《Warden's Key》


 Chapter 1 - Walls Are Caving In

    She can hear them, louder and louder. Her mind is working against her again. She predictably finds her friend in his room playing a game, and she signals to him that she''s going for a walk. He gives the all-clear, and she quickly leaves the walls of the foster home behind.


    Walks help clear her mind. It gives her something else to focus on other than her thoughts. The people, the animals, the trees and the buildings of the city¡ªthey all provide a much-needed distraction when she has nothing else. She takes note of the overcast sky above her, dimly glowing with the sun''s radiance. She''s indifferent about the rain, but she wishes for some sunlight after nearly a week of constant downpour. Hopefully it will warm up soon so she can stop wearing her large black jacket.


    Instead of going to the heart of the city, she decides to go the opposite way to the forested edge. It''s a nature preserve protected by people with Nature-grouped Mutes, and the trees bloom beautifully this time of year before they bear fruit¡ªat least, that''s what she''s been told. One time, she collected fallen petals and placed them in her curly ginger hair. If she does that again, though, she''ll have to shake them all out before returning home, or else she''ll be scolded again for making a mess. She still finds petals here and there. It''s like they play hide-and-seek. Maybe petal hide-and-seek is her Mute?


    She opens her mind to the outside as she continues her walk through the nature preserve. The winds rustling the different shades of green leaves serve as new white noise for her mind while the scent of apricot and sweet cherry blossoms help distract her. Perhaps when these fruits ripen, she will pick some. Patients in the hospital are always happy to receive fresh fruit during their stays¡ªthen again, that''s what she''s been told, at least. The dirt, grass, and fallen twigs make soft crunches under her shoes; the grass has been brightening in colour now that it has been freed from its snowy prison.


    Wandering away from the path, she picks up her pace as she follows the breeze and birdsong wisping through the forest. Getting lost isn''t an issue, as her phone is traced to the group home so she can find her way back, and the staff to her. All it takes is the press of the emergency button, and...


    She gasps as she lays her eyes on a grim sight: a person laying on their side with their back against a tree, unconscious and dirty. It''s a boy, likely in his teen years, and she nearly stepped on his head! Walking around to get a better look, she realizes that his black shirt and pants are torn beyond repair and are stained with mud and some other dark liquid, his black shoulder-length hair is filthy and matted in places, and his pale skin is torn and cut in many places. Around his neck is a clear teardrop-shaped pendant on a chain.


    She was taught once by the hospital staff how to check for a pulse, so she gives it a try, and after a few failed attempts she finds one! He''s alive! She hits the emergency button on her phone and waits for the home''s staff to rush to her location. Hopefully, he can still be saved.


    >>>>>>


    Machines beep and hum as she looks down at the sleeping boy, now safe in a hospital bed in a lone room. Across the room tapping on a keyboard is a nurse donning the standard white and baby blue scrubs, logging data as her luxurious jade hair wisps gently from the nearby air conditioner. Also in the room is the friend from the group home, who is watching the boy with similar curiosity under a head of reddish-blonde hair.


    "How''s he doing, Nurse Rosa?" the boy asks.


    "Well enough, Reed. He needs lots of rest, but he should pull through," the nurse briefly responds as to not lose total concentration on the task at her hand.


    The quiet girl shifts her weight from her left foot to her right. She''s worried about the sleeping boy in the hospital gown, but something about him puts her on edge. Did one of the city''s gangs do this to him?


    The boy mumbles something in his sleep, but the only thing they can make out is: ¡°Yal...ow...¡±


    "So how''d you find him?" Reed asks the girl.


    Unable to respond, she tilts her head slightly and looks out the room''s moderately sized window.


    "Did you stumble into him on your walk?"


    She shallowly nods her head as a brief room-wide silence ensues.


    "Illia?" Nurse Rosa says, sharply catching the girl''s attention. "You can resume your walk if you''d like. It will likely be a while until he wakes up. Just make sure to be back home before it rains."


    "If you''re going out again, I''ll let Mabel know," Reed volunteers. Illia nods her head in recognition and slinks out of the room.


    Illia thinks to return to the forest, but her feet choose a different path as she leaves the hospital sector in the direction of the city''s centre. She isn''t much of a people person, but the hustle-and-bustle of city life gives a kind of awe-inspired feeling in her, as dangerous as the city can be sometimes. Poverty has led many down the path of criminality¡ªmost just secret thieves or drug dealers hoping to scrounge together enough change for another meal, but there has been a recent and steady increase in armed robbery, kidnappings, and even murder; the Invictus gang in particular have gotten a steady increase in notoriety lately with their newfound brutality. As she''s overheard a few individuals saying: ''ransom is all the rave, nowadays''.


    She plans on sticking to the main streets, as back alleys tend to invite the worst kind of trouble, but she ends up taking a detour to a quiet pond in a separate residential district. It''s too full of green to swim and it''s slightly flooded by the rain, but along with the song of resident frogs, the pond''s namesake breeze invokes a feeling of calm to those who rest at its shores. However, that calm had been interrupted recently. As she passes a memorial of pink flowers and decor and steps out onto the wooden dock, Illia''s mind drifts uncontrollably to visualize that unfortunate event.


    A random passerby with their dog visited the pond a week ago and saw a pair of shoes left neatly at the end of the dock. They thought nothing of it until their dog started barking at the water. It was then that they found the body of a girl in the water, camouflaged by algae. After the body was recovered by police, it became clear that there was no foul play involved, and that she had thrown herself in.


    Illia breathes a deep sigh and she closes her eyes. What does it feel like to drown? To have your body scream for air, but all you breathe is water? Do you claw at the surface until you fade? Or do you find peace in the blue and let yourself go? Illia sighs deeper now; she believes that this fate is the most terrifying of them all, and she hopes to never have the misfortune of experiencing it. A breeze kicks up and blows her curled hair back, and she takes this as a sign to leave. She could use a noisy distraction from what her mind drew up.


    Out of all places in the city, the Heartstone Market is among her favourites, both for its sights and its significance. Located in the heart of the city, it''s a large pedestrian-only street crammed with colourful shops and stores from cultures all over the world. Back when this place was only a small town, merchants from all over would convene and sell their wares and exchange cultures, and over time the town grew into a city; the Heartstone Market grew a Soul City. Though nowadays the city feels soulless more than anything...


    Illia walks steadily down the centre of the marketplace with her hands in her denim pockets, taking in the sights of the people and the smells of the restaurants. The cloud-covered sun casts faint shadows on the people walking by, and she imagines what secrets they might be hiding. She doesn''t remember when she told this or by whom, but she remembers hearing that a person''s shadow is where their darkest demons hide. What could these people be hiding? Domestic abuse? A gambling addiction? Suicidal tendencies?


    She shakes the thought out of her head. She went on this walk to clear her mind, not fill it. Perhaps the effect of finding the boy is the cause. Picks of rain draw her attention upwards, and she notices that the people around her are also reacting¡ªit''s time to return home. Illia turns off from the Heartstone Market while crimson eyes burn from within her shadow.


    >>>>>>


    The automatic doors of the hospital hiss quietly behind her as she steps in from the rain. It wasn''t a downpour, but she was out long enough for her hair to become damp, and soon fuzzy. At least her yellow shirt underneath is dry.


    "Hi Illia," Nurse Rosa greets from behind the main counter. Illia takes a step closer while brushing the droplets of rain off of her arms. "The boy you found is still in the same room and unconscious. Reed is still with him." Illia gives a nod in thanks and heads for the stairs.


    The number of questions in her head ascend as she ascends the stairs. She wonders how long it will be until he awakens. What''s his name? Where did he come from? Why was he in the forest? What happened to him? She reaches the third floor and walks down the hall towards the room.


    And then her nerves ignite.


    She''s two feet away from the room''s door, and her feet have planted themselves in place. Why? What''s with this sudden burst of unease? It feels like she''s being watched, but the surveying eyes are attached to her skin and clothes. The familiar stench of antiseptics and cleaners is starting to make her feel nauseous. She takes an unsteady breath to calm herself down and muster up the strength to continue.


    As soon as she turns the handle to open the door, it rockets open and she''s dragged in by an unseen force, and the door swiftly but silently closes behind her. Standing at the foot of the bed is the boy, fully awake and glaring at her down the sights of an impossibly black handgun. To Illia''s left is Reed, trembling but standing his ground. The air around him is hot from his Mute on standby, ready to fire if a chance arises. It reeks of garlic¡ªwhite phosphorous.


    "What is this place?" the boy questions Illia, his somewhat deep voice causing a deep-seated fear in her to bubble up. Her face and hands are tingling from fright, and she feels as if she''s about to pass out. Reed protectively raises his arm out in front of her.


    "Leave her out of this, man. She doesn''t talk," Reed says in a shaky voice, trying to take as much attention off of her as possible. The gun-wielding boy narrows his eyes, causing Reed to reiterate: "She''s mute. She can''t talk."


    He glares at them with cold brown eyes trained down the sights of that pitch-black handgun. She remembers reading once that brown hair and eyes are the most common colours of their respective features. How can such a common appearance impose such fear in her?


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


    "L-look," Reed begins. "I already told you. This is Soul General Hospital, in the city of Soul. We found you unconscious out in the woods, so we brought you here to fix you up. You got your info, you got your pendant, so can you please put the gun down?"


    It''s from Reed mentioning it that draws Illia''s gaze to the glass pendant around the boy''s neck. However, there''s something strange about it. When she first saw it, it was completely clear. Now there''s a small black dot within, just barely visible enough for her to see from three metres away. Did it get damaged? Is that why he''s upset? And how did he even get a gun in the first place?


    A burst of rain pelts against the room window, drawing the boy''s attention to it. He casually looks back to them, then the window flies open on its own as he walks towards it. Then in what seems like a puff of smoke, he vanishes through to the outside. Reed bolts for the window after him.


    "What the hell?" he exclaims before darting for the door. As soon as he disappears around the corner, a thud and a crash are heard.


    "Ah! Reed, watch where you''re going!" Nurse Rosa exclaims, now surrounded by dropped items.


    "The boy escaped!" Reed blurts out.


    "What?"


    "He jumped out of the window and ran!"


    After picking up the dropped items, Nurse Rosa makes for the room and sees that rain is pouring through the open window and that the boy is nowhere to be seen.


    "That''s... unfortunate," she says in a calm demeanour before shutting the window.


    "We have to find him!" Reed exclaims.


    "Reed, we can''t."


    "What? Why?"


    "We can''t just drag someone back here against their will, even if they need medical attention. I''ll have to do some paperwork, but that''ll be all that happens."


    "But he pulled a gun on us!"


    "...What?"


    "He pulled a gun out of thin air and pointed it at us! He asked me where he was and where his pendant was, and then he turned into smoke and disappeared out the window!" Reed explains. A horrified look quickly grows on Nurse Rosa''s face, and she scans Illia''s, who nods in confirmation with a frightened expression of her own.


    "W-we still can''t get involved, but we can certainly call the police," Nurse Rosa stammers.


    "I''ll call Dwayne," Reed says as he pulls his phone from his pocket. He then looks at Illia. "Let''s go down to the lobby." She nods her head in agreement.


    Dwayne manages the Soul Children''s Home efficiently as its head. A generous and charismatic man, he quickly garnered respect from his subordinates and the children when he first took over, and he''s easily recognizable from his large stature and grey goatee.


    "I''ve never heard of a Mute like that, but I can''t describe it as anything else..." Dwayne woefully says.


    "As soon as we find this person, we''ll let you know," a police officer says to Dwayne.


    "Alright, thank you."


    As officers take their leave, a girl with dark skin, black braided hair, and a light blue spring dress approaches.


    "I heard what happened. Are you two okay?" she says to Reed and Illia.


    "We''re fine, just a little shaken up," Reed responds as Illia gives a slight nod.


    "Back from seeing Arron, Lydia?" Dwayne asks.


    "Yes," she responds. "The rain was quite refreshing as well."


    "We''ve had too much rain lately," Reed states.


    "Alright kiddos, stay inside for the rest of the day, okay? The last thing I want is for any of you to run into him again," Dwayne says.


    "Are you going to go look for him as well?" Reed asks.


    "No. I''m leaving that job for the police to handle, and I hope you do too."


    "I''d rather not be shot by a weird Mute, so I''ll stay inside," Lydia says.


    "Yeah, I guess we should," Reed shallowly admits. "It is raining pretty hard..."


    "Good. I have a few errands to run, so I''ll be back at around supper," Dwayne says.


    After a short word of acknowledgment from the kids (or a nod in Illia''s case), Dwayne leaves the hospital. Lydia furrows her finely shaped eyebrows as she looks at Reed.


    "Seriously Reed, don''t go after him," she says sharply, knowing full well that he may be planning to do just that.


    "I won''t, okay? This guy is actually dangerous," Reed responds in kind.


    An hour passes and everyone is in their rooms¡ªat least, that''s what Lydia thinks. She goes to check on Reed and sure enough, he''s missing again.


    Rather than be inside like he''s supposed to, Reed is out in the nature preserve where Illia found the boy with the strange Mute. Based on their previous interaction, he assumes the boy may have nowhere to go or is lost, so to evade the police he might have returned to the forest. He shouldn''t be too hard to spot in a hospital gown, that is if he''s still wearing it.


    Reed slinks around the soaked forest; he figures being quiet is better than calling out in case it spooks the boy into hiding further. While the spring rain and wind bring a sharp chill, the crackles of asphyxiated white phosphorus from his Mute help keep him warm, though the garlic-like smell helps little with the fecal stench of the mud. The boy has to be here, right? Unless he hid in an alley dumpster or something, a hospital gown doesn''t go unnoticed¡ª


    "Why are you looking for me?"


    Reed spins on his heels and realizes the boy is right behind him, soaked to the skin and gun drawn. Sure enough, he''s still in the hospital gown, though it''s already torn in places and covered with muck. The pendant hangs from around his neck free of dirt, though a tiny black speck can be seen within. Reed dared to come out here to offer him help, but now, that courage has faded almost entirely.


    "Why are you looking for me?" the boy repeats, his voice sharper than before. The sights of his pitch-black gun are trained on Reed''s forehead.


    "D-do you have anywhere to go?" Reed manages to eke out. His voice is cracking under the pressure of the gun. The boy glares silently at him, choosing not to answer. "The home brings in kids who can''t care for themselves or who don''t have anywhere to go. We can help you¡ª"


    "I don''t want your help," the boy retorts. "The only help I want is for you to leave me alone. I have no problem with killing you."


    Reed gets it now, or at least he thinks he does. The boy is scared and is putting on a front to chase him off. That Mute gun might just be for show, then. If he was going to shoot, he would''ve done it already before Reed even knew he was out here. Reed steels himself and decides to call the boy''s bluff.


    "Yes you do," Reed says. "If you were going to kill me, you would''ve done it already." The boy''s expression turns from serious to furious. "You''re trying to scare me away because you''re scared yourself. Please, let me help you, dude."


    Without hesitation, the boy pulls the midnight trigger. A bullet rockets out of the barrel with a snap as loud as a strong cough, and Reed braces himself with crackling phosphorus; with enough power, he can melt and stop a bullet mid-flight. But to Reed''s surprise, the bullet slips right through his defences¡ªand stops on its own right in front of his forehead.


    "Congratulations. You called my bluff," the boy remarks with a trickle of fury in his voice. The black bullet fizzles away into nothingness, and Reed drops his guard ever so slightly. "I don''t want to kill you, but..."


    Reed watches in shocked awe as the gun crumbles into smoke and orbits the palm of the boy''s hand like a galaxy, then hardening into a wispy black baton. It grows and curls at the top, forming a large, thick sickle.


    "...I will hurt you."


    "Don''t take me lightly," Reed retorts as his Mute ignites around his shoulders and arms with angry pops. "I''ll knock some sense into you, and then I''ll get you the help you need."


    After a brief stare-down, the boy rushes in as Reed prepares a retaliatory blast. But just before the two meet in the centre, the rain around them explodes into a choking mist.


    "Reed, you dumbass!"


    Appearing from the mist behind Reed is a fuming Lydia, followed by Illia, and both dry as a bone. After registering the two arrivals in his mind, Reed looks back at the boy and sees that he''s fighting against shackles of ice holding him up and his limbs out like a star. The sickle is nowhere to be seen.


    "You were told not to leave!" Lydia barks. "Not only did you disobey Gabriel and Dwayne again, but this time you put your life at risk trying to find and help someone who pointed a gun at you!"


    "Because he needs help!" Reed barks back.


    "The only help he needs is help into a jail cell!" Lydia shifts her attention to the bound boy and tightens the icy chains further with a wave of her hand. "And you! Nobody threatens them and gets away with it!"


    The boy thrashes against the cold restraints. Due to the layer of water and ice on his skin, he can''t slip out without brute force. He lets out an angered shout and he''s immediately silenced by water.


    "How about I muzzle you?" Lydia says almost sadistically, forcing water into his mouth and up his nose. "I won''t kill you, but you''ll be out long enough for me to take you to the police station!"


    "Are you effing nuts!? Stop it!" Reed shouts as the boy is choking on water.


    "Don''t get in my way, Reed! He needs to be punished!"


    "You''re killing him!"


    Illia looks frantically at all three of them, too frightened to do anything until she notices something the other two don''t: the veins on the side of his neck have turned black. Not only that, but many other veins are turning black too, making him look scarred with midnight. She finally rushes over to Lydia and tugs on her shirt and points, but Lydia pays her no mind as she bickers with Reed.


    Suddenly, a loud bang and shatter ring out. With an explosion of dark power, the boy has broken out and is now slouched over as he recovers his lost breath. Now with a new sense of horror, Lydia tries binding him again, but this time the ice shatters before it can touch him. Illia lets out a terrified squeak as he raises his head and reveals a crazed fury in his eyes. Lydia takes a step back in fright.


    With a guttural roar, the vengeful boy sprouts black chains from his back and uses them to leap forward. He pulls back a fist steeped in darkness aimed straight at Lydia''s head. Reed quickly steps in to protect Lydia, though unsure if he can stop such an attack. The punch lands and triggers an explosion of dark smoke that envelops the immediate area. When the smoke dissipates with the rain, Illia realizes that a giant tree root has blocked the attack.


    "I''m very disappointed with all of you," a deep voice resounds from their left.


    "Dwayne!" Lydia cries as they spot the older man standing off to the side, his right hand sparkling with green energy.


    "There was no need to go as far as you did, Lydia. And you disobeyed me again, Reed," Dwayne states with a mix of anger and disappointment in his voice. "And you..." he says to the boy, now doubled over with sheer fatigue, "...will be coming with me."


    Despite the fatigue, the rage still burns on in the boy, and he quickly forms and fires two shots from a dark handgun. Dwayne draws the raised root over to him, and the bullets explode like paintballs on impact. Reed takes immediate notice of this severe reduction in power.


    "Dwayne!" Reed calls out. "The kid''s lost, and he''s got nowhere to go! I don''t know why, but he''s scared of people, and he''s putting on a tough act to scare everyone into leaving him alone!"


    "What, so you want to take him in? Hell no! Not after what he''s done!" Lydia barks. Both Illia and Reed notice the boy flinching violently at her words.


    "Dwayne, there''s something going on with him," Reed continues with a calmer voice. "His weird Mute, how scared he is... There''s something more going on."


    Dwayne considers Reed''s words as he steps towards the boy, now fallen onto his rear and weakly shifting backwards away from everyone. The gun in his hand slowly crumbles away at what looks to be against his will, and despite what seems to be his best efforts, he can''t reform it again.


    "Stay away from me..." the boy hisses, his voice barely more than a raspy whisper. The verdict is clear to Dwayne. He kneels to the boy''s level, letting the knees of his jeans become muddy and sodden. He notices that the boy is trembling.


    "My name is Dwayne," Dwayne says in a calm, gentle voice. "I run a Children''s Home, where we take in and care for children who don''t have a place to stay. My wife Phoebe runs the nearby hospital, the one you were brought to earlier. While I don''t appreciate what you did to these children, I can''t turn a blind eye to a child in need. If you don''t have a place to stay, we can lend you a room until we get things figured out."


    The trembling boy says nothing, though his teeth are chattering from the cold rain. Dwayne holds a warm hand out to him.


    "Come with me to the hospital. It''s a safe place, I promise. You can recover there. We''ll talk more about your situation after you feel better."


    The boy still sits there, unwilling to accept or deny, unable to run and hide. Dwayne doesn''t retract his hand.


    "It''s okay man, you can trust us," Reed pipes up. "I mean, Lydia may be scary at times but when you get to know her, she''s really nice."


    "Hey!" Lydia hisses. Dwayne gives Reed a disapproving look, but the boy''s expression softens ever so slightly, which Reed takes as a success. A small smile forms on Illia''s face.


    Reed guesses that the boy is on the brink of giving in to them and that one last thing needs to be said to convince him. What can he say? He walks over to the boy''s side and crouches down.


    "Hey, I forgive you for pointing that gun at me, and for fighting with me." The boy''s eyes seem to light up at this, and a feeling wells up inside Reed like he just struck gold. "So now that the hatchet''s been buried, wanna come to the hospital with me? You look like you could use a good rest."


    The boy sits up a little straighter; he''s willing to go now. Lydia uses her Mute to clear and keep the rain off of them as they help him up, and Illia watches on in silence. Is this for the best? She hopes so, but a gut feeling still leaves her uneasy. Just who is he?

 Chapter 2 - Calling My Name

    Into the night and along the following day, Dwayne is hard at work preparing the boy''s stay when he hears a knock on his front door. He gets up from his home office and opens it, revealing a woman with long brown hair and rectangular glasses. She wears a fancy black shirt and pencil skirt, and in her arm is a sturdy folder containing some papers.


    "Good afternoon, Dwayne," she greets.


    "Good afternoon to you too, Medova. How is he?" Dwayne asks as he lets her in.


    "Physically, he''s doing well. Mentally, he''s understandably nervous, and he still lacks trust in us, among other things," she reports as they make their way up to his office. She places the folder on the desk between them while they both take a seat.


    "Once everyone and everything becomes familiar to him and he settles into a routine, I''m sure he''ll come around," Dwayne says.


    "Likely." Medova opens the folder, displaying pages of notes she''s taken during her session with the boy. "There''s a lot to cover here. He''s been through a lot."


    "I suspected as much. Let''s see..."


    >>>>>>


    The next day shines on the children''s home, along with the arrival of the boy to his new place of residence. As soon as he steps through the door, a small crowd of the kids and the home''s staff are there to greet him.


    "Welcome to your new home!" Reed exclaims, frightening the poor boy into a half-cocked battle stance. A black mist can be faintly seen around him, so Dwayne puts a hand on the boy''s shoulder to calm him down. After he and Dwayne take their shoes off, everyone moves to the living room.


    As they walk, Illia takes in the boy''s new appearance: super short hair, a thick grey shirt, and black splash pants. The pendant is hidden behind his shirt. She''s so lost in observation that she doesn''t realize that formal introductions have begun, and when she is called upon, no one bats an eye at her delayed reaction.


    "If you''re having trouble with their names, just remember: <u>L</u>ydia <u>l</u>ikes water, <u>I</u>llia <u>i</u>s quiet," Reed adds.


    "And then we have our staff," Dwayne says as he motions to the five adults standing across from the kids.


    The first to speak is a woman with long red hair tied in a braid. She wears casual loose clothes and an apron, and there''s a bit of flour on her cheek. "My name is Poppy, and I''m the cook! I make delicious meals for everyone, though you''re more than welcome to lend me a hand if you''d like! I''ll teach you all I know about cooking in exchange!"


    The next person is a woman with black shoulder-length hair and rectangular glasses not unlike the woman''s whom he spoke with in the hospital. She gives a smile, but her expression contains a bit of stoicism as well. "My name is Ms. Louise, and I''ll be your private teacher."


    After that short and sweet introduction, a third woman takes the stage. She''s much bubblier and energetic looking than even the outgoing Poppy, and she''s much shorter than the other adults. Her clothes are tighter fitting as well, and her blonde hair falls just past her shoulders. "Hiya! My name is Clara, and I''m the one in charge of planning fun activities for everyone! I take us all out to cool places to have a blast and get our blood pumping!"


    The fourth and final woman stands almost shoulder to shoulder with a man, and the boy notices the pair wearing matching rings. The woman wears very casual but well-fitting clothes much like the kids, and her brown hair is tied back in a messy bun. Her smile is soft and warm, something the boy isn''t used to seeing directed toward him. "My name is Mabel, and along with my husband, we take care of everything else! Don''t be afraid to come to us if something''s bothering you!"


    The husband of Mabel stands a full head above her, though he doesn''t quite reach Dwayne. His clothing is casual and bright like his wife''s, and a pair of glasses sit underneath a head of blonde hair. "My name is Gabriel, but you can call me Gabe if you''d like. Just as Mabel said, we take care of everything else, including anything that worries you, so please come talk to us if something''s on your mind."


    "Now, why don''t you introduce yourself?" Dwayne suggests to the boy. The boy isn''t quite sure what to say, though.


    "What''s your name?" Reed asks to get the ball rolling.


    "Number 96," the boy responds. A brief silence ensues as confusion takes hold.


    "I suppose this was quite unfair of me," Dwayne admits. "He doesn''t have a proper name, nor does he know much about himself."


    "Number 96 is what they called me, so Number 96 is my name," the boy says, not quite understanding the problem.


    "Wait, what? I''m not following," Reed questions. "They? 96?"


    "''They'' are the people who... took me," the boy clarifies with sadness in his eyes. "They took me from my parents when I was young and experimented on me. They gave me a power I didn''t ask for." 96 bends his left elbow and clenches his fist, causing a smoky black mist to run down his arm and envelop it.


    "You were kidnapped and... experimented on?" Lydia questions with confusion and horror.


    "That''s what I said."


    "But what about before, then? When you were living with your parents? What did they call you?" Reed asks.


    "...I don''t remember. It''s been too long..."


    "Do you know where they live? Any relatives?"


    "I don''t remember that either..." Everyone shares glances of horror and sadness.


    "Perhaps we should change the topic?" Poppy suggests.


    "Yes, let''s," Dwayne agrees. "And I have just the topic. Instead of a subject number, why don''t we all decide on a name for our new friend here?"


    "That''s not necessary," 96 says.


    "Of course it is!" Clara interjects. "A number isn''t a real name! You should have a name that suits you, not someone else!"


    "I agree," Louise says with a one-handed adjustment of her glasses. "A proper name would humanize you, rather than objectify."


    "Yeah! You''re not some shitty person''s science project anymore!" Reed exclaims. 96 tilts his head slightly in consideration, though he still feels it would be easier to be called 96.


    "We''ll say some names, and you can choose whichever one you like," Dwayne says to 96. The boy gives an apprehensive nod. "So, does anyone have a name?"


    The room goes quiet for a moment as everyone thinks. Illia looks at Reed with a gaze of discontent, as if she''s saying, "You better not choose something stupid!"


    "How about Cayde?" Reed suggests.


    96 makes no reaction whatsoever while Illia rapidly shakes her head.


    "No? Uh... Ken?"


    No reaction and a head shake again. Lydia narrows her eyes at Reed as she sees the forming pattern.


    "Jax? Sol? Axel?"


    Illia tugs on his ear¡ªshe knows he''s just picking the names of fictional characters from the games he plays.


    "Okay, I suck at naming, I get it!"


    One after another, names like Graham, Sawyer, Rowan, Cooper, and Owen are thrown, but none stick. Lydia, who had been silent up until this point, decides to try her hand at naming the nameless.


    "Niel," she suggests. "Both ninety and Niel start with a ''nigh'' sound, so maybe you''ll get used to it easier."


    "I like it," Reed says. The others give nods and noise to match his sentiment.


    "What do you think?" Dwayne asks 96.


    As the boy thinks, his gaze drifts from person to person, until he matches Illia''s eyes. She''s a tad frightened by his emotionless stare, but she nods her head silently.


    "Sure," the boy says.


    "Then you''ll be known as Niel," Dwayne says, causing a surge of tame celebration to fill the room. Illia has a question for the newly named Niel, so she motions to her chest as if she''s wearing a tear-shaped pendant. He doesn''t take notice of her, but Reed does.


    "Hey, Niel?" Reed questions. The boy doesn''t respond at first, but soon he realizes that he''s being addressed. "That pendant is really important to you, isn''t it? Where''d you get it? And why are you hiding it?"


    He hesitates for a moment, but Niel removes the glass pendant from his neck and spins it around his hand so the top of the teardrop lays snugly between his index finger and his thumb. A small drop of viscous dark fluid has built up inside, emitting a faint black light not dissimilar to an old glow stick. "This is the Warden''s Key. It''s how I was able to escape that prison."


    "Uhh, what?" Reed questions with confusion in his voice.


    Niel hesitates again, unsure of if he should continue speaking or not. With so many eyes on him, however, he caves.


    "My Mute is Dark Dust," Niel explains as he places the pendant back around his neck. "It''s a chemical created by a machine attached to my heart. The chemical flows through my veins until it reaches my arms, then it diffuses through and hardens into dust-like particles. I can then control and condense these particles into a stone-like material."


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Looking closer, the others notice that there are two large patches on the underside of his forearms almost identical in colour and texture to his skin, one patch per arm and each stretching from his wrist to his elbow.


    "I... haven''t heard of a Mute like that," Louise admits.


    "That''s because it was designed by someone."


    "So then, where does the Warden''s Key come into the picture?" Reed questions.


    "I can only hold onto so much power before side effects kick in. Too much, I get bad headaches and fatigue. Too little, I get dizzy, nauseous, confused, and I pass out. The Warden''s Key holds over three hundred times the amount that I can carry normally, allowing me to regulate how much power I hold more easily."


    "So it''s like a bank?" Gabriel questions.


    "Yes. All of the power stored inside when it''s full allowed me to break out of the lab I was held in."


    There''s... something about this Dark Dust Mute that frightens Illia, but she isn''t sure as to why.


    "Something isn''t quite adding up," Lydia says. "Why did they give you this Dark Dust? What was the point? Did they do it just because they could?"


    "Political assassination," Niel says bluntly to the shock of everyone. "They want power, so they made me into a weapon that can collapse governments. I can condense my Dust into a particle too small to see with the naked eye, inject it into a target, and then sever their brain from their body internally, all with no trace back to me."


    "I don''t think we needed the details on how..." Clara says with a grimace.


    "This wasn''t satisfying enough for them, though, so they made the Warden''s Key so that I could have enough power to destroy cities if needed."


    "C-can you?" Mabel questions.


    "At a full charge, easily."


    "I don''t think you should do that..." Gabriel says.


    "I won''t. I have nothing to gain from mindless destruction, and it would only attract them to my location. I''d like to avoid that at all costs."


    "Makes sense," Reed says.


    "So... Now that we know you a little better now, why don''t we show you around?" Dwayne suggests. "After, we''ll tell you the rules of the house, and then you can spend the rest of the day doing whatever you''d like."


    "Very well," Niel responds somewhat flatly.


    When he''s not angry, his voice is quite monotone and emotionless, Illia thinks.


    Dwayne leads the way as Niel is shown around the large-yet-modest six-bedroom and four-bathroom house. On the first floor are the living room, kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and a private room should one of the kids need to talk with an adult. A soft blue is the featured colour painted on the walls, and it elicits a feeling unknown to Niel; Reed labels it as ''homely''. The smell of Poppy''s cooking is impossible to not notice, and it''s comfortably warm within the walls of the house compared to the slight chill of the outside spring air.


    The second floor contains the master bedroom where Mabel and Gabriel sleep, the attached bathroom, Reed''s room, Lydia''s room, and a bathroom the two kids share. The hallway walls are a colourful yet non-intense yellow, while the master bedroom and Reed''s room are a cool blue and bright orange, respectively. Lydia''s bedroom door is sealed shut for her privacy. Niel is told by Reed this is because of ''teenage girl things'', though he doesn''t understand what this means. It earns Reed a negative reaction from Lydia, so perhaps it''s a sensitive topic.


    The third and top floor contains Illia''s room, Niel''s new room, an unused bedroom, and a bathroom. Beige is the colour used in the halls and the bathroom while Niel''s room and the unused room are a simple unisex blue. The door to Illia''s room isn''t shut completely, leading Niel to notice a pink colouring inside. Perhaps these ''teenage girl things'' don''t apply to Illia as much?


    As for Niel''s room, all there is inside is a twin-sized bed (whatever that means), a simple dresser, a round clock on the wall, and a wooden desk with a laptop, though he''s told he''s allowed to decorate his room however he wishes. A window on the far side of the modestly sized room shows a view of the street below, a portion of the neighbourhood, and the skyscrapers of the city in the near distance. Thin white clouds are approaching from the skyline.


    The rules of the house are explained next, and there aren''t too many, nor are they very complicated. On weekdays, be back in the house by 10 pm and in bed by 11, with both times pushed ahead an hour on weekends. Breakfast is served at 8 am on weekdays and 10 am on the weekends, homework and studying are to be done after supper which happens at 5 pm, showers happen every other day, noise should be kept to a reasonable level, listen to the adults, and so on. Many of them boil down basic respect and common sense, as Dwayne explains. It''ll come naturally over time.


    With the introductions, tour, and explanations all taken care of, the adults return to their prior tasks, leaving the children in Niel''s room.


    "We went out yesterday and got you some clothes," Reed says to Niel. "You have one of the outfits on now, and there''s another plus some pyjamas in your dresser."


    Niel approaches the dresser and envelopes it in a thin cloud of Dark Dust. Through the feedback signature of the Dust, everything within the wooden container is made known to him, down to the smallest crack and chip in the wood, as if each grain of dark is an extra eye and hand. It informs him that the dresser is not trapped, so deeming it safe, he opens the top drawer with his own hands. Inside are several pairs of underwear and socks. In the drawer below he finds a single grey shirt, then a single pair of blue jeans in the drawer below that, and a black shirt and red and black plaid pyjama pants in the drawer below that. There''s nothing in the fifth and bottom drawer.


    "We''ll be going clothes shopping with you tomorrow after school so you can pick out what you like, though I doubt you''ll be very picky," Lydia explains as Niel observes the contents of each drawer.


    "I have no preference," Niel states blandly as he closes the empty bottom drawer. Illia looks on in silence.


    "Hey, so know that you''re free to do whatever, why don''t we all go somewhere?" Reed suggests.


    "Like where?" Lydia questions. There''s, like, an hour and a half before supper."


    "We don''t have to spend very long out," Reed says. "I wanna go to the range!"


    "Reed."


    "A gun range?" Niel questions.


    "No! No, a Mute range!" Reed clarifies.


    "You want to see his Mute in action," Lydia says.


    "Well, yeah! It sounds really cool! I¡ª"


    "It''s anything but cool," Niel states coldly. His glare is icy and piercing, and Reed finds looking into it feels like staring into the eyes of death itself. He won''t be forgetting it or the feeling for a long time.


    "Let''s do something else," Lydia suggests, trying everything in her power not to blow up at Reed again.


    "Okay..." Reed groans. Lydia is one-more-peep-from-Reed''s-mouth away from losing it at him, and Niel sighs and closes his eyes as he tilts his head down.


    "Fine, I''ll humour you," Niel says as he looks back up. "But only if there''s no one around to see me."


    "I don''t think people will report you to whoever took you, but sure."


    "No, but they''ll be talking about a weird black Mute that they''ve never seen before, and if they get even a single hint that I''m out here, you can kiss this house¡ªand likely your lives as well¡ªgoodbye." Hearing this doesn''t reaffirm Illia''s nor Lydia''s feelings of Niel being allowed to stay.


    "Then we probably shouldn''t go," Lydia suggests, now for a completely different reason than last time.


    "The range doesn''t always have people in it, so there might not be people there right now!" Reed says.


    "You know as well as I do Reed that there''s been more people there than ever now that things have gotten bad! Besides, how do you expect to get in without money? We had our allowances frozen after you chased after Niel!" Lydia is shouting now, and Reed''s anger is quickly rising to match.


    "And it would''ve turned out way better had you not tried to drown him!"


    Niel has already had enough. He picks the three of them up with his Dark Dust and drops them all outside his room before slamming the door. At first there is silence, but when he hears Lydia and Reed''s voices pick back up in another argument, he uses his Dust to create a loud snap in between them that causes both of them to recoil and cover their ears. He protects Illia''s ears as she wasn''t a part of it. The bang might''ve been too much, though, as several pairs of footsteps come rushing up the stairs, which he scans and identifies as Dwayne, Mabel, and Gabriel.


    Dwayne orders the two combatants to leave while Gabriel ushers Illia to do the same. He sees Mabel''s figure reach for the door, so he holds the doorknob still and walks towards the window. His blood is boiling and his arteries are seething with power. As Mabel knocks on the door, Niel wonders what he should do. Leaving is extremely tempting to him, though he knows that if he does, he won''t be returning. He tucks the Warden''s Key into his shirt and opens the window, and a spring breeze immediately washes over his face and body.


    "Niel?"


    Niel scans behind him and finds Mabel in his room. But how? The door never opened!


    "Did their argument upset you?" Mabel questions. The window is open and his power is flaring, so she needs to pick her words carefully. Niel doesn''t respond.


    "Or, did you get angry from them being angry?" Again, Niel doesn''t respond. "...That''s something you picked up from your time in confinement, isn''t it?"


    "You don''t know the half of it," Niel responds.


    "I know at least that it was horrible for you."


    "Dream up the worst shit you can, and it still won''t be close to the hell they put me through."


    "And it''s all the more reason to keep you safe." Mabel slowly approaches Niel from behind. "You''re safe here. I know things have gotten off to a rocky start, but please, have fai... Though, asking for you to have faith in us is asking a lot at this moment. So, instead, let us prove to you that we mean what we say, that this is a safe place for you."


    Mabel reaches Niel all without him moving, and she places her hands on his shoulders. He still doesn''t move, but Mabel notices that the lines under his skin are starting to lighten.


    "How did you get in here? I never opened the door," Niel asks.


    "Let''s just say that my Mute is the spring breeze!"


    Niel puts the clues together. "You slipped underneath the door." He can see through his Dust that she''s wearing a big smile.


    "We''ve got a great dinner planned, and something to celebrate your arrival here," Mabel says.


    "A surprise," Niel says. "I hate surprises."


    "That''s understandable."


    A quiet 90 minutes pass as Niel watches the television with Mabel and Gabriel. Illia, Louise, Clara, and Dwayne are all in the kitchen helping Poppy with supper, while Reed and Lydia are isolated in their rooms as punishment for earlier. Dinner is served soon enough¡ªbarbecue steaks with milky potatoes and a vegetable stir fry.


    "So, uh, sorry about earlier," Reed apologizes to Niel as everyone sits down at the overcrowded kitchen table. "I didn''t know us bickering would affect you as much as it did."


    "I''m sorry too," Lydia echoes. Despite receiving the apologies, Niel doesn''t respond.


    "Niel?" Mabel says. "Do you accept their apologies?"


    "Hm? Oh, uh, sure. Yeah," Niel says. "Sorry, I''m not used to receiving apologies, or hearing anyone say sorry, for that matter."


    "It''s okay."


    "Niel? What do you think of the food? Do you like it?" Poppy questions. Niel cuts off a piece steak and uses the knife to skewer it and bring it to his mouth. It''s unlike anything he''s ever eaten before.


    "It''s good," Niel says as he chews away.


    "You shouldn''t talk with your mouth full," Gabriel says. "And instead of the knife, you should pick it up with the fork so you don''t accidentally cut yourself."


    "Okay."


    Niel places the knife next to his plate and conjures up his own out of Dark Dust. He cuts more steak with it, but when it''s time to bring a piece to his mouth, the blade morphs into the prongs of a fork, then back again. Everyone can''t help but give an uneasy smile; the innocence is cute, but the reason for the lack of simple table manners is anything but. The rest of supper happens without a hitch.


    "Niel? We''ve got a surprise for you! Are you ready?" Poppy questions. Hearing of a surprise makes Niel feel uneasy, but seeing Mabel give him a smile and a nod eases his fears a little bit.


    "Yes."


    Poppy opens up the kitchen refrigerator and pulls out a rectangular white and blue cake with sliced strawberry toppings. As soon as she closes the door and approaches the table with it, everyone erupts into song¡ªsomething about a... happy birthday? Once the cake finds its place on the table, 16 candles are planted in a circle on top, and Reed ignites their wicks by touching them with his finger.


    "Since you don''t know your age or when you were born, we''re gonna take a guess and say you''re 16 and make today your birthday!" Clara explains.


    "Based on your hospital records, 16 is our most educated guess," Dwayne adds. "Coincidentally, that lines up with both Reed and Illia."


    "As for me, I''m a year older," Lydia states.


    "Do you know what your birthday means?" Mabel asks Niel. He responds by shaking his head.


    "While it''s not a tradition everyone takes part in, many people in the world celebrate the anniversary of their birth. We call that our birthday," Louise explains.


    "And now, April 7th shall be yours¡ªthe day you first came home," Dwayne says.


    "At least until we learn what your real age and birthday are," Gabriel adds.


    "And now do you know what you gotta do?" Reed questions. "You gotta make a wish and blow out all of the candles!"


    "A wish?" Niel questions. He watches the 16 flames playfully dancing. A light aroma can be detected from the candles and the strawberry topping. "Then... I wish¡ª"


    "No! You can''t say it out loud, otherwise it won''t come true!"


    "Okay then..." Niel contemplates his wish for a bit longer.


    I wish this isn''t too good to be true.


    The cake turns out to be the sweetest thing he has ever eaten.

 Chapter 3 - Brand New Dawn

    Suppertime has come and gone, and the children are all sitting around the table and conversing. Gabriel and Mabel are washing and drying dishes while the rest of the adults are in the living room discussing future events now that Niel is in the picture.


    "Your hair''s really short now," Reed observes, though in actuality it was Illia who noticed first¡ªshe was just too shy to bring it up to Niel and instead got Reed to make mention of it. "Did you choose to cut it?"


    Niel runs his fingers through the centimetre-long stands of hair on his head. It''s different having short hair, but he doesn''t hate it. At least it doesn''t get in his eyes or ears anymore, or itch. "There was something wrong with it and they couldn''t save it, so they cut it all off. I think they said it was... mashed? Something with an ''M''," Niel explains.


    "Do you mean matted?" Mabel questions.


    "That''s the word."


    "Heh, mashed..." Reed pokes under his breath. Lydia pokes him in return with a deathly glare.


    "You should count your blessings, Reed," Niel says. "You can make fun of me and get away with it. Had I been that bold to my superiors, they would''ve cut my tongue out." The comment causes Reed''s smirk to quickly fizzle out.


    "I''m sure they would''ve, but couldn''t you have defended yourself? From what you''ve told us, your Dark Dust sounds really powerful, even without the Warden''s Key, so I''m sure you could''ve overpowered anyone that you came across."


    Niel takes a sharp breath; Reed accidentally touched a nerve. "That place was locked down like a goddamn bank vault! If I killed one or two of them, where the hell could I have gone to? They would''ve thrown as many bodies as it took to wear me out of Dust, then put a bullet in my head! What the fuck could I have done?"


    "Easy dude! Chill! I''m not trying to piss you off!" Reed blurts out. "It was a genuine question, but... let''s just drop it."


    "Yes, let''s," Mabel says.


    "Also, Niel? Please watch your language," Gabriel adds. His tone is a mix of gentleness, consideration, and strictness. "I understand you''re frustrated, but you shouldn''t swear."


    Niel doesn''t verbally respond but his gaze falls to his lap, and then to the Warden''s Key hanging from his neck, faintly glowing white rather than the idle black.


    >>>>>>


    After Dwayne, Poppy, Clara, and Louise leave for the night, Niel is told that it''s his turn to have a shower. While he bathed in the hospital, it was in a tub filled shallowly, so he doesn''t know how the single shower handle works. After some experimentation with turning the handle (and a minor freakout after getting splashed unexpectedly), he sheds all but the Warden''s Key and nervously steps underneath the falling lukewarm water. Getting wet brings back bad memories for him, so he cleans himself hastily so he can get out and dry as soon as possible.


    Once he is dried and dressed, Gabriel shows him where to put his dirty clothes and towel, and how to put everything back. Illia enters soon after to brush her teeth, and Niel ends up copying her to learn how this nightly ritual is performed, along with flossing his teeth, using mouthwash, and washing his face. The constant silent attention to her makes her nervous¡ªnot that she thinks he''ll do something to her, but that she doesn''t like having the spotlight. It doesn''t help that he already unnerves her with just his presence. The pair soon finish preparing for bed, and with a shy goodnight wave, Illia disappears behind her room door with her shadow in tow.


    Niel enters his room and shuts his door. While this is the room he was given, he doesn''t feel any privacy or security in it. The people in this house are still strangers and can''t be trusted. He begins searching his room for any type of surveillance equipment when he hears the stairs creaking. Immediately he sends his Dark Dust to scan, and the source is discovered to be Mabel. She''s en route to his room, so he puts his search on pause and sits down on the bed. As soon as she reaches the door, Niel hears a gentle knock, and he uses his Dust to open it.


    "Hi Niel," she says sweetly as she enters, closing the door behind her. She sits down next to him on the bed. "Did you brush your teeth yet?"


    "Yes," he responds flatly.


    "Did Illia show you what to do?"


    "I copied her, so in a way, yes."


    "How was your shower?"


    "You''re asking a lot of questions."


    "Just to check on how you''re doing."


    Niel''s gaze leaves Mabel and rests where the floor meets the wall in front of him. "...I don''t like the water."


    "Do you mean the shower water, or water in general?" Mabel questions.


    "In general."


    "Because of your past?"


    "Because of my past."


    Mabel wants to know more so she can better understand him, but given how details are an extremely sore spot for him, she decides not to press. "I''m sure in time it will get easier to handle, just make sure you clean yourself well enough."


    "I''ll try."


    Mabel stands up and motions for Niel to do the same. He does as directed, and Mabel pulls back the bedsheets and ushers for him to lie down. When he does, she pulls the covers up to his collarbone.


    "We''ll be going shopping for clothes tomorrow, so try to get some sleep, okay?" Mabel says.


    "Okay."


    "Good night, Niel."


    "Good night."


    After Mabel leaves his room, he continues his search for hidden cameras and microphones, but this time by using his Dust without leaving the bed. To his surprise, he can''t find anything, despite the thorough scan he conducted. There has to be something, right? Are they spying using methods he''s never seen before? They have to be, right? There has to be some kind of ulterior motive on why they''re letting him stay here, right?


    This has to be too good to be true, right?


    He lies in the dark, Warden''s Key glowing faintly around his neck. The clock on the wall ticks away the midnight seconds. Occasionally passing cars rumble on the road outside. Faint metallic chimes of something within the house resound. His eyes are growing heavy; the burden of anxious days and sleepless nights are taking their toll. He can''t fall asleep. Not here. It can''t be safe here. The bed is so... soft... and warm...


    He''s asleep before he even realizes it.


    ...


    Mom... Dad...


    I can still see your faces...


    Where are you?


    ...


    I will find you...


    And we can do the things


    we never got the chance to...


    As a family...


    ...


    Niel opens his eyes expecting to see the familiar cold inside of his cell-room, but instead, he''s greeted by a friendly bedroom illuminated by early morning sunlight. Glancing at the clock, he sees that it''s a quarter past seven. If he recalls correctly, breakfast is served at eight, so there''s still quite a wait ahead of him. Regardless, he approaches his dresser and retrieves the outfit that was picked for him a few days ago.


    The grey shirt fits just fine, as do the blue jeans, but the latter feels somewhat stiff to him. He''s never worn jeans before. At least the short sleeves of the shirt allow his Dark Dust to flow uninhibited. He places the dirty clothes in the bathroom''s laundry hamper, uses the bathroom, and then stops in the hallway to gauge his next move. He scans the lower floors and finds that Mabel, Gabriel, and Poppy are all on the first floor in the kitchen, so he decides to go down and greet them.


    "Oh! Good morning, Niel. You''re up early," Mabel greets in surprise when she notices Niel half-peeking-half-standing around the corner to the kitchen. Gabriel and Poppy turn their heads swiftly in Niel''s direction when Mabel''s voice picks up, and they bid him a good morning as well.


    "Good morning," Niel replies as he fully steps out from around the corner.


    "Did you sleep well last night?" Gabriel asks.


    "Better then I expected. What are you all doing?"


    "Discussing breakfast and what you guys''ll be doing today," Poppy explains. "Are you ready for breakfast?"


    "Yes," Niel responds flatly.


    "Is there anything you would like in particular?"


    "Anything is fine."


    "Okay!" Poppy ties her hair back in a messy ponytail and washes her hands in preparation to cook. Mabel ushers Niel to the kitchen table so he can sit while waiting.


    "For today," Gabriel begins, "We''ll be leaving the house at three to pick Reed and Lydia up from school, then we''ll make our way to the store."


    "But before that, you''ll be doing something special today," Mabel says, though just before she can get another word out, the sound of the front door can be heard opening. Niel immediately scans the entrance and discovers the intruder to merely be Louise.


    "Good morning, everyone," she greets as she joins them in the kitchen. Her outfit is nearly identical to the one she wore yesterday, all the way down to her hairstyle.


    "Good morning, and what perfect timing!" Mabel chirps. "I was just about to give Niel the rundown of this morning."


    "Ah, then if I may?"


    "Go ahead!"


    Louise turns to face Niel, and the boy stands at attention due to being addressed, though he relaxes in short order due to Louise assuring him he doesn''t need to be so formal. In reality, this was instinctual¡ªa response seared into his brain from his time in confinement.


    "Your lessons with me will begin tomorrow, so to help you feel prepared, you will be observing the classes between Illia and I today," Louise explains.


    "Very well," Niel responds flatly, but respectfully. Louise nods her head in acknowledgment.


    "Poppy? I already had breakfast, but I must say, the smell of your cooking is already making me feel hungry," Louise acknowledges. Upon hearing this, Niel notices that a mouthwatering aroma is wafting through the kitchen. "What might you be making?"


    "That''s a surprise for the newest addition of the family!" Poppy retorts with a playful grin. A kettle spewing steam starts beeping, and the sound of the bubbling water within slowly fades out.


    "Would you like a coffee, Louise?" Mabel asks.


    "Not right now, thank you. But I would like one later, if I may."


    "You''re always welcome to one here," Gabriel assures.


    Niel sits back down at the table and his breakfast is delivered to him shortly after. The meal consists of a cheese omelette, a slice of toast with strawberry jam, two slices of bacon, and an orange on the side. Poppy didn''t make too much just in case he didn''t like something or wasn''t hungry enough to eat it all, but to her surprise, it all disappears in short order; he enjoyed every bite. There''s one thing left, though, and Poppy brings it to the table alongside a container of sugar and milk: a mug of tea. He has no idea what to do with it all.


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "I didn''t mix up your tea because I don''t know how you like it, so let''s find out!" Poppy suggests cheerfully as she takes a seat next to Niel. "All you have to do is add sugar and milk until it tastes just right to you!"


    "Okay." Niel starts by taking a sip of the unsweetened tea, and the bitter yet bland taste causes his face to scrunch up a bit. He adds a teaspoon of sugar and a small splash of milk, and not only is it turning orange, but it''s also starting to taste better, too. He adds a second teaspoon of sugar and a bit more milk, and he decides the taste is good enough.


    "Two teaspoons and that much milk, got it!" Poppy chirps as she puts the sugar and milk away.


    As Niel sips on his tea, the thumps of footsteps can be heard from upstairs. Lydia is the first to reach the table, then Reed a minute after, and then Illia ten minutes after him. Good mornings and light chat are exchanged, but Lydia and Reed soon leave the house.


    "Where are they going?" Niel questions.


    "To school," Gabriel replies.


    "School?"


    "A place where children gather to learn," Louise explains. "School outfits children with the tools and the knowledge to succeed in the broader world. My role as a teacher is to provide you and Illia with a similar education."


    "But then, why aren''t me and Illia in school as well?"


    "You two need a more... specialized education, based on your circumstances," Gabriel says. For the most part, Niel understands what that means for him, but for Illia, he assumes it''s for her mutism. "Plus, with the way the education system works, putting both of you in now as you are would only be detrimental to you two."


    "Illia? Are you ready?" Louise asks the silent girl. She nods her head, places her dishes in the sink, then swiftly moves to the living room to begin today''s lessons. Niel follows behind to observe.


    Paper and worksheets are placed on a folding wooden table in front of Illia, and she begins writing on them diligently with Louise''s instruction. The subjects Louise teaches make little sense to Niel, but he recognizes how proactive Louise is with her teaching. Whenever Illia is confused about something, Louise gives her clear explanations while also gently nudging her towards a correct answer; a far cry from the miserable tutoring he received in the lab. As for Illia, she''s having trouble concentrating with the extra pair of eyes on her.


    After a few hours and a lunch break, today''s lessons have concluded, and Louise bids everyone farewell for the day. Instead of waiting in the living room for Mabel and Gabriel to finish getting ready, Illia disappears upstairs. Niel thinks nothing of it, but when she returns with a strange object in her hand, he starts paying attention. It''s a small but thick wooden board with 17 metal prongs spanning half its length. Her attention is entirely focused on it as she sits down on the other side of the room, and when her fingers drift across the metal, a calming ringing sound plays. Niel recognizes it as the metallic chimes from last night.


    "What''s that?" Niel asks, his words causing her to look up sharply in surprise. She fidgets for a bit from being put on the spot, and not knowing how to answer, she raises the object in front of her so Niel can have a better look at it. Of course, this wasn''t the issue, so Niel responds with, "I see it, but I don''t know what it is."


    This causes Illia to fidget even more. Niel doesn''t know what to do. He considers just dropping the question entirely, but Illia approaches with her phone in hand and shows him the screen. On it is a picture of the object, captioned with the word ''kalimba''.


    "It''s called a kalimba?" Niel questions to confirm, to which Illia does by nodding her head.


    Instead of returning to her seat, she sits on the other side of the couch Niel is on and begins plucking the instrument''s metal tines to create a soothing melody. Niel can''t help but enjoy the peace the music brings, and he leans against the back of the couch to take it in. It doesn''t last long though as Mabel and Gabriel descend the stairs and inform the pair that it''s time to go. Illia leaves her kalimba behind, and they drive away in the couple''s orange SUV.


    While this isn''t his first time in a vehicle, as Dwayne drove him yesterday, this is the first time he''s been driven through the heart of the city. People of all shapes and sizes wander the sides of the roads and all around are buildings too tall to see the tops of in the car. Many other vehicles surround them, moving in similar directions as they are, all being directed with the usage of signs and overhead lights of varying colours¡ªNiel notes this system of travel as highly interesting.


    Suddenly, loud sirens approach from behind them, and Gabriel pulls over and stops. A striped red and blue car with flashing lights zooms past them. After it disappears, Gabriel and the other vehicles around them resume driving.


    "There''s always something going on, isn''t there?" Mabel remarks with a mixture of sadness and annoyance in her voice.


    "We won''t be seeing the end of it for a while, not as long as things keep going up in price," Gabriel responds. Niel is tempted to ask for more info, but he decides to stay quiet.


    After another few minutes of driving through heavy traffic, they make it to a large yet unimpressive-looking two-story building and stop in the parking lot. There are a few people roughly Niel''s age loitering outside the building or around their cars.


    "This is the school," Gabriel says to Niel. Mabel steps out of the car and disappears towards the school, and after a few minutes, she returns with Reed and Lydia.


    "Hey guys," Reed greets nonchalantly as he and Lydia enter and sit behind Niel and Illia. The pair nod in response.


    "How was school?" Gabriel asks.


    "Boring. Nothing but papers and assignments, as usual," Lydia responds over the clicks of her''s and Reed''s seatbelts.


    "Well, there was something that happened today," Reed says.


    "Oh, right. That."


    "What happened?" Gabriel questions as he shifts the car into gear and pulls out of the parking lot.


    "Some guy in grade 12 got stabbed in the hand behind Cornerstone. Don''t know if it was a deal-gone-wrong or a fight, but there was a trail of blood drops on the floor in school," Reed explains.


    "Shit, really?"


    "Apparently the guy who did the stabbing doesn''t go to our school, and the police are still looking for him," Lydia adds.


    "What''s Cornerstone?" Niel asks, mostly unfazed by the news.


    "Uh, it''s a convenience store across the road from the school. A lot of people grab snacks and lunch from there," Reed explains despite the sudden shift in conversation.


    "Do either of you know them?" Mabel queries, returning to the more pressing topic.


    "No," both Lydia and Reed answer.


    As they come to a stop in front of a red traffic light, Gabriel turns his body to face the four kids behind him. "Now, who''s ready to go shopping?" he says with a grin.


    "This guy is!" Reed cheers as he places his hands on Niel''s shoulders from behind. Niel is fazed by this gesture, but he doesn''t fight against it.


    Roughly ten minutes pass as they make the drive to the store. Once inside, Niel is surprised by the sheer amount and variety of products being sold, from food to homeware and everything in between. Many people come and go, which sparks some anxiety in him. He brings his hand up to cover the Warden''s Key, even though it''s already hidden underneath the fabric of his shirt. Niel also notices how Reed is glancing around them sporadically.


    "This must be your first time in a supermarket, right?" Mabel asks Niel.


    "Yeah. I''ve heard of large stores like this, but I didn''t think they''d be this big..."


    "That''s what she said," Reed quips.


    "What?"


    "Shut up, Reed," Lydia hisses. Illia aggressively pokes him in the side of the head. The adults chuckle and shake their heads.


    "Oh hey, why are you hiding the Warden''s Key?" Reed questions. "I don''t think you answered that question yesterday."


    "I don''t want others to see it. It''ll only attract bad attention," Niel explains. "They''ll talk about a weird pendant they saw some kid wearing, and¡ª"


    "Like your Mute, right? Got it," Reed says. "Though, it just sounds like you''re being paranoid, if anything."


    "I''m being safe, and when it comes to them, I can never be too safe."


    The group meanders their way to the clothing section and begin the ceremony of updating Niel''s wardrobe. Selecting what to buy is a simple endeavour as Niel is far from picky¡ªso much so that Lydia ends up moderating what''s chosen by Reed so Niel doesn''t end up agreeing to wear a gag shirt. In the end, a black sweater, several pairs of pyjamas pants and shirts, a semi-formal white button-up shirt and black pants combo, red swimming trunks, and numerous shirts, pants, and shorts are bought. A veritable fortune nowadays, both in worth and price tag; Gabriel is glad this purchase will be on the home''s tab and not his own. They exit the store at a moderate pace.


    "¡ªAnd you could''ve just used the fork that was in your left hand," Reed says jokingly as they exit, referring to last night''s supper.


    "I suppose I could have. My Dust is all I''ve ever really used," Niel responds as flatly as ever.


    Suddenly, a cry for help echoes through the parking lot. On the other side of the road amid a crowded sidewalk, a woman pleads for someone to stop a thief, while the thief in question is making a hasty getaway from the scene of the crime on foot. Reed''s shoulders and arms spark with his anger as he moves to close the gap. However, Niel drags him back the few steps he took with Dark Dust.


    "Don''t be stupid, Reed!" Lydia barks.


    "You won''t catch him," Niel says to the heated boy. By this time, a thin trail of Dust has reached the ankle of the running thief, and with a quick yank, the man takes a tumble onto the concrete. Two pursuers quickly pounce on the thief and restrain him.


    "Did you do that?" Gabriel asks Niel.


    "Because Reed wanted to step in, yes."


    "Wait, you were able to trip him all the way over there with your Dark Dust and while he was running?" Reed questions with bewilderment in his voice.


    "Yes. Quite easily, actually." The words on their own seem prideful, but Niel''s tone is anything but.


    "Dude, that''s awesome!"


    "I thought I said it''s anything but..."


    "Oh! Mabel? Gabriel? Do you know of any open areas that nobody goes to?" Reed asks. The three other kids immediately catch onto why Reed is asking this.


    "Like, a spacious area, open?" Gabriel confirms.


    "Yeah!"


    "The only place around here that I can think of is outside the city," Mabel says.


    "Then let''s go there!"


    "Hold on. Why do you want to go outside the city?" Gabriel questions.


    "Because he wants to see Niel''s Mute in action," Lydia explains begrudgingly. Niel can only stare dimly.


    "You said yesterday that you would show us how your Mute works, but only if no one was around to see, right?" Reed reminds.


    "I... did say that."


    "Then you''ll show us?"


    "I suppose I will."


    "You don''t have to listen to him," Lydia says to Niel as she glares daggers at Reed.


    Gabriel checks the time on his phone. "Well, we have enough time before supper. Niel, what do you want to do? It''s up to you whether you want to or not."


    "I said I would, so I will," Niel confirms.


    In no way is it safe to just tell near-strangers the secrets of his power, but he... he wants to trust them¡ªto finally have someone on his side. He feels he can''t trust them, but he wants to. Maybe talking will help him learn to trust, and should they betray him, then perhaps it was all doomed from the start anyway.


    They leave the boundaries of the city and find a secluded valley close to a wooded area¡ªnot the one protected by the city. The grass is still a brownish colour from the winter and puddles of mud lay dotted throughout like landmines, but at least the breeze is refreshing. It does carry the fecal stench of the mud, though... Reed finds a boulder half sticking out of the ground and places an empty pop can on top of it as a target. Niel and the others stand roughly 20 metres away.


    "I''ll give a demonstration of my power, then share with you two abilities and two functions," Niel explains.


    "Cool!" Reed exclaims.


    "What do you mean by functions?" Mabel questions.


    "How my Dust works."


    Niel coalesces Dust into a single point within the palm of his right hand and shapes it into the figure of a bullet, then flicks it into the air with his thumb. Next, he forms the shape of a breech-loading heavy revolver and breaks it open. The bullet miraculously falls into the chamber, and he closes the gun with a spinning flourish.


    "Cover your ears," Niel orders as he levels the sights on the can. Everyone obliges.


    A crack rings out when the trigger is pulled, though it''s nowhere near as loud as a real hand cannon. The power seems to be lacking too, as the impact causes the can to spin vertically backward through the air, still fully intact. The real event, however, happens when the can makes contact with the ground. As soon as it lands, an earsplitting crack resounds as a large black explosion tears out from within the metal. Everything in the immediate area is consumed and obliterated with darkness, while black spikes of varying sizes erupt from the ground throughout. An excited and horrified awe is left on the others as the Dust settles.


    "That was AWESOME!" Reed exclaims; him being in the excited range of the spectrum.


    "Oh my god..." Mabel murmurs; her being in the horrified range of the spectrum.


    Illia is left speechless, though it would be more surprising if she wasn''t.


    "By forcing a lot of Dust into a tiny space, then letting it go, I can create explosions like this, fired through shots with more accuracy than the top sharpshooters in the world," Niel explains. "Only issue is, it takes a lot of Dust, and I can''t hold it forever."


    "Because it would explode in your hand?" Lydia questions.


    "Yes, due to the first function. It costs power to make Dark Dust, but it also costs power to maintain it."


    "What do you mean by that?" Gabriel asks.


    "I use power stored within the Warden''s Key to create Dark Dust, but if I don''t supply the Dust with more power, then it fades."


    "So... it''s like a battery that uses electricity to both make a lightbulb and power it, but if it stops powering the bulb, then it breaks and you have to make another one?" Reed guesses.


    "Correct. And any hyper-condensed Dust gets released all at once, like pushing two equal sides of a magnet together and letting them go. If I hold a burst for too long, the cost of maintaining it becomes greater than the cost of making it."


    "In that way, your Mute is similar to mine," Gabriel observes. "I can create platinum that fades over time, though it gets exhausting the longer I keep it formed. I can''t create any bombs, though."


    "Oh? If I may ask, then, what are the functions of your Mutes?" Niel asks.


    "I can control hydrogen and oxygen, both separately and together as water," Lydia shares.


    "Mine is white phosphorus, and Illia doesn''t have one yet," Reed adds.


    "I can turn myself into nitrogen gas and move around, and all it costs is stamina¡ªlike I ran the whole way," Mabel explains.


    "Oh, I can do something like that, too," Niel states. His figure begins to dissipate into a cloud of smokey dust as he moves around, something Reed recognizes almost immediately. He reforms and says, "They referred to this ability as Dust Dash¡ªthe first ability I''m sharing with you today."


    "Oh, that! That''s what you did to escape the hospital!" Reed exclaims. "What''s your second ability?"


    Niel approaches a nearby tree, then spins around and falls back into it... literally. All that remains is a shadowy silhouette, which slips behind the tree and glides along the ground to leave everyone in even more shock. While his Dust formation and Dust Dash are similar to (or at least reminiscent of) other Mutes, this new ability is absolutely unlike any Mute seen before. He rises from the ground dripping with shadow as he returns to his original form.


    "W-what...!? How...!?" Reed stammers.


    "They referred to this ability as Shadow Dive; it''s an offshoot of Dust Dash. I can hide in shadows and move undetected as a pseudo-shadow, though it requires power to use," Niel explains.


    "You''re really outfitted with a lot."


    "I want to go back to something real quick," Lydia cuts in. "You said you could aim your shots better than any sharpshooter. How?"


    "The second function of my Dust. Each particle of Dust emits an energy signature that I can detect. If I cover something in Dust, I can make out what and where it is, even if I can''t see it physically. This ability is so precise I can make out facial features, using an amount so little a person can''t feel it."


    "Wow, you''re REALLY outfitted with a lot," Reed says.


    "So you can, like, spy on us from anywhere?" Lydia questions.


    "I can."


    "That''s creepy."


    "That''s why I don''t do it."


    "But, how does seeing a target through walls make you more accurate?" Gabriel questions.


    "By tagging something with Dust, I can guide more Dust to it. The bullets I fire may look like bullets, but they''re still made of Dust, meaning I can control them freely."


    "I see, so something like a laser-guided missile."


    "Precisely."


    "Man, your Dark Dust is really OP," Reed admits.


