I didn't know for how long we ran, and truly, I was shocked that we did without facing any roadblocks, but we made it to our abode.
The first step I took into that door, I collapsed to the floor, gasping for air. Juke placed Rover down and sat on one of the wooden tables.
"We... ain't there yet, kid. One last push."
"...Curses."
I gritted my teeth and got on my feet. When I arrived at the counter, I knocked it in poor imitation of how Dennis did. The backdoor opened and out came the man from earlier.
"Oh, you've returned. Where is Dennis?"
"..."
I didn't know what to say. I didn't know if I even could. But Juke was there to help me.
"I'll get ya caught up on the situation, man. Yer not gonna like it though."
He furrowed his brows and solemnly nodded, granting us access to our living quarters. We walked in haggardly. The first thing I did was claim a seat on a couch. Juke placed Rover on the one opposite of me.
"I'll go tell the guy the news."
"Alright."
He left the room. I was all alone now. Aside from the sleeping Rover, of course, but she didn't count.
I was alone now. I didn't have anyone to talk to, nor anything to gander at. I didn't have anything to distract myself with.
So, with nothing to stop them, thoughts flooded my brain.
"Damn it. Just, damn it."
I leaned over, planting my face into my hands and harshly rubbing it, trying to sort out the mess in my mind.
"..."
I felt hopeless.
Truly, I felt hopeless.
It was just my luck that things turned out this way, wasn't it? It was just my luck that, despite my efforts to truncate the mission, I still faced such a hideous obstacle. It was iniquity from the very world. Hard-Bringer? What kind of cruel joke was being played here? Somehow, the severity didn't register with me until just now. Hard-Bringer; I had to overcome the clutches of a group so vile and infamous that even an esoteric kid from the boonies like me knew about them.
"Hard-Bringer... why, why now? Why? Why!?"
I hadn't even the strength to flail and squander. The only outlet for my frustrations was this couch; all I could muster up was a dozen slams on the armrest. It did little to assuage my worries– in fact, it only made them rebound harder. I pinched my nose and rubbed my brow. I scratched my skin and stomped my feet. Then, I laid back, gluing my eyes to the ceiling.
It only made them rebound harder. I didn't move this time. I wouldn't repeat that mistake. So, I glared at the ceiling.
"Ya don't look so good."
"Juke!?"
He made me jump. I didn't even hear the door open. I felt embarrassed.
"H-How much did you see?"
"See what?"
"Phew..."
At the very least, that weight was lifted off my shoulders. I sunk deeper into the couch. Juke walked past me and sat on the seat beside mine, leaning his head on his hand and sighing.
Silence permeated throughout the room. The already sullen mood was growing dimmer by the second. If it went on any longer, I would've lost my mind, so I spoke up about the first miscellaneous topic that came to mind.
"Oh yeah, the thing with your helmet... is that the Endowment you were talking about?"
"Yeah, it's pretty handy, ain't it? Weak people like me gotta have some tricks up their sleeve, otherwise, they just wouldn't stand a chance."
"Weak...? I don't get why you call yourself that."
"That's just cuz I am. Strong folk like ya never seem to get it, though."
"And you're calling me strong? That's just ridiculous. You were doing all of the fighting!"
"Nah, just most of it... Hey, that doesn't make much sense. What are ya doing kid, breaking the order of things?"
I sighed. It seemed that no matter what I said, Juke couldn't be convinced that he was anything but weak and that I was no pillar of strength either. Therefore, I left the conversation at that.
"So... this situation sucks, don't ya think?"
Then, he finally addressed the elephant in the room. I nodded along before responding.
"Hard-Bringer. Honestly, I was skeptical of their existence, but..."
"Yeah, they're our problem to deal with now."
We sat in silence, ruminating.
"Hey Kenny," Juke started, "where the hell did ya and Rover run off to? Ya have no idea how much of a heart attack yer stunt gave me."
