He’s dead.


    He’s dead.


    How could this happen?


    He’s dead.


    He just killed him.


    He’s dead.


    And I’m next.


    He’s dea—


    Doesn’t matter, Clergy thought, I’m dead, I’m dead, I’m—


    she’s right, he thought. I’m not dead yet. Let’s keep it that way. He shook his head and nodded, then peered around the corner to look for himself.


    That one must be the archives, Clergy thought to himself. Then he paused as he processed what Nitara had said.


    Come… come on, he thought to himself. I can’t be scared of his name. He took a breath. Alvon was just now making his way toward them with a casual grace, like he hadn’t just murdered someone. Clergy started to scowl. How could he keep that same look after what he’d done? Didn’t he even care about — you know what? Clergy thought. Forget it. I just need to stay out of his way.


    your advice. You’ve done enough.”


    That’s Abel, Clergy thought. So they’re alright after all.


    This is it, Clergy thought, we’re going in. Except they passed it, and continued on, until they were nearly at the other side of the building.


    So which one has the ledger? Clergy thought to himself. He didn’t let his musings distract him though. He’d find out soon enough.


    is no time,” Alvon said. “We need to move or we’ll miss our opening.”


    you need to do.”


    Well, this is fun, he thought to himself. Waiting…


    Well that’ll get their attention, Clergy thought to himself, and sure enough—


    Now what? Clergy thought but he quickly had his answer.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    whoever, had a mask that almost looked like a dog, though the ears were just carved ridges on the sides. It had taken Clergy a while to realize this, but Micah was gone too. That must be him, Clergy thought to himself. He hadn’t even noticed him leave.


    delay, but… it’s over now.”


    It wasn’t easy.


    Wonder how long this’ll take—


    Damn.


    Thank God, Clergy thought. Hopefully this was the last he would see of Alvon, for a while at least.


    want anyone else to hear, but it had been a long couple days and Clergy was getting used to listening in.


    idea of where to look,” Abel said, then he looked back down at his paper, and started walking over to another shelf. Clergy trailed behind.


    Describe him? What—”


    No one’s supposed to be here.”


    I’ll handle it.”


    What... what should I do? he thought to himself, but judging by Micah’s face he was thinking it too. That can’t be a good si—


    I guess... I’m helping Nitara, Clergy thought. He set his face and quickly headed for the room she was in.


    That can’t be good.


    Perfect, Clergy thought to himself. He went to follow, but his gaze was suddenly drawn to the doorway to his right. He stopped as he felt the air crackling with heat again. I should go this way. Why did he suddenly think that? I… I need to know. He strode into the room.


    Over there, he thought to himself.


    Over here. He brushed his fingers along each book’s spine, until he felt the heat pulse beneath his fingers. This one. He pulled out the book, flipped it open, and— what is this?


    something. At a place— he squinted to read the small font— at a... clinic. A clinic in the city. He stared down at the page. Why did I—


    Oh no.


    Please don’t be what I think it is.


    Oh… oh shit! Clergy thought, as he gawked at the glass. A moment later he found himself and scurried to stand by a shelf out of view. “What’s happening?” He asked again.


    our side.”