    "OP?"


    "Overpowered."


    "Oh. Well, it was designed to be that way..."


    Gabriel pulls his phone from his pocket and checks the time. "Time to go back now, it''s getting close to suppertime."

 Chapter 4 - What I Want?

    "This is for you," Dwayne says to Niel. It''s a smartphone roughly the size of Niel''s hand, encapsulated in a simple protective black case.


    "Oh, he gets a phone as well?" Reed remarks.


    "Of course. If some kind of emergency happens, he''d have no way to reach us," Dwayne explains. "Could you show him how to use it?"


    "Leave it to me!" Reed turns to Niel with a beaming smile on his face. "Let''s go to my room!"


    The pair ascend the stairs of the home to Reed''s orange bedroom. Within is a bed, a dresser, and a desk the size of Niel''s, but there''s also a large TV and several black box-like devices attached via cables. Reed plops down on his bed and yanks his phone from his pocket. Niel sits cautiously at the foot of the bed, his new phone in hand as well.


    "So, let''s see what''s set up already..." Reed breathes. He takes control and flips around Niel''s phone using his finger, taking in information Niel doesn''t understand. Meanwhile, Niel''s hand grips and crinkles the firmer-feeling bedcover.


    "Your bed feels different from mine," Niel comments lethargically.


    "Probably because my bed is fireproof. It would be bad if my Mute flared up in my sleep, ''cause then my bed would catch on fire, and then the house would burn down. So a fireproof bed is a necessity. My clothes are also fireproof."


    "Huh... But what about you? Wouldn''t you burn as well?"


    "That''s the cool thing about Mutes like mine: I''m immune to the dangers of it. Nothing can burn me¡ªnot my Mute, or any other sources of extreme heat. The toxicity of white phosphorus also doesn''t affect me." Reed then turns his attention back to the phone.


    "...Okay, I got it. They did this with Illia as well when she first got here," he says after looking at enough stuff. "They set up an email and an account for your phone for you. I''ll run you through everything so you know what''s up."


    One by one, Reed explains and demonstrates each function the phone is equipped with, from emailing and calling to taking pictures. He gives extra attention to the home''s special app: an interactive map of the city with the user and the home''s locations, and an emergency button should the user need immediate help. Even after this showcase, Niel is still struggling to understand how it all works¡ªlike what the clouds have to do with storing information¡ªbut Reed assures him that he''ll get it in time.


    "Y''know, you and Illia are kinda alike," Reed states. Niel looks at him blankly, but his ears are wide open. "She also doesn''t have much of a background, or at least one we weren''t told of. She spent a few years bouncing around from home to home in different cities until she ended up here. Like you, she didn''t even know when her birthday was¡ªand she hadn''t been given one before¡ªso we made the day she got here her birthday: December 3rd."


    "Did you give her a name, too?"


    "No, she knew her name when she arrived. Or, a name, at least. She''s a walking mystery in all honesty. She doesn''t speak so she hasn''t told us anything about herself; not even Medova was able to get her to open up. We don''t even know if she remembers her past. She''s also the only one out of us who hasn''t awakened to her Mute yet, and Medova thinks it may have something to do with whatever she''s hiding¡ªif she''s hiding anything, that is."


    Reed stands up and stretches as his tangent peters out. "For now, though, we''ve been able to keep her comfortable and happy."


    "What about you?" Niel questions.


    "What about me?"


    "Are you ''comfortable and happy?''"


    "Uh, yeah, even though I can''t play my games for another two weeks."


    "Games?"


    And with that one word, Niel has unknowingly opened Pandora''s box as Reed erupts into a passionate spiel about his game consoles and the games he plays... whatever those are. Niel doesn''t understand a single word. Thankfully, salvation comes in the form of Lydia checking on how things are going with the pair, and she skewers Reed''s ravings by hauling Niel downstairs.


    "Understand how to use your phone now?" Gabriel asks.


    "I think. Reed says I''ll understand it more over time."


    "And now with that, you''ll be able to get a girl''s number, hahaha!" Dwayne jokes.


    "Yes," Niel responds blandly, not understanding the implications in the slightest. Calling him innocent¡ªwhether in terms of sexual jokes, or even romance as a whole¡ªwould be a great understatement.


    Suddenly, Mabel''s voice echoes from the kitchen. "Niel? Can you come here?"


    Niel says nothing as he leaves Dwayne, Gabriel and Lydia in the living room and makes his way to the kitchen. There, Mabel is washing dishes, and Illia is drying them with a white towel.


    "Can you take over for Illia and help me dry the dishes?" Mabel asks.


    "Is she inadequate for the job?" Niel questions, though he doesn''t realize that what he said was quite rude.


    "No, no, I just want to teach you how to do chores."


    "Okay."


    Illia hands the dish towel to him, and Niel gets a good but fleeting look at her freckled face. She doesn''t look any different, but after what Reed told him, she feels a bit different, as if he''s now just noticing a faint fog around her. At Mabel''s instruction, he grabs a plate and begins drying as Illia steps away.


    "Like this?" Niel questions as he holds up the dried plate.


    "Exactly. Now stack it off to the side, and I''ll show you where it all goes when you''re done."


    Meanwhile, around the corner and just out of sight, Illia eavesdrops. Earlier, she and Lydia had a conversation in the latter''s room about Niel...


    "Niel kinda reminds me of you," Lydia admits to the quiet girl. In turn, Illia tilts her head, wanting to know more.


    "You both showed up out of nowhere, knowing basically nothing about yourselves, and with nothing to your names. Could you be long-lost siblings or something?"


    Illia glances away as she tilts her head in thought again, then slowly shakes her head.


    "Have you seen him before?"


    Illia shakes her head again.


    "Are you sure?"


    A head nod.


    "Well, fate has a weird tendency to keep certain people together. Maybe if you keep an eye on him, something will come up?"


    ...so now she''s observing him out of curiosity.


    "What you said before was a tad rude," Mabel says to Niel. Illia''s mind snaps to the conversation.


    "It was?"


    "Yes."


    "Sorry, then," Niel apologizes.


    "You should say that to Illia, rather than me," Mabel insists.


    "I did."


    "You... did?"


    "Yes. Illia is listening to our conversation from around the corner, behind us."


    Busted. Illia gives a tiny squeak in surprise and she runs off. Mabel flicks the water off of her hands and checks, and while she doesn''t see the girl, she did hear footsteps on her approach.


    "Did you see her with your Dark Dust?" Mabel asks as she returns to the sink.


    "Yes."


    It''s almost scary how powerful his Dust is, even outside of combat.


    >>>>>>


    "Yes, and now with four groups of eight," Louise begins, drawing another group of eight dots encapsulated by a circle on a small whiteboard, "That would be...?"


    "32," Niel answers. His timing is somewhat slow due to counting the dots, but he was able to answer within the second.


    "Good. Let''s move on from math, now," Louise says as she clears the whiteboard. She also checks on Illia''s assignment progress.


    It''s almost noon the next day, and Niel is in the middle of his first day of classes. While his knowledge of basic subjects is lacking, he''s not starting from zero, and he''s already proven himself to be a fast learner. Louise had the tricky task of packing a little bit of everything for today, but now she''s got a good grasp of where he is and can plan out better sessions.


    "Are you curious about history, Niel?" Louise asks. "What came before our time, how humanity evolved to the place we''re at now?"


    "History was important at the lab. Data on what worked and what didn''t was of highest value. There was a saying among the... staff, that said, ''Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it''. So, learning about history would be of great value to me," Niel responds, his voice and words resounding with old thoughts and bad memories.


    "Mm, but what about you? Set aside the lab, and the value of learning about our past, is the idea of hearing stories and learning about historic events interesting to you?"


    Such a question flits around in Niel''s head, unable to find an answer. There have been several occasions over the last few days where he''s been asked what he wants. He gave generic, general answers, but he was never able to properly respond. Can he?


    "I... Yes," is all Niel can say.


    "Then let''s begin with the history of something that touches all of our lives: Mutes." Louise hands him a copy of a paper so he can read along.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ''Several centuries ago, the first humans were born with strange mutations that gave them unnatural power. This power led to them being feared and shunned by those without, labelling them as Mutes¡ªshort for mutants. However, more of these ''mutants'' would be born from both the powered and de-powered, with the result being mutations bred into every bloodline across countless generations. With the abundance of mutations, the title of Mutes would be shifted from person to power.''


    "In modern times, despite the significant progress and evolution in medical science, scientists and biologists are still unsure of how exactly Mutes function," Louise explains. "But what we do know is that Mutes come in three main archetypes. Do you know what these archetypes are?"


    Niel doesn''t know the answer to this, and it makes him nervous. Failing to answer a question with a topic as common as this would get him punished in the lab, but then again, this isn''t the lab. With how nicely everyone has been treating him, perhaps not knowing isn''t a bad thing anymore.


    "No," he responds monotonously, but honestly.


    "Manip, Phase, and Conjure," Louise explains. "Manipulation, or Manip for short, is the ability to manipulate pre-existing elements in the world; this is the second most common archetype of Mute. Dwayne''s Mute is one such example, allowing him to control the hydrogen and carbon in plant matter.


    "Phase allows the wielder to convert their cells into that of their Mute, and is the rarest of the three. Phase is never seen with more than one element or with an element that isn''t a gas; it is also uncommon to see Phase paired with either Manip or Conjure. An example of a Phase Mute is Mabel, who can turn into nitrogen and pass through gaps as easily as the gas itself.


    "Lastly is Conjure, where one creates their Mutes from within their bodies. It is also the most common archetype of Mute, with a majority of the population wielding either it alone or with another archetype. Gabriel is an example, where he is able to create platinum from nothing."


    "So mine would be all three?" Niel questions. "Or, can a Mute only be two of those three archetypes at most?"


    "Mutes can be one or any combination of the three, including all three at once¡ªthough that is rare. As you said, your Dark Dust is likely all three, given the way you''re able to freely control your Dust after manifesting it. Referring back to Gabriel, he''s able to mould his platinum into whatever shape he wishes, but once the shape is finalized, he cannot change it without dispelling it."


    "I''ve heard mention of Fire Mutes. Are Mutes grouped based on the element they are as well?"


    "Yes, though more loosely. This is because there are a wide variety of elements, and some Mutes can fall into multiple groups. For example, Lydia controls hydrogen and oxygen, which fall into the Gas group, but hydrogen and oxygen combined make water, so it would also fall into the Water group. Hydrogen is also an alkali metal, while oxygen is a chalcogen."


    "So, what would classify something as a Fire or Water-grouped Mute? Just controlling fire and water?"


    "Fire isn''t something that you can control, but is rather the result of a chemical reaction. Therefore, Fire Mutes are Mutes where the element being Conjured or Manipulated reacts exothermically with a common element, such as open air or water; or whose ignition temperature is less than that of room temperature. Reed''s Mute of white phosphorus is the former, and will likely be the most ''fiery'' Fire Mute you will come across.


    "Water Mutes, on the other hand, are Mutes that either control or create water directly through hydrogen or oxygen molecules, or create water as a result from a common reaction between it and another element. It is also important to note that, while popular, terminology such as Fire and Water is unofficial. Official groupings are the ones found on the periodic table, such as the noble gasses or the previously mentioned alkali metals."


    "What would mine fall into?"


    "Well... Without a proper test to see what exactly your Dust is on a molecular level, it''s impossible to say."


    "I suppose that''s fair."


    "It''s twelve o''clock! Time for lunch!" Gabriel calls from the kitchen.


    "Time for a break, then. We''ll continue afterwards," Louise says as she reorganizes the papers left out. She also checks on Illia''s progress before joining everyone in the dining room.


    "How''s school going for you?" Gabriel asks Niel in the way a father would.


    "Well, though I fail to see why the question is necessary since you''ve been listening in since it started," Niel responds with blunt honesty.


    "Think of it as me checking in on how you''re feeling," Gabriel rephrases, blatantly ignoring the fact that he was found out so effortlessly. He then shifts to a joke. "Did she give you ''the talk'' yet?"


    "If you really were listening, then you would know the answer to that," Louise retorts as she sips on her tea. "Besides, while I may provide sex ed., as the father figure, the responsibility of having the initial ''talk'' falls to you."


    "And you''ll do it, won''t you?" Mabel asks Gabriel in a half-teasing half-serious manner. He immediately regrets the decision of bringing any of this up as painful memories of having ''the talk'' with Reed resurface.


    "Yes..." Gabriel says dejectedly.


    "Good answer," Mabel responds with a cruel smile. Niel doesn''t understand any of this.


    >>>>>>


    "Home!" Reed calls as he and Lydia walk through the front door.


    Illia greets them with a wave while Niel gives a simple "Hey."


    Reed strips himself of his backpack, which lands on the floor of the porch with a light ''thud''. "How were your classes with Ms. Louise?" he asks Niel.


    "They were fine," Niel responds. Spinning skillfully within his fingers is a wooden pencil, and his eyes remain glued to the TV screen. Some show Reed doesn''t recognize is playing.


    "What are you watching?" Lydia questions.


    "I don''t know. It was playing when I turned the TV on."


    "You can change the channel, you know..."


    Reed takes hold of the remote and brings up the TV guide. "Uh... it''s some kind of detective show. Is it interesting?"


    "Seems to be." He spins the pencil faster in his fingers before bringing it to a complete stop with a clasping hand. Illia gives a slight nod.


    "Heyo!" a familiar voice greets from the front door. It''s Clara, followed by Mabel and Gabriel.


    "Hey, Clara! And, since when were you two not here?" Reed says. He puts the remote down and walks over to the trio of adults, and the other three kids eventually follow in his wake.


    "Since half an hour ago when Clara wanted to show us a place," Gabriel retorts.


    "Oh, does that mean another big trip is coming?"


    "If it was a big trip, we''d be gone for a lot longer than half an hour," Clara clarifies with a somewhat apologetic smirk. "It''s just a little something for the weekend."


    "Cool!"


    "Where will we be going?" Lydia asks.


    "You''ll see in four days!" Clara declares.


    "Aww..." Reed groans.


    Illia taps Lydia on the shoulder to get her attention. Niel also takes notice, and his noticing makes everyone else look her way as well. Their attention makes her nervous, but she brings a hand up to her flattened arm and walks her fingers across it.


    "You want to go for a walk?" Lydia interprets.


    Illia nods, then points to each of the kids.


    "With us?"


    Illia nods again.


    "Really? I''m kinda tired though..." Reed laments. Before he can protest any further, Lydia grabs him and hauls him over to the shoe rack.


    "Here, Niel?" Gabriel says over the ensuing squabbling, handing the boy a twenty-dollar bill. "We don''t have everything set up for you yet when it comes to an allowance, so here''s something for you now in case you guys go to a store or something. Buy whatever you want."


    "Whatever I want..." Niel mumbles under his breath. He pulls himself out of his head and shapes up a bit. "Thank you."


    "You''re welcome."


    The four kids put their shoes on (or get their shoes put on them in the case of Reed) and button up their coats, and Mabel addresses them one more time before they leave.


    "Be careful, okay? Please stick to the main roads and public places," she says worriedly.


    "And be back before five," Gabriel adds.


    "We will," Lydia responds respectfully.


    "Alright, let''s go!" Reed exclaims as he runs out the door. So much for being tired.


    "Argh, Reed!" Lydia shouts after him. Niel and Illia are soon to follow.


    Niel takes in the views of the neighbourhood as they all walk down the street together, unsure of their destination, or if they even have one. Though not of her own accord, Illia leads the pack while Reed, Lydia, and Niel follow closely behind, in that order. Cars occasionally pass them by, taking the chilly spring air with them. It''s a sunny day with only a few clouds in the sky, though Niel heard that''s due to change to rain for the latter half of this week.


    "So, where are we going?" Reed questions.


    "I assume we''re just taking a short stroll, right?" Lydia questions Illia. The quiet girl shrugs shallowly.


    "What does that mean?" Niel asks. Illia shrugs shallowly again.


    "It means what it means," Reed remarks.


    "Meaning?"


    "Something meaningful."


    Niel sighs at Reed''s meaningless conjecture.


    "Why don''t we stop by the Heartstone Market?" Lydia suggests.


    "The what?" Niel questions.


    "You''ll see when we get there," Lydia says, validating her prior suggestion.


    "I guess that''s where we''re going now," Reed says with a shrug of his own. "Oh well, I''m game, even if I can''t buy anything."


    "Do you have your debit card, Illia?" Lydia asks.


    Illia responds by holding up a small white wallet.


    "What are you going to buy?"


    Illia shrugs.


    "Not gonna lie, I''m kinda glad you won''t be buying anything, otherwise you''d be shopping for hours," Reed jabs at Lydia.


    "And who was the cause of that?" Lydia jabs back with aggression.


    "Yourself." Reed''s voice is brought to similar aggression.


    Niel shoves his way through both of them and walks next to Illia¡ªa clear-cut message that both receive.


    The further they walk into the city, the denser the cars and crowds become, so the group huddle a bit closer for protection and to not get separated. Skyscrapers and tall buildings on all sides come close to boxing them in. Every so often, Niel checks the map on the home''s app, not only learning where they all are but also learning how the map works. Reed suggests entering a convenience store for snacks, but they pass it by when the only two people with money don''t bother. Supper is close anyways.


    They eventually cross the river into the Heartstone Market, with colourful banners, flags, and street tiles glowing brightly in the sunlight. There''s quite the crowd wandering about, and Niel and Illia notice the long, deep shadows being cast over the colour. Illia ends up unconsciously leading the group around, eventually entering a small store ripe with a colourful culture Niel doesn''t recognize. She never asked if the others wanted to go in, but they follow her nonetheless.


    Inside, Illia browses the shelves for anything that catches her eye, and Niel''s gaze follows her''s close. There are plenty of trinkets and such, but he doesn''t know if it''s something he should buy. Illia picks up an odd item to get a closer look at it. It''s some kind of wooden handle with cupped sides, attached by a string to a wooden ball.


    "Ooh, a kendama!" Reed points out.


    "A what?" Lydia questions, stealing the words right out of Niel''s mouth.


    "It''s a toy where you try to flick the ball up into one of the cups on the side," Reed explains. "You gonna buy it?"


    Illia nods her head as she wraps the string around the handle and places the ball onto a spike at the top.


    "Do you see anything interesting?" Lydia asks Niel.


    Niel continues to look around without a sound, scanning the odd-looking wares with his eyes. Everything and nothing pops out at him¡ªan awkward dance of indecisiveness coupled with a foreign question of ''what do I want''? Feeling the pressure of needing to choose something, he picks up a wooden stick about 20 centimetres long and two in diameter engraved with colourful lines.


    "What is that?" Lydia questions.


    "I don''t know," Reed responds with similar confusion. "Some kind of tourist souvenir, I think."


    Not knowing what it is either, Niel spins it around his fingers in a similar way to the pencil from earlier.


    "You like spinning things, huh?" Reed observes.


    Niel makes a quick scan of their surroundings to make sure no one will overhear what he''s about to say. "It was the closest thing to playing at the lab, and all I could do in what little free time I had."


    "Oh..."


    Niel looks at the ornate baton in his hand and considers if he should buy it. Is it something he needs? Likely not, since nobody knows what it is. Is it something he wants? He... doesn''t know how to answer that question.


    What I want? Can I... really choose?


    Niel puts the baton back where he found it, unable to make a choice.


    "Let''s check out some other stores. Maybe you''ll find something interesting to you," Reed says, noticing Niel having a hard time.


    Illia pays with Lydia''s help, and the group visits more locations equally rich in culture. Despite the variations in wares, though, Niel can''t make a decision. When he does consider buying something, he tries to get Reed''s opinion, but the blonde boy is nowhere to be seen.


    "Where''s Reed?" Lydia asks Niel.


    "I was wondering the same," Niel responds. He puts the object away without a word spoken.


    "Illia? Have you seen him?"


    Illia shrugs.


    Niel scans around to find Reed, but all he finds are a few strangers, and one a little closer than he''d like. "Outside, maybe?"


    The three leave the store to check, and sure enough, he''s standing around outside.


    "Why the hell did you leave?" Lydia questions, somewhat annoyed.


    "Well..."


    While Reed struggles to come up with a reason, Niel notices through his Dust that the close stranger has followed them over and is now watching them from cover.


    "Let''s just go back," Niel says to cover for Reed. "Supper''s going to be ready soon anyway."


    "I suppose that''s true," Lydia admits. She checks the time on her phone, and while they still have time left to look around more, five o''clock is drawing near. "Are you sure you''re done looking?"


    Niel and Illia both nod, though the question was directed more towards the former.


    "Alright, let''s go back!" Reed says with false energy. Niel doesn''t pick up on it, but Illia and Lydia do. The Dust informs Niel that the person watching them has disappeared back into the store.


    As they walk back home, an atmosphere of melancholy wafts over them like city smog. A looming question hangs from around Niel''s neck: what does he want? Or rather, how does he decide for himself? He looks to his right at Reed and notices that his brow is furrowed and his shadow holds his gaze. There''s more to what happened at the store, Niel thinks. Though, does he have the right to ask? No answers, yet more questions arise. Niel looks behind him and notices a large hollow structure in the distance, standing next to a skeletal building.


    "What''s that?" Niel questions, motioning to the structure.


    "That? It''s a crane. They''re making a new building there," Lydia explains.


    "Do you know what it''s for?"


    "The building? No clue."


    Niel grunts as he turns back around, their neighbourhood in the distance. Perhaps like that building, his future is also under construction¡ªmaybe even more.

 Chapter 5 - Its Hard to Care

    Later in the evening, Niel and Medova walk into the private room on the first floor of the house. She shuts the door behind them and they sit down to talk.


    "How have you been feeling lately? Medova asks.


    "Good," Niel responds blandly.


    There isn''t much of importance to note in this private room. Paintings both commercial and novice-made adorn the light blue walls, and two strategically placed windows¡ªone large and one small¡ªlet in enough natural light to illuminate the room. Several unoccupied cushioned chairs with black metal frames line the far walls, and a medium-sized wooden table stands between them from which Medova jots down her notes.


    "Is everything going well for you here?"


    "I have no complaints." Despite saying that, he feels a slight sensation in his spine. He isn''t lying, but there''s more to it that he hasn''t identified yet. He chooses to not bring it up.


    "That''s good to hear. I''ve also heard you''ll be getting your allowance soon. What do you think you''ll buy?"


    "I... don''t know."


    "Why is that? Don''t have anything in mind quite yet?"


    Two paths diverge in front of Niel; one is the emotionless teachings of the lab, and the other is Mabel''s encouragement to open up about how he feels. A path no one else seems to follow, and an uncomfortable unknown for him¡ªhow should he proceed?


    "Niel? Is there something on your mind?" Medova asks, noticing Niel''s apprehensive expression.


    "I..." Apprehension leads to more silence, but Niel eventually breaks it when he manages to collect his thoughts. "I don''t know how to choose for myself. When people ask me what I want, I don''t know how to answer that question. I''ve... never decided on things for myself, so I don''t know how to..."


    About to ask a sensitive question, Medova shifts to a soft tone. "They never gave you any kind of freedom at the lab, correct?"


    Niel shakes his head as his eyes fall to the table.


    "It''s scary, having responsibility suddenly given to you, especially when you''ve been told for most of your life to act and not think. So now that you have the option to think and act for yourself¡ªfor the first time in a very long time¡ªyou aren''t sure what to do. It''s okay to feel like that."


    Niel''s gaze rises from hearing that it''s okay.


    "Many people lose their way in life, or don''t know what to do, but in time they find a way forward. As you experience more of life, the things that were unclear to you before will become easier to understand, and you''ll find your way, too."


    Almost fittingly, Niel doesn''t fully understand this, but he thinks her words will become clearer over time, as she said.


    Without any other grievances to talk about at this time, the two stand and step out, and Niel is summoned to the living room by Dwayne. Gabriel and Mabel are also there.


    "Yesterday you got a phone, and now today, you get this," Dwayne says as he hands Niel a black wallet. If Niel''s memory serves him correctly it''s almost identical to Illia''s from yesterday, though he''d need to see it again to verify that claim.


    "Inside is your debit card and your ID. Please don''t lose them," Mabel explains.


    Niel opens the wallet and finds two plastic cards: one with numbers on it, and one containing information on him. Niel Rose is written at the top of his ID. He remembers getting his picture taken and deciding on a last name with Dwayne the previous day.


    "When we go out again, I''ll show you how to use it," Gabriel says.


    "Thank you," Niel says. He soon ventures upstairs for another uncomfortable shower, leaving the four adults alone.


    "Getting him an ID and a debit card couldn''t have been easy," Medova voices.


    "I managed to pull a few strings. The fewer people that know about him, the better," Dwayne responds.


    "Yeah. Including the government..." Gabriel adds. "But what he''s got is all legal, right?"


    "Of course. No need to put any more heat on him with fake IDs and the like."


    "The government getting nosy about him and a strange Mute is the last thing we need, especially when there''s a sadistic lab somewhere experimenting on children to turn them into bioweapons," Mabel adds.


    >>>>>>


    Niel wakes from a dreamless sleep, once again several minutes before his phone''s alarm is due to go off. He deactivates the alarm and greets Illia outside his room, and the pair get ready for the day and venture downstairs. Lydia and Reed are their usual early-morning selves, though the latter seems to be extra chipper due to the day''s rain. With an umbrella for Reed and Lydia her Mute, they leave the house as the other pair sit in the living room for their lessons.


    "As you learned yesterday, everyone is born with some kind of Mute, but the ability to use one''s Mute doesn''t happen until later in life," Louise explains. "Do you know when most people awaken to their Mutes?"


    "Around adolescence, right?" Niel answers. He feels his timing is slow, and he regrets not speaking his answer with confidence. Thankfully, Louise isn''t the kind of person to punish based on those facets.


    "Correct. Mutes usually emerge either during or shortly after puberty, but they can also emerge sooner or much later. Awakening may also happen due to outside influence."


    "What does that mean?"


    "Aspects of one''s environment around them that force a change. For example, Lydia awakened to her Water Mute in response to a fire."


    "...I see..."


    Hearing this digs up very painful memories for Niel, as this was the method used for his awakening. Not fire, per se... or rather, not just fire. Louise recognizes the pain on his face and moves swiftly to progress the lesson past this topic.


    After they''re done with their schooling with Louise, Niel and Illia eventually disappear to their rooms. Illia goes to play with her new ball-and-cup thing that she bought the day prior, while Niel checks out his laptop at Gabriel''s suggestion. He opens it up, and... he already has no idea what to do. It''s just a black screen. He doesn''t want to press any buttons either, in case he somehow breaks it.


    He considers getting Illia or Gabriel to assist him when he hears the clunking of an arriving Reed and Lydia downstairs. Reed should know what to do. Niel slinks down the stairs and summons the redhead to his room, which the tired boy agrees to do.


    "You want me to teach you how to use your laptop, right?" Reed confirms.


    "Yeah."


    "Alright, I''ll give you a rundown of it."


    Reed presses a silver button above the keyboard and the laptop''s screen blinks on in an instant. Niel didn''t ask him how to turn it on, and now he doesn''t need to. After about a minute of waiting, the laptop finally finishes loading and Reed brings up the home screen.


    "So here''s your laptop. My Computer will let you look at the laptop''s files, Chrome here allows you to browse the internet, there''s some stuff here in the bottom right like your battery, Wifi connections and time, and there''s a menu for other things in the bottom left. Don''t be afraid to click and look around," Reed explains, though his usual gusto is lacking.


    "Does that ''internet etiquette'' thing apply to here as well?"


    "Yes, absolutely. You can go onto websites and stuff like I showed you, but don''t click on weird links or pictures, or download stuff you don''t know," Reed reiterates, adding, "And if you don''t know what something does or if you change something and don''t know how to fix it, let me know."


    "Okay."


    After Reed leaves, Niel continues to fiddle with his laptop for another hour, though there isn''t a lot to do on it. Other than a larger screen and a physical keyboard he can use his Dust on, there isn''t anything the laptop provides that his phone doesn''t. Suppertime is soon called, and the rainy day ends uneventfully.


    >>>>>


    "Bring it closer."


    "Does it hurt? ...It does? Your Dust will put it out. You just have to awaken to it."


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "It''s inside you. You have the tool. You just need to learn how to bring it out."


    Niel wakes in a cold sweat; his bedsheets, pillow, and pyjamas are all soaked. His phone tells him it''s very early in the morning. Though it isn''t the first time he''s dreamt of his early life within the lab''s walls, this is his first time doing so since arriving here. He doesn''t want to lay in this soft puddle any longer, so he gets up to change shirts and dry off.


    As he slinks across the floor as quiet as the dark itself, the memories of both the dream and the event that inspired it flicker in his head, like embers in a dead fire. The pain of those memories, the wrath they inspired, the monster they birthed...


    The guilt finds its way back to him, and he clenches his fist. The Warden''s Key shines a bright white in the dark. It''s all he''ll ever be.


    Niel spends the rest of the night awake.


    >>>>>>


    "You look sleepy," Reed says to a tired Niel.


    "So do you," Niel says to a tired Reed.


    "What, did both of you not fall asleep last night?" Lydia questions in a somewhat harsh tone over her breakfast.


    "Seems like it," Niel blandly states.


    "So what kept you up?" Reed asks.


    "Nightmare."


    "Yeah, those aren''t fun." Reed assumes it was a nightmare of Niel''s past.


    "What about you?"


    "Just couldn''t sleep. Kept tossing and turning."


    "Huh."


    Reed and Lydia leave shortly after breakfast, and the lessons begin again.


    "Mutes are considered by many to be a normal part of human biology; others a blessing, and others a curse," Louise explains. "There are just as many good things you can do with a Mute as there are bad."


    "I''d say there are more bad than good," Niel says despondently.


    "Maybe, but perspective goes a long way. Many of the top surgeons in the world lower the odds of high-risk operations going badly due to their Mutes, and the military and police often use their Mutes to subdue rather than kill. Though on the other side of the coin, different Mutes can cause a lot of damage if the user is unable to control their power, and many criminals abuse the power of their Mutes to break and avoid the law."


    "Exactly what they wanted me for..."


    "Our Mutes are what we decide them to be, whether that''s a tool, weapon, or an extension of ourselves. It''s up to you to decide what your Mute is for, not anyone else."


    For the rest of the day''s classes, those words hang in Niel''s mind. Becoming something different, deciding what his Mute is... Can he even do that? It all hangs in his mind despite the uncertainty. No, it''s because of the uncertainty.


    Niel is upstairs laying on his bed when he feels the urge to use the bathroom. He gets up and goes to the bathroom, but the door is locked¡ªIllia must be inside. He was told not to enter the bathroom if the door was locked, so he leaves and tries the bathroom on the second floor. The door is shut but not locked, so he enters, discovering a shirtless Reed standing in front of the mirror panicking from his presence.


    "Whoa!" Reed exclaims, hastily throwing his shirt over his body. However, he isn''t fast enough to cover up a long welt on his side before Niel notices.


    "Oh. I didn''t realize you were home," Niel says. He scans the floor below and finds Lydia in the kitchen. "What happened to your side?"


    "Uh, I fell at school during gym," Reed explains as he holds his shirt over the spot.


    "Oh, okay. Are you busy? I need to take a leak."


    "Uh, nah, you can go in."


    Reed leaves for his room while Niel locks the bathroom door. Niel doesn''t know what gym is, and he''s willing to take Reed at his word, but his behaviour is leaving him wondering. Perhaps he should keep his eye on Reed tomorrow. The cloudy day tomorrow will make for good tracking weather, should it be necessary.


    The following morning, Niel plants a particle of Dust firmly within the collar of Reed''s shirt. With that, he''ll be able to follow the particle''s signature right to Reed so long as he doesn''t get too far away, which shouldn''t be an issue. Once class with Louise finalizes, Niel can make his move.


    "Can I go for a walk?" Niel asks Mabel as soon as the final lesson ends.


    "Of course. Just be careful and stay away from the alleys."


    Niel doubts that any generic thug could be a threat to him, so he doesn''t fully take the advice to heart¡ªbut it never hurts to be careful. With his phone in his pocket and the Warden''s Key tucked away in his shirt, Niel leaves the house.


    He picks up on the tracker in the distance, pulsing faintly like sonar in his head, catching his mind''s attention like an eye floater. He only knows Reed''s direction at this range and level, so when he makes it deeper into the city, he ducks into a secluded alleyway and sinks into a Shadow Dive so he can find a vantage point. As thin as a real shadow, he scales the nearby building and traverses the rooftops, though security cameras force him to slow down. They must have been set up to catch other trespassing Phase Mutes. He, however, can block them out with Dust.


    Kneeling low on top of a several-storey tall building, he cross-references the surrounding city with the map on his phone. The school is within view, but the tracker is not drawing him there; Reed isn''t even between the school and home. He''s not in motion, so he''s not going home on the bus, either. As far as Niel knows, Reed has no reason to be out here. So why? Niel discreetly descends the building and crosses the busy street below on foot.


    The tracker''s signal is strong now; Niel is close. He approximates that Reed is in a nearby alley, so moving with stoic caution, he enters after him. It''s hard to tell with the roar of the city around him, but he thinks he hears voices up again. He deploys a scan along the alley ahead and discovers a fight between two individuals, one of them confirmed to be Reed. Niel races over.


    Reed''s opponent is a male a few centimetres taller than him and with a heavier-set build, too. A thin black jacket and fingerless gloves lay discarded nearby. Niel doesn''t know why they''re fighting, but that doesn''t matter¡ªReed is taking a beating. Anger boils in Niel''s blood, and with his Mute softening his running footsteps below the city''s roar, he sucker punches the man in the jaw with knuckles hardened by Dust. Niel doesn''t care for honour¡ªnot in a street fight, not when his friend is getting attacked.


    He delivers a right kick to the man''s torso, then a left kick the back of his head, followed by a right axe kick carried to the back of his head again by the momentum from a spin. By this point, Reed realizes what''s happening, but his body won''t respond to his thoughts. It isn''t until Niel savagely slams the man against a brick wall and knees him in the face that Reed is able to pick himself up.


    "Dude! Ease off! He''s had enough!" Reed exclaims as he grabs Niel and pulls him back, just before he is able to kick the downed man in the ribs. Niel is hesitant at first, but he disengages from his enemy and runs with Reed.


    Niel doesn''t know where to go, so he just takes off into the city until he feels they''ve gotten far enough away. They stop in front of an ornate building crowded with people.


    "What the hell was that?" Niel questions. The anger from the fight is still in his voice. The Warden''s Key glows underneath his shirt.


    "I..." Reed''s gaze drops to his feet, and he despondently places his left hand on the opposite shoulder. He''s hesitant to talk in the crowd. "Can we go somewhere else?"


    "Sure."


    Reed takes the lead with a destination in mind. As they cross crowded streets and weave around buildings, Niel keeps his eyes to their backs. He left the man incapacitated, but the idea that he or more people could be coming keep him on edge. They leave the crowded middle of the city and enter a residential neighbourhood, coming to a stop at a place called Breeze Pond. It''s quiet, and there''s no one in sight. The grass is still wet from yesterday''s rain, so they sit at a wooden table instead.


    "That guy I was fighting with is a guy from school," Reed explains. "He picks at me a lot because of my Mute. Lately, he''s been getting more physical."


    "Is that where the mark on your back came from?"


    "Yeah... Sorry for lying to you."


    "But, why did you lie?"


    "I didn''t want anyone to know."


    "Why?"


    "Heh, you''re starting to sound like a two-year-old kid."


    Perhaps Niel should stop asking why.


    "I saw him when we were out shopping on Tuesday. That''s why I got flighty then," Reed explains.


    "He''s that guy? I noticed that he was staying close to us, and he was watching us when we left. I was correct in assuming he was the cause, then."


    "You''re surprisingly observant."


    "Is that a bad thing?"


    "No, no."


    A cool breeze gently blows past the duo, drawing Niel''s attention forwards. The pond''s water is a deep green with floating plant life, and pink decorum near the wooden dock flutters in the wind. Cars and voices can be heard in the distance. Niel adjusts the Warden''s Key underneath his shirt.


    "He stole my phone today, then forced me to follow him away from school to get it back, otherwise he''d break it on me. I got it back in the alley, and that''s when he slugged me."


    "Why didn''t you run?"


    "I... don''t really know. I guess I just got fed up with his shit. I didn''t expect to be that bad at fighting..."


    "Couldn''t you have used your Mute?"


    "Dude, that''s illegal. Using your Mute in a fight is just as bad as shooting someone with a gun."


    "Is it? I used my Dust when I hit him."


    "You did?" Reed takes a deep breath and sighs audibly. "If someone found out, you''ll get in a lot of trouble."


    Niel''s mind harks back to their first meeting a week ago. Reed, Lydia, and Dwayne all used their Mutes then. Was that situation different, and thus followed a different set of rules? Or did they use their Mutes knowing there was no one around to witness it?


    "I don''t plan on anyone finding out," Niel says.


    "You should still be careful."


    "You sound like Mabel."


    "Well, I did spend a lot of time with her."


    The wind ruffles Reed''s hair, and he sighs again.


    "Did you know that out of the four of us, I''ve been living at the home the longest?" Reed says.


    "I didn''t."


    Reed sits silently for a few seconds, considering his next words. "You opened up about your past in front of everyone, even showed us your Mute when you have no reason to trust us. I think it''s only fair that I should tell you about my past, too."


    The breeze kicks up, carrying dead leaves like embers...


    ~~~


    People don''t like Fire Mutes. Almost every wildfire and arson attack in the last 150 years was caused by someone''s Fire Mute. So when people see a walking war crime like me, they get scared, like I''m going to destroy something, or kill someone. It''s always been that way.


    My mom died giving birth to me, leaving my dad to raise me alone. I got my Mute from him. Being a single parent was hard on him, and having a Fire Mute only made things harder. No support. No help. No other family. Just us against the world, him doing his best for me.


    The best job he could get was construction, building skyscrapers and other buildings in the city. It should have been safe, but something went wrong, and he fell. They tried to save him, but he died before they got him to the hospital. I don''t blame anyone for his death. They tried to save him, I know they did. But... try as you might, even if you want everyone to go home safe, sometimes... you just can''t save everyone.


    They put me in the home soon after that. I was really young then¡ªeven Mabel wasn''t married at the time. There were other kids at the home then, all of them have moved out since. They tried to help me, but the guy in charge back then was an asshole. I just couldn''t bring myself to do anything. When Dwayne replaced him, Clara was hired to keep me active.


    But... I just couldn''t care. Mom died because of me. Dad worked himself to death because of me. I have a cursed Mute whose only purpose is to destroy. I... I don''t want to live, but I don''t want to die, either. So I just hang in limbo, living each day as it comes, never worrying about the future.


    Because... it''s hard to care about your future when it feels like you don''t have one.


    ~~~


    It''s a lot for Niel to take in, so much so that he isn''t sure what to say. It doesn''t mean he doesn''t care, though¡ªquite the opposite. Reed also doesn''t know what to say after that. The two just sit in silence, listening to the breeze.


    "I... don''t really know what to say," Niel begins, saying anything to break the silence, "But I''ll try to help if I can."


    "I appreciate the thought, and you can try if you want. But I''ve heard it all before."


    "Did you hear Ms. Louise say that we decide what our Mutes are?"


    "No. Sounds like good advice for you, though."


    "For you as well."


    Reed is already tired of this talk; as he said, he''s heard it all before. But hearing Niel of all people reach out fills him with some kind of joy, like there''s hope for the dark-Mute boy. He ekes out a faint smile at that thought.


    "We should get home soon. Everyone''ll be wondering where we are."

 Chapter 6 - Holding the Gun

    "What the hell happened to you!?" Lydia screams¡ªan expected reaction from her seeing Reed''s bruised face. Gabriel, Mabel, and Illia all come running from the commotion.


    "Oh my God!" Mabel shrieks. She clasps her hands around Reed''s face to inspect the damage.


    "What happened?" Gabriel asks, getting the obvious questions out of the way.


    "I got in a fight..." Reed admits bemoaningly.


    "A fight!? With who?"


    "Some guy at school..."


    Niel chooses not to speak up. The adults decide to treat first and question later, so they whisk Reed upstairs for first aid. Lydia, however, wants answers now.


    "Did you see what happened?" she asks Niel.


    "Yeah. He got in a fight," Niel answers monotonously.


    "Okay, but what happened? Who was he fighting with? Do you know why he was fighting?"


    "I saw him fighting and I fought the attacker, it was¡ª"


    "Hold on, you got involved?"


    "Yes. I knocked him down and we ran off."


    "Oh my God..." Lydia takes a few steps in place as she processes the information. "Okay, who was the guy? And why?"


    "Somebody that goes to the same school as you. He took Reed''s phone to lure him away to fight. Reed said they have history."


    "History? Wait, no... Oh my God, Reed! You told me he was leaving you alone!" Lydia screams under her breath. She then storms up the stairs, leaving Niel and Illia alone.


    A worried Illia points to Niel, then makes two gestures with her hand.


    "I''m not following."


    She crooks her finger in the shape of the letter ''R'', points at Niel again, then signs with her hand again. The first sign has her cupping her hand into an ''O'' shape so he assumes it''s supposed to mean that, but he''s unsure of what the second one with three outstretched fingers could mean. Maybe a ''K''?


    "Am I... okay?" Niel guesses.


    Illia nods her head in confirmation. He was right.


    "I''m unharmed."


    Niel and Illia can hear voices upstairs, and Niel can''t help but shy away to the kitchen with Poppy. Illia ends up following him not too long after. Eventually, the others return to the kitchen, and a quiet and awkward supper is had.


    While waiting for Illia to finish showering, Niel listens to the commotion down below. He can''t fully make out what is being said, but he hears Gabriel talking rather loudly. A scan of Dust shows him talking on the phone with only Mabel nearby. Reed is lying in his bed. Niel doesn''t fully understand the severity of the situation, but he knows at least that what happened today was a big deal. Perhaps it would be best to limit these kinds of interactions in the future.


    As he''s brushing his teeth, Mabel knocks against the open bathroom door to get his attention.


    "Niel?" she says, "What happened earlier today?"


    He doesn''t entirely understand why she''s asking him this, as she should already know the story from Reed. Nonetheless, he spits out the toothpaste and answers honestly.


    "I found Reed in a fight with someone, so I attacked them and ran away with him."


    "But, how did you know where he was? Or did you just find him accidentally?"


    "Yesterday, I saw that he had an injury on his side, so I tagged him with a tracker this morning and followed it to him."


    "Tracker?"


    "My Dust."


    Is there anything his Mute can''t do? Mabel thinks. "Thank you for looking out for him, but you should have come to Gabriel or me first. And... getting into a fight like that can get you in big trouble."


    Niel doesn''t say anything. Instead, he closes his arms to his chest and shifts his gaze downwards.


    "I''ll be more careful," Niel says after a bout of silence.


    A while later, Niel reflects on the day as he lays in bed, Illia''s kalimba chiming from across the floor. Reed''s words and feelings from before... They stir inside him. Feeling like you don''t have a future, it''s not wholly unfamiliar to him. And about not being able to save everyone¡ª


    An excruciating thought. Niel tenses up in recoil, his back arched, and he''s left feeling breathless.


    >>>>>>


    "There''s no school today?" Niel questions.


    "No, because it''s the weekend," Lydia explains.


    "Yeah. We get to relax today," Reed adds, though without his usual energy. His face has swelled slightly since yesterday, and darker bruises plaster his skin.


    "Don''t forget about our plans with Clara today!" Mabel reminds, almost giddily.


    "Right. Where are we going again?" Lydia asks.


    "That''s still a surprise!"


    Niel bites down on a slice of toast to help chew and swallow up a particularly fatty piece of bacon. He takes stock of the situation; they''re all going on a trip today, the location is being kept secret, and they''ll be leaving shortly before three. He can''t stop the distinct feeling of dread from building in his gut.


    "What time will we be back?" Reed asks.


    "Sometime around six," Mabel answers.


    "Pizza for supper?"


    "Pizza for supper!"


    The other kids'' faces light up at that revelation, but Niel is left clueless. Illia notices Niel''s blank expression, leading Reed to notice as well.


    "Never heard of pizza before?" Reed asks.


    Niel shakes his head.


    "It''s food. You''ll like it."


    "Kinda hard to think about food right now after eating breakfast," Lydia says.


    "Are you full already?"


    "Yeah."


    "I''m glad my cooking fills you up!" Poppy joyfully exclaims.


    Some time passes after breakfast, and with three o''clock slowly closing in, Gabriel calls for everyone to start getting ready¡ªspecifically instructing them to change into flexible clothing. Niel is the first done, only needing to collect his wallet at Gabriel''s suggestion, followed by Reed, then Illia.


    "Heyo, I''m here!" a familiar voice calls from the foyer. Clara leans out into view, trying to be seen while also keeping her shoed feet planted on the foyer''s mat.


    "Hey, Clara. We''re almost ready to go, just waiting on Mabel and Lydia," Gabriel says, surrounded by Niel, Reed, and Illia in the living room.


    "Okay, no worries!"


    "It''s just Lydia now," Mabel says as she steps down the last stair.


    "Lydia! Hurry up!" Reed shouts up the stairs. Niel can hear the tardy girl shout something back, but what she said precisely eludes him.


    Another three minutes pass, and with no sign of Lydia still, Reed gives up on waiting and climbs the stairs to retrieve her. At first, there''s some knocking, then some shouting, and then Lydia finally makes her appearance at Reed''s (forceful) behest.


    "I got the slowpoke!" Reed declares triumphantly while Lydia grumbles angrily.


    Niel and Illia don''t voice their relief, but they immediately get up to put their shoes on at the announcement. Mabel, Gabriel, and Clara give a slight chuckle and follow suit.


    With just enough room in the SUV, they drive out to a part of the city Niel has not been to yet and pull into a small, nearly vacant parking lot. In front of them is a building labelled ''New Heights''.


    "We''re here!" Clara announces as she opens one of the car''s doors.


    "And what''s here?" Lydia asks.


    "You''ll see once we''re inside," Gabriel says.


    Lydia is tired of this beating-around-the-bush, and she makes it known with an audible sigh.


    The purpose of the building becomes apparent to three of the four kids as they all step inside. Surprisingly, it''s Illia who isn''t in the know.


    "Oh, it''s a rock-climbing place," Reed comments, causing Illia to tilt her head in confusion.


    "You climb the walls here¡ªfor exercise I assume," Niel explains to her.


    "Hey, you actually know?" Reed says.


    "Yes. It''s one of the ways they "trained" me... at least until we learned I can Shadow Dive up walls."


    "You can do that?" Lydia questions.


    "Yes. I''m not doing it here."


    "I don''t think you''d be allowed to anyway," Reed says.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    Before they can get to climbing any walls though, they have to switch out their footwear for rental climbing shoes and equip small harnesses, the latter of which the workers assist the kids and Clara in putting on. Reed says the harness feels like a diaper. The harnesses are tightened and the shoes are snug¡ªso snug that Lydia complains several times about them being too small. She''s told they''re supposed to feel a size too small because tighter-fitting shoes help you feel the wall better.


    Next, they''re given a brief tour of the building, including where the rope climbing walls and bouldering walls (shorter walls that can be climbed without a belay) are located. The plain white walls are covered with shapes of different sizes and colours, and some are skewed in different angles to provide a challenge. Many of the rope climbing walls are similar in height and width and are set up in neat columns, while the angled walls are kept further away. The bouldering walls are wide, less than half as short, and have their own section with a thicker crash mat underneath. It''s not a crowd, but a few people come and go at their climbing leisure.


    After that, they''re told how the belays work and how to attach and detach themselves from one. Niel is the first one up, and with some assistance, he''s hooked in and can begin his climb up the 10-metre-tall wall, though instead of climbing as far as he''s able to, he''s instructed to go only three metres up and let go on purpose to learn how it feels to fall. As soon as he lets go, the belay goes taught and he''s lowered safely to the ground automatically. The others repeat this a few times as well, some braver to let go than others.


    Once training is complete, they''re all let go to freely climb. Niel, Reed, and Clara continue to climb the rope walls, but Illia and Lydia disengage and sit back with Mabel and Gabriel¡ªIllia being too nervous and Lydia wanting to protect her nails. Clara is either familiar with the sport, or just has great arm and leg strength because she scales both the flat and angled walls with ease. Reed, on the other hand, slips and falls a lot.


    "Hey Reed, here''s some advice," Clara calls over to him. "Push yourself up with your legs more than you pull yourself up¡ªyou''ll tire out less often by doing that. And keep your arms as straight as you can when you''re not using them so you don''t wear them out as fast."


    "Okay!" he calls back. While he doesn''t get much farther than previous attempts, he does notice a difference.


    Niel watches on from across the way. The advice sounds useful, and he never had to ask for it, either. He employs it himself and he also notices improvement, though if he were in a scenario where he had to climb and couldn''t Shadow Dive, he''d use his own method. Using his Dust, he can create hooked platforms that his fingers lay on, artificially increasing their strength whilst allowing him to cling onto small holds with ease. He would also combine this with Dust around his elbows and knees for extra pulling/pushing force, with the result being him flying up the walls. Not only would employing this here draw suspicion, but if he doesn''t have to use his Dust, he won''t.


    After enough rope climbing, Niel and Reed eventually shift over to the bouldering wall instead, picking up the girls along the way. Illia is still too timid to climb. Lydia however gives it a try, though not for long out of fear for her nails. But while she hangs back with Illia (again) and watches the boys climb and fall, she notices something.


    "What''s that on your arm?" Lydia asks Niel. He looks down at her from two metres up, and he chooses to just jump down instead of carrying a conversation clinging to the wall.


    "My arm?" Niel questions as he approaches her. Reed, Illia, and their curiosity aren''t too far behind.


    "Yeah. Did you do something to it?"


    With no one to bring it up and the last week being distracting, their existence had slipped his mind. Long white lines run down the tops of his forearms¡ªnot difficult to spot if you know they''re there, but easily missable if not.


    "Scars?" Reed questions.


    "Yes. To keep up performance in the lab, I used to scratch myself," Niel explains.


    "Were you that itchy or something?"


    "It wasn''t to scratch an itch. The pain of the scratches would keep me agitated and conscious."


    "It''s always something depressing..." Lydia mutters under her breath. However, it wasn''t quiet enough for Niel not to hear.


    "You did ask me what was on my arms."


    Lydia sighs. "I know."


    The rest of their time climbing goes well, but a change in atmosphere was felt strongly by the kids, resulting in a less enjoyable time there. With growing stomachs, they all leave the rock climbing gym and get back on the road to pick up supper.


    "We already ordered it, so we can pick it up as soon as we get there," Gabriel says.


    "Awesome, thank you," Lydia says hungrily.


    "Thank you," Niel echoes, copying Lydia as he assumes it''s proper etiquette if she''s saying it.


    Niel doesn''t recognize the area they''ve stopped in, but it isn''t too far away from the climbing place. Mabel disappears inside a small building for a minute and re-emerges with three thin boxes in her hands. As soon as she plops into her seat, a delicious scent wafts from the boxes and throughout the car. Niel can practically hear the others salivating.


    "I have pepperoni, three meat, and supreme; who wants what?" Mabel asks behind her.


    "Supreme," Lydia says.


    "Three meat!" Reed says.


    Illia raises a single finger for the first option.


    "Supreme as well!" Clara adds.


    After Mabel takes a slice for her and Gabriel, she hands all three boxes back to Clara, who then takes her share and passes the boxes around. Niel isn''t sure what to have.


    "Why don''t you try pepperoni to start, Niel?" Clara suggests.


    "Okay."


    Illia passes a box over her shoulder to Niel sitting behind her, taking great care to not drop it. He opens it once he receives it and observes the contents.


    "All you gotta do is rip off a slice and chow down!" Reed says while chewing, though making sure to keep most of the pizza in his cheeks when he does so.


    Niel does as directed, grabbing a slice one-eighth of the pizza''s size by the crust and hauling it away from the whole. Gooey cheese is left bridging the gap by strands, but they soon give way as well. Niel also copies how Reed and Lydia were eating theirs. Several unfamiliar flavours bombard his taste buds, and the cheese is as malleable as it looks.


    "Good, huh?" Reed says.


    "Yes," Niel responds plainly. While his answer is simple, his word is genuine.


    >>>>>>


    Despite breakfast not being due for another two hours, Niel gets out of bed and changes. While washing his hands, his attention is drawn to his arms. On one side, his skin is scarred from tears and rips¡ªand on the other side, it''s smooth and free of blemishes, but it''s not his skin. He runs a damp hand over both, taking in how they feel against his fingertips, and he sighs. The Warden''s Key flickers. He dries off and makes his way downstairs.


    "Morning, Niel. You''re up early again," Gabriel greets.


    "Morning!" Mabel and Poppy echo.


    "Uh, morning," Niel responds with a tad of confusion, as Gabriel and Mabel are still in their pyjamas. Poppy is fully dressed, though. "Why are you in..."


    "It''s still the weekend! It''s okay to still be in your pyjamas for a little while!" Mabel exclaims explanatorily.


    "I... see."


    Across the way, Niel watches Poppy retrieve a medium-sized plastic bowl. If it were supper, he wouldn''t think much of it, but he hasn''t seen her use a bowl like that for breakfast before. Instead of asking what she''s doing, he drifts closer, silently observing as she gathers ingredients.


    "Oh!" Poppy squeaks in surprise upon noticing how close Niel has suddenly gotten. "Would you like to help me?"


    "Okay. What are you making?"


    "Some dough for something special: toutons!"


    "...What?"


    "Pan-friend dough," she explains as she gathers ingredients. "It''s a Newfie staple."


    "Right, you have family from Newfoundland, don''t you Poppy?" Mabel says.


    "Yep!"


    Niel doesn''t know what or where that is, but for fear of sounding like a Reed-nagging two-year-old, Niel refrains from asking yet another question.


    "So, we''ll be following this recipe here," Poppy explains as she shows Niel the sheet of paper. Niel can understand the ingredients and the numbers, but things like ''tsp'' is an unknown to him.


    "When you cook, you follow a recipe like this one. It tells you the ingredients, how much of each to use, and sometimes directions on how you should mix them and how long to cook," Poppy explains further as she washes her hands.


    "There aren''t any directions," Niel observes.


    "Nope, but I know what to do! We''ll walk through what we need, you''ll put it in the bowl for me, and I''ll mix it all together, okay?"


    "Okay."


    "Okay! So first, we need two cups of flour." Poppy grabs a white plastic measuring cup from the counter and hands it to Niel. "Scoop out some flour with that and fill it to the brim!"


    Unsure if he''s doing it right, he dips the measuring cup into the small bag of flour and hauls some out. He shakes the cup a bit to dump out extra flour so the cup is filled almost perfectly.


    "Perfect! Now dump it in the bowl and fill the cup again!"


    Niel does as instructed again, this time speedier and with more confidence. Mabel and Gabriel watch on in glee like two proud parents watching their child learn.


    "Now we need some sugar. In that set of spoons, find the one that says ''1 tsp.''"


    Niel picks the set of measuring spoons up off of the counter and flips through them. The one Poppy wants is found near the bottom, and he unhooks it from the ring.


    "Good! ''Tsp'' is short for teaspoon, while ''tbsp'' is short for tablespoon," Poppy explains, emphasizing the ''b'' in the second abbreviation.


    "I see," Niel responds. Using the spoon, he scoops some sugar into the mixing bowl, followed shortly by some yeast from a red and white bag.


    "And now we need half a teaspoon of salt!"


    The math lessons with Ms. Louise come into use as Niel identifes the right spoon based on the fraction labelled. He scoops out the right amount of salt and adds it to the bowl.


    "And lastly, a tablespoon of oil!"


    Niel picks out the largest spoon of the set, and with Poppy''s help, measures out a tablespoon of canola oil. With Niel''s role concluded, Poppy takes the lead and adds water to their mixture, followed by her stirring it all together with her hands to make the dough. She folds the dough over itself again and again, much to Niel''s confusion. Once done, she sets it aside to let it rise.


    "Thanks for the help! Now, how about some breakfast?"


    "Yes, please."


    Poppy swiftly whips up breakfast for the hungry boy. He watches every step of the process; how she cracks the egg over the frying pan, how she cooks the bacon in the small countertop oven, how she spreads butter over a slice of toast, and how she keeps an eye on the frying dough. Each bit of food eventually finds its way on his plate, including a newly made touton fresh off the pan. Per her recommendation, he cuts it lengthwise and fills it with butter and syrup. It''s quite delicious for something so simple.


    Almost two hours pass after this, and while Niel sits on the couch spinning a pencil in his fingers, a thumping from the second floor brings his attention to the stairs.


    "Morning!" Reed calls out as he descends to the first floor.


    "Morning," Niel echoes from the couch. He quickly notices something about Reed, and it isn''t the bruising on his face. "You''re still in your pyjamas?"


    "Yep! It''s still the weekend! It''s okay to still be in your pyjamas for a little while!"


    Niel can see where he gets it from.


    Trotting down the stairs behind him is Lydia, also in her pyjamas. Behind her is Illia, who is surprisingly fully dressed. While she waves good morning, she notices that Niel is dressed, too.


    At least I''m not the only one, Niel thinks.


    After breakfast and once everyone is dressed and doing their own thing, Gabriel approaches a bored Niel with a suggestion.


    "Hey, Niel? We''re going out to the store to pick up groceries. Want to come with us? I can show you how to use your debit card," Gabriel says.


    "Okay," Niel responds, despite not knowing what groceries are. He takes his wallet, and he, Gabriel, and Mabel all step through the front door and into the car.


    "Are the others not coming with us?" Niel questions.


    "Nah. Reed and Lydia don''t want to go, and Illia''s helping Poppy with supper."


    "Supper? Already?"


    "We''ll be having supper at the usual time, it''s just that what we''re having for supper needs a little extra time to prepare," Mabel explains.


    "We''re also missing a few things that Poppy needs, so we''re going out to grab them for her," Gabriel adds.


    "I see," Niel says.


    When they arrive, Niel recognizes the supermarket as the one they went to on his second day at the home. They pull into a parking spot close to the building and make their way inside. Gabriel takes a basket instead of a cart this time around.


    "If you want, you can go look around the store and see if anything''s interesting to you," Gabriel suggests, knowing the chances of Niel getting lost are slim with his Dust. "If you find something, bring it back to us, and I''ll show you how to buy it."


    "Okay."


    Not knowing where he should go, Niel picks a random direction and strikes out on his own. Outside of being in his room at night, this is one of only two times that he''s been on his own since living at the home. This feeling is a lot different than when he went looking for Reed; not only is this a more personal and selfish expedition, but the closer quarters make him feel uneasy when a stranger walks by. He instinctively pulls his hand over the Warden''s Key hidden underneath his shirt.


    Niel finds himself looking at clothes, strolling through aisles of frozen goods, and gazing at various toys, but nothing piques his interest. However, while examining small boxes containing smaller collectable figures, Niel takes notice of someone familiar behind him¡ªand that someone recognizes him, too.


    "You..." Reed''s bully hisses.


    Rather than turning around, the two of them keep their back to each other and look over their shoulders. He wasn''t able to properly observe him in his fit of rage, but Niel sees that he has green eyes, hair that''s longer than his but shorter than Reed''s, and he''s almost a full head taller than Niel. He guesses from the uniform and name tag that the bully works here, but he isn''t able to read the latter with his eyes nor his Dust. Much like Reed, several bruises coat his face¡ªNiel feels a twisted sense of pride at this.


    Niel grunts and looks back at the cubes in front of him, but he keeps his Dust trained on the bully''s every move.


    "What kind of shit fate put us here?" the bully grumbles to himself, though loudly enough for Niel to easily hear.


    "Nobody''s asking you to stay," Niel says.


    "Are you looking for a fight?"


    "No, but there''s an alley close by. We can go there if you''d like."


    The bully scoffs. "You''re a lot more willing to fight than Reed."


    "Because Reed''s nice. So nice that he''ll try to help someone even if they''re pointing a gun at him."


    "I''d like to see that happen."


    "I''ve seen it with my own eyes."


    "Sure you have."


    "I have¡ªbecause I was the one holding the gun."


    Niel doesn''t turn around, but he sees through his Dust that the bully has. His face is furrowed with some kind of alien expression¡ªsome drawn-out cross between confusion and consideration. Niel isn''t sure. It could be a look of ''I don''t believe that for a second'' for all he knows. Regardless, with nothing else to keep his attention here, Niel walks off to follow the Dust tracker back to Mabel and Gabriel.

 Chapter 7 - Youd Be Surprised

    "Man, I''m bored..." Reed complains as he lazes on the couch. Playing on a radio in the background is a news report of another crime committed by the Invictus gang.


    "Why didn''t you go with Mabel and Gabriel?" Lydia questions while doing the same. "It would''ve been something at least."


    "I, uh, didn''t want to go."


    "Then why don''t you do your homework, since you''re not doing anything?"


    "Right back at ya."


    Lydia groans. "Who the hell wants to do homework?"


    "I don''t know about want, but I doubt Niel would complain. He does whatever he''s told to without complaining."


    "You probably shouldn''t talk about people behind their back."


    "You definitely aren''t the person to say that. I''m just kinda jealous."


    "You''re jealous of how na?ve he is?"


    "Like I said, you definitely aren''t the person to say that." Reed sits up as the conversation turns to a more serious tone. "You know what they say: ''ignorance is bliss'', or however that clich¨¦ goes."


    "I think it''s more ''he''ll do and say what he has to, and nothing more.''"


    "Maybe for now, but I bet he''ll come around to us soon."


    "I think it''ll take longer than that for him to open up."


    "You''d be surprised by what he''ll do for you without you even knowing. If you open up to him, I''m sure he''ll warm up to you more."


    "Like hell I''m just going to tell him my secrets. I doubt he would care, anyway."


    "Like I said, you''d be surprised."


    * * *


    His mission was to find something he would want to buy, but Niel returns to his guardians empty-handed and despondent.


    "Couldn''t find anything?" Gabriel asks.


    Niel shakes his head.


    "Don''t worry, I have an idea."


    With their basket containing everything they needed, the trio weaves their way to the front of the store. Rather than going through self-checkout to pay like last time, they instead go through a nearly empty checkout line. Along the way, Gabriel grabs a candy bar.


    "You haven''t tried chocolate yet, have you Niel?" he asks.


    "No."


    "Even better! I''ll show you how to buy this chocolate bar."


    Niel watches with unwavering attention as the cashier packs their groceries into a cloth bag, all while they and Mabel make small talk. Niel hears Mabel mention the word debit, to which she brings out her debit card and taps it against a device, causing the machine to beep. Afterwards, she puts her card away and takes the bag of groceries.


    "Your turn now. First, give the lady behind the counter the bar," Gabriel instructs while handing the chocolate bar to Niel.


    A little hesitant, Niel passes the bar off to the cashier. She slides it over a clear surface shining with a sharp red light, and a beep is heard.


    "Is this his first time buying something on his own?" the cashier asks politely.


    "Yep! He just got a debit card recently, so we''re showing him how to use it," Mabel answers in Gabriel''s place.


    "Ah, wonderful! It felt liberating when I was first able to buy my own stuff. We all have to start somewhere," the cashier says with an understanding smile. "Debit machine''s ready for you, dear."


    With Gabriel guiding him through the process, Niel inserts his card into the machine and punches in his PIN of 1049¡ªwhich he''s informed is very important and should never be forgotten, nor told to anyone. The transaction is cleared and Niel pockets his card.


    "And this is for you!" the cashier lady says as she holds out the chocolate bar. Niel takes it from her hand.


    "Thank you," he says.


    The trio returns to the car now that their shopping is done, and Niel crudely tears the wrapper off of his bar as they pull away from the parking lot. With no expectations nor ideas of what chocolate tastes like, he bites down on the corner of the bar, and a creamy sweetness washes over his taste buds.


    "Is it good?" Mabel asks, seeing how his expression lightened after taking the bite.


    "Yes," Niel states.


    Mabel''s learned by now that while his tone is almost always flat and his face stoic, he''s at least truthful with his words, and hearing his answer makes her smile.


    "Here''s some advice for you, Niel," Gabriel says. "There''s going to be a few times in your life where you''re going to consider buying something expensive. As a general rule, you should consider that if you can''t buy it twice, you can''t afford it."


    "Why is that?" Niel questions.


    "Because then you won''t have enough money left over for important things."


    "It''s okay to buy the things you want, just be careful not to spend all of your money at once," Mabel says.


    "Okay, I''ll be careful," Niel says.


    Not much more is said on the drive back, but there ends up being plenty to comment on once they get home. Reed and Lydia are bickering again in the living room, Illia is standing between them trying to de-escalate as effectively as a mute person can, and Poppy is patiently cooking in the kitchen. The house smells delicious, at least.


    "Hey!" Gabriel shouts at the arguing pair, though not too loudly as to avoid stirring Niel''s emotions.


    "Poppy? We got everything!" Mabel calls to lower the tension in the room. The red-haired cook comes running for the new ingredients.


    "Thank you!" she says as she takes the bag from Mabel. "Illia?"


    Illia shifts her attention back to the kitchen as Gabriel takes over handling the quarrel.


    "Why don''t you go help them?" Mabel suggests to Niel.


    "Okay," Niel says blandly.


    Supper ends up being another success.


    >>>>>>


    ''Suspension''s just a two-week vacation'', he thought. ''Just some extra time to earn money and relax.'' Nope. Classes suck even more now because there''s no teacher to waste time talking, no gym to blow off steam, and no conversations to listen in on. Just him stuck in his room, then work right after, then bed. It''s too much time to think. All because that fucking kid Reed wouldn''t leave him alone.


    Reed''s bully checks his phone for the time. School''s over in just a few minutes; close enough. He haphazardly throws his uniform in a bag and leaves, ignoring his father''s shouts in the process.