A little guilt seeped into me once I realized we left nothing to indicate our actions.
"S-Sorry I didn't leave any note, but to answer your question, Rover and I delivered the letter."
"...Eh? Are ya serious!?"
Juke's voice took on a mantle of great astonishment.
"Yes, we had it delivered."
"Ah, thank The King! That's a relief!"
I had never heard anyone thank 'The King' before, so I knew Juke's expression was genuine.
"That news changes the whole situation. Ha, I seriously thought we'd have to deliver it while dealing with these lunatics. Good job kid!"
"No no, thank Rover's intuition. She had a good hunch, all I did was act on it with her."
"I'd thank her if she was awake."
"...Yeah."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBnpIE7XiD
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2MNVTV2qQ
Silence came again. I leaned over and gnawed on my finger, drawing at but failing to pull words from my mind. I stared at Rover, almost enviously, but also hoping that she would wake up without issue.
"Judging by her legs, ya must've run into some trouble."
"...Yeah, we did. She fought twice, and her second bout left her weary and injured."
"Then what the hell was she doing fighting a Harbinger? Is she crazy?"
"No, just reckless. Say, you brought up 'Harbinger' again. What do you mean when you say that?"
Juke looked at me as if he was questioning his reality.
"Ya heard the crazy bitch, right? She called herself that. Since she said it so loudly, she's probably a big shot."
"Ah, I see."
Upon the mention of the congregation at the plaza, a forgotten question returned to my mind.
"How did you wind up in the crowd anyway?"
"Ah, ya see when I woke up and noticed yer absence, I ran out with Dennis to look for ya. That's when we saw these guys in robes, and they told us that a 'special announcement' was being held somewhere. I didn't wanna go, but they had a whole gang to scare me into doing it, so I did."
"Scare you? What, did they threaten you?"
"Yeah, with jail time. It wasn't just me, but Dennis too. Didn't wanna throw him under the carriage like that."
"Ah... of course."
Silence again. I returned to gnawing on my finger.
"--Kid, ya gotta calm down, seriously."
"H-Huh!?"
Juke spoke a surprising statement, one I couldn't formulate a response to.
"Yer chewing on yer fingers and jittering like yer havin' a seizure. Losing hair over this ain't gonna help anybody."
"I... I get what you're saying, but I really can't help myself."
"Gah, ya strong folk twist my brain."
He sighed and pinched the rim of his helmet as if it was his chin.
"Yer a smart kid, but ya don't think smart."
"...What?"
His sentence made as much sense as the sun being purple. He clicked his tongue and shrugged, then continued.
"Maybe I'm being too easygoing, but think about it– ya delivered the letter, ya ain't dead, ya got all yer limbs. All we gotta do now is find a way to get out."
"..."
Though his standards for what was an ideal situation were low, I had to admit that his outlook had merit. It had merit, and more importantly, it had me thinking about it. And, even more importantly–
"You're right. I'm alive, that's always nice. Rover is still alive, you're still alive..."
"See? Yer getting it. Feel better now?"
"...A little, yeah."
It was enough to stop me from chewing on my skin, but my body was still jittery. I took a deep breath. It helped a little.
"Since you brought it up, let's discuss a method of escape."
"Sounds good, but we oughta wait for the girl to wake up–"
"The girl... are you two talking about me?"
Shocked by the sudden third voice, I turned my head to the sleeping– rather, formerly sleeping –Rover. She rubbed her eyes and stretched her arms, then cracked her neck, wincing once she did.
"Ack! That hurt! Wait, where are we?"
I smiled. At the very least, it seemed like being beaten didn't change who she was.
"Welcome back, Rover. Did you sleep well?"
"Kenny, you..."
She didn't continue, just narrowing her eyes instead. She then stood up and looked around the room.
"This is... our apartment."
"I carried ya here on my shoulders. Ya don't have to thank me, but you oughta."
"Y-You carried me!? Ah, that means I got knocked out, right?"
