In like a wraith. The St. Artemis General Hospital was nearly empty in the dead of night, chilled like a tomb and filled with just as many unexplainable echoes. He strode the halls with purpose, arriving at hospital room 305 and letting himself in without the cosent of the medical staff.

The child was there. Hope Evangel. Her "coincidental" run-in with that gang of Chaos Emerald-users had placed her in a rather severe coma, it appeared - she had been unconscious for the past three days. How convenient.

He approached the bedside with a hand outstretched to her head, to her mind. Removing her from this place would not be difficult. He would savor the moment.

The red headed girl had been strapped tightly to the bed, no doubt to keep her from destroying something in a blind rage should she regain consciousness. He bent over and pressed a hand to her forehead, forcing himself past nearly nonexistant defenses and into her mind.

She reaches for an intercom to call for security.

He sniffs down at her and leaves her lying there, returned to the room and Hope's bedside. He reaches down to untie the straps holding her down, and she immediately jumps to her feet, her brief weaknesses cured by a sudden influx of supernatural energy. She smiles, a malevolant smile, to be sure, one wrapped in sadism and powerlust. He nods, not smiling himself but satisfied at the unfolding events, beckoning her to follow as he heads for the door.