    He''s been thinking about that kid recently. Not Reed¡ªthe other one. The one that beat the shit out of him. What the hell is his deal? The only friend Reed has is that girl he lives with, so who is this new kid? He hasn''t seen nor heard of him in school.


    "Hey Mavrick," his coworker greets in the locker room.


    "Hey," he responds.


    "Looks like your bruises are starting to fade."


    "Yeah. They don''t hurt now."


    Mavrick doesn''t really like talking to his coworkers. The younger ones always try to lend a hand so they can brag about whatever party they''ve recently been to, while the older ones try to teach through helping, even though he knows what he''s doing. This coworker now is one of the former¡ªa real good-looking ladies'' man type of high school jock. Annoying.


    With how much time there is to think, Mavrick''s mind keeps going back to that kid that was with Reed. He wasn''t expecting to see him yesterday, and now he''s been watching to see if he shows up again. His own curiosity is starting to annoy him.


    He isn''t really expecting to see the kid again¡ªat least, not in the store and not so soon¡ªbut while stocking shelves an hour into his shift, he spots the boy walking past his peripheral. He looks and confirms: it''s him. Short brown hair, walking with his hands in his pockets, and some kind of chain running underneath his shirt. He''s alone as well. Curiosity gets the better of him and he leaves his cart to follow at a distance.


    The boy seems to be walking aimlessly through the store, never stopping for long but always looking around him. One could say he even looks clueless. He never spots Mavrick, despite the near-obvious tailing. Perhaps he really is clueless. The boy turns into an aisle for car-related products by the outer wall of the building, and Mavrick boldly closes the gap between them. But when he also turns the corner, the boy is nowhere to be seen. He walks further into the vacant aisle assuming the boy may have run off, when...


    "Why are you following me?"


    The hell? The boy''s behind him now! Mavrick hastily spins on his heels to face him, and he''s met with a cold glare from brown eyes.


    "The hell are you doing?" Mavrick questions.


    "You tell that to every customer in the store?" the boy retorts. "And I could ask you the same thing."


    As if he didn''t find this kid annoying enough already. "What''s your deal with Reed?"


    "Again, I could ask you the same thing."


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Annoying.


    "You should already know my deal with Reed."


    "You don''t like him because of his Mute."


    Mavrick scoffs. "I couldn''t give two shits about his Mute. If you think that''s the only reason, then you need to go ask Reed why he''s bullshitting you."


    "Like I''d believe that."


    So. Fucking. Annoying.


    "You shouldn''t believe everything you hear, new kid."


    "New kid?"


    "I know you''re new. You don''t go to our school, and I''ve never seen Reed with anyone else other than that black chick before. Probably from another diseased home if you''re living at that place¡ª"


    Mavrick feels a sudden blow to his gut that saps his breath and nearly knocks him off his feet. He places one hand on where he felt the impact and the other on his knee for support. The boy never moved an inch, and there''s nothing left behind on Mavrick''s torso. How the hell did this happen? Mavrick looks up to see a fury on the boy''s face. But instead of aggressing further, he turns around and walks away as two customers draw near. Mavrick straightens himself out before he''s spotted.


    "Who the hell are you?" Mavrick questions to himself before returning to work.


    * * *


    Niel leaves the crowded store, doing everything in his power not to let his anger show on his skin. The Warden''s Key flashes underneath his shirt. Him saying that about the home... he''s only been here for a week, and already hearing something like that pisses him off. He caught his name from the name tag: Mavrick. Niel wants to blow off steam by breaking something. For now, he should talk to Reed about what Mavrick said.


    Niel returns home, hoping to ask Reed about Mavrick, but all he can find is Lydia in her room with the door shut. He knocks on her room door, and she soon opens it just enough to peek her head around.


    "Oh. What?" she says.


    "Where''s Reed?" Niel asks.


    "Still at school¡ªsomething came up. Why do you need him?"


    Perhaps she can help.


    "I wanted to ask him about Mavrick."


    "Mavrick? How do you know his name? Wait, did you see him at work?"


    "Yes," Niel answers with crude honesty, causing Lydia to sigh.


    "You shouldn''t stick your nose in other people''s business."


    "He told me that him bullying Reed isn''t because of his Mute. I wanted to ask Reed about it."


    Lydia sighs again, then opens the door wider for Niel. "Okay, fine. Come in. I''ll tell you what I know."


    As Niel steps in, he realizes that this is his first time seeing the inside of her room. The walls are painted a light blue and covered with posters of various men and women. Off to the side is a desk with a large mirror topped with colourful make-up bottles and a single small standing mirror. Her room is very clean and organized; a part of Niel expected there to be more in it. They both sit on her checkered pink bed to talk.


    "So, what did Mavrick say again? That he isn''t picking at Reed because of his Mute?" Lydia asks.


    "Something like that, yeah."


    "That''s bullshit. He specifically brings up Reed''s Mute to put him down."


    "Why would he say that Reed''s lying, then?"


    "I don''t know, just to be an asshole? Don''t listen to assholes." Lydia looks away from Niel as if to put more words together in her head. "Neither of them have any friends, at least as far as I know with Mavrick. People are dicks and don''t want to give Reed the time of day just because of his Mute, and I''ve only ever seen Mavrick alone. That''s probably why Reed tried talking to him, so they could both have a friend. But instead of being nice¡ªor at the very least brushing him off¡ªMavrick just started picking at him."


    "It wasn''t always like this?"


    "No, it only ramped up like this a month ago. They were both told to leave each other alone, but that ended pretty quickly."


    "Huh..."


    Lydia stands up and walks towards the door. Niel assumes her intentions and gets up before she can say anything.


    "That''s all I know," she says as she opens the door for him. "He should be back soon. He can answer whatever else you need."


    "Thanks."


    A few minutes after their talk, Reed returns home, though he doesn''t look like his usual upbeat self. Niel, who had been waiting for him in the living room, approaches him anyways.


    "Can we talk about Mavrick?" Niel asks, completely skipping over any welcomes in his haste.


    "Mavrick?" Reed responds with a sigh. "I don''t want to. I''m too tired right now, dude. Maybe tomorrow?"


    Niel laments having to wait until tomorrow, but he shouldn''t force Reed to talk¡ªotherwise, he could get spotty information. He''ll just have to wait for now.


    An awkward atmosphere hangs around supper, with Reed having to bring up the scolding he received from the school''s faculty as a consequence of his fight with Mavrick. He looks as exhausted as his tone. Lydia also brings something to the table, and it catches Niel''s ear.


    "Remember that stabbing that happened last week?" Lydia says.


    "Where someone got stabbed in the hand?" Gabriel questions.


    "Yeah. Apparently, it was a mugging-gone-wrong, and the guy who did the stabbing is a known thief with an Electric Mute."


    "Oh, I think I''ve heard of him before."


    Electric Mute? Niel''s had more than his fair share of electricity before... As for this thief, he isn''t worried about a direct confrontation in the slightest¡ªhis Dust is basically shock-proof. Nonetheless, he should still keep his eyes on his six when he walks through the alleyways, just so he doesn''t get snuck up on.


    After supper is his turn to have a shower, and it''s something he never looks forward to. Every time he steps underneath the shower head, it feels like liquid anxiety is being poured over him. Most of the time, he has to force himself to put his head under, and even then, he can''t do it for long.


    Niel tenses up as he steps underneath the falling water. He hates this feeling. He scrubs his body quickly, but as the soap washes away, so does the sharpness of his vision.


    Water.


    Electricity.


    Anger.


    Uncomfortable thoughts are building. Each droplet is starting to burn. Every drip turns into a shock. He''s had more than his fair share of electricity before. He can''t breathe. The walls look like cracked concrete. He swears he can hear the lab again.


    Niel slams the water off, completely out of breath. He dries off as fast as he can, and the world around him slowly comes back into focus as he does. His hair is hardly damp¡ªlet alone washed¡ªbut he''s not going back in. He just sits there on the floor with his knees to his chest, towel wrapped around him. He''s not going back in.


    >>>>>>


    Illia looks at her digital clock and finds that it''s three in the morning. She was just woken up by what she thought was a thump. She turns over to go back to sleep, and just when she crosses the threshold of consciousness, she''s jostled awake again. She can''t just be hearing things, can she? She keeps her eyes open as she listens for an odd sound again. Eventually, what sounds like a thump against a wall can be heard. What is that? It kind of sounded like it came from this floor. Illia takes her phone and leaves to investigate, though she is a little nervous.


    She creeps along the dim hallway using her phone''s flashlight. Another thump startles her, but she catches the direction it came from: to her left in Niel''s room. She hasn''t been in there since the day he arrived, but she knows that he keeps his door shut at night, likely for the added security when he sleeps. She doesn''t really blame him for not trusting them all that much¡ªshe was like that too for the first few weeks she was here, and she''s only kept doing it out of habit. Though, with that feeling he gives her, she''s been compelled not to change.


    She considers if she should go inside. How will he react if he sees her in there? That bumping is a bit annoying, though... that is if he''s the cause. For the sake of her sleep tonight, she summons whatever courage she has and opens the door, but very slowly and quietly. She also turns off her flashlight and switches to a dimly lit screen so she can look around without the harsh light.


    Inside, she finds Niel tucked in bed and facing the wall, but he''s shifting around quite a bit in his sleep. He''s still wearing the Warden''s Key, and it flashes on and off like a firefly. Illia can''t tell if he''s asleep or awake; the most she can do is assume that he''s asleep since he hasn''t reacted to her presence yet. He shifts and bangs his leg into the wall. Well, there''s the source of the noise. She writes a quick message in her phone''s notes app before reaching out to touch Niel on the shoulder to wake him. Just before she does, though, his mumbling in his sleep causes her to retract her arm hastily in fright.


    "Yal...de..."


    She isn''t sure what he said, but she composes herself and reaches out again. The moment she touches his shoulder, Niel rockets up to a sitting position in sheer surprise; his Dust takes the form of a pointed chain erecting from his forearm, poised to strike like a viper. Her phone screen and the Warden''s Key illuminates a haze around him.


    "Illia?" he questions with a quick breath. He then dismisses the chain and haze since there''s no danger. The light from the Warden''s Key extinguishes.


    Illia raises her phone for him to read. ''I heard you knocking against the wall,'' the message reads.


    "Oh. I assume I woke you, then?"


    Illia nods.


    "Sorry."


    Illia shakes her head, then writes another message. ''It''s okay. You looked like you were having a nightmare, so I''m glad I was able to wake you up.''


    "Nightmare? I... don''t remember what I was dreaming about."


    A look of concern grows on Illia''s face¡ªnot for him not remembering, but that her assumption was incorrect.


    "Uh, I don''t think it was a pleasant dream either if I was hitting the wall in my sleep," he reassures. "Thank you."


    Illia nods with relief. ''Are you okay? It looked like there was something on your mind tonight.'' He usually looks either stoic or bothered, but earlier tonight he looked extra down.


    "I''m fine. We should go back to sleep."


    Illia is feeling sleepy, so with the mystery solved, she nods, waves from the doorway, and returns to her room. Niel tucks in facing away from the wall.


    "My own body''s telling on me..." Niel whispers to himself.


    >>>>>>


    Niel''s sleep has been spotty at best since he was woken up, and he''s been awake for a flat two hours now, so at half past six he decides to just get out of bed and go downstairs.


    "Oh, Niel. Good morning," Gabriel greets, still in his pyjamas.


    "Why are you awake so early?" Mabel questions.


    "I didn''t sleep well."


    "Aww... How come? Is there something bothering you?"


    "There''s a lot on my mind."


    "The lab?"


    Niel gives a shallow nod. It may not be the whole truth, but he''s not lying, at least. In response, Mabel hugs him.


    "Do you want your breakfast now? Poppy isn''t here yet, but we can make something for you."


    "Sure."


    "What would you like?"


    Niel stares plainly around the kitchen, sapped of ideas and options. Eventually, his gaze drifts over to Gabriel and his breakfast sandwich.


    "Want one of these?" Gabriel asks. "It''s bacon, a fried egg, and a slice of cheese."


    "I think we''ve been eating a little too much bacon recently..." Mabel says.


    "Nah, go on," Gabriel dismisses only semi-seriously.


    "Sure," Niel says in response to Gabriel''s suggestion.


    After Gabriel puts his sandwich down and washes his hands, he reacquires the necessary components¡ªnot just to make a sandwich, but to teach Niel how to make one as well.


    Gabriel spreads a sheet of baking paper over a small grated tray, then gets Niel to help him place four slices of bacon across it. Mabel disagrees with the amount, and Gabriel disagrees with her disagreement, leaving Niel confused. Gabriel places the tray in a small countertop oven and sets it to bake for 6 minutes, mentioning specifically how he placed it on the middle rack and how they''ll be flipping the bacon once the timer is up.


    Next, Gabriel heats the frying pan and teaches Niel how to crack an egg. The latter cracks it with a butter knife, sending white, yolk, and shell splattering into the pan. Gabriel digs the shell out before the egg can solidify, peppers the egg generously, and reduces the heat. He then places two slices of bread in the toaster and sets that going as well. Niel questions if he would be able to keep up on his own.


    After enough time, both the bacon and the egg are flipped and cooked again, with the bacon being placed on a paper towel to dry and the egg being taken off of the heat. Niel then (clumsily) butters the toast as Gabriel unwraps a slice of cheese. The cheese is laid on the toast, the egg on the cheese, the bacon on the egg, and then the second slice of toast to cover it all up. Having a hand in making something from scratch has made Niel realize just how involved cooking can truly be; he feels newfound respect for Poppy. And speaking of which...


    "Good morning!" Poppy whisper-calls from the front door.


    "Morning!" Mabel greets in return. Once Poppy rounds the corner to the kitchen, she finds Niel munching away on breakfast.


    "Oh, good morning Niel," Poppy greets. Niel nods since his mouth is full.


    "We just made breakfast together!" Gabriel explains.


    "Ahh, I see." Poppy then leans in close to Niel with a devilish smirk on her face. "So, my cooking isn''t good enough, then?"


    Niel stares blankly at her, completely unsure of what to say while on the spot. Poppy alleviates the tension by chuckling and patting his shoulder.


    "I''m just teasing you, don''t worry!"


    Cooking truly is an involved process.


    An hour later, the other three kids work their way downstairs, now mostly unfazed by the fact that Niel is done eating before they''ve even woken up. Instead of going immediately over to the kitchen, though, Reed walks up to him in the living room.


    "Hey. When I get home after school, I''ll talk to you about Mavrick. Promise," Reed says.


    "Okay. I''ll hold you to it."


    Throughout the day, Reed and Mavrick''s situation takes up a sizeable chunk of Niel''s head, to the point where he finds himself taking longer than usual to answer Louise''s questions. Reed promised that they would talk, so Niel hopes he''ll follow through. Each hour drags on, but Reed finally returns home at the end of the school day.


    "Hey," Reed greets as soon as he finds Niel on the couch, twirling a pencil as always. He motions to the stairs with a flick of his head¡ªa sign Niel recognizes¡ªand the pair make their way up to Reed''s room. After he washes his hands, Reed sits down with Niel on his bed.


    "So, what about Mavrick did you want to talk about?" Reed questions.


    "I saw him at the store yesterday. He said that him bullying you about your Mute was bullshit," Niel explains bluntly.


    "Well... He''s not right, but he''s not wrong, either."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Remember when we first met, you threatened to kill me?"


    Niel tenses internally as those moments in the hospital and forest reenter his mind. Though, it''s strange how he now regrets those actions. At the time, it seemed only logical. The Warden''s Key blinks dimly.


    "Those were... only threats. I wasn''t really going to¡ª"


    "Exactly. They were just threats made to scare me away."


    Niel is starting to understand where Reed is going with this. "So he''s bullying you to scare you away?"


    "Exactly!"


    "But, why is he trying to scare you away?"


    "That''s because..."

 Chapter 8 - Have to Start Somewhere

    With newfound knowledge, Niel returns to the store again in search of Mavrick, but he''s nowhere to be seen. He considers asking one of the other workers where he is, but he abandons the idea for fear of drawing too much attention to himself. Even after a couple more days of visits, he doesn''t find him. It doesn''t help that the trek out to the store on foot isn''t a short one. And what''s worse...


    "Ah, no school tomorrow!" Reed exhales while laying on the couch.


    "Why not?" Niel questions.


    "Tomorrow''s a holiday, so everything will be closed for the day," Mabel explains.


    "Everything?"


    Reed and Lydia immediately catch on to the purpose of that last question.


    "Yeah, everything. You get to relax for the day. Stores are gonna be closed again on Sunday for Easter, but open again for a bit on Monday," Reed explains, being sure to leave that last bit for him.


    "I see."


    "That reminds me," Mabel says. "Lydia, you don''t want to hunt for your chocolate, right?"


    "Right," Lydia responds.


    "I wanna hunt for mine!" Reed blurts out.


    "I know," Mabel says with a motherly smile. "And since this will be Illia and Niel''s first Easter here, I think they should be included in the hunt, too."


    "Hunt?" Niel questions.


    "Mabel and Gabriel hide our Easter chocolate around the house for us to find," Reed questions.


    "I see..." Niel says, not fully sold on the idea. He looks over at Illia and finds that her eyes are practically sparkling with intrigue.


    "I don''t bother with it," Lydia says. "But, because this is your first, I actually think you should try hunting for it."


    "Alright, then."


    Later that night while he''s brushing his teeth, Mabel pays him a visit. She''s been noticing a trend lately and wants to talk to him about it.


    "Is everything okay? You''ve been leaving the house a lot lately," she says.


    "Hm? Oh, yeah," he responds flatly. "I''ve just been exploring the city." He knows that this is a lie, but he doesn''t want to bring up Mavrick.


    "You''re not getting into any trouble, or getting involved with bad crowds?"


    One person isn''t a crowd, so it''s technically not true.


    "No. The less attention I draw to myself, the better."


    He hasn''t exactly been following this to a T lately, either.


    "Okay, I believe you." Mabel looks over her shoulder to see if Illia is nearby, to which the silent girl isn''t. "The next time you go out on a walk, could you invite Illia? The city''s been getting more dangerous lately, so I''ve been more and more hesitant to let her out on her own, especially since she hasn''t awakened to her Mute yet."


    "I will."


    "Okay, thank you. Good night."


    "Good night."


    As Niel finishes his nightly routine, he comes to a realization. He can''t confront Mavrick if Illia is with him, but he has to take her the next time he leaves, otherwise, Mabel might grow more suspicious. The store being closed tomorrow is a pain, but perhaps he can use this as an opportunity. It''s the perfect time to take Illia with him for a walk without losing valuable time.


    >>>>>>


    "I''m going out for a walk. Want to come with me?" Niel asks Illia shortly after noon.


    Illia nods her head in agreement¡ªshe''s excited to go.


    "You''re like a puppy, Illia," Lydia teases over her magazine, causing Illia to pout with a blush.


    "Do you two want to come with us?"


    "Can''t. I''m going to see my brother soon," Lydia answers.


    "I''m good too," Reed echoes.


    "Then we''re gone," Niel says as he and Illia leave.


    As soon as they leave, they unknowingly split apart as each thinks that the other is following them. They don''t get very far until they realize they''re alone, and once they do, they quickly close the distance between them.


    "Where do you want to go?" Niel asks, realizing that they could probably use a destination.


    Illia shrugs. She thought she was going with him somewhere, so she didn''t have any place in mind to go to. Seeing this, Niel pulls out his phone and opens the map so they can choose something. After some scrolling, Illia points out a small grassy park further into the city, sitting on the shore of the river that flows through Soul.


    "Want to go there?"


    Illia nods, and off they go together.


    The stroll through Soul is pleasant, with sunny skies providing an uplifting break from the recent cloudy and rainy weather. It''s also a lot warmer than the weeks prior, reaching a high of sixteen degrees Celsius, meaning Illia can finally shed her large black coat for a thinner, baggier sweater. Niel keeps his usual dark grey hoodie on as it''s the only one he owns. The air feels and smells crisp.


    They''re not the only ones enjoying the warm weather. Many people are out on strolls of their own, walking in pairs or with a dog or two. Between the suburban area and the weather, there aren''t a lot of cars driving around, allowing kids to play on the road with sticks and a small ball.


    After nearly an hour''s walk, the pair come upon the riverside park: a flat, grassy meadow estimated by Niel to be as large as the supermarket Mavrick works at. He feels exposed due to how wide open the area is. The occasional bench, picnic table, and tree can be found throughout, accompanied by a single person or a family out to enjoy the day. The river in this area is open to swimming, though there are no souls brave enough to give this a try this time of year.


    ''This is a good place to have picnics,'' Illia types in her phone. She points to a family eating while sitting on a blanket, giving Niel an idea of what a picnic is. ''Should we invite the others here?''


    "We could if we get another good day like this," Niel responds.


    They continue to walk around the park while watching others enjoy their day. Someone''s dog approaches them, and while Illia is frightened by it, Niel calmly copies what he saw others doing and gently pats it on the head. After a bout of tail-wagging from Niel''s attention, it pees on a bench and wanders off. Its owner is still nowhere to be seen.


    "Shouldn''t someone be watching it?" Niel questions to himself, shrugging as other people give the dog attention. When he turns to face Illia, he realizes that she''s not behind him, but is rather crouched at the water''s edge. He approaches cautiously to observe her curiosity, which involves tossing small twigs into the water to watch them float away.


    "Is it interesting?" Niel questions.


    Illia nods, and she throws another stick into the water. Niel keeps his eye trained on it for as long as he can until it disappears around the river''s bend.


    A sombre feeling wells up inside him.


    As afraid of the water as he is, he sits down next to Illia and observes how she plays. After watching how the children run about during their walk here, seeing Illia''s playfulness sparks a sad envy in him; he wishes he could be that way too, if only for a little while. He wishes he could have grown up with his innocence intact, rather than with tests, ridicule, and pain. The Warden''s Key dimly glows again. He''s now understanding just how high a price he was forced to pay for this power he never asked for.


    >>>>>>


    Illia was very excited about going on a picnic with everyone. Keyword: was. Now she stares dejectedly out of the living room window at the sheer downpour of rain occurring. Lydia, Mabel, and Gabriel are all at least keeping her company. As for the two boys, they''re upstairs in Reed''s room. Today is the day Reed''s been waiting ever so impatiently for, and he wants to share it with Niel.


    "Video games?" Niel questions.


    "Yeah! I had them taken away from me two weeks ago, but I got them back today!"


    Two weeks ago was when he was found by Illia in the forest, though he doesn''t remember what Reed did to warrant his stuff being taken away. What Niel does remember is how Reed went on a spiel about his games the night Niel was given his phone. He didn''t understand any of what Reed was talking about before, but with his stuff now in front of them, Niel is certain that whether he likes it or not, he going to learn today.


    "I was in the middle of playing this game when I had it taken away," Reed explains as he turns on the TV and the console. He then sits down on his bed next to Niel. "It''s an older game that I didn''t get the chance to play until now, but it''s super fun. It''s about this older dude trying to take his son up to the peak of a mountain to spread his wife''s ashes, and..."


    As Reed goes on and on about the game, Niel''s attention drifts from the TV to the rain-streaked window. He should go to the store now that it''s open and see if¡ª


    "You probably shouldn''t go to the store, if that''s what you''re thinking," Reed says. "It''s raining too hard and we don''t have an umbrella. You already told me yesterday that Mabel''s starting to catch on, and it would look fishy if you went on a walk in this downpour."


    "I guess you''re right..."


    "It calls for a better day on Monday, and I bet good money he''ll be working that day as well."


    Niel is unsure if Reed is just saying that to keep him here or if he genuinely believes that, but he''s inclined to take Reed''s word for it.


    "Here, look at this!" Reed says, referring to the game.


    On-screen is a man with an axe on his back, accompanied by a boy with a bow. It looks almost like one of those TV shows that Niel watches occasionally, but Reed can control the character and the camera. Reed moves the man forwards, causing monsters to spawn ahead of him; the boy calls them draugr.


    "Watch this," Reed says, already enraptured by the game.


    The man pulls the axe off of his back and hacks against the human-Esque husks while the boy pelts them with a seemingly endless supply of arrows. Then the man charges a powerful attack, cleaving one of the draugr in two with a comment of awe from Reed. Reed throws the axe at a distant enemy hurtling balls of fire and beats down another enemy with his fists and a collapsing shield, causing it to flash red and stagger.


    "Watch this," Reed repeats himself.


    The man elbows the enemy in the face, tackles it to the ground, then crushes its head by stomping on it. He then tosses the lifeless body aside.


    "Isn''t that badass!?" Reed exclaims. "I normally play fighting games, but this game''s so cool!"


    "Fighting games?" Niel questions. "You''re fighting here. This isn''t a fighting game?"


    "Nah, a fighting game''s different. I''ll show you."


    Reed closes out of the game he was playing and launches a different, brighter-looking one. A bunch of different characters appear in a selection, and Reed chooses a small girl dressed in orange effortlessly carrying a ship''s anchor twice her size.


    "In a fighting game, you have a bunch of different moves to use in order to drain your opponent''s health bar. There''re mid attacks which can be blocked, grabs which can''t, high attacks that can be blocked or dodged by ducking without blocking, low attacks that can only be blocked when crouch-blocking, and overhead attacks that can only be blocked when stand-blocking."


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "I suppose that''s in line with a real fight, minus the anchor..."


    "Also in fighting games are combos. You chain multiple attacks together for flashy combos that deal more damage than basic attacks on their own. Here''s a simple one."


    As Reed''s controller clicks, the girl swings the anchor for two hits, then rams into the opponent while... riding atop a dolphin...?


    "Where the hell did that dolphin come from?" Niel questions with the utmost confusion.


    "She summoned it," Reed answers.


    "She summoned it," Niel echoes.


    "In a world where technology just got replaced with magic one day, robot-things that tried to kill everyone, and Japan consisting of a giant hole in the ground, summoning animals is kinda par for the course in this game."


    "Uh-huh..."


    "Welcome to fiction."


    Throughout the day, Niel sits on Reed''s bed and watches him play different games. At times Reed offers Niel a second controller to play alongside him, but Niel declines as he''s content with just watching. Though, the constant rain preventing him from going to the store is starting to annoy him.


    Easter Sunday slowly rolls around, and everyone makes a conscious effort to wake up at roughly the same time so they can enjoy the morning together¡ªthough with how early Niel tends to wake up, he''s left in bed for a couple of hours browsing the internet on his phone while he waits for everyone else. It''s Poppy''s day off so everyone chips in with cooking breakfast, including Dwayne making a surprise visit.


    After breakfast, Lydia receives a small pail of her easter chocolates, and the other three are left to search around the house for theirs. Reed moves with purpose in his hunt since he knows where Mabel tends to hide things, Niel flows through the house checking as he goes since he''s barred from using his Dust to scan, and Illia leaves no stone unturned as she giddily looks everywhere, even if it doesn''t make sense. Once they''ve gathered everything they''ve found into their own pails, Mabel and Gabriel run through a checklist to see if everything was found, and once it all is, the spoils are split evenly between the trio. Reed and Illia are happy, and Niel is content.


    The rest of the afternoon is spent eating chocolate and watching Niel''s reaction to them, as well as opening chocolate eggs to see what toy each contains. Niel is mildly amused by the colourful spinning tops and small plastic cars, while Illia''s reaction is described by Lydia as a kid in a barbershop''s toy bin. Mabel has to remind them multiple times to not eat so much, otherwise, they won''t be hungry when suppertime rolls around.


    Through his insistence, Dwayne helps Mabel and Gabriel make supper, though he bids everyone farewell after they''ve finished eating to spend time with his wife. Reed also tries to retreat upstairs to play video games, but he''s dragged back down when Mabel suggests they play some card games as a family.


    Niel reveals that he doesn''t know how to play cards, much to Reed''s surprise. The blonde-haired boy figured that he would''ve been taught how to play poker or something, or maybe he''s just seen one too many movies. Illia is also unsure of the rules of the games they play, so Reed and Lydia shadow Niel and Illia until they get the hang of it, respectively. While Illia continuously steamrolls Niel with her luck, this moment with everyone together makes Niel feel at ease. It makes him feel like he belongs somewhere.


    * * *


    Mavrick, his mother, and his father all sit around the table after supper. For them, this is when Easter chocolate gets passed around; there isn''t enough to hunt for, nor is it much to look forward to in the first place. The five-bulb chandelier above them only half-works, with a bulb half-dead and two others burnt out completely, leaving only his father''s side of the table illuminated.


    Mavrick''s mother slides him a single chocolate bar. She knows that he can buy many more, but she hopes that the thought is worth more when the bills take everything else. She also gives one to her husband, though instead of a thank you, he just scoffs.


    Mavrick reflects his mother and gives each of his parents a similar bar, though if it were up to him, his father wouldn''t get anything. When he isn''t looking, Mavrick will give his mother two more as a thank you. She deserves it for all of the shit she has to put up with.


    As his father''s job is sitting on his ass all day, he provides now what he provides to the family. Mavrick wishes he could provide his Mute to his next shower. So much hatred in one man¡ªchildren really do take after their parents.


    >>>>>>


    Finally, it''s Monday. With no classes to worry about, Niel can check the store again to see if Mavrick''s there, and with the information Reed provided him nearly a week ago, hopefully Niel can get through to him. He chooses 2:30 as his time to leave, and off he goes.


    As Niel enters the store again, he notices that there are more people inside than usual. His heart thuds in his chest at the cramped lines and compact crowds, so he decides to start at the back of the store and work his way up. He checks the automobile section, toys, electronics (which now have his eye after Reed''s showcase on Saturday), then food and clothing, but he doesn''t see Mavrick. He considers the possibility that he may not be here, but a momentary break in a checkout line reveals Mavrick working at a cash register.


    Finally.


    Just as Niel steels his nerves to step into line, the light over the checkout row shuts off. If he''s correct, that means that Mavrick isn''t accepting any more customers for now, likely to go on break. Nevertheless, Niel slips to the back of the line, careful to keep the Warden''s Key out of sight. He takes a chocolate bar from the shelf next to him on his way to the register so he has a reason to be there. It isn''t until he gets to the register that Mavrick notices him, and his reaction to Niel is nothing short of contempt.


    "Oh, you," Mavrick says, dropping the polite charade he gave to the other customers.


    "I want to talk," Niel says as he places the bar on the counter.


    "I don''t." Mavrick then runs the bar across the scanner. "A dollar-fifty."


    "Debit." As Niel taps the machine with his card, he presses the conversation further. "It''s something important I need to talk to you about."


    "I don''t care. Now piss off, and¡ª"


    Suddenly, a middle-aged woman walks into the empty aisle with a full shopping cart. Niel''s guard is immediately up in response to this stranger, while Mavrick continues to wrap up at the register.


    "Sorry miss, but this line is closed," Mavrick says.


    "No, you can take my stuff before you go. You''re still behind the register, anyways," the lady practically demands.


    Niel and Mavrick are both annoyed at the woman''s attitude¡ªbut for their own reasons, they don''t let it show on their face too much. Niel gives her a bladed glare, though.


    "What are you looking at? Move! I need to pay for my stuff!" the woman barks. Niel begrudgingly takes his bar and steps away before he does something rash.


    He sits down on a nearby bench, but he monitors the situation with his Dust. Mavrick argues with the woman for a bit, repeating that the line is closed and that he''s now on break, but the woman keeps demanding that he serve her nonetheless. Once she starts making idle threats regarding his superiors, though, is when Niel has enough. Without making a single giveaway motion, Niel picks the woman up with his Dust and sends her clear across the store, placing her on the opposite side. Mavrick is stunned by what had just happened¡ªas are the witnesses of the belligerent woman''s flight¡ªbut he quickly puts two and two together.


    "What the hell, man?" Mavrick growls at Niel, who stands up at his approach.


    "I know you don''t like help, so I didn''t do it for you. She was just pissing me off."


    Mavrick notices that while Niel is talking, his carotids have an abnormal tinge of shade to them. There''s some bullshit to his words as he could have just walked away, but despite this, Niel now has his attention. His darkened arteries, plus how he sent the woman flying...


    "Fine. I''m off at four-thirty. We''ll talk then."


    Niel is relieved, and Mavrick watches the colour fade from his neck.


    "I''ll wait for you outside."


    Mavrick and Niel leave the vicinity, with the latter spending the remaining two hours roaming the area and loitering on the store''s roof, but always keeping an eye on the tracker he put on the former. Once 4:30 rolls around, Niel watches Mavrick leave the store, then while making sure no person and no camera can see him, reappears from around a corner.


    "Did they blame you for removing that woman?" Niel asks, nearly startling Mavrick.


    "No, and they don''t know it''s you. So that begs the question¡ªwhat the hell is your Mute?"


    Niel takes a mental step backwards; he''s shown too much. What does he do? Does he run? Try to convince Mavrick it was nothing?


    "Is it private?" Mavrick asks. "I know it''s not something normal, but if you can''t tell me, then don''t bother answering."


    When he''s not hurling insults or trying to look aggressive, he''s surprisingly reasonable. Niel keeps quiet and gives a shallow nod. Mavrick gets the message.


    "So, what did you need to talk to me about?"


    "It''s about you."


    "What about me?" Mavrick sighs as he realizes. "...Let me guess, Reed?"


    "I asked him for his side, and he knows a lot about you."


    "Secrets I shouldn''t have told him, and now he''s spreading them around."


    "Only to me."


    "That''s still one person too many."


    "Which is why they stay with me."


    "Doesn''t matter."


    Niel takes a brief pause to recollect his thoughts and reset the conversation.


    "He told me you hate getting help because it makes you feel like you''re taking advantage of people," Niel says.


    "And I''m sure you know where it comes from."


    "Your father."


    "He really did tell you everything." Mavrick growls in frustration at his secrets being leaked. "I will NOT be like that sack of shit. If I need something done, I''ll be the one to do it, because it''s my problem and no one else''s."


    "I used the think the same way, but thanks to everyone at the home, I''ve started to learn that getting help isn''t a bad thing."


    "Yeah, in a home that coddles you. Everything is perfect there. Meanwhile, I''m helping my mom save up for divorce papers and a new place to live. You don''t understand a damn thing about me!"


    This isn''t going anywhere. Soon enough, Mavrick''s going to get fed up and leave, and this will all be for nothing. What can Niel do to talk him down? He thinks for a moment.


    "Maybe not, but you know nothing about me, either. You should know from Reed that the home is the last place stopping us from being on the street; one final attempt for us to live with some kind of normalcy when we have nothing and no one left."


    Niel takes a deep breath.


    "I don''t know who or where my parents are. All I''ve ever known is a cell and taking orders from people who''d hardly bat an eye if I was dead. They robbed me of everything I had and hurt me in ways you could never imagine. When I finally mustered the strength to escape, I spent the next... I don''t know how long... jumping from city to city, just to get as far away from them as I could. I know they''re still out there looking for me."


    As Niel talks, the Warden''s Key glows brighter and brighter until Mavrick can clearly see the light through his sweater.


    "Did you... grow up in a prison?" Mavrick questions. His face is one of skepticism.


    "Not exactly, but not dissimilar."


    "And... what''s that light under your sweater?"


    It''s now when Niel realizes that the Warden''s Key is glowing. His vague explanation will help keep him safe, but it has also led to Mavrick not believing him. Showing the Warden''s Key will help verify his story, but if Mavrick secretly knows the lab...


    But, in order to ease his anxiety, everyone at the home has repeated ad nauseam how difficult it would be for an organization like the lab to find a single person. It''s a nice temporary comfort, but can he really believe it? One-in-one million may be low odds, but it''s still possible. He''s living proof of that. Can he...?


    He shouldn''t, but...


    fuck it.


    Niel unzips his sweater and hauls his right arm back through the sleeve, making sure that Mavrick¡ªand only Mavrick¡ªcan see the Warden''s Key in his hand.


    "It''s a painful reminder."


    Mavrick watches how the Warden''s Key blinks slowly in his hand. For added measure, he runs Dark Dust along his hand and hardens it into a spiky glove, before shattering it like ice by clenching his fist.


    Niel zips his sweater back up. "So, now you know about my Mute. And because you know, if those people find me out here, they''ll kill both of us."


    "You''re... You''re bullshitting, right?"


    "I wish I was. If they find me, they''ll kill me, they''ll kill you, they''ll kill Reed and everyone else at the home, and they''ll kill anyone else who knows. My Mute is supposed to be top secret, so now you need to keep it top secret as well."


    Mavrick wants to disbelieve, but what the hell is that Mute and that pendant? It could be some normal dark mineral, but how was he able to use it as he did before? The blow to his gut a week ago, and then the removal of that woman today... you can''t do that with a normal Mute.


    "I¡ª Shit man, if it''s that serious, then I wish you didn''t tell me."


    "Then you wouldn''t believe me."


    "I still don''t fully believe you."


    "Should I go into more detail?" Niel is bluffing, of course. He''s already taken far too big a risk.


    "No, no. I don''t need to hear any more. And, what was the point of telling me all of this?"


    "So you know that I''m not living a perfect life, either. Reed wasn''t the first person to ever offer me help, but he was the first I accepted help from. And now look at what''s happened: I have a place to stay, food to eat, and people who care about me."


    "So you''re talking advantage of their generosity."


    "That''s far from the truth."


    "How is it?"


    "Because I fully intend on repaying the favour, should they need it. You may see getting help as selfish, but nobody lasts long if you don''t accept it. If it weren''t for everyone at the home, there''s a strong chance that I wouldn''t be alive right now."


    None of what Niel is saying has really crossed his mind before, but he believes in every word that rolls off of his tongue. Mavrick isn''t on the same page, but Niel thinks that he''s close. Just one more push.


    "You love your mother, right?" Niel asks.


    "Of course."


    "Is your mother taking advantage of you because you''re saving money for her?"


    That point stings. He dislikes how Niel brought his mother into the conversation, but he can''t refute that.


    "Just because you''re trying to convince me to accept help doesn''t mean I''ll just start asking for it."


    "You don''t have to."


    "And even if I do, it won''t happen immediately."


    "We all have to start somewhere."


    Mavrick recognizes that saying. His coworker says that to him a lot.


    "I''ve got a question," Mavrick says.


    "Go for it."


    "Reed knows why I''m picking at him, right?"


    "To chase him off so he stops trying to help you. I tried that with him when we first met, and it didn''t work very well."


    "You did it too?"


    "Remember how I said that Reed will try to help someone even if they''re aiming a gun at him, and that I was the one holding the gun?"


    "Yeah...?"


    For a brief moment, Niel flashes a gun made of Dust at Mavrick. "It wasn''t hyperbole."


    "What the fu... And he stayed?"


    "Yes. Called my bluff when I said I''d kill him."


    "What the hell is wrong with you?" Mavrick sighs.


    "I have a question of my own," Niel says, skipping over Mavrick''s comment.


    "Yeah?"


    "Your Mute''s potassium, right? How did you get employed if you have a Fire Mute? I thought people don''t like Fire Mutes."


    "You heard that from Reed?"


    "Yes."


    "It''s illegal for a business to discriminate against someone due to their Mute, even if your Mute''s white phosphorus. What Reed told you is more how the general public feels," Mavrick explains. "Though, I got off lucky compared to him. People look at my Mute and think it''s just a nondescript metal. His is literally just fire."


    "Right."


    Niel feels his phone buzz in his pocket. When he checks it, he finds a text from Reed asking where the hell is he and that supper is soon going to start.


    "Shit, I need to run."


    "Alright. Later, then."


    As Niel sprints off into the literal sunset, Mavrick is left wondering on his own. There was a lot said that he needs to take in.


    "Later, then..." Mavrick repeats to himself.


    >>>>>>


    Wednesday afternoon rolls around, and when Reed walks through the door, he motions to Niel that he wants to talk. They go to Reed''s room again, reminiscent of their talk about Mavrick over a week ago.


    "Something happened today after school," Reed says.


    "Like what?"


    "Mavrick. He came up to me and apologized."


    Niel is shocked. "What? Really?"


    "Yeah. He told me how you two talked."


    "What did he say?"


    "That you''re ballsy to tell him about your past."


    Worry quickly builds in Niel''s gut. "He didn''t tell anyone else about that, did he?"


    "He told me he didn''t. He doesn''t want to get killed."


    "Huh, so he believes me after all."


    "I guess so."


    "So, now what?"


    "What do you mean?"


    "Is he going to try accepting help now?"


    "Maybe. He said he wants to try being friends again. Should we?"


    Niel can hardly believe his ears. He wasn''t sure if Mavrick was convinced. Now he wants to be Reed''s friend again?


    "Uhh... I suppose you could try, but if he starts picking at you again, let me know."


    "Sure thing. And, Niel?"


    "Yeah?"


    Reed turns to face Niel. His eyes shine with gratitude.


    "Thank you."


    Niel can''t match his sincerity, but nevertheless...


    "You''re welcome."


    For the rest of the day, a warm feeling resides within his heart. His actions have borne fruit, and he''s most pleased with himself. However, a question still hangs over his head: why? Why did he try to help in the first place? It''s nice that things have worked out, but he gains nothing from it. Is it just nice to help others?


    Perhaps he''ll understand another day.

 Chapter 9 - Sick to My Stomach

    ...


    Mom... Dad...


    Is it okay to help someone


    even if they don''t want it?


    Even when they need it?


    ...


    Is it okay to try


    even if I think I''ll fail?


    Even when I think I don''t deserve it?


    Am I allowed to try, despite my past?


    ...


    "Happy Mother''s Day!" the four kids exclaim that morning, catching Mabel off guard.


    "Oh! Thank you!" she responds happily, gathering them all in a large group hug.


    While he''s been hugged by Mabel a few times since arriving here last month, this is the first time Niel''s been in not just a group hug, but in such close proximity to the others as well. Once they all let go, Gabriel gives his wife a hug and a kiss as well.


    "Happy Mother''s Day," he echoes.


    "Thank you, dear!"


    "And we have something for you!" Reed cheers.


    From an inconspicuous hiding place in the corner of the living room, Lydia and Illia retrieve a bland cardboard box and give it to Gabriel, who then removes a slightly smaller gift-wrapped box from within and hands it to Mabel. Her face is one of curious delight as she delicately removes the wrapping, and then one of joy when she pulls out a fluffy pink robe.


    "Ooo! It''s so soft!" Mabel chirps in glee as she rubs the fabric against her cheek. "Thank you!"


    "Now where''s my gift?" Poppy jokes from the other side of the kitchen.


    "When you have kids of your own," Mabel teases back.


    The family of six all spend the rest of their Sunday relaxing together and watching Mabel open gifts from children who have since grown up and moved out of the home. And despite what Mabel said earlier, Poppy gets a new set of modern cooking utensils as a gift. Among the peace and tranquility near the end of the day, Lydia realizes something.


    "My throat kind of hurts," she admits. Reed refrains from turning that statement into a naughty joke.


    "Have you been drinking enough today?" Gabriel questions.


    "Yeah. It doesn''t hurt a lot, but it''s there when I swallow."


    "You better not be getting sick," Reed says.


    "I hope not."


    "Let us know if it gets any worse," Gabriel says.


    "I will."


    Nothing of note happens for the rest of the night, and Niel has a sound sleep. However, when he wakes up the next morning, he also feels a soreness in his throat, especially when he swallows. Since Gabriel told Lydia the previous night to report any updates on her condition, he decides to do the same and tell his guardians about how he feels. He finds them at their usual place this early in the morning: at the kitchen table.


    "That''s not good," Gabriel says.


    "Something must be going around, then," Mabel adds.


    "If a bug''s going around, I''ll have to be more careful. I don''t want to give you anything through your food," Poppy says as she cooks.


    "Have you been coughing at all or have a runny nose?" Gabriel questions.


    "No. I just woke up with a mild sore throat," Niel reports.


    "I''ll have to see how Lydia is feeling when she wakes up," Mabel says. "If she feels worse than yesterday, she''ll have to stay home."


    "How come?" Niel questions.


    "If she goes to school sick, she could give it to other people," Mabel explains.


    "Oh. Right."


    Gabriel wants to ask if Niel was forced to act in the lab even if he was ill, but he doesn''t want to reopen that wound again.


    After an hour of waiting, Mabel personally goes upstairs to check on Lydia. She returns with Reed, and Illia, but Lydia is nowhere to be seen.


    "Is she sick?" Gabriel asks Mabel.


    "Yes. She says she''s been coughing all night," Mabel says.


    "I heard her a few times last night through the wall," Reed adds.


    "And how have you been feeling?" Gabriel asks Reed.


    "I''m fine. No sore throat, no cough."


    "How are you feeling Illia?" Mabel asks.


    Illia gives a thumbs up; all clear.


    "Do you feel sick?" Reed asks Niel.


    "Mild sore throat."


    "Ooooh my God it''s spreading," Reed says, feigning fear as he takes a step back. Illia is alarmed by Reed''s reaction and takes a fearful step away from Niel as well.


    "Reed, you''re scaring Illia," Mabel protests.


    Illia now realizes that Reed was only messing around, and she relaxes a bit.


    Lydia strolls down the stairs a few hours after classes begin, coughing as she comes. She doesn''t look well, with her slouched over in fatigue and her normally perfect hair a mess. She watches Niel and Illia from afar, and as the day goes on, each cough that escapes her throat makes them feel the urge to follow suit as well. Eventually, Mabel ushers her back upstairs to rest while Louise continues to teach. Reed soon returns home when everything quiets down.


    "Yeah, there''s a flu bug going around," Reed confirms to Mabel. "I''m guessing Lydia was one of the first to get it from school."


    Niel heard Poppy mention a bug this morning. "An insect is to blame for this?"


    Mabel can''t help but chuckle upon hearing Niel''s na?vety. Reed full-on laughs at him.


    "No, no. It''s just an expression meaning that an illness is spreading between people," Mabel clarifies, all with an entertained smile.


    Reed slowly but surely regains his composure. "Yeah, it''s not an actual bug making people sick."


    The longer the day goes on, the more the thought of being sick wears on Niel''s mind¡ªand the more it wears on his mind, the worse he feels. It feels like his throat is becoming sorer and sorer, and he has been taking frequent trips to the bathroom to blow his nose. Lydia''s condition worsened overnight¡ªhow will he fare?


    Niel lays awake that night, unable to sleep; his mind flickers between Lydia''s symptoms and the thought of becoming sick. The lab worked extensively to keep him from catching any illnesses or diseases, so outside of Dust encumberment, he doesn''t know what it''s like to become sick.


    As he harps on those thoughts, he discovers an uncomfortable feeling in his stomach, and it''s growing fast. He tries sitting up, but it does little to quell the worsening sensation. He feels his face start to droop as his breathing becomes laboured, and then he retches. He''s only barely fast enough to form a bucket of Dust to catch his vomit in. Heaving and heaving into the darkness, he ejects both his supper and the nausea into the makeshift container. He sits there in silence once he finally calms down, completely unaware of the quick footsteps approaching his room door. Mabel makes a hasty entrance.


    "Niel!" is all she can exclaim as she runs to his bedside. It''s the first time she''s seen him even remotely ill, and while she''s dealt with Reed and Lydia sick before, she isn''t sure how Niel will fare. Right behind her is Gabriel, and Illia stands in the doorway.


    Niel doesn''t even try to croak out any words. He just hangs his head over the bucket with his eyes closed so he doesn''t look at the contents. Bile and mucus drip from his nostrils while a thin line of tainted saliva dribbles from his mouth. His throat burns with each exhausted breath.


    "Let''s go to the bathroom," Mabel says, and she helps him out of bed. She also tries to take the bucket off of his hands, but she nearly drops it due to its surprising weight, so Niel floats it in front of himself.


    Niel drops the whole bucket into the toilet and dispels it, leaving only the disgusting contents behind to be flushed. He blows the chunks and green slime within his nasal passages into a tissue while Mabel prepares a cup of mouthwash for him, and Gabriel fetches anti-nausea medication for him to take. After taking the medicine, he finally notices that Illia is awake and is watching him.


    "Did I wake you up again?" Niel questions.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    Illia nods.


    "She heard you throwing up and came down to get us," Gabriel explains.


    "Oh. Thank you..."


    Illia nods again in recognition.


    "Was it something you ate that made you feel sick?" Gabriel asks Niel.


    Niel blows his nose again before answering. "I don''t know..."


    "How do you feel now?" Mabel questions.


    "Not bad enough to throw up again."


    "What about your sore throat? Has it been getting worse since this morning?"


    "Yes. My nose has also become runny," Niel says with a sniffle.


    "Yeah, you sound sicker," Gabriel observes. "Maybe the reason why you threw up is because you''ve got a stomach bug."


    "But Lydia hasn''t been feeling sick to her stomach," Mabel says.


    "It could just be the way his body is reacting to it. Different people react differently."


    "Maybe..."


    "Anyways, let''s get you back to bed," Gabriel says to Niel. As the two of them go back to Niel''s room, Mabel escorts Illia back to hers. Gabriel tucks Niel in, and he places a cold, damp cloth over the sick boy''s forehead. "Come and get us if you''re feeling sick again, okay? Even if you just knock on our door with your Dust."


    "Okay, I will."


    "Good night, Niel."


    "Good night."


    "Try to get some rest, okay?" Mabel requests. "You can sleep in. I''ll let Louise know you aren''t feeling well."


    "Okay."


    Gabriel and Mabel return to their room as Niel tries to relax with a burning throat, but down the hall, Illia is now the one worrying. Is Niel going to be okay? And if Niel is this sick, can she catch what he has? It would be better if he wasn''t sick in the first place, but she knows it''s never as simple as she wishes it was. She hopes he''ll be alright.


    Come the morning, Niel finds that his throat is now significantly sorer than yesterday, to the point where it hurts to swallow. His nose is running about the same as it was yesterday, but now an itch in his lungs is making him cough. He sits up to get out of bed, but he wonders if he should do so since he was told he could sleep in. While his room is still dark, the sunlight piercing the curtains makes him want to get up. He sends a scan down to the first floor and, to his surprise, only Gabriel is up. Perhaps he should investigate.


    But as soon as he gets out of bed, he''s racked by that same sour feeling in his stomach as last night. He hunches over slightly as he puts a hand on his belly, but as soon as the first gag-cough leaves his throat, he knows what''s coming next. Another bucket is formed as he drops to his knees and lurches, but instead of a geyser of rancidness, all that leaves him is a teaspoon of yellow acidic bile. This repeats four more times¡ªeach with less and less coming up,¡ªuntil he lies exhausted on the floor. His throat is killing him now after that. Perhaps instead, he shouldn''t have gotten up.


    Rather than using his arms and legs to carry himself back to bed, he conjures black chains to lift himself off of the floor completely and place him on his bed. He sends the bucket to be flushed down the toilet afterwards, then forms an arrow downstairs within Gabriel''s field of view to attract him up. Gabriel gets the message, and Niel watches him ascend the stairs through his Dust.


    "Everything okay?" Gabriel asks as soon as he opens Niel''s room door.


    "I threw up again..." Niel admits dishearteningly.


    "Aw, throwing up''s no fun," Gabriel says, honestly unsure of what to say at the moment. He sits on the edge of Niel''s bed. "Seems like you do have a stomach bug."


    "Where''s Mabel?" Niel asks.


    "In bed. She''s sick now too, and I''m starting to feel achy as well."


    "So everyone''s getting sick?"


    Gabriel can hear the hopelessness in Niel''s ailed voice. "I don''t know about Reed and Illia, but even if we all get sick, we''ll get better soon." He drags a gentle thumb over Niel''s forehead to calm and reassure him. "I''ll go get you some water and something to eat, and another cold cloth."


    "Thank you..."


    Niel lays back and tries to relax again as he waits, to the point that with his exhaustion and his waking up only recently, he''s almost asleep again by the time Gabriel returns. The cold cloth is placed around the back of Niel''s neck when he sits up, and he attempts to eat a single slice of lightly buttered toast. His appetite is below the floorboards, however, and he isn''t able to eat even half of it. He also sips on a glass of icy water as he takes more medicine, careful to not upset his stomach any more than it already is.


    "You don''t have to worry about classes today, so just lay back and take it easy," Gabriel says.


    "Okay..."


    Despite his fatigue earlier, Niel isn''t able to fall back asleep after Gabriel leaves. He just languishes in his bed with nothing to do except wait for this peace to be broken, and break it soon does. He''s able to keep his stomach together for roughly half an hour, but the illness demands that he throw up again, and again, and again. At least it''s a reason to spend his near-overflowing Dust. Gabriel and Mabel come to check in on him now and again and get him whatever he needs, but later into the afternoon, he receives a surprise visit from Reed.


    "You look like shit," he says to Niel, even though he can barely see in the shaded room.


    "I feel like shit," Niel responds, devoid of energy. "How are you feeling?"


    "I''ve got it now as well. My nose has been running all day. Mavrick''s sick now, too."


    "So everyone''s catching it..."


    "It''ll blow past. Once we recover, we won''t have to worry about it for a while," Reed says to cheer Niel up. He examines with his eyes a small plastic bowl of half-eaten crackers and a glass of room-temperature water sitting on a folding wooden table. "Have you been doing much today? Other than, you know, suffering?"


    "No."


    "You could go on your phone or something. It''ll get your mind off of things, at least."


    "My phone?"


    "Yeah. Watch videos or something. I do it all the time."


    Reed commandeers Niel''s phone (and gets him to punch in his password) so he can show him how to watch videos. As an example, he brings up tournament footage of a gory fighting game that Reed''s shown Niel before. The matches are so fast-paced that Niel can barely keep up with them.


    "This looks a lot different from how you played," Niel observes.


    "Yeah, these guys are pros. If I played against them, they''d absolutely rock my shit," Reed explains. "To get as good as them, you need to play almost constantly every single day, experiment with the characters and the game, learn new tech, practice against players of similar skill playing different characters to learn matchups, and so on."


    "Sounds like a hassle."


    "It can be, but they do it because they love the game."


    Niel follows Reed''s recommendation to watch videos, and as the videos go past, so does the time. Slowly he relaxes as his eyes stay glued to the screen, but it all becomes a blur as his exhaustion catches up with him again...


    He opens his eyes again to find that nearly an hour has gone by, and on his screen is someone teaching how to fold paper boats. It''s certainly a far cry from the tournament footage he was watching before. How did he get to this? Niel decides to just shut off his phone to sleep some more.


    Another hour passes and he wakes up again, but this time to the sound of his room door slowly creaking open. He jerks around with newfound gusto to find Mabel peering in.


    "Oh, you''re awake," she says stuffily. "Do you feel well enough to try eating something?"


    "I can try," Niel says, knowing full well that he hasn''t been able to keep anything down all day today.


    "Okay. I''ll bring you up something."


    After roughly five minutes, Mabel returns with a steaming mug containing a cloudy liquid. When she sets it down, Niel finds that tiny noodles are floating within. He can barely tell what it smells like, but he isn''t sure if it''s because the liquid lacks a smell or if it''s because of his flu. At least the steam is helping to unclog his nose.


    "It''s chicken noodle soup," Mabel explains.


    "Doesn''t look like much of a soup," Niel says as he stirs it around. The number of noodles within the mug wouldn''t even be enough to feed a rat for a day.


    "Yeah, it''s more of a broth, isn''t it? Either way, it''s cheap to buy, and it''s a go-to food when you''re sick."


    "Thank you."


    "You''re welcome. Just be careful with it¡ªit''s hot."


    As Niel sips on the broth, he comes to appreciate the warmth and the inoffensive taste after all of the cold and blandness that he''s eaten so far today. And after another few hours of doing nothing, he finds that he was actually able to keep it down. This inspires some energy in him so he can get up on his own and get ready for bed, but when it''s time to go to bed, he''s unable to sleep. Must be a downside of resting all day.


    Niel gets tired of tossing and turning for hours, so he decides to get out of bed for a bit, though he doesn''t know what to do. He wanders around his room, but he soon comes to a stop at his window. He pokes his head through the curtains, and he''s greeted with a city rendered motionless by the night. Of course, there isn''t much to see other than shadow, an empty road, dark houses, and the dim glow of the city in the near distance, but it''s such a different feeling from the daytime bustle. Maybe he could sneak out one night and go for a walk, though if Mabel were to find out about this somehow, he''d be in a world of trouble.


    Hopefully, he''ll be well enough to go on another walk tomorrow. Lazing around is nice and all, but he likes the activity. Maybe he can go to the park with everyone and have that picnic that Illia wanted to do but never made happen. She''ll probably throw more twigs into the river, and Reed will probably join her. Maybe that dog will be around again. If the weather''s good, he may see the children running around and playing again. Maybe...


    ...


    The children...


    A bitter memory bubbles up in his head. A bitter thought. The children, the river,


    and...


    ...paper boats.


    ...


    That''s what he''ll do when he''s well enough to leave.


    >>>>>>


    Vomiting can be heard from the third floor, but the source isn''t Niel this time. Instead, he''s the one playing caretaker as Illia empties her stomach into the toilet. The nausea has left him and gone to her. He holds her hair back with his Dust while he and Mabel prepare an empty ice cream tub and a cold cloth for her. Gabriel is also nearby. Illia calms down after a few more heaves and is brought back to bed.


    "I''m not sure what''s going on," Gabriel admits once they leave her room. "None of us have been sick like you two, and she''s hardly had any contact with you, so the chance of her catching what you have from you is low."


    "I didn''t even see her at all yesterday," Niel confirms.


    "Unless she got it the day before?" Mabel theorizes.


    "But if she did, then wouldn''t it have been the same bug that Lydia had?" Gabriel wonders.


    "Maybe it''s just a coincidence that it''s hitting us this hard?" Niel suggests. "You did say before that different people react differently."


    "I guess so..."


    "She did get really sick that one time and had to spend a few nights in the hospital. It could be something to do with your immune systems," Mabel says. "How are you feeling, Niel?"


    "I didn''t get much sleep last night, but I don''t feel sick to my stomach anymore. Just a cough and a runny nose now," Niel reports, glossing over most of what she said due to him not fully understanding.


    "I think I''m coming down from it too, now."


    "Lucky you two. I feel sore all over," Gabriel says.


    "You''ve just got a man-cold, like Poppy said," Mabel teases.


    "Says the one who was ''too sick'' to get out of bed yesterday morning," Gabriel pokes back.


    It''s 7 am on a Wednesday¡ªNiel just wants breakfast.


    Eventually he gets his wish, and while the other kids are still asleep, Niel locates spare sheets of paper and disappears into his room with them. He looks up a video on how to fold paper boats and gets to work, and the end product is... alright. It''s uneven and not folded well, but it''s possible to tell what it''s supposed to be. He unfolds it to crumple it up and try again, and after a few more attempts, he becomes satisfied with the result. He folds eight pages in half and hides them under his shirt, and after a word with Mabel, he leaves for a walk.


    The weather has warmed significantly in the last month, with double-digit temperatures becoming the standard rather than a fortunate outlier. It makes him feel better, but a cough erupting from his throat reminds him why he should keep his distance from anyone else around. The rain has also slacked, much to Illia''s enjoyment and Lydia''s dismay. The rain doesn''t bother him as much as a shower or bath does¡ªas he was forced to get used to it while on the run¡ªbut he prefers the clear skies as well.


    The walk to the river doesn''t take as long as it did three weeks ago since there''s no one in tow and nothing to distract him. At this hour, the only people around are the ones walking their dogs or driving to work, leaving the park virtually empty. He can do what he came here for in peace.


    He kneels on the bank and brings out the paper he hid away, and one by one slowly folds them into boats. They''re not yet perfect, and he forgot a few steps along the way, but they will do for his purposes. Then, with silence and a dim thought, he places each of them into the water and watches them float away.


    A tribute.


    Only in his mind now.


    He won''t forget.

 Chapter 10 - Dealer

    The sombre memorial weighs heavily on Niel''s mind, so he decides to continue his walk through the city. He forgot to take his wallet with him, but he strolls through the Heartstone Market nonetheless. There aren''t many people around this early in the morning even in the heart of the city, but knowing how well the weather will be today, he expects that to change very soon.


    He isn''t familiar with the city from here, so he coordinates with his phone''s map to find places of interest. There''s one that he recognizes not too far from here: the ornate building that he and Reed stopped in front of after he beat up Mavrick. It''s an old library. He doesn''t know anything about it, so he decides against going to it for now. He''ll likely be paying it a visit at some point anyway, knowing the others.


    Letting his heart and map be his guide, Niel wanders throughout the city on foot. The city''s largest park is grassy and flat like the riverside park, but there are more things set up, like a large playground and water fountains. Its greenery is cared for much more intently as well, with neatly trimmed trees and shaped hedges. The statue of the city''s founder stands in front of city hall, though Niel doesn''t draw near because there''s a demonstration occurring. He doesn''t know why they''re protesting or what their signs say, but it''s not his business to get involved so he moves on. He''d also rather not draw attention to himself by coughing in a crowd, especially while people are recording.


    He finds himself in front of the sheriff''s office when his phone begins to buzz; it''s Mabel calling him. She asks where he is and that he should come home soon for lunch. Well, that ends his tour. He says he''s on his way and hangs up, then uses the map to mark out the shortest route back home. The estimated time is almost two hours, but he can cut out roughly a quarter of that by taking a shortcut through an alley. If he were unawakened or had a Mute ill-suited for combat, he likely wouldn''t chance it, but he''ll be fine with his Dust.


    Niel reaches the alley after an hour of walking, and between his sore legs and his hunger, he already can''t wait to get home. He enters without hesitation, but he pulses his Dust around him like sonar to keep a watchful eye on his surroundings. The alley is dirty and filled with litter and debris, and Niel nearly steps on a needle as he wanders through. Black bags of garbage are scattered occasionally alongside the walls and next to large green dumpsters. There''s only one person around, thankfully, and it''s a lone man sitting on a set of stairs leading to a building door. He wears a large black coat, and a black toque covers a head of messy long hair. He scatters Dust on the man for safety as he passes, but he doesn''t get up. Instead...


    "Hey. You looking to buy?"


    The man is talking to him. Niel can see that he has some kind of bag in one of his coat''s pockets. He''s likely a dealer of some sort, and Niel assumes that because he''s wearing his sweater zipped and his hood up, he''s taken Niel as a potential customer. Ignoring him could lead to trouble, so maybe he should feign interest and make an excuse to leave. Niel turns his head slightly so he can see the man while also keeping the majority of his face hidden.


    "What are you selling¡ª"


    Niel is betrayed by his own throat as he''s cut off by a cough, and the man looks none too pleased.


    "You sick or something?" the man asks.


    "Yeah. I''ve had this cough for a few days now." It''s a believable lie.


    "Keep moving, then. I don''t want it."


    "You really don''t."


    It''s not the way Niel intended to get out of this encounter, but it sure as hell worked! Niel doesn''t increase his pace, but he''s eager to get out of the area. He puts the alley behind him with no further complications, and it''s a smooth walk home from there.


    "Geez, you''ve been up for a while. Where''d you go?" Reed asks as soon as Niel walks in through the front door. Everyone apart from Illia is sitting at the table and eating sandwiches.


    "Around the city, and you''ve just been in your bed for a while," Niel shoots back.


    "Well look who''s developing a sense of humour!"


    Niel is genuinely confused by Reed''s comment, so both of them give up and drop it. "How''s Illia?"


    "Still very sick," Mabel says. "I think she''s asleep now, but she was throwing up a lot while you were gone."


    Hearing this, Lydia gives Niel a sharp, angered glare.


    "There are a few sandwiches here for you," Gabriel says to Niel.


    The latter is more than ready for food and rest, so he pulls up a chair with a flourish of Dust. But when he does the same with half a sandwich is when the others properly take notice.


    "You''ve been using your Dust a lot recently," Gabriel observes.


    "I don''t have much of a choice," Niel says. He moves to pull the Warden''s Key off of his neck, but Reed interrupts him as he does so.


    "Why don''t you?" Reed interrupts.


    "Because..." Niel spins the chain of the Warden''s Key around his hand until the top of the glass teardrop lays in between his index finger and his thumb, and he presents it to them. Apart from a tiny clear spec of space, inky liquid has taken up the entirety of the chamber within the glass. "The Warden''s Key is almost full."


    "Why does that matter again?"


    "I can''t stop generating power for Dust, so if too much builds up in my body, I start experiencing bad side effects. I can put excess power into the Warden''s Key, but when that''s full, I have to resort to wasting it purposely."


    "And this ''power'' is that black liquid?" Mabel questions.


    "Correct. It''s a hyper-concentrated and condensed version of the chemical that''s in my veins."


    "How are you able to move that from your body to the Warden''s Key?" Gabriel asks.


    "I''m honestly not sure¡ªI was taught how to use it, not how it works. It''s almost like flexing a muscle to transfer power to and from the Warden''s Key, but only when it''s hanging from around my neck."


    "Could it be something on the back of your neck running it through the chain?" Reed says.


    "If there is, I was never told."


    "Let me go look for something," Gabriel says as he stands up. He walks off, and after roughly three minutes, he returns with a sheet of paper in his hand. "Here''s a document from the hospital," he says.


    The document is just a bunch of writing, but it clearly articulates that through a scan of Niel, some unknown material or device was discovered within the back of his neck.


    "Huh. I didn''t think I''d be right," Reed admits.


    "Because you usually aren''t," Lydia jabs.


    Niel takes the Warden''s Key off again and examines the chain. It just looks like a regular silver-coloured metal, but it must be more than just simple steel or titanium. Though, he supposes that the ''how'' and ''why'' don''t matter much, just that it does. He feels nothing on the back of his neck either¡ªor at least nothing that stands out to him. It certainly feels like his real skin, as opposed to his forearms.


    Niel decides to stay inside after lunch due to his fatigue. He watches TV for half an hour, but Lydia''s glare from earlier crosses his mind. What was that for? It was... Right, it was when Mabel brought up Illia''s condition when he was outside. Is she angry at him for not being there when it happened? Seems hypocritical¡ªshe wasn''t there either. And it''s not like staying with her will cure her, or that it''s his fault she''s sick in the first place.


