c.o.m.m.u.n.i.t.y. is {family} -crystal-

[~echo~]

Mark waited impatiently.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Braden closed his eyes briefly. "I guess I have no choice. I'll have to face him."

"Is that a good idea?" Gabriel asked. "Who is this guy?"

"An old friend," Braden said before leaving the room and walking to the front gates.

[~echo~]

Mark observed Braden's approach with an expression of triumph. "Ah, my friend. I have finally found you. You look well."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Braden narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?" he asked as he came to a stop in front of the gates.

[~echo~]

"Why, to apologize for whatever it was that offended you and made you leave. To take you home. We've missed you, brother," he said softly. He looked as though he really meant it.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"There's no apology that could right these wrongs," Braden said. "I'm sorry, Mark. Please just go."

[~echo~]

Mark looked sad. "Please, Braden! We need you!"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"No," Braden said softly. "You don't. And if you come back here again, I'll kill you. Go back to your 'perfect' community. Leave me alone."

[~echo~]

Mark's eyes narrowed. "You need us, Braden. These people... they don't know you half as well as I do. Come back with us."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"You think I'm going to hide while the apocalypse happens?" Braden demanded. "If you do, you never knew me. I have to fight this. I can't sit by and do nothing."

[~echo~]

"We are saving people, Braden," Mark growled.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Maybe I want to save them in a different way!" Braden snapped.

[~echo~]

Mark narrowed his eyes. "You are still the fool you were back then."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Anger heated up his face. "You're just too afraid to admit you were wrong."

[~echo~]

"I am not wrong. Structure is the only way to save lives."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"And what about the people who aren't in your perfect little world?" he said. "What about them?"

[~echo~]

"They are fools and should join us. Me."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Braden shook his head. "You can keep everyone in a perfect little community. There are people out there, Mark! Alone, dying! Who's helping them?"

[~echo~]

"We are when they are smart to come to us. Our base is impenetrable."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"They don't even know about you! They're scared and don't have anyone to tell them there's a freaking community hidden away where Umbrella can't find it. You know why? Because it's hidden."