Turned out that they were keeping me inside a small abandoned warehouse.

The small group was made up of Kent Smith, Beatrice, and Will–Birgit’s brother.

“Sorry for beating you up, Alexander,” said Beatrice with a small bow. “But I think the end justified the means. How are you feeling?”

“I’m good.” I probably took too long to answer that, because she was looking at me worriedly. “I just-I have the memory of a whole other lifetime now. I saw world changing events happen before my eyes. Events that I didn’t even know had happened as Alex. it’s-it’s a lot.”

Will signed something. Beatrice let out a sigh.

“Not the time for you to act like this, Will.” She sounded annoyed. I’d lived for a total of eighty five years, gone to over two dozen countries, but still didn’t know sign language. Still, I had the feeling I wouldn’t like what he said.

“It’s okay, Beatrice,” I said as calmly as I could. “I just-I would like to do something before we begin.”

“Of course,” said Kent Smith with a nod. “Go. Ahmed is waiting outside.” I barely made out Beatrice signing something to Will as I left, but chose not to focus on it. Whatever he said, it wasn’t important now. Although I did see why Birgit didn’t seem to really like him.

Leaving the barren, dark rooms of the warehouse was a strangely cathartic experience. I was more complete than I had ever felt, although there was still a lot to sort through. Still, there was something different about it all. Something I couldn’t quite place. Like it was all just a bit…clearer.

Standing just in front of the sea of people and buildings was Ahmed, leaning against a black car.

“It’s been a while,” was all he said as he nodded for me to get in. He took the driver’s seat, while I got myself comfortable next to him. “You’re not the only one with memory loss, you know.”

“What do you mean?”

“I didn’t remember Birgit either. Nor the fact that I’d invited you to the Society.” He gripped the wheel tighter as he made another turn. “Still don’t. Not really. It makes me mad.”

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“Could you take us to the graveyard?” I asked in a small voice. It wasn’t an easy thing to ask. Every aspect of it was, well, heavier than I ever thought my life would get. But I had to go. I had to see them.

“This city’s graveyard?”

“The nearest one, yeah.” I took a deep breath. “I can guide you.”

He looked at me quizzically, but didn’t say anything. This was one of the times Ahmed’s silence was a blessing. He was like a young Jensen in a way, but I didn’t know whether or not he’d take it as a compliment.

“I have both of our memories now,” I said after a while. We were getting nearer and nearer the grave. “Me and the man who was in my head. I’m here to see his-my wife. And someone else.”

“Hope you know I’ll need more explanation.” We were inside it now. It was as beautiful as I remembered it. Green grass, flowers, and more decorated it. As we drove through the various headstones, we eventually made it to them.

They were buried next to each other. To say they weren’t in good condition would be an understatement. Overgrown twigs covered most of their headstones, so much so that you could barely make out their names. The few potted plants that were still there were dry and brown.

I clenched my fists as I kneeled in front of them. Ahmed was a few paces behind.

“This,” I pointed to the right stone, “is Sarah Dillman. She-she was like Maria. A victim of my power.” She wasn’t as lucky, though I didn’t say that. Maria got the best help the doctors could give, her parents went bankrupt to help her.

Sarah didn’t even have that luxury. Combined with the fact that medical science just wasn’t as far back then as it was now…she didn’t have a chance.

Ahmed didn’t say anything.

“This,” I pointed to the left stone. “This is my wife. Joanne Goldstein. They had her buried with her damn maiden name. We-we-” I didn’t even know how to describe my relationship with her. How to describe her.

At the end of the day, we were both awful. Acted like immature idiots locked in eternal competition to see who would be the more awful, petty human being.

But before that, before I’d met Sofie, became a villain and before Joanne’s mind snapped, we-we loved each other. I removed my gloves and destroyed as much of the overgrowth as I could.

The mistakes of another life. That was what they were. I would defeat both Paragon and Charles. I couldn’t afford not to. And I would bring Birgit back. I would bring her back and I wouldn’t make the same mistakes I’d made in my last life.

“We should go,” said Ahmed. “We’re tight on time. I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re right,” I said, turning to face him. “The world needs help. What kind of heroes would we be if we didn’t lend a hand?”