    Though, Niel would be lying if he said he didn''t feel any guilt for it.


    Niel abandons the TV and makes his way upstairs in Shadow Dive to prevent making footsteps. He faces both her door and a dilemma at the top: he was told to knock if someone has their door closed, but he doesn''t want to wake her if she''s asleep. He''s already walked in on Reed before, so he''d rather not do the same to her if she''s undressed or something.


    He contemplates scanning only the floor to see if she''s standing or putting his ear up to the door to hear if she''s moving or not, but then he realizes: what if he just knocks lightly? No need to overcomplicate things. He does just that, and after a second of buffer, he slowly opens the door. Turns out he has nothing to worry about.


    "Oh, you''re awake," Niel says to Illia, who is sitting upright in bed.


    Niel has already seen the inside of Illia''s room a few times, but he''s never actually been inside of it before. Her room is surprisingly similar to his, as it only contains a bed, nightstand, dresser, desk, and laptop in a near-identical layout. Where hers differ, however, is in the pink walls and the random toys strewn about, though it isn''t easy to see everything with the curtains blocking out most of the light.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    "How do you feel?" Niel asks as he weaves a chair of Dust to sit on. The Warden''s Key provides some light.


    She wobbles her hand at chest level¡ªso-so.


    "Have you been able to keep anything down?"


    Illia shakes her dejectedly. It''s after this reaction that Niel notices the sick bucket by her bedside, and upon viewing the contents, he wishes he hadn''t.


    "Did Reed or Lydia come to see you yet?"


    She shakes her head again and reaches over to her phone. Niel''s been asking yes-or-no questions to keep her from needing to type, but he won''t stop her now if she wants to.


    ''Where did you go on your walk?'' Illia''s phone reads.


    "All over the city," Niel responds.


    ''How come?''


    "I just wanted to see more of the city." While his walk did turn into that, he can''t tell her the real reason why he left in the first place.


    ''Can you take me with you next time?''


    "Once you feel better."


    Illia smiles for a moment, but her expression quickly changes to anguish as her stomach quickly sours. Niel is quick to pass her the bucket as she retches. Once her nausea settles down again, he assists by dumping the contents of the bucket into the toilet and chilling the cloth that was on her head with cold water.


    Illia places her hand over her chin and lowers it towards Niel; Mabel has told him before that this means ''thank you'' in sign language.


    "You''re welcome," Niel responds.


    >>>>>>


    The next day comes and Mabel''s worry is steadily growing as Illia still can''t keep anything down. As much as he hates it, there isn''t anything Niel can do for her, so he decides to take another walk. His motive¡ªoutside of clearing his head¡ªis to buy her something to cheer her up. He knows she likes random toys, so he''ll try to find something she doesn''t already own. His cough is all but gone now, so blending in with the healthy will be easier than before.


    He''s cut off on his way to the Heartstone Market by a call from Mabel, who asks if he can pick up more anti-nausea medication for Illia while he''s out, and that she''ll pay him back for doing so. He agrees and diverges from his route to the Market towards a nearby store Mabel highlighted. The medication is quite expensive, so he hopes it will work. He brings up the map to plan his way back home, and he realizes that the fastest way to get there is through the same alley he went through yesterday. He''d rather not, but he doesn''t want to waste any time getting this to Illia.


    Upon reaching the alley again, he looks around to find a safe place to Shadow Dive unseen, but there''s nothing around that guarantees privacy from random passersby. He can''t tuck in somewhere else and dive through due to the sunlight being bright enough to give him away, and the buildings are too low and too spaced to let him jump across unnoticed. It''s like this alley in particular was designed to keep even the stealthiest of Phase Mutes in the open. With few other options, Niel commits to walking down the alley again.


    There are few to no other people around, much to Niel''s relief, but those that are around are watching him out of curiosity. At least, he hopes it''s just curiosity. He rounds the bend where he saw the man from yesterday, and sure enough, he''s there today as well. However now, there''s a second man with him. They''re both facing the wall and talking close and quietly to each other¡ªlooks like a deal is happening. When Niel scans them, though, is when the real motive is revealed. The second man is taking the dealer''s money and product at knifepoint.


    Niel weighs his options. He could get involved and stop this robbery, but that will lead to unwanted attention. It would also put him in the dealer''s favour. Should he leave without being noticed, there will be nothing gained and nothing lost. The dealer looks over his shoulder and spots Niel, leading the thief to notice also. Running away now will lead to further negative interactions with the dealer should he pass through this alley again. He has to choose.


    "Give him his shit back," Niel calmly demands to the thief.


    "Fuck off, you little brat," the thief retorts bluntly. "Or what, you want some too?"


    The thief approaches Niel knife in hand, but instead of running off, Niel weaves his way behind the man and breaks his arm at the elbow with his knee powered by Dust. The thief screams in pain as he flails on the ground, but that doesn''t stop Niel from kicking his broken elbow again.


    "You¡ª You... FUCK!!"


    Niel stares him down for a few seconds before he remembers the knife. He turns around and fetches it from the ground, shielding his hand and fingerprints with a thin layer of Dust, and examines it. Thin 20cm blade with myriad scratches from a previously botched sharpening job, black handle with rubber for grip, faded skull-and-bones decal¡ªit''s not a phenomenal weapon, but it could certainly take someone''s life. As Niel approaches the downed man with the knife in hand, the dealer takes a step towards him in apprehension, but goes no further.


    Niel flips the knife around in his hand and offers the handle to the thief, who snatches it and takes a pained slash at Niel''s neck. However, to cut with a blade, you need a blade, and the thief realizes that he quite literally only took the handle; the now-severed metal still rests in Niel''s hand. Niel slips the blade safely into a Dust sheath hidden beneath his sweater''s sleeve and grabs the man by the collar of his sweater to haul him to his feet. He also strips him of the stolen property.


    "Now, you should go get your arm looked at... A broken elbow is very serious. It could fuck up your arm for life if left unchecked," Niel says, his monotone words full of jaded sympathy and flat smugness.


    "F-fuck you!" the man screams as he stumbles off. Once he''s out of sight, Niel gives off a large sigh.


    "Are you alright?" Niel says to the dealer behind him, making sure to not turn around so he doesn''t see the Warden''s Key alight under his sweater.


    "Better than him," the dealer responds. "Like, holy fuck, you didn''t have to be that brutal."


    Niel watches silently as the dealer repacks his bag with dollar bills and baggies filled with green buds. He was taught a bit about drugs and trafficking after he was infected by Dust. Appearance, effects, usage, value¡ªit''s something he was supposed to do as a side job to help fund the lab. He refuses to partake now as it will be another lead back to him. At least this knowledge saves Mabel and Gabriel an explanation.


    "You''re that kid from yesterday, right?" the dealer asks.


    "The sick one? Yes."


    "Thanks for helping me, but still keep away from me. I don''t want to catch what you have."


    A thought crosses Niel''s mind after a few silent seconds. "Was he that thief with the Electric Mute?" Niel asks.


    "Huh? Oh, I don''t think so. Pretty sure that thief''s a kid, not a grown man."


    "Really?"


    "Yeah. Some small fry with a nasty Mute. Strong-arms wallets out of the toughest dudes with electricity."


    "A rare Mute."


    "Damn right it is. Kid might as well be riding around on a unicorn."


    As the dealer zips up his bag, Niel scans down the alley in the direction the thief ran off to, and he spots the unmistakable uniform and gear of two police officers. They''re around the corner and thus are not visible directly, but they''re approaching fast.


    "Shit, cops," Niel grunts as he crouches down, causing the dealer to do the same in a panic.


    "The fuck? Where?"


    "They''re just around the corner. We need to move."


    "Wait, where? How do you know¡ª"


    Niel grabs the dealer''s arm and pulls him away, and they slip away down a narrow side portion of the alleyway before they''re seen. Once they reach the main road, they blend in with other pedestrians as a police cruiser passes by, lights flashing.


    "Fuck, man, we should be running!" the dealer nervously mutters to Niel through gritted teeth.


    "No. Don''t run¡ªwalk. Running will only attract more attention to us," Niel responds, trying to suppress his own unease. "They won''t find what they don''t know they''re looking for. We just need to leave the area."


    The pair keep walking into the city, more than eager to escape their predicament. Once they feel they''re far enough away, they stop and regroup.


    "Alright. We just need to lie low for now," Niel says as he offloads the broken blade into a garbage can, careful to keep the blade hidden both out and inside the garbage.


    "Guess I won''t be going back there. Fuck, man, and that was a good spot, too."


    "To deal?" Niel makes sure he doesn''t speak too loudly.


    "Huh? Yeah. Lots of customers, lots of money."


    Due to a lot happening since he bought the medication, Niel checks his phone again and realizes that he is running horribly late.


    "I need to run," he says to the dealer.


    "I guess I do too. Thanks for the help, kid. I mean it." But just as Niel turns around, the dealer stops him. "Actually, what''s your name, kid?"


    Niel turns back around and looks the man in the eye. "Niel."


    "Callum," the dealer introduces. Niel nods in recognition, but turns around and leaves right after.


    Niel sticks to shaded areas as much as he can to Shadow Dive as often and for as long as possible to speed up his movement. This combined with jogging, and then full-on sprinting once he reaches his neighbourhood gets him home only a tad late instead of extremely.


    "Oh, there you are," Gabriel says as soon as Niel walks through the front door. "Why are you out of breath?"


    "I took a wrong turn and ran to make up for lost time," Niel half-lies as he hands the box of medication and the receipt to an approaching Mabel.


    "Thank you," she says sincerely.


    "You didn''t really need to run, though. You could have just called instead. Besides, Illia''s been asleep for the last two hours now, so she doesn''t need it right away," Gabriel explains, much to Niel''s shock.


    "I... suppose you''re right," he responds.


    * * *


    Callum looks over his shoulder as he draws close to the front door of his house. In this run-down section of the city, there isn''t much in the way of security, so he needs to do what he can. He slips in through the door and shuts it behind him, then examines the deadbolt in the doorframe. While it lays firmly in a metal cuff bolted to the wooden frame, it''s only a wooden frame and will give in fairly easily to a heavy object, such as one made by a Mute. He should find some scrap metal and reinforce the door soon. An extra chain or two would also help keep any lock pickers out.


    "Daddy!" a young voice calls from a nearby room. Running up to him is his daughter, with shoulder-length dirty blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes that match his, though hers still retain their innocence. Callum sets his backpack down and picks up the young girl.


    "Were you being a good girl for daddy?" Callum asks his daughter.


    "Yep! I didn''t open any windows or doors!"


    "Good girl." He sets her down and pats her head affectionately. "Let''s have supper now."


    "Yay!"


    While supper only consists of cheap microwaveable food on a worse-for-wear table, Callum is happy that it''s something warm for once, and he observes that same sentiment in his daughter''s smile. That alley was a great spot, though it''s thanks to that kid that he was able to keep the cash. What was his name again? Neil? He''ll have to find a way to pay him back for helping.


    After supper is eaten, he puts his daughter to bed so she gets to fall asleep on a full stomach. There''s more for him to do, though, such as tending to his marijuana plants and his drying harvest down in the basement. His daughter is strictly forbidden from entering. The growing operation is fairly amateur, as he doesn''t have the money nor the experience of other dealers. His ventilation system, for example, is compromised of a pricy air fan and filter from days gone by to keep air flowing and Phase Mutes out, along with jury-rigged piping and electrical work he did himself. The re-wiring job is most definitely illegal, but the city doesn''t give a shit about this area, anyway.


    He looks up at the memento mori hanging on the wall above his dry buds: a queen of hearts.


    As he sorts through the buds to prepare for tomorrow, he''s reminded again of the robbery today, and in turn his Mute. Argon may sound cool, but it''s so goddamn useless in a fight. He can try suffocating someone with it, but they''re still left with more than enough time to shoot or stab him and turn the gas off. Phasing can get him out of a rough spot, but it doesn''t let him take his backpack with him, which he needs to hold his weed, money, and food. Neil more than proved himself in a fight, but he doesn''t want to ask any more of the kid.


    The playing card watches on with silent eyes. He needs to do whatever he can for their little girl.

 Chapter 11 - Not Good Enough

    "Well, there goes May Long Weekend," Reed groans. "Thanks, Lydia."


    "What are you blaming me for?" Lydia barks.


    "For making us all sick."


    "Like that''s my fault!"


    It''s breakfast time before school, and everyone is sitting around the table either arguing or eating. Most notably, Illia has finally rejoined the land of the living, though other diminishing symptoms, such as a lingering cough and runny nose, still ail her. This makes her the last one with any remaining symptoms.


    "I''m sure we can find something to do over the weekend," Mabel reassures.


    Once breakfast is eaten, Niel is joined by Louise out in the living room, though Illia is kept away to not get their teacher sick. There is much to catch up on after an entire week off, and after the day''s classes conclude, they''re left with multiple sheets of homework each to complete over the long weekend. Niel isn''t phased by this development, but Illia looks glum.


    "Oof, rough. Homework," Reed says once he hears the news in the living room. "Well, good luck."


    "And where''s your homework, huh?" Lydia questions snakily.


    "What do you mean?"


    "You got homework?" Gabriel questions.


    "...At school."


    "No games over the weekend for you, then."


    "What!?"


    Mabel sighs as she stands up from the couch and walks to the door. "Come on, Reed."


    "Where are we going?"


    "To the school to get that homework."


    Reed groans as he follows his guardian out to the car, but he doesn''t dare talk back to her.


    The four kids sit around the table after supper to all work on their homework together, though some are having an easier time than others.


    "Lydia, what does this say?" Reed asks, referring to a French worksheet.


    "Reed. How can you not read that?" she scowls, annoyed that her train of thought was interrupted.


    "I don''t know French!"


    "You were taught how to speak French in junior high!"


    "I forgot it all!"


    "Then why did you take French now!?"


    "I didn''t choose to!"


    To keep the peace (and prevent Niel from getting upset again), Gabriel makes the journey from the living room to give Reed a hand.


    "Let''s see... ''Qui a ¨¦t¨¦ le premier Canadien francophone ¨¤ devenir premier ministre du Canada?'', so, who was the first French Canadian to become Prime Minister of Canada?" Gabriel translates.


    "Oh, uhh... Wilfrid Laurier."


    "Bingo."


    This is the first time Niel''s properly heard someone speak a language other than English. He was supposed to be taught different languages after his Dust, but, of course, that never came to be. At least he gets to hear Reed try¡ªand fail¡ªto speak it. Niel needs to focus on his work, though, and he soon ends up becoming so engrossed in his reading that when Reed gets fed up and goes to the fridge to get a drink, Niel''s severely delayed assistance nearly hits Reed in the face with the door. Reed staggers back from this surprise near-miss, causing everyone to look up in his direction.


    "Oh, sorry," Niel apologizes flatly.


    "You did that?" Reed questions. He isn''t angry, just still recoiling mentally.


    "Yes. I tried opening the door for you, but I didn''t pay enough attention."


    "Oh, it''s fine."


    Niel returns to his reading after this minor kerfuffle. It''s a few paragraphs talking about a well-known biologist and chemist by the name of Francis Mendelv, who made significant development in the understanding of modern Mutes. There are questions at the end relating to the article, of course, but they aren''t hard to answer as the questions themselves are practically lifted straight out of the text. It sounds like Reed would appreciate such an assignment. Niel writes down the answers, like how Mendelv died not too long ago, how he had eight children, and how he classified the Mute archetypes, connected Mute elements to the periodic table, and discovered that Phase shifts the wielder into the element of their Mute.


    With significant progress made on their homework (and Lydia finishing hers), Mabel calls for them to pack it up for the night. Niel has a quick and uncomfortable shower, and he lies down in bed. He wonders about Callum from the day prior¡ªwhat he''s doing, and if he''s okay. Callum mentioned before that the alley was a moneymaker for him. A gut feeling makes him consider otherwise, but Niel hopes he hasn''t returned. If he gets the chance, he should check the alleyway tomorrow.


    >>>>>>


    Niel feels bad about breaking his promise to Illia, but he slips out of the house without telling her. His destination is the alley, with the objective being to satiate his curiosity if Callum is there or not. He''s on the highest alert for police officers after what happened two days ago, and his guard only grows further as he reaches the side of the alley closest to home. A deployed scan draws a map of the alley and its inhabitants in his mind, and one such person is revealed to be wearing a large coat and backpack. Time to go in.


    "I thought you said you weren''t coming back," Niel says to Callum on his approach.


    "Neil? The hell are you doing here?" the gruff man responds in surprise.


    "Uh, it''s Niel... Shouldn''t you be worried about the police, or being attacked again?"


    "Yeah, uh... Shouldn''t you be worried about the police?"


    "You''re avoiding my question."


    "And now you''re avoiding mine."


    "I''ve been watching my surroundings. The reason why I''m here is to see if you came back," Niel explains.


    "Why?"


    "Just felt like it."


    "Well, like I said before, this place is a good spot, and I need the money."


    "If you need money, then why don''t you get a job?"


    "Man, I would if I could! Every place is full up so no one''s hiring!"


    "Oh."


    "...So, why''d you really come back to check on me?"


    This question confuses Niel. "I told you already."


    "We''re strangers in a city where talking to the wrong stranger can get you killed. You don''t go back to someone you don''t know just to check on them. So what''s the real reason?"


    Now Niel is even more confused, but not at the question this time. It was on a whim that he decided to come out here. He has nothing to gain, either. So why did he?


    "If there is an answer, not even I know it."


    "I can''t tell if you''re brave or stupid, then."


    "Whichever one it may be, no ordinary person will take me down."


    "That''s big talk. Can''t write it off either, considering you brutalized someone with a knife and didn''t even take a scratch."


    Niel doesn''t like that descriptor of the fight, as true as it may be.


    "Well, you don''t seem like a bad person, and I do owe you for that kerfuckle on Thursday," Callum continues. "I''ll see if I can fix something up for you tomorrow."


    "That isn''t necessary," Niel protests modestly.


    "Nah, it is. I''d be fucked if that money got stolen. I''ll be here again tomorrow, so drop by whenever you''ve got time."


    "Alright, then."


    With business concluded here for today, Niel turns around and goes back home the way he came. Upon arrival, he finds Lydia, Mabel, and Gabriel on the couch watching TV, and a scan upstairs shows Reed and Illia in their rooms.


    "Welcome back," Mabel says as soon as Niel walks through the front door.


    "Hey," Gabriel welcomes as well. Lydia, however, gives Niel another sharp glare. Why is she so upset with him? Niel ignores it and goes upstairs to his room to relax.


    When he lies down on his bed to browse his phone, he notices a familiar-sounding news article. It tells of a 36-year-old Invictus gang member in police custody suffering a broken arm from an unknown assailant. The man in question looks identical to the one who attacked Callum. There isn''t a description of the assailant listed, nor a request or reward for information, so Niel assumes the police aren''t even bothering to investigate, thus leaving him in the clear. Niel scrolls through the dozen other articles written today for any useful information, but he finds none that stands out. Investigating suspects and bringing the info to the police for a cash reward wells up as a faint idea in his head, but never goes any further than that.


    Niel, Reed and Illia continue their homework after supper with Mabel''s help and oversight. Niel is steady and consistent, Illia is slow but diligent, and Reed is all over the place. Because of this, Mabel hovers over his shoulder near-constantly to help him at every turn. It keeps him moving so he''ll be done before the month''s end, but Niel now has a question, and he''s hesitant to take Mabel away. Niel considers just keeping quiet and trying to figure it out on his own, but his time with Mavrick is telling him otherwise. If he went against help now, he''d be rejecting the lesson he instilled in Mavrick before. When she gets a moment''s break from Reed, he bucks up and calls her to his side of the table.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    >>>>>>


    "There you are. I was wondering if you''d show," Callum says to an approaching Niel.


    "I got caught up with something," Niel responds. He had to bide his time and wait for Illia to become distracted so he could slip out of the house without her knowing.


    Niel''s guard is up. He doesn''t think Callum bears any ill-intent, but being requested to a location for some kind of reward has earned him a victim of barbaric traps back at the lab. He''s put a considerable amount of Dust out to scan the alleyway and the surrounding buildings for potential ambushes, along with scanning Callum''s coat and bag for weapons, but nothing comes up. Niel has to remind himself he''s likely just being paranoid.


    "Do you smoke?" Callum asks.


    "No."


    "Oh, uhh..." Callum rummages around in his bag between his feet, looking for something. "I was gonna give you a few grams of weed for Thursday, but if you don''t smoke..."


    "You don''t have to give me anything," Niel says.


    "I gotta give you something. Like I said yesterday, I''d be fucked if that money got stolen." Callum pulls out a tiny roll of dollar bills. "Here."


    "If you need the money, then why are you giving it to me?"


    "Man, you don''t need to be so difficult."


    "You''re the one who''s being difficult. I already told you, I don''t need compensation." He takes the money against his word, though instead of pocketing it, he tosses it back into Callum''s bag. Callum audibly sighs at this.


    "Alright, you win," Callum groans as he zips his bag back up. He''s just about to tell Niel that he can go when an idea pops into his head. "Actually, I got some stuff I need to do. Wanna come with?"


    Niel shrugs. "Might as well. I''ve got nothing better to do."


    Niel follows Callum off of his post and the two venture out to the Heartstone Market and nearby stores. Niel isn''t sure what Callum is doing among the shops as it looks like he''s simply wandering, but Niel doesn''t say anything. Even more confusingly, Callum keeps talking highly about random items, like he''s trying to drum up interest in Niel so he can buy it for him. The day drags on slowly and awkwardly as nothing does, and one tension shifts to another when Callum realizes he needs to get somewhere fast.


    "I gotta go," Callum says as he runs off without giving Niel a chance to say goodbye.


    This whole situation has been very confusing, to say the least, so instead of going home, Niel decides to tail Callum to make sure nothing is wrong. Following him is easy enough with a Dust marker and Shadow Dive. They travel East from the centre of the city and across the river to somewhere near the outskirts, where Niel finds Callum entering an unsuspecting house. He''s just about to go in after him when he sees him re-emerge, now with a small girl by his side. She''s less than half his height with shoulder-length hair a similar shade of dirty blonde to his, similarly light skin, and dressed in worn-out pink and blue clothing. Niel decides to find a place to come out of hiding and confront Callum about this.


    "What are you doing?" Niel asks, causing Callum to nearly jump out of his skin and the girl to shyly cower behind him.


    "The hell? Why are you here?" Callum retorts.


    "You''ve been acting strangely all day and you took off so suddenly, so I came to look for answers."


    "So you followed me."


    "Yes."


    "Daddy? Who is he?" the little girl whimpers from behind Callum''s leg.


    "He''s just a friend, sweetie," he says gently to calm her down.


    Niel feels very out of place now.


    "Look... Sorry for taking off on you," Callum apologizes to Niel.


    "What are you doing here?" Niel asks again.


    "I came to..." Callum is picking his words carefully. "I came to pick up my daughter from daycare." He''s slow with his words, but his tone radiates honesty.


    "Oh."


    "Daddy? I''m hungry..." the little girl begs.


    "I''m hungry too, but we''ll get something to eat later, okay?"


    "I want something nooww!"


    "Are you not eating well?" Niel questions.


    "No, we are..."


    Niel goes over what he knows so far. Callum''s source of income is dealing, despite the risk. He must also not have much money to spare if a single day''s worth of revenue being stolen would result in him being ''fucked''. Now he knows that he has a young child to look after, and a hungry one at that. Niel saw a fast food place not far from here, and he confirms its location on his phone''s map. He''s thankful he takes his wallet with him whenever he leaves the home.


    "Here. Follow me," Niel requests.


    "Huh? Where?" Callum questions in objection.


    "Just follow me. It''s a public place not far from here."


    Callum is wary and skeptical, but he trails behind Niel nonetheless with his daughter in his arms. He sees the tall sign for the fast food place after a few minutes of walking, and while he suspects Niel''s motive for taking them here, he keeps quiet and enters the building behind him.


    "What do you want?" Niel asks as they stand just outside of the line''s reach. This is the second time he''s been to a place like this¡ªthe first was with Reed a week ago.


    "What? No, you''re not buying us anything," Callum protests.


    "You either tell me what you want, or I''m buying something for you."


    Niel''s seriousness is iron-clad; Callum won''t be able to talk his way out of this. He browses the overhead menu and picks out something cheap (relative to the rest of the menu) for himself and his daughter. With the order in mind, Niel steps into line and places it, though they''ll have to wait amongst the busyness for it to be ready. Callum catches a seat for them while they wait.


    "Why are you doing this?" Callum asks Niel.


    "You two are hungry."


    "Doesn''t mean you need to buy us food."


    "Funny, coming from the man who''s been trying to spend money on me all day."


    "Daddy? Can I go play?" Callum''s daughter asks, pointing to a nearby playroom with a large slide.


    "Sure. Just be careful," he says. Much like Niel, Callum can tell a serious conversation is about to happen. His daughter happily runs off.


    "I didn''t know you had a daughter," Niel says.


    "You didn''t need to know, so I didn''t tell you. The fewer people that know about her, the safer she is," Callum responds matter-of-factly.


    "So then why are you leaving her in a place like that?"


    "It''s not a bad place. There are a lot of bad people out there, but the good ones¡ªlike the ladies running the daycare¡ªthey''re trying to band together and get us all through this shit."


    "You mean the inflation?"


    "Yeah. Prices are so fucked nowadays, it''s ridiculous. And there being no jobs left? My wife and I could hardly raise Alanna together. It''s impossible to do it now on my own."


    So his daughter''s name is Alanna... and, he has a wife? Or... had?


    "This may be too personal, but where is your wife?"


    A long streak of silence lingers between the two before Callum answers.


    "She''s... She''s not around anymore. She died last fall."


    "I''m sorry..."


    "It ain''t your fault¡ªdon''t be." Callum takes another long pause before he speaks again. "Breanne was smart, beautiful... cunning. She worked a nine-to-five but hustled on the side. She knew the streets, knew how to make a good deal. All she was missing was a way to defend herself. She had a knife and a Phase Mute, but that don''t stop bullets. She was ambushed one night, and..."


    He''s stopped by sharp tears clogging his throat.


    "You can guess the rest."


    Niel decides to shift the subject. "If you need money this badly, why did you try so hard to spend it on me, rather than scam me out of it?" Niel questions.


    "I... just don''t have the heart to. And, I don''t know who killed Breanne, but I know they''re watching me, too."


    "You thought I was them?"


    "Yeah, or one of them. No point pissing off someone who might be watching you. Better to play it safe..."


    One of them? There are multiple? Is Callum just being paranoid, or are there really people after him?


    "Playing salesman is a strange way to ''play it safe.''"


    "Yeah, I know it''s weird."


    Niel has been asking a lot of questions, so he pauses to reorganize his thoughts. It looks like Callum has more to say, anyway.


    "I don''t know how much longer I can keep looking out for her. Dealing barely makes enough to keep food on the table, so with other expenses or a bad day of selling, sometimes we have to skip eating for a day. It fucking tears me apart to see Alanna go hungry. Food drives are all empty, and shelters are all full. We''ve got no help out here."


    Callum takes a breath and checks over his shoulder to see if Alanna can hear him. She''s still running around in the playroom. He leans in a little closer to keep his next words from reaching anyone''s ears but Niel''s.


    "I''ve been thinking about putting her up for adoption."


    To Niel, Callum is still little more than a stranger, yet this hits his chest with painful familiarity.


    "Why?" is all Niel can gasp out.


    "She''s better off without me. I can barely feed her, I don''t have the money for new clothes, and I can''t even send her to school. I''m just not good enough for her. If she were with another family, she wouldn''t have any of that to worry about."


    "And you think she''ll just accept living without you?" While Niel is mostly keeping his calm, there''s a shred of anger and exasperation in his voice.


    "It''ll be tough at first, but we''ll both manage. Eventually."


    "Eventually," Niel says sarcastically. He leans in a little closer, too, with some words of his own. "Listen. While I now have people taking care of me, I was taken away from my parents a long time ago. That pain doesn''t go away. Your daughter needs her father¡ªnow more than ever since her mother isn''t around anymore."


    "You don''t have a kid. You don''t know how tough this has been on us. I don''t want to¡ª"


    "I''ve lived on the streets for a long time before coming to Soul¡ªrunning from city to city, stealing what I can in order to survive. It may not be exactly what you''re going through now, but I know pain."


    Niel takes a deep breath to steady himself and his emotions as Callum slowly calms from his own agitation. Niel pulls his phone from his pocket and lays it on the table.


    "You said before you didn''t have any help. Take my number. If you need anything, let me know, and I''ll do what I can. Just... reconsider."


    Callum looks at Niel''s phone, then Niel, and then he brings his phone out as well.


    "Can you pay my phone bill?"


    "If you need me to."


    "That was a joke," Callum says as he jots down Niel''s phone number. Once he''s done, Niel retrieves his phone and does the same with Callum''s number. "You probably shouldn''t let people walk over you like that."


    "I''m careful with who I listen to."


    "Doesn''t sound like it."


    "Are you insinuating you''re untrustworthy?"


    "No, no. But for real, using my phone isn''t free, so let''s keep this to emergencies only."


    "Alright."


    "And, seriously. Thank you."


    Niel can hear his order number being called from the front.


    "Convenient timing," Niel says as he gets up.


    Callum stands as well to call his daughter from the playroom.


    "Ace!"


    "Coming!" she calls back from the top of the equipment.


    The trio all sit together, though Niel doesn''t eat since he didn''t order anything for himself. At least he gets to enjoy watching the other two. Callum greedily scarfs the shabby-looking burger he chose, and Alanna appears to be having fun dunking her chicken nuggets in a small package of sauce. She even gets a toy with her food. Another painful familiarity irks him as he views her smiling face. He glances over to Callum and discovers that the man has noticed him looking at his daughter, and Callum''s gaze sinks. Niel hopes he reconsiders. They don''t linger in the restaurant once the pair finish eating.


    "Thanks for doing this," Callum says to Niel as the pair shake hands.


    "You''re welcome," Niel responds honestly, albeit emotionlessly. He isn''t sure why he did this, but seeing Alanna smiling and clutching her new toy makes his actions feel a weight of worth.


    Niel''s need to return home is being prompted by the growing shadows beneath their feet. A wave goodbye separates the two parties so he can begin his journey back. Niel''s higher spirits embolden him as he walks, and he decides to take a small shortcut through an alley. His spirits don''t make him any less cautious, though. He scans his surroundings as he travels through for trouble¡ªat first there''s no one around, but he soon discovers that someone is tailing him. It''s a male figure shorter than him, so it isn''t Callum, and within his sleeve is a handle concealing a knife''s blade. This figure means business, but Niel ignores him and keeps walking.


    The stranger is hiding his footsteps well by walking in tandem with Niel, and he''s closing the gap between them by walking in longer strides. Niel watches through his Dust as the figure¡¯s blade falls into place with the release of a latch. It seems Niel shouldn''t ignore this threat any longer. To correct an error he made on Thursday, Niel pulls over his sweater''s hood and raises his shirt with his Dust to hide the lower half of his face.


    "What are you trying to do?" Niel says as he turns around abruptly, causing the stranger to stop as fast as he does.


    It''s a kid. Shorter and likely younger than him with golden and dirty medium-length hair, tan skin under tattered clothing, and brandishing a gravity knife with a mostly metallic handle. Despite his young and rough appearance, the boy is airing a high level of aggression.


    "Wallet. Now," the boy growls as he slinks closer. Niel can hear a crackle coming from his direction. "Don''t think about calling for help."


    "No."


    The boy draws within arm''s reach upon hearing this refusal, and Niel instinctively reaches for the knife hand to disarm him. When he grabs it, however, a strong surge of electricity jolts through his left arm and forces him to let go. Niel grits his teeth and winces from the shock. His anger flares sharply from the pain, and Niel is forced to turn away to hide the dark veins he knows are cropping up on his face. He puts all of his experiences at the home together to try and suppress that reawakening fury.


    "I''m not playing with you," the boy growls.


    "So you''re that thief with the Electric Mute," Niel says as he shakes the remaining vestiges of pain from his arm.


    "Then you know what happens if you don''t listen."


    Niel tries again to grab the thief''s arm, this time utilizing his Dust in tandem. The boy allows this, again expecting to shock Niel, but now there''s no reaction. There''s a gap of air too small to notice between Niel''s skin and his Dust, allowing him to ''grab'' the boy''s arm without being zapped. Realizing this isn''t working, the thief cranks up the voltage and swaps his knife from his right hand to his left, but an unfazed Niel winds up and punches the boy in the jaw with Dust knuckles, knocking him flat on the ground and making him drop the knife.


    As the boy lies dazed, Niel picks up a long metal bar and bends it into a ''U'' shape utilizing his Dust and uses it to pin the boy against a large nearby dumpster. He then reaches into the dumpster to bend the ends and prevent escape. Lastly, he forms a pistol and fires off three shots with a loud report to draw in calls to 911 so the police will find him. With this problem taken care of, Niel disappears to the top of a nearby building. He wants to watch what he hopes will happen next.


    It takes only minutes for the police to arrive, and they quickly discover the boy thief. It takes a hefty cutting tool and several officers to muscle through the electricity, but they eventually place the zap-happy suspect in cuffs. Niel is content, so while the boy is kicking and screaming down below, he makes himself scarce before he''s discovered. He''s hungry now, too.

 Chapter 12 - All I Can Spare

    Gabriel turns on the news after they all finish eating supper, and everyone within earshot is surprised by the sudden announcement from the TV: the Electric Mute Thief has been caught. Of course, Niel is the only one who isn''t surprised, given how he was the cause.


    "Oh! They caught him!" Reed exclaims.


    "I''m surprised it took this long," Gabriel remarks.


    "I wonder how they got him?" Lydia questions, spurring some inner tension behind Niel''s poker face.


    Everyone listens on to the report until it''s brought up that the thief is a minor whose identity is protected by law.


    "It''s a kid!?" Reed gasps. Once again, Niel already knows this, but he can''t say to the others how he knows this, neither through his encounter today nor from Callum on Thursday.


    "You''re awfully dramatic today," Lydia comments.


    "Shut up and go play with your make-up some more," Reed retaliates.


    "Easy, you two," Mabel placates.


    He doesn''t let himself show it on his face, but Niel is happy with this outcome. It''s one less possible threat against Callum, and should the others here need to go out anywhere, they''ll be slightly safer, too; and, of course, anyone else who would''ve been a victim in the future. He should let Callum know when he sees him again, that is if he doesn''t already know by then.


    >>>>>>


    "Hellooo!" a familiar voice rings from the front doorway, and out steps Clara.


    "Hey Clara!" Reed greets.


    Everyone¡ªincluding Dwayne¡ªis gathered in the living room and socializing. Since it''s a holiday today, they''ve all decided to finally grant Illia''s long-awaited wish and have a picnic at the park by the river. The only missing piece was Clara, who has now since arrived. And since she''s here now, everyone crams in the foyer to get their shoes on.


    Continuing with the streak of sunny weather, the day is warm and bright enough for everyone to forgo wearing bulkier sweaters and coats in favour of lighter clothing. Since Niel only has a single thick sweater, he wears it unzipped as a mid-ground. They still take the car, though, as it will take them an hour to get there on foot. They discover a mild breeze once they step foot into the park¡ªenough for Reed to mention flying a kite. Niel doesn''t know what that is.


    Mabel spreads a blanket while Reed holds down the corners with rocks he found by the riverbed, and everyone else carries over the food and drinks from the trunk. It was all hands on deck to cook and prepare everything for this picnic, and the result is a lot of food. BLT sandwiches, deviled eggs, Poppy''s signature fruit salad, even a cheesy bread that Dwayne''s wife makes. No doubt they''d be eating well.


    Though, with how much food there is in front of him, Niel can''t help but think of Callum and Alanna, and how they''re only just barely scraping by. Niel used to live like that, too, in cities whose names he''d forgotten as he ran for his life. The children around them playing in the park, the adults sitting or jogging by, people in cars driving past... How many of them are struggling? And how badly? The shadows hold close to their bodies, but the strong sun casts them deeply. So much he holds in his own¡ªhe wonders if, or when, the others will find out.


    Reed''s is in full view, though it feels untouchable. Lydia''s is peeking out from behind her. Niel can''t see Illia''s at all.


    His creation is everywhere else.


    "Niel?" Mabel questions, noticing that Niel is staring off into space.


    "Hm?"


    "Were you thinking of something?" She keeps her voice tempered and soft so Niel isn''t placed in the centre of attention.


    "Yes." His voice is hollow, but within the cracks are fragments of pain from a life once lived.


    Mabel thinks she should talk to him privately once they return home.


    The picnic goes smoothly, with Reed only spilling his drink once. There''s a lot to eat but many mouths to fill, so no food is left over, and some are even left with room for more. But most of all, Illia is greatly enjoying herself¡ªthese couple of hours have been the most that Niel has ever seen her smiling.


    Clara leaves once they return home, and Dwayne departs shortly after supper as well. The day ends quietly after that, though Niel does notice Mabel looking in his direction somewhat frequently. Once he''s ready for bed and lies down, he hears the stairs creak as someone ascends to the third floor. A scan shows the source to be Mabel, and she slowly pushes his bedroom door open.


    "Is everything okay?" she asks as she sits on the edge of his bed. Niel believes he knows where this is coming from.


    "Are you referring to the picnic?" Niel questions.


    "I haven''t seen you make such a troubled look like that in a while. What were you thinking about?"


    Niel uses chains of Dust like spider legs to lift himself upright, earning a moderately unsettled expression from Mabel.


    "The lab. Or, a time after." It''s not entirely what he was thinking about, but he doesn''t quite know how to put those thoughts into proper words.


    "So, between the lab and coming here?"


    "Yes."


    Mabel has already heard this story from Medova when they first found him over a month ago, but if he''s willing to, she''d like to hear it in his own words now that he trusts her more.


    "I didn''t have anywhere to go after escaping the lab, so I ran until I found civilization, and then I kept jumping from city to city, hiding in buses and planes to keep moving. I stole a lot to keep from starving. Some people are like that now in the city, and the picnic reminded me of them, and how I used to be..."


    She gently caresses his forehead and down the side of his cheek. He ruminates about his past, yet he also thinks of those who are in poor circumstances now. After all he''s been through, to see traces of a golden heart within him fills hers with an indescribable joy.


    >>>>>>


    "Mutes were a major driving force in conflicts from bygone eras, both in military and political power," Louise teaches. Niel and Illia''s educations line up today, so Louise is capitalizing on this by teaching both of them at the same time. "Offensively-inclined Mutes were not only valuable on the battlefield, but they were also a means for leaders to reinforce their positions of power."


    As Louise speaks, the two kids jot down notes from the history lesson. Charisma and strength of Mute gave rise to powerful figures in history, leading to notorious conflicts still remembered today. Louise lists off a few examples, such as the Roman conquests, the Mongol invasions, the Alkali wars, the Global Crisis, World War II, and the Ignition War¡ªand prominent figures in each of them. Niel notes how a few of these events nearly led to the subjugation of the entire world, with the strongest Mutes at the helm. It strikes a familiar chord within him.


    There isn''t much of anything to do after classes end, so Niel considers going on another walk to see if he can find Callum again. That is until Reed arrives home¡ªnot with more homework, but an idea. He lures Niel up into his room, and they both sit on his bed as he fires up his gaming console.


    "I want to play a game with you," Reed says.


    "Why?" Niel responds blandly.


    "Just because. It doesn''t seem like you were doing anything, anyways."


    "I wasn''t," Niel admits. "I don''t know how to play."


    "I''ll teach you, don''t worry."


    As the game loads, Reed goes over the buttons on his spare controller with Niel. Mabel and Gabriel used to play games with Reed a long time ago, but they were never able to play to the level that he could, so he ended up just playing alone or against random people online. After Niel maps the buttons to his brain via his Dust, Reed selects an offline versus mode for him and Niel. A selection screen featuring several colourful and stylized characters appears next.


    "Pick whoever you want," Reed says, though then adding, "But you should pick a character with four or five stars. The more stars, the easier that character is to play."


    As Reed selects a large-bodied character with equally large arms and hands, Niel scrolls through the list. All of the characters to him look interesting at best and strange at worst, but he settles for a short moment on a woman with very long red hair and wielding a thin sword. Reed gives an explanation.


    "Oh yeah, her. She''s a one-armed, one-eyed samurai who can tether you to her and prevent you from running away. She''s quick, can be hard to block, one of the easiest characters to use, and best of all, she has massive ti¡ª"


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "I''ll go with her," Niel says quickly to move this along.


    They get into a match and Reed teaches him the fundamentals of how to play. Normals, specials, cancelling, dashes, blocking, basics on frame data¡ªmost of what''s being taught goes over Niel''s head, but he''s surprised by how fast time seems to pass when the two of them mess around in the game. They take a break for supper, but they play until bedtime afterwards. As difficult as the controls are, Niel would be lying if he said he didn''t enjoy this.


    The following day, Niel decides to go to the alley again. When he arrives, though, he''s stopped momentarily by someone in a red hoodie right at the entrance.


    "I wouldn''t go in if I were you," the strange man says. "Some gang shit happening. They don''t like outsiders."


    A scan of the alleyway ahead shows this is a complete lie; the only one inside is Callum. Niel ignores the man and walks in, even in the face of further dissuasion. Eventually, the man gives up and returns to where he was sitting last.


    "Hey," Niel says as he approaches Callum.


    "Oh. How''s it going?" Callum responds casually.


    "Well enough. Many sales?"


    "No. My regulars never showed today."


    "Too bad." Maybe the man from earlier could be to blame. "There was some guy out at the front of the alley trying to keep me out. Said there was ''gang shit'' going on or something. Do you know him?"


    "Really? No, I don''t know him, but he''s probably just a rival dealer or something."


    "People are doing that?"


    "Yeah. There''s only so much money going around, so everyone''s trying to get a leg up on each other." Callum stands up from his stair seat. "There''s something I need to do. Wanna come with?"


    "Sure. What is it?"


    "Pretty sure you''re supposed to agree after you know what it is," Callum says as the pair start walking. "I''m taking Alanna out to a park."


    "Ah, though I''ll have to return home before five."


    "We''ll probably still be at the park by that time."


    "I''ll just have to leave early, then."


    Just as they''re about to leave, Niel notices that there''s a man on the other end of the alley as well. Niel points him out to Callum without them being seen.


    "Yeah, don''t know him," Callum says.


    One man on guard is strange, but two is shady. When he and Callum pass the man, Niel makes sure to keep his face unseen¡ªsomething he should have done earlier. Niel can see through his Dust that the man is watching them pass with acute attention. More care is needed in the future if this is going to become a norm.


    The pair watch their backs for pursuers as they journey to the daycare to pick up Alanna. She''s happy to see her father but also skittish in Niel''s presence, though once she realizes that they''re going to the park, she becomes absolutely rambunctious.


    Despite Callum walking everywhere he needs to go, his daughter is more than capable of wearing him out as she drags him across the vacant playground''s bed of small stones, through the jungle gym and equipment, and up and down the slides. Niel curiously takes a seat on a swing, not entirely sure what to do until Alanna joins him. He copies the movement of her short legs as she propels herself forwards and back, and he finds himself in motion as well, though to a greater extent than her. She soon calls her lethargic father over to assist her in reaching the heights that Niel has propelled himself to. Eventually, Callum throws in the towel and sits down on a bench to recuperate. Niel joins him shortly after.


    "She''s quite energetic," Niel comments as Alanna continues to run around the playground.


    "Always has been," Callum responds. "Being cooped up inside has only made her more so."


    Niel''s mind travels to Reed and how, despite also staying inside for extended periods of time, he''s the polar opposite. Perhaps it''s due to the difference in age.


    "I wonder if other people will be able to keep up with her," Callum says.


    "You''re not seriously talking about adoption, are you?" Niel rebukes.


    "I don''t like it either, but I need to put Alanna''s future first," Callum says despondently. "I have almost no money left, and dealing is making me less and less each day. If she stays with me, we''ll be out on the street by next month."


    "She may not have much to look forward to if you do put her up. There''s no guarantee she''ll even be adopted by anyone."


    "She''ll at least be fed."


    "And lose everything else in the process."


    As much as Niel hates Callum''s decision, it may be necessary for Alanna''s future. The street is no place for a child. She''ll be safe with at least someone to look after her, but she''ll be alone without Callum. Who knows how much that will affect her down the line. Unfortunately, outside of giving Callum his money, Niel doesn''t see a way for him to help them, and he hates that powerlessness. A buzz from his phone reminds him that suppertime is drawing near, and that he needs to turn back now.


    He says his goodbyes and returns home feeling worse than when the day started.


    >>>>>>


    Niel is sitting back and lazing after class when he receives a text. He assumes it''s just Reed wanting him to update a game for him again before he gets home, but when he checks, he realizes that the sender is Callum. He''s startled at this since communication between them is strictly for emergencies, but upon reading the message, he learns that there is no emergency and that Callum just wants a favour. He pulls on his sweater and out the door he goes.


    Included in the text is an address located east in a run-down section of the city, so Niel proceeds with caution. The house at the address looks alright, apart from some minor disrepair and faded green panelling, and the front yard is tiny with some bits of litter strewn about. It doesn''t look very appealing compared to the neighbourhood he lives in, but from Niel''s own experience, having a roof over your head is better than not. He walks up and knocks on the front door.


    "There you are," Callum says as he peers through the gap between the door and the frame. There are three chains still attached to the door, so Callum closes the door to remove them and opens it again after.


    "You need me to look after Alanna?" Niel questions as he steps in. The inside isn''t any better than the outside. The floorboards are scratched and discoloured, the walls are chipped in places, and Niel can see Callum''s DIY handiwork throughout, especially with the doorframe. Alanna sits nearby, playing with the toy she got on Sunday.


    "Yeah. Gotta run out somewhere." Wherever he''s going to, it must not be to deal because he doesn''t have his backpack with him.


    "Not taking your backpack?"


    "No. Alanna''s supper is in the fridge, just pop it in the microwave for a few minutes. I don''t have anything for you, unfortunately."


    "That''s fine. I''ll be having supper once I get back home, anyway."


    "Boy, do I envy you." Callum ties the laces of his boots. "I''ll be back in an hour."


    "Bye-bye, daddy!" Alanna chirps.


    "Bye-bye, sweetie. Listen to Niel, okay?"


    "''Kay!"


    And with that, Callum leaves the house. Niel isn''t sure what to do now, so he decides to go find the kitchen since he''ll need to go there later. Turns out it''s just right of the front door. That killed about five seconds of his hour here, so what now? Upon closer inspection, he discovers a note on the counter. It''s a little challenging making out what''s written since the handwriting is little more than a messy scrawl, but it lists off rules and things for Niel to do as he babysits Alanna, such as what doors not to open, when Alanna should eat supper, and to not give her a candy from the treat jar. Callum never mentioned this note before he left, but it''s most certainly addressed to him.


    "Niel?" Alanna squeaks. "Daddy said it''s okay to give me a candy from the treat jar."


    Callum knows his daughter well.


    "Is that so?" Niel responds as he crouches down to her level. "Because this note your father left me says to not do that."


    Alanna screws up her face as she realizes she''s been had, and she screams as she clumsily runs away. Niel sighs.


    While waiting for time to pass, Niel sits around in the living room indulging in a book of word searches he found. The place is in need of new furniture, but it looks like Callum keeps it as clean as he can. He highlights the letters within the puzzles with his Dust for a different approach to the search, but it helps surprisingly little in finding the elusive words. Alanna also sits nearby playing with a few toys, both store-bought and handmade.


    "Niel?" Alanna says again. "Does daddy think I''m a burden?"


    Niel was expecting her to say something far less serious, so this genuinely surprises him enough for it to show on his face.


    "Why would you say that?" Niel questions.


    "Daddy''s job is dangerous, and he doesn''t make much money from it. We don''t always get to eat. If daddy didn''t have to take care of me, he could eat more."


    "You shouldn''t think of yourself so harshly," Niel says. Those words feel hollow and strange coming from his mouth, like he shouldn''t be the one saying them.


    "But it''s true! If¡ª"


    "Alanna." His voice now is stiff and gruff, and it cuts hers off in an instant. "Your father loves you very much, to the point where it makes him consider doing something very... stupid. He does not think that you''re a burden."


    "Okay..." Alanna folds to Niel''s authority. "Daddy misses mommy, and I miss mommy, too..."


    Niel breathes a soft sigh. He misses his parents, too.


    With Alanna''s suppertime approaching ever so steadily, Niel gets up in order to prepare it for her. He checks the fridge and finds two simple microwaveable dinners and very little else. It doesn''t seem like Callum does a lot of cooking. He takes one box and follows the instructions on it, and soon Alanna has hot food to eat. Twenty minutes later and Callum returns home.


    "Daddy!" Alanna calls as she wraps her arms around his leg.


    "Hi sweetie," Callum says as he takes his boots off and pats her head.


    "Aren''t you sweating in that?" Niel questions, referring to the oversized coat that Callum is still wearing. Niel prefers the heat to the cold, and even he was having trouble keeping his sweater on during the walk here.


    "Nah, I''m fine. Did Alanna cause you any grief?"


    "Not at all."


    "Good to hear. Sounds like someone gets a treat."


    "Yay!" Alanna shouts in excitement.


    "Did Alanna eat?" Callum asks Niel.


    "Yeah, about twenty minutes ago.


    "Okay, good. Normally we eat later than this, but since I was going to be away, I figured she should just eat without me in case I wasn''t back in time."


    "What were you doing?" Niel asks Callum in return.


    "Job hunting." Niel can tell by Callum''s tone that he didn''t have much success.


    "If this is all I was needed for, I''ll be heading back now," Niel says as he prepares to leave.


    "Hold on. Before you go..." Callum disappears into a room hidden behind a closed door and returns with some cash. "Here. I know it''s not a lot, but it''s all I can spare right now."


    Callum hands Niel a ten-dollar bill. Niel is apprehensive to take it at first, but Callum''s insistence forces him to do so.


    "I''d put Alanna in daycare, but I can''t afford it today," Callum explains, assuming Niel''s curiosity.


    "If that''s the case, then you really shouldn''t pay me."


    "No. You worked, you get paid. Simple as that." Callum is absolute with this decision.


    "Alright, then."


    Niel bids the pair farewell and returns home, though on the way he realizes he forgot to tell Callum about the Electric Mute thief. Oh well.


    For the next few days, Niel lives his life as normal. Classes, homework, he''s even able to take Illia around the neighbourhood for walks. However, he never finds or hears anything from Callum. At first, he takes it as a good thing as perhaps he was able to find a job and get off of the streets, but when he gets no response back from a text he sent is when he starts to become concerned. Friday rolls into Saturday and still no word, until...


    ''Something''s wrong. Come to my place as soon as you can.''


    A response from Callum, and it''s a dire one. Niel drops what he''s doing and races over. Once he arrives at the residence out of breath, he discovers that Callum is correct in there being something wrong. The front door is slightly ajar, and the deadbolt and three chains have been cut away. Niel texts Callum a hasty message.


    ''I''m here. Someone broke in. Where are you?''


    Niel''s phone suddenly starts ringing, and Callum''s voice blasts his ear as soon as he picks up.


    "Someone broke in!?" Callum questions loudly through the speaker. "Where''s Alanna!?"


    "I don''t know, I''m looking now. Where are you?" Niel answers with an unsettled voice he''s trying to keep tempered.


    "I''m still on my way!"


    "Hurry. I''ll see if I can find her."


    Niel hangs up and looks around the house while calling Alanna''s name. He searches Callum''s room, her room, closets, beds, and even the basement among Callum''s plants, but he doesn''t find her anywhere.


    Alanna is missing.

 Chapter 13 - Every Child

    Niel hastily calls Callum.


    "I don''t know where Alanna is. I looked everywhere and I can''t find her." Niel is trying to keep his cool, but trickles of panic slip out into his voice. He can hear Callum take a shaky, mortified breath.


    "I''m coming around the turn now."


    The call ends and Niel spots a violet mist fast approaching him from the bend further down in the road. Once it''s a few metres away from him, it coalesces back into Callum''s shape. He runs past Niel and into his house, screaming his daughter''s name. He''s unsure of what to say to calm Callum to a reasonable level, so Niel just follows him around the house until they reach the basement. Niel saw earlier that the plants are all still here with nothing touched or moved, and Callum seeing this now makes him drop to his knees in realization.


    "They''re all still here..." Callum laments. He then looks up at Niel as his grief turns into tearful anguish. "Do you know what this means!?"


    Niel catches on nearly instantly. "Whoever took her, she was their only target."


    Callum is a wreck on the floor. Niel knows that time is of the essence if they''re going to find Alanna, so he needs to take charge if they''re going to get anywhere. Niel grabs Callum''s shoulders and hauls him upright.


    "Do you have any idea who could''ve taken her?" Niel asks forcefully, glaring daggers into his eyes to keep him focused.


    "I... Yes."


    "Who!?"


    Callum shrugs off Niel''s grip as he eases himself into a better sitting position. His emotions have also shifted into despondency.


    "Invictus. Have you heard of them?"


    "I think...?"


    "They''re a brutal gang, been terrorizing the city lately. All deals on the street go to them. Including mine..."


    "You''re one of them?"


    "Fuck no. But that''s the problem. If you''re not one of them, they deal with you."


    Niel thinks he sees where this is going, and it causes his heart to sink.


    "I said before that Breanne was killed. She wouldn''t work with them, so they killed her. They''ve been targeting me, too. Paying them off has kept them away, but the fuckers have been bleeding me dry on purpose. They limit my customers, and they take more than what they''re owed. When I left you with Alanna on Tuesday, I was going to see if I could work out a different deal with them, but I barely got out with my life. Now they''ve taken everything I have left..."


    "I''ll get her back." Niel doesn''t hesitate to say this.


    "That''s suicide. They''re all over the city."


    "And I''m more than capable of tearing this whole fucking city down."


    It''s at this when Callum notices that Niel''s carotids have darkened and that a light is slowly flashing from underneath his sweater. He doesn''t know what''s causing this, but he doesn''t question it. There''s no way he can get his daughter back on his own. If Niel is this confident, then he has no choice but to trust him.


    "Go to the alley we first met in and find someone dealing. Chances are that it''s someone in Invictus."


    "And then shake them for info¡ªgot it." As Niel steps away to leave, he turns back around to ask one last question that just came to mind. "Are you going to get the police on this, too?"


    "Man, the police are the last thing I need right now."


    "They''d keep you safe."


    "Behind bars."


    "Fair enough."


    Niel uses Shadow Dives to get to the alley as fast as possible. Wasting even a minute could result in Alanna getting hurt, if she isn''t already now. He scans the alley as soon as he arrives and finds that there''s only one person within. Niel remembers how there were multiple people in the alley with Callum before. Now after what he''s been told, he understands that those were Invictus cheating Callum out of business. He enters the alleyway to confront the dealer, but not before concealing his face and head with his shirt and hood.


    "What are you selling?" Niel asks. The brown-haired dealer watched him walk over so Niel doesn''t have the element of surprise, but after scanning the dealer and finding a pistol in his waistband, neither does he. Niel also severs the gun''s firing pin, rendering it inoperable.


    "Plenty. Why don''t you come take a look?" the thug says as he brings his backpack to his front. Within the backpack are bags of white powder and milky rocks; hard drugs, and likely laced with something even worse.


    "Hm. Good stuff in there. Do you want to know what isn''t?"


    "What?"


    "Invictus, the spineless fucks." Niel is provoking a reaction to test if this dealer is a part of the gang, and based on the man closing his bag and taking an aggressive stance, he has his answer.


    "You lookin'' for a fight, you little bitch?" The dealer is blading his body and bringing his right hand close to his waist, which means he''s likely going to draw his gun. Niel steps in tune.


    "I''m looking for a lot more."


    Niel pretends to reach for a gun, causing the dealer to draw his. He uses this moment to slam the man''s face with a left haymaker, then catch and lift him up by his neck with his other hand. The dealer squirms and kicks weakly, but an unseeable layer of Dust restricts his movements almost entirely. The pistol clatters as it hits the ground.


    "Your boys took a little girl from her home earlier today. East side of the city. Where did you take her?" Niel demands.


    "Don''t... know... shit..." the thug chokes out.


    Niel clamps down even harder with his hand and Dust, restricting oxygen and blood for the thug completely. He lets go when the man falls limp, and after a few seconds of lying still, he stirs back to life on the ground. Niel also takes the gun and presses the muzzle against the man''s temple.


    "Where. Is. The. Girl?" Niel demands again.


    "She''s¡ª 224 Riverbend Drive! Blue house at the end of the street! She''s being brought there!"


    Niel pulls the trigger to make the man yelp at the sound of the hammer clicking, then places a marker in the collar of his shirt just in case he wasn''t being honest. He also butchers the internals of the man''s phone so he can''t warn anyone quickly, just for good measure. Niel vacates the alley using the narrow exit he and Callum used before to evade the police.


    224 Riverbend Drive. The map says it''s on the northeastern side of the city, right where the river takes a noticeably sharp turn to the east. Niel follows the river northeast to the address, where he slips in with Shadow Dive to survey the situation. Inside the shaded den are two Invictus members standing guard. Niel scouts through the rest of the property, and while he does find plenty of illicit drugs, drug paraphernalia, and wads of cash ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, there''s no hint of Alanna being here. But right when he''s about to interrogate the men, one of them gets a call.


    "Yeah?" the man in the ripped blue sweater says. "The fuck? She''s a kid! How''d the hell you let that happen!? ...Just get your asses over here with her and stop fucking around!"


    "The hell happen?" the man with the stained red sweater questions as the first thug aggressively hangs up.


    "Those fucking dumbasses lost her on the way here."


    "Seriously? Where''d that happen at?"


    "Somewhere between Heartstone and here."


    "We gonna help ''em?"


    "No. We need to stay here in case Callum comes knocking."


    Niel assumed they were talking about Alanna to begin with, but mentioning Callum directly confirms it beyond a shadow of a doubt. But before he slips out of the house to join the search, he stuffs his pockets with a couple thousand dollars¡ªlikely only a fraction of what Invictus owes Callum. He then heads southwest towards the centre of the city.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Got an update for you," Niel says to Callum over the phone as he traverses the rooftops. "They''re moving Alanna to 224 Riverside, but she managed to get away somehow, somewhere between there and Heartstone Market. I''m out looking now."


    Niel can hear Callum give a relieved sigh. "Okay. I''m going there now."


    "No. If they see you, they''ll gun you down. I need you to set up a rendezvous point for me to bring her to."


    "You sound like you''ve done this kind of thing before. Let''s meet up... There''s a bus station on the north end of the city, near City Park."


    "I''ll bring her there."


    Niel is becoming sweaty and exhausted running through the city. He keeps surveying the ground below, but with all of the people walking about, it''s hard to discern who is guilty and who is innocent. He could wait for them to bring Alanna to their safe house and ambush them there, but not only would breaking her out be difficult without revealing his Dust, but there also aren''t many places to run or hide in that area. There''s also no telling how many Invictus are lying in wait in the other houses there. Cutting them off out here in the city is his safest move.


    It''s next to impossible to figure out who anyone is down below, so Niel comes up with a plan: search the alleyways for the Invictus pursuers and use them to help him search. Most people are smart enough to avoid the alleys, so two or more people convening within them is worthy of suspicion. Niel applies this to his search, and after a few minutes, he discovers some dishonesty between two men and a women below.


    "Anything?" the woman asks.


    "Fuckin'' nothing," the first man says.


    "How''d the hell did that runt get away from us?" the second questions.


    This is them. Niel tags the trio so he can keep track of them before returning to the rooftops unseen.


    Finding the needle in this haystack is continuing to prove a nearly impossible task, but after a few more minutes, he notices that the three trackers he set are speeding up and converging on each other. He slips down to ground level and over to the place they''re gathering, and he discovers that Alanna has finally been found hiding inside a cardboard box. Surrounding her are the three from before, plus two others he didn''t find. It''s going to be a fight, but now''s the time to rescue her while they don''t see him.


    Niel makes note of things in the alley to be aware of. The distance between the walls is rather slim, which will help him fight one or two opponents at a time, rather than all five at once. On the other side of the trash pile he''s taking cover behind is a rusty metal pipe¡ªgood for throwing or bludgeoning, but they can use it against him should he throw or drop it after use. He scans the gangsters and finds that three of them are carrying pistols, so he cuts the firing pins and dices their phones to eliminate the threat of immediate backup. He''s ready to move now.


    With their backs toward him, Niel grabs the pipe and hurls it with his Dust at the nearest gun thug''s head, causing them to crumple on impact. The remaining two thugs with guns draw on him, but Niel slowly approaches as the pistols click without report. The lone woman takes charge and runs at him with the thrown pipe in hand. He ducks a swing and counterattacks with a punch to her stomach, then grabs her by the arm and head and, assisted by his Dust, slams her hard against the brick wall face-first.


    Niel notices that the Dust he scattered on one of the thugs has fallen off completely, and when he looks over proper, he quickly discovers that the thug in question had Phased into a red vapour and is about to pistol-whip him in the face. He hastily blocks the attack, punches the man in the lower ribs, and then headbutts him repeatedly into a concussion. The second-to-last gangster also tries to throw punches, but Niel strikes him in the face multiple times before slamming him against the ground.


    "Alright, that''s as far as you go," the last thug says. He has Alanna pinned to his body with his left arm, and his right hand against her head. Niel can see a greyish-silvery powder coalesce from his arm to his fingers; he holds a natural gun to her head that Niel can''t disarm. He has another idea.


    "You really think you''re in charge?" Niel questions to buy the few seconds he needs.


    Suddenly, the man frees Alanna and stiffly wobbles in Niel''s direction. The man''s anguished and horrified expression tells the story: his actions are not his own. Niel has slipped Dust underneath the man''s skin and seized control of his bones. When the two of them are half a metre apart, Niel releases his puppet from his grasp of malice, and in a state of fight-or-flight, the thug throws a punch. Niel slips it and throws a left hook into his opponent''s jaw before grabbing his head and slamming it against the wall beside them. He punches the thug in the face again on his way down, and while he''s kneeling, Niel punts him in the face to put him on his back. When the thug deliriously looks up at him standing over, Niel stomps his head back into the pavement.


    With the fighting concluded, Niel turns his attention to the frightened Alanna cowering against the base of the wall further away from him. He notices her becoming more frightened as he approaches, so he pulls his shirt off of his face so she can see who he is. Once she recognizes him, her face lights up a small bit with relief.


    "Let''s bring you back to your dad," he says to her softly so the thugs laying dazed behind him don''t overhear. He lifts her into his arms and they begin the trek north to the bus station.


    "Alanna!" Callum cries as soon as he sees the pair approach. Alanna hops out of Niel''s arms and into Callum''s. "Are you hurt?"


    "I''m okay daddy," she responds as she buries her face into his coat.


    "Niel... Thank you so, so much for finding her." This level of sincerity and gratitude is alien to Niel, but he''s thankful that he was able to help. He expresses this with a silent nod.


    "What are you going to do now?" Niel asks. "Invictus will come back once they learn that Alanna was rescued."


    "I know. That''s why we''re here," Callum says, referring to the bus station behind him.


    "Are you leaving the city?"


    "Yeah. It''s not safe for us here anymore."


    "We''re leaving? What about our house?" Alanna questions drearily.


    "I''m sorry, sweetie. We have to find a new place to live."


    "What about your stuff?" Niel questions.


    "I have it all in my backpack, plus some emergency money. We''ll spend a night in a motel or something in the next city over, but I''ll have to come back and sell off the house and whatever''s left in it."


    "In that case, I have something for you."


    Niel pulls the money he stole from the den out of his pockets and hands it to Callum, who then counts out the bills in disbelief.


    "This is over two grand! How''d the hell you get this?"


    "It''s some of what Invictus owes you, taken straight from the safe house they were planning to hide Alanna in. That should help you get back on your feet."


    "Dude... You''re a lifesaver."


    Callum pockets the cash and he gives Niel a hug of gratitude.


    "Stay safe, okay?" Callum says to Niel.


    "As long as you do, too," Niel responds.


    "Later, man."


    "Later."


    "Bye-bye Niel!"


    Niel gives a wave as they go their separate ways. Though, he does wonder why Alanna hid in the alley rather than go out and find help among the civilians. Perhaps it''s just because she''s young and afraid of strangers, or maybe Callum taught her to avoid talking to people she doesn''t know. He supposes it doesn''t really matter now since she''s safe. When he gets home, he ends up crashing on the couch and accidentally falling asleep after eating supper.


    Niel expects there to be days of silence after this event, but on the next day, he receives another text from Callum, though this one is less severe: Callum wants Niel to join him at a graveyard. It''s an even warmer day than yesterday, and along with today being Saturday, Niel sees a lot of people walking around the neighbourhood on his way over. Once there, he finds Callum standing at the entrance.


    "You look a lot smaller without your sweater," Callum comments in place of a greeting.


    "You''re one to talk," Niel jabs back at the noticeable skinny man missing his oversized jacket.


    "Here. There''s someone I want you to meet."


    Niel tilts his head slightly in confusion, but he follows Callum through the field of headstones regardless.


    "Where''s Alanna?" Niel asks.


    "Daycare in the city over." Callum comes to a stop in front of a grave and takes a knee. "Here."


    ''Breanne Verne'' is engraved in the stone.


    "After everything you''ve done for us, I wanted to take you to see her."


    Niel isn''t sure what to say, so he nods and looks back to the headstone.


    "I said before I was considering putting Alanna up for adoption. After what you said before, and after what happened yesterday, I''ve given up on that."


    "Good. I''m glad to hear it," Niel responds. "Every child deserves a parent. I know that Alanna''s glad it''s you."


    "Thank you. That''s touching, coming from the kid who not only stood up against a veritable crime ring, but also managed to stop the Electric Mute Thief."


