I could see the tan jacket moving between the parked cars. He had no idea I'd found him and continued smoking as he cautiously scanned the area. I stuck to the shadows and continued moving silently through the dark parking lot.

"Shame he didn't find me first. Almost makes killing him too easy." I winced at the thought and nearly tripped over my own feet. "No... I won't- dammit, he shouldn't have come looking for me!"

His footsteps drew closer after my misstep alerted him to my presence. I retreated, ducking behind cars as I put distance between us. My skull was pounding as I tried to focus on which memories were mine and which belonged to past timelines. I glared in Tim's direction as he called my name but once again resisted the urge to attack.

"I need to make it stop. How do I make it stop!?" I knelt to the ground and rolled to the side, pressing up against the side of a car as I gripped my head. "He's coming to kill me- no, he's coming to help me- I can't let him find me. I don't want to hurt him... Kill him now!"

I scratched at my mark as the adrenaline agitated the azoth in my system. By now I'd grown accustomed to the sensation of burning from the inside out, however the discomfort hadn't faded entirely. I spotted him a car away and once again bolted. Behind me, I could hear Tim running after me.

"I can outrun him..." I picked up my pace only to stumble as another wave of pain made my head throb. "I could turn and fight- turn around and trust he can help. He can't stop this."

A fence blocked my escape as I reached the edge of the parking lot. Rather than look for another way out, I took a running leap at it and began climbing. The barbed wire at the top sliced into my hands and caught on my clothes as I jumped down on the other side. Glancing behind me I noticed Tim had vanished. Assuming he'd given up the pursuit I turned away, wincing as I opened and closed my bleeding hands in discomfort. The barbs hadn't done much damage but they did sting.

"Not like I haven't had worse." I began making my way to the closest alley I could find.

It wasn't long before I could hear someone following me. I paused to look behind me, barely able to see the silhouette ducking down in my peripheral vision due to the mask I wore. As soon as my back was turned again I heard footsteps charging at me. This time when I started running he was able to catch up. A growl escaped me involuntarily as Tim caught me and forced my arms behind my back to haphazardly tie them.

"He's going to kill me." I struggled harder before being forced to my knees. "I could've prevented this... If I had just killed him like ordered- no... No, I can't... I-I can't kill him. Not after Mallory and Zac... I can't do that to anyone else!"

I went limp in defeat and slumped my shoulders. Tim stepped in front of me, staring at me as if unsure what to do next. There was silence aside from the sound of him lighting another cigarette.

"Who's blood is that?" He finally spoke up.

I felt shame run through me. "I... I tried to fight them- Toby- on my own... t-to kill them. I-I don't remember what happened but I doubt Toby's dead. I just wanted to get rid of one threat, so we wouldn't have to worry about them when burning the ARK."

"You're in control now though. Why'd you run?"

"...You're going to kill me." I slowly looked up at him. "Because this keeps happening. You and I both know I'm not getting better."

"I also know you haven't tried to kill me when this does happen."

"Yet." I shifted and stayed silent, keeping the retort to myself. "Sometimes I can barely hold Pawn back."

Tim took a long drag before pulling off my mask and tossing it aside, as if annoyed by its existence. "I think it's obvious you have some control over your actions while acting as Pawn, even if you don't remember them."

"I wouldn't say that. I had control up until half way through the fight... Woke up covered in I'm assuming Toby's blood with a few injuries of my own." I shuddered. "I don't know what I would've done if you'd been involved with that fight. Pawn- at least past versions- was a true murderer at times. She can fight so much better than I can- kill without hesitation. I-I don't like knowing that was me at some point-"

"That isn't you. Alastor just wants to manipulate you and make you suffer for entertainment."

"How would you know?"

"It wasn't that hard to tell after the first meeting with him." Tim paused to think for a few minutes. "...You think you can find him again?"

Suspicion went through me. "Maybe... why?"

"Well, I figure since you'll just go out and get yourself killed trying to do this alone, I'd help."

"So now you're going to help? After all you went on about me just 'being sick'?"