Juke and I both nodded. Rover groaned and collapsed onto the couch, rubbing her temples.
"That sucks. That sucks so bad."
"I'm just happy that you're alright."
"Yeah... I might be alright, but I don't feel that way!"
She fiercely stood up and pumped her fist, then instantly had to catch her fall. I stood up worriedly.
"Y-You probably shouldn't move so much. You did just pass out, after all."
"...Whatever."
Despite her dismissive remark, she obliged to my suggestion, taking a seat and crossing her arms. I returned to sitting on my couch.
"Now that yer awake, let's get to our discussion."
"Discussion? What are we talking about?"
"We were just talking about leaving the city. Since you and I delivered the letter, we don't have any reason to be here."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡollxIp7lQZ
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"Eh? Leave?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29UwwEpNqc
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Her outrage at the proposition raised my eyebrow.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1kBcZg2GZ
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"Yes? You do realize who, or rather, what we're dealing with, right?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVFN4n79db
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAUC2kpMom
"Yeah, I do. It's those scumbags, Hard-Bringer."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtDyzSelkK
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Her words came from a place far more visceral than just her throat. They stunned me for a moment.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpFlgThjPZ
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"Do ya have an alternative proposal?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aQAW7crLY
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"Yeah, I do," she yelled, stomping her foot on the ground, "I think we should eradicate those bastards!"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76bHLQSBx1
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My eyes widened and almost popped out of my socket. I turned over to Juke to gauge his reaction, meeting eyes with him as he likely did the same for mine. Even though the shadow cast upon his face from his helmet, I could see the whites in his eyes.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAzNhlDMfb
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We looked back at Rover. I couldn't speak for Juke, but my impression of her had just been discombobulated.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5Y9qbXP4s
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"What are those looks for? Don't you feel the same?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcrvHQRskF
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"No."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLiqlQCqRk
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"Nah."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusI5lJA3oS
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"H-Huh? You're lying to me! Of course, you want to see them destroyed!"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadgNpqhWqu
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUgPrQim8l
I blinked a few times and pinched my skin. I realized that this was a reality that I was facing; that somehow, Rover truly wanted to fight Hard-Bringer.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfpcPuZfrM
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I shook my head and thought that I should be civil about it, starting with forming an understanding.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pHH4CbsRH
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"Rover... if I may ask, why are you so, uh, set on this?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOJzQjZY2X
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOYFpgglRE
She looked at me as if I asked the dumbest question ever.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwrYoFtELh
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGichbwEdq
"Why wouldn't I be? I hate Hard-Bringer just like anyone else!"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmQFIrskJ3
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"W-Well, I get that, but this seems more than just passing scorn."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdvysA66xm
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"Passing what?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoadX9nrEjG
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I sighed. My effort from ten seconds ago to prevent misunderstandings felt moot.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7KNTCHh7z
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"I think what Kenny's tryna say is that ya seem to have a vendetta against 'em."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9poX8d0f5l
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"A v-vendetta? That's not right, I just hate them like anyone else! I'm telling you!"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxdbNz3mzm
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Once the shock of her understanding what vendetta meant but not scorn washed away, I decided to confront her directly.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlUb5jnzzb
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"Hey, Rover–"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgtWKLsQwi
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"Alright, ya don't like Hard-Bringer, we get it, but now ain't the time to be getting yer revenge or whatever."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5JnX6qZ0R
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Juke unintentionally cut me off. I would've been miffed, but as he was trying to diffuse the situation, I stayed silent.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerRz250Htj
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"B-But, they're right here! You know how slippery these guys can be, don't you!?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIWr9Up5HJ
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"I don't, but I do know that ya got yer ass kicked by just one of 'em. Ya think trying to take 'em all down is a good idea?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvKANYIGiT
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIjg6L1czm
Rover looked taken aback, biting her lip as she threw a scowl at the floor. Knowing her–84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQ3mecfVVx
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"F-Fine. You're right."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqvEdv0bMO
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I let out a sigh of relief, grateful that the chance of me being swayed at all had been removed.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQEuydHCH9
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"So what are we going to do? Are we going to go out on the streets sword's shining and escape?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpu9JomxoN9
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXpBvixF9b
"Nah, these are a crafty bunch of assholes. We need to think of a strategy."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRM9QjILcw0
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsV89rsCu5
Rover shifted her gaze at me when Juke finished his sentence, putting me under sudden pressure.
