the memorial, the officer laughs at you.

"Oh, I know who you're talking about. There's nothing to worry about.", he says.

That's strange coming from a police officer, but it wouldn't be a stretch, either. There is the occasional news story of the police turning a blind eye to certain crimes, as long as they are given bribes or "protection money".

"So just because you know the person means he gets a free pass?", you enquire.

"He's allowed to do that.", the officer responds. The gentle expression on his face, despite his rough features, imply someone who is used to all sorts of questions. "I asked about it when I was new, and he's the only person who can add new inscriptions into the memorial. The city hall and the police know about it."

So much for making assumptions. You thank him, and walk to the city centre so you can get something to eat. You could use a quick bite now, after seeing his sandwich. On your way to a block of restaurants and fast-food outlets, you see a woman in her forties or fifties, wearing a royal blue jacket and jeans, standing in front of a fountain close to the city hall. You would pay her no mind, but hear faint sniffling close by.

You cautiously step to the side to see her facial expression, and notice a tear roll down her left cheek. In her hand is a pendant. She pushes a button close to its chain. It opens to a single photograph that appears to be a wedding photo.

You ask him how Raine and Rose are doing. He tells you that both of them are still adjusting to life in Centropolis, but that Rose is doing well in school, and Raine found work as a programmer. As an aside, Carlos also tells you that he knows about Raine's offers of friendship to Wayne. He never felt jealous despite Raine's romantic past with Wayne, because he is confident in Raine's love and loyalty.

You tell Carlos that it was nice to see him again and bid him goodbye. You walk to the city centre so you can get something to eat. You could use a quick bite now. On your way to a block of restaurants and fast-food outlets, you see a woman in her forties or fifties, wearing a royal blue jacket and jeans, standing in front of a fountain close to the city hall. You would pay her no mind, but hear faint sniffling close by.

You cautiously step to the side to see her facial expression, and notice a tear roll down her left cheek. In her hand is a pendant. She pushes a button close to its chain. It opens to a single photograph that appears to be a wedding photo.

"Oh, I know who you're talking about. There's nothing to worry about.", he says.

That's strange coming from a police officer, but it wouldn't be a stretch, either. There is the occasional news story of the police turning a blind eye to certain crimes, as long as they are given bribes or "protection money".

"So just because you know the person means he gets a free pass?", you enquire.

"He's allowed to do that.", he responds. "I asked about it when I was new, and he's the only person who can add new inscriptions into the memorial. The city hall and the police know about it."

So much for making assumptions. You thank him, and walk to the city centre so you can get something to eat. You could use a quick bite now, after seeing his sandwich. On your way to a block of restaurants and fast-food outlets, you see a woman in her forties or fifties, wearing a royal blue jacket and jeans, standing in front of a fountain close to the city hall. You would pay her no mind, but hear faint sniffling close by.

You cautiously step to the side to see her facial expression, and notice a tear roll down her left cheek. In her hand is a pendant. She pushes a button close to its chain. It opens to a single photograph that appears to be a wedding photo.