    "Huh?"


    "Am I wrong, then? I figured that doing something extracurricular like using a bent metal rod to pin someone to a dumpster would be your doing."


    A wave of anxiety shoots through Niel. Was it really that obvious?


    "I... You''re correct..."


    "Hah! I was right!" Callum sounds triumphant. "I''ll be honest, it was really just a guess. You went home at around that time so I figured you must''ve had a run-in with that kid. Damn fine work. Did you get zapped?"


    Niel proceeds to tell Callum about the encounter, though he bends the truth a fair bit to exclude his Dust. He seems to buy it.


    "Don''t know if I believe something like that, but I guess you got your reasons."


    Or not.


    "I know you''re something special, Niel. The way you took down that mugger, you following me to Alanna, taking down Electro-boy, and especially rescuing Alanna. I don''t know what that glowy thing is you''ve got on that chain under your shirt, but I know you can''t do all of what you did if you''re normal."


    Callum looks at Niel and sees that he''s clutching the bump under his shirt, and that his expression is one of sensitivity. He should probably let this go.


    "I guess it doesn''t matter."


    A short bout of silence ensues as both direct their attention back to Breanne''s grave. Stuck in the ground at the stone''s base, Niel notices a faded playing card stained green from the grass.


    "A queen of hearts?" Niel questions.


    "Huh? Oh. Yeah. That was her nickname: Queen of Hearts. She got it from some game she played. She wore hers on her sleeve... and had mine in the palm of her hand."


    With the setting and the personal question, tears well up in Callum''s eyes as he speaks each word. The answer is so heavy it drains the energy from the conversation again, but Callum pushes on to tell Niel other stories of when his wife was alive.


    "I wonder if meeting you when I did was fate," Niel says once Callum finishes his train of thought.


    "Heh. Fate''s bullshit¡ªdon''t put any stock into it. If you think something needs doing, do it, rather than letting ''fate'' decide." Callum stands up, so Niel does too. "Alright, I gotta go offload some plants and clean up the house to sell. I''ll be back in Soul to visit every now and again. Check on everything, keep her headstone clean. Things like that."


    "I''ll be here when you do."


    "In that case, look after the people you care about, okay? And look after yourself, too."


    "I will."


    With another greeting comes another departure, and the pair bids each other farewell once again. When Niel gets home, he finds Illia and Mabel out on the front deck, with Illia blowing bubbles.


    "There you are," Mabel says. "Illia wants to go for a walk. I know you just got back, but do you think you could take her?"


    "Sure. Let''s go," Niel responds, much to Illia''s delight.


    Illia continues her bubble blowing as they walk down the street, and Niel takes this time to reflect. Much like with Mavrick, he''s pleased with this outcome, though the same question he had then persists now: why? Callum was nothing more than a shady stranger in an alley. Why did he risk making such a dangerous enemy in Invictus for a stranger? He doesn''t know, but he undoubtedly has made a difference in Callum and Alanna''s lives.


    And that may just be enough.

 Chapter 14 - Time Is Priceless

    Niel, Reed, and Gabriel are all in the front yard after supper throwing a baseball around in a game of catch. It''s a warm and bright evening befitting of the first day of summer, and perfect for outdoor fun that Reed could certainly do with more of.


    "Father''s Day is coming up soon. Got anything planned for me yet?" Gabriel asks the two boys. He tosses the ball to Reed, who catches the slow arc with ease.


    "That''s a secret!" Reed responds, knowing damn well he hasn''t thought of anything yet. He then passes the ball to Niel, but because of a high toss, Niel barely misses it.


    "Father''s Day is still two weeks away. We''ll do something for you," Niel says honestly while also unknowingly exposing Reed''s lie. He retrieves the ball and sends it back to Reed.


    "We''ll get you all the love in the world!" Reed chirps jokingly. "Well, either that or we''ll finally call you Gabe once."


    "I don''t know if I should be happy or disappointed," Gabriel pokes back as he catches another bad throw from Reed.


    The trio returns inside after their game ends. Dwayne is visiting this evening, and they catch the tail end of the story he''s telling to the three girls.


    "And you were never caught?" Lydia questions in befuddlement.


    "Nope! He just said ''have a good day'' and let me go!" Dwayne cackles. His laugh invokes a humoured smile from Illia.


    "What are you talking about?" Reed questions.


    "Dwayne used to drive around the countryside when he was younger, even though he didn''t have a driver''s licence at the time," Mabel explains, causing Reed to snort with surprised amusement.


    "A cop pulled me over one time," Dwayne begins.


    "Oh boy," Reed cuts in.


    "He asked for my licence and registration, I showed him the registration but said I was delivering the truck to the garage and left my licence there. Had to get my dad to cover for me!"


    "Nooo!" Gabriel exclaims in disbelief.


    "Not a word of a lie!" Dwayne asserts. "We talked about cars and hockey after he spoke with dad, and then he let me go!"


    "Did you actually work at a garage?" Niel questions after quickly looking up on his phone what a garage is.


    "No!" Dwayne exclaims with a laugh. "Dad was furious with me. Furious! He made me get my licence after that!"


    "Hey," Gabriel nudges Reed. "Maybe for Father''s Day, you could go for your Learner''s?"


    "How would that be a gift for you, though?" Reed objects.


    "I think it would be nice if you joined Lydia in getting your Learner''s¡ªbut finally calling you Gabe once would also be a good present<u>,</u>" Mabel says to both of them, one after the other.


    >>>>>>


    The second day of summer brings an even stronger heat than the first, but the four kids march out of the house regardless. Their destination is the forest not far from where Illia first found Niel, a location Reed chose due to him wanting to shoot soda cans with Niel. Lydia was forcefully volunteered by Reed to protect the forest from any of his missed shots, and Illia wanted to tag along with everyone.


    Despite the heat, Niel wears a thicker grey shirt due to him being scared that the Warden''s Key may show through a thinner, lighter shirt. The others are dressed better for the weather. Reed''s shirt is bright, thin and paired with similar shorts, Lydia wears a bluish crop top that airs out her darker skin, and Illia has on a white shirt with a yellow tinge, plus some baggy boyish shorts. In Reed''s hand is a small box containing a few empty cans.


    The forest is both familiar and unfamiliar to Niel; he has no concrete memories here, but it was here (or at least close to here) where he ended up collapsing nearly two months ago. Illia has walked in these woods before, as has Reed, but neither of them has memorized directions. At least the map can help them should they all somehow get lost. Apricots hang from some of the branches above, though it will still be another few weeks until they''re ready to be picked. The cherry trees to the east of their location are ripe, but anticipating that people would likely be there to pick, Reed chose to keep away for Niel''s privacy.


    They search around for a clearing or somewhere else to set up the cans, and they soon find it. They find much more than what they initially bargained for, actually: a small glade containing a small stream running through a small pond. There''s just enough shade to cover most of the glade despite the midday sun, and fallen logs provide a natural seat to rest. The petals from springtime blossoms blanket the ground, all while a refreshing cool breeze provides physical and auditory comfort as the leaves gently rustle out the groans of the nearby city. Everyone is left in awe at this hidden wonder.


    "Wow, it''s gorgeous here," Lydia comments as she and the others survey the area.


    "No kidding. I wonder how many other people know about this spot," Reed says. He examines a tall oak tree within the bounds of the glade. "Hey, you could totally hang a swing from here!"


    Niel prods at the ground near one of the fallen logs. Underneath petals and leaves are ashes and charcoal. "There''s been a fire here at one point, so we''re not the first to find this," he says.


    "Yeah, I figured as much given how many people are in the city," Reed responds. "But now I wonder how many people come here."


    "It''s not on the map," Lydia comments as she checks her phone, "Even though it looks like this stream connects to the river."


    "We could make this our secret hideout!" Reed exclaims excitedly.


    Meanwhile, Illia is crouched down at the water''s edge watching small minnows swim by. The water is surprisingly warm, though the pond is too small to swim in¡ªnot that she would want to anyway with how muddy the bottom is. This whole glade is enchanting to her, from the petals to its secrecy. To her, the whole world stands still here. To her, this is a special place. To her, it feels as if...


    ...nothing will change here.


    "Hey, Niel!" Reed calls to draw his attention to a fallen log, on which he placed a can.


    Niel is (and has been) apprehensive about this idea, but he knows that Reed will keep asking if he turns him down, so he just sucks it up and follows through. After a scan of the surrounding area to ensure nobody is spying on them, Niel levels the sights of his gun on the can. He briskly pulls the trigger, and the can goes flying with hardly a sound from the midnight pistol.


    "That was... a lot quieter than I was expecting," Lydia says. Illia looks over in confusion, as she didn''t even know this was happening until she heard the aluminum split.


    "Because I used a different method to shoot," Niel explains. "Instead of using a small explosion to propel the bullet, I simply pushed it forward myself."


    "Why didn''t you just do that before?"


    "Not everyone is satisfied by silence..." Niel says as he looks at Reed, "...And not everyone is dissuaded by silence. Someone may not be intimidated by my Dust if they don''t know what it is, but they know it''s a threat if it looks, acts, and sounds like a gun."


    "So the gun is just a scare tactic."


    "Correct."


    "I want to see something efficient, then!" Reed practically demands, even if he doesn''t mean to.


    "Efficient?"


    "Yeah! Like, if you needed to break something or hurt someone quickly!"


    Niel''s breath shudders as Reed accidentally touches a nerve. The Warden''s Key shines white underneath his shirt¡ªsomething the others notice plainly. Reed curls his bottom lip in regret.


    "Sorry..." he apologizes.


    "You''re a dumbass, Reed," Lydia insults.


    "It''s fine..." Niel says as he tries to temper his emotions. He conducts another scan of the area to verify their privacy. "If you want to see efficiency, then..."


    Suddenly, a tall, thin spike of Dust erupts from the ground to impale the fallen can, leaving the others in awe. To impress Reed further, Niel pops the can off of the spire and launches it towards himself, only to skewer it using a conjured chain from his back.


    "Woah!" Reed exclaims. "Here! Cut this!"


    Reed tosses a second can toward Niel. Instead of making a separate blade to cut it with, Niel converts the knife''s edge at the end of the chain to a familiar hook, shifts the chain from his back to his hand, and deftly slashes through both cans with one swing. He then pulls the chain into his palm until the handle of the sickle rests firmly in his grip. Reed is impressed by this at first, but he soon realizes that the sickle isn''t unknown to him.


    "Isn''t that the hook from when I went looking for you?" Reed questions.


    "Yes, it is," Niel answers, though his tone is somewhat despondent. Niel anticipates Reed''s curiosity, so he continues: "It''s the weapon I was taught to use when they trained me to fight and kill."


    As Niel explains, the Warden''s Key begins to flash and glow again.


    "Why does the Warden''s Key glow like that?" Lydia asks.


    "Yeah, and why does it glow white specifically?" Reed joins in.


    Niel scans the area a third time before pulling the Warden''s Key from underneath his shirt. It shines brightly in his hand for a few seconds before dimming back to the usual idle black.


    "I... I don''t know," Niel says. "There''s a lot I don''t know about the Warden''s Key."


    "Well, what do you know about it?" Reed asks. "Other than storing power."


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Niel tilts his head slightly as he searches his memory for relevant information. "There''s a theory by the lab that the Warden''s Key could explode should it be critically damaged."


    "Explode!?"


    "It''s only theoretical, but it''s highly probable. The power stored within is extremely concentrated and condensed. If condensed Dust creates an explosion whenever I release it, then releasing condensed power would likely result in the same. The strength of the explosion might also be determined by how much power is stored within the Warden''s Key at the time of its rupturing."


    "So like a balloon, then? The more it''s blown up, the louder it''ll pop?"


    "If it truly works that way, then yes."


    "I guess that makes sense..." Lydia says.


    "So, I know it does a lot for you, but why do you still have it if it could explode? Like, wouldn''t it be safer to destroy it remotely? Or just ditch it somewhere?" Reed questions.


    "...It''s true that it poses a great risk, but if I don''t have it, then I won''t be strong enough to protect myself from the lab should they find me," Niel explains.


    "So it''s a necessity," Lydia says.


    "Yes, as much as I hate it."


    "Now that I think about it, it never seemed like you did like your Dust all that much," Reed mentions with empathy.


    "I hate it," Niel says bluntly, sparking the Warden''s Key into glowing again. "I hate it, I hate the Warden''s Key, I hate what I am, and I hate what they''ve done to me. I hate using my Dust, but I have to in order to circumvent encumberment. I can''t spend it all, otherwise I''m left defenceless. And I have to keep the Warden''s Key, or I won''t have enough power to fight off the lab."


    The Warden''s Key grows brighter and brighter with each word seethed. The others knew to some extent that Niel wasn''t fond of his Mute, so to see him so loathful when he''s otherwise emotionless is jarring for them to hear. As he''s already so wound up, they don''t bother to ask why he''s so hateful of himself, nor do they shoot any more cans after this.


    For the rest of the day when they get home, Niel lingers in the living room in a soured mood. Because of this and there always being at least one other person in the room with him, Reed finds it difficult to approach him to talk. It isn''t until later that night when Reed gathers his resolve to sneak upstairs to Niel''s room, though he was found out long before as Niel''s room door opens for him on its own. Niel is sat up in his bed eyeing him curiously.


    "What is it?" Niel questions.


    "I just... wanted to talk about your Dust," Reed says. He isn''t sure why, but he''s having trouble speaking. Is he really this nervous?


    "Why? What about it?"


    "You really do ask a lot of questions," Reed comments. He shuts the door and lowers himself by Niel''s bed. Niel doesn''t respond. "I''ve just been thinking about what you said today."


    The Warden''s Key immediately starts to flicker, though Niel''s expression stays the same.


    "You told me something before, but it seems like you forgot it: we decide what our Mutes are. What they mean." Reed pauses as he steadies himself. "I know saying that makes me a hypocrite, but it sounds like you could use that advice more than me."


    "I didn''t know advice was for one person only."


    "Well..." Reed recognizes that it''s good advice that he should also heed, but a large part of him refuses to do so, and he isn''t sure why. "I know you''ve been through a lot at the lab¡ªand if I had to guess, much like Illia, there are some things that are too painful for you to tell us about, but..." Again, Reed understands the hypocrisy in his words. "...Hating yourself or your own Mute won''t make anything better. Even if you''ve been hurt by others, even if you''ve hurt others."


    Niel''s expression changes ever so slightly upon hearing this from Reed, and the Warden''s Key''s light slowly flickers and dies. Reed studies the strange pendant with his eyes, but as quickly as it burned out, the light reignites. He has to blink a few times to get the glare out of his eyes so he can see in the dark again. A large shadow paints the wall behind Niel, and Reed swears he saw white eyes staring back at him at one point.


    "Whatever your Dust meant at the lab, it doesn''t matter anymore. And if you did something wrong using your Dust, use it to redeem yourself, rather than letting yourself go."


    "If I have to believe that, then you do, too."


    "I..."


    Reed thinks long and hard about his response. It''s so, so much easier to encourage someone else, rather than make a change yourself, even when that advice applies directly to you as well.


    "If you do it, then I will, too," Reed says, throwing the statement back to Niel.


    "Then... I suppose we''ll try together."


    "Sounds good," Reed agrees, though he still isn''t sure about himself. He stands up to leave now that his objective has been completed, but Niel stops him before he goes.


    "Why did you come talk to me?"


    When Reed turns around, he finds that Niel''s corner of the room is dark again. There''s still a faint glow to the Warden''s Key, but it''s as dim as the moonlight barely seeping through the curtain.


    "It sounded like you needed someone to talk to," Reed explains. "''In order to be a good friend, you don''t just buy people things; you give them time, because time is priceless.'' I got that from a video I saw talking about some jackass online."


    "Huh."


    "Alright, good night."


    "Good night."


    After Reed leaves his room and shuts the door, Niel lies back down with Reed''s words still echoing in his head. Reed was right on the money when he guessed that there are things too painful for Niel to talk about. Hating himself won''t make anything better, even if he''s hurt others before. But use his Dust to redeem himself? Is... is such a thing even possible for him? The Warden''s Key begins to glow again.


    "Redemption..." Niel mumbles, the word triggering a deep emotional exhaustion within him.


    Niel remembers how Reed said they''ve kept Illia happy. After all that he''s done, is he truly allowed to be happy as well?


    >>>>>>


    Niel jolts awake from hearing his room door open, and upon inspection, he realizes that Mabel is intruding.


    "Niel? Time to wake up," she says from the doorway before disappearing.


    Niel checks the clock and realizes that it''s 8:11 am, more than an hour later than he normally wakes. He''s confused at how he overslept, but he quickly makes his bed and changes to make up for lost time.


    "Well look who overslept!" Reed comments from the kitchen table as soon as Niel steps down from the last stair. He, Lydia, and Illia are all eating breakfast, and Poppy has Niel''s waiting for him. "Were you up late last night?"


    "No," Niel says characteristically flatly, though this isn''t wholly true as he found himself waking multiple times throughout the night. He sits down to eat with them.


    Illia points at Reed, points at Niel, points at Reed again, then shakes her head.


    "What?" Reed questions.


    Illia wipes the crumbs off of her fingers and furiously types on her phone, then passes it to Lydia to read.


    "''He''s not you, Reed,''" Lydia announces in Illia''s stead. "Took the words out of my mouth."


    Illia beams at Lydia''s approval while Reed scratches the back of his head.


    "Aw, that''s mean," Reed teases, causing Illia to sulk a bit.


    "Don''t listen to him. He''s only saying that because you''re right," Lydia says to cheer her up.


    "Well, you at least made a joke, so that''s more than what Lydia can do," Reed says in rebuttal, this time shifting his crosshairs to the other girl. Niel catches a stray bullet in the crossfire, leaving him feeling somewhat uncomfortable sitting quietly at the table.


    "I don''t need to when you''re already enough of one," Lydia snaps back. Illia audibly snickers at this, which sharply catches both Reed''s and Lydia''s attention.


    "I think that''s the most amount of sound I''ve ever heard you make," Reed says. He may have structured it as a joke, but he''s far from lying.


    The others seem to be in quite the humoured mood this morning. Reed in particular has been making jokes and witty remarks ever since Niel arrived here two months ago, though he''s abstained from copying him due to Lydia''s less-than-enthused reactions to them. Niel notices the overcast sky and checks the forecast on his phone. There''s a cold front blowing in from the northwest, and the temperature for today is a few degrees cooler compared to yesterday''s and the day before. Lydia and Reed leave for school, and Louise awaits the other two in the living room.


    Classes happen as normal, with lessons, lectures, and the review of homework, but near the last hour of teaching, Poppy returns to the house with groceries. It''s too early for her to begin cooking supper, so Niel wonders why she''s here so soon. Eventually, Louise reveals that this is no accident.


    "We''ll be having a special class to end the day," she informs the two kids. "Specifically, Poppy will be assisting us with cooking."


    "It''s time for cooking class!" Poppy cheerfully sings from the kitchen.


    Niel and Illia have dabbled in basic cooking under the tutelage of their guardians, but the prospect of cooking something presumably by themselves has their attention. They join Poppy in the kitchen, and Louise sorts away her papers before joining them as well.


    "We''re going to make stuffed potato skins! Or, you two are, at least," Poppy announces. On the counter behind her is a metal oven pan with five potatoes, several seemingly random ingredients, and a cookbook opened to a specific page.


    "Don''t worry too much about being graded on this. The main purpose of this exercise is to develop experience in reading and following recipes, a skill that will be useful when you live on your own in the future," Louise explains.


    Niel is the only one who notices, but he hears Illia take a small, sharp breath.


    "I''ve already got the potatoes softened from the oven for you, but they''re still a little hot so be careful when you handle them," Poppy informs the pair. "I''ll run you through the first cut and scoop as a freebie, but after that you two are on your own!"


    As part of her demonstration, Poppy lightly picks up a warm potato and begins to run a small knife through it lengthwise. The blade comes close to her finger, spurring worry in the two kids.


    "Be careful not to cut yourself," Niel warns, speaking for his and Illia''s minds.


    "Oh please. Hell will freeze over before I cut myself while cooking¡ª"


    As if on purpose to match the timing, the knife slips out of the potato after completing the full cut and nicks her in the base of her thumb. Both potato halves fall from her hand and hit the metal pan below with a thud.


    "Ahaha... hah... So, uh... where are the bandaids again?" Poppy asks ashamedly. Louise slowly shakes her head, Niel can only stare at her in perplexity, and Illia makes herself useful by digging for the box of old bandages underneath the sink.


    The jokes that the others were making this morning return to Niel''s head, and he knows that, should he be here, Reed wouldn''t let an opportunity such as this go to waste. Niel is usually adept at watching what he says, but this time his mind goes on autopilot as he brings up the weather app on his phone.


    "Hm. Looks like Hell''s experiencing a cold front right now. Strange."


    Illia bangs her head against the underside of the sink upon hearing this. Niel¡ªsomeone who hardly ever shows or shares any emotion at all¡ªtold a joke! She crawls out from underneath the sink and gives the box to Poppy, and she just stares at Niel in disbelief. Niel, on the other hand, has no idea why Illia is staring at him and confusingly matches her gaze. She eventually realizes what she''s doing and shakes herself out of this strange stupor.


    Once Poppy patches herself up, she takes a spoon and begins to carve out the inside of the potato halves. Niel and Illia watch with acute attention and without worry, as Poppy would have to try really hard to cut herself with a spoon. All but half a centimetre of flesh is left on the skin, and the rest is dumped into a bowl for supper''s potato salad.


    "Okay! The rest is up to you two!" Poppy says as she steps back from the counter. The two students scan through the recipe to understand just what they''re making. It''s essentially an oven-baked potato boat filled with cheese, bacon bits, and green onion. Seems simple enough.


    Illia and Niel take different approaches to cutting the potatoes. Illia copies Poppy''s method to varying levels of success, while Niel holds his against the countertop and cuts without the worry of accidentally injuring himself. Poppy praises Niel for this technique, causing Illia to adopt his approach instead. With the potatoes cut, they scoop out most of the flesh to create the boat-like shape of the skins.


    Next, they melt some butter and stir in salt and garlic powder, then brush the potatoes over with this mixture. The skins need to cook in the oven for 15 minutes, so the pair start working with the other ingredients in the meantime. Illia doesn''t want to use a knife more than she has to, so she leaves chopping the green onion to Niel as she grates about a quarter of a block of marble cheese. He''s fairly sporadic in his chopping, and she''s slow going with grating, but they''re done with plenty of time to spare. Once the timer goes off, they flip the potatoes over for another five minutes.


    After 20 minutes of baking, they assess their potatoes. Niel scooped too much flesh as his skins are caving in, and Illia not enough as hers are still somewhat soft. Regardless, they venture on and apply the cheese and bacon bits, and put them back in the oven again to get the cheese to melt. Once they come out for a final time, they''re topped with sour cream and green onion, and at long last, it''s time to eat. Mabel and Gabriel join the group for this taste test.


    "Yep! You guys got the taste pretty much spot on!" Poppy declares.


    "We did exactly what the recipe called for, so I would be surprised if it didn''t," Niel says, unaware of his unintended cockiness.


    "You''d be surprised by how easily a recipe can be messed up, even if you''re paying attention," Louise says.


    "I know that from experience," Poppy comments.


    "So do we," Mabel adds, speaking for both her and Gabriel.


    "Though, I''d say that Niel''s are too crispy and shallow, while Illia''s are too soft," Poppy critiques. "Other than that, well done, both of you."


    "I think they''re both fine," Gabriel says.


    Illia glows from the praise, but she can''t help but think about what Niel said before. Poppy and Louise never caught it¡ªprobably because they haven''t spent enough time with Niel to know the extent of his stoicism, and Mabel and Gabriel just simply weren''t around to hear it. She could tell everyone, but she doubts Niel will appreciate Reed hounding him for making a joke. She''ll just give him silent praise later in the hopes that he''ll express himself more.


    Along with Illia, Niel is also deep in thought. Deciding what he wants his Dust to be, and what it means. Dark Dust excels at combat and sabotage, but applied to something peaceful such as cooking, could he really convince himself that his Mute is more than just a weapon? He promised Reed last night that he would try. Maybe it''s time to make that effort.


    If he can help others, rather than hurt them... for the past no one can learn of, maybe he can find some kind of redemption.

 Chapter 15 - Because Of

    ...


    Mom... Dad...


    Is it okay to make others'' problems my own?


    To invade their space


    when they''re on the brink of losing it?


    All to save it?


    ...


    Is it okay to convince others to try


    when they''re already convinced of the worst?


    Is it okay to convince myself


    that I''m doing the right thing?


    ...


    A low rumble stirs Niel from his sleep. 7:51 am is what the clock reads, just nine minutes off from when his alarm would''ve woken him, yet nearly an hour after when he normally wakes up. A near-identical situation happened only three days ago when Reed spoke with him. As Niel makes up his bed, he notices a bright flash outside, followed by another low rumble several seconds later. So that''s what woke him up. He heads downstairs.


    "Morning," Niel greets his guardians and Poppy.


    "Good morning," they all respond, or at least variants of it. Thunder continues to roll outside as the other kids make their way downstairs, each also bidding everyone a good morning in their own yet similar way. Their demeanours, however, are drastically different. Reed is chipper as per usual, Illia is trembling and skittish¡ªNiel assumes it''s because of the storm, and Lydia is observably irritated. She normally brushes her hair straight before coming downstairs, but this morning it''s been left messy. A bright flash outside brings a loud clap of thunder, causing Illia to flinch with a frightened squeak and cling to Lydia.


    "I don''t know if I should or shouldn''t be surprised that you''re scared of thunder and lightning," Lydia says to the shaking girl painfully gripping her arm.


    "Aw, come here," Mabel coaxes as she brings Illia into a protective hug. The other three kids sit at the table as Poppy serves them their breakfast.


    Niel looks at Lydia again as he eats. The rain normally puts her in a bright mood, but it''s undeniable that something is angering her. Could it be that the thunderstorm is the cause? Did she not get a lot of sleep last night? Is it due to those ''teenage girl things'' that Reed refuses to elaborate on? Whatever the case is, asking her about it now will likely lead to conflict¡ªif not with him, then with Reed¡ªso he decides to leave it be for now.


    Reed and Lydia leave for school despite the weather and classes begin for Niel and Illia. The storm ends up affecting the at-home tutoring more than expected, with Illia cowering from sudden roars of thunder and Niel''s attention being sharply drawn away from the lessons at hand by squalls of rain fiercely pelting the windows. Somehow, Louise is successful at teaching what she had planned for the day despite these hurdles. The storm conveniently quells by the time she''s ready to leave, and she laments why this couldn''t have happened sooner. Reed and Lydia return home shortly after she departs, and it doesn''t take long for Niel to notice that not only has Lydia''s annoyance persisted through the day but Reed''s been infected by it as well. Niel pays him a visit in his room once things quiet down again.


    "What''s bothering you?" Niel asks as shuts the door behind him. Reed is sitting comfortably on his bed playing a fighting game.


    "Lydia," Reed answers bluntly. "Something''s been pissing her off lately, and now she''s got me pissed off."


    "Do you know why?"


    "Nope. I tried asking, but that only pissed her off more." Reed says it both as a statement and a warning; prying will only make it worse.


    "Alright, then." Niel leaves Reed be and ventures back downstairs. Perhaps Mabel and Gabriel know why.


    "No idea," Gabriel answers with honesty.


    "I''ve tried asking her before, but she doesn''t want to talk about it. I''m not sure why, though, since she gets like this somewhat often. I think it might have something to do with her parents," Mabel says.


    Her parents? Niel hardly knows anything about her, let alone her parents. But if it''s something as personal as this, then he should hear it from her personally¡ªthat is if he''s going to pry at all in the first place.


    Later after supper, Niel finds himself in the living room while Lydia does homework in the kitchen. Mabel and Gabriel are in their room sorting out paperwork and files, and Illia and Reed are in their rooms as well. The cause of Lydia''s anger still eludes Niel, and while thinking of why, he finds himself looking over at her from time to time. She doesn''t pay him any mind at first, but when he fails to catch himself from staring is when she finally takes offence.


    "Why are you staring at me?" she growls in annoyance.


    Now he''s done it. His carelessness has invoked Lydia''s ire. But, now is also an opportunity to come clean and ask what''s been making her upset. The chances of her actually answering him might be lower due to this scuffed opening, on top of them already being low in the first place, but with no one else around to hear her, she may open up with this one-on-one talk. It''s worth a shot, and it''s not like it can get much worse¡ªat least that''s what Niel believes.


    "Sorry. I''ve just been wondering why you''ve been so upset today," Niel admits. He braces himself for Lydia''s wrath, but all he hears is silence. She gives a short, soft sigh. Did this... calm her down?


    "I''m kinda surprised you care," she says almost dejectedly. Niel doesn''t understand what she means by this. "It''s about my brother."


    "What''s wrong with your brother?"


    This question catches Lydia off guard. "What''s wrong with...? You don''t know?"


    "No?"


    "Huh... I''m going to go see him tomorrow. Come with me after school, and I''ll tell you what''s going on."


    "Okay." That went far better than he ever could have expected, and while he ended up with more questions than answers, he will be getting answers tomorrow.


    >>>>>>


    The sound of rain battering against the room window stirs Niel from his sleep. The clock reads 7:16 am, roughly when he normally wakes up at. At least rising late isn''t becoming a pattern. As he makes up his bed, he keeps the window in his peripherals to watch for a flash of lightning. Nothing happens; must just be rain for today. Lydia should be happy about that.


    "Morning," Niel greets his guardians. Poppy isn''t here quite yet.


    "Good morning," they respond. Poppy arrives a few minutes later, and Niel helps her with his breakfast. After a long while of sitting around after eating, the other three make their way downstairs, giving their own ''good mornings'' as well. Reed''s smile isn''t as full as it was yesterday, a less shaky wave shows that Illia isn''t terrified of today''s thunderless storm, and Lydia''s disgruntled expression persists still. Her hair again is left untidy. While the three of them eat, Niel can see from the living room that Lydia is spending more time watching the rainstorm through the window than she is eating. Again, he wonders what about her brother is weighing on her mind so heavily.


    Louise''s classes come and go for the last time before the weekend, and much like yesterday, the weather has slacked off to a grey overcast sky by this time. Niel sits close to the front door so he doesn''t have far to go when Lydia arrives home, and when she eventually does, he wastes little time getting his shoes on and leaving with her.


    It''s still overcast, but something that Niel didn''t take full notice of is how wet the ground is and how humid the air is. Niel is extra weary of puddles as they walk, and Lydia continuously brushes the fizziness out of her hair with her hands. She braided her hair this morning before leaving, but she must have undone it since. She keeps to his front, and neither of them talk as they go. After a while of walking, they finally arrive at a place of significance, and it''s the one place Niel was afraid they''d end up going to: the cemetery. Lydia leads Niel along a path of familiarity. When he was here last with Callum, they went further back and to the left, but now he''s being taken to a spot closer to the entrance and to the right.


    "Here," Lydia says to confirm Niel''s fears. In front of them is the final resting place of her brother, Aaron Brookes. The date on his headstone marks his death as occurring roughly four years ago, and when compared to his birthday, Niel finds that he was only 23 when he died. Plastic flowers with faded blue petals stand firmly in the soggy grass.


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "I..." Niel whispers as his voice trails off.


    "Didn''t know he was dead?" Lydia imposes on his train of thought. Niel gives a small mumble and nod in confirmation. "I''m surprised you didn''t, since I''ve been coming here every Friday for the last four years."


    "No one told me, and I never felt it was my place to ask," Niel clarifies. "Though, this answers my question of why you weren''t living with your brother if you could visit him."


    Light raindrops suddenly start falling in a drizzle around them, though sparsely enough for the pair to hardly notice.


    "I probably would be living here if it wasn''t for Dwayne. He was the one who offered me a place at the home, and skipped all of the bullshit with other agencies for me, like he did with you."


    "I... don''t quite understand."


    "Then..."


    The drizzle grows heavier now with thicker and more frequent drops landing on and around them. Niel isn''t very afraid of the rain due to previous exposure to it and how much worse the shower head is in comparison. Regardless, Lydia uses her Mute''s function as an invisible umbrella to keep Niel dry.


    "...Despite us living under the same roof for two months, you know almost nothing about me. And having to deal with me without knowing a thing must be a hassle, too. You told us everything we did and didn''t need to know on day one. I suppose I should rewrite the score with you."


    The rumble of the city''s breath washes away from the growing downpour around them...


    ~~~


    My parents are actually still alive, unlike most of us who end up in the home. Mom''s Mute is oxygen, and Dad''s is hydrogen. It made them a pair¡ªa real Bonnie and Clyde, robbing places and hiding away in the water thanks to their Mutes. If they could make money from a place, they would hit it hard and fast, and then play the best game of hide-and-seek the country had ever seen. Well, until they lost.


    Mom and Dad hid this stuff from me and Aaron. They just said they were leaving for a week or so for "work," and then bribe us for forgiveness with whatever we wanted when they came back. I always hated that. They must have messed up at some point despite their shrewdness because someone saw their faces, and that got the cops in the loop, all without them knowing. So when they came back to do the bare minimum for us, they brought hell with them.


    I remember everything about that day. It was sunny, so they took us out for a ride in the car, tried smoothing things over with ice cream, and then a trip to the fair. What ended up happening was them getting flagged down by a cop car behind us. Of course, those bastards ran. I remember Aaron begging for them to stop, but they just ignored him! There were too many cars on the street, too many cars chasing from behind, we were going too fast, it was too sharp of a turn...!


    Mom and Dad didn''t teach us to wear seatbelts because they never used them. I was in the middle of the road, and all I saw was Aaron. He was laying down facing me, face torn apart, blood everywhere, eyes just barely open... God, his eyes... Mom and Dad were arrested, and we were all brought to the hospital. Aaron died just after making it there.


    Dwayne''s wife is the CEO of the hospital, and she heard my story from the nurse who cared for me, and then Dwayne from her. When he learned I had nowhere else to go, he offered me a place at the home until I was old enough to live on my own. He made it easy for me during that nightmare by keeping me out of other places, so I wouldn''t have to worry about bouncing around while grieving. He even helped with Aaron''s burial. I... I can''t ever thank him enough for what he''s done.


    But my parents, on the other hand... they never gave a damn about us! All they cared about was money! Aaron is dead because of them! Because of their lies, because of their greed, because of their fuck ups...!


    Those days with Aaron are gone, and I''ll never get them back.


    And they can go to hell for that.


    ~~~


    Niel recalls a similar feeling to when he and Reed spoke back in April: speechless, but not due to a lack of sympathy. He had no idea this is what Lydia had gone through.


    "Aaron was my world," Lydia says. "When Mom and Dad were gone, he would sometimes leave as well to do his own thing, like school or actual work, but he would always come back as fast as he could to keep me company." Niel notes that whenever she addresses her parents, she does so with a festering venom laced in her words. She''s spiteful and vengeful in the extreme, and he can''t exactly blame her. "So... yeah. Father''s Day is coming up, and it''s been reminding me more than usual about all that shit I told you. That''s why I''ve been so cranky lately," she continues.


    "That kind of anger isn''t foreign to me. You have my empathy," Niel says, though his tone lacks a bit of soul.


    "Thank you." Her''s also lacks some emotion, but like him, she means what she says.


    The sudden downpour has slacked off just about completely, and Niel is starting to feel sticky from the humidity. They stay at the grave for a few minutes longer so Lydia can properly introduce Niel to the stone and report the events of her week. Most of it relates to school, which goes over Niel''s head, but she gets the last of her woes off her chest before long. Though she tries to keep it from being so, she mournfully says her goodbyes to her brother again, and the pair depart the now-misty graveyard.


    The walk back is sombre and melancholic, and in all honesty, Niel really wants to be home. Lydia is still soaked to the skin by the rain earlier; Niel wonders why she didn''t protect herself from the rain, or if she can, why she doesn''t dry herself off with her Mute. A ways into their walk, Niel notices that Lydia is taking them down the wrong road back home.


    "Why are we going this way?" Niel questions.


    "There''s something I want to check," she responds as she glances back at him briefly. "It shouldn''t take long."


    They continue down this side road until it reaches and runs along the edge of the forest. Niel thinks it''s something in the woods at first, but they stay on the road for a ways longer until they find what she''s curious about: rainwater has collected in the road and caused a significant flood. Niel can see myriad ripples in the water from a new drizzle forming.


    "This road floods so easily, and yet the city does nothing about it," Lydia complains. "Could you help me?"


    "Sure, but how?"


    "I''ll show you."


    Using her Mute, Lydia parts the floodwater so they can pass through without Niel getting wet. Within the curb is the barely visible criss-cross grate of a storm drain rendered inoperable due to a staggering amount of debris. Sticks, leaves, mud, and litter all make up the clog.


    "The bars are supposed to stop big things from clogging up the pipe below, but all they do is get clogged up, and the result is the road flooding every time a storm happens," Lydia explains.


    "So you want me to remove the debris?"


    "Yeah. Just toss it into the woods."


    Niel coats his hands with Dust to protect himself from the debris and throws it all to the tree line two handfuls at a time. Once the pair steps clear, Lydia relinquishes her hold on the water and they watch as it convenes and swirls down the drain. There''s still more flooding on the road, so there''s yet another grate to clear.


    "There''s something else that I''ve been thinking of," Lydia says as she and Niel are working their way through the flood to find the next grate. "How lucky we are to be in the home we''re in. Even in Soul, there are so many horror stories floating around of how shit the foster care system is, and how many kids have been failed by it."


    "I remember Reed telling me of how the man who ran the home before Dwayne was an asshole," Niel reflects.


    "I''ve heard of that too, but I wasn''t there back then so I don''t really know. Mabel and Gabriel sometimes mention him, but Reed doesn''t talk about it at all."


    This talk about bad foster homes makes Niel think of Alanna. What would have happened to her had he not gotten involved? He shudders to think of the possibilities. Lydia eventually finds a small bubble column rising from beneath the surface, and upon clearing away the water, she confirms it''s the other debris-covered drain. Niel lends a hand again to clear away the sticks and mud, and soon they''re watching as the water whirlpools away.


    "That did it. The flooding''s going down now," Lydia says. It''s a tad slow, but the water on either side of the road is gradually disappearing. They hang around until the road clears up completely, but as they''re leaving, Niel notices that a lady is watching them from inside her home. As soon as he lays eyes on her, she waves in gratitude for their service, and he gives a nod back.


    There hasn''t been any more rain on their way back, and yet Lydia is still soaked from the downpour earlier. Niel can''t fathom how she can not only put up with it but tolerate it enough to not do anything about it, because if she can push around floodwater, then surely she can remove the moisture that''s coating her whole body. Meanwhile, the humidity has him so sticky that he almost wants to have a shower just so he can be rid of the feeling. He can''t see what face she''s wearing because she''s insistent on walking in front of him.


    As they step up to the front door of the home, Niel is nearly convinced that Lydia has forgotten about her moistened state, but like a shrapnel bomb, she ejects all of the water off of her body and out of her clothes. Niel is caught well within the blast, and Lydia rushes to correct her mistake and dry him off as soon as she hears him yelp in surprise at being splashed.


    "Oh hey. There you two are," Reed says from the living room. Niel is surprised at first to see him downstairs and not up in his room playing games, but after looking in, he sees that he and Illia are doing homework together. That''s also a surprise in and of itself, but it explains why he''s down here at the very least. "What were you two doing?"


    "Nothing, Reed." Like a switch, Lydia has gone from melancholic to antagonized, fuming upstairs to her room. The sound of the door slamming is easily heard by everyone on the ground floor. Mabel and Gabriel poke their heads out from the kitchen to see what''s going on.


    "What was that about?" Reed asks Niel with some annoyance of his own.


    "Her parents, for one," Niel says. "Their memory is aggravating her."


    "So it is her parents..." Mabel laments.


    Mabel decides to go check on Lydia, and she climbs the stairs with Niel right behind her. However, Niel doesn''t follow her into Lydia''s room. Instead, he continues to the third floor so he can clean himself off. He assumes she wants some time alone, or be with as few people as possible.


    After a very shallow bath, Niel is left with a handful of minutes before supper, so he decides to look into Lydia''s parents to see if there''s anything more to their story. If they''re as great of thieves as Lydia says they are, they would''ve been in the news at some point, so perhaps he can find some kind of information about them before their arrest. He punches in a search on his laptop and finds article after article on their arrest and conviction. Let''s start here as a base.


    Levi and Miriam Brookes, arrested four years ago following the chase and crash that killed Aaron. Charged with myriad robbery, weapon, and fleeing charges, including bank robbery, armed robbery, fleeing utilizing a Mute, and assault with a deadly weapon among others. They still have more than a decade to go until they get out of prison, with 15 years left to serve for her father and 13 for her mother. They were a hot topic in the media at one point, but yet Niel can''t find a single thing about them other than their crimes and arrest. Dwayne is slated to be visiting tomorrow, perhaps Niel can ask him then.

 Chapter 16 - Live This Lie

    The next day comes, and Reed is peppy since it''s now the weekend and he can play his fighting games unimpeded¡ªat least until Mabel tells him to do his homework. Niel will probably end up joining him later. Illia is planning on going for a walk with Mabel and Gabriel when Dwayne arrives now that the weather is no longer horrible. Niel will probably go with them as well. As for Lydia, nobody knows what she plans on doing today, and that likely includes her as well. Before Niel engages in any activity today, he wants to have a private talk with Dwayne about Lydia''s family, and thankfully, he walks in through the door just before noon.


    Rather than jump on him right away, Niel waits for a few minutes so Dwayne can situate himself. Afterward, Niel requests to speak with Dwayne privately once he''s ready, and the two enter the private room and take a seat.


    "So what is it you want to talk to me about?" Dwayne asks, his large stature hardly fitting in the smaller chair across the desk.


    "Lydia. Or rather, her parents." Niel is almost afraid to say this. Maybe he should have asked Lydia more questions first, instead of jumping the gun and going to a third party so soon. "I want to know more about what happened before she came here."


    "Oh? If you don''t mind me asking, why is that?"


    Niel realizes he hadn''t thought this far ahead. He wants to know more, but why exactly? Is it just simple curiosity? Or is it that unconscious thought of redemption pulling him along?


    "I..." he says to buy his thoughts more time to shape. "I asked her why she was so upset lately, and she told me about what her parents did, and how you helped her back on her feet. I want to help her, but I don''t know enough to do anything."


    Dwayne has a firm look in his eye, like Niel has passed some kind of test, though not with flying colours.


    "That''s where you''re wrong, first and foremost," Dwayne says. "You''re never unable to do anything. Lydia trusted you enough to open up and vent; that''s already something you''ve done to help, even if it seems small." The firm look from before changes to reminiscence. "She spoke very negatively of her parents, correct?"


    "Correct."


    "I assumed so. The truth is, despite what she believes, her parents do care about her and her brother. That''s why they began stealing in the first place: to support them. Miriam and Levi told me that it was originally supposed to be one score¡ªjust something to get them on their feet so they could go straight, but then one became two, and two became three, and they became entranced by the money and couldn''t leave the lifestyle behind. And that''s when the consequences caught up with them."


    "So, why did Lydia say her parents hated them?"


    "Grief. If her parents never committed the crimes they did, the police wouldn''t have been looking for them, and if they didn''t run from the police, then Aaron would still be alive today. She held onto this so tightly in her grief that she became disillusioned by it, and along with her other grievances towards her parents, she convinced herself that they never cared about her or Aaron in the first place."


    "If you know this, then why not tell her?"


    "I have, along with Mabel and Gabriel. The problem is, she''s so resolute in her belief that she vehemently rejects any and all attempts made to convince her otherwise."


    If this is the case, then Niel made the right move by talking with Dwayne. Lydia would have never told him this.


    "Is there anything else you would like to know?" Dwayne asks.


    "Nothing for now."


    "Okay. One last word of advice before we go, then," Dwayne says as he pulls himself out of the undersized chair. Niel follows suit. "Lydia''s parents hurt others, and they deserve their time in prison, but it''s okay to feel bad for someone while also condemning what they''ve done. It could be good or bad, but there''s always a reason behind someone''s actions. It''s up to you to decide if the reason can justify the action, and to what extent. The world isn''t black and white, after all."


    The message resonates with Niel somewhat. They leave the room and Dwayne reconnects with the other two adults while Niel instinctively goes to his room to ponder. If Lydia has her parent''s intentions wrong, then the next step would be to talk to her about it, right? She told him a lot so far, but maybe she has more to say. He approaches her room door and knocks, and he can hear her audibly groan inside as she gets up to answer.


    "What is it?" she growls annoyedly as she pokes her head around the door.


    "Can we talk for a bit?" Niel asks. He makes an effort to sound more polite than usual, but it doesn''t exactly sound that way.


    "Again? ...Fine." Lydia opens her door fully and steps back so Niel can enter, and then shuts the door behind him. On her desk are an open magazine, some open make-up bottles, and a few used wipes matching the colours in the bottles. She sits back down in front of her desk while he stands in the middle of the room. "So what is it this time?"


    "Your parents again," Niel says crudely. "I want to know more about what you think of them."


    Lydia looks at him with skepticism. "Didn''t you figure that out yesterday?"


    "You told me a lot about everything yesterday, but I want to hear more about your parents in particular... since they''ve been troubling you recently."


    "So you want me to vent?"


    "I suppose so, yes."


    "You suppose?" Lydia sighs. "Fine. They left me and Aaron on our own all the time so they could go out and steal. Is that good enough?"


    "But why did they?"


    Bewilderment hits Lydia for a moment. "Why? Because they''re greedy assholes. Why else?"


    "Did they ever tell you what they were doing with all of the money they stole?"


    "No, of course not." She''s confused by where this questioning is going, but then that confusion turns to mistrust as she believes she catches on. "You''re not trying to convince me that they''re worth a damn, right?"


    "I just want to hear your side."


    "Well, my side is the only side. They''re snakes that only cared about themselves."


    "But what if¡ª"


    "There''s no ''what if''! You weren''t there! They never have a damn about us, and Aaron is dead because of them!" Lydia rockets out of her chair so aggressively that Niel has to catch it with his Dust before it hits the floor. "You saying you just want to hear my side is bullshit! You''re just here to convince me to give those assholes another chance! Get out!"


    Lydia screams in anger as she physically shoves him toward the door. Niel tries to hold his ground so he can convince her otherwise, but coupled with his prior experiences, this aggression quickly erodes the patience that he had been slowly cultivating during his time here, and he snaps as well. Darkness invades his bloodstream as his own rage clouds his judgment.


    "At least you have a family to abandon," Niel seethes as a parting shot.


    "GET OUT!!"


    Lydia forms a tidal wave out of thin air with a loud crack and smashes it into Niel, throwing him completely out of her room before slamming the door and locking it with a wall of ice. Niel can hear everyone around the house reacting, so before he''s found drenched on the floor, he races upstairs in Shadow Dive to his room high on adrenaline and slips out of the window. He needs to leave to cool his head.


    He''s not safe in the city with his anger at a fever pitch, so he careens toward the forest with a phantom''s haste. Once he''s safely wrapped in a veil of trees, he uncloaks and impatiently scrapes away as much water as he can off of his body and out of his clothes. Lydia vehemently rejects all notion of her parents being anything less than monsters, but this was such an extreme reaction that Niel can''t help but let the anger from the confrontation boil in his knuckles, and he slugs a tree to vent his frustration. So much force ends up being put behind the punch that his hand becomes buried wrist-deep in the trunk¡ªbut when the leaves shower down and he learns how much effort he needs to give to pull his fist free, does he have a moment of sobriety.


    This is exactly what he''s scared of.


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    As he stares fearfully at the palms of his own hands, the Warden''s Key flashes brightly from his chest, and Niel realizes that he hadn''t tucked it under his shirt yet. He finds that his hands are trembling as he hides the pendant. The forest around him is unfamiliar now. Niel clasps his head as he reaches for his phone to check the map, and he finds that Reed has sent him a text.


    ''Dude, where did you go? What the hell happened?'' the message reads. Niel doesn''t recall Reed saying the word ''dude'' often. He goes to respond... but he closes the app instead. Niel doesn''t even know why he did this, he just doesn''t feel like talking now. Instead, he brings up the map and checks his location. He''s fairly deep within the southern forest, but it won''t be hard to find his way back. Along with that, something else catches his eye: the glade they found a week ago isn''t very far away. Niel doesn''t want to go home and face whatever the adults have to say yet, so he decides to go there for now.


    The sky is still overcast and the ground is muddy in places, but at least it''s not raining. He''s barely drying thanks to the lingering humidity. His Dust may be precise, but it''s not precise enough to pick up and move water molecules out from within clothing. At least he can use it as makeshift shoes to protect his mushy socks from the ground.


    The clearing in the forest is exactly how they left it. The fallen logs haven''t been moved, the tall oak tree stands strong, and the river and pond still flow. Though, none of this should be surprising as it has only been a week since he''s been here last. Then again, a large storm just blew through, so maybe there should be some kind of change. Regardless of the state of the glade, Niel plants himself on one of the fallen logs.


    He regrets how things have turned out. Lydia saying he was only there to convince her... She''s not right, but he''d be lying if he said that possibility wasn''t driving him to act in the first place. And at the end, he completely lost control of himself and resorted to pettiness. Losing control terrifies him. His weapons were words this time, but they may not be on the next, so he can''t afford there to be a next time. He can''t let the lab''s teachings take control.


    Not again.


    Niel remembers that he still hasn''t responded to Reed''s text. He opens up his phone and tells Reed that he''s at the glade. He gets a read receipt almost immediately, and a response shortly after.


    ''You should really come back. The adults aren''t happy, but not angry. Just worried. I think.''


    ''What about Lydia?'' Niel asks.


    ''She''s still locked in her room. What happened?''


    Niel becomes too absorbed in thought to answer. All this strife is because of her parents, but she refuses to see why they acted the way they did and thus treats them dishonestly. If she still hates them while also accepting the true reason why, then that''s okay. But she doesn''t, and now she''s locking herself away. From where Niel stands, this problem will never be solved on its own, and her rage will never be abated.


    A new resolve finds its way to the surface of his mind. If Lydia won''t be convinced by their words, then he''ll find evidence hard enough to break her false reality.


    He''s still wound up, but he decides to return home now that he has his thoughts in order. Mabel and Gabriel aren''t happy about what he said and how he ran off, so they give him a stern warning to drop the topic of her parents. They try to scold Lydia as well, but she keeps her room locked down like a fortress. She remains in her room for most of the day, only coming out to eat¡ªand being visibly irritated while doing so.


    The rest of the day passes by with little happening, apart from Niel apologizing to Lydia for their confrontation, and her blatantly ignoring him doing so. While Niel wants to find evidence to prove her parents'' intentions, he has no idea where to start. He won''t get any leads from Lydia, not with how she pretends he doesn''t exist. Mabel and Gabriel want him to stop talking about her parents, so he doubts they''ll tell him anything. Reed wants to stay out of this mess. And Niel really doesn''t want to snoop around Lydia''s room.


    Evening eventually falls over the home, but before Dwayne decides to return to his own, a certain Niel moping around the living room with a discontented expression catches his eye. It could just be that he''s bummed about being scolded earlier, but based on how Niel tends to react, Dwayne''s gut tells him this likely isn''t the case. With a silent break among those in the living room, he decides to look further and summons Niel to talk privately again.


    "You look lost tonight. What''s on your mind?" Dwayne asks; a simple opener that allows Niel plenty of room to talk freely. On the contrary, Niel was nervous about being called in so suddenly, especially after what happened earlier today¡ªand being told by everyone around him to abandon trying to help only convinces him to internalize his thoughts further. Niel looks down and tilts his head slightly, but ends up saying nothing.


    "Is it about what happened today?" Dwayne continues when he gets no response. He needs to narrow down his search if he''s going to get Niel talking. Niel tilts his head further down, leading Dwayne to believe he''s on the right track. "Is it about Lydia?"


    "...Yeah." The answer is short and quiet, but it''s all Dwayne needs to hear.


    "Are you still thinking of a way to help her?"


    Niel''s eyes quickly flick up to Dwayne''s. "...Yeah," he repeats almost identically, just a little louder this time.


    Dwayne empathizes with Niel, so instead of shutting him down immediately, he decides to let him say his piece. "What have you come up with?"


    "I don''t know," Niel responds tentatively. "I want to find evidence to prove Lydia wrong, but I don''t know where to look."


    Dwayne understands. He''s reminded of when he was in Niel''s shoes almost four years ago, looking for a way to help Lydia. Or, rather, he still is.


    "Lydia''s outburst today is very concerning to me," Dwayne muses. "She''s been combative towards us before, and while you certainly didn''t help in this situation, I''ve never seen her act this aggressively before." His eyes flash in recollection as he recalls how she treated Niel the day they first found him. "... Regarding her parents."


    "I''d like to know something," Niel says softly. "Why did you help Lydia? Or, why did you help a family you didn''t know until after their world crashed around them?"


    Dwayne leans back in his chair as he organizes an answer. "We were strangers back then, but I couldn''t turn away from a child suffering through the worst point in her life. Now, she''s become a part of the family, and frankly, I can''t stand to watch her live this lie. All I want is for her to abandon this delusion so she can grieve properly and move on from her anger, but I''m not sure how."


    A part of the family. Niel wonders if that extends to him as well.


    "And I assume that your reasoning for trying to help now is similar to mine."


    Niel nods his head silently.


    After a noise of acknowledgment, Dwayne writes down an address on a spare piece of paper and slides it across the table to Niel.


    "It''s late, and we all need some rest after what happened today. Come to my house tomorrow, and I''ll share with you what we''ve tried," Dwayne says.


    "Alright."


    They both leave the private room after this, and Dwayne heads home while Niel gets ready for bed. He checks the address he was given and finds that Dwayne''s house is only a single block away. He doesn''t know what he was expecting, but he assumed Dwayne lived further out. Either way, this is the lead he was looking for. How far it will get him is left up in the air, especially with Dwayne wording it as ''what they''ve tried''. He''ll just have to find out tomorrow.


    >>>>>>


    There''s no school today since it''s still the weekend, so Niel leaves for Dwayne''s at noon. It''s a mere ten-minute walk to his house, and when he gets there he double-checks the address to make sure he''s where he needs to be. Dwayne''s house is exactly what Niel expected it to be: a regular-looking two-floor suburban home with clean white siding, a spotless shingled roof, and a neat moderately sized front yard. It''s obvious that Dwayne takes care of this place. Niel walks up to knock on the front door, and Dwayne opens it in short order.


    "Good afternoon," Dwayne greets as he invites Niel inside.


    "Good afternoon," Niel echoes. He steps into the porch and takes his shoes off, and another face comes to greet him.


    "Hello. You must be Niel," the woman hails. She has lighter skin like Dwayne and hair that falls no further than her shoulders, and while she''s a full head shorter than him, she nearly matches him in bulk.


    "This is my wife, Phoebe," Dwayne introduces. Niel returns the greeting.


    "While Dwayne runs the home you''re at, I manage the hospital further in the city," Phoebe explains. Her accent is strong and unknown to Niel. "And when you guys are out on summer break, you''ll be coming to do some volunteer hospital work!"


    "We''ll explain what all of that is when the time comes, so don''t worry about it for now," Dwayne says as soon as he sees Niel''s confused expression. "For now, let''s go to my office."


    Dwayne and Pheobe lead Niel upstairs to a neatly organized room with bookshelves and filing cabinets lining the back wall, a tall potted plant in the corner, and a large wooden desk in the centre. Dwayne sorts through one of the metal cabinets and selects a yellow folder housing various papers.


    "This is all of what we''ve shown Lydia," Dwayne says as he places the folder on the desk. Niel opens it and sorts through the contents, finding drawings and paintings made by a child, family photos of the Brookes, and various other school projects and pictures. In one photo, a boy Niel assumes is Aaron is standing next to a young Lydia, who is clutching a stuffed pink rabbit in her arms. They look alike in nearly every photo they''re together in.


    "How did you get all of this?" Niel asks.


    "Levi and Miriam. They gave us this so we could try talking Lydia down, but she didn''t listen at all..." Dwayne clarifies solemnly. "There isn''t much left we can use, as most of their belongings were confiscated due to being bought with dirty or laundered money."


    "Some sad, too," Phoebe chimes in. "Little girl lost her brother, both her parents were arrested, and then she lost her house and just about everything else she owned. What a sin."


    "Lydia used to love her stuffed animals, but she had them all taken from her. I don''t know why the judge thought that needed to happen. All she was left with was a beauty magazine, and she ended up switching from stuffed animals to make-up."


    Niel recalls how he found Lydia''s room to be surprisingly empty. He looks further through the folder and finds a sticky note stuck to the back. ''Self Shelf'' is written in blue ink, with ''B-17'' written just below.


    "What is this?" Niel questions.


    "That''s the storage facility where the stuff they were allowed to keep was sent to. It''s mostly old clothes and some other things; nothing we figured would mean anything to Lydia," Dwayne explains.


    Niel punches in the facility on his map and finds it on the west side of the city, and that''s when an idea forms. He types ''B17'' next to the facility''s name and turns his phone off.


    "So, you showed everything in this folder to Lydia, right?" Niels asks for reconfirmation.


    "Yes, across the years she spent at the home. She found ways to explain away most of it and ignored what she couldn''t, regardless of who did the talking," Dwayne says. "With what you''ve learned from her so far, do you have any ideas on how you could reason with her?"


    Niel didn''t think he would become more clueless after viewing the evidence Dwayne and the others had tried using, but he genuinely doesn''t know how else to approach this. He spitballs ideas based on what catches his eye, but every single idea is shot down due to them already trying it before. Niel has no choice but to concede defeat.


    With nothing left to be shown or help with, Niel decides to return home. Or, that''s what he tells Dwayne. If that folder is a path to repeating dead ends, then Niel will brave the undergrowth. He makes his way northwest to the only idea any of them have left: the storage facility.

 Chapter 17 - The Notebook

    The weather proves advantageous yet tricky for surveying, with rolling clouds covering the city in a thin shade at one moment and allowing bright sunlight to cast deep shadows at another. While puddles still linger, the mess from the storm has been cleaned up, meaning many people are out and about in the city. Regardless, Niel will survey the storage facility so he can come back at night and make his move.


    He soon arrives at the stone wall surrounding the facility. The gate is open, but as he doesn''t have official business here, he decides not to enter and passes by nonchalantly. Rather, he looks for a spot along the wall that''s covered in shadow, which will serve as his entry point. Unfortunately, such a spot doesn''t exist as the shadows from the buildings inside and outside the complex don''t reach the walls, meaning one side is always being shone on. Niel is forced to wait until the clouds cover the sun to make his move.


    He finds a secluded spot nearby free from view and falls into a Shadow Dive. It''s not a perfect shade, but it''s the best he''s got. With cameras covering the inside of the complex, he chooses to enter where the inside of the wall is facing away from the sun so he can have the most amount of coverage possible on his entry and exit. It''s slow going, and he needs to splay himself thin to stay hidden in the light shade, but he moves around the facility and memorizes what he can. It''s an open facility with units lined in rows, and each garage door is held shut with a padlock. Even with the cameras, getting in at night will not be an issue in the slightest. The only snag is that he won''t be able to take anything larger than a few sheets of paper out with him. With unit B-17 located, Niel gradually creeps out the way he came and returns home.


    No red flags are raised when he arrives home. He plays it cool and goes about his business throughout the day so that it ends uneventfully. Once everyone is gone to bed, he waits another half hour just to be safe, and he quietly cracks open his room window by less than a centimetre. The crisp night air wisps through his pyjama top, giving him faint goosebumps along the tops of his scarred forearms. It''s refreshing, but also scary. He has done operations like this in the past, but back then, he had nothing to lose should he be caught. Now it''s the inverse.


    Despite the risk of him being found missing, he slips through the window and shuts it behind him¡ªbut before leaving the area, he turns around and peers up at the house from below the shadows. The sharp edges of the blackened roof cut through the light-polluted night sky like a void. There are no stars visible tonight. Niel hopes that one night they will be, and he''ll sit on the roof to watch them. It''s a comforting thought.


    The heat from the day''s sun still lingers in the ground, heating one side of his phantom body while the cool air chills the other as he sneaks through the city of souls. Traffic is minimal, but there are more people around than he initially predicted; drunks, the homeless, or just people out to enjoy the nightlife. Had his circumstances been different, he may have been among them. Perhaps, in a way, he is now. But he has a job to do, so he continues unerringly to the storage facility once again.


    A problem arises once he reaches his objective. He spotted cameras when he surveyed the place earlier, but he didn''t realize they came with spotlights. It makes perfect sense as there''s only minimal security otherwise, and Niel feels sloppy for not noticing them sooner. It''s not a major deal, thankfully, as they don''t move and don''t cover the whole area. He''ll just have to go around them.


    Within the shaded walls are not only the storage units but also the security booth, which draws Niel''s attention. He wants to see what the guard sees, so he sneaks behind the booth wrapped in shadow to steal a look. Inside is a single guard in attire lazily clicking through the different camera feeds on a single computer monitor. The cameras can barely see anything that isn''t in direct light. This makes his task significantly easier, but he shouldn''t get sloppy.


    He relocates unit B-17 from the safety of the shade and primes the padlock to be picked, but he holds off and returns to the security booth. He doesn''t want anything to be seen moving on camera, even if it''s hardly noticeable. Once the feed is switched away, Niel quietly unlatches the lock and opens the door the tiniest bit from across the facility, and he waits with bated breath for the guard to look at the camera again. Everything is set like how it was before, just slightly moved upward and with a touch of Dust added to help disguise. The guard scans the feed... and moves on to the next. He didn''t notice! Niel puts a tracker on the guard in case he moves and silently creeps back to enter the unit.


    There are no cameras inside the unit as far as he can see, so he uncloaks and looks around. His Dust shows that there isn''t a lot of stuff inside, just a few storage totes stacked on top of each other and nothing else. It''s too dark to see with the naked eye, and Niel is afraid that the light from his phone''s flashlight may be strong enough to bleed to the outside, so he uses the screen''s light in tandem with his Dust to see all he needs to. He''d also rather not make his socks dirty on the unkept concrete floor, so like before out in the woods, he shapes footwear out of Dust, just this time with a pseudo-gelatinous viscosity to muffle his footsteps.


    The only place to start is with the totes, so he unstacks one column and begins his search. He doesn''t know exactly what he''s looking for, or if there''s even anything worth finding in here, but it''s all he has left. Inside the totes are various objects more miscellaneous than Niel was initially expecting, such as antique-looking tableware sets, tools he doesn''t know the function of, and a disassembled clock. He makes sure that he puts everything back the way he found it. There are also other items that he did expect or isn''t surprised to see, like folded clothing and photos that are not of the Brookes, but it''s among a stack of papers in one of the later containers that something catches his eye: a small notebook the size of his hand.


    He''s been reading what he''s been finding, so he flips through the pages of the notebook as well just to be thorough. Some of what''s written inside is in pen and some in pencil, but it''s always information not related to the other pages. None of it looks important, either, just random notes or reminders. He eventually hits the point where the writing ends, so he puts it back in the tote with the other items and closes the lid. But... his gut tells him to look a little more. Niel fishes the notebook back out and skims the blank pages just to be sure. And, he finds something. On the back and bottom of the second last page is something written in what looks like highlighter. He nearly missed it in the low light. It reads:


    ''Some people think that all of reality is theirs, that all they touch and perceive is all their gain. Not everything belongs 2 them.''


    What does this mean? It''s nothing but gibberish, and... ironic, if this was written by them. Niel assumes it''s some kind of code, so he takes the first letter of every word and lines them up to make a sentence, but all he gets is more nonsense. He tries a few other methods of organizing key letters into words, but nothing makes sense still. Fatigue is catching up to him now. Niel pockets the notebook for further study, and after checking through the final totes and finding nothing more of value, he calls it quits and sneaks back out. If he needs to return later, he can. He makes sure that locking the door isn''t caught by the guard, and he returns home.


    >>>>>>


    Niel awakens to the sound of his alarm¡ªa safety net Mabel suggested he use in case he sleeps in again, and given how he was up late last night, setting it ended up being a good call. He forces himself out of bed and past the notebook hidden beneath his dresser so he can get ready for today''s classes.


    Once the day passes him by, he secludes himself in his room to study the notebook further. He was too exhausted last night to give an in-depth analysis, and he still feels more tired than he usually does, but Niel feels that he''s awake enough to give a better effort now. He digs it out from underneath his dresser and opens it to the second-last page while sitting on the floor.


    ''Some people think that all of reality is theirs, that all they touch and perceive is all their gain. Not everything belongs 2 them.'' He saw it before and never questioned it, but why is there a number? It substitutes the word ''to'', but there has to be more to it. Is it a hint? After all, it hardly saves any time writing the number compared to the word. But, what kind of hint would a two be? Niel is fixated on his first-letter theory from last night, so he takes the first letter from each word and strings them together again. The result still doesn''t make sense. How about...


    To go with the ''2'' hint, Niel separates the line of letters into two groups, with each group consisting of the first letter of every other word. The first doesn''t make sense still, but the second... ''startonpage2.'' Start on page 2! That''s it! Niel excitedly flips the book over to see what the second page has to offer.


    The second page contains notes and what looks like appointments, but there has to be a secret somewhere here among the ordinary. He scans through the page multiple times, but yet nothing jumps out at him. Similar approaches as before yield nothing as well. What''s the trick here?


    Drawing a blank, Niel decides to take a look at adjacent pages. The first page of the notebook also looks ordinary, but Niel notices something peculiar on the third: there''s a small red circle little more than a centimetre in radius drawn on a random part of the page. It isn''t circling anything in particular. Looking to throw whatever he can at the proverbial wall to see what sticks, he traces the location of the circle with his Dust and places it over the second page, and it perfectly encapsulates a word: ''river''. He looks at other pages to see if he can find any more of these circles, and after combing through nearly the entirety of the book, he finds twelve others. He uses these on page 2 and notices that all but five circles encapsulate words nearly perfectly. This has to be intentional. The list of circled words consists of ''library, of, 22, page, of, east,'' and ''north.''