"W-What?"
"Do you have any ideas?"
I did not begin to formulate them; before I did, I needed to establish conditions.
"Uh... well, to escape, we'll probably have to find Dennis and take the carriage."
"I'm with ya on the carriage, but how are ya planning on finding Dennis?"
I looked at the ground, pinching my chin.
"That's... I'm not sure. Do you remember when you last saw him, Juke?"
"Yeah, he was a few shoulders away from me in the crowd. Beats me where he is now, though. For all I know, the poor guy could be dead."
"Don't say that!"
I rose to my feet and narrowed my eyes at Juke.
"My bad, but ya can't deny the possibility."
"Y-You may be right, but I'd rather not think that."
I sat back down. My plotting thusly plagued with macabre thoughts, I was barely able to conjure up a good idea.
"Maybe the coachman's hiding away somewhere, or maybe he's passed out in the street, or maybe he really is dead. Now that he isn't around, it might as well be impossible to find him. Why didn't you two go searching for him?"
At Rover's vocal thinking and inquiry, I could only bite my finger. She was right; Juke and I shouldn't have left until–
"Ya passed out and we were being attacked by some lunatic with a mop for hair. It ain't fair to ask a question like that."
Juke responded in my place, giving an answer that assuaged my anxiety.
"I-I guess that's true... damn it."
Rover, visibly frustrated, crushed her couch's armrest.
"Then, what do we do?" I asked. I looked at the other two for a possible answer, but they looked just as void of them as I did.
I knew throwing stones in a glass house wasn't right, but–
"Are we seriously just going to leave him to die!?"
"Nah, we don't have to worry about him dying."
Juke made a strange comment, eliciting a look of intrigue from both me and Rover.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"These Hard-Bringer folks are a real pain in the ass. They're volatile, destructive bastards, and worst of all, they're downright crazy."
"You're just spilling the obvious!" Rover yelled.
"That may be so, but I ain't done yet. They may be crazy, but they ain't trying to hurt anybody deliberately."
I stared blankly at Juke. Indeed, he was serious, and when I thought about his assessment–
"That disheveled man wouldn't have attacked us if it weren't for our being on a mission."
"Ya get it. Why he wants our heads in particular is a whole 'nother mystery, but that guy ain't the only evidence. I didn't see any of those robed freaks attack some stranger on the street. They probably don't give two shits about collateral damage, but the only folks they were attacking were those who attacked 'em."
I sifted through my memory to double-check his assessment. My recollection was hazy, but I remembered the sea of people vividly.
"If they wanted to kill... then the crowd would've been slaughtered on the spot."
Juke nodded along to my conclusion.
"Yep, that's a great point. We don't gotta worry about Dennis' well-being."
This collective observation Juke and I made was undeniably reassuring. It made the prospect of leaving Dennis here less treacherous and more reasonable.
However, the root problem wasn't addressed.
"...It doesn't sit right with me. It's not just Dennis, but there's Lola, and Mason, and Pars, too. But! But... If they'll be fine while our lives will be the ones in danger, then leaving would be smart, I think."
That was my conclusion. I looked at Juke, and he was nodding along with me. Then, I looked at Rover.
She did not do anything so kind. Her eyes were narrowed; she glared daggers into my very soul, accompanied by a foul grimace.
"R-Rover?"
"For a minute, I was considering what you two said. But I think I get it now– at least I get you, Kenny."
