Leslie felt something different when he blinked open his eyes. Instead of the dim lighting and the cold air, he flinched at the bright luminous glare above him, his breathing quickened as he realized where he was. He reached up and pushed off the device that connected to the sides of his head.

"Leslie, calm down." The familiar voice made Leslie cringe, shocks of fear reverberated along his skin as he grabbed the edge of the tub he was placed in and pulled himself up. Marcelo Jimenez appears at his side, grabbing his shoulders and when Leslie looked up, he expected the purple cracks and twisted smile, only to see the normal doctor with furrowed brows and a disappointed frown.

"Ruvik.. Ruvik.." Leslie murmured, looking back at the device lying on the pad, he was about to reach for it until the doctor pulled him off, his feet landed on the cold floor.

"From his vital signs," Dr. Jimenez began, moving towards a computer off to the side, "his emotions shifted to a less volatile level. He calmed down for twenty or so minutes. It's strange. Ruvik has always shown temperamental, hostile signs. What changed exactly?" He glanced to Leslie who was staring at the device, his fingertips grazing the side.

With a sigh, Dr. Jimenez took Leslie's arm and lead him out of the room and down the various halls until they arrived at the elevator. The entire time, Leslie said nothing, he didn't move away or struggle. He seemed lost in thought and that's what bothered Dr. Jimenez more of Ruvik's strange development. No one changes in a matter of seconds, nor in minutes. Whatever happened inside Ruvik's mind scape, it altered Leslie's behavior as well.

"Are you alright, Leslie?" Dr. Jimenez asked him as the elevator opened and they walked down the hallway towards the lounge.

Leslie nodded, his hands pushed and pulled on the skin, fingernails digging hard. His breathing came out in pants, even though he tried to calm himself down. The thoughts mingled and warped as he remembered Ruvik's presence, so close to him that the touch was overwhelming. He wanted to ask to go back in, but he couldn't, he knew it would be wrong.

They entered the lounge where several family members sat with the patients for visiting hours. They looked at him and he felt the scorn and fear. The silence in the room ached as Dr. Jimenez dragged him out of the room towards his own cell.

He could hear the murmurs of other detainee's as Dr. Jimenez unlocked Leslie's room and pushed him in. The room was small, with a bed, a toilet, and a sink. Leslie's hands rubbed against one another as the door behind him closed shut. The taps of Dr. Jimenez feet faded away as Leslie sat down on the bed and curled himself up against the cold wall. He knew he couldn't be with Ruvik, there was no way.

Nothing changes between us.

The next time Leslie sees Ruvik, he'll be running away. The fear will resurface and consume him, while Dr. Jimenez gathers more data on Ruvik's emotional and psychological state. Even now, Dr. Jimenez saw something strange, he'll find out what happened and it'll be all Leslie's fault.

Gone. He's gone.

The moment Leslie's body faded from the bed, his silver strands against Ruvik's fingertips now out of reach. He sat up, wondering how Leslie will take it when he realizes it too. He cursed himself for not doing what needed to be done. If Leslie even showed an inch of difference to Jimenez, the doctor will know something happened. He teleported out of the room and appeared on top of Beacon Mental Hospital. The entire city was destroyed but there was no one inside the mind scape with him. He sighed and reanimated all the dead corpses and monsters, making sure this little betrayal will hurt Leslie enough for him to understand what they had for each other was nothing but a lie.

It needs to stay like that, now he had to simply wait for Leslie to return.

To Be Continued : Follow The Trail.