"I don't like the idea, but, it's better than letting you wander off again or try keeping you locked up. At least this way we'll be together if something happens."

"He thinks I'll die like Jay... If only he knew." I twisted my wrists in discomfort. "Partners, right? Have to stick together- would've been easier if you'd listened earlier."

"I'd rather play it safe than willingly just run around looking for killers and burning down the place those things live."

He moved behind me and cut my wrists free before pulling me to my feet. I grabbed my mask and turned to look back at him. "It's funny... how many times he's killed me in other timelines or me him. How many times we became enemies... What made this one so different?"

Realizing I'd been staring at him for longer than necessary, I quickly tried to recover by moving past him and back in the direction of the fence. If he noticed, he didn't question me. My focus returned to the question as we walked back. I allowed the pieces of past iterations to play through my mind, trying to pick out reasons behind this one turning out drastically different. The focus it took to avoid being overwhelmed and submerged by the information was making the pain in my head worse.

"I was alone. Everyone still died around me so... why? Was it just luck?" I played with the string on my mask in agitation. "Timing? ...What happened to Ethan? He's the main difference I can think of but... is that really why? Maybe I'm just weak in this timeline. I couldn't even fight without letting Pawn take control..."

***

"You know, going after him tonight wasn't exactly what I meant when I asked if you could track him down." Tim shifted beside me as we crouched behind a rusty dumpster.

I slid the mask back over my face and turned to look at him. "He might be gone if we wait. Besides, he'll still be injured- hopefully..."

"Do you at least have a plan?"

"...Vaguely." I admitted reluctantly. "Just stay on your guard when we get in there and have your knife out."

I could feel his gaze burning into the side of my head. "What about you?"

"Just the distraction. So stay back and out of sight until his focus is all on me." I slowly started inching closer to the building before Tim could protest. "I don't want to risk having a weapon, especially with Tim around when I tap into Pawn's experiences... He could get hurt as it is."

The interior of the building was filthy. Leaves and garbage littered the ground while old workout equipment and beaten vending machines sat rusting away. I constantly checked for movement and listened for any sign Toby was around. With all the different rooms and objects he'd have plenty of places to hide. Glass cracked behind me and I glanced back to see Tim following after me. Relaxing, I once again continued forward.

"Ash." Tim whispered sharply, the sound still managing to echo through the hall.

I turned back to see him looking down at the ground and joined him. Dark crimson mixed with azoth was dripped on the ground in a fading trail down one of the halls. "Get ready."

"Something doesn't feel right."

A reassuring smile formed under my mask and I lightly nudged him. "We're about to kill a proxy, I'd be worried if it did feel right."

"No, no, something else. Like something is going to go wrong." He took a step back towards the entrance.

"I'm not going to force you to help, but you wanted to, remember?" I backed away deeper into the building.

"Everyone around me always ends up dead." A conflicted look crossed his face. "I couldn't save Jay from being killed, Brian became a shell of who he was and might as well be dead, and Alex killed who knows how many people before I stopped him... I-"

"You couldn't control what happened to them. They went off to deal with what happened on their own, in their own ways. You're here, with me, and we know who we're fighting. This isn't going to end up like them." I stared at him, my voice taking on a softer tone. "I trust you can keep us alive."

Tim was silent and I turned away, giving him a minute to collect himself and make his decision. "I can't fight Toby alone. If Tim backs out... I will too, for now. Maybe Hoodie would help- doubt he'd bail on me. He'd probably be happy to do it... I just don't trust him."

Tim breathed out deeply and walked over to my side. "Alright, let's go."

I nodded and started following the blood he'd pointed out. Unlike the hall we'd entered from, this new hallway was pitch black. Without windows or holes in the ceiling to let light filter through, making my way forward was proving to be difficult. Any hint of stealth was lost as trash and rubble cracked and crinkled underfoot. Adrenaline pulsed through my veins in anticipation of an attack. The azoth's burn increased with my pulse and served to keep me on edge. Pawn's influence began taking over as we got closer to the double doors disjointedly standing on their hinges at the end of the hall.

