“How is he doing doctor? Alistar asked while he held onto the hand of an unconscious Alexander.

“Given the condition he was found in, he healed well in just two weeks.” the doctor replied, “Alistar, we need to talk about your parents...”

“Please doctor.” Alistar interrupted, “Right now just focus on my brother.”

Alistar placed Alexander’s hand on the bed and quietly left the doctor alone in the room so that he could be alone with his thoughts. Two weeks had already gone by since his brother and parents were admitted to the Foundation hospital. Two weeks since his family was attacked, two sleepless weeks since his brother was admitted let alone his parents whose faiths he already knew. He knew because he was only able to escape unharmed because of their actions.

While watching the nurses rush pass with patients on stretchers, he flashed back to that day he ran alongside his parents’ stretchers into the hospital. He called their names and begged them to stay with him, only stopping when his brother was suddenly brought in surrounded by nurses and Foundation troopers. How could a day go so wrong? A day that was supposed to be his first patrol with his parents.

All he could do was fulfill the last thing his mother told him before he fled, “Protect and look after Alexander.”

He will harden his heart to their memory and solely focus on Alexander when he finally wakes up. He was accosted by nightmares every time he slept so he kept himself busy by quelling the sudden fires the attack had sparked. All the vermin that came out of the wood work were relentless. The sudden rise in vampire attacks kept the Foundation Slayers stretched thin for the two weeks.

“You look like a mess Alistar, have the nightmares gotten so bad that you’re afraid to sleep?”

“You could say that commander.” Alistar replied.

Approaching Alistar was a tall and beautiful woman whose hips swayed with every step she took. It was as if her black pants were custom designed to emphasize her hips, and what he knew of her it wouldn’t surprise him if she had it altered. Especially since it matched her smooth black hair that was like silk and gently touched her shoulders. When she slowly moved it away, her hair revealed a pair of light sapphire eyes hidden behind a pair of glasses and rested in a porcelain sea.

She removed her white jacket that had three black rings on both sleeves and threw it over her shoulder. Her chest was covered by a black undershirt that also clung to her breasts same as her pants clung to her thighs. When she stood in front of Alistar she bent down slightly and lowered her glasses to stare directly into his eyes.

“Central tells me you’ve been going out on your own on top of what they assigned us as a team.” she said with her arms crossed.  

“I already told you commander Undin, I will rest when we aren’t in a state of emergency.” Alistar replied, “And how did you even find out all that and where I was?”

“I am your team leader and assigned mentor, of course the Central Dogma would inform me of your solo missions.” Miss Undin said, she poked his nose and playfully winked, “And as for how I knew you were here, I have my contacts in Central.”

“You’ve been spying on me.” Alistar sighed.

“Yes, those with your personality tend to turn into workaholics when stressed.” Miss Undin said, “I told you that Adolf and myself can handle things here so you should be resting when not on team missions.”

“You say that like I don’t know how things really are.” he stated.

“Your brother is not awake, your parents are MIA, you haven’t slept well in two weeks.” Miss Undin said in a softhearted tone, “Go home and try again to sleep or at least take time for yourself.”

“I could press charges for spying to get you off my back.” he said while giving her a side-eye.

“You won’t, but I see you left me no other choice.” Miss Undin said and took out a white smartphone then proceeded to make a call, “This is an order from Martha Undin, Purger third class, to all troopers attached to suppression team two.”

“What are you doing!?” he hastily asked.

“You are to prevent entry to the facility to Slayer third class, Alistar Cromwell, and detain him should he be seen anywhere outside of the hospital and dorm wings.” Miss Undin said while looking directly at him, “He is here by on ordered rest leave until I rescind the order and he is free to resume duty.”

“I cannot believe you just did that!” he exclaimed and jolted up.

“Visiting hours are almost over.” Miss Undin said and hung up the phone, “You better get running.” 

Alistar watched in disbelief as she walked off without a care, leaving him alone once more. He sighed and stormed off to avoid the unwanted attention that would be coming soon since he had no doubt that Martha had messaged the troopers his current location. He went into a nearby bathroom to wash his face and was met with a slight fright. The mirror showed a person drained of all their vigor. Was this person really him? His eyes had bags accompanied by wrinkles, his hair was untidy and his cheeks ashy.

Maybe Miss Undin was onto something when she made that order. Either way, he made his way to the armory to check-out his new Sentries, which were formerly his parents’. An empty house was all that awaited him if he chose not to stay in the dormitory. It was a stroke of luck that it wasn’t destroyed during the attack, though since then it has been guarded at a distance by troopers. The first order of business was to clean when he got back.