"For the last time, what is your name?"
They had asked him that question at least a dozen times or so in what had to be the last twenty minutes. They had confiscated his staff. They already frisked him a couple of times for what he guessed were for drugs or a gun, all of which didn't carry or need. They checked him again for identification, something he did not carry , which led up to him being asked, once more, to state who he was and what his business was for being in the rundown area at such an unconventional time.
Of course Calix would never give his reasons. He had yet to lift his head to look at the officer even after they had taken his sunglasses. He scowled inwardly at how they had the audacity to even keep him there but he'd never mention it verbally. If anything, they were slowly trying his patience and willpower, what with the obnoxiously bright and almost blinding searchlight that was still on him. He'd probably attempt escape if it weren't for the red dot that had been focused on his chest the entire time. That was the thing he'd have to worry about the most if he didn't play his cards right.
"Kid." Cal tilted his head in the direction of the voice by having the back of his collar grabbed. "Last chance."
"If he didn't talk then, I doubt he talk now…" the other officer said, "…at least without the proper stimulation." The teen lifted his head a bit at the sound of what could've been the safety being taken off a firearm. "Now, let's try this again," he said as he tapped the barrel of the gun against the other's head. "Why are you out here?"
Cal remained silent.
"I don't think you should press that to his head," the first said. "What if your finger slips?"
The other hummed in thought. "What if it does?" he then focused on the one knelt on the ground. "What if it did, kid? Be a shame if it went off by mistake and you were injured or killed. We wouldn't know who to contact to come get you."
Calix shifted somewhat, watching the red dot move to stay focused on his chest.
"That's still a bit much," the first said, watching the raven.
"Then again, maybe he doesn't have identification because he's a criminal?" To that, Calix snorted before being hit by the butt of the gun. "Found that funny, did you?"
"Yeah, I did actually," he replied as he brought up a hand to touch the area struck. "It's funny since you're the real criminal here. Hitting someone because they don't answer you? You have anger issues, don't you Mr. Officer." He clicked his tongue when he was hit again. "So-"
"Whoa, don't hit him too hard. He's talking now."
"I don't like his attitude," the second replied.
"I start talking and the first thing he says is that he doesn't like my attitude," Cal chided. "How droll."
"Kid-"
The second snorted. "Well, since you have such a mouth, let's put it to use. What were ya doing way out here?" Calix lowered his hand to see the faint traces of blood from where he had been hit before being shoved forward. "I'm waiting."
Biting his tongue at the action, he inhaled sharply before feeling the dirt and dust tickle the back of his throat. Inhaling again as the foot stepped down harder, Cal coughed before feeling the foot let up somewhat. Coughing again as more of the dust got to him, he noticed how the other let up completely.
As the other questioned him again, foot back in place, Cal slowly brought a hand up to cover his mouth. Already knowing the dot was probably aimed at his head, he gradually brought himself up to an upright position before letting out a terrible cough. That was followed by a staggered breath that soon started a fit of short, clipped ones.
"Hold- hey, stop it!" the first said as he pushed the other away.
"What?"
"You don't hear that?" Both listened to the irregular breaths before more coughs ensued. "Hey?" Cal bowed his head. "Fuck, I think he's having an asthma attack," the first said, kneeling to find the teen's inhaler. "Help me!"
"Why?" the second questioned, watching the teen wheeze.
"He's having an asthma attack," he stressed as he searched the teen's jacket. His attention then turned towards Calix. "Where is it?" The captive merely held his chest as he continued to wheeze. "Goddammit!"
"If he needs an inhaler, let him find it himself," the second said with somewhat of an irritable sigh. "Better hurry up before he keels over. It'd be a pain to file a report if he dies."
Being tossed his jacket, Cal picked it up with shaky hands before rummaging through the pockets before leaning forward. Cupping his hands as he pulled something out, he inhaled slowly and deeply before coughing a bit. Once his fit had subsided, he lowered his hands onto his lap.
"Are you alright?" Brown eyes looked towards the man before he nodded slowly. "Good, can you give us your name now?"
