Mr. Holdover watched the woman drop to her knees and rest the man’s head on her lap, pulling off the gum under his back and feeling his face.

  “I made it this time,” she said. A laugh escaped her lips. “Fucking idiot.”

  Mr. Holdover’s brow creased at the sight on his left, it was almost made the hair on the back of his neck stand.

  “Well,” she said, “what are you waiting for?”

  He shrugged, “I dunno, you tell me.”

  She tilted her chin up at him, “Oh, what? You’re the type to think he’s above killing, are you?”

  He looked down his nose and spoke. “Above dumbasses like you, yeah."

  She scoffed and looked away.

  Mr. Holdover took in the sight. The male was all but dead and his partner was bruised and full of fresh gashes and cuts, he’d guessed from getting close to knock him out.

  ‘Still,’ he thought, ‘That Talent of hers is a pain in the ass. She’s probably defensive, and it doesn’t seem to take much of that gum to replenish her Gi at all. God damnit, where the hell are they finding these kids from?!’

  “One day you’ll learn,” she voice said, “leaving too many strings…”

  But Mr. Holdover barley heard her. He was too distracted by the sudden jolt of the ground as it cracked, then, crumbled beneath them. What was left of the stairs, tables, desks, and shelves all began falling through the floor as the collapsing roof piled above it. Mr. Holdover was so distracted by the sight he barely noticed the gust of movement at his left, or the small strands of gum under his foot. It was the sweet nauseating scent that alerted him to the pink bubble inches from his cheek, the woman’s deranged grin on the other side.

  “…is going to strangle you!”

  ‘PO—CRACK!’

  Xole felt weird. He was standing, somehow, and his entire body felt so heavy he thought he’d fall though the floor, yet his right side felt so light he thought it would float away with him. Then he noticed a pool of blood all over the ground surrounding something familiar. His vision un-blurred long enough for him to make it out.

  His right arm.

  ‘Cugk!’

  He thought he stumbled but he didn’t, nor even seem to breathe. His body felt frozen, unable to do anything except take in the horrid sight before him.

  Anastasia was standing there, her bloodied face showing a slightly open, bloody mouth, and wide eyes. She raised her hand, revealing her clenched fingers.

  “You…lost…” she coughed.

  The two stared at each other…then, collapsed…

  “Xole!” Trix’s voice called out. “Where are you?!”

  “I think he went this way!” Snap said.

  The Groundhogs ran over to where the two were, their faces quickly turned to horror at the sight.

  “Young one!” Abbas called. He saw him and the collared woman lying face down on the ground—his arm at his side.

  “He…he actually did it.” Salamander said, “Ah, ah can’t believe it.”

  “But his body…” Spit-Take said.

  “I’m okay…” Skinner said from somewhere.

  “Move, move!” Patchwork said, shoving past them, “Everyone move!”

  The Groundhogs made a circle large enough for Patchwork to unload his suitcase and cover both Xole’s limbs in bandages. He took out a handful of needles and stuck them all on his body and his arm. He reached for his ointment when he noticed the needles began to fall off, along with the bandages.

  Abbas’s expression began to shift, “Rivers, is that supposed to happen?”

  He slowly turned his head back, “It’s never happened.”

  “Then why is it happening—?”

  “I don’t know!” he exclaimed, “He took an enhancer before the battle but—”

  “He did?!” Snap nearly screeched, “W-well try something else! Uh, Adrenaline! Yeah—!”

  “I already did!” he said, “My needles contain pure adrenaline to jumpstart the healing process in case you haven’t noticed!”

  “Give him a Gi bar then!” Trix suggested.

  “If his body rejected the adrenaline, it’s more than likely to reject the GI bar!”

  “Gah, damnit! You a doctor o’ not, fool?!” Salamander said, “You really are a fraud!”

  “Would you all just shut up?!!”

  “…Enhancers,” Abbas said. Everyone turned to the large man, who held up a green crystal. “We must act quickly.”

  The doctor began shaking his head, “Abbas, Abbas, do you have any idea how dangerous this is?! He isn’t used to these like us!”

  “You got somethin’ betta?” Salamander said.

  “Better? This has a high likelihood to KILL him in this state!”

  “He’ll die regardless,” Trix said.

  “Trix?!” the man said, “Really?”

  “Abbas told me these enhancers saved my brother’s life the day he rescued us.” She explained, “My brother was hurt badly one day by some blue collared cops and I was sure he was gone…if Abbas hadn’t given him the Strip Lash.”

  “Trix,” Patchwork said, “we don’t know Xole’s his body will react! For all we know the BEST case scenario is he ends up like Skinner!”

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “I’m still okay...”

  “Patch,” Spit-Take said, placing a hand in his shoulder, “if we don’t do this, the kid dies.”

