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Scott stumbled toward his apartment from the access door on the roof. Still weakened from the time he spent in his cell, he found that his legs felt like spaghetti and each step was progressively more difficult than the last. Finally, he was able to make it down the flight of stairs and through the short hallway that led to his apartment door. When he reached for the door knob, he realized that something was very wrong.

The door was unlocked.

Carefully, Scott opened the door. He knew that he had locked the door when he left, and he prepared himself for who or whatever stood on the other side of the door. Suddenly, he flung the door open and barged into his apartment, ready for a confrontation. For all he knew someone from the Valor Institute lay in wait. However, when he found himself face to face with the intruder, he relaxed a bit, and a slight smile crossed his face.

“Eric, what are you doing here?” He asked as he moved past his friend and business partner and sat down on his couch.

Eric just stood there looking at his friend in disbelief.

“Where the hell have you been, Scott?” Eric asked, a mixture of relief and concern creeping into his voice. 

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Scott said.

“Try me. I was getting worried.” Eric confessed.

“Worried, why? I was only gone-“ 
“Eight days.” Eric said plainly.

“Eight days?” Scott asked, unable to believe what his friend had told him.

“Yeah, eight days. I was worried about you, I was worried that this Nightmare character had gotten to you.” Eric said.

“Nightmare?” Scott asked, not familiar with the name of the serial killer who had been terrorizing Lost Haven.

Scott sat and listened as Eric filled him in on the events of the last several days. The series of murders, the “Jack the Ripper” style notes that had been left at the scene of each crime, as well as the way he had taunted some mysterious organization called STRIKE. Scott had admitted that he had himself had run ins with the organization, but didn’t know much about them. 

When it was all said and done, Scott sat on his sofa, a look of stone cold determination bore on his face. After several moments, he finally began to get to his feet. Though he was still weak from his ordeal at the Valor Institute, his sheer determination powered him on.

“Where are you going?” Eric asked as Scott moved toward the large picture window in his living room.

“I’m going to find this ‘Nightmare,’ and I’m going to put an end to this, tonight.” He said as he opened the window. Eric tried to protest, to get his friend to stay home and get some rest. Eric knew that there was something wrong with Scott, that he wasn’t at full strength…but he also knew that it would take more than that to keep him from doing what had to be done.

He just hoped that Scott would live to tell him where he’d been for the last week.