Calix shook his head before being grabbed by the front of his shirt by the other officer. "Look, whether or not you give us your name, I really don't give a damn anymore," he said as he got in the teen's face. "You're going to jail, ya' know that?" Calix merely smirked before being shaken. "What's so goddamn funny?!"
Flashing a smile, Calix revealed the small, bright yellow pill that was between his teeth. Almost swallowing the thing as he was hoisted up, he bit down on the capsule before holding his breath as a vapor began to seep out.
Closing his mouth for a moment as the officer coughed, Calix held his breath long enough before blowing the gas into the man's face. Having his shirt released, Calix blew the rest of the smoke at the man before dropping the container of pills he was still holding in his hand. Stomping his foot down on it, he held his breath as gas clouded the area.
Swinging his jacket over his shoulder, Cal kicked up his staff before pausing at the ringing sound. Feeling a minor pain at the back of his shoulder, he reached around to see how bad the damage before inhaling sharply as he felt a pull at the muscle. He staggered somewhat at the inhalation of the gas before he caught himself against the wall. Covering his mouth, he looked down to see the other office gasping before he set his sights on him.
"Don't take it personal," he said as the man fell to the ground. "I liked ya a lot better than your friend there. Don't worry though. The gas isn't poisonous."
Watching as the officer's eyes slid shut, Cal turned in time to hear the sound of a bullet whizzing past his ear. Nearly stumbling as the gas started to get to him, he ran around the corner before the armed carrier could get a fix on him.
Cutting another corner, he ran until he figured he was a reasonable distance away. Collapsing his staff, he put it away before swinging his jacket over his shoulder. He was then met with the same sharp pain from before. Reaching around to investigate, he winced as he felt the strenuous pull of muscle. Pulling his hand back, he viewed what looked like blood prior to lowering his hand as he heard what sounded like footsteps. Catching the whirring sound of turbines, Calix looked up to see the parallel row of green lights cruising above. He then went rigid as its bright searchlight beamed down on him.
"You there!"
"I don't have time for this..."
Sparing three officers a disdainful glance, Cal bolted down a side lane before the red dot managed to target him again. The orders telling him to stop made it obvious that he was being followed. Coming across a dead end, he scowled as he took several steps back to look at the lowest ledge of the adjacent building. He then ran forward as he caught the sound of officers coming his way.
Kicking himself off the first wall to the next, Calix ran up part of the wall before he grabbed onto the ledge. He bit his lip as he felt a pull in his shoulder again. Holding onto the ledge, he glanced down as he heard the first of the three come into the dead end.
Looking back up as he felt the strain getting worse, he chewed his lip before he began to pull himself through a glassless window. Settling on the floor below, he shed the jacket, feeling the dampened material before reaching around to feel about the area. His fingers felt around before stilling as he winced. Prodding the area carefully, he flinched as he felt what seemed to be a hole in his shoulder.
I got… shot?
He didn't notice it when it had happened but it was going to be a hindrance. Having a bullet stuck there didn't quite help matters either but he was going to have to put that behind him for now.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his glasses and put them on prior to tapping the side. All he heard was static, perhaps interference from the carrier.
"Can anyone hear me?" he asked once the noise dimmed down. "Hello?" He walked over to a front window to see the carrier cruising by. "Will?" She didn't reply. "Renyx?" He didn't respond. "If you two can hear me, this isn't fucking funny!"
"He wasn't in the alley."
Cal looked down to see two cops walking towards the door.
"We'll check in here and you check the next one over."
Backing away from the window, Calix carefully made his way up a nearby flight of stairs before stopping as he heard the floorboards creak below his feet.
"Did you hear that?"
"Yeah; upstairs."
Looking over his shoulder to the sound of footsteps, Calix ascended another flight of stairs before coming to a stop on the sixth floor. Walking over to a small storage room, he rotated his shoulder, feeling its protest before he tried getting in contact with his friends again.
"Will, please, are you there?" She didn't reply. "Renyx, c'mon, can you hear me?" He didn't answer. "This isn't funny!"
