Abby can trust herself to be back. She knows how to spring into action when everything inevitably goes sideways. She can fight her way out of anything, but these people are here with her, one wall between them and everything else. This is a contingent of people that Abby can't lose, but the Crossroads brought them here, and in doing so, lined Riftwatch up like dominoes around her and Ellie.

God, she's so relieved Ellie is here. She can't imagine having to bear this alone. Never mind the silence, the bruised feelings and broken bones, she's just- glad. And-

She sees the sudden movement catch in Ellie's steady gaze, her head twisting away from Abby to follow the sound that interrupts her.

Abby hisses, "I checked the perimeter." She always checks. The stalkers are smarter than that, fuckers, shadow-like, silent right up until they're wrapping their arms around your neck from behind. They must have been watching her do her checks. She plucks her lead pipe from the wall where she'd left it leaning, and gestures with her chin down the hallway after it, "Take lead. I'll cover you."

Whatever is going on with them: it's dead from now on, or they are. Abby understands that perfectly clear, and she knows that she doesn't have to confirm it out loud. Her and Ellie, they'll do what they have to do to survive.