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ''Page 22'' immediately jumps out to him, but the remaining six words are more confusing. It''s two sentences, with each composed of a cardinal direction followed by a location. He''s being led to something¡ªthat much is clear. But which direction does he need to go from each location? North of the river? East of the library? Or the other way around? Actually, what library is being referred to here? Niel does a quick check on his phone, and the first library that pops up is that ornate building he''s seen twice before. He forgot that it''s a library, and hopefully, it''s the right one.


    Page 22 is almost identical in layout to page 2, so he tries using the remaining five circles for the circle trick again. ''Lookout, 76, page, of,'' and ''south'' are the result. ''Page 76'' and ''south of lookout'' are simple enough to string together, but right when Niel starts feeling clever is when he runs into an unforeseen problem. He''s positive he''s counting correctly, but page 76 is completely blank. Did he mess up somewhere? He retraces his steps, but no matter how different he looks at this, he arrives at the same result. Did a page get lost somewhere, causing him to overcount? Unless several are missing, he''s far away from a page that isn''t blank. Niel is struggling to understand. Now his back is starting to hurt from sitting hunched over on the floor.


    Niel decides to leave it for now and focus on what he does know. The river, the library, the lookout, and three different cardinal directions. To start, what is the lookout? His phone gives him an annoying three answers: a hilltop lookout located to the southeast of the city, a pub called The Lookout Glass in the city centre, and a hill aptly named the Lookout Hill next to the city''s northern park. So, which one is it? That cleverness from before is quickly turning to frustration. Niel shifts the focus of his search again. Which direction does he need to go from the river and the library? He looks through the notebook again for clues, and he comes up with nothing. Maybe the answer is on page 76? But how does he¡ª


    Niel gives up for the night. He''s getting too frustrated, confused, and fatigued to continue on, so he hides the notebook back under his dresser and stretches the hunch and cracks out of his spine. He''ll pick it up again tomorrow.


    >>>>>>


    If he''s being honest, Niel isn''t feeling very enthusiastic about the notebook. While it''s his only lead, and despite it clearly leading him somewhere, he has no idea what lies at the end of the line or if it''ll be of any use, and thus if this is even worth the effort in the first place. He laments this during his classes with Louise, but something pulls him out of his thoughts momentarily.


    "We''re back early!" Reed announces from the doorway. Lydia pushes past him as grumpy as usual.


    "Why are you back so early?" Niel asks. It''s only noon, and they normally don''t get home until almost four.


    "Parent-teacher''s."


    "What?"


    Mabel steps out from the kitchen for her duly-timed explanation. "It''s called Parent-Teacher Interviews. We''ll be going over to their school in an hour to talk to their teachers about how they''ve been doing," she explains.


    "Ah."


    Of course, just because they''re done with classes for the day doesn''t mean that Niel and Illia are too, so Louise''s teachings continue for a few hours more. In that time, Mabel and Gabriel leave for the school, and they don''t return until after classes are over and Louise is already gone. Reed and Lydia are both upstairs in their respective rooms, so the adults ascend the stairs to discuss the results of the interviews. As for Niel, he had been lazing around in the living room and wasting time, but hearing voices upstairs sparks a curiosity in him. He abandons the couch and slithers up in Shadow Dive to investigate.


    He doesn''t even make it to the second floor before he catches what the commotion is about: Lydia. Her attitude in school lately has gotten her in trouble several times, and their guardians are none too pleased. He can see through his Dust that while she''s on the receiving end of Gabriel''s ire, she hardly shows any interest or care. Mabel is becoming upset with her now, too. Things go even further south when her parents are brought up, and Lydia''s anger spikes drastically to match Gabriel''s. The confrontation swiftly and decisively ends when Lydia uses a blast of ice to seal off the entrance to her room. Mabel and Gabriel are visibly angry, but without the ability to enter her room and scold her further, they''re forced to leave. Gabriel goes back downstairs while Mabel enters Reed''s room to talk to him.


    This outburst was almost identical to the one Niel was subjected to several days ago, and it''s a stark reminder of her situation. He needs to find some way to abate her anger, and his only lead is within the pages of that notebook. He needs to crack the mystery and find what lies at the end. He needs to keep going. With renewed resolve, he returns to his room to try deciphering that notebook once again.


    Figuring out the secret of page 76 is first on the list. He checks both sides, if there''s something hidden within the page itself, or if there are any subtle indents in the paper, but they reveal nothing. It isn''t until he holds the page up to the window that he finally finds a clue. There is something here¡ªhe can tell because light doesn''t shine perfectly through some sections of the paper. He caresses these sections with his thumb and finds that they feel thicker and oddly smooth, and when he scrapes it using his nail, white wax shavings fall to the floor. This is the secret! But what does the wax mean? He assumes it''s more writing, but how can he read it? Scraping the wax off and replacing it with Dust sounds dangerous because if he messes up, he could lose it forever, so he leaves the thinking to his phone.


    Searching up ''white wax hidden message'' results in many examples of how to make a secret wax message, but more importantly, how to reveal them¡ªand it''s simple, too. So simple, in fact, that it''s listed as an activity for children. Niel''s slightly bruised ego aside, all it takes is colouring in the area with watercolour paints or coloured markers. Illia has a pack of markers she uses from time to time, so while she''s downstairs, he commandeers one from her room and colours the white page purple. Clear as day, ''Under the birch tree'' is fully legible. It''s great that he figured it out finally, but this doesn''t help him with directions.


    Lastly are the said directions and their given locations. Niel assumes the three directions are meant to triangulate a single point of interest, but apart from the (or rather a) lookout pointing south, nothing he''s seen gives him any absolutes. He supposes he''ll just have to brute force it. Niel brings up the map of Soul and marks down the key locations.


    Assuming the lookout refers to Lookout Hill by the park, he draws a line south from it, then connects that with a line spanning east from the library. This intersection is also north of the river, so this must be it! The location is just east of the Heartstone Market... inside a building. If this is the case, then what about the wax message? Unless there''s a secret birch tree inside of this building, Niel has a hard time trusting that this is correct. He tries this again with The Lookout Glass pub, but now it''s leading him to the middle of the road.


    If it has something to do with trees, then perhaps the lookout in question is that hilltop lookout just outside of the city? There are plenty of trees out there. However, no combination of east and north connects to a southern line from the lookout. So, now what? Maybe... putting ''lookout'' and ''south'' together was a red herring. With this in mind, Niel tries all sorts of directional combinations with the five points, and while some line up, they''re all arbitrary locations within the city. Except one.


    East of the library, south of the river, north of the hilltop lookout. This places him in the forest¡ªwhere he hopes he may find something underneath a birch tree. He''ll go out exploring tomorrow.


    >>>>>>


    Niel is anxious now that he''s on the cusp of this breakthrough. He''s eager to get outside, but class demands his attention more, so he reluctantly sits inside on this beautiful summer day and tries to distract himself with the lessons in front of him. Once his time with Louise is up, he quickly makes himself scarce from the home.


    Clear skies, warm temperatures, a refreshing cool breeze¡ªthe weather is nothing short of perfection. Except, not exactly. It''s too perfect. Not only can he not dive with how many eyes are watching every angle around him, but the sun would leave him completely exposed even if he could. The most he can do is jog, leaving him well-winded by the time he reaches the trail to the lookout. After comparing his current location to his objective on his phone, he pushes himself forward into the tree line.


    The shade from the forest mixed with the breeze feels great after jogging all this way, but Niel doesn''t want to rest yet. With the lack of direct sunlight and people around, now is the prime opportunity to Shadow Dive, so he temporarily abandons the respite of the forest to become one with the shade. It takes him several surfacings to check his location, but he soon arrives in the target area.


    He can see the hill above him and the lookout on top, but he should be practically invisible to anyone up there. Along with the cover provided by the trees, it''s hard to find what you don''t know you''re looking for. All he needs to find now is that birch tree. He searches for what feels like a while, but among the darker brown trunks of other tree species, he can''t find the white bark of a birch. Niel now realizes that he should have used the lookout to scout for birch trees from above before coming down here. He won''t have enough time to go up and come back down again before supper, so he climbs a tree to get a better view. From this higher vantage point, he finally finds the upper branches of a lone birch peering through the canopy. Now to see what''s there.


    He notices two things on approach to the tree: new birch saplings standing low from the forest bed, and a large rock engraved with the letter ''B'' at the base. The Brookes most certainly left this here. But, is this rock all there is? There has to be more here, right? Niel circles the tree and finds nothing out of the ordinary. He moves the rock as well, but all that''s underneath is just more dirt. With straws as the last thing to grasp at, he examines the rock for any potential clues, and to his relief, there is one. It''s slightly eroded and filled with dirt, but ''X marks the spot'' is etched into the bottom of the stone. If Niel recalls correctly, this idiom is used to mark a place of interest, but he''s also heard Reed mention it alongside buried treasure. Is whatever he''s looking for buried?


    With no way to find out other than to try, Niel uses his Dust to lift away the grass as a sheet and dig underneath. Niel employs caution as he digs; there''s no telling what''s buried here, and driving his Dust straight through it is a very real possibility. He excavates the topsoil layer by layer, both by hand with a spade and with sweeping Dust, and soon something unnatural can be seen in the dirt. After brushing it off and hauling it out, he realizes that it''s a rectangular metal container nearly a metre long and about half a metre wide and deep. The dark metal is unsurprisingly dirty, but it''s also starting to rust in places, especially in the brighter hinges. With no lock on it, Niel raises the lid and opens the box.


    The contents within are what he can only describe as a trove of personal treasure. There''s a handwritten letter resting at the top of the pile, and Niel''s heart races as he skims through it.


    ''To Aaron and Lydia,


    Love, Levi and Miriam.''

 Chapter 18 - Love, Levi and Miriam

    He found it, and it''s so much more than he expected it to be. He''s so thrilled over this find that even he''s having trouble containing his excitement. He found it! Lydia needs to see this!


    Niel clenches his fists and suppresses the growing smile on his face with a deep breath. This is a critical moment, and he needs to temper his emotions and think carefully now. Lydia will likely explain this away however possible, so he needs to prepare. Niel returns everything to the box and buries it all again, setting the area back to the way he found it, grass and all. His fingers quiver in tune with his agitated heartbeat. He''ll bring Lydia here tomorrow.


    >>>>>>


    Niel stands close to the start of the trail that leads to the lookout. It''s the next day, and he requested through text for Lydia to meet him here once she''s done with school. He said it was important when she questioned why, though she never responded back. Now nearly twenty minutes have passed since he got here. Thankfully, a cloudy sky keeps him from baking in sunlight as he waits. Once he begins seriously considering that she isn''t going to give him the time of day, he finds her just down the road on approach.


    "You realize how far away this is from home, right?" Lydia complains in place of a greeting. She''s still wearing her school bag, so she must have come here directly from school.


    "Yes. Thanks for coming."


    "So what is it?"


    "It''s something in the forest that I need you to see."


    "Say that to any other girl and you''ll instantly be labelled as a creep."


    "I know the implications."


    Lydia is reluctant, but since she came all this way, she follows Niel past the lookout and into the woods. She''s not any happier about the extra hiking across the uneven forest floor, but they soon come to the birch tree with the rock at its base.


    "Is this what you want to show me? A tree?" Lydia asks¡ªher tone a mix of confusion, skepticism, and annoyance. She observes the ''B'' engraved in the stone but thinks little more of it.


    "Sort of," Niel says. He moves the stone out of the way and stabs a shovel of Dust into the ground. "It''s buried here."


    "What''s buried?" Lydia questions. Niel responds by tilting the handle of the shovel toward her. She rejects it at first, but when Niel makes a second for himself, she grudgingly takes off her bag and digs with him. It''s arduous work, but a metallic ''thunk'' coming from Lydia''s shovel tells them that they''re done. Niel hauls the crate out of the ground and Lydia reflectively uses water from her Mute to wash away the dirt. She seems surprised by the existence of the box.


    "Open it," Niel says.


    Apprehensive, she opens the box... and Niel watches as her eyes light up with nostalgia and shock. Blankets and toys and more from her childhood; not just her''s but Aaron''s as well. Toy cars still organized in their case and a mat illustrated with a cartoon city neatly folded underneath. She recognizes a music box she loved the melody of when she was small, and she winds it up so she can hear its soft chimes again. Most of all, she finds a stuffed pink rabbit that she considered lost for a very long time, still clean and bright. Lydia spends a brief eternity staring and scanning over the rabbit, and when satisfied she clutches it in her arms like she did all those years ago.


    "How... How did you find this?" Lydia questions softly as she peers up at him from behind the rabbit''s ears. The chimes of the music box ring soothingly.


    "Your parents left a trail leading here for you and your brother to follow. They knew they were close to being caught, so they hid everything here as a precaution. It took me several days to crack it, but I did. For you," Niel explains as he hands her the notebook containing sticky notes labelling and detailing how he solved it so she can follow along. "And they left this for you."


    Using his Dust, Niel brings the letter to the surface of the box so Lydia can read it. She plucks the triple-folded page from the thin clasp of Dust and opens it to read, and her eyes narrow as each word written is narrated in her head.


    ~~


    To Aaron and Lydia,


    We know we haven''t been the best of parents. It hurts us as much as it hurts you two, being away so often. We wish that were changing soon, but we''ve done a lot of bad things, and the consequences are only getting closer. Once the police catch us, we''ll be gone for even longer.


    If you''re reading this, then you two must have figured out the secrets behind the notebook. We''re sorry we never told you about it, Lydia. We didn''t want this burden being placed on you, not when you were so young. We know it''s unfair, leaving you two alone with all of the stuff you were left alone with before, but we''d rather bury it for you to find later than risk it all being taken away for good.


    Once we do our time, we''ll be back to stay. So until then, take care of each other, okay?


    Love, Levi and Miriam.


    ~~


    Lydia grips the letter roughly. Niel takes it as her being swathed by emotion, but when he leans over to check on her, she rips the page in half so violently that she nearly strikes him in the face with the back of her fist. The music box falls silent.


    "And I''m supposed to believe this shit!?" she screams in anger as she quickly rises to her feet. Niel takes a defensive step back. "You just found a notebook that conveniently led you to a box that just so happened to have a bunch of shit from my childhood? No, you planted all of this shit here, didn''t you!?"


    "If I did, then how did I get all of this? You even admitted that this is all from your childhood." Niel is trying to keep a level head and fight her points in the face of her temper. Losing his now would render all of this a waste, and he''ll never get another chance.


    "I don''t know! Those bastards would never do anything like this! They didn''t care about us! They''re not good people!"


    "They might not be, but they cared enough to keep this safe for you two."


    "THEY DON''T CARE!!"


    Like before in the home, Lydia weaves together airborne hydrogen and oxygen atoms with a loud crack to form a vicious surge of water. He wasn''t last time, but Niel is prepared for it now. He conjures a bladed wall to block, split, and smoothly redirect the tidal wave away from him. Lydia attempts this two more times in rapid succession, but both are also defended against successfully.


    "I''m not asking you to love your parents. Or even like them," Niel says composedly¡ªalmost sorrowfully. Dust swirls around him, ready to act again if need be. "I just want you to understand why they did what they did, so you can give up on your anger and move on."


    Still angry but all screamed out, Lydia uses her Mute to haul her bag to her and run away. This isn''t the outcome Niel wanted. All he can do now is wait to see what happens. The two halves of the letter lay soaked on the ground, so he takes them, the notebook, and the rabbit with him and reburies the rest. It''s time to return home now.


    Bringing the rabbit inside would raise obvious questions, so Niel places it at the side of the home so he can hoist it through his room window later. But then he has a thought. If Lydia complained to their guardians about what transpired, he''ll be called out in serious trouble as soon as he steps in through the door. He didn''t think this far ahead. His heart is beating fast in nervous anticipation, and with no way to stop his fate, he enters the home.


    Mabel and Gabriel are in the kitchen with Poppy, Illia is sitting in the living room with her kalimba, and Reed is in his room. The second-floor bathroom is shut, so he assumes Lydia is there. He pries his shoes off and silently steps in, and he sees through his Dust that Illia is looking over at him. He returns her gaze and she gives him a greeting wave, to which he gives one back. Nothing out of the ordinary. With the adults'' backs turned to him still, Niel tries creeping up the staircase so he can get to his room without incident, but of course, one of the stairs just has to make the loudest squeak known to man as soon as he steps on it.


    "Oh, Niel?" Mabel calls. His cover is blown.


    "Yeah?" Niel responds.


    "How was Lydia?" she asks on approach so she can lower her voice. Niel''s heart skips a beat. The letter and the notebook hide just behind his shirt.


    "She was fine," Niel says as a bland answer.


    "Okay. I didn''t know if she bothered you or anything." And after saying that, Mabel returns to the kitchen. Does she... really not know? He feels like he dodged a bullet.


    On the way to his room, Niel notices that Lydia''s room is vacant and a running shower can be heard behind the closed bathroom door. She is in there. He goes to his room to deposit the paper and pull the rabbit up, and with Lydia unable to see what he''s doing, Niel places the rabbit next to her pillow under the covers. It seemed to draw the strongest emotional response from her, so he hopes she''ll be at least happy to have it back. He makes himself scarce before anyone finds him in here.


    The day concludes uneventfully as Niel is left alone in his room to reflect. He and Lydia never spoke to each other for the rest of the day, but the air around her felt as awkward as it was aggressive, as opposed to just being the latter and nothing more. Or, maybe he''s just reading her wrong in his hopefulness. No one ever brought up their interaction in the forest, so Lydia did keep it to herself. At least that''s a positive sign. For the first time in a few nights, Niel is able to sleep without something major stressing his mind into exhaustion.


    >>>>>>


    Finding that cache in the forest yesterday still weighs heavily on Lydia''s mind, so much so that her small friend group at school notices a change in attitude separate from her recent vexation. Despite their prodding, she doesn''t tell what''s on her mind. She becomes so absentminded on the bus after school that she nearly misses her stop. It''s Friday, so instead of going straight home, she gets off the bus close to the cemetery so she can visit Aaron. Counsel with the headstone is unsurprisingly one-sided, but in her desperation to understand, a suggestion floats into her head as if it were carried there by the wind. But can she do it?


    Lydia continues pondering at home. Faced in front of the mirror, she stares herself in the eye as she practices her makeup. Her ambivalent thoughts hold her attention more than the magazines in front of her. Can she let herself believe them? Can their words be trusted in the first place? Is she even strong enough to go through with this? Seeing as it''s getting late, she wipes off the makeup and makes up her mind. He was the one who kicked this off, so he''s coming with her whether he likes it or not. Lydia ascends the stairs toward Niel''s room, but just as she reaches out to his door to knock, it opens up on its own. Niel stares back at her from his bed.


    "You saw me coming, didn''t you?" Lydia says.


    "Of course," he responds blankly.


    Lydia sighs. The lack of emotion annoys her after all of the stress and aggravation she''s been contending with. "I want to talk to my parents, and I want you to come with me," she states boldly.


    Niel''s eyes light up ever so slightly from hearing this, and a small sense of contentment glimmers from inside Lydia.


    "When are we going?" Niel asks.


    "As soon as we can."


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    Following up on what she said, Lydia calls Dwayne and asks for him to book a visitation at the prison at his earliest convenience. He sounds surprised, both at her request and from her wanting to take Niel as well, and he reveals that he already has a visitation booked for Sunday afternoon¡ªFather''s Day. It''s Lydia''s turn to be surprised now (and a bit suspicious at what he was initially planning to do), but at least something has been set. Now to wait.


    The next morning, Mabel holds a sneaky meeting with the kids to determine Gabriel''s Father''s Day gift. It''s hard to hide things from Gabriel for long after several years together, so Mabel likes buying him gifts late so there''s as little time for him to snoop as possible, which he loves doing. After they come to an agreement, Mabel sneaks out of the house with Illia and Niel under the guise of them going for a walk so they can go buy it. Gabriel immediately suspects that they, in fact, may not be gone for a walk due to their SUV being visibly absent from the driveway. After the trio wraps the gift in the parking lot, Mabel employs Niel to sneak it through the unused bedroom window on the top floor once they get home and stash it away inside.


    Sunday morning finally comes around, and in stark contrast to the beautiful day yesterday, another thunderstorm is roaring overhead. Lydia tends to a frightened Illia cowering in the corner. A few wrapped boxes sit at Gabriel''s feet, all from previous children who have moved out of the home, and all previously snooped by him (much to his wife''s irritation).


    "Happy Father''s Day dear," Mabel says as she kisses her husband.


    "Happy Father''s Day!" Reed and Niel cheer, the former louder than the latter.


    "Happy Father''s Day," Lydia says from across the room. Illia plugs her ear with her shoulder rather than with her finger so she can raise her hand in reflection.


    "Here you go, Gab¡ª"


    As soon as Mabel tries giving Gabriel the box she, Niel and Illia bought and wrapped yesterday, a loud crack of thunder causes everyone to flinch. Niel joins Lydia in comforting Illia whimpering in the corner, to Lydia''s surprise.


    "I was going to call you Gabe, but it looks like something''s trying to tell me I shouldn''t!" Mabel jokes. "Here."


    "You still can," Gabriel says back, almost disheartened that he didn''t hear someone call him by the nickname he offers but no one ever uses. He tears apart the wrapping paper and exposes the box for an indoor electric grill. "Oh! Thank you!"


    Niel doesn''t quite understand why they need an indoor grill when the barbecue they hardly use still works just fine, but Gabriel looks happy, so maybe that''s all that matters.


    "Oh, for me? Thank you! You shouldn''t have!" Poppy jokes as she pretends the grill is for her.


    "Hey! You might use it more than me, but it''s still mine!" Gabriel retorts.


    The rest of the morning leading into noon is spent with Gabriel opening his other gifts, like mugs with odd Father''s Day-related jokes and gift cards for a liquor store. Soon Dwayne pulls into the driveway, and Niel and Lydia know it''s time. The two of them get ready to leave while Dwayne chats with everyone downstairs, and after Lydia pats Illia''s still-timid head, they load into his car and make their way northwest toward the prison. After nearly twenty minutes of driving, Dwayne steers into the parking lot next to the facility and brings the car to a stop.


    "Leave everything out here," Dwayne instructs. "Phones, wallets, and the Warden''s Key. They''ll be scanning all of us inside."


    Niel contemplates this for a moment. He could likely find a way to smuggle it inside, but should he be caught, there would be hell to pay. He fills his internal storage to near-max and tucks his primary source of strength into the seat pocket in front of him, and they all leave the car.


    Inside the white concrete walls of the prison''s reception area, Dwayne takes a number and the three of them sit and wait until they''re called. A guard with a dog passes by. Lydia is noticeably anxious from the dog sniffing her, and had he been helping Callum now instead of before, so would Niel. They approach the front desk once the receptionist is ready for them, and Dwayne confirms the visitation and provides identification for the three of them. The visit will be with her father first and then her mother immediately after, but not both at the same time, as Niel now discovers.


    After being cleared, they''re scanned by a metal detector next before they can proceed to the visitation room. Lydia passes through just fine, as does Dwayne, but Niel is the catch. The Dust-making device on his heart will almost certainly trigger a response, and Dwayne knows this, so he tells the male guards in charge of the scan that Niel has a medical implant and shows a card proving so. Niel didn''t even know that Dwayne carried such a card. The guards understand, but Niel still has to walk through the detector anyways as there''s nowhere else for him to go. The archway predictably detects the metal in his body and sounds an alarm, but a sweep over his body with a detector wand and a frisk clears him as well.


    After a short walk following a guard, they can ease their nervous hearts in the visitation room. The walls of the room have shifted from the white before to a yellowish-tan, and the floor is covered by patternless brown carpet. Myriad metal tables with attached stools are neatly organized throughout the semicircle-shaped room, made into that shape by what Niel assumes is a chamber for guards to watch and listen to them from behind one-way glass. The stools are not very comfortable. The seat reserved for Lydia''s parents is directly across from her, with Niel positioned to her left and Dwayne at her right.


    The prison is very secure, not just from what they''ve encountered so far, but the fact that each doorway is designed with a filter to block Phase Mutes, and thus his secret scans as well. There are other people in here with them¡ªsome inmates, and other family members and/or friends visiting. Some even have small children.


    A metal door clicks open from across the room. Niel is the first to look, and based on Lydia''s scowl, he presumes this is who they''re here to see. Escorted to their table by a guard, Levi is visibly shocked and excited to see his daughter for the first time in years. He shares Lydia''s dark complexion, but he''s bald unlike her, and his facial hair is messy and not well-kept. The standard orange jumpsuit and white shirt underneath unmistakably show his status as an inmate, though Niel is personally surprised that he''s not restrained in any way. The guard exits to the room with one-way glass as soon as Levi sits down at the table.


    "It''s so good to see you again, swee¡ª"


    "We found the notebook," Lydia abruptly states, cutting her father off. Niel notes how Levi''s voice is even deeper than Dwayne''s.


    "Notebook?" Dwayne questions.


    "You... found the notebook?" Regardless of what the notebook is, Levi''s soft, stupefied tone and expression shows how serious this is to him. "Did you¡ª"


    "Everything. It was all there. And I want you to explain why," Lydia demands.


    "Hold on," Dwayne interrupts. "What are you talking about?"


    Levi looks over his shoulder before lowering his volume. "Miriam and me knew we were going to get caught soon, so we buried everything the kids owned because it was bought with the money we stole."


    "Wait. So it wasn''t taken by the courts?"


    "No, but it was going to, like the rest of our stuff did. Obviously, we didn''t want it to stay buried forever, so we left hints in a normal-looking notebook for them to follow." Levi looks back at his daughter. "And it worked."


    "And it wouldn''t have worked if it wasn''t for Niel," Lydia grumbles. "He was the one who found it and solved it. I wasn''t told that it existed. Why?"


    "Let''s get some introductions out of the way first before we continue," Dwayne says, though very curious about what Niel has done behind everyone''s back. "This is Niel, our most recent resident of the home."


    "Pleasure to meet you, Niel," Levi greets. "I''m sure you already know, but I''m Lydia''s father, Levi." Niel nods his head in recognition.


    "Why wasn''t I told about the notebook?" Lydia demands again.


    "I had no idea you did such a thing, either," Dwayne admits.


    "I''ll be honest, I didn''t really want a third party involved with that notebook, and by the sound of it, neither does Miriam if she never said anything either," Levi explains. "And, I did want to tell you, Lydia. You were just too young at the time, and when that wasn''t a problem anymore, you wouldn''t talk to me, or listen."


    A flash of self-reflective guilt streaks across Lydia''s face. "But... why did you do it? Other than so it wouldn''t be taken away, why?"


    Levi has to think for a moment to understand what his daughter is trying to ask, but he soon catches on.


    "Because we love you. Everything we did, all the crimes we committed, it was so you and Aaron could lead better lives than us. We knew we had sealed our fate a long time ago, and we didn''t want to leave you with nothing. But... that''s exactly what we ended up doing. Lydia, I''m so sorry for leaving you two alone for so long, and I''m so sorry for getting Aaron killed."


    Hot tears sting Lydia''s eyes. A part of her wants to reject his words as manipulation, and she''s angry about him speaking Aaron''s name, but she also wants to believe in his sincerity. She tries to speak, but her words come up a garbled mess under the strain of emotion.


    "I-I m-miss Aaron..."


    Seeing his daughter cry sparks a strong surge of heartache in Levi as he too begins crying. "We miss him, too. You didn''t deserve to grieve alone."


    The two then proceed to pour their hearts out as the four-year-long dam between them gives way. Niel and Dwayne even have trouble keeping it together in the face of their emotional heart-to-heart. Levi tells them stories from Lydia''s youth, stories that were wiped from her memory via her rage until now, and she recalls them with nostalgia alongside her father. Unfortunately, an alarm sounds through the prison, and guards rush in to escort the inmates back to their cells and usher visitors out. Levi is upset that the time with his daughter is being cut short, but as he''s being taken away, he hears Lydia''s voice call out above the chaos.


    "Dad! Happy Father''s Day!"


    He waves back at them just before he disappears through the doorway, and Niel is convinced that the word ''elated'' won''t even begin to describe the joy he saw on Levi''s face. The rest of them are forced to leave as lockdown ensues.


    "It''s unfortunate that we don''t get to see Miriam now," Dwayne comments when they''re in the car. Niel re-equips the Warden''s Key and slips the bulb back underneath his shirt.


    "Dwayne? Is it possible to send Mom a letter?" Lydia asks. It doesn''t come out strongly on their faces, but both Niel and Dwayne are shocked to hear Lydia, of all people, actively want to reach out to one of her parents.


    "We can do that," he replies.


    With nothing left for them here, they drive out of the parking area and begin their journey home. Lydia quietly reflects during the trip, and before they reach their destination, she decides to make a request.


    "Can you drop us off at the graveyard?"


    If it''s the graveyard she wants to go to, then it means she wants to see Aaron. Dwayne obliges, and he veers off of his intended route to go to the graveyard instead. Once there, Lydia and Niel step out, and Dwayne drives away as per her request. The grass, ground, and stone are all still wet from today''s storm, but the grey clouds above have since broken apart. Niel follows Lydia to the headstone of her brother once again.


    "Aaron... I saw Dad," she begins. "He looks well. He said he was sorry for leaving us alone so much, and he said he loved us. I... Things aren''t perfect. One or two apologies aren''t going to make me forgive him immediately. How he and Mom neglected us, and how they got you killed still bothers me a lot. But, I''m going to give him another chance. And Mom, too."


    It feels like a breath of fresh air to hear her speak of her parents in a way that isn''t wishing ill of them. Niel is proud of Lydia for her change in character, and he''s proud of himself for being the spark. Once Lydia is content with her report, they stand and begin the walk home. Though on their way out, they run into a familiar face.


    "Niel? Didn''t expect to see you here." Walking in through the gate is Callum, sharing a hand with Alanna. It hasn''t been very long since Niel had last seen them, but Callum looks a little healthier and Alanna a little taller.


    "Oh, Callum. How have things been?" Niel asks.


    "Much better. Came to see Breanne today. Finally managed to land a job recently, too."


    "That''s great! What do you do?"


    "Eh, it''s just a lousy gas station clerk, but it''s enough for now."


    At this point, Lydia is very confused by who this strange man is and why he and Niel know each other. Both Niel and Callum catch on to this.


    "This is Callum," Niel introduces to Lydia. "He''s a friend. And this is his daughter Alanna."


    "Got me out of a tough spot. I owe him a lot for it," Callum adds. He extends a friendly hand to Lydia. "Your name?"


    "Uh, Lydia," she answers unsurely as she shakes his hand. "I''m... also a friend of Niel''s."


    "Lydia. Your name is pretty," Alanna says, though her pronunciation sounds closer to Widia than Lydia. Lydia gives an awkward but charmed smile.


    Niel leans down a bit until his hands rest on his knees. "Are you keeping your daddy out of trouble?"


    "Yep!" the young girl chirps gleefully.


    "That''s good to hear."


    Lydia has been watching Niel''s face throughout the day, and as per usual, he doesn''t express much emotion. But now, hearing him talk is like listening to a whole new person. Or, has she just been tone-deaf to his voice this whole time?


    "She''ll be starting school in September," Callum says.


    "Are you excited?" Niel asks Alanna.


    "Yes!"


    Lydia wants to say something nice to Alanna, but she feels too awkward and out of place to do so. With the day not getting any younger, each side bids the other farewell and they go their separate ways. Lydia needs some time to organize her thoughts after that strange encounter.


    "So, how did you meet him?" she says skeptically as they walk down the sidewalk.


    Niel explains the story of meeting Callum in the alley during a walk, helping him when he was getting robbed, and how he protected Alanna from Invictus kidnappers. Lydia is stunned.


    "I¡ªI don''t even know where to begin, other than you''re incredibly stupid for getting yourself involved in the first place."


    "Maybe. But look at them now. They would''ve been on the street had I not gotten involved, or worse without protection from Invictus. I don''t want to see another child grow up on the street."


    Lydia recalls something Reed told her a while ago. ''You''d be surprised by what he''ll do for you without you even knowing.'' Niel saved a family from the brink of ruin without uttering so much as a single word or complaint, and then he goes and helps her restore her family bonds nearly, if not completely single-handedly. Turns out Reed was more accurate than even he likely knew.


    All this time, she thought he never cared.


    "...And that''s something I need to get used to," Lydia says.


    "What is?"


    "How you don''t show what you''re feeling on your face. Sometimes it looks like you don''t care about what''s going on. I''ve gotten upset at you a few times because of it..."


    Niel doesn''t fully know where she''s coming from, but if he had to harbour a guess, perhaps it''s when she glares at him seemingly at random?


    "I know I don''t show much emotion other than sorrow or rage. I find expressing myself... difficult... after the lab. But I try to help despite that. If the most I can do is stand tall, then I''ll stand."


    "You''ve done more than just stand. You''ve turned a few lives around," Lydia says with pride in Niel. "Thank you for not giving up on me. And, sorry for getting pissy at you. And sorry for trying to drown you that one time."


    "You''re forgiven," Niel responds.


    ''Turned a few lives around''. Again, the reason why he decided to get involved eludes him, but seeing his efforts be rewarded makes him believe it was worth it. Hopefully now, Lydia can let go of her rage, and in the future, maybe Niel can learn to, as well.


    All that remains in the sky are wispy clouds left from storms passed.

 Chapter 19 - Dream

    "So, I forgot to ask when we were leaving the prison," Dwayne says to Niel sometime after he and Lydia get home from the graveyard. The two of them are in the corner of the living room alone, with everyone else spread around the house. "But how did you find that notebook?"


    Uh oh. There''s no way Dwayne is going to appreciate or approve of him sneaking into the storage facility. He doesn''t want to lie, but he also doesn''t want to face whatever consequences may be in store for him. The lie he created for Lydia should she have asked was that it was in Dwayne''s possession and that he was the one to take and solve it, but not only would such a lie not work on Lydia anymore, it would also be flagrantly obvious in the face of Dwayne. Saying he found it in Mabel and Gabriel''s room would also be easily disproven should his guardians not hold onto documents of Lydia''s past, which from the folder of such that Dwayne presented him with before, Niel assumes they likely do not. He can''t think of anything to say other than the truth, so knowing that what''s done is done and that he may not like the repercussions, he decides to tell Dwayne the truth.


    "I snuck into the storage facility and looked through the Brookes'' unit. I found the notebook in there," Niel admits.


    "The Self Shelf? You..." Dwayne says with a sigh. Niel can already hear the disappointment in his voice, and the Warden''s Key blinks. "You really should not have done that. Breaking in is one thing, but that''s a major invasion of privacy."


    "I didn''t know what else I could do for Lydia, so¡ª" Niel protests, but he''s cut off by Dwayne.


    "I know why you did it, but that doesn''t make it okay. Look, I''m grateful for what you''ve done for Lydia, but..." Dwayne sighs again. He''s conflicted. "This is your one and only warning: DON''T do it again. Okay?"


    "I won''t," Niel promises.


    Despite the events that transpired today, being scolded like this puts Niel in a low mood for the rest of the day. He hides it well under a fa?ade of stone. The feeling remains when he wakes the next morning, and with a poor mood comes poor thoughts. He remembers the tribute of paper boats he made when he was sick. He remembers the reason for it. It''s hard for him not to. It''s impossible for him not to.


    After his lessons with Louise, Niel gathers and hides away eight sheets of blank paper under his shirt, and he returns to the river at the park. There aren''t many people here on a Monday afternoon, so like last time, he can do as he pleases in peace. His folding skills haven''t improved since the last time, but he''s able to successfully recall how to fold the paper boats in time. Using his Dust to fold them would make it easier to remember, but he refuses to because it was his Dust that caused this in the first place. Then, one by one, he lowers them into the water. He hopes they can see this. A tribute to them to show his remorse. A plea for a forgiveness he knows he doesn''t deserve.


    Redemption feels like a dream too far gone.


    After the boats disappear down the river, Niel collects himself and returns home. Feeling down like this isn''t something he enjoys. He''s been told to talk to someone when he feels like this, but he doesn''t know what to say. Medova can usually open him up, but she hasn''t been around lately. For now, Niel lies down in his room as the clock counts down to suppertime.


    He scans through the news on his phone to see what major events have been occurring in Soul, and he finds an article posted merely an hour ago regarding the lockdown at the prison yesterday. The cause was an escape attempt by Invictus-affiliated inmates. Venom bubbles in Niel''s throat in the form of a growl. Of-fucking-course it was Invictus. They nearly cost Callum everything he had left, and now they''ve indirectly disrupted Lydia as well. And those are only people close to him. How many others have had their lives destroyed due to them? Horror stories floating around say too many to count. Had he not gained so much to lose, Niel would be more than happy to stomp them out.


    Speaking of organized crime, Niel also finds an article covering a press conference held by the city''s Chief of Police on the 21st of May. If he''s correct, that''s roughly when he ran into the Electric Mute Thief. The conference talks about the rising number of children becoming involved in crime, organized or not, and the Chief questioning why this is happening. Niel suspects that the Thief''s age played a role in this conference being held. Though, now that he thinks about it, some of the Invictus members he ran into didn''t seem to be that old, either. Not as young as Niel, but not old.


    Though not through crime, Mavrick was working to support his mother. Callum worked with Invictus to support Alanna. Levi and Miriam committed their crimes to support Lydia and Aaron. Could that be a driving force for these other gang members and criminals? A way to support people close to them? It doesn''t excuse the crimes committed, but it''s a reason why they''d be committed in the first place. On that same note, it may not be a reason for everybody, as there are likely just as many assholes who are in it for themselves and don''t care who gets hurt so long as they get rewarded. He''s seen plenty of that. Felt it, too.


    Niel slowly shakes his head to scatter his thoughts¡ªhe''s thinking too much about this. It''s almost suppertime, so he should go downstairs now.


    >>>>>>


    "You look quite happy," Louise gossips with Mabel over a mug of coffee. It''s lunchtime Friday and classes are on pause for the break. "Has something come up?"


    Mabel responds with a modest grin. "My birthday is coming up!"


    "Oh? What day?"


    "This Monday!"


    "That''s quite a surprise. Mine is Friday."


    "Really?"


    Niel and Gabriel are discreetly eavesdropping on the two women from the couch in the living room. Illia is being a good girl and minding her own business.


    "Mabel''s birthday is soon?" Niel quietly questions to Gabriel.


    "And so is Louise''s, apparently," he responds. The gears in their heads turn as they process this information and what they will do with it. Illia looks up and swears she can see smoke coming from their ears.


    Next week is exam week for Reed and Lydia, so Louise will be emulating it with tests of her own. Today is a day of preparation. Every topic from the previous months is gone back over as refreshers so Niel and Illia can take study notes and reclaim old worksheets for the weekend. The day ends somewhat early, so Niel uses this extra time to gloss over his notes. That is until Reed gets home.


    The eager boy is happy to be home, and he invites Niel upstairs to play video games. Niel protests initially using his notes as a reason to stay put, but Reed argues that he has all weekend to study and that playing for a bit wouldn''t hurt. Niel gives in and goes with Reed.


    "Mabel''s birthday is on Monday," Niel says. He whiffs a jab in-game, and his character loses nearly 40 per cent of her life bar from a single command grab punish from Reed''s character.


    "Yeah. Pretty sure we''ll be going out over the weekend to get something." After a short bout of weak hits, footsies, and blocked attacks, Reed''s character hits Niel''s with a leaping double-fisted punch to secure him the round.


    "Damn," Niel says in dismay. The second round starts with a similar scuffle as before. "Ms. Louise''s birthday is also next Friday."


    "Really? You guys know what to get her?"


    "No." Through the use of mix-ups and playing more patiently, Niel whittles down Reed''s large amount of HP and takes the second round.


    "You''re getting good," Reed praises. He does nothing but block so Niel is incentivized to grab, and their characters become tethered together once Niel does so. Niel goes for a jumping approach, but Reed is ready with an anti-air super move. Once the first super lands, the tether and a low kick keep Niel in place for a second super, followed by a final follow-up attack to win Reed the game, all in a single combo that took Niel from full HP to zero. Reed is more than ecstatic about landing this touch of death as he flails about on his bed and squeals.


    "That''s what I''m talking about!" he roars. Niel would be annoyed if he wasn''t already impressed.


    "Do you have everything you need to study with? I heard you have exams next week," Niel says just to drive a knife in between Reed''s ribs.


    Reed''s excitement is thoroughly extinguished. "Man, don''t remind me."


    Later after supper, the four kids are gathered around the table to focus on studying. Lydia seems to have all of her notes and priorities organized, Niel is going over each topic at random, Illia silently sorts through her notes, and Reed is suffering from boredom. Niel notices that despite having the same tutor, he has far less material than Illia. He worries that his notes are inadequate, but then he remembers that Louise has been teaching her nearly three times longer than him. It only makes sense that she has more¡ªshe was taught more. Perhaps he should consider himself lucky.


    "What tests do you two have to do?" Niel asks the school-goers.


    "I have math on Monday, and English and French on Wednesday," Lydia explains.


    "Unlucky you, having two exams in one day," Reed comments. "All I have is math and English on the same days as Lydia."


    Something about that confuses Niel. "You take French as well, right? Why don''t you also have a French exam?"


    "I exempted it."


    Lydia chimes in immediately before Niel can question what that means. "If you have a good enough attendance, you can choose to not take a single exam and not have it affect your mark," she explains. "So if you think you''ll do badly on an exam, like with Reed and French, you can exempt it and save your mark from getting worse."


    "Or Lydia with law."


    "I have a 92 in law. What''s your mark in French?"


    "...60-something."


    "Exactly."


    "What about the days when you don''t have exams?" Niel questions.


    "What about them?"


    "What will you be doing?"


    "Nothing, we''ll be home," Lydia says. "We have to go back on July 2nd for our report cards, but that''s all we''re doing¡ªgrabbing them and going. After this Wednesday, we''re done with school until September."


    "Summer break!" Reed cheers as he leans back and throws his arms up. "Oh right, what is Ms. Louise doing for you two?"


    "It won''t be as big as your exams, but they''ll have a test on each subject, Monday through Friday," Mabel explains as she passes through the kitchen. "Like a mock exam."


    "Dang. I guess you two are the unlucky ones."


    Niel no longer considers himself lucky.


    The next day, Gabriel gathers the children to pick out a birthday gift for Mabel similar to how she gathered them a week ago to decide on a Father''s Day gift for him. Once something is chosen, Niel and Illia join both guardians to figure out what they should get for Louise. It takes coordinating what they''ve heard from the tutor in passing with internet searches, but they eventually come to an agreement. With the gifts in mind, Gabriel takes the kids out to the store.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Lydia takes the front passenger seat since Mabel isn''t with them, and Niel notices her constantly watching what Gabriel does behind the wheel. Niel is curious too as he had never been in a vehicle before coming to the home, but he never expected Lydia of all people to share in his curiosity as he figured she would already know. Niel recalls a driver''s license being mentioned sometime before. Is she trying to learn from Gabriel in the pursuit of one?


    They immediately fetch Mabel''s present and cake once they enter the store, but Lydia takes this opportunity to buy a few makeup bottles for herself. This ends up leading to the other three kids roaming about the store to find something they want, too. Gabriel and Lydia follow Reed while Niel and Illia wander together, with Niel leaving a tracker with Gabriel so they can find their way back later. Niel mostly follows Illia since he doesn''t have anything particular in mind, but he does keep an eye out for Mavrick in case he''s working today, though it doesn''t seem like he is. They find their way to a section filled with different toys, and while Niel isn''t too interested, Illia scans through the isles with intent. She can''t seem to make her mind up on which plush fictional creature to choose, but she ends up deciding on some sort of round beige owl with a leafy green bowtie.


    With Illia''s selection made, they make their way back to Gabriel and the others across the store, but on the way, they pass by a selection of different puzzle books. He''s a tad tired of puzzling books after dealing with the Brookes'' notebook, but seeing a word search reminds him of babysitting Alanna that one time, so he decides that this will be what he chooses to buy. Illia does not comment on it, though it would be stranger if she did. The others are just leaving the electronics section just as the pair arrive.


    "What did you guys get?" Reed asks. His empty hands and slightly down expression tell Niel that he may not have gotten something he wanted. Illia holds up her plush owl and Niel the word search.


    "A word search? What are you, eighty?" Lydia questions, causing him to shrug.


    "Did you get anything?" Niel asks Reed, just to see if he did or not.


    "Nah," he responds. It turns out Niel was right.


    They pay for everything and return home, this time with Gabriel actively teaching Lydia what he''s doing and looking out for while driving. Niel also pays attention in case he can make use of this knowledge in the future. Gabriel makes one more stop at a liquor store to buy Louise''s present. Mabel greets them all once they arrive home, but before they can get their shoes on, she shrieks a bloody scream and phases onto a chair in the living room.


    "A mouse!!" she squeals, causing all of the kids but Niel to go into their own short bursts of panic.


    "Where?" Gabriel questions as he looks around. Niel scans the floor of the living room and finds something mouse-shaped underneath the couch, so he hauls it out with his Dust. Sure enough, it''s a small grey field mouse squeaking sharply in either anger or fear, and Niel places it in a black cage in the palm of his hand. Mabel and Lydia are highly unnerved by it, but Illia looks at it like she thinks it''s cute.


    "Take it outside! Please!" Mabel begs from on top of the chair. Lydia is emotionally right there with her.


    "Maybe we should''ve gotten you mouse traps for your birthday instead!" Reed jokes.


    The situation calms down once Niel releases the mouse outside. The three ladies wander off to other parts of the house, but the guys remain, scheming.


    "You should use your Dust to make a mouse and scare Mabel on her birthday," Reed conspires, keeping his voice low so he isn''t eavesdropped on¡ªyet another one of his bad ideas.


    "That''s horrible," Gabriel chimes in. Niel fully expected him to be the voice of reason, until... "But it would be funny. Think you could do it?"


    Niel is baffled that Gabriel would even entertain the idea, let alone agree with Reed. "I... suppose I can."


    The rest of the weekend passes them by and Monday is here before they know it. Of course, with Mabel''s birthday today, everyone has their wishes for her lined up and ready to give once they wake up and go downstairs. Reed and Lydia get their last-minute study cram in before they leave, and Niel and Illia read up on what notes they have while eating before joining Louise in the living room. Today''s test: English.


    There wasn''t much in the way of notes covering the subject, and the test reflects this as it just involves reading comprehension with some lengthy writing at the end. They have all day (or five hours) to complete it, but it doesn''t take them even a quarter of the allotted time to finish. Louise takes their completed tests once they are done, and after mulling over their answers, she provides them with high scores. Not perfect, but very well done. Reed and Lydia also return home earlier than normal after their exams conclude.


    After supper is when they decide to cut the strawberry vanilla cake and celebrate. Since Niel never asked, today is when he learns that Mabel is 31 years old now. Gabriel brings out a gift bag containing their present to her, and Niel floats out other gifts from past children of the home. Reed whispers a reminder to Niel about the mouse prank they discussed earlier. Niel''s resultant, but he''ll do it. Once Mabel dips her hand into the bag to remove the tissue paper covering, Niel forms a blob of dust into the shape of a mouse and ejects it from the bag in the same way an escaping mouse would. Mabel shrieks in fear as she recoils her hand, causing Poppy and the two girls to jump as well and Reed and Gabriel to smirk devilishly as they hold in their laughter. They quickly realize that it''s a construct of Dust and not a real mouse, and all attention turns to Niel.


    "Niel!" Mabel exclaims, partly from fear, partly from annoyance, but mostly from the realization that it was him who was behind this prank. A small smile crests her face from the aftershock.


    "Really?" Lydia says, far less amused. She''s not telling anyone this, but she was two seconds away from leaping onto a chair herself. Poppy was considering climbing onto the countertop, and Illia had no idea what to do.


    Niel points at Reed and Gabriel. "It was their idea. They got me to do it." With the blame pinned on them, Reed and Gabriel fail to hold their composure and they crack into laughter.


    "Might as well reverse the bus and run them over again while you''re at it."


    With the jokes out of the way, Mabel resumes opening her present, and she pulls out a set of watercolour paints and a paintbrush.


    "You said you were interested in watercolours at one point, so we settled on this," Gabriel explains.


    "Plus, it''ll give you a hobby," Reed adds.


    "Thank you!" Mabel says as she hugs the family around her.


    Exam week progresses smoothly from here. Niel and Illia''s second subject is math, and since Reed and Lydia get to spend their day at home, they get to see snippets of how this process works. Wednesday they''re gone for their own exam(s) while the homebodies take on Louise''s science test. Reed gets to come home early¡ªa fact he''s more than willing to rub in Lydia''s face yet again. Thursday''s test is history, and the final Friday is for social studies. But after the tests are marked and before she can leave for the summer, Louise is stopped by the two kids under her tutelage and their guardians.


    "Happy birthday!" Niel and his guardians say as Illia presents the tutor with her gift: a glass bottle of white Vidal Icewine.


    "Oh!" Louise exclaims in shock as she receives the bottle. But then she remembers the conversation she and Mabel had exactly a week ago. "You remembered...!"


    "Of course we did!" Mabel responds with a gleeful smile.


    "This is thanks for tutoring Illia and Niel," Gabriel adds.


    "My paycheque is thanks enough, but... Thank you," Louise says. "Sincerely."


    >>>>>>


    Class is finally out and summer break officially begins! So what are the four kids doing this Saturday? Nothing. Niel indulges in his book of word searches in the living room, Illia plays her kalimba nearby, Lydia does little of consequence, and Reed plays games in his. Because of this, nothing exciting or noteworthy happens for most of the day. After the sun has gone down and the city falls into the evening dark, the sound of stray fireworks catches their ears. Illia is the first to look, peering out from between the living room curtains to find the colourful flashes of light. Niel hangs over her shoulder to see what she''s so interested in, and Mabel and Gabriel part the curtains for themselves to look as well. They catch a small glimpse of an orange flash in the sky, but not much else, to Illia''s dismay.


    Suddenly, the house and the whole street drop into complete darkness. Illia squeaks in shock while the adults voice their own surprise. Instead of resorting to his phone''s flashlight, Niel coats the room in a light film of Dust so he can see without seeing. Footsteps thud above them as Reed and Lydia descend to the first floor, phone flashlights in hand so they can navigate in the blackout.


    "Whole street''s out," Gabriel says to the pair as they approach.


    "Really?" Reed questions.


    "I wonder what happened," Lydia says.


    Mabel brings up her phone, looking for answers. "Nothing''s been said yet."


    "Guess we''ll have to wait a bit for an update," Reed says.


    As Lydia sits down next to Illia, Niel decides to do some scouting. He puts his shoes on and steps out of the house, and with the cover provided by the night, he ascends to the roof of the house. From this vantage point, he finds that there are still some lights on in the city, but this area and a section of the city are in the dark. It isn''t a problem isolated to this street. Niel turns in and reports his findings.


    "Something big must have happened, then," Gabriel muses. Lydia''s phone sits screen-down on the coffee table so the flashlight can project a sphere of light to encompass the room.


    Niel quickly realizes that Mabel isn''t here. A scan shows that she''s in her room digging through her closet. "What''s Mabel doing?"


    "Looking for glow sticks."


    "Glow sticks?"


    "You don''t know what glow sticks are?" Reed questions.


    "No."


    "You''ll see," Gabriel says.


    After another minute of waiting, Mabel returns downstairs with a small rectangular box and a plastic pack of something in each hand. She places them by Lydia''s phone and an eager Illia pulls a colourless plastic rod from the pre-opened pack. The rod cracks audibly as she bends it, and Niel assumes she broke it in two, but then the rod glows a bright yellow as if by magic. Niel is amazed.


    "Now you see why it''s called a glow stick?" Reed comments as he takes a thicker glow stick from the box and cracks it, causing it to light up with red.


    "I do. I see very clearly."


    "Hah! You made a joke!"


    The glow stick in Reed''s possession is thicker, brighter, and can stand on its own, leading to Niel immediately understanding its practical use as a light source. Illia''s, on the other hand, is so thin that it can be bent and held together at the tips to form a bracelet, which is what she has done. Niel takes a smaller one like Illia''s and bends it, causing something inside to crack and glow green. She hands him a small plastic coupler to hold it together as a ring, and after examining this strange glowing item further, he spins it around his finger. The afterimages it leaves behind when he spins it quickly look strangely mesmerizing in the dark.


    "Here, put all four of them together," Lydia suggests as she gives Illia a red and blue glow stick. Illia attaches them to her yellow one, and with the green stick from Niel, she forms a quad-coloured hoop. Her eyes light up and an innocent smile grows on her face as she spins it like Niel did. The small green loop was already visually entertaining, but watching how the afterimage colours shift places when spun is even more mesmerizing to the pair. The other four watch them in delight.


    The fun continues for a few minutes longer, but now it''s time for bed. The thicker glow sticks are used so everyone can see as they get ready, and once he lays in bed, Niel places his on his dresser. It''s a faint green light, but it''s just enough to see around the room without the need for his Dust. The Warden''s Key flashes softly like a firefly in the dark. It almost reminds him of... some of the nights he spent in the lab.


    For the first few nights after being given the pendant, he was moved to a different room for better monitoring. He found it hard to sleep in the new room. It was different. Uncomfortable. The pendant kept flashing as he and it adjusted to each other, and it kept him awake. He wasn''t allowed to take it off.


    His dreams shift.


    It''s cold. He needs to escape the room otherwise he''ll collapse. If he could use his Dust, it would be easy. He tries reaching out to something in his body, but only shivers respond. His legs can''t support him in the cold any longer.


    His dreams shift.


    Restrained in transport, one room to the next. The next try awaits him. The shackles are too strong to break. Dust would free him if it works the way they say it will. Why won''t it save him? All he wants is to awaken. Maybe then they''ll stop the pain.


    His dreams shift.


    Waking up. Always falling unconscious. Waking up. Breathing water. Waking up. Electricity. Waking up. Violence. Awakening. The first life taken. Waking up.


    His dreams shift.


    Blood. Held. Down. Power. Too. Much. Held. Down. Dust. Storm. Needle. Pain. Held. Down. Lab. Coats. Restraints. Held. Down.


    Signature, left. Other people. Where are they? Lab coats holding him down feel like air. Where are they? Dust everywhere. Eyes don''t line up with his vision. Mind and body aren''t one. A nightmare he can''t scream in. Real...?


    ...el...


    n...el...


    "Niel..."


    "NIEL!"


    His vision and sight mix in an unfettered cacophony, but his head is beginning to sift through the static and rearrange what is reality and what is not. The white coats of the lab''s scientists fade to black and red as Reed''s shape comes into focus. They''re sitting on the floor. Glow sticks and flashlights give as much light as possible, but an opaque smog of Dust drains most of it from the air. As he comes further into consciousness, he retraces through his last actions, and the last thing he remembers is lying in bed.


    He... he never fell asleep.


    "Easy... Take it easy..." Reed coaxes as Niel comes further back into his senses. Niel breathes fast and shallow as if he had been holding his breath, and he notices that Reed''s breathing is following a similar rhythm. The sight of Lydia to Niel''s left catches his attention, and then Mabel, Illia, and Gabriel further out. They all look mortified and panicked.


    Gabriel takes a knee in front of him. "It''s okay. You''re safe. Nothing can hurt you here, just breathe."


    "What... happened...?" Niel croaks. Pursing his lips to speak makes him realize that blood and black crystal are pouring from his nose to stain his shirt and pants crimson. The Warden''s Key isn''t around his neck. Where is it? Where is it?


    "You started freaking out, dude," Reed says, still freaked out himself. Mabel clogs Niel''s nose with tissues to staunch the bleeding. "There was shouting and banging, it sounded like you were fighting someone who broke in. When we got here, Dust was flying everywhere."


    Dust. Warden''s Key. Niel looks around for the missing pendant and finds it on the floor next to him. Somehow, it''s completely clean of blood. He grips the bulb and it immediately and harshly illuminates the room through his hand and the Dust haze. But just as quickly as it lit up, it fades back down to a low simmer.


    "It was so bright we had to tear it off of you," Lydia says. It''s at this point that Niel realizes that his room is a chaotic mess, with everything inside it shifted, askew, or turned on its side. Dings, bumps, and holes line the drywall.


    "How do you feel?" Mabel asks. She doesn''t know how to respond to this kind of situation, so she instinctively falls back to a question she asks often. Niel hasn''t seen her this scared or worried before.


    His hands, feet, and face all tingle immensely. His breathing is erratic and his fingers won''t hold still. His shirt is drenched in sweat and blood and it feels like he has every heater in the house pointed directly at him. Everyone is shaken. Illia clutches the multicolour loop of glow sticks in her arms, and Niel sees from her the same terrified eyes as when he held her at gunpoint back in April.


    He lost control again.


    "Scared."

 Chapter 20 - Control

    While Gabriel and Dwayne repair his bedroom, Niel speaks with Medova in the private room. His episode from last night is a concern urgent enough for her to stop by despite today being a day off. Not only is it frightening and scarring, but dissonance with reality bodes poorly with unrestrained Dust.


    "What did you see before the attack?" Medova asks. "Was it anything in particular that reminded you of your past?"


    Niel''s memory of the night is shaky and fractured. "I... It was just the Warden''s Key and the glow stick off to the side. It reminded me of the first few nights when I was given the Warden''s Key," he explains.


    Medova was informed that the black pendant periodically flashes white light and that it may be caused by Niel''s mood souring. It had been glowing the brightest they''d ever seen during the attack last night.


    "Was the Warden''s Key flashing or glowing then?"


    "It... Yes."


    She jots down his answer in a small notebook. "And do you normally sleep with the Warden''s Key?"


    "Yes. Every night."


    Medova is concerned for Niel, but at least it seems like the Warden''s Key is the common denominator in this instance. For now, Medova imparts Niel with grounding techniques should he find himself suffering from another attack. He''ll also be limiting how often he wears the Warden''s Key in the dark, and thus will no longer be sleeping with it. If nothing else, one thing is certain: they''ll be talking far more often from now on.


    Niel is exhausted today. The attack left him too wound up and anxious to sleep last night. He wonders how far along Gabriel and Dwayne are with his room, so he prepares a scan of the area upstairs, but... stops. He''s nervous about using his Dust again. The Warden''s Key reads this and begins a faint flash, and Niel quickly inhales a gasp as he hides it away from his vision. Why is he so scared now? In place of his Dust, he makes his way upstairs.


    He peers into the room without being seen. The furnishings in his room are shifted slightly to allow the men better access to the damaged areas on the walls. White patches of plaster dot the room to fill in the holes. Most notable is the wall surrounding his bed, which has been almost completely painted white. He ended up tearing so much material off of the wall that Mabel had to vacuum out his bed before he could try to sleep in it, otherwise, he''d be laying on a mat of paint chips and powder. He also made quite a mess of blood, and his bedsheets are in the wash for it.


    On his way back downstairs, he gets curious and looks into Reed''s room. Reed was the last one to get out of bed this morning¡ªnot coming downstairs until sometime after noon. Now his door is wide open and he''s laying on his bed watching his phone. Niel decides to approach him, and he realizes that Reed isn''t even on his phone¡ªhe''s asleep. Reed hears the floor shifting through his fatigue, causing him to jolt upward as soon as Niel reaches the side of his bed.


    "Oh," Reed murmurs groggily.


    "Tired?"


    "Yeah."


    Niel can''t help but feel responsible. He knows everyone is tired because of what happened last night. He sits down next to Reed and notices that there''s a long cut running down his left forearm.


    "How did that happen?" Niel questions regarding the cut.


    "Oh, you must''ve cut me last night."


    Responsibility. He lost control, and now he has hurt someone close to him because of it.


    If eyes are the gateway to the soul, then Reed sees the guilt behind them like they''re made of glass.


    "Your Dust was going wild in there. Looked like a tornado. I knew what I was getting myself into by running to you, and honestly, I figured I would''ve gotten cut up more than I did." Reed straightens himself up so he''s sitting on the same level as his friend. Their eyes meet¡ªhe wants Niel to take this to heart. "I know you''ve got a list of regrets. Please don''t add me to it."


    Niel says nothing as his gaze falls to the floor between their feet. With the air around them heavy with self-loathing, Reed decides to try lightening the mood by wrapping his arm around Niel''s shoulders and brazenly pulling him in for a side hug.


    "Since you''re here, wanna play something?" Reed asks. Niel eventually agrees, and they spend the rest of the day drowning out their worries.


    Later that evening, Niel is in the bathroom changing into his pyjamas when he feels a strange tickle in his nose. He assumes it''s just his nose being runny, but a bloodied black crystal of unrefined Dust falling from his nostril tells him what the real problem is. He quickly grabs a tissue to prevent any more blood from leaking onto the floor. This is the first bit of Dust he''s lost all day.


    As he waits in front of the sink for the bleeding to stop, he hears footsteps walk through the hall toward his room. He isn''t sure who that was, but they haven''t come back yet. Curiosity is killing him. He wants to scan the area to find out, but he''s still afraid of using his Dust. Fighting through apprehension, he clenches his non-dominate fist and releases an invisible smog to remotely survey his room. There is someone in there, and that someone is Illia sitting on his bed. What is she doing?


    At first, she''s just sitting there looking forward, but then something strange happens. A signature, more defined than his Dust, but not dissimilar. It''s potent¡ªa larger blip on his internal radar than the Dust around her. What''s more, Illia begins to look around. Niel assumes this is just a coincidence and that she''s just looking at the patchwork walls, but then she surveys her arms and body and gets up to peer down the hallway toward the bathroom. Can she... see his Dust? No, she can''t¡ªit''s veiled too thinly. He can''t even see it with his naked eye, and he knows it''s there. So then, what''s going on?


    Niel continues to get ready for bed as he waits for his nose to stop bleeding. All the while, he''s thinking about Illia''s actions. No matter what angle he approaches this from, all he can come up with are logical explanations and coincidences. He could have accidentally made the Dust particles bigger than normal so she felt it on her arms, he could have moved something in his room on accident and gave her an audio cue on what he was doing (which would explain the signature), or maybe she was just uncomfortable in his room after last night and was checking to see if he was leaving the bathroom. After how wound up he''s been today, he convinces himself that he''s just overthinking things. Illia is waiting for him, so after making sure his nose is no longer bleeding, he leaves the bathroom and meets with her.


    "I thought I heard someone walk past the door," Niel says when he lays eyes on Illia, feigning ignorance to the fact that he already knew she was here. Illia tilts her head in contemplation but brushes off whatever thought she had. She raises the phone in her hand so Niel can read the message written in it.


    ''How have you been feeling today?''


    Afraid. Anxious. Self-loathful.


    "Alright, I suppose."


    Why did he respond with that? He was in the middle of organizing an answer, and yet, his mouth chose a lie on its own. Worst yet, he can''t bring himself to take back the lie and tell her how he really feels. Illia appears to be somewhat skeptical, making Niel want to correct himself more¡ªbut then her expression softens with belief, and now it truly feels too late to talk.


    ''Come talk to me wherever you need to, even if you have to wake me up. Lydia says I''m a good listener.''


    "Okay. I will."


    With her business concluded, Illia gives Niel a gentle pat on the head and returns to her room, leaving Niel to contemplate alone in his. Both of his responses were knee-jerk reactions and held little to no truth in them. So why did he say what he did? He hasn''t been feeling well today. With the lights off, he closes his eyes to think. His feelings... There''s something there that''s familiar. Either he became numb to it and forgot, or the home has done well to change it. The teachings of the lab, reflected back at him from Illia''s terrified eyes.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    How he feels doesn''t matter.


    A white flash permeates through his eyelids. It''s the Warden''s Key, and his heart skips a beat. He hastily rips it off of his neck, throws it to the foot of his bed, and fearfully grips his bedsheets. That flashing led to what happened last night. He doesn''t want to suffer another attack. He doesn''t want to lose control again. Heat builds up in his core as his breathing and heart rate quicken. His face and hands begin to tingle. Not again. Not again.


    Light footsteps travel swiftly down the hall toward him. Is this another illusion from his mind? What is it going to make him see in the dark? The knob turns and the door opens, and it''s revealed to be Illia again, phone''s flashlight aglow in her hand. The light reveals that another black haze has formed around Niel, so she flicks on the light switch and approaches him with speed.


    Illia kneels on his bed in front of him and motions for him to follow her pattern of breathing. She inhales, he inhales. She holds her breath, he holds his breath. She exhales, he exhales. She holds her breath, he holds his breath. They start at two-second intervals for each stage and work from there, eventually slowing down to four. Niel remembers that this box breathing technique is something that Medova taught him today. With his breathing brought back into his control, the pair sit in silence as Niel rides out the rest of his panic attack.


    After a few minutes, Illia caresses his cheek with a soft hand¡ªher way of asking if he''s alright now.


    "I think I''m okay now..." he responds. His heart still beats sharply and the tingling in his hands and face persist, but they aren''t as strong now. She stays with him a minute longer just to make sure, and once she''s convinced he''ll be okay without her, she returns to her room for good.


    With the Warden''s Key placed away from him and Illia gone, Niel lies down to try and relax. It''s fortunate that Illia appeared when she did, but how did she know? Did he alert her by making noise? She''s gone now, so he''ll have to wait until tomorrow if he''s going to ask. The summer heat is making the bed too hot, so he kicks off a few covers and rolls onto his other side. Illia lingers on his mind for the rest of the night.