"Did you hear that?"
"It sounded like it came from above us."
Dammit, I don't have time for this! Hurrying out the room, he froze when a light fell on his from the stairwell down the hall. You've gotta be kidding me!
"Freeze!"
Taking a step back at the sight of a gun, Calix bolted up the next flight of stairs in time to hear a bullet hit the wall behind him.
The police of Polaris never really seemed to abide by the 'fire only when fired upon' rule.
Hearing the men following behind him, Calix rounded a corner before pressing his back to the wall. Fishing through his pocket, he grabbed his staff and swung it out to its full length in time to trip up the first officer.
Picking the dislodged firearm up with the end of the pole, Calix flung it out a nearby window before thrusting the other end of the pole into the second's officer's stomach as he ran towards him. Pushing the front in of the weapon down, Calix felt the opposite end connect with the man's chin before he spun around to let the back end connect with the officer that had just gotten back to his feet.
Backing off when both men groaned, Calix turned to leave before stopping as the worn wood creaked below his foot. Looking back at the men that were beginning to get to their feet, Cal took another step back, cringing as the wood groaned in protest. Hearing a firearm being drawn, perhaps from the second officer, Calix vied his options before turning to run away. His next step, however, was hindered by the weakened wood giving way beneath his feet. The next thing he realized was that he was falling through a hole in the floor. Unfortunately, it wasn't just one floor.
Cracking his eyes open, Calix stared up at the fuzzy outline of not one but five holes hanging above his head. Making out the blurred figures of one of the officers looking down at him, Calix sat up slowly before feeling an excruciating pain in his side, back and legs.
Hearing the sound of footsteps echoing as they hurried down the stairs, Cal got to his feet before collapsing into a heap on the floor. Looking to his left, he picked up his staff and used it for support as he made his way down to the first floor.
Catching the shadow of someone passing by the window, Calix took a detour before squeezing himself through a hole in the wall. Looking around for the carrier, the teen went on his way before stopping at a building at least three blocks from where he had fallen. Stumbling through the door as he heard the distant sound of turbines humming, he pulled himself into a corner before sinking down to his knees. Grabbing a hold of his sides as he felt a sharp pain, Cal opened his eyes when he felt something hard protruding from his jacket. Curling his fingers around the object, he tugged at the object before jerking at the sudden pain it caused. Tightening his hold on it, he covered his mouth once he yanked the thing out entirely.
Looking down at a nine inch splinter, brown eyes made out the damp, red end before tossing it aside in favor of feeling the newly inflicted wound to his side. Rubbing his fingers together to feel blood slicking them, Cal held his side as he pressed himself against the wall.
Something like this had never happened before.
Tonight had started like any other night. Sure, there had been some close calls with the cops before but Calix had always been able to deter them or they never got close enough to endanger the party. No one ever had to evacuate. When he called, someone always answered.
Now, though, everything had basically gone to hell.
He could've easily handled five officers. Hell, he was confident enough to handle ten but be hadn't planned on having an armed carrier show up. Nor did he plan on being shot.
Gotta keep moving…
His body hurt. He had fallen in the past. He'd fallen a couple floors before, even had a person fall on top of him but he could never recall falling five floors before and landing on his back no less.
"I could come with you."
The more he sat there, the better he thought it would've been if he let the white-haired man come along with him. On the other hand, he didn't want the man to get in trouble if he had been seen.
The hovering sound of the armed carrier outside brought the teen back to reality. It was a possibility that the officers were probably going to kill him. If not, they'd probably rough him up then arrest him for the bit of trouble he had caused. They'd take him to the station then question him, yet it wasn't like he'd actually talk.
It was something he had sworn to the other two though he never expected or made them promise the same.
He trusted them enough to do what they needed to.
Pushing himself back to his feet with the help of his staff, Calix slid the cracked glasses on his face before crossing the dusty room slowly.
"Will?" It was the same as before. "Renyx?" There was static. "Goddammit…" His back was hurting. He could feel the bones shifting and possibly grating against one another. "Guys…please?" He leaned on the back doorframe. "Please…"
"Hello?" The voice was familiar. "Hello, is someone there?"