I stared at her blankly, a sinking feeling forming in my gut.
"You're the weirdest wimp I've ever met."
"--!"
The world around me turned to black, and it was just me and Rover. My eyes couldn't blink, I couldn't even breathe. I wanted to respond to her, but the words didn't even form in my mind. They had no chance to do so in my throat.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SBpjIvq2N
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My mind had shut off.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWnOzxeS4n
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"The hell are ya saying, girl?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQZ2nRVNow
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"I'll tell you what I'm saying!"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBo9wJ1h1aZ
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Rover stood up, stomping the ground.
"I don't buy into the shit you're saying, that's what! This shit about how, 'Oh they won't get hurt!' 'Oh, they're only gonna attack us!' Are you fucking kidding me!?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEV3EYdzCrr
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She swiped her arm across, glaring at Juke.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6xX3zRiQC
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"You don't know shit! You don't know what Hard-Bringer's like! So what if they didn't kill the crowd, do you really think that means they won't kill anyone at all? Are you crazy!?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnE9Jz7vtK
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"..."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYJ6gGZqrC
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"And why are you keeping quiet, huh!? And you, Kenny!"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZwvY1ZZAY
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She brought me out of my trance. I flinched, casting a weak gaze on her.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMH4PmsVlq
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"Why are you believing it!? I know you're not a dumbass– hell, you fought them! You saw how evil they were first-hand! They'd go attacking a kid if they just felt like it!"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qdUZttBmw
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuUisVDtIG
"I–"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNBvDteHws
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"So why are you running away, huh!?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusOpsEsLlu
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I couldn't respond to that. I wanted to desperately say "But I'm not running away," or "But it's the most tactical decision," but I couldn't. Whether I believed those assertions to be true or not was irrelevant.
That question hit me too hard in a place too close.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04hdvPQ7j0
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"...Tch."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjPzpznTyz
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She stormed away, stomping to the door. That's when I spoke up.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aD1ozTXJA
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"W-Wait, Rover–"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuk8aPyUV7K
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"What!?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qOJOWsaUG
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I swallowed hard before responding.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFdjQf935u
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"I-It's dangerous, you know. And, Juke is right, they're set on killing us–"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrSIMk6ZjX
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"So what? I'll just beat 'em back like the reckless bitch I am!"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30YXV29V3T
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Her statement was so ridiculous I almost couldn't cough my next words out.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBGtX3fmd4
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"B-But, you saw what happened, right? Y-You'll just get beat up again, and then you could, d-die. You even agreed with that idea!"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sjygRSEU7
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She narrowed her eyes and huffed at me with a face of disappointment.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHe9L6nbsRQ
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"It wasn't until you brought up that idiot with the crossbows that I remembered you telling me to try teamwork. Did you forget it too?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8uwCBR1Yf
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I froze.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJUhN6jAUw
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"I'm sure Lola and that guy with the crossbows want to push back. I'll join them, and I'll fight. I might even befriend them, and then we'll win!"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71MxJUiCE5
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAVR310dx4
My voice and strength faded. I almost raised my hand out as if to reach her.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhTw3svptr
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22vuvd3L9r
"Are you... serious?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvAqjlxbPC
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtIm5UufrQ
"Hell yes, I am!"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNDYbBI87P
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFtEDdhYL4
My arm went limp. Everything below my neck followed. I only had the strength to keep my head up.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbDMmZOw89
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8eKVGQC8w
"If you two want to leave, go right ahead, but I'm staying. Hard-Bringer– I have no interest in letting them run around. And you, Kenny."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHA5wgPbNr
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblG1B1gr3t
She pointed a finger at me. But, she didn't immediately speak. She twitched her brow and gritted her teeth, shook her head then growled.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGXiNj1KFM
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAqxjS2iSc
"Fuck! You're pissing me off!"
