CHAPTER 20

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Kelly caught Leon's solemn expression in her peripheral vision while the elevator took them to the ground level floor of the lab. She couldn't begin to imagine how guilty he felt. How hurt he was. Kelly couldn't help but think she was to blame for letting go of her hand like that. She should have held onto her hand tighter or fought through the pain a little longer. And because she wanted to give up easily, Ada had to make a decision for her—one that cost her her life.

"I'm so sorry about Ada," she expressed, staring at her shoes with her arms wrapped around herself.

He cast his eyes to her, naturally making Kelly bounce her amber optics to his.

"I am too," he murmured. "...But I guess we can't save everyone."

Their gaze didn't last long as Kelly was the first to break it, shaking her head in disappointment.

"I tried to hold onto her, I really did. It just—it happened so suddenly—"

"Hey." He put his gloved hand on her shoulder to stop her rambling. "You did all that you could. That's all that matters."

Their eye contact reconnected. Kelly noticed that same look he shared with her, and she couldn't have that.

"Likewise. I don't want you beating yourself up over it, either."

Leon sent a barely visible nod, retreating his hand away from her shoulder. A few still moments later, the doors opened, allowing them to enter a room where a lengthy panel and various screens mounted to the wall displayed. The auditory voice kept repeating its warning to flee, but something on one of the smaller screens viewed a grainy image.

"Who's that?" Leon wondered, leaning in closer for a better look.

The static image bugged out occasionally, making it difficult to narrow their deduction. Kelly focused intently, and eventually she was able to make out the figure of a woman. A woman with her long hair tied into a ponytail. Her eyes lit up.

"Is that who I think it is?" She asked, sounding hopeful.

Although the live footage wasn't exactly great, it was doable for them to see it was indeed the woman in the red leather jacket—or, formerly known for wearing one as it revealed her to be in a black undershirt.

"Claire!" Leon shouted.

She must not have heard them, continuing to work at the panel she currently operated.

𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐢𝐭 - 𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐧 𝐒. 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝𝐲 (𝐑.𝐄.𝟐 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞)Where stories live. Discover now