"…Evren?"
"Cal?"
"Yes…"
"Where are you?" Cal asked as he stepped out into a back alley. "How are you talking to me? Where's Will and Renyx? Are they-"
"Whoa, slow down," Evren replied. "Are you ok?"
"Been better...how are you talking-"
"I found a pair of glasses. Your voice was coming out of them surprisingly."
"Where are you?"
"Where are you?" Calix questioned as he looked towards the sky.
"I'm not really sure."
"Describe it to me."
"Um, well, there are tall buildings."
That's everywhere... Cal thought irritably. "I need details, Evren." It was quiet for a moment. "Ren?"
"There's this building that looks like a...a shopping center."
"Is it about three stories high with a sign that's missing about three of its letters?"
Evren looked about. "Yeah."
"I know where you are."
"Really? How?"
"You fell on top of me in there," Calix replied as he headed in the given direction. "Don't go anywhere until I get there, ok?" It was quiet for a moment. "Ren?" He stiffened when the other didn't respond. "Evren-!"
"On second thought, don't come here."
"Wait, why?" There was static before the connection dropped entirely. "Evren!"
Removing the glasses, Evren tossed them aside in favor of looking over his shoulder as he heard what sounded like turbines. Taking a step back as a bright searchlight shone down on him, Evren shielded his eyes before looking about as he saw movement moving about his peripheral. Catching the silhouettes of officers to his left then right, Evren looked ahead to see more of them. Glancing up at the obnoxiously bright light, he raised a hand towards the carrier before stopping as heard numerous weapons being pointed in his direction.
There were at least twenty-five officers which meant twenty-five fully loaded firearms being directed towards him.
"Stand down." The guns stayed aimed at him. "I said to stand down!"
"You're no longer an officer!" one countered, gaining a baleful stare.
"You can't order us around anymore!" another shouted.
Glaring in the direction of the remark, Evren took a step back towards the building as several of the men parted to let Scarlet through. Watching the brunette walk towards him, Evren redirected his hand towards her before seeing Alexis step past several officers to his right.
"What are you two doing here?" he asked as he lowered his hand slowly.
"We came for you," Scarlet replied timidly as she toyed with her hands.
"I would've come back on my own." Mismatched eyes then shot towards the quieter woman that was signing a message. "I don't care if the Director said he was worried. He doesn't worry, Alexis." She signed something else. "I don't care if you came all this way. I would've been-" He was cut off by a quick message. "Don't you dare, Alexis." Said person tilted her head. "Alexis…"
The green-eyed officer stared at Evren's hands before taking a step forward. Seeing how he stood his ground, she took another step before proceeding forward. Quickening her pace, she slowly curled and uncurled her fingers before making a grab for the man. She knew he'd evade her initial attempt. Making a grab for him again, she turned at the last second to grab ahold of his jacket as he shifted directions. Pulling back on it, Alexis dropped the item to her feet after Evren had shrugged it off.
"Alexis?"
She looked back at the brunette to see her touching her shades before looking towards the white-haired man that was in the process of raising one of his hands. Running up to him before he managed any real threat, she tried grabbing the man before he managed to duck under her arm. Turning on her heels, she chased after him before jumping on his back. Unfazed by being grabbed and pulled over his shoulder, she grabbed onto his wrists, using the momentum he had supplied, and flipped him down unto the hard and dirty ground.
"Alexis, let go!" She shook her head as she heard footsteps approaching from behind her. "Alexis, I'm warning you!" Evren seethed as he felt her nails starting to bite into his skin. "Alexis!"
Turning his hands, he tried to brush his fingers against the woman's hands as the footsteps drew closer. Seeing Scarlet over the raven's shoulder, Evren scooted back along the floor before trying to wiggling free.
"Evren-"
"Scarlet, stay away from me!" he ordered. "Alexis let go!"
"No can do."
"Get away from me!"
