He's been avoiding the Nexus like the plague ever since Battle Royale. He's regaining some semblance of sanity now, carefully picking up the pieces and putting himself back together. The nightmares can finally be left behind. Except at night.

He unlocks the door to his apartment and steps inside, pushing it shut behind him. His thoughts are on other things. Mundane things like whether he's paid certain bills on time or whether or not he remembered to get toothpaste. He takes the few steps through the doorway into his living room, and that's when he realizes something is off.

There's a scent in the still air of the apartment, faint but unmistakable. Familiar. Far too familiar. He only has seconds to process it before he catches sight of the bodies, blank stares and bloodied carpet.

He stands there for a few precious seconds, breath held, plastic grocery bag hanging from one hand. Processing... Processing... Please wait.

The grocery bag drops to the floor, one hand quickly clamping over his mouth as the knot in the pit of his stomach threatens to make him sick. Parents. His parents. He was never particularly close to his parents. Even less so once he was on his own. But they were his parents.

He's moving quickly now, moving to jerk open a nearby drawer.