Isabelle carefully walked down the white hallway. The blue ceiling lights made it look like everything was glowing, and no one spoke as they walked, leaving only the sound of her shoes on the tile to resonate around the room.

As she walked, a hand pulled her to the side. Isabelle held in a cry as she came face to face with a darker skinned man. He was about her age, which was 23, and he always wore a goofy smile.

"Corin, what are you doing?!?" She hissed, shoving him into an empty room.

Corin shrugged, "Can't I talk to you ever, Belle?"

"Not if it'll get us both killed!" Isabelle quickly shut the blinds on the windows, "You're an idiot!"

"And that's why you married me!"

Isabelle rolled her eyes, "It technically wasn't a 'wedding'. Nobody came besides you, me, and your dog."

"First of all, Lexi is our dog now. Secondly, just because our dog was the priest doesn't mean we didn't get married."

Isabelle smiled, "Okay. So we're married. But we can't go around telling people that! Unless you're okay with dying..."

Corin shook his head, "No. Nobody is 'okay with dying'. But it still happens. Why not risk dying if I get to be with you?"

"Um, maybe because you can see me after work every day? Not to mention it would get me killed too. And, I don't know about you, but I'd like to live. "

Corin laughed, "And yet, you fell in love with me."

" You were the first person I could talk to besides my father! What did you expect? "

"For you to obey the rules and not acknowledge my existence."

Isabelle rolled her eyes again, "You aren't the only one who doesn't obey all the rules."

" And yet you're so concerned about people learning about us. "

"Of course I am! If we both died, who would take care of our daughter?! Your mother?"

" She's just happy to be able to take care of our daughter for 8 hours a day. She'd be overjoyed if she could have her all the time."

"Bailey's one, Corin. You would just leave your toddler that quickly?!"

Corin sighed, "No. I really wouldn't. I love you both. Which is why I needed to talk to you."

Isabelle crossed her arms, but her expression showed worry, "What is it?"

Corin smiled, "You don't need to be so worried. It's actually about your research."

Isabelle stared at him, confused, "What about it?"

"So, you know how I'm technically not supposed to know what you're studying? Well, I was walking to my shift, and I heard someone mentioning that they found Ashley."

Isabelle's jaw dropped, "You... You're kidding? They found her?!?"

Corin grinned, "Yeah. Unfortunately, they don't know how to reach her, much less get her back."

" Isn't that what this whole project is about? Creating a person who could bring everyone like Ashley back? "

"Yes, but we haven't figured that part out yet. And we don't know how much longer it'll take before we do."

Isabelle sighed, "Well, at least she's still alive... Or as alive as she can be in there."

" Which is where your research comes in. " Corin put a hand on Isabelle's shoulder, "You've studied what that place is made of, right?" Isabelle nodded and he continued, "So, if we could replicate it, and then build a compatible opposite -"

"They could combine and the subject wouldn't suffer the extreme side effects." Isabelle finished.

Corin grinned at her, "And, with your studies, it would be much easier to build both pieces."

" But, how would we put the counter in a subject? It would have to be early enough that their body would have time to adapt to it, but late enough that it won't kill them right off the bat. "

Corin thought for a moment, "Well, unborn children are still developing, right? A 6 month, or maybe a 7 month could probably handle it."

"What if they can't?"

Corin shrugged, "It's no different than everyone else, is it?" When Isabelle didn't reply, he sighed, " Welp, I'm gonna find Dr Calvin and see if I can get this idea to pass. "

"Remember, we never had this conversation!" Isabelle called after him. He gave her a thumbs up and walked out the door.

Isabelle sighed and rubbed her arms, mumbling to herself, "Why do I get the feeling this won't turn out well? "