The lights on the first floor of the establishment flickered before lighting up. The second and third floors soon followed suit before the building was illuminated. The hum of lights increased steadily, going unnoticed at first before the lights of the bottom floor flickered erratically. They then shattered prior to the second and third floors doing the same thing, leaving exposed, electrical wiring to dangle down from the ceiling.
Hearing the droning sound of overly amped circuits, Alexis looked around before seeing a light fixture fall from the third floor. As more began to rain down, sparks coming down with it, Alexis released her intended target in favor of grabbing Scarlet and running out as the fixtures from the second and finally first floor began to drop down from the ceiling.
Getting to his feet, Evren rubbed his wrists before hearing a bullet whiz past his ear. Looking in the direction of the shot, the man flicked his wrist before watching a wire drop down to snag the officer's gun. A snap of his fingers sent the firearm flying before more wires drop down to do the same thing. When one reached for a secondary firearm that all the other officers probably carried, Evren gestured towards that certain individual to have one of the few dozen wires wrap around him before hoisting him high into the air.
The captured man then dropped back down on the ground when Evren was tackled by once more by Alexis. Rolling around with her for a few moments, he pried himself off a clothing rack after being kicked into it. Catching a fist intended for his face Evren flipped the woman onto her back, pinning her down before feeling a finger swipe across the cheek Alexis had scratched. Looking over at the brunette to see her licking a bit of blood off her finger, Evren released Alexis in favor of backing away from the brunette. Watching her lick her lips soon after, Evren felt a mild shiver run sown his spine before focusing on the other woman that had gotten to her feet.
"I don't want to hurt you," he warned, holding a hand out in front.
"Then don't."
Glancing in the direction of the familiar voice, Evren turned in time to receive the full force of a punch to the face. Tripping over his own feet to stumble over a light fixture, Evren covered part of his face before feeling his nose bleed. Looking at the one that hit him, Evren wiped the blood off with his sleeve before taking a step back as carmine-colored eyes narrowed in a meticulous fashion.
"I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you're here too, huh?"
"Yeah, you shouldn't," Tyson replied as made another fist. "I asked you to stay back at headquarters. This is your fault we have to do this."
Evren scowled. "So it was you that orchestrated this whole thing, huh?" He glanced at the other two before looking back at the officers holding their secondary weapons. "Look at you taking charge," he chided as he looked back at Tyson. "Just know, I'm still better than you."
"If that was true, you'd still be leader, wouldn't you?"
"You can keep the goddamn position for all I care. I'm tired of always taking orders. I'm tired of holding my tongue just to recite some publication they crammed down my throat back at the Academy. I'm tired of your constant groping of me. I'm not some goddamn girl that you can find on the streets. You were incompetent as a subordinate and I swear I can only wish Alexis and Scarlet the best under your command. As for the rest of you that like to talk shit behind my back." He looked towards the men outside before giving them the finger. "If you didn't like how I ran things, you should've been more discreet with your complaints or say something to me personally!" Evren snapped. He then elbowed Tyson in the throat prior to turning to kick the man in the side and away from him altogether when he tried to sneak up on him. "You should know that you're not going to beat me, Tyson."
"You shouldn't be too full of yourself," he said, signaling his other teammates not to help him up. "If you keep taunting them, they're going to fire upon you."
"I say try it!"
All of the firearms stayed focus on the white-haired man before one actually fired.
Being clipped in the side, Evren looked towards one of the men that was lowering his weapon before watching as one of the wires from before came snaking downwards to wrap itself around the man.
"Anyone else wanna shoot at me?" Evren questioned before watching some of the officers tense noticeably.
He was only capable of dodging a certain amount of bullets.
He guessed he could dodge maybe thirty percent of the shots fired at the proximity he currently had.
Watching as one of the other men held their guns higher, Evren held out his hand before hearing a monotonous voice ordering everyone to cease fire.
Scowling at the Director as he made his way to the front of the building, Evren took a step back before turning his attention to the three task officers that were behind him. Watching Scarlet toy with her hands, Evren held his hand in her direction before taking a step back as Alexis flexed her fingers slowly. Looking at Tyson, Evren's scowl deepened before he increased the distance between him and his old team.