  “Please,” Snap added.

  The doctor looked on at Xole, his teeth grit. Abbas stepped before him, kneeling down to the boy.

  “Like I said,” he spoke, lowering the crystal to his lips, “It is our only way.”

  “Ah, is that so?”

  Everyone shot their heads upwards to the entrance of Zone 3 to see Shakar crouched atop a large pile of rubble, his stick over his shoulder.

  “You!” Trix glared.

  Snap turned, “Gah! It’s him!”

  “Yes, it is the one you’ve all been waiting for.” Shakar said. He jumped off the rubble landing before the group, who readied themselves. He creased his brow, “You understand my intention isn’t you fight you, right?”

  “Didn’t seem like dat earlier,” Salamander said.

  “How’d you get out?” Spit-Take asked.”

  Shakar pointed to Xole, “That last attack I’m guessing he used must’ve blown away enough rubble to free most of the exit.” He began to make his way toward the boy, “And speaking of which…” but before he could move any closer, the Groundhogs stood in the way. He found himself having to force his smile more, “Is this really necessary?”

  “This is a Groundhogs matter,” Abbas said, “Meaning you have no say.” He eyed narrowed, “Civilian.”

  The young man’s own eye squinted, “So you’d risk his life for the sake of having a ‘working’ Spiritual user?”

  “Risk his life?” Snap said in awe, “Can’t you see it’s us that’re trying to help him? It’s the only way! I thought he was your friend?!”

  “Then you misread us, I’m afraid.”

  Snap’s teeth clenched. Began to move but Salamander took his shoulder, “Don’t let ‘em rile ya up, Snap,” he said, glaring at Shakar.

  “Tell me then,” Abbas said, “What would your solution be?”

  “Easy,” he smiled, “Let his Talent fizzle.”

  The large man’s face filled with rage, “Absolutely not.”

  “Fizzle?” Snap said.

  “What he means,” Patchwork said, “Is a process in which the body forcefully slows its metabolism and cannibalizes its own Inner-Gi to ‘repair’ itself.”

  “And that would save him?”

  “It still carries a mortality risk, though to a much lesser extent.” His face grimaced, “The main thing with this is he’d never be able to use Gi again.”

  Spit-Take scowled at the smiling man, “Meaning, no more Talent.”

  “What?” Snap’s gaze shot to Shakar’s, “Ooh, knew we still couldn’t trust him!”

  “If I didn’t know any better,” Abbas said, stepping towards him, “It seems to me you fear the young one’s potential.”

  “Then I suppose you don’t know any better.” Shakar replied. He eyed Xole again on the ground, then them, “Now we can keep going back and forth or do the right thing and show your society you care for their lives over their Talent.” He tilted his head a little behind him, “Isn’t that right, ‘Civilians’ of Haven?”

  From above the pile, inhabitants of the now freed zone made their way to the top of the rubble with Dallah leading the way. She squinted at them, the rest of the crowd behind her looking in awe. The rest of the Groundhogs narrowed their gazes at Shakar.

  “How could you!” Trix said, “Trying to turn our own people against us?!”

  “Now dat’s low,” Salamander growled.

  “I’m not doing anything.” Shakar said, “What these, ‘civilians’, see is the result of your actions.” He shook his head, “And to think after all the good I’ve heard—”

  “That’s enough,” Dallah said. “I’ve heard enough.”

  The others behind her exchanging concerned glances, watching the woman drop her head and fold her arms.

  “After all we’ve been through…” her head shot up, “Do you really think we came this far only to question our Groundhogs when they need us the most?!!”

  Shakar blinked twice.

  “Don’t be selfish!”

  He pointed to Xole, “But what about—”

  “They have our best interests in mind.” She said, making a concerned face at him, “But I don’t know if I can say the same for you.”

  He did his best to hide his shaking finger pointing to Xole, “He’s bleeding…a child is bleeding!”

  The woman scrunched her face and looked away. “Not all victories are pretty.”

  “Does this look like a ‘victory’ to you!” he nearly exclaimed. His gaze scanned the crowd above, “Does this look like a triumph to any of you?!”

  “You’re not even a doctor!” The man in the vest said.

  “That’s our hero you’re messing with!” the old woman with the red scarf called out, “Someone get him away!”

  “Isn’t he the guy who hit him?” another voice added.

  The people from above began booing and jeering at him, a few even throwing pieces of rock and wood. Shakar could only smile, though even that was beginning to quiver in anger. He tossed another glance at Xole.

  ‘I suppose…’ he thought, ‘we both should’ve known it was this obvious.’

  “Haha!” Salamander laughed, “Looks like you lost da crowd, chump!”

  Abbas faced the Groundhogs, “Watch that one. If he interferes again, restrain him—”

  ‘WH-BOOOOOOOOOOM!’