It came out as a yell. She flung the door open, practically leaped past the threshold, and slammed the door behind her.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18cLw1ewv9
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJSgnoZdDK
"...W-Wait."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKuku7AMMN
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCnb2ytdBn
I wasn't sure what being inside me compelled me to do so, but I stood up. I stood up and walked to the door with an arm out, but I stopped just short of putting my hand on the knob. I couldn't touch it, I wasn't allowed to touch it.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTUkj8gn53
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0fiIi19S5
Too much had happened. It was too much, just too much, too much too much too much–84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAlVizRbNs
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuM9HP814s
"Are ya gonna go with her, kid?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudUMXhy3LF
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGG8zdGzpRI
Juke asked me the very question that had me stuck. Now that it was verbally addressed, I didn't know what to say.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbdaqjnF4k
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbb0AvBeVgF
But I had to say something.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcorSqDlOkZ
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qeuT8ALU2
"I don't... I don't know. I don't know what to do."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbp1bpY5ND
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObPRXH4M58
He sighed. I couldn't see him, but I'm sure he put his hand on his helmet.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetgSl0LEJr
"What a mess."
"Y-Yeah."
"Well kid, if yer gonna go after her, be my guest, but ya should go now. She's a quick one."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2ncPMh3v6
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReykf4cWCy
"Yeah. She is quick, isn't she?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXR33ZY4RM
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6khJwASF5N
I still couldn't move it. I couldn't even get it to nudge an inch. It was so close, only, only, only–84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgumIldbd2
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUmlUeHkfW
Did I really want to open this door?84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOy0O7Twqjs
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCnDUrvT0q
"...I don't know what to do."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0wPosX8N6
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJjUznkPaP
My legs shook. I was aware enough not to let them cave in and fall, so I just fell on my butt, staring at the knob.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuogmss8PX
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRm1R5kmc5N
"...Hey, Juke."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgYHfybjOY
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bC47thsLy
"Yeah?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGvZ1JTADo
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84YsSkZf0x
"How sure are you of your assumption? That we're the only ones who will get attacked?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXilEl3QhWW
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6l6XPnjPm0
"I think it's pretty likely."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6JpGkpa62
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclW4SA4XNF
"...I see."
So, it was nothing more than an educated guess. Yet, I saw its merits. I believed in it.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvynio9IRM
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAqU3IoBI2
So why was it that the door grew larger and larger in scale? Why did it overtake the entirety of my vision and fog my mind?84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjlhM3JNNs
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWmMS4MUpd
"..."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHjI2k18C6
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyfim0tMzY
I stood up and bit my finger. Only once. I didn't grind, I didn't chomp, it was a quick, singular bite. I turned around and walked to the couch and took a seat.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGKn8IqXUe
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5H18SiK6I
"It's late, so I'm gonna go hit the hay. 'Night, kid."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE90sBo3CSx
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuo0seiKW0t
"Yeah, goodnight."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigJiRaKT6N
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTV5PN3svyr
Juke stood up and waltzed to his room. Now I sat there, alone, with only my thoughts to keep me company.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbihR7OaDUK
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxxVpSVhS1
"..."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGJxmfJR2I
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHwKCBdFoD
Cold and composed, I mulled over the situation. I rested my chin on my hand and I gazed at the wall. I was thinking. Yes, I was thinking. I was thinking a lot.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsShep0nyP0
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7W6DHGJ28
"...Damn it. Damn it. D-Damn it."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkAkYx95za
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsx4REe5yyt
By letting Rover go alone... Did I condemn her? That had to be what I just did, right?84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUOYck5MvW
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5zUZqi8xa
"..."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZXKKVV8S4
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpU1YWMmgvf
I mulled over the question. I couldn't draw a conclusion. No, it's not that I couldn't, but that I refused to.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXPubXXhYV
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmomqBCaFPU
Leaving through that door; consternation was all the idea drew. I didn't freeze, but with what Rover had told me, it was truly just impossible.
The door stayed shut that night.
ns 15.158.61.48da2