"Evren, it's time to stop playing around." Said person looked over his shoulder to see his boss sliding a hand into his back pocket. "Come along. It's late and you have a busy day ahead of you."
"I don't care."
"There's so much to be done," he said as he looked up at the carrier still hovering above. His attention then fell upon the man that was struggling against the wire that had tangled itself around him. "Do stop playing around."
"Who's playing?" Evren questioned.
"Put him d-" The officer was dropped onto the concrete. "Good boy."
"I'm neither a dog nor a child."
"You didn't mind me saying that before when you were an officer."
"It was annoying even then and I'm no longer an officer remember?"
"You sound upset," the older man said dismissively as he turned to head back to a car he had parked, "but it'll alright. Let's go back-"
"No."
His employer looked over his shoulder. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. I don't want to go back to that place. You'll just find something menial or humiliating for me to do before drugging me!" Mismatched eyes then focused on the three task officers that had managed to get a bit closer to him, just managing to push him a bit closer to the front of the building. "I'm not going back."
"This isn't up for debate."
"No, it's not," Evren said. "I was actually having a nice time for once and you had to go and fucking ruin it!"
"You're speaking to the Director!" one of the officers shouted. "You're supposed to speak to him with-"
A snap of wires had the individual going quiet while the one in charge seemed less than stirred. If anything, he merely offered a slight smile as he withdrew a small container filled with white pills.
"Don't mind Evren, he just hasn't been taking his medicine is all. All this excitement is just getting to him," he explained as he offered two pills.
"I'm not taking those goddamn things anymore."
"Your headaches-"
"I don't mind them," Evren said indignantly. "Before, I all I had was fuzzy bits and pieces of random memories that never made any sense but after I stopped taking those things, I can actually remember things! They're never in order and it always hurts but I remember things!"
The Director's lips pressed into a thin, tight line before he slipped the container back into his pocket. "Remember things, you say?" Evren glowered. "Very well. You can come back and let me hear everything."
"I'm not going back."
"What are you saying?"
"I…I'm saying…" Balling up his fists at his sides, Evren lowered his head as he said the unthinkable. "I…I quit."
"Pardon?"
Looking up at the man, Evren hardened his gaze. "I quit!"
It was quiet, the only sound coming from the turbines keeping the carrier aloft.
"Evren!"
Said person looked back at Tyson before focusing on his former employer. "I quit."
"You're not one to quit," the older man said placidly.
"I said I fucking quit."
"You quit, huh?" The Director cracked a smile before nodding. "Very well."
"But, sir-"
"Tyson, he said he quit. Not much can be done," he said, cutting the man off. "Nothing can be done about it but come here for a moment."
Watching the other's smile broaden somewhat, Evren took a step back before turning on Tyson in time to see him walk by with distaste in his eye. Looking back at the two female officers that stayed stationary, Evren looked back at the pair standing in the light. He knew something had been ordered. He could tell that much by the way Tyson's posture changed. His attention then went towards the pair of officers that were making their way over, dragging someone along behind them in the process. When the person was placed at the feet of the two men, Evren's face paled as he watched the Director's smile broadened.
"What are you going to do with him?" Evren asked as he took a step forward.
"Well, I would say question him but I think he's lost too much blood already," the Director said as he looked at the growing, red puddle at his feet.
"What did you to him?!"
"Me? Why, I found him like this," came the reply. "He had stumbled out of an alleyway before passing out onto the sidewalk as my vehicle was rolling by. Since I recognized him, I figured I'd pick him up. However, I don't think he'd make it if he doesn't receive medical attention. The only issue is that the hospital is about an hour drive in my car and maybe twenty-five by carrier but he would've bled out by that point. Closest place that could see to him is at headquarters."
"Then take him there!"
"Now, we can't do that unless you comply."
"I'm not going back to that place!"
The Director hummed in question as he looked down at the paling teen. "He's looking pretty cold, Evren. If you don't come along, he won't be alive for much longer."
