Gray snowflakes continued to descend from above and steadily accumulated on Charles and Anna. It didn't take long before the two figures seated on the stairs were completely draped in snow.0

With a huff, Anna's body split open. A dozen tentacles shot out and vigorously shook off the accumulated snow before retracting back into the husk of Anna's human form. Now spotless, Anna stood up, grabbed Charles by the arm, and pulled him up. 0

"Let's go inside and eat something. You haven't eaten anything since this morning."0

"Go and have some food. I don't have any appetite," Charles responded in a heavy tone.0

"Then what's on your mind now?" Anna asked.0

Confusion suffused Charles' gaze as he stared at the gray snow before him. He remained silent for a long moment before he slowly spoke, "Many things… I thought of many things from the past. My mind's a mess now…"0

Before Anna could offer any words of comfort, the rapid buzzing of helicopter blades grew louder as they returned from the distance. The reconnaissance team was back. 0

The wind from the propeller bales scattered the gray snow to reveal the cracked,...0