    >>>>>>


    Niel checks the clock when he wakes. It''s past 11 am¡ªlong after he normally rises. He feels cold now, so he puts on his pyjama shirt and pants long dried of nightly sweat and covers himself in all of his bedsheets. The bed feels much more comfortable now than when he was tossing and turning late last night. For the first time, he doesn''t want to get out of bed. Instead, he just lazes on his stomach while drifting in and out of sleep, time be damned. This continues until Lydia bangs on his room door before opening it.


    "You''re still in bed?" she questions, puzzled. Niel looks up at her with glazed eyes, so she crosses the room to throw open the curtains. "Come on. Poppy''s getting ready to leave and Mabel and Gabriel want to paint the room."


    As she crosses the room again to leave, she brushes her hand comfortingly over Niel''s head¡ªa way of showing that, despite her tone, she does care about him. Niel gets ready for the day after this wake-up call, and after extensive internal deliberation, decides to take the Warden''s Key. Reed also ended up sleeping in late, so the pair eat their late breakfast together.


    "Rare for you to sleep in like that," Reed comments. "Something happen last night?"


    Niel doesn''t need his Dust to know that Illia is watching him from afar. "I just had trouble sleeping. It was warm last night."


    "Yeah, makes sense. It probably doesn''t help that you''re on the third floor as well."


    Illia notes how Niel is being secretive. She plans to talk to him about it sometime after breakfast, but he ends up approaching her first as soon as he finishes eating.


    "About last night," he begins. His voice is restrained to avoid being overheard. "How did you know what was going on?"


    Niel doesn''t know this, but Illia''s heart skips a beat upon being asked this. She quickly brings out her phone and hastily types in her reply. ''I just felt like I should check on you again. I''m glad I did.''


    "I''m glad you did, too. Thank you."


    Illia nods and types another reply. ''You should bring it up with Medova. It would be important for her to know.''


    Niel hadn''t thought of this. "It... probably would be."


    Their conversation dies out there, and with Illia appearing to pull away, Niel decides to break it off entirely so he can survey what their guardians are doing to his room upstairs. However, he misread Illia''s body language entirely. She was building up the courage to ask him why he hid the panic attack from last night, and with him gone now, she''s left standing in place feeling wistful that she didn''t act to stop him sooner.


    Mabel and Gabriel are still in the middle of painting his room, using handheld rollers to colour the white plaster a glistening blue. Old bedsheets are draped protectively over the furnishings and across the floor to catch any paint that may fall. While the open window carries most of it away, Niel notes that the smell of fresh paint, though strange, is not entirely unpleasant.


    "How are you feeling today, Niel?" Gabriel asks as soon as he notices the boy peering in from the doorway. Niel steps in now that he''s been found, careful of disturbing their equipment. The summer sunlight beaming through the window casts a deep shadow behind him.


    "I''m fine," he says morosely.


    Both guardians immediately notice the tone of his voice. "Are you sure? It sounds like you have something on your mind."


    "Is it about that night?" Mabel questions.


    Niel shakes his head.


    "It''s important to tell us how you feel, Niel," Gabriel tries to say compassionately, but it doesn''t come across as well as he meant it to. Because of this, instead of him opening up, Niel retreats further into his shell. The Warden''s Key shimmers in kind. Understanding this, Mabel whispers something to her husband before approaching Niel and wrapping her arms around him in a hug.


    "We don''t want you to bottle up your feelings because it''ll only make you feel worse. When you''re ready to talk, come find one of us. We''ll listen to you," she says in his ear. He nods sullenly and quietly slinks out of the room, leaving the two guardians their own shades of melancholy.


    >>>>>>


    "We''ve got an announcement for you four," Gabriel states when everyone is sitting around the dinner table.


    "It''s about volunteer work, isn''t it?" Reed presumes.


    "Yeah, you guys are starting this Friday," Mabel confirms.


    "Knew it."


    Volunteer work? Oh, Niel remembers how Dwayne''s wife told him they would be volunteering at the hospital. This must be it, then.


    Illia tilts her head in confusion, and Reed takes this as an opportunity to explain to the new kids.


    "Every year, we volunteer at the hospital for three or four weeks doing a lot of the menial tasks the regular staff is too busy to do. We could be, like, changing bedsheets, checking on patients, taking calls, sorting mail and stock¡ªbasically anything the staff needs help with, we help with," Reed explains.


    "Specifically, you''ll work each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from eleven to four. So that''ll be... the fifth through to the twenty-sixth. Fifty hours of work in total," Mabel elaborates.


    "This''ll be good work experience for you two," Gabriel adds, addressing Illia and Niel. "It also looks great on a r¨¦sum¨¦."


    Niel doesn''t know what a r¨¦sum¨¦ is, but it must be important if Gabriel is making note of it. He''s apprehensive about this revelation due to how new and unknown it is to him, and his sentiment is echoed in Illia as well. Their feelings are plain to see to everyone around them¡ªfrom their being in the pair''s position before, and from them helping and being helped by the previous children of the home.


    "You guys won''t be going in blind," Reed reassures. "Me and Lydia have already worked there before, and the nurses will show you everything you need to know. You won''t be thrown in the deep end and left to figure things out yourself."


    Hearing this eases the pair''s spirits¡ªmaybe things will be okay for them.


    Later that night, Niel is in bed reading on his phone about the technical malfunction that caused the blackout from two nights prior when he hears footsteps climb the stairs. The source turns out to be an odd one: Gabriel. The father figure cautiously opens the door to his room, and when he sees that Niel isn''t asleep, he steps inside. Both of their demeanours carry a wariness not seen in the daylight.


    "Are you doing okay?" Gabriel asks. He knows he already asked a similar question earlier today, but he isn''t sure how else to break the ice.


    "Yeah," Niel responds in kind.


    Gabriel takes a knee next to Niel''s bed, and for a moment, he''s reminded of that horrible night. The tone of Niel''s voice isn''t as mournful as it was earlier, but it''s enough to tell Gabriel that something still weighs on his mind.


    "That night is bothering you, isn''t it?"


    Niel looks down at his lap. The Warden''s Key lays dormant on his nightstand. "I lost control."


    "...Niel, what happened wasn''t your fau¡ª"


    "I CAN''T lose control." Strong emotion ripples in Niel''s voice as he hugs his knees. "I hurt Reed that night. What would''ve happened if I lashed out more? Or if it happened somewhere crowded? It''s so easy for me to take a life. I don''t want to hurt you guys. I don''t want to kill anyone..."


    Gabriel finds a hint of something very worrying within Niel''s fear-filled words: experience. While those newly awakened to their Mutes may fear hurting others accidentally in an unforeseen outburst, Niel''s anxiety goes well above that. And the comment about how easily he can take a life makes Gabriel think that this kind of accident has happened in the past. No... if the lab trained him to be a weapon, then it likely wasn''t an accident.


    "Your control over your Dust is a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for," Gabriel comforts as he places a hand on Niel''s shoulder. "That night was a freak accident. There was no way to predict it. Yet, you still controlled your Dust enough so that the only injury that happened was a single scratch. And even then, you were hurt the most, and you''re still beating yourself up for it."


    "But what about the next time? What if it gets wors¡ª"


    A loud pop and a bright flash permeate through the curtains, causing the pair to instinctively look over. Celebratory fireworks for the First of July dazzle the night sky.


    Gabriel redirects his attention back to Niel. "You''ll have grown even more by then, and you''ll be ready for it."


    Grow to understand. Grow to redeem. Grow to be ready. The fireworks whistle and bang and sizzle outside, and Niel can smell the fresh paint on the walls. He can''t see it, but the others are watching the fireworks, too.

 Chapter 21 - Name Tag

    ...


    Mom... Dad...


    Am I doing the right thing?


    Is it okay to break the rules


    if it means helping someone?


    To what extent is it okay?


    ...


    When my pain becomes too great to hold,


    will they believe that I''m sorry?


    How do I prove that I''m being sincere?


    How do I know if I''m being sincere?


    ...


    Your faces are becoming blurry...


    ...


    Niel is just wrapping up breakfast when Reed and Lydia return with their final report cards. Reed is gleefully bothering Lydia, Lydia is less than amused with his shenanigans, and Gabriel is caught in the middle of them.


    "Guess what?" Reed giddily asks Mabel, who is curious about their marks. Illia is also off to the side listening in.


    "What?" Mabel says.


    Reed lifts his report card, but Lydia talks over him. "He got a slightly higher mark than me in an easier math."


    "It''s still higher than yours!" Reed refutes.


    "Because the math you''re taking is stupid simple!"


    Niel gets roped into being a faux-judge in this contest, and while Lydia explains to him the different levels of math and how far beneath her Reed is, Mabel scans through the rest of his report card.


    "Reed?" Mabel calls. At first, Reed is worried that she isn''t impressed by something, but it''s quickly made obvious that it''s the opposite. "You did really well in science, and your teacher says you liked the chemistry unit and recommends that you take the full course in Grade 12. You like chemistry?"


    "Uh, yeah. It was fun. I guess."


    A flag is raised in Niel''s head. Reed never seemed like the type of person to do well in academics¡ªlet alone enjoy it¡ªso science class and this chemistry unit must be something special to him. Yet, he acts like it''s barely an interest. Reed doesn''t seem eager to share his thoughts, so Niel leaves him be.


    The days go by and Niel and Illia''s worries grow as Friday draws near. But before then, Niel has another session with Medova. With more time to prepare, Medova''s goal is to encourage Niel to share more of what he went through at the lab. That way, with him, she can formulate a plan centred around the exact source of his stress. This goes awry, however, in the same way her past sessions with Illia went: with a reluctance to open up. Apart from a general admittance of being the victim of blatant torture, Niel adamantly refuses to talk specifics by saying little to anything at all. Even when Medova can get him to talk, it''s only for yes-or-no answers to loose-ended questions. Ultimately, Medova is convinced that¡ªamong the horrors inflicted by the lab¡ªa single, critical event plays a large role in Niel''s mental anguish, though Niel won''t share what that event is.


    What Niel is willing to share are his reservations about working tomorrow, and that leads to the next part of their session: stress management. With time running short, Medova explains to Niel the nature of stress, how it can negatively impact him, and how he can recognize and observe the occurrence of his stress and his reaction to it. The session ending catches Medova mid-sentence, so this will have to wait until next week. Niel leaves the private room thinking that he''s learned something, but feeling like little overall has changed.


    Niel steps out of the private room and surveys the state of the house after being out of the loop for the last fifty minutes. He''s still trying to rebuild confidence in using his Dust again, so he manually looks around instead. Mabel is tinkering with her watercolours in the living room while Gabriel watches, and Niel finds Reed and Lydia in their respective rooms. From there, he notices a chime coming from above, so he ascends to the third floor and sees that Illia is sitting on her bed and playing her kalimba.


    Each metal tine plucked soothes Niel''s spirit more and more, and he thinks that she''s rather skilled with the instrument. When Niel peers into the room, he finds her enraptured in not just her kalimba, but her phone as well. She''s learning how to play this tune. Despite her skill, though, she doesn''t look very happy, and she''s taking long, deep breaths. Is she anxious? Niel decides to sit down in the hallway and just listen to her play.


    After a minute or two, the music suddenly stops, and Niel wonders why. He considers looking in again to check, but he doesn''t want to be caught imposing. A scan would solve this problem. It takes some time to build up the courage needed, but he''s eventually able to let go of some Dust to see what Illia is doing. His Dust shows that she is merely just looking at her phone. She picks up her kalimba again and plucks a note, but she puts it down right after and gets off of her bed. Despite the scan and without a will to use Shadow Dive, Niel is unable to react in time as Illia sticks her head through the doorway and catches him eavesdropping. She doesn''t seem surprised by this, though.


    "You found me," Niel concedes sheepishly as he pushes himself to his feet. "How did you know?"


    With no way to explain herself without her phone, she invites Niel inside her room, and the pair sit on her bed.


    ''The note I played sounded strange, so I thought it might have been due to your Dust,'' her phone reads. Niel didn''t consider this. ''Why were you there?''


    "Because I liked listening to you play."


    Illia''s face becomes flush with shyness, and she finds that she can no longer lock eyes with Niel. She has to correct her spelling multiple times while writing her next message. ''You can stay if you''d like.''


    Illia''s performance suffers with her new audience, but Niel enjoys it all the same. She even seems less on edge. The two of them sitting on the same bed reminds Niel of Sunday night when Illia came to his rescue. Despite her telling him that he should, Niel couldn''t bring himself to tell Medova about that night, and he doesn''t want to tell Illia that, either. He wonders what secrets Illia could be hiding as well.


    >>>>>>


    At long last, it''s finally time for them to go to the hospital. Dwayne instructs the four to wear a plain shirt and pants, and they make the trip over. Once through the main doors and inside the lobby, a familiar face awaits to greet them.


    "Welcome back everyone!" Nurse Rosa greets.


    "It''s been a bit," Reed responds.


    Just as Reed said, it has been a while since they''ve seen Nurse Rosa, and apart from her emerald hair, Niel had forgotten what she looks like. Her most defining feature is tied back into a neat ponytail, and her skin is bright from a lack of sunlight. The scrubs she wears are baby blue with a white accent that runs from under her arms to the base of her shirt, which accentuates her fit physique. An ID badge hangs by a lanyard from her shirt while her name tag is pinned to the fabric. Objectively speaking, Niel thinks of her as quite attractive.


    The four children are escorted from Dwayne to a volunteer''s hub room close to reception. The white walls of the lounge strongly resemble the lobby''s, and several chairs, lockers, a rack of jade vests, and a mini fridge all adorn the inside. Also inside is an older, balding man wearing one of the vests.


    ¡°Ah, Reed! Lydia! Back again for another summer I see,¡± the man says. His name tag identifies him as Reginald Fogg, and it appears that he, Reed and Lydia are already acquainted. ¡°And we¡¯ve got some new volunteers, I presume?¡±


    "That¡¯s right," Rosa states.


    "Ah, very good! It''s always great to see new volunteers!" Reginald exclaims.


    After a quick introduction, their attention is brought to the rack of vests, each bearing the title of volunteer and the hospital''s name and logo. The children sort through the vests until they each find one of their size, and then Rosa gives them an ID badge and a name tag similar to hers and Reginald''s. Now Niel understands why Dwayne needed to take their pictures a few days prior. Their name tags consist of a clear sleeve pinned to their vest holding a paper card that bears their name, and Niel wonders why they need it alongside their ID badge¡ªwhich already has it and more¡ªbut he assumes there''s a reason for it.


    Next, they''re shown the lockers and told that they need to stow their phones, wallets, and any accessories they have on them, including the Warden''s Key. Reed and Lydia made sure to bring enough locks for everyone, and Niel is careful to keep the bulb of the Warden''s Key hidden from Rosa and Reginald when he puts it away.


    Rosa explains that at the beginning and end of each shift, they need to log their hours in a folder by signing in and out, and now is no exception. Each of them writes in their full name plus eleven o''clock as their sign-in time. And last to the lounge, the mini-fridge is stocked with cold bottles of water, and should they need to return here for a quick break, they have to tell a nurse before doing so.


    With the lounge out of the way, the four are given a tour around the four-storey hospital. Reed and Lydia already know the layout, but getting an update on affairs after a year of absence doesn''t hurt. Rosa shows them different tasks throughout the tour that volunteers can perform, like cleaning rooms, restocking supplies, interacting with patients, and more. How they need to behave and handle themselves is also taught, but not everything is new due to Dwayne teaching them a few days ago or from prior volunteering experience.


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    Despite being shown all sorts of things to do, there isn''t any work left for them at the moment. After a while of little to nothing happening, the four decide to group up in the lounge and take a short five-minute break.


    "At least this and our training goes towards our total hours," Lydia says. Illia and Niel were also expecting more.


    "Oh, yeah. That''s something we got to skip," Reed says to the pair of rookies. "Normally we''d have to do an interview and go to orienteering and training before we get to start volunteering, but Phoebe pulled some strings and sped all of that up for us."


    "Do you know who Phoebe is?" Lydia asks Niel.


    "She''s Dwayne''s wife, and she runs the hospital," Reed answers before Niel can.


    "I already know," Niel responds.


    "Oh. Okay."


    As they sit around and idly chat, Niel notices something he''s moderately ashamed he didn''t already know. He learned Lydia''s surname from Aaron''s headstone, and thanks to their name tags, he''s now just discovering Reed and Illia''s. Reed''s last name is Ayers, and Illia''s is Belfort. At least this saves him an awkward question.


    When they all return to work, Rosa summons Niel and Illia to the third floor to help with something. She explains that a patient has just been discharged and that the room needs to be cleaned. It''s the perfect opportunity to learn how it''s done, so the pair give the nurse their undivided attention. Rosa walks them through wiping down the room and changing the linens on the bed, and Niel can''t help but think of when he was a patient here. It''s the same kind of room he stayed in. When it comes to changing the bed, Niel notes how Illia seems familiar with it, and he brings this up when there''s a break in Rosa''s teachings.


    "She was a patient here before you arrived," Rosa explains much to Niel''s surprise.


    "Really? What happened?"


    Illia is unable to explain to Niel directly without her phone or anything to write on, so she signs something to Rosa. This is the first time Niel has seen her use sign language exclusively to communicate.


    "She was very sick back in January and spent a few nights here. I was the nurse that saw her the most," Rosa translates.


    "Huh. I didn''t know this." He also didn''t know that Rosa knew sign language.


    Illia signs again.


    "I was a fun nurse, like how I brought her toys and taught her how to check her pulse," Rosa translates again, this time with a flavour of pride. Illia smiles with a shy blush.


    After the room is cleaned, they return to the first floor in search of something to do. All that''s available is sorting a few documents into a folder (which was purposely left in this state by a nurse for a volunteer to do), so while it isn''t much, they take the task to kill a few minutes. However, it becomes clear that, due to a lack of volume, this is a one-person job. If Niel is proud of anything about himself, it''s his patience, so he lets Illia have fun with the mundane task. This turns out to be the correct move because shortly after walking away, he finds his own job in restocking one of the examination rooms with a new box of gloves. He journeys from a storage room to the examination room and back to where he started, and he decides to check back with Illia so he isn''t wandering meaninglessly.


    To his surprise, she isn''t done. If it were him, he''d have sorted double or more of what was there in the few minutes he was gone. So what''s holding her up? He hangs back a bit and observes.


    Every time Illia goes to read a document, she holds it far away from her face for several seconds before putting it down. Finding its place in the folder takes her even longer for the same reason. Is she struggling to read? Niel decides to intervene after watching her struggle with a single page for nearly a minute.


    "What''s wrong?" Niel asks, startling Illia into nearly dropping the folder. She hastily searches for writing material and finds some in the form of a spare pen and a torn scrap of paper.


    ''The text is too small for me to read.''


    "It is? I can read it just fine."


    Niel prodding like this makes Illia pause. She didn''t want anyone to know, but he''s caught her in the act and without room for excuses.


    ''I think my eyesight is poor. I can see things far away just fine, but everything gets blurry up close,'' she reluctantly admits.


    "Did you tell Mabel and Gabriel?"


    ''I didn''t.''


    "Why?"


    ''I don''t want to get glasses.''


    "Why not?"


    ''I''m scared of¡ª''


    Illia tries to scribble in the rest of her reasoning, but she''s run out of available room on the paper and can''t find any more. She conveys her emotions instead by worriedly shaking her head. Niel just decides to drop the subject altogether. For now, he assists her by sorting the rest of the documents so she can put the folder where it belongs.


    The four kids are relieved when the clock strikes four. It may not have been tiring work, but the lack of things to do has left them drained nonetheless. They all sign out, leave their vests behind to be laundered, and take their IDs with them to the car where Dwayne awaits.


    "How was your first day?" the big man asks once everyone is buckled in.


    "Boring," Reed states matter-of-factly.


    "There was, like, nothing for us to do all day," Lydia adds.


    "You''ll get days like that. Other days will be so busy you''ll never catch a break," Dwayne says.


    "I know. Been there, done that, got the promotion," Reed says.


    "I''d prefer that over today," Lydia groans.


    "I agree," Niel chimes in. Illia only partially nods her head.


    Illia''s vision bothers Niel. She''s scared of something but wasn''t able to tell him. When they get home, he looks up the process of getting glasses and finds absolutely nothing to be scared of. So then why is she so apprehensive? He decides to confide in his guardians for help, even if it means going behind her back.


    "So she''s farsighted?" Mabel questions.


    "If that''s what it means."


    "I asked her about it before and she said there was nothing wrong. She always read things at a distance so I assumed it was normal for her," Gabriel says.


    "She told me she didn''t want glasses because she was scared of something, but I don''t know what that ''something'' is," Niel explains. "I looked up how you get glasses, and I can''t see what she would be scared of."


    "Was that on purpose?"


    "Was what on purpose?"


    "Never mind."


    "We''ll talk to her about it," Mabel says, bringing them back on topic.


    "I think we should be discreet when we do, make her think we were the ones to notice," Gabriel adds. Niel approves of this approach, as he doubts Illia would appreciate him doing this after she took care to hide it from them.


    Mabel returns to her new watercolours in the living room while Niel retires to his room until supper is ready. After everyone finishes eating, Niel overhears Mabel softly saying to Illia that she wants to talk with the mute girl, and Niel pretends to not have heard or be involved as they move upstairs. Gabriel follows behind them.


    "We''ve been worried about your vision lately," Mabel confesses in Illia''s room, shocking the girl into a petrified expression. "It looks like you''re having trouble seeing things up close."


    Illia taps furiously on her phone. ''Did Niel tell you this?''


    "Niel? No, no. Dwayne told us that a nurse said it looked like you were struggling to read something today," Gabriel adds. Illia tilts her head down.


    "Why did you try to hide it from us?" Mabel asks coaxingly.


    ''I don''t want to be stuck with glasses for the rest of my life.''


    "You won''t be stuck with glasses," Gabriel says as he removes his glasses from his face. "If you''re farsighted, you''ll really only need them to read and that''s it. You won''t need to keep them on throughout the day like me, and even then, I forget I even have them on until I take them off at night."


    Illia seems reassured by this, if only by a little.


    "Once you get glasses and can see better, you''ll wish you had them sooner."


    Hearing that everything is turning out well, Niel abandons his eavesdropping spot just outside the door and goes back downstairs without anyone knowing he was even there in the first place.


    >>>>>>


    The sunny weather makes for a fine day at the secret glade. The four kids are in their casual wear appropriate for summer, and Reed carries with him a plank of wood in his arm and a thick rope around his shoulder. His goal is to set up a rope swing from the glade''s largest oak tree, and the others are just here for the ride.


    "So..." Reed murmurs as he gazes up the tree. The lowest branch thick enough to support the weight of a swing is at least ten metres up. "How are we going to do this?"


    "We? Are you speaking French? There''s no we, only you," Lydia refutes.


    "Oh, right. Wouldn''t want to break your fake nails trying to help, huh?" Reed shoots back.


    "Want to say that again, asshole!?"


    "Enough!" Niel roars, causing both of them to stand down and Illia to jump. He then apologizes to the mute girl. "Can''t you climb up there?"


    "All the way up there? Hell no! If I fall I''ll break my neck!" Reed exclaims with a touch of exaggeration. "Why don''t you climb up there and do it for me?"


    "No. The swing is your idea."


    "Agh, fine! But if I fall, you better catch me!"


    "Of course."


    With the rope still slung around his shoulder, Reed grabs onto the trunk and tries to shimmy his way up to the lowest branch. He barely makes it and hauls himself onto it with great effort. From there, he ascends the tree branch by branch, until...


    "Niel? Can you bring me down?"


    "Don''t tell me you''re scared?" Lydia calls up to him.


    "I don''t like heights!"


    "Then why did you climb up there!?"


    "Because nobody would help me!"


    Niel sighs, and after he checks the area for people who may be watching them, he reluctantly lowers Reed to the ground via his Dust. He doesn''t want to use his Dust, but Reed isn''t giving him much of a choice.


    "Can you do it? Please?" Reed begs Niel.


    Again, not much of a choice. "Fine."


    Niel decides to take a minimalistic approach to ascending the tree by bolstering his arms and legs with his Dust; the less he uses it, the better. The result is him climbing and leaping from branch to branch much like a cat, amusing Reed with this observation. He even perches on the target branch in a similar way to a cat sitting on a thin ledge. Niel unravels the rope (which he discovers was already cut in two) and ties two ends to the branch while Reed handles cutting the excess rope and tying on the plank at the bottom. When he''s given the all-clear, Niel descends the tree.


    "Great job, catboy!" Reed gleams. Niel does not.


    "Want me to hit you?"


    "Please do," Lydia inserts.


    Illia has fun on the swing.


    After spending time in the glade, everyone is ready to go home¡ªapart from Niel. He wants to enjoy the sunlight while he still can, so Niel breaks away from the group to go on a walk by himself. With his heart as his guide, he ventures throughout the city again and takes in whatever sights he comes across, but he''s eventually led back to the riverside park. There''s something about this place that keeps drawing him back.


    He wanders around the park for a time and sits by the river''s edge where people aren''t swimming. He reflects on yesterday while gazing into the current. Even though it''s been only one shift, he isn''t exactly looking forward to the next one come Monday. He doesn''t feel like he did much and hopes he wasn''t a burden to the staff there. Now with his fill of sunlight, he gets up to leave and return home, but a uniquely green sight catches his eye, and she''s sitting on a bench with someone else.


    "Oh? Niel!" Rosa calls out. Niel was going to silently pass her by since he hardly knows her, but it would be rude to ignore her now. He turns to her and pretends to be surprised.


    "Nurse Rosa," he greets.


    "You can just call me Ivy when we''re not working."


    "Ivy, then." Next to her is a man roughly her age, a shoulder taller than her, and with brown locks and well-groomed facial hair.


    "This is Liam, a friend of mine," Rosa introduces. She then turns to Liam. "And this is Niel. He''s one of the volunteers at the hospital."


    "Nice to meet you, Niel," Liam greets as he extends a hand. Niel nods and matches him, and they share a handshake.


    "Are you out on a walk?" Rosa asks.


    "Yeah. I''m on my way home now," Niel answers.


    "Take care going home," Liam says. A word of caution can go far in a city like Soul.


    "I will."


    "See you Monday!" Rosa says.


    Niel waves and leaves the park. Liam doesn''t seem to be a bad person, but there''s something about their dynamic that''s off-putting to Niel. Rosa was somewhat fidgety and more expressive compared to her work demeanour, though this could simply be due to her not having to act professionally when she''s off work. He decides to let sleeping dogs lie and forget about this for now.

 Chapter 22 - Doesnt Feel the Same

    The following day, Niel is lounging in the living room by himself. Reed and Lydia are in their rooms as per usual, but Gabriel and Mabel took Illia to have her eyes checked. Now he''s waiting for them to return. With all this talk of vision, Niel appeases his curiosity by researching it, and he learns how the eye works and how improper focusing of light leads to poor eyesight. Objects both near and far are crystal to him, so he knows he''s not farsighted nor nearsighted. Reed and Lydia don''t own glasses and they don''t complain about their vision, so he assumes they''re in the same boat as him.


    The car doors shutting outside tell Niel that the three have returned, so he gets up to open the door for them. He wonders what Illia will look like with glasses. The door opens, and... she isn''t wearing any.


    "I thought you were getting glasses," Niel says, confused.


    "We did," Mabel responds as she and the other two step in through the doorway. "They''re being made. I''ll get a call when they''re ready to be picked up."


    "Oh."


    "And that will be in, like, two weeks or so," Gabriel adds. "Want to see what frames she picked?"


    "Sure."


    Gabriel brings out his phone to show Niel what Illia''s glasses will look like. The silvery metal of the temples is somewhat tall and slim compared to the wire-like frames Niel has seen online, and there isn''t a lot of material underneath the lenses. The temples are tipped with black plastic embellished with a yellow stripe that runs along the length. Niel was expecting more pink, or at least a cutsier design than these mature-looking frames.


    "It''s not quite what I..." Niel says, but Illia''s look of embarrassment causes his voice to trail off.


    "The first frames she picked out were all pink, but they were too small for her," Mabel says.


    So that explains it.


    >>>>>>


    "I''ve got a meal tray here for room 305. Could you take it up there?" a nurse asks Niel.


    "Sure."


    He accepts the lone tray of food and ascends to the third floor via the elevator. Room 305 sounds familiar, and it becomes so when he finds it¡ªit''s the room that he, Rosa, and Illia cleaned in their last shift. Rosa did say a patient had just been discharged, so this must be the person who filled that gap. Niel knocks, steps into the room, and introduces himself.


    The new patient is an older man with thin, grey hair that''s receding up his scalp, and his blemished skin is wrinkled and beginning to sag a bit. His blanket is pulled only up to his belly, revealing the hospital gown Niel is familiar with. At Niel''s request, the man identifies himself as Elliot Torres, age 68.


    "That was fast," Elliot says as he sits up, though to great discomfort. Niel lays the tray down and adjusts the dining table so the man can sit up with minimal pain. "I figured it would''ve taken a lot longer."


    "We work as fast as we can for the patients here, Mr. Torres," Niel says as he pulls the heat-retaining top off of the main dish. He doesn''t know what it is¡ªit looks remotely like lasagna, or maybe some kind of meat, but it looks a lot... worse. At least the fresh apricot is familiar.


    "You know," Elliot begins, "I''m having some trouble moving. Think you could feed me?"


    Niel is caught off guard by this comment. "I... Unfortunately, as a volunteer, I can''t do that. A nurse would have to¡ª" This response causes the patient to laugh.


    "I''m only joking! I''m not that frail yet!" Elliot takes a fork in hand to begin eating. "Though, maybe I should pretend if it''s one of the nurses, eh?" He gives a humoured grin, and Niel forces one of his own to look friendly.


    Everything seems fine, but it''s protocol to ask if there''s anything else that''s needed by the patient. Before Niel can ask that, however, Elliot begins talking again.


    "Y''know, I''m really not sure why I''m here. The doctors say it''s acute kidney failure, but I''ve been sick like this before and I never went to the hospital. I''m just having another one of those days, but no one really believes me."


    If he remembers correctly, Niel isn''t supposed to give any personal advice to patients. He also doesn''t want to say nothing because Elliot''s way of thinking is destructive. Perhaps he can word his thoughts in a way so it''s not advice per se, but it still gets his message across.


    "You''re here because someone cares about you, whether it''s family or the doctors, and the doctors would rather make certain there''s nothing more serious going on than sending you home and risking you becoming more ill."


    "Yeah, but it feels like my daughter is getting too worried about my health."


    Niel can''t think of a way to keep himself disconnected from the topic, so he decides to wrap things up. "Is there anything else I can get you? Any snacks, drinks, condiments?"


    "Hm, nothing right now."


    "I''ll leave you to your meal, then."


    Niel leaves the room and reports back to the nurse who gave him the task. With nothing left for him to do, she gives him the green light to take a short break. He decides to go to the volunteer''s lounge to sit and have a drink, and it''s there where he stumbles upon Reginald and Rosa at the end of their conversation. Reginald declares that it''s time for him to ''get back to it,'' and after briefly greeting Niel, he leaves the lounge.


    "How''s everything going on your end, Niel?" Rosa asks, both to check on him and to serve as small talk.


    "Fine. I just brought lunch to a patient."


    "That''s good. At least it was something for you to do."


    "Yeah."


    The air feels a bit awkward and Niel isn''t sure why. Though, both of them being here works out as he wanted to talk to her, but never had the chance to until now.


    "So, who was that guy you were with at the park again?" Niel asks.


    "Liam. He''s a friend of mine. He works in the animal hospital close to Veil Watchtower if you know where that is. He''s really kind to people and great with animals, he''s also really cool, and..."


    This isn''t a response Niel was expecting. The awkward atmosphere has morphed into a different kind with Rosa''s gushing over her friend. She soon realizes her unprofessionalism and straightens herself up before she embarrasses herself any further.


    "Sorry about that," she apologizes after clearing her throat.


    "Are you two... in a relationship?"


    Niel can see in her eyes that this question sparked something greatly unpleasant.


    "W-well... no, n-no. Not... exactly."


    Now this is flat-out strange, but there''s at least one thing Niel can pull from this response: whatever bond Rosa and Liam share isn''t going her way. The conversation has gotten too uncomfortable to continue, so Niel breaks it off there. Nothing else of note happens during the rest of this shift.


    >>>>>>


    Wednesday arrives and Niel isn''t feeling very well. He isn''t sick, just exhausted. He''s been spending several of his mornings excessively lazing in bed, leading Mabel to assume this fatigue is due to him oversleeping. It makes sense since he used to be one of the earliest risers, and now he''s tied with Reed for the last one out of bed.


    Regardless of how he feels, he has a job to do, and his job now is to assist Reginald with the snack cart. Despite being called a snack cart, there''s more than just sandwiches, salads, and fresh fruit being hauled around. Toiletries and magazines are also sold, and all for a cheap price. Niel wonders internally how patients are meant to pay. He and Reginald make their rounds going door-to-door through the inpatient wings and checking if any patients are interested. To Niel''s surprise, many are, with the fruit in particular being very popular. He also learns that transactions are made through the patient''s phone or a specialized card.


    They have to restock a time or three, but they eventually reach Elliot''s room. The older man is quite happy to see Niel again so soon, so much so that he ends up buying an apricot. Not much else happens, though.


    "And that''s the cart done! Thank you, Niel," Reginald says once their cart-related duty is complete.


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    "No problem."


    With that out of the way and nothing else to do, Niel decides to have a quick break at the lounge. Moving around helps keep him awake, so he doesn''t plan on sitting around for long as his fatigue is doing him no favours. He grabs a bottle of cold water and takes a seat. The plan was to drink a mouthful now and again while he killed time, but he ends up greedily draining the entire bottle in one go. So much for that. He gets up and disposes of the bottle, but before he leaves the lounge, Rosa walks in.


    "Good afternoon, Niel," Rosa greets. Niel can tell just from looking at her that she''s exhausted.


    Niel skips over the greeting. "I guess I''m not the only one who''s tired."


    Rosa now realizes that she''s being transparent, and she places a curled hand over her forehead as she sighs. "Twelve-hour shifts will do that to you."


    "You work twelve-hour shifts?" Niel feels lucky he only has to work five.


    "Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It''s my job as a nurse practitioner."


    Looking closer, it doesn''t seem like Rosa is just tired. The way her eyelids and brows droop makes her look... sad.


    "Did something happen yesterday?" Niel asks.


    Rosa''s ears twitch once she registers the question. This has her full attention. "No. Nothing out of the ordinary."


    "So nothing with Liam?"


    It''s been nothing but strangeness whenever Liam is brought up, so Niel guesses him as the culprit. The nurse''s reaction is more than telling.


    "It''s... not Liam..."


    "Does he..."


    "No, he doesn''t hit me or anything... He''s just too nice."


    "How is he too nice?"


    Rosa scans the lounge with her eyes to make sure they''re alone. She then sits on the arm of one of the chairs to brace herself for what she''s about to say.


    "I really like him. He''s really sweet and kind, and he''s handsome, too. I fell in love."


    "Did you tell him how you feel?"


    "A while ago. He doesn''t feel the same way about me." Rosa''s dejection is potently contagious, even though Niel doesn''t know what rejection feels like. "I can''t get enough of him. He''s so amazing, but it hurts seeing him talk to other girls. It feels like our friendship is crumbling because of it..."


    "If that''s the case, then maybe you should stop seeing him."


    "I don''t want to do that. I value our friendship, and so does he. And it''s lonely without him." This is quite the oxymoron, and Niel can''t wrap his head around it. It hurts to be around Liam, but it also hurts to be away from him, too. Rosa continues her morose ramblings. "Maybe he just needs more time. Feelings don''t always develop quickly, after all. He calls me pretty a lot, so maybe there''s still a chance he''ll like me back?"


    Niel is at a complete loss for what to say. He''s so far out of his depth on this topic that he can''t even begin to help her. Rosa again realizes how much she''s embarrassing herself and pulls herself together.


    "I''m sorry," she apologizes. "This stuff''s been getting to me, recently."


    "It''s okay. At least you were able to vent."


    "Yeah. I don''t have anybody to vent to other than Liam, and I don''t want him to know about this."


    "How come? Wouldn''t talking with him help make this better?"


    "He''s happier not knowing. I don''t want to upset him."


    "It''s not much of a friendship, then."


    "But he''s happy."


    It seems Rosa is adamant about this, so Niel backs down. It''s a losing battle anyway with his sheer inexperience with love. He''ll need to think this over when he gets home. Suddenly, the door to the lounge opens and a nurse steps inside.


    "There you two are. You''re both needed," she says. Rosa and Niel walk with her out of the lounge and past reception. "Niel, a patient in room 305 is requesting you. Sounds like they want to talk."


    305 is Elliot''s room. Why does he want to talk to Niel? As there''s only one (acceptable) way to find out, he breaks off from the two nurses and climbs to the third floor.


    "You called for me, Mr. Torres?" Niel asks once he arrives.


    "Ah, there you are. Yes," Elliot responds. Niel notes how he looks the same compared to Monday, but the room has been prettied a bit with the inclusion of a bouquet of artificial flowers. Niel pulls up a chair and sits at Elliot''s behest. "My son was here yesterday. You''ve already noticed the flowers," he continues. "Today, he''s busy with his nephew."


    "So you have no one coming today?"


    "My daughter will be coming later in the day, I believe after your shift ends. That happens at four, right?"


    Niel is surprised by Elliot''s observational skills. "That''s correct. How did you know?"


    "I tried calling for you yesterday, but you weren''t working then. A nurse told me you''d be here today until four."


    "Yeah. I work Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from eleven to four until the end of the month." Niel doesn''t know the point of this conversation nor where it''s headed.


    "I hope you''re not too busy, then. There must be a lot for you to do."


    "There''s surprisingly little for us teen volunteers to do. On our first day, we looked high and low for even the smallest task to do."


    "Ah, well that''s no good, either."


    "I don''t mind it as much as the others do."


    "And who are these others?"


    "My friends. We joined together and work at the same time."


    "Ah, I see. It must be nice to work alongside friends."


    This back-and-forth continues longer, and Niel eventually realizes why he''s here: to keep Elliot company. Their conservation has no purpose other than to exist. Niel feels like he could be doing something more productive, but the older man seems to enjoy his company, so perhaps he''s doing just that. Elliot tells stories from his and his children''s younger days and Niel listens on attentively. Eventually, it gets to a point where Niel needs to leave before people start wondering where he is, so he bids his farewells and returns downstairs. This likely won''t be the last time they''ll talk.


    >>>>>>


    Illia, Reed and Niel all wait in the living the next morning. It''s Lydia''s turn to venture out with their guardians, but instead of getting glasses, she''s out to do her Knowledge Test so she can get her driver''s licence. The trio is waiting for them to return so they can hear how Lydia performed on the test¡ªReed doesn''t exactly want to be here as he knows that this will only lead to him being voluntold to get his licence next. After roughly an hour of lazy waiting around, the other trio arrives back home with the news.


    "I passed!" Lydia triumphantly exclaims, spurring cheers from the other children.


    "Let me guess, it was only barely," Reed jabs after his short bout of congratulations.


    "As if! I ace it! Something you couldn''t do!"


    "She got three signs and four questions wrong," Gabriel inserts to pop Lydia''s bubble of lies.


    "Don''t say that!"


    "Ha! You really DID almost fail!" Reed teases.


    "How many are you allowed to get wrong again?" Niel asks for clarification.


    "Four for each," Mabel answers. "If you get a fifth wrong, then you fail and have to do that part of the test again.


    "So you did nearly fail."


    "Oh, shut up! The scenario questions are terrible anyway! Most of them mean the same thing! What matters is that I passed!" Lydia exclaims defiantly.


    "Exactly," Mabel chimes as she places her hands on Lydia''s shoulders. "So when are you going for your test, Reed?"


    This is why Reed didn''t want to be here.


    Not only did Lydia get her Learner''s today, but as Reed puts it, today is also therapy Thursday for Niel. Medova arrives on schedule and the pair talk again in the private room. Medova catches up with Niel by asking him if he''s had any serious episodes or stressful encounters since the last time they spoke, and apart from specific stressors before or while working at the hospital, Niel hasn''t contended with much. Now Medova picks up where she left off last by discussing with him concepts of stress and how the body and mind react to it, even if subconsciously or unintentionally. It isn''t a one-sided lecture, though, as she uses questions, thought experiments, and Niel''s own experiences to sway him into collaborating and being an active participant in the session.


    One such concept she touches on is appraisal, where people ''appraise'' how stressful a situation is depending on if it''s a threat to them, and if they have the means to cope or respond to the event. Hearing this is almost like an epiphany for Niel since he immediately relates it to the attack he suffered over a week ago; he believed his life was in danger, and that he had no Dust to defend himself with. Those were always constants before he awoke to his Dust, and were still a long time after.


    The discussion and stress talk takes up all of their time, so anything more will have to wait for next week. In the meantime, Niel spends his day off lounging, playing games with Reed, and watching Mabel paint. Suppertime comes and goes, and he finds his guardians in the dining room scratching a small number of cards with toothpicks.


    "What are you doing?" he asks, curious.


    "Scratching lotto tickets," Gabriel answers.


    "Lotto?"


    "The lottery," Mabel explains. "The money that people spend on these tickets goes into a honey pot, and the person with a winning ticket gets some or even all of the money." When Niel hears the word honey pot, his mind draws up a mound of cash inside of a pot made for storing honey.


    "The jackpot''s at... 83 million I think? So whoever wins gets a ton of money," Gabriel adds.


    "That''s a lot of money," Niel says.


    "A life-changing amount, but the odds of winning that much are only one in several million, if not worse." Gabriel selects an untouched card and slides it toward Niel. "Want to try?"


    "Sure."


    Niel takes a toothpick and sits down, and Gabriel explains the card''s game. It''s a pre-completed crossword, but you reveal letters in a word bank to scratch out letters in the puzzle to complete words. Three words formed awards the smallest prize of $3, with more words giving more money. Niel plays this game methodically, but the bank only provides enough letters for a single word.


    "You pay five dollars for this?" Niel found it strange that you could just buy a ticket that could earn you exorbitant amounts of money, but the price of a ticket along with the abysmal odds makes the prize the least exorbitant aspect.


    "Sometimes you win a smaller prize. I once won a hundred bucks!" Mabel gleams.


    "If you want money, you''re probably better off not buying any in the first place."


    "That''s true, but scratching tickets is fun in its own way. You don''t always win something, but it feels great when you do, even when you''ve lost more money than you''ve made," Gabriel says.


    So you''re not just buying a chance to win, but also a small amount of entertainment as well. Niel supposes he can''t knock this, even if he has no plans on wasting his money as well.


    With nothing interesting happening in the dining room anymore, Niel returns to the living room to watch TV again, but he finds something abnormal occurring on the couch. Illia was awake when Niel went to the dining room, but now she''s fast asleep in the dimming light. She looks... not peaceful. She''s grimacing ever so slightly in her sleep and her breathing is unsteady. Is she having a nightmare? Niel doesn''t want to wake her up in case he''s wrong about that, but he also doesn''t want to risk her having one and leaving her to suffer. Besides, they have work tomorrow and napping now will make it harder for her to sleep tonight. Niel reaches out to wake her, and...


    ...a signature, more defined than his Dust, but not dissimilar. It''s the same one he felt the night after his large attack, when Illia was waiting for him in his room. What is this? The singular pulse of this signature makes it hard to tell if it came from Niel or Illia, but with its history, he''s inclined to believe the latter. But how? And why? Niel looks closer at Illia and finds that her expression has become more fearful. And then it happens again¡ªanother pulse on his internal radar. It is coming from her. Niel places a hand on her shoulder to stir her awake, causing her to jolt as if jumpscared.


    "Good morning," he says as she looks up at him. She rubs her eyes as she sits up. "Were you having a nightmare?"


    She groggily nods her head.


    So he was right about the nightmare. Could that be why the signature appeared? From heightened emotion, like fear in this case? But Illia has been scared before, so why did it never trigger then? Niel can draw up question after question, but there''s no way Illia will be able to answer any of them. He decides to keep this secret until he figures it out himself.

 Chapter 23 - Which One Is It?

    "It''s been nothing but tests since getting here," Elliot complains to Niel. The latter is in his last hour of work just before the weekend when Elliot summoned him up to talk. At least this is an acceptable way to run the clock out faster.


    "First they took a sample of my piss," Elliot continues, "then they took some blood, and then they took even more blood because they screwed something up!"


    "I''m sorry for the inconvenience," Niel says as a blameless apology.


    "Eh, I''ll be happy when I''m home. I just have to wait until they finally find nothing wrong with me." If there''s one thing that''s stayed a constant during his time here, it''s his disbelief that he needs to be here in the first place. "Bit of an off-topic, but do you watch a lot of videos online?"


    "Sometimes."


    "My son showed me a video one time of some chemist guy extracting something out of his own piss to make artificial sweetener. I was like, ''What the hell?'' He even tasted some to compare it to real sugar!"


    That''s... mildly gross, but also mildly interesting. Chemistry has never really crossed Niel''s mind before.


    "I think he also made some kind of medicine, too. These tests the doctors have been doing reminded me of the piss chemist, as my son calls him."


    Niel sits somewhat uncomfortably as he listens to the ramblings about a man who boiled his pee for science, and he wonders if Reed has seen these videos, too. If not, then judging by the strange videos he watches, they seem right up his alley. Their daily 15 minutes come to an end, so Niel returns downstairs to resume his ever-shortening list of things he might be able to do.


    Much to his lack of shock, everything that can be done has already been done, so he decides to look for Reed instead to kill what little time is left. He finds Reed eating a bagel alone in the cafeteria.


    "It won''t be long until we have supper," Niel comments as he pulls up a chair.


    "It''s not even four yet," Reed counter-argues.


    "Almost."


    "Almost." It''s not hard to tell from Reed''s voice that he''s counting down the seconds. "You talk to that patient again?"


    "Yeah. He told me about some kind of strange chemistry video."


    Reed''s ears perk up. "Really? What videos?"


    "I''ll tell you later when you''re not eating. It''s a bit gross."


    "Alright, then."


    He''s more interested than Niel predicted. Suddenly, Reed''s report card pops into his head. In a sea of subjects he cares little for, Reed enjoyed chemistry.


    "Have you thought about a career path?" Niel asks, mimicking what he hears from their guardians. Because of this, Reed isn''t very enthused.


    "Not you, too..." he groans. "No, I haven''t. Nothing interests me, and I''m not smart enough for the high-paying jobs."


    Reed may not be entirely incorrect as he doesn''t have the best marks in school, but he did do well in science, and he did enjoy chemistry. And after doing so much volunteer work here in the hospital...


    "Why not be a doctor or a nurse?" Niel suggests.


    "I wouldn''t be good at it," Reed says, immediately putting the idea and himself down. "There''s so much you need to know. Medicine, diseases, human anatomy, I wouldn''t be able to remember it all."


    "You''ve done a lot of volunteer work here and you liked chemistry in your science class."


    "Volunteering here doesn''t get you any good doctoring experience, it''s just that med schools like the look of it."


    Reed didn''t deny the chemistry part. "Which means that you''ve got a good shot at getting into med school. You just need to be taught how to be a doctor, like anyone else."


    "Nah. I know my limits," Reed says as he dejectedly shakes his head. "I''ll figure something out eventually."


    And with that, Reed has shut the conversation down. After much impatient waiting, the clock finally strikes four and they''re allowed to leave. On his way over to sign out, he hears what he thinks is Rosa talking in the hall about something important, so he hugs the corner nearby to eavesdrop. Based on the voices, it sounds like she''s with one other woman.


    "You''ve been looking really tired lately. Is everything okay?" the other nurse asks.


    "I''ve just been feeling burnt out. Could use a vacation," Rosa says.


    "I think we all could."


    Niel sighs as he knows why Rosa is feeling this way. It hurts more because he doesn''t know how to help her.


    That night, Niel lies in bed unable to sleep. Despite his attempts to let go and rest, his mind is still fixated on work. Rosa, Elliot, and now Reed. What can he do to help them? Feeling no more sleepy than when he first laid down, he stands up and opens the window, letting the cooler night air blow across his body and into his room.


    Rosa''s feelings are coming from the stress surrounding Liam, and while saying she''s burning out is a convenient way of explaining how she feels without exposing herself, Niel also believes it''s not a lie. Elliot is still convinced that he doesn''t need to be here despite the signs pointing to the opposite, and Reed is putting himself down again. Neither believe or want to believe what he says.


    Niel''s mind drifts to the roof. He''s thought about sitting up there and stargazing back when he went snooping through the storage facility but never did so. Sitting up there now and pondering his next course of action sounds nice, but he needs to use his Dust to make it up there. He doesn''t want to use his Dust. He''s still terrified of himself.


    A flash of white in the corner of his mind''s eye spins him around sharply¡ªhe swears he saw the Warden''s Key illuminate just now. The pendant lays dormant on his nightstand. Niel approaches for a better look, and he confirms he is just seeing things. If he touched it, would it light up again? Curiosity brings his hand close to the glass, but nerves pull it back. The bulb is halfway full. Without the strength to use his power, he''ll become encumbered in only a few weeks, possibly even sooner. Then he''ll have no choice but to. When will this fear go away?


    >>>>>>


    Niel wants to try talking to Rosa again in the hopes something about her situation will become clearer to him. However, she''s a busy woman, and he''s only a volunteer. Finding the time isn''t the problem, though¡ªbecause of her role in the hospital, he doesn''t want to get in her way. This results in him constantly being within eyeshot of her, but never approaching in the hopes that she''ll take the initiative. After two hours of trying, it becomes clear that this isn''t working.


    He focuses on his duties, instead. Luck is bountiful today as there are several menial tasks for him to pass the time with. As he''s passing through the waiting area en route to deliver supplies, he finds a nurse making contact with an elderly patient. The patient isn''t speaking, at least not verbally. It appears that the patient is deaf and that the nurse doesn''t have any means of communicating. Niel is unsure of what to do. From his place in the background, he looks around for some way to help, and that help finds him, too. He and Illia exchange concerned glances from across the room. She knows she can help, but she''s afraid to. Niel gives her a reassuring nod and she finds the courage to step in.


    Illia approaches and introduces herself, much to the relief of the nurse. Though Illia is unable to speak herself, the situation is thankfully not dire as the patient was just looking for the washroom. With this problem sorted, Illia looks back at Niel with pride on her face, and Niel can''t help but give a small but genuine smile at her effort. This makes her smile even more.


    Illia stepped out of her comfort zone to communicate. Niel realizes that to talk to Rosa, he should, too. After finishing up with his ever-dwindling duties, he seeks out Rosa once again and finds her strolling through the halls, and with a breath to steady himself, he approaches.


    "Nurse Rosa, do you have a minute?" Niel asks as he walks with her.


    "I do. What''s up?"


    Off to a good start. "You look really tired today. Did something new happen between you and Liam?"


    Some of this is a lie. Rosa is masking her fatigue well, but Niel already knows that she''s burning out. Rosa stops in her tracks.


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    "...No, nothing happened. It''s just been more of the same."


    "And that''s where it hurts the most, right?"


    "...Yeah." Her low spirits are plainly visible on her face now.


    "Is there anything I can do to help you?"


    "Do you have a love potion?"


    Niel doesn''t know what that is, but he knows it''s not something in his possession. "No."


    Rosa sighs. "I''ve always thought it was fate how we were brought together as kids. Now it feels childish to have believed it in the first place..."


    Niel''s heard about fate several times before, but he doesn''t fully understand what it is, or if it even exists. ''A terrible fate'', ''don''t believe in fate'', ''sealed our fate'', ''it feels childish to believe''... What should he believe?


    "I''m sorry, I have a patient to see," Rosa says, breaking the silence before she leaves. Niel doesn''t even get a chance to say goodbye.


    >>>>>>


    Rosa is too busy to talk today, though it likely doesn''t matter much since Niel is clueless about how to help her. If only he knew more about romantic feelings. If only he knew more about feelings in general. He still can''t identify what half of his emotions even are. Niel gets word from Reginald that Elliot wants to talk to him again, so he makes his way back upstairs.


    "How are you today, Mr. Torres?" Niel asks.


    "I''ve been better, but I''ve been worse," Elliot responds as he lowers the volume of the room''s TV with a remote. "They''ve finally put me on dialysis now."


    "Dialysis?"


    "Your kidneys clean your blood. Since mine aren''t working well enough, apparently, they use a machine to clean it every other day to give my kidneys a break."


    An interesting series of thoughts come to mind about Niel''s own biology. Since his Dust is bloodborne, do his kidneys ignore it when filtering his blood? Are his kidneys modified to do so, or are they even his in the first place? And if he wanted to be rid of his Dust, could he have a machine siphon the power out of his veins?


    Niel snaps back to Elliot''s ramblings. "¡ªeven necessary? I''m not unhealthy. What do you think?"


    "I think what the doctors say is worth listening to," Niel hastily states as a knee-jerk reaction. He missed what the question was about, so hopefully this answer makes sense and doesn''t offend.


    Elliot grumbles. "Perhaps... My children certainly agree."


    "His old are your children?" Niel inquires to keep the conversation alive.


    "My daughter is in her late twenties, and my son''s in his early thirties. I keep telling him he should find someone to marry, like his sister did, but he''s more interested in his career than anything else."


    Romance and career¡ªRosa and Reed pop into his mind. Maybe Niel can glean some kind of hint from Elliot to help them.


    "Are you married, Mr. Torres?"


    "I was, once upon a time. We had one too many disputes, so we ended up splitting."


    "I''m sorry to hear that."


    "Nah, don''t be. It wasn''t a very happy marriage, anyway. Despite what you''ve seen, I''ve been feeling a lot better since. What IS unfortunate is that I''m no longer the sexy man I used to be. I was THE lady''s man back in my heyday! But now, dating at this age is harder than landing a proper job nowadays."


    "I know very little about dating." This isn''t something Niel would say normally, but he''s hoping this will entice Elliot to share his stories. He feels a sense of untrustworthiness from himself for manipulating the conversation like this.


    "Dating is all about finding a spark. See, looks will draw someone in, but if you share nothing in common, or don''t find them interesting, then nothing will come from it. Once you do, though, it''s all about communication."


    Communication. Is that not what he recommended Rosa do, to communicate her feelings to Liam?


    "What if I met someone like that, but I didn''t like them back?"


    "Then that''ll be a hard pill to swallow, but they''ll have to move on."


    "And, how would they do that if they''re struggling to?"


    "Hmm... It''s not something everyone will find easy to do, but putting distance between yourself and the person you''re trying to move on from helps. If you have something to keep yourself busy with, even better. In fact, when I was your age, I..."


    Elliot then starts telling stories of his days as a romantic young man. While they''re at minimum entertaining, they don''t hold much in the way of useful information. Niel is unable to ask any more questions as these stories take up the remainder of their time together.


    >>>>>>


    Despite his fatigue, Niel can''t sleep in on Thursday morning due to his weekly session with Medova. They''ve since graduated from just talking about stressors, and now they''re practicing how to better handle them.


    The fear of disassociation still lingers, so to help prevent more attacks, Medova teaches him various grounding techniques. Some are familiar as she''s already taught a couple to him, but there are more worth going over, and it doesn''t hurt to cover the previous ones again. Box breathing has already been used with positive results, but it required external help for him to remember it. Niel realizes he talked himself into a corner, so he finally admits to Medova the night after the large attack when Illia came to his rescue. Surprisingly to him, Medova isn''t upset that this revelation came two weeks late, and instead uses it to convey of the efficacy of reaching out to the people around him for help.


    Alongside box breathing, Niel is taught the 54321 method. Focus on five things he can see, four he can touch, three he can hear, two he can smell, and one he can taste. By isolating and invoking all of his senses, he can refocus his mind on the present¡ªeffective for when he feels his consciousness slipping or for when he becomes overwhelmed by the environment around him. Medova mentions how focusing on sound is particularly potent, both positively and negatively, and while he doesn''t bring it up, Niel thinks about Illia''s frequent use of her kalimba and how they both find it soothing.


    Disassociation is only part of the problem; the memories of the lab are another. While he''s more equipped to handle dealing with his stress, the root cause still needs addressing. Thus, Medova encourages him to not only speak of the lab but also how the memories make him feel about himself. One such feeling is his strongest one: his seemingly insurmountable guilt. Her goal is to shift his belief that he''s a monster and aggressor to a survivor¡ªthat he''s not the one at fault, the lab is. To assist with this goal and the new grounding techniques, Medova tasks him with the homework of keeping a journal and encourages him to write down his thoughts at the end of each day and when potent feelings of stress or self-loathing surface.


    There''s still some time before the session ends, so Medova reinforces what she''s taught today, plus how important it is to maintain a proper sleep schedule. Niel admits how he''s been sleeping in more and more, and she confirms that oversleeping is harmful to both the body and mind. With how much he''s shared, Niel is tempted for a moment to talk more about his guilt, but he stops himself before he even begins. Self-positivity doesn''t form in less than an hour, and the lab''s incessant whispers are eager to remind him of how low he truly is. Instead, he decides to ask a question that''s been on his mind recently. With the mentions of fate he''s heard from the various people he''s met, what does Medova think is correct?


    "When something bad happens, people say they don''t believe in fate and try to make things better. But when things are going well, they say that it must be fate. Which one is it?" Niel asks. His tone is somewhat sullen.


    Despite being a therapist, philosophy isn''t a particular strength of Medova''s. It won''t stop her from trying to give the best answer she can.


    "I think the meaning and purpose of fate is up to each person. Some use it as a driving force, while others see it as validation. Its existence is subjective, but that means its meaning is, too. There''s no right answer. Therefore, from your own beliefs and experiences, it''s up to you to decide what it means to you."


    Niel was hoping for a straightforward answer, but he supposes this explains some of what he''s heard, too. Time is up for their session today.


    >>>>>>


    His efforts with Rosa haven''t been going well. Niel still can''t find a way to help her in any capacity, and now he feels himself becoming increasingly emotionally numb. He has his work cut out for him, and so does Medova in turn. The journal she tasked him with keeping is still empty.


    It''s not just Rosa who has her troubles, but also Elliot and Reed. Out of them all, it seems like Elliot is the least of concern. While he wants to leave, it also sounds like he''s been receiving the treatment he needs. Niel''s efforts with Rosa have caused her to emotionally shut him out for the time being, so he decides to shift his focus to Reed and try to get him to think about his future.


    Niel scouts around the hospital in search of Reed while pretending to look busy, but he learns from Reginald that Reed''s busy¡ªand unlike Niel¡ªfor real. At least he found something to pass the time with. Talking with Reed isn''t a pressing matter since there will be plenty of time to do so when they get home, so for now, Niel answers Elliot''s call.


    "How''s everything been?" Elliot asks once Niel sits by his bed.


    "I''m doing fine."


    A look of concern or consideration washes over the elder man''s face¡ªNiel can''t tell which one it is.


    "Say, do you happen to know how many bones are in the human hand?"


    An odd question. "Not off of the top of my head, no."


    "Well, it has to be a handful, right?"


    Elliot erupts into a bellyful laughter and Niel is left scratching his head. A handful...? ...Oooh, he understands now. It''s such a dumb, Reed-esque joke that Niel can''t help but crack a faint, fleeting smile. Elliot takes this positive reception and cracks a few more jokes of similar calibre, drawing out Niel''s grin bit by bit.


    "Ha ha ha! Feel a little better now?" Elliot asks, humoured. He''s certainly getting a kick out of Niel''s reaction, even after his smile fades.


    "I... suppose so."


    "Take this as a lesson, son: there may not always be a time or a place for details, but if something''s got you down, be honest about it."


    That''s quite the lesson.


    "So, how are you feeling?"


    "Being honest, I''m barely holding on. Don''t have too much time left here."


    "You don''t mean..."


    "Hm? Oh, no! I''m not dying, sorry. I''m finally gonna get out of here. Though, my ex-wife would probably love to hear that I''m dead..."


    This turns into yet more love-centred storytime. Niel wants to ask Elliot what he meant by him getting out of here, plus he wants to hear what he has to say about career paths, but he doesn''t want to be rude and interrupt him. His earliest chance to ask comes when most of their time has been burned through, so Niel has to pick which question to ask. He was just talking about when his daughter was in school, so Niel can build off of that.


    "How did your daughter choose what career she wanted?"


    "Ah, worried about what you want to be? She did what I recommend now: do something you enjoy. Jobs are a lot more tolerable when you don''t hate what you''re doing. Sure, high-paying jobs are nice, but a job you can wake up in the morning and not kick yourself over is even better."


    Finally, a straight answer. This is good information for Reed. Unfortunately, their time has run out again so Niel has to leave. Before he walks out for the last time before the weekend, Elliot stops him to say one more thing.


    "I wanted to talk to that green-haired NP at first, but she seemed busy so I didn''t want to be a bother," Elliot begins. "Then you showed up with my food, and you kept coming back to keep an old man like me company. Thank you for being such a good listener, Niel."


    "You''re welcome, Mr. Torres."


    Niel steps out of the room, and he contemplates the conversation as he rejoins the rest of the hospital. Elliot initially wanted to talk to Rosa? She must''ve been one of the first staff members he met if he had to guess. His thoughts shift to Reed when they return home that afternoon. He still isn''t sure what else he can say to convince Reed to think about his future, but he''s positive that something in the medical field would be up his alley. Maybe nursing like Rosa, or perhaps chemistry like in those videos he enjoys watching.


    * * *


    Reed turns on his phone and lays in bed after an eventful day. There''s a video he''s been meaning to watch all week, so he searches it up and presses play. What he heard about it sounds crazy, but he quickly learns that it''s all true.


    "Oh my god, he does actually boil his own pee.

 Chapter 24 - Being Honest

    The journal Niel was tasked to keep sits on his desk in front of him. He''s failed to write anything for three nights straight. Now it''s Sunday evening and it''s looking like three will turn into four. It''s not that Niel can''t think of anything to write¡ªhe has plenty of negative thoughts on his mind¡ªbut is it worth the space on the page? Any person would say yes, Niel included, but the lab... he can''t get them out of his head. It feels like a dark shadow. Ginormous. It tells him he''s nothing more than a weapon, that rage and apathy are all he needs to feel; nothing else matters. How he feels doesn''t matter. Not before that incident. Undeserving after. The guilt doesn''t scream, it''s a long, drawn-out whisper.


    He hears the support around him. He knows he''s not alone. The whisper drowns out everything until all that''s left is guilt. Niel puts pen to paper and writes that he can''t think of anything to say.


    >>>>>>


    This is their last week of volunteering here, so if Niel wants to help Rosa somehow, he needs to make these last three days count. He gets lucky and catches Rosa in a lonely hallway early.


    "How was your weekend?" Niel asks, trying to sound a little more chipper than usual. He''s hoping it''ll rub off on her a bit, but the attempt is quickly shown to be in vain.


    "It was... okay." From her morose tone, it doesn''t sound okay. "I hung out with Liam again."


    "How did that go?"


    "We had fun. Went to a rock climbing place and then had lunch. Almost felt like a date."


    Niel plants his back against the wall so he''s sidelong with Rosa. "Was it?"


    "...No." Rosa''s mood spirals as she vents her inner thoughts. "I have fun when I''m with him, but every time I''m alone I feel miserable. I remember that I can''t have him. Why do I need him so much?"


    Saying that she needs Liam causes his thinking to pause for a few seconds, grinding the conversation to an uncomfortable silence. It takes a moment, but a handful of words gradually arrange themselves from a distant emotion reflected in Niel''s heart.


    "Isn''t it tiring, holding on this tightly?"


    Rosa doesn''t look at him. Instead, her vision falls to the floor where the tiles meet the white brick wall. "I don''t know what else to do."


    "Talk to him about how you feel. Take a break from him. This isn''t going to improve or go away until you let go."


    A look of painful consideration spreads across her face like oil.


    "I... can''t do that."


    Despite her pain, she still refuses to let go. A part of him thinks he should take his own advice, too. With nothing more to say on this, Niel tries lightening the mood by bringing up other topics he''s heard of over the weekend. Their conversation is short-lived as he swiftly runs out of things to talk about, but he is successful at raising their spirits if only by a little.


    The lack of things to hold his attention keeps Niel''s mind facing inward as the day proceeds. Each second that passes is more time lost for Rosa. If he fails to make an impact this week, then he''ll need a contingency plan. How can he meet up with her without drawing attention? How can he even contact her on her days off? He''s forced off of this train of thought as his usual time with Elliot arrives faster than he expects.


    "How has your weekend been, Mr. Torres?" Niel asks after stepping into the inpatient room.


    "Eh, just the same-old same-old. Weekends don''t mean much when you''re here twenty-four seven."


    "I''m... sorry to hear that."


    "Well, at least my kids visited more often than they usually do, though that isn''t saying much. Hell, you''ve been seeing me more consistently than they do, ha ha!"


    Niel hopes for Elliot''s sake that the last part was a joke. The ever-growing collection of cards, decorations, and children''s animal doodles on a desk to the side suggests that it is, at least. The pair get into their conversations ranging from their weekends to the state of the city, and then Niel listens to more stories of Elliot''s past. Many are triumphant tales from his so-called ''glory days'' or humorous scenarios from misadventures past, but the stories touching on previous relationships draw his thoughts back to Rosa, and it makes Niel scatterbrained and unfocused. And, of course, it grows to show on the surface.


    "You look like you got something on your mind," Elliot observes after Niel misses yet another key point in a story. "You''ve been an ear for me all this time, let me see if I can''t be one for you. Tell me what''s going on."


    Niel is unsure of this. If giving personal advice to patients is against the rules (one he more-than-likely broke already), then he imagines airing out your grievances to a patient is breaking another. Diligence is telling him to lie and keep his problems to himself, but Elliot seems adamant about this and their session is running out of time.


    "I have... this friend," Niel says against his better judgment. He didn''t even fully think this through¡ªhis words came out mostly unimpeded. "She''s been friends with this guy for a while¡ªhas feelings for him, but he doesn''t reciprocate. Now it hurts her to be around him, she''s miserable without him, and she doesn''t want to upset him by telling him this. It''s gotten to the point where she''s burning out from her job."