"Is that a threat?" Evren asked as he eased forward, hand already in a fist.
"Not at all," the older man said as he knelt down to place the back of his hand along the other's cheek. "He's pretty cold, you know, and he's only getting colder." Amber eyes then directed themselves to the officer awaiting a command. "Tyson, why don't you… warm him up a bit?" he suggested as he got back to his feet.
Watching as the raven took a knee, Evren tensed considerably before taking another two steps. "Don't touch him," he ordered, gaining Tyson's attention.
Red eyes settled along the rigid form of his ex-coworker before looking down at the pale and slackened face of the teenager lying before him. Scowling at the thought that Evren could even care about what could possibly happen to the teen, Tyson touched the edge of Cal's bloody jacket before watching as the fabric began to smoke. A small flame then jumped to life before it began eating at the rest of the fabric that wasn't completely soaked by blood.
Looking between the two men standing there, Evren ran towards them both before being tackled from behind by Alexis. Glaring over his shoulder as the woman pinned him down; he stiffened when he heard another set of footsteps. Tilting his head up to see Scarlet standing in front of him, Evren wiggled around to get the other woman off before feeling something similar to a squeeze on his insides. Glaring at the brunette as she began to remove her ever-present sunglasses, Evren wiggle around once more before stilling as his limbs felt heavy and numb.
"Evren-"
"Scarlet, knock it off!"
"But I haven't really done anything yet," she replied.
That much was true.
Scarlet was capable of much more when given the opportunity. Even more, she did manage to get a bit of his blood. The cramping of his insides was merely a warning of what could've possibly happened next. The numbness of his limbs was just a deterrence meant to weaken what hope he might've had.
"Scarlet!"
A pungent smell then reached his nose and caused the man to look towards the trio in the light. Watching the controlled flames lick at the jacket then the teen's shirt, Evren tried to move but failed even after Alexis had gotten off his back. Looking back at the Director's face to see the usual indifferent expression, Evren stiffened when the man looked his way.
"Is something wrong?" he asked. Mismatched eyes narrowed. "Tyson, the individual still looks cold. Why don't you try warming him up on the inside as well?"
"Tyson, don't you do it," Evren said, gaining the man's attention before watching him hold up two fingers. "Don't do it!"
"Do it."
Evren wiggled around as the raven placed the digits along Cal's side where the wound had been inflicted. "Don't do it!" he shouted. "I'll hate you if you do!"
"It's not like you don't hate me now anyway," Ty replied.
"Ty-!"
Hearing a low groan, the sound transitioned into a strained cry as Tyson twisted his fingers into the puncture. Watching as the teen jerked, emitting another painful sound, Evren tried to pull himself forward.
That type of screaming sounded too familiar.
Managing to drag himself a couple of feet, the white-haired man froze when his organs felt like they were being squeezed. Sending a baleful stare Scarlet's way, Evren tried to pull himself towards Calix before curling in on himself as his organs felt like they would pop. Breathing suddenly became difficult but it wasn't like he'd let himself black out with how Calix was screaming.
Pushing himself, Evren pulled himself out of the building before getting to his knees. Clambering to his feet, he took uneven steps before sending Tyson away with a kick he shouldn't have had the strength for. Dropping down to his side, Evren patted out the flames before noticed the seared tissue around the teen's wound.
"I'm sorry." Unseeing, brown eyes slowly shifted towards the sound of the voice before falling shut. "Cal?"
Said person's head lolled to the side before Evren jabbed two fingers into the other's neck to find a weakened pulse. Still seeing how blood was running out the wound, Evren applied pressure to it as he leaned over the teen's smoky form, being sure to keep Tyson far from him.
"Evren."
"He needs medical attention!" Evren snapped as he glared up at the older male. "He's going to die without it!"
"The hospital is too far away."
"Then take him to the headquarters!"
"We're not leaving until you come along."
"I don't-"
"Then he dies," the Director said, watching the slow and staggered rise and fall of Cal's chest. "You're the only one that can save him so take your pick, Evren."
ns 15.158.61.8da2
