Everyone Is Connected

Hangover chapter 3

The atmosphere in the conference room was lively, laughter and chatter filling the air as Claire and Carlos shared a joke. Elouise, still feeling the effects of the alcohol, glanced around, her mind racing. Claire was busy chatting, and Elouise suddenly felt an urgent need to excuse herself.

"Hey, um, Claire," she called out, but her voice was lost in the din. She shifted uneasily in her chair, her stomach churning. Finally, she caught Leon's eye across the room.

"Leon!" she called again, her voice more urgent. He turned to her, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah?" he asked, his tone cool and a bit distant.

"I need to... uh, go to the bathroom," she said, feeling a blush creep to her cheeks. "Can you show me where it is? Claire's busy."

Leon hesitated for a moment, looking at Claire and then back at Elouise. "Sure," he replied finally, standing up and making his way over to her.

Elouise got up, grateful for his help. As they walked through the corridors, the air felt heavy, the memories of Umbrella looming large in her mind. She tried to shake it off, focusing instead on the moment.

They reached the restroom, and Elouise pushed the door open, feeling a wave of nausea hit her. "Thanks, Leon," she mumbled, rushing inside.

As she leaned over the toilet, the world around her blurred. She could hear Leon standing outside the door, shifting from foot to foot, clearly unsure of how to handle the situation.

After a few moments, she took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. She washed her hands and splashed water on her face, trying to clear her head. Just then, she heard Leon knock lightly on the door.

"Everything okay in there?" His voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of concern.

"Yeah, I'll be fine in a second," she called back, rinsing her mouth. Once she felt somewhat composed, she stepped out.

Leon was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his expression inscrutable. "You sure you're alright?" he asked.

Elouise took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering dizziness. "I think so. Just needed a minute."

He nodded but remained quiet, watching her closely. She hated the silence, so she blurted out, "So, about Krauser—how do you know him?"

Leon raised an eyebrow, his demeanor shifting slightly as he responded, "We've crossed paths before. He was part of a mission I was on. Things didn't end well."

Elouise's mind raced back to the encounter. "Yeah, I could tell. The training I had was brutal, but it was a good way to release stress. I feel like I can handle it."

"Yeah, it can be a good outlet if you can handle it," he replied, his voice low and serious.

She could sense his discomfort with the topic. "I feel a bit better now, though," she said, trying to lighten the mood.

Leon nodded but didn't say anything, clearly still on edge. Frustrated, she added, "Look, you can go if you want. I think I'm good now."

"No," he replied firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I'm not leaving you alone."

Elouise took another deep breath, her nerves still frayed. "Well, if it doesn't bother you, I could use some fresh air. This place reminds me too much of Umbrella."

Leon considered her request for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I was going to take a smoke anyway."

They walked outside into the small garden, the chill of the night air hitting Elouise like a splash of cold water. Leon pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one, taking a deep drag.