"There." I picked up my pace, nimbly reaching the door before slipping inside. I froze in uncertainty when I saw the room in front of me. "He knew I'd find him..."

Several large holes in the ceiling had allowed the recent rain to partially fill the indoor pool before me. With dawn light filtering down, it was like I was looking at a spotlight on a dramatic scene before me. Stepping further into the room, I could see boarded up windows with shattered glass on the floor beneath them.

The sound of metal scraping against something quickly caught my attention and I immediately looked up at the track railing on the second floor. Toby stared down at me, watching through his orange goggles. Blood matted his hair and stained his brown jacket. I tore my gaze away and quickly located the stairs. He was still waiting for me when I got to the top.

"He's ready to end this too... Let's not disappoint him!" I charged with a snarl, swiftly ducking under the sweep of his hatchet. "Can't let him land a hit."

My thoughts slipped into darkness as my motions continued to lose the jerky, uncertainty and take on Pawn's proxy fighting capabilities. It was a delicate dance between staying aware of the plan and letting this state take hold. Between dodges and exchanged blows I'd check Tim's position, hoping he'd get here before I slipped up.

"I don't need him to kill Toby." I landed another punch to his face, snapping his head to the side before retreating as he attempted to kick me.

One of the hatchet blades skimmed past my mask, missing by a hair. I backed away, making sure to shift to the side so his back was to the stairwell. Toby swung at me again, once more missing as I jumped back. This time however, he didn't follow up with a second downward swing. His boot landed a solid kick to my chest and I fell back, the air knocked out of me. I coughed and mechanically got back to my feet before lunging at him.

The blanks began appearing in my mind. Seconds disappeared. One moment his goggles were fine, the next one side was cracked and dull pain radiated from my knuckles. Then blood was on the floor. His nose was bleeding and he spat out a tooth. Rage glared from his eyes. Tim closing in distracted me for a second. Pain flared through my back as I was flung against the flimsy railing. His hatchet swung down at me. I rolled and ducked down, hearing the sharp blade break the rusted metal where I'd been.

Toby raised his arms up for the next attack only for Tim to jump him and plunge the knife into his throat and rip to the side. The sight both relieved me and horrified me. Toby elbowed Tim away and stumbled back. I got back to my feet and got between them, a cruel expression crossing my hidden face as I watched him choke for air.

"Gotta finish this before his master takes him back to the ARK." I sprung at him, kicking the proxy backwards and into the damaged railing.

There was a screech of metal breaking before he fell backward, desperately grabbing for the edge. I turned away before seeing if he'd caught himself to focus on Tim as he finished wiping off his knife and put it away. He looked unsettled and shaken despite doing something like this before.

"Wouldn't be hard to push him over too once he- no... No. Keep it in check..." I took a step back, shaking my head.

"Ash, look out!" His warning came too late.

I only had time to look down at Toby as he half dragged himself back up with a furious expression that I knew translated to 'I'm taking you down with me'. His grip tightened as he let himself fall back. I tried to pull away and grab Tim's hand, though whether or not it was to attack him or be saved I couldn't quite figure out. I felt him grab my hand only to slip from his grip thanks to the weight pulling me down.

"No!" Tim's shout echoed throughout the room.

The grip on me was released as Toby kicked me away. Moments later I heard a cracking sound accompanied by excruciating pain. Seconds later I hit the bottom of the pool, the puddle of water splashing with the impact. I blurrily shifted, noticing red dripping down the side of the pool where I'd hit my head. Tim was shouting something and I could hazily hear him running loudly down the stairs.

"I can't pass out... I have to... stay awake... I said... I'd be... fine..." Water sloshed around me as I unsteadily got onto my hands and knees. The murky water was stained red where my head had been and I could see pinkish droplets dripping onto the ground. "It'll... stop... The drop wasn't... wasn't that far... The az... azoth will-"

I slumped down before collapsing completely back into the puddle. Despite my attempts to keep the blurring world in sight, I could feel myself falling unconscious.