  All of their heads shot to the noise at their side. Wood, rubble, archives, and books crashed below to Zone 2 in a thunderous sound. Smoke scattered everywhere near the impact. Shakar peered closer and suddenly felt a tinge of Gi. Mr. Holdover emerged from the rubble, his clothes full of rips and stains of blood. Two Blue Collars were piled over his shoulders with his other hand in his pocket. The Groundhogs stiffened. Shakar’s eyes darted between the entities, ‘And now this situation has exceeded my control.’

  “Hey!” Salamander exclaimed, “You ain’t s’pose ta be here!”

  Mr. Holdover didn’t hear him. His eye quickly went to Xole on the ground, then, slowly to the Groundhogs, who stood in a circle around him with Abbas in the middle, a green crystal in hand. The man’s neck craned.

  “What in the fuck am I looking at?!!” he boomed.

  The group tensed. Spit-Take put his hands up, “Hey, hey. It’s not what it looks like.”

  The man took a step. Snap gulped.

  “Everyone,” Abbas said. The Groundhogs readied themselves, spreading out and keeping their distance. Trix readied her blades while Spit-take began to snort. Shakar noticed Mr. Holdover slightly stagger in his next step. His brow furrowed.

  ‘This isn’t good,’ He thought, ‘it looks like he’s on the verge of collapsing.’ He quickly glanced to the Groundhogs, who’d also noticed the man’s misstep. Snap’s worried face changed, looking to the others who all exchanged a collective grin. They started to close in, led by Salamander. Then, Patchwork stepped in the middle of them.

  “Stop,” he said. “That’s enough of this.”

  “Patch?” The chain smoker said, “What you think you doin?”

  “There’s been enough fighting!” he said. He motioned to the ground, “Can’t you see what’s going on? The boy could die,” his finger moved to the Collared woman, “and her being here means we’ve been had!”

  Snap shrieked and stumbled back nearly ten feet, “I-i-is s-she still…?”

  “Alive? Yes.” The doctor replied. His teeth clenched, “It takes more than that to kill a government worker!”

  Abbas looked at the doctor, whose hand shook. “Rivers…” he said.

  “No,” he said, “no more.” He looked over, “Mr. Washington,”

  “What?”

  “Can we make one last deal?”

  The man looked at Xole, still lying in a pool of blood. It was then when he noticed Anastasia’s body next to his. His own body tensed at the sight, “What is it?”

  He pointed. “Those two Collars and you can have the kid.”

  Abbas looked on.

  Mr. Holdover glared at him, then Xole. His eye caught the Black Collard woman, who was also lying on the ground. He slowly returned his gaze to the doctor, “What are you gonna do with them?”

  “Figure out how they got in here for one,” he replied.

  “…Deal,” Mr. Holdover said, tossing the two on the ground.

  Patchwork nodded and looked to his fellow Groundhogs. “Okay, now carefully move the boy—”

  “We don’t gotta do shit!” Salamander said.

  “Yeah!” Snap added, “He broke the rules along with D.!”

  “Let it be.” Abbas said, much to everyone’s surprise. He gave one last look to Xole, staring at his broken body. “Perhaps…it’s for the best.”

  “Abbas,” Spit-Take said.

  “Rivers,” the large man continued, “See Mr. Washington’s crew to the station and ensure they never return.”

  “What about Xole?” Trix asked.

  “In time, he will make his return. I’m sure of it.” The man looked to the Collard workers on the ground, “For now, see our prisoners are taken to our special place and prepare for the ceremony.”

  “Wait, what?!” the doctor said, alarmed. “You can’t do that! We need information! How did they get in? What was their goal? Were they follo—?”

  “We’ll discover that in due time,” The large man cut him off, “When the time comes, the traitor will no longer feign ignorance. However, today shall be for them— their day of reckoning.”

  Patchwork shuddered. He quickly went over to Mr. Holdover and Shakar joined them. The doctor shook his head, “My bandages…they won’t work.”

  Shakar held his finger up, “Not to worry, that’s where I come in.” From his pocket, he pulled out the familiar brown rope Mr. Holdover had seen him use earlier. “Behold! This mysterious rope I possess has many uses, including preserving this one’s life!”

  Mr. Holdover made a face, “Really?”

  “In a sense. For now, we’ll refer to it as a family secret.”

  “And are you sure this can keep him alive?” Patchwork asked.

  “Well, seeing there nothing more you can do, I suppose it must.”

  Patchwork glared, “Do you forget I’m a doctor?”

  “Not at all! But the issue with him appears to be beyond your understanding.

  The doctor rolled his eyes. “Show me how to tie him.”

  “Don’t forget his arm.” Mr. Holdover said…