    Elliot''s eyes light up briefly like this is a massive revelation for him, but he quickly tempers himself again. "It sounds like she has a case of dishonesty."


    "I... don''t quite follow."


    "It''s not other people we lie to the most; it''s ourselves. Lies can be comforting, and the small ones tend to not be very damaging. When these small lies build up for a long time, though, they become more painful than soothing. It''s just like bottling up your feelings until it bursts. I think that''s what''s happening to your friend, plus some mismanaged rejection muddying the waters. It may hurt, but my best advice for her is to talk things over with this guy, and then maybe break things off for a while. I think that''s her best chance at moving on."


    This is almost exactly what Niel suggested Rosa do today, just told with a different perspective. Their time is up for today, so Niel gives his thanks for the advice and heads out again. If he can hammer this point to Rosa, maybe he can convince her to take the advice and open up to Liam. However, Rosa is proving to be elusive, and he can''t find an audience with her in time before he has to go home.


    Once they all get home, Mabel and Gabriel are quick to whisk Illia back out of the door and to the car. Niel has no idea why. No, wait, he does. Her glasses are probably in. He sits on the couch and lets curiosity fuel his patience. After some time, the three return again, and Illia''s appearance is noticeably different¡ªsitting on the bridge of her nose are glasses silver and black accented with yellow.


    "They look good on you," Niel compliments after he stands to have a closer look. Illia flaunts her new spectacles with excitable pride.


    "For someone who was scared to get them, she''s sure acting like a kid on Christmas!" Mabel comments with a chuckle, killing Illia''s enthusiasm. Thumping footsteps are heard descending the stairs, revealing themselves to be the other two kids after hearing the commotion.


    "Oh my god! You look so cute!" Lydia practically squeals as she races closer.


    "Can you see better now?" Reed asks.


    Illia nods with a large smile on her face.


    "She wasn''t so sure at first, but she changed the moment she saw how clear everything became up close," Gabriel says with a chuckle.


    "Welcome to the world of normal vision!" Reed jokes.


    And what a wondrous world it is. It''s something so simple, yet Illia is having the time of her life seeing things up close. She looks goofy at times, putting her face up against every surface¡ªReed says she looks like a dog sniffing for a bone, and for once Lydia agrees with him¡ªbut the advent of eyesight is not dismissed easily. Niel finds her later plucking away at het kalimba again, this time reading sheet music at much greater ease. She sounds much better at playing, too.


    Her excitement continues through Tuesday and into Wednesday, where not only is she still gleefully wearing her glasses, but she''s also brought her kalimba to play for the patients and visitors. Reginald explains that Lydia suggested the idea and got her permission to do so on Monday. Niel is keen to listen and watch from a distance, but something unusual happens: Elliot wants to talk to him. This in itself is far from atypical, but the timing is; this is more than three hours early. He ascends the stairs to investigate.


    "Quite a bit earlier than you were expecting, huh?" Elliot comments.


    "Quite. You must be eager to talk today, Mr. Torres."


    "That''s because I''ve got something important to tell you." Elliot sits up straighter in his bed, far less burdened by his illness than he was during their first meeting. "This''ll be our last day to talk. Doctors'' say I''m good enough to leave early Friday morning."


    Well, this is a genuine shock. "Oh! I''m glad you''re well enough, then."


    "I have you to thank for that," Elliot says. "If it weren''t for your motivating words and your frequent visits, I probably would have left before I could be treated properly. So thank you."


    Niel thinks he''s getting too much credit, but he''s appreciative of the kind words. "If I made someone''s day better, then I''ve fulfilled my role as a volunteer. It''s what I''m here for."


    It feels as if a weight previously unknown to them has been lifted from the room, leaving the air¡ªand their conversations¡ªlight and free, perhaps even melancholic. No old stories, no thinly wrapped woes, just two people talking about whatever comes to mind. Before either of them know it, their final visit comes to an end, and they give each other one last goodbye and a well-wish for the future.


    Back down on the first floor, Niel takes a moment to refresh with a drink of water in the volunteer''s lounge, and he finds Reed sitting back and watching the minutes go by.


    "Nothing going on?" Niel asks.


    "Nothing. Lydia''s got the gift shop and Illia''s playing music. You''d think that means more for us to do, but nope."


    "I hear you."


    There hasn''t been a whole lot for them to do, even including the menial tasks. On the topic of (not) being busy, there''s something that Niel has been meaning to ask Reed but never remembered to do until now.


    "What was that important thing you were busy with on Friday?"


    Reed doesn''t know what he''s talking about at first, but he soon clues in. "Oh, that. A patient had a medical emergency and collapsed. Doctors got me to help¡ªnothing major, just by grabbing a few things."


    It almost seems like Reed is trying to undersell himself, unfortunately on par with how he''s been acting lately. "I''m surprised you never said anything about it."


    "Didn''t feel right to. Y''know, with privacy and all."


    Niel believes Reed, but he isn''t sure he''s being told the whole story.


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "You could make a good doctor or nurse," Niel suggests.


    "I knew you were going to bring it to here."


    "Bring what to here?"


    "The conver..." With how stone-faced Niel is, Reed can''t tell if he''s joking or not. "...Are you... being serious?"


    "Of course I am. What do you mean?" Niel''s voice is drenched in a level of sarcasm that''s normally alien to him. Without it, Reed wouldn''t have caught on.


    "Dude, it''s great you''re developing a sense of humour, but it''s seriously scary how I can''t tell if you''re joking or not now."


    "Isn''t it called deadpan, or something?"


    "It''s not quite deadpan humour, but you''re getting there."


    Perfect. Reed''s spirit has been raised a bit. Now it should be easier to talk to him about the main topic.


    "Seriously though, I think you would make a good doctor or nurse."


    "No, I really don''t think I¡ª"


    "You haven''t even begun to try. How can you know you''ll be bad at it if you haven''t even gone to school for it?"


    "Dude, I know what my limits are. It won''t work out for me."


    "And I know you look down on yourself as much as I do on myself."


    This catches Reed''s attention. But before Niel can press this angle further, the door to the lounge opens, revealing a parched Reginald.


    "Hello, skippers! Having a good chat, are we?" he says.


    Not an opportunity Niel was expecting, but one he''ll take. "Yeah. We were talking about maybe going to med or nursing school."


    "Oh! With the volunteer work you''ve done, I''d recommend nursing. Though, I am a bit biased on that."


    "Oh, right. Weren''t you a nurse before?" Reed asks. This is news to Niel.


    "Indeed I was! And for nearly fifty years, at that. It was getting a bit hard in my old age, so I ended up retiring not ten years ago. Couldn''t stay away forever, though. I decided to come back again as a volunteer."


    "Reed''s been having trouble thinking of a career path," Niel says more honestly. "I suggested nursing or being a doctor."


    "I think nursing would suit you to a T. I''ve seen the work you''ve done, and not just from this summer, either," Reginald says to Reed. "You really pull your weight around here, especially during that situation on Friday. I have no doubt you''d do well as a nurse."


    Reed''s expression has changed dramatically from Reginald''s praise; now an encouraged smirk is fighting off the previous self-defeating frown. Reginald fetches himself a bottle of water and guzzles it considerably faster than they were expecting him to.


    "I hope I was of some help!" the old man says as he leaves the lounge. Reed looks at Niel with a mixture of pride and annoyance on his face.


    "You had to say something, didn''t you?" he complains.


    "It''s not just me who thinks you''d be good at this. Besides, you''re smiling."


    "You would be too if you were getting showered with praise!" Reed tries rubbing his face to ebb his grin.


    "Out of everything at school, you enjoyed science and chemistry, and you pull your weight here in a practical environment. It''s like Reginald said: you''re cut out for this. Why not take it a step further when you can?"


    "Why are you so adamant about this?"


    Niel walks past Reed, playfully poking him in the side as he goes. He wears a small smile of his own. "Someone has to care about you."


    He gets a bottle of water and hastily drinks it as Reed is left to ponder where he stands. When Niel suggests they get back to work and moves to leave the lounge, Reed stops him.


    "I''ll take chemistry and biology for Grade 12, and then I think I''ll look into nursing school."


    The small smile grows into a full, proud grin. "I know you''ll do well." An alien feeling of confidence surges within Reed from seeing Niel beam like this, and he thinks about how far the dark-Mute boy has come. The pair return to work with their spirits higher than ever.


    First Elliot, and now Reed. Two of his three concerns have now been abated. All that''s left is Rosa. He keeps an eye out for her while completing odd jobs around the hospital confidently reciting what he''ll say to her in his head, but she''s nowhere to be found. He asks one of the nurses about this, and much to his surprise, he''s told that Rosa took today off. His plans are in the wind now, and the day ends quietly as a result.


    Despite the surge of self-confidence yesterday, Niel wakes up Thursday morning feeling... less than well. His mind feels cluttered and fogged and he just wants to go back to bed. Why do his emotions flip like this so suddenly? And why is it always for the worse? What is wrong with him? He questions if he''s even ready to talk to Medova again, though he thinks that regardless of the answer, it would happen anyway. Niel forces himself to get ready.


    After a brief checking-in, Medova wants to do what Niel doesn''t: go over his journal. His struggle to write down what''s on his mind never became any better over the working week. Medova is underwhelmed by the lack of content within, but she understands and doesn''t shame him for it. Instead, she guides him to write something by giving him a prompt: memories. Across the span of fifteen minutes, Niel is tasked to write about one or more memories of the lab or a different unpleasant memory. The more he writes down, the better. He''s hesitant at first with these memories being extremely uncomfortable to recall, but with gentle encouragement from Medova, he finds the strength to begin. One word becomes two, two becomes four, four becomes eight, and soon he has entire paragraphs written down.


    "It was... like a cork became unstuck," Niel comments.


    "It might be easier to write now, with it gone," Medova says. "Would you like to share with me what you''ve written?"


    It isn''t easy for him, but Niel reads out his account of the abuses he suffered in the lab. Verbal, physical, emotional. He was to be the perfect weapon for them, so he was to be perfect. Anything less was a failure, and it was made certain that he felt every failure. He describes how he was groomed to not feel joy or sorrow, or to think for himself. The cold, calculating mind of apathy, and the seething rage to see any task through, no matter how depraved, were all he needed. The sleepless nights, the never-ending fatigue, the incessant nightmares spawned by guilt arising from a single, unrevealed event. He still has those nightmares, even now.


    "Do you remember what happens in these nightmares?" Medova asks.


    "I do."


    Niel takes a long, slow breath. The hesitancy is audible.


    "I''m in a city I destroyed. I don''t remember doing it, but I know it was me who did it. Then, there''s this... giant. As tall as a mountain... Bearing down on me."


    "Do you know who, or what this giant is?"


    "My guilt." This time, there''s no hesitation. "Every time I wake up, it''s all I feel."


    While he has it with him, the Warden''s Key remains unequipped and lying on the table during their sessions. The glass bulb is unmistakably near capacity, and both of them know it. Niel has long since run out of courage to well up, but yet he musters up a bit more.


    "I''ve been scared to use my Dust, lately. Ever since that... attack."


    "You''re afraid you''ll hurt someone."


    "I... I think I''m scared of myself, too."


    This takes them smoothly along to the second half of the session: putting theory into practice. If his Dust has become a stressor, then she wants him to use it to practice the de-stressing techniques she''s taught him, killing two birds with one stone. It takes another confidence boost from Medova and plenty of breathing, but he''s eventually able to summon a swathe of Dust that drips from his trembling hand. These kinds of exercises continue until their time runs out. Before they leave, Medova reminds Niel to continue his writing, and she expresses the importance of him being honest with himself, just like he was today.


    Niel ventures upstairs to return the journal to its place on his desk, then sits on his bed. He wants to be alone for a while. Despite Medova helping him, he''s still scared to use his Dust; his hand still trembles at the thought. Why is he still so hesitant? He can count the number of times he''s used his Dust in the past month on a single hand, and this has led to the Warden''s Key filling significantly faster than he expected. In just another day or two, it''ll be full. He''ll have no choice but to spend it then. It''s not like it''s an impossibility or anything, but the thought alone makes his heart palpitate. Niel glances over to his journal again¡ªthis is exactly what he should be writing down. Though reluctant, he sits down at his desk and flips to a new page, letting graphite materialize his thoughts.


    >>>>>>


    Today is their last day of volunteering, and Niel still doesn''t have a proper plan for Rosa nor a contingency should he fail to help her. Regardless, he looks for her and hopes she''s present today. With luck, he finds her very early into his shift, and... something''s off about her. He isn''t sure what, but the way she carries herself is different. Troubled, though lighter¡ªif Niel had to put it to words. Rosa watches his approach.


    "Morning, Niel," she greets, her words echoing a mood burdened by change.


    "Good morning," Niel responds. "Did something happen recently? You were absent Wednesday and you seem different today."


    "Ah, that." Rosa silently looks out towards the ever-crowding waiting room, unresponsive. Instead of forcing an answer out of her, Niel decides to bring up a different topic.


    "Why did you choose to be a nurse?"


    This seems to snap her out of a daze. She slowly registers the question and formulates her answer. "I wanted to help people and see them smile. When I became a nurse, I realized there isn''t much of that happening here..." Her gaze draws Niel''s eyes to the nervous and anxious sitting in the room''s rowed seating. "But when they''re healthy again and well enough to leave, I feel like I''ve done my job. Made a difference."


    The first and last parts sit with Niel the most. Helping people, seeing them smile, and making a difference. Leaning against the wall, they both stand in silence, watching.


    "...I spoke to Liam on Tuesday. About how I feel," she says drearily. Niel looks up at her with full attention. "We... We''re taking a break from each other so I can focus on myself."


    This is... exactly what Niel was hoping to achieve. Rosa can now move on, and yet this outcome doesn''t feel gratifying like the others.


    "Is this for the best?" Niel questions.


    "I don''t know. This is what Liam suggested we do. He didn''t want me to keep feeling how I was. But, it feels like I''m losing a friend."


    "If he said it was a break, then you can always see him later when you feel better."


    "I suppose..."


    So, that''s it, then. Niel accomplished what he wanted to in these three weeks of volunteering. Rosa, Elliot, and Reed¡ªall situations he wanted to lend a hand in. Did he do a good job? He doesn''t know, but now it''s done. Though, this result with Rosa feels a little... spontaneous. She rejected what he was saying at first, but now this has happened. Did she just have a change of heart? Or... That look Elliot gave him on Monday crosses his mind. That happened when he told him about Rosa''s situation, and Rosa''s talking to Liam happened the day after. Could it be that...?


    "Rosa?"


    "Yes?"


    "Strange question, but..." She looks at Niel almost as if she already knows what he''s going to say. "What''s Liam''s last name?"


    Niel can hear her sharply but quietly inhale a breath before straightening the hesitation out of herself.


    "Torres. Why?"


    Now it''s Niel''s turn to be shocked, and he tries to hide it from his face the best he can. The son Elliot was referring to was Liam this whole time.


    "I''m sorry, I need to be somewhere now," Rosa says as she walks off, leaving Niel alone.


    * * *


    That scheming...! When Liam approached her out of the blue already knowing about how she felt, she knew he had to be involved, and now Niel just confirmed it. He isn''t due to leave yet, and she never saw Liam nor his sister enter the hospital. Rosa marches up to Elliot''s room and enters, skipping the formalities.


    "Ivy! How are you feeling?" he greets in her place. He stands by the window all alone.


    "You were the one who told Liam about me," she sneers.


    "But of course! Jealousy and heartbreak don''t become you." With this conversation quickly becoming serious, Elliot puts the breaks on his boisterous grandstanding. "You''re like family to us, Ivy¡ªbut something had to give, whether it was your time with my son or your health."


    "But why drag Niel into this?"


    "Let''s just say that a third party tends to be more... honest."


    "What did he tell you?"


    "Everything I had already suspected, but he did confirm it for me. He never told me your name or anything. Kept it as confidential as he could. I could tell it was wearing on him, too." Hearing this causes Rosa to sigh and begin pacing around the room. "Now, I do admit I did tell him a few tiny white lies to keep him coming back. He''s a sucker for sympathy."


    "But you didn''t have to, did you?"


    "I suppose I didn''t have to, but it doesn''t hurt to make things more believable, at least not in this case. The ends justify the means, and all." Elliot takes a step towards Rosa, causing her to stop. "You weren''t giving any of us much of a choice. You need to be more honest with yourself, Ivy. If you''re hurting, you need to say it. You can''t help others if you can''t help yourself. Liam will always be here, ready to reconnect when you''ve got your life together."


    Rosa looks down at the floor feeling no different than a scolded child.


    "...Okay."


    Elliot resumes his theatrics to try and cheer her up. "Alright, I think I''ve kept you long enough. You''re a busy woman, got people to treat. Plus Liam''s on his way, and that would be a bit awkward, now wouldn''t it?"


    "Why are you like this?" Rosa questions, bothered by his dramatic demeanour.


    "If I wasn''t, you''d be questioning what''s wrong with me."


    * * *


    Niel is passing by the waiting room after completing a small bit of filing when he sees that a group of parents and their children are gathered around a set of close tables. At first, he thinks it''s Illia with her kalimba again, but on closer inspection, he realizes that it''s a nurse teaching how to fold origami. He thinks it''s nice how they''re entertaining the children in a stressful place like this. A parent tugging on the tail of a paper crane to move its head makes their child smile. Rosa''s words about seeing people smile enter his head again, and he becomes inspired to do something. Medova''s teachings help to give him courage. Niel chooses a spot within view but far enough away to not be considered a factor, and with a steadying breath, he unleashes an invisible cloud of Dust.


    A very young girl is playing with one of the cranes in her mother¡¯s lap when she feels it tug ever-so slightly away from her, causing it to fall from her tiny hand. The mother quickly notices this and picks it up for her daughter.


    ¡°It moowved,¡± the young girl babbles.


    ¡°Yes, it moves,¡± the mother echoes as she tugs theatrically on the crane¡¯s tail, causing its wings to flap. But when she stops pulling its tail, she realizes that the wings are still moving.


    ¡°It¡¯s moowving!¡± the young girl repeats as her mother stares in astonishment.


    ¡°Who¡¯s¡­ who¡¯s doing this?¡± the mother asks around the table, but no one is capable of giving an answer. All they can do is stare at the crane flapping on its own. Suddenly, one by one, more cranes begin to move their wings until they all hop off of the table and take flight.


    Every visitor, every soon-to-be patient, and every nurse and doctor watches in awe as a flock of paper cranes with a life of their own slowly and gracefully fly around the room. The children point and cheer, the adults stand in wonderment, and the staff question whose Mute is responsible. Reginald is lured from somewhere by the commotion and he watches in reverence as the cranes dance. Rosa looks on from the other side of the room knowing who''s responsible. Illia has known for a while that Niel has been avoiding using this Dust, and she looks at him with elated pride.


    Every time he''s helped someone, he wasn''t sure what the reason was. Now Niel is certain. He does it simply because he wants to help. Is there more to it? Probably. There''s still so much more he doesn''t understand about how he feels. But he knows the baseline, and he knows he''s been running away.


    Going forward, he''ll try to be more honest with himself.

 Chapter 25 - Take a Shot

    Volunteering again was exciting, boring, and enjoyable just as he expected, and now Reed gets the entire month of August to relax. Niel also seems to be doing better as he''s using his Dust again. Speaking of Niel, he and Illia have gone out for a walk. They haven''t been out to the glade in quite some time, so maybe he''ll round everyone up and go again. He also wants to go to the Mute range and throw some fireballs at some point. His birthday is coming up in three Fridays'' time as well, and Clara''s going to be taking them out for another trip that weekend.


    He collapses on his bed. So many things to do, and only a month to do them. Then it''s back to school...


    Right, school. He''ll have to see if he can get some of his classes switched around so he can do chemistry or biology a year earlier than initially planned. Niel wants him to try, so he''ll at least try to make him happy. It isn''t easy, though. Even thinking of this is more effort than Reed is willing to put in. There''s no guarantee any of this will even work out in the first place. People say he has a confidence problem, but the mistakes he''s made whisper a different story.


    How can he possibly have confidence when anything and everything is there to remind him of his inferiority the moment he starts feeling proud?


    Reed sighs and shakes his head. He knows he shouldn''t be thinking like this. It''s just hard not to. For now, he should just figure out what he wants to do tomorrow.


    The next day isn''t ideal to go outside (though Lydia would disagree), but the day after that shows more favourable weather to pay the glade another visit. Of the four of them, Lydia is the one who wants to go the least, though she''s strung along by Illia''s growing energy and is forced to go. They have a small amount of trouble remembering where the hidden glade is located, but they find the familiar clearing in due time.


    Illia is first to notice that everything has been left exactly as they last saw it; the pond, the fallen log, and the rope swing all remain undisturbed. Even the leftover rope they forgot to take back sits quietly at the base of the big tree that holds their swing.


    Speaking of the swing, Reed is the first to claim it as he leaps onto it, shaking yesterday''s raindrops from the leaves above and giving himself an impromptu shower. As for the other three, they wander around the area unsure of what exactly to do. Eventually, they decide to spread a Dust blanket over the log and sit to watch minnows and small fish swim by. Among the fish is a curious amphibian who perches on a stone after taking a swim. Nobody moves as they watch it, but the moment the frog hops in Lydia''s direction, she squeals and tucks her legs up to her chest.


    "What''s going on with you?" Reed questions as he leaps from the swing.


    "It''s a frog!" Lydia exclaims, clambering off of the log to escape the horrible green beast that took another hop toward her.


    "Oo, a frog?" Reed peers over the log to examine the animal.


    "Don''t you dare pick it up!"


    "I''m not! I don''t want to touch it, either."


    If Reed is showing caution, then Niel will refrain from picking it up, too. As for Illia... With a large smile on her face, she scoops the adorable little creature into her hands and presents it triumphantly to the group.


    "Oh my God, Illia, put it down!" Lydia pleads as she takes another step back. This, of course, causes Illia to take another step forward¡ªher smile now transformed into a teasingly devilish smirk. Lydia pleads more but it''s no use: Illia has fallen into a rare degeneracy and plans to pay back all of the teasing done to her by Reed and Lydia. She chases the two of them around with frog in hand, rewarding her with a chorus of screams and laughter. Niel watches on from the comfort of the log.


    Reed manages to convince Illia to chase after Lydia instead of him, and while she has her back turned, he slips away to find a defence to her froggy assault. This defence comes in the form of a relatively straight stick, of which he likens to a sword. Perfect. After getting the feel of his new ''blade'' by swinging it around, he rejoins the party only to find that the frog has escaped its captor''s grasp. Looks like he doesn''t need the stick anymore. But it''s a cool stick and he doesn''t want to get rid of it.


    A new idea comes to mind. Niel is standing with his back to Reed. He''s still curious about what the dark-Mute boy can do in a fight, so what if he duels him using the stick? Holding the stick to his waist as if it were sheathed, Reed rushes at Niel and performs an unsheathing upward slash aimed at his midsection. Despite not facing Reed''s approach, Niel agilely sidesteps the attack as he spins around, and he glares daggers of murderous intent straight into Reed''s soul. The death glare turns into an open hand reaching for Reed''s head, and he topples over backward out of fear.


    "Hmph! Nice try," Niel says with a low chuckle and a smile. He reaches a hand out to hoist Reed back to his feet, and Reed accepts.


    "How''d you know?" Reed asks.


    "I heard you running and scanned behind me. If you were trying to sneak up on me, you didn''t do a very good job."


    Maybe Reed won''t duel him.


    >>>>>>


    Everyone including Dwayne is sat around the kitchen table one Friday night. Bowls of chips and popcorn and glasses of pop and lemonade are scattered among the participants as they engage in a card game. The game in particular in Cheat, where you must discard your cards in the specified order to win. However, you do not have to follow the rules, as discarding cards face-down allows one to lie about which cards they''ve placed. The catch is that you can call out someone you suspect has cheated, and if they did lie about the cards they''ve placed, they pick up the entire discarded pile. If you''re wrong and they were truthful, then you pick up the entire pile.


    Cheat is, miraculously, a game of cheating. If you lose, it''s not because someone else cheated, it''s because you didn''t cheat well enough, and you should feel bad about your lacklustre lying abilities. Lydia, with two total attempts at cheating and 78 of 104 cards in her hand, was feeling bad about her lacklustre lying abilities. Meanwhile...


    "Two kings," Niel says as he places his last two cards face-down on the short pile in the centre.


    "Cheat!" Reed calls as a desperado, flipping over the top two cards and revealing a pair of kings. Niel was being truthful and won the game because of it.


    "Damn! I was getting close, too!" Mabel says as she drops her three cards onto the table.


    "Illia was also close," Dwayne observes. From her seat to Niel''s left, Illia is pouting with a lone card in her hand.


    "What did you have?" Reed asks the pouting girl.


    With much annoyance, she places a single ace on the table. Everyone around her erupts with exclamations of second-hand pity.


    "Aw, that would''ve won you the game!" Reed exclaims. "How many times did you cheat?"


    ''Often,'' Illia signs with a sheepish yet nefarious grin. Having been inspired by her talking to that deaf patient, Niel has been learning some basic sign language since their volunteer work ended, and now he''s seeing the fruits of his labour occur naturally as he''s able to understand Illia without Mabel''s translation.


    Reed is amazed by Illia''s capability to lie despite her being the most innocent among them. His eyes then turn to Lydia''s hand and...


    "Man, you suck," he says to the girl firmly in last place, much to her chagrin.


    "Don''t act like you didn''t pick up a lot of cards! Everybody knows you smirk when you lie!" Lydia shoots back.


    "And you start talking funny when you lie!" Reed aims his crosshairs at Niel next. "And you probably cheated by scanning what''s on the cards with your Dust!" he accuses Niel.


    "The cards are flat, so there''s nothing for me to scan," Niel rebuts.


    "Then you probably marked the cards yourself!"


    "No, but thanks for the idea."


    "How many times did you lie?" Lydia asks Niel.


    "Not a lot in the beginning, but I lied nearly every time after I ran out of the cards I needed," Niel explains.


    "I wouldn''t have guessed. Your poker face is strong, and surprisingly, Illia''s is, too," Lydia says, soothing Illia''s pain of losing by a hair with pride.


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    "So what you''re saying is I should randomly call you out," Reed says to Niel.


    "If you want to pick up more cards. I understand how to play this game now," Niel retorts.


    "I think they''re leaving us out," Gabriel remarks to the other two adults, causing them to smile.


    Mabel shuffles the cards and deals them out equally, and the next game begins. Everyone takes turns discarding cards and silently counting what their next number will be, along with the occasional correct and incorrect call of cheating. The TV was left playing a radio station in the living room as background noise, but a breaking news report catches everyone''s ear one after the other.


    The report describes an incident where a small group of Invictus gang members attacked a protest rally, which quickly devolved into a war zone between Invictus, members of rival gangs, and the police. In total, 17 people were killed, with nine being civilians, two being officers, and the rest various gang members. Many more were wounded and several are in critical condition.


    "What the hell...?" Gabriel dismally questions.


    "Is this what our city is becoming?" Dwayne bemoans.


    Everyone is locked in a bewildered silence. Senseless violence isn''t new to Soul, but this attack is a new depraved low. Was this a rouge group fed up with being inconvenienced by annoying protestors? Or a task force sent to deliver a message to the public? To Lydia, it doesn''t matter. Regardless of the purpose, so many lives were taken, and all over nothing. Now some children won''t see a parent again. A parent lost their child. A husband will never return home to his wife. Siblings lost siblings...


    ...and that anger isn''t foreign to her.


    Once the shock of the news passes, they return to their card game quieter than they were before, but they all find their cheer in time. During a moment when Reed has to pick up the pile of cards, Lydia looks at the found family around her, and that thought of mortality creeps in. Accepting Aaron''s death and moving on was the greatest struggle of her life. If something happened to anyone here...


    Lydia has to physically shake this thought out of her head before it gets stuck. After she first arrived here, she vowed that she wouldn''t let anyone hurt her second family, and that sentiment hasn''t changed since then. Not any stranger. Not Invictus. Nobody. And little does she know, Niel across from her is pledging the same thing.


    >>>>>>


    Despite being unawakened, Illia is joining the group on an outing to the Mute range. This is hers and Niel''s first time going so they don''t know what is in store for them. After being driven by Mabel, any expectations they''ve had are immediately proven false as they approach the stadium-like building. Mabel handles paying their fee once they''re inside.


    "I thought this was a range, not... this," Niel comments as he surveys the spacious hub room. Various rooms and hallways lead from this main area to other sections of the building, and people of all ages wander to and fro.


    "This used to be the kind of Mute range you''re thinking of, but over time it slowly grew into a Mute sportsplex," Lydia explains. "That range is still here, and we''ll probably go to it eventually."


    "We''ve got all the time in the world, so let''s give you two a full tour!" Reed says, ready to lead the way.


    "Why don''t we check out the pool first?" Lydia suggests, knowing exactly what kind of reaction she''ll get from Niel.


    "You can have fun with that," Niel responds predictably.


    "We can''t even go swimming. We didn''t bring our swimsuits," Reed says.


    "Too bad for us, then," she says teasingly again.


    On their way to what Reed describes as a ''Phase Mute playground'', Illia and Niel begin to feel out of place. Neither of them has a Mute they can or want to show. Nevertheless, they agreed to come here so they put their insecurities to the side and let the others have their fun.


    Speaking of fun, the playground turns out to be a large parkour room stacked with gymnastics equipment and climbable obstacles. With how easily people with Phase Mutes can traverse unfavourable terrain, plus how it''s illegal to scale the buildings of the city, this room is excellent for Phase Mute practice and for blowing off steam. Of course, people with non-Phase Mutes are allowed to climb as well.


    "I used to come to these kinds of places all the time when I was younger," Mabel says with nostalgia in her voice. She takes a step forward and leaps to a higher ledge as a colourless smog, then leaps again and kicks off of a wall to reach even greater heights. Reed follows her on foot while the other three are left standing in shock by Mabel''s surprising agility. A short chase ensues between her and Reed, and despite hardly moving outside of Phasing, Mabel is more out of breath than Reed when they return to the ground.


    After spending some more time running and climbing around, they move on to a new area of the sportsplex. Close to a normal gymnasium are reinforced rooms designed to withstand all manner of Mute attacks. They''re not bunkers, though; these rooms¡ªseparated into a spectating area and a main area¡ªare ideal for the newly awakened to test their new powers without fear of hurting someone or damaging something. Reed, of course, wants to use it to let loose a bit.


    While most of them watch through the reinforced window separating the two sections, Reed stands in the main area before a foam-filled bag as tall as him. Under his feet is a grated metal floor designed to filter the contents of the bag to a bag-refilling depot should it rupture. His arms are smouldering with white phosphorus and eager anticipation¡ªthe wisps of smoke disappearing into the ventilation above him. It''s been a while since he''s flexed his proverbial Mute muscles.


    Reed charges and fires a high-heat blast that throws the bag backward, triggering another explosion that gives the appearance of the bag bouncing off of the wall due to sheer force. As it falls, he engulfs himself in fire and charges, grabbing the bag and leaping up with it before slamming it back down with a pillar of infernal retort. He then leaps out of the inferno and extinguishes himself as the fire fades away and charred cloth and foam fall through the floor. Niel notes how Reed''s Mute augmented his strength and jumping power and allowed him to glide across the ground without taking a step.


    "That looked like something out of a game," Lydia comments.


    "That''s because it is," Niel confirms, having been hit by Heavy Mob Cemetery more than a few times before.


    Lydia sighs, unsurprised. "Leave it to Reed."


    With his hunger for destruction sated for the time being, Reed steps out from the main room. "You want a turn, Niel?" he asks, still breathing heavily from exertion.


    Knowing Reed, he probably just wants to see more of Niel''s Dark Dust in action. But as far as Illia can tell, this room is completely private. No one would be able to see him, should he accept. Niel is hesitant as he looks to Illia, Warden''s Key gently glowing, and she gives him a determined smile and head nod like the one he gave her a few weeks ago.


    "Very well," Niel says. A new bag is brought in and Niel stands at the ready.


    Niel isn''t looking to exasperate himself, but he still should make this flashy to satisfy the others. But what should he do? He ponders for a moment, and an idea comes to mind. Niel constructs his black sickle and drives the tip of the blade into the bag at waist height before extending a chain from the handle and wrapping it around the bag in a spiral. He then recaptures the end of the chain in his hand and, with a great overhead tug, hauls the sickle along the path of the chain to rip through the fabric in a corkscrew shower of foam. Everyone is impressed, Reed most of all.


    "That was awesome!" Reed exclaims. "How about some target shooting next?"


    "With people watching? No," Niel says bluntly.


    "Aww..."


    "Now, Reed," Mabel steps in.


    Having done everything Mute-related on this side of the building, they move to the other end (after getting sidetracked with a short game of basketball) where the shooting range is located. Back when he was on the run, Niel became curious about the purpose of a shooting club in a distant city, and upon sneaking in, he learned about ranges. Now he laments being unable to take part. This range is exactly what he expected one to look like, with booths to stand in, lanes to fire down, and overhead targets to aim at. However, compared to the paper targets at gun-based ranges, this one instead has durable metal plates.


    "Here to hit a few shots?" a man asks the group, his orange vest displaying his status as a Range Safety Officer.


    "Of course!" Reed responds.


    "Good! Looks like a spot just opened up for you, too."


    As Reed takes his place in a booth and sends his target plate halfway out, Illia watches from the rear lounge in curiosity. So this is the Mute range Reed wanted so badly to return to. He seems to be having fun throwing fireballs, despite some concerned glances he''s receiving. It''s not just him enjoying himself, though. From the elderly to the young and newly awakened, many others are here to practice, learn, and relax. An exhausted Reed returns after ten minutes or so of shooting, and surprisingly, Lydia takes his place.


    Illia has seen Lydia use her Mute before, but apart from one certain incident, it was only ever used to shelter them from the rain or dry them off. So hearing the crackle of energy as oxygen and hydrogen molecules are slammed together to make spears of water is exhilarating, if not a little scary. It must be a lot harder on her than Reed''s Mute is on him because she calls it quits after only three minutes.


    They''re going to take a short break before moving on to something else. They sit and idly chat, but Illia notices that Niel keeps looking over at the range. He hides his emotions, but she can still see that look of longing in his eyes. She taps on his foot with hers and slowly signs so he can understand her.


    ''Do you want to go?''


    Niel remembers questioning his wants a while ago. He''s gotten a little better with voicing them, but it looks like he still has a way to go. He needs to be more honest with himself. Niel quietly nods and stands up, and he makes his way to an empty booth with his surrogate family watching from behind.


    After analyzing the target controls and the target itself, he sends it out to its furthest point and stands at the ready. He may not be able to show his Dust, but that doesn''t mean he can''t take a shot. The range officer is watching him now, curious about his stillness. Dust gathers at the plate and between his fingers. Some curious bystanders are waiting for his long-range shot. The officer is walking to him now, and...


    Niel snaps his fingers. An invisible dart of Dust soars downrange and careens with the iron plate, setting off more Dust like a hammer striking the primer of a bullet. A sharp crack rips through the room and everyone stops what they''re doing to find the source of the noise. Among the targets swinging on their hooks is one with a fist-sized hole punched through it.


    "That was quite a hit!" the officer compliments, staring down the range. "Do you have an iron Mute?"


    "No..." Niel now registers that he just destroyed the target, and he covers the Warden''s Key hiding under his shirt with his hand. "I''m... sorry about the target."


    "Oh, don''t worry about that; they''re meant to get busted up. There''s plenty more where that came from." The officer pulls the busted metal back with the press of a button and unhooks it from the line.


    After feeling like he got lucky, Niel returns to the others at the table. Illia is pleased, Reed is pleasantly surprised, and Lydia and Mabel are mildly concerned by the attention Niel drew to himself.


    "Dude, your Mute is so strong!" Reed exclaims.


    "You''ve seen me use it before, Reed," Niel says, referring to the soda cans he''s obliterated before.


    "Yeah, but that was thin aluminum. This was solid iron!"


    "I''d say tone it down for next time," Lydia suggests. "You had a lot of people staring at you..."


    Niel concedes that he did go overboard there. "I''ll be more careful."


    With everything checked off of Reed''s list, they all decide to call it quits and leave to return home. Except, Mabel turns the car further into the city. While Niel was standing at the range, Illia revealed to Mabel that there was someplace she wanted to go today, and that''s where they''re heading now.

 Chapter 26 - No Worries About That

    Mabel stops the car in a parking lot and everyone steps out. Niel isn''t sure where they are at this angle of the building, but he soon recognizes this place once they make their way to its front. He called it ornate before, with its frontward architecture comprising of pillars and arches made of white stone¡ªlikely marble¡ªwith a wide flight of stairs leading to the entrance. The rest of the building is made of glass and red brick from previous renovations. He and Reed once stumbled upon here after their fight with Maverick some time ago. Now here they all are at Illia''s behest: the Soul Public Library.


    "Why did you want to come here?" Niel asks.


    ''I want to look around and borrow a book,'' Illia signs, which Mabel then translates.


    "About as good of a reason for going to a library as you can get," Reed comments.


    "I might get a book too if Illia''s getting one," Lydia says.


    "Do either of you have a library card?"


    "They can get one inside," Mabel says.


    Though not made of marble, the inside is just as extravagant as the outside, if not more so. Brownish-red tiles make up most of the floor design accented by white walls that are easy on the eyes, all illuminated with ceiling lights, expansive windows, and a large skylight. Plants and gentle waterworks help to decorate, with greenery even hanging from the two levels above them. Myriad benches and chair-and-table sets of varying shapes give the public a place to sit and read or do work; some spaces are even equipped with computers. Last¡ªthough certainly not least¡ªbookshelves upon bookshelves upon bookshelves are neatly organized into rows throughout the library, giving access to hundreds of thousands of books, maps, newspapers, and more.


    "Quite the place, isn''t it?" Reed says to Niel upon seeing his astounded expression.


    "I didn''t know such a place existed," he responds.


    Despite all of the people walking about or idling, the library is surprisingly quiet compared to other public places in the city. That said, it''s far from being devoid of chatter, but many people are making a conscious effort to limit their voice and volume. Mabel leads the group to the main desk, and Niel and Reed watch as the girls get a library card each with Mabel''s assistance.


    "What kind of book are you planning to get?" Reed asks Lydia.


    "Don''t know. I''m going to wander around until I find something," she responds. Reed turns to Illia next.


    "And you?"


    Illia points at Lydia¡ªsame plan.


    Lydia grabs the unawakened girl by the wrist. "We''ll go together!" she calls as she pulls Illia along.


    "Is it just me, or is Lydia getting... livelier recently?" Reed questions.


    "It''s not just you," Niel confirms.


    "And it''s not just Lydia," Mabel steps in, placing a hand on Niel''s shoulder. "You''ve changed a lot too since you first got here!"


    Mabel''s words and smile trigger something Niel hasn''t experienced before: his face feels hot. Reed starts to prod at him for this, and Niel shyly pulls away and runs into the library. He wasn''t explicitly trying to hide from Reed, but turning around and scanning with Dust reveals he left Reed and Mabel behind and that they are nowhere to be found. The two girls aren''t in sight, either. Finding them all again won''t be hard, so Niel decides to stay solo and explore by himself.


    The floor of the library is vast and the bookshelves plentiful¡ªNiel could be in here all day and still not see everything. One thing he didn''t expect is that there is significantly more offered here than just books and other papers. CDs and VHS tapes are available to use in-house, and old vinyl records are on display, often next to old related maps and pictures. There are 2D and 3D printing rooms, small and large study and meeting rooms, a section designed after the home of a famous author''s character, and even a caf¨¦. He half-expects to find Reed at a table of computers.


    After wandering the floors of the building and browsing many a shelf, Niel''s gaze becomes locked on a series of newspapers dated more than 50 years ago. The article he''s most curious about revolves around the history of Francis Mendelv, a biologist and chemist who became famous for his contributions to Mute-related science, including the classification and naming of the three Mute archetypes, connecting Mute elements to the periodic table, and discovering the connection between Mutes and metabolism and DNA, among others. Much of this Niel did not know. But there''s more.


    Mendelv had eight children in his life, with a few of his descendants becoming scientists like him. One such descendant¡ªhis great-grandson, Theodore Mendelv¡ªdiscovered a link between Mute archetypes and different parts of the brain. However, Theodore went missing in the wake of public scorn due to unprofessionalism and questionable practices and has still not been found. Strange. Niel hopes he wasn''t found by the lab or anything such.


    "There you are!"


    Niel nearly jumps out of his skin at Reed''s sudden arrival. He was so enraptured in his reading that he didn''t hear Reed or Mabel coming.


    "What were you reading?" Reed asks, leaning over to scan the newspaper.


    "Nothing much," Niel says. "Know where the girls are?"


    "No. We haven''t seen them yet, and they''re not answering their phones," Mabel responds. "Think you could help?"


    "Of course."


    The three of them wander around the library as Niel deploys his scans. Reed then suggests that they may be in areas containing fiction books, citing Illia''s more innocent tastes. Sure enough, that''s where the two girls are found, each with a book in hand.


    "Happy with your selection?" Mabel asks them.


    "Yeah," Lydia says. Illia nods her head too.


    "What did you get?" Reed asks.


    "Something you wouldn''t read." Niel glances to her waist and spies a romance novel that Reed would absolutely mock. "You know, for someone named Reed, you don''t do a lot of reading," she states.


    "The only reads I make are in fighting games."


    "I''m not even going to make fun of how sad that sounds."


    Illia bashfully shows Niel the book she picked out: a short novel about a single man raising an orphaned girl, only for the mother to reappear after a near decade-long disappearance. Niel feels a slight kinship with this storybook girl. With the books checked out, they finally return home to an empty house.


    "Is Gabriel not back yet?" Reed questions.


    "No! I''m up here!" Gabriel calls from the second floor. After finishing up with whatever he''s doing, he greets them all downstairs.


    "How was Clara''s idea?" Mabel asks.


    "It''s good to go!" he responds. Niel recalls that Gabriel went to church today and then met with Clara afterward to plan Reed''s birthday trip, hence why he hasn''t been with them.


    "Oh! What is it!?" Reed asks excitedly. He knows he won''t get an answer, but it never hurts to try, right?


    "Obviously we can''t tell you that," Gabriel says as he playfully pokes Reed''s forehead.


    "You''ll just have to wait another week!" Mabel teases.


    Trying to keep Reed entertained, the four kids decide to go to Breeze Pond after supper in the hopes of seeing the fireflies that are rumoured to come out in the evening. Illia even brings her kalimba, theorizing they may be lured out of hiding if she plays well enough. The sun is low in the sky once they arrive, though before she finds any glowing bugs, Illia notices that the pink memorial that once stood here has been taken down. Time keeps moving forward.


    Everyone sits down at a picnic table and converses to pass the time. They don''t say it, but Niel and Reed remember the time they came here alone. The ember-like fallen leaves have since decayed, leaving little for the breeze to carry this time of year. Nocturnal frogs begin to chirp from the pond. Illia gives a devilish smile¡ªLydia would rather not experience history again. The frog song indicates that the time of fireflies is close, so Illia prepares her instrument and relocates to the bank to play.


    She sits on the grass and plucks away at the metal tines of her kalimba, though the music can only barely be heard above the frogs, wind, and city noise around them. In reality, she''s just a little shy, playing in front of everyone like this. The encroaching nighttime making it harder to see doesn''t help any, either. After half an hour of sporadic playing and with hope dwindling across the group, Reed finally spots a twinkle in the dark, and soon the surface of the pond is filled with the flickering lights of countless fireflies.


    "Looks like your music worked!" Lydia says to Illia as they watch the light show. Niel stands behind them entranced as well. Meanwhile, Reed is doing his own thing further back.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    "Woah! Look at this!" he calls. The other three wander over wondering what could be better than the fireflies, until they find something large and green crawling on the grass.


    "Oh my god, why is it so big!?" Lydia exclaims, visibly disgusted by the moth illuminated by Reed''s phone''s flashlight.


    "That''s what¡ª"


    "Reed, shut up!"


    Niel brings out his phone and searches for it, using the moth''s large lime wings as an identifier. It turns out to be a luna moth, a common species, though Niel wonders why he hasn''t seen more of them.


    Being the bravest of them all (in only the strangest scenarios), Illia holds out her finger for the moth to climb on, and it accepts the invitation. She admires the creature''s beauty, and once she has her fill, she raises her hand to the night sky, and it flies away. Illia knows why it''s hard to find such a common species. The adult life of a luna moth spans only a single week. So little time to live¡ªa fate cruelly bestowed by those who came before, and yet they live regardless.


    And that scares her the most.


    >>>>>>


    "...Happy birthday to you!" everyone sings. August 16th has finally arrived, and Reed is the guest of honour sitting in front of his 17th birthday cake. After blowing out his candles (but not before wishing for a copy of that new fighting game that came out recently), the cake is cut and its slices distributed to everyone around the table. Even if he didn''t already know most of his history, Reed can tell just from Niel''s reaction that this is his first time eating an ice cream cake. It should also be Illia''s as well.


    "Reed? Do you want my chocolate?" Clara asks, having separated the chocolate ice cream from the rest of her slice.


    "I don''t get how you don''t like chocolate," he responds in place of a proper answer. "And yeah." Clara slides the chocolate onto Reed''s plate.


    Reed has a particular way in which he eats his cake. He first starts with the vanilla ice cream and the icing, as it''s his relative least favourite, then he eats the chocolate, and last he enjoys his favourite part: the chocolate fudge and crumble that separates the two ice cream flavours. As he''s indulging, laughter takes hold around the table. The colouring in the icing is so potent that it dyed Niel and Illia''s tongues blue. Of course, everyone finds it funny until they reach their share of icing, and Reed finds it even funnier because he doesn''t have to worry about eating what''s already been eaten.


    After the cake is eaten, they all relocate to the living room to watch a movie Reed''s had his eye on ever since watching viral clips of it online. It''s an old western, with no shortage of rootin'' tootin'' cowboys, spinning revolvers, and fanning hammers. There''s also little shortage of jokes from Reed giving vague references to a specific ranch housing eighteen finely-clad cowboys. Of all of them, it appears that Niel is the most inspired by the movie in the way he moulds his Dust into a revolver identical to the protagonist''s. Once the credits begin to roll over a cowboy riding off into the sunset, everyone gets up from the couch to stretch their legs.


    "Having fun with that?" Reed questions as Niel spins the fake gun on his finger.


    "Yeah," Niel says blandly.


    "Man, that movie was so cheesy," Lydia comments.


    "It was original back when it came out. Besides, a little cheese doesn''t hurt," Reed responds.


    "Not this much. Do you really like that stuff?"


    "Yeah, I do. Shoot me."


    "Okay." Niel points his revolver at Reed and pulls the trigger.


    >>>>>>


    The trip with Clara wasn''t just an expedition, but also Reed''s birthday gift. And where are they going? Why, to the trampoline park! He was hoping to go to the arcade or something, but this is also good. They reach the building and go inside.


    You need special rubber-soled socks to bounce on the trampolines. Because of that, the kids and Clara take off their shoes and switch out their socks for these newly bought black ones. Reed thought he''d be able to reuse his old pink socks from a previous trip here, but they''re too small for him now.


    Illia looks out across the expanse of trampolines as electronic music blares from somewhere behind her. Some are small, others are large, and a few others climb the wall! As soon as she''s about to take a step into the springy unknown, Reed blasts past her bouncing across the trampolines like a kangaroo, with Clara right behind him. Niel, though slower, follows in their footsteps.


    "Let''s go together," Lydia says to Illia as she takes a more subdued step onto the first trampoline. Illia follows her while keeping a curious eye on the rambunctious boys.


    She and Lydia bounce on the smaller pads while avoiding the younger jumpers, which eventually leads them to the same wall the boys and Clara are bouncing off of. Clara sprints full speed up the trampoline slope and kicks off at its peak, bouncing and doing a flip at the bottom. Reed copies Clara and performs the same sprint and jump, but does a shoulder roll instead of a flip. Egged on by him, Niel copies Reed with a more fluid roll.


    Without saying a word (though it would be stranger if she did), a tempted Illia lines herself up with the other wall-climbing trampoline and emulates the boys. Her sprint speed ends up being lower, her climb shorter, and her landing roll resembles a rag-doll more than anything else. She''s glad she''s wearing old hand-me-down pants from Lydia rather than melting the fabric of a good pair instead. Despite this, it was fun enough to try again, much to Reed''s delight.


    There are several foam pits located throughout the building; the group takes their turns leaping as high, as far, or as stylishly as they can into one of these. Soon it gets stale and Reed transitions to an obstacle course featuring a rock wall bridging a gap. Clara leads the way and wastes no movement crossing to the other side. Lydia is voluntold to go next, and despite physical activity not being her forte, she makes her jumps and crosses the wall with slow grace. Illia''s crossing goes faster than Lydia''s, and Niel''s faster than Illia''s. Wanting to show off, Reed tries going even faster by skipping unnecessary jumps, but when he tries to do the same at the wall, he ends up slipping and falling pathetically into the foam half a metre below. The four of them just stare at him.


    "What are you looking at? Reed says to Niel pseudo-confrontationally.


    "Not much," Niel retorts, causing Illia to laugh the loudest anyone has ever heard from her before. They don''t see it, but Reed falling also gets a chuckle from their watchful guardians, too.


    Last on their list of things to try is trampoline dodgeball, sectioned off by screen walls to contain the foam balls. Reed first suggests splitting the teams into guys vs girls, and with Clara to assist Illia and Lydia, the teams are balanced enough to run multiple rounds. Free-for-all goes just as well, but Clara wants to take a short break, so Niel and Illia vs Reed and Lydia is what they go with in her absence.


    Illia knocks Lydia out first, but then she gets picked off soon after by Reed. The boys keep missing their throws against each other, so in an attempt to surprise Reed with something unique, Niel sets up a ball with an underhand toss and then hits it in midair with another. The result is both balls splitting in a fork, one catching Reed in the hip, much to his shock.


    "What!? How!?" he exclaims, bewildered.


    "I''m just better," Niel says, feeling prideful about his play.


    "Nah, you used your¡ª You used your Mute, didn''t you?"


    Niel''s heart skipped a beat when he thought Reed was going to accidentally leak his Dust. "Nope. No Mute. Just me."


    "I... I-I''m at a loss for words!"


    Despite Reed being lost for words, he proceeds to complain for the next ten minutes. They all keep bouncing around, playing dodgeball, and falling into foam, but it''s eventually time to pack up and go.


    "So did you all have fun?" Gabriel asks in the car.


    "I had fun!" Reed exclaims.


    "So did I," Niel says. Illia gives a thumbs up.


    "I had fun watching Reed fail at climbing a wall," Lydia adds. Illia gives a second thumbs up.


    "Hey, I redeemed myself after, plus I beat all of the other courses first try!" Reed protests.


    "You beat an obstacle course designed for kids, woohoo..." Lydia groans just to annoy him.


    The rest of the day goes quietly now that everyone''s energy has been spent¡ªNiel, Illia, and Lydia even fall asleep at various points. But before they''re all ready for bed, Dwayne makes a surprise visit. The adults have something to share.


    "To cut to the point, we''re taking someone new in," Dwayne announces, to the surprise of the kids.


    "Whoa!" Reed exclaims. "Who is it?"


    "His name is Voltaire Vesper, 14 years old," Gabriel explains.


    "Oh wow, he''s young."


    "He''s not that much younger than us, you know," Lydia says.


    "Voltaire''s a bit... troubled," Dwayne bemoans, "So I ask everyone to be patient and considerate with him."


    "No worries about that," Reed assures. "When''s he coming?"


    "Next Friday, the 23rd," Mabel says.


    Just six days away. Illia was worried about Niel when Dwayne said he would be staying with them. He never gave any warnings about Niel, though. Will this Voltaire person be okay, too? She''s not sure if she''s ready for this.


    The days pass with constant preparations being made. The empty room on the third floor is cleaned with new bedsheets put in, a new meal plan made, budgets rebalanced, and the rest of the home''s staff debriefed for the new arrival. It''s making the kids uneasy about Voltaire.


    Late on the last night before his arrival, Illia decides to confide in Niel about her worries. She picks a time when he''ll likely be finished writing in his journal and enters his room. He''s... not here? She looks around some more and finds that the window is open a crack. Did he leave? As she opens the window and sticks her head out, a noise can be heard about her.


    "I''m up here," Niel says, revealing that he is sitting on the roof.


    ''Why are you up there?'' Illia signs. Niel takes a moment to compute what she said through his Dust.


    "Want to come up?" he asks in place of an answer. She raises her arms in confirmation and Niel sends lengths of chain down to retrieve her. The shingles are gritty and the slope is too steep to sit comfortably.


    "I''ve been coming up here every night for the past few nights," Niel reveals. "I''ve been... thinking. Worried."


    ''About the new boy?''


    "Yeah."


    ''I''ve been worried, too. The adults have been preparing for him more than we did for you.''


    "And that''s saying something, I take."


    ''Yeah.''


    Niel shifts his weight on the roof. Dust manifests on his arm and coagulates into a black pseudo-fireball in his palm. Its darkness looks almost deep enough to swallow the moonlight around them.


    "He''ll know about my Dust. I won''t be able to hide it from him forever," Niel says. "I''ve taken risks with it before, but they''re risks. I can''t keep making them. And I can''t trust the new kid just because he''s staying here."


    Illia never considered this. This is absolutely a problem, and Niel''s been up here alone to contend with it for several days now.


    ''You never spoke to Dwayne about it?''


    "I haven''t found the time to. ...Or maybe I''ve been too scared to."


    ''Why would you be scared?''


    "I don''t know. Maybe he would give me an answer I wouldn''t like." Niel shifts again. "I still don''t like my Dust. That hasn''t changed."


    ''At least you have a Mute to hate.''


    "What''s it like, being unawakened?"


    ''Hell. I feel so...'' Illia''s hands pause. ''...weak. Like everyone has to take care of me.''


    "I can assure you, power isn''t all it''s cracked up to be."


    ''It''s better than being powerless.''


    "Not when it''s taken everything else away from you."


    They continue their chat for some time, but it''s eventually time for them to tuck in for the night. Voltaire will be here at noon, and they''ll need their rest. Niel helps Illia off of the roof and they bid each a good night.


    The next morning after a hasty breakfast, the staff of the home converge with the children to await Dwayne''s arrival with Voltaire. Niel can tell the adults aren''t as calm as they let on. Everyone is anxious.


    "Um..." Niel says to catch everyone''s attention. It''s been a while since he''s had so many eyes on him. The anticipation of the new arrival and the anxiety from attention are compounding to clog his throat. "...Please don''t tell the new kid about my Dust. I want to be the one to tell him when I''m ready to."


    "Alright. We''ll leave it to you," Mabel says, understanding where his feelings are coming from.


    Dutifully watching through the window, Illia alerts everyone of the car pulling into the driveway, and they all stand close to the door ready to welcome the new kid. Reed is the first to speak up out of the group, giving a similar welcome as he did for Niel all that time ago. Niel, on the other hand, is stuck behind a few of the adults. He can''t see Voltaire''s face, but he can tell, however, that both his stature and blonde hair are quite short. Once Dwayne takes his shoes off too, everyone stands back to give them room to enter. Now Niel can get a good look at Voltaire''s face, and...


    His eyes are met by the cold glare of the Electric Mute Thief.

 Chapter 27 - Make My Choices for Me

    ...


    Mom... Dad...


    How do I be honest to myself?


    If I tell myself I hate me,


    and mean it,


    is that a good thing?


    ...


    Is it okay for me to want more?


    Do I deserve stagnation?


    Or is insatiable temptation


    a greater punishment for me?


    ...


    It''s been a while since Niel''s seen his face, but there''s no mistaking it: Voltaire is the Electric Mute Thief. No wonder why Dwayne said he was troubled. Thankfully, Voltaire doesn''t recognize him. The other kids don''t seem to know about Voltaire''s history, though it''s likely that the adults were told. Why would they take in someone like him? There''s no way he''ll be anything but trouble.


    Though the introductions go well, Voltaire looks completely uninterested. At times, he even looks scornful. Niel places a hand on his chest expecting to feel the familiar bump of the Warden''s Key underneath his shirt, but its absence reminds him that he preemptively hid it away. As much as he hates it, he feels almost defenceless without it. Voltaire is given a tour around the house in the same manner Niel was when he first arrived here, and his bedroom is confirmed to be the empty one across the hallway from Niel''s. Dwayne and Gabriel lay the rules thickly on the young criminal, much to the latter''s obvious lack of enthusiasm.


    The rest of the day doesn''t go much better. Instead of socializing and getting to learn more about his new housemates, Voltaire secludes himself in his room and forces out anyone who tries to enter, at one point even barricading the door with his dresser. Mabel slipping past his defences using her Mute does convince him to remove them, but he stays in his room even during supper. The adults decide to respect his solitary wishes and let him eat alone. Despite everyone trying to wear away at his armour, Voltaire isn''t seen again until the next morning.


    Though his supper was brought to him the previous day, his breakfast won''t be treated the same¡ªif he wants to eat, he has to go downstairs to get it. He''ll still be given a fair chance to get it. Perhaps a good night''s sleep improved his mood?


    "Voltaire? Breakfast is ready! Come downstairs to get it!" Mabel calls through his door. Behind her stands Niel, ill-trusting of the asocial boy and protective of his guardian.


    "Go away! I''m not hungry!" Voltaire shouts back at her.


    "If you''re not already, you will be soon," Niel says, partially calling his bluff. He knows that sleeping well can ward off an appetite for a bit, but that''s only if Voltaire slept well in an unfamiliar place he clearly does not like being in. "Poppy makes good food. It''s better than whatever you were eating..." Niel catches himself from saying juvie. He''s not supposed to know that. "...before."


    "I don''t care."


    "Someone has to care about you."


    "No one does!"


    That was a strange response. Did he misunderstand what Niel meant? Mabel turns to face him.


    "You go downstairs now and finish your breakfast. I''ll talk to him," she says reassuringly. Niel reluctantly nods and disappears downstairs.


    "He''s not coming down?" Reed asks Niel when the latter sits back down to the table.


    "Mabel''s trying, but he really isn''t budging," Niel reports.


    Reed leans back in his chair. "Man, next week''s our last week until school starts again..." he groans. They don''t want to say it and come off as rude, but none of the kids are happy about their final week of peace being interrupted by Voltaire''s discordance. The stairs creak with trudging footsteps until Mabel rounds the corner.


    "He''ll come down to eat when everyone is finished," she announces.


    "I guess we have to hurry, then..." Lydia bemoans, her enthusiasm reflected by the other three eating with her.


    After putting away their breakfast with a hastier approach than the norm, the kids make themselves scarce in their rooms so Voltaire can eat¡ªand even then, it still takes Mabel some extra coaxing to draw him downstairs. Niel watches it unfold through his Dust. He wants to pick Voltaire up using his Dust and carry him downstairs, but not only does Mabel not like that approach, it would also draw Voltaire''s curiosity (or his ire) to what Niel''s Mute might be.


    Speaking of curiosity, with Voltaire''s history as a thief, Niel is concerned that Voltaire might sort through his belongings when he isn''t looking. If Niel draws Voltaire''s ire, then Voltaire could steal something as a sort of payback. Outside his phone and the money in his wallet, he doesn''t have a lot that he cares much about, but the Warden''s Key is a different story. Niel can''t wear it at all around Voltaire, otherwise the latter might become curious¡ªand if Voltaire learns that it''s his most important object, then he may swipe it from greed or anger. Because of these possibilities, Niel has decided to hide the Warden''s Key under his dresser where he kept the Brookes'' notebook.


    The days go by, and while Voltaire does leave his room more and more, he''s still in no mood to play nice. The most attention the other kids get from him is a scornful glare. His acts of avoidance are forcefully halted, however, as everyone''s least favourite time eventually arrives: back to school. At least Niel and Illia get to stay home, but that gives little comfort when a walk on a beautiful day taunts them through the windows. Reed and Lydia have returned to their high school for their second-last and last year, respectively. As for Voltaire, he was sent to the same school as them following some kind of agreement or plan made between the detention centre and the school, though this was all Niel caught when he overheard Dwayne.


    Along with this, it also turns out that Voltaire''s birthday is this Friday, and with his lack of interest in anything and refusal to open up to anyone, nobody knows what would be best to give him. Whatever they decide on, it should be meaningful, as perhaps they can appease him with a good enough gift. Mabel continues to dig throughout the week for any kind of clue regarding Voltaire''s likes and dislikes, but it''s clear that the only thing she''s getting is on his nerves. Though something personalized would be better, all they can decide on is a fifty dollar bill so he can pick out something on his own later.


    The date turns to Friday soon enough, and again, it takes a lot of time and persuasion from both Mabel and Dwayne to coax Voltaire downstairs. They''re eventually successful, and the three of them join everyone else in the kitchen to celebrate his birthday. What they can''t convince him to do though is even pretend to care. He keeps his arms crossed and close to his body, he hardly touches his vanilla cake, and he disappears back to his room as soon as he gets his money. Overall, this could have gone better. They just have to take solace in the fact that he did join them for a time.


    >>>>>>


    Everything about this place pisses Voltaire off. He never wanted to come here, never wanted to go to that school, and never wanted to get involved with people. He''s fine by himself. Of course, that changed when they arrested him. Now everyone is making what should be his choices for him. He sees it everywhere: no one gives even a single shit about him. That ''party'' last night was fake. They''re all fake. Yet they want to pretend they care. It''s all that guy''s fault for being so stupid.


    If he had a Phase Mute, he''d be long gone by now. Phase Mutes are so good at running and hiding. Even the cops who said they''d find him anywhere wouldn''t be able to. Conjuring nickel and cadmium might be great when it comes to hurting people, but it doesn''t help him get out of this situation. Well, he can get out of this situation, but he can''t stay out of it. Maybe if he hurts everyone here they''d move him elsewhere, but that would only exchange one problem with another.


    It would take him away from her, though.


    One of the kids knocks on his door letting him know that the kitchen is vacant for him. Voltaire never bothered to remember his name. At least he''s useful and takes the guesswork out of when they''re all done. He even moves out of the way without being told to. With no one around to bother him, Voltaire steps freely downstairs where his breakfast is waiting for him.


    The food here is better than what he had in juvie or out on the street, but that isn''t saying much. If only the company went with it. Mabel hovers around him like a fly, and whenever he tells her to leave, she never does it for long. It must be due to that party yesterday because she''s especially irritating today.


    "How is it Voltaire?"


    "How do you feel today?"


    "Do you want another glass of water?"


    It''s too much. "Shut up."


    Mabel is taken aback by this. He''s been rude to her more than a few times, but he''s never told her to shut up before. Though she needs to be stern with him, she also needs to act motherly. Aggression will only lead to more aggression.


    "Voltaire, I don''t appreciate you¡ª"


    "I don''t appreciate you annoying me so much! Shut up!"


    "Voltaire!"


    "I said SHUT UP!"


    Voltaire leaps out of his chair, but instead of running upstairs like Mabel expects him to, he lunges at her and grabs her. She can''t Phase away in time before he shocks her, and she can only scream and crumple as he does. Suddenly, he''s flung out of the kitchen with force. Before he can even register what''s happened to him, an enraged Niel''s hands are clamped around his neck, wringing the life from him like a wet sponge. Voltaire grabs his hands and tries to shock him, but it does nothing. Niel and his vision are getting darker and darker. A blank spot in his eyes is getting brighter. The vibrations of footsteps get stronger, and Niel suddenly releases him to gasp and cough on the floor. Everyone in the house is here now. Voltaire looks up to see Gabriel angrily send Niel upstairs before turning his outrage to him. Maybe he can finally leave this place now. If not, he knows who he can target with no remorse.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    * * *


    Niel''s a single step away from losing it completely; he''s so angry he can hardly think straight. He thought it might have been a mistake to bring someone ''troubled'' to the home, he knew it was a mistake to let the Electric Mute Thief stay here, and he was just proven right! Voltaire is a danger to them! And now he''s getting punished for rescuing Mabel! It takes everything for Niel to not slam his room door. Light is billowing from the Warden''s Key around his neck¡ªhe instinctively grabbed it as soon as he heard shouting. Niel throws open the window and ducks out in Shadow Dive. He knows running from the house again will only cause more problems, but if he stays, he''s going to break something out of anger.


    At first Niel is gravitated to the glade, but it''s too nice to damage so he travels further in, discovering another clearing with raised rock and fallen trees; someone used their Mute here before, and so will he. He reinforces his knuckles with Dust and throws a haymaker at a boulder, chipping it. Another punch is thrown, then another, then another¡ªright, left, right, left, roaring in frustration, cursing Voltaire''s name. He pummels the boulder to dust, reduces a tree to mossy pulp and toothpicks, and breaks apart another stone outcrop. Niel doesn''t know how long he''s been here, just that breaking things feels good. It''s like when he fought Invictus. He knows he shouldn''t be hurting others, but it feels gratifying when they''re bad people. He almost wishes some of them were here now. Niel is about to turn his fist towards a new target, but a napalm fireball hits it first.


    "Finally found you," Reed says. He''s accompanied by Lydia and Illia, and the sight of them cools Niel enough to where he can listen to reason.


    "You shouldn''t have ran. Mabel and Gabriel are pissed," Lydia says. "But..." Illia shares Lydia''s concerned sentiment when they look at the destruction to the forest around them.


    "Most of this was done by someone else a while ago," Niel asserts, using a rotting and mossy fallen tree as his evidence.


    "You need to come back to the house, man. The longer you stay out here, the worse it''s going to get," Reed says.


    "NOT if Voltaire is still there! I want him OUT!" Niel roars.


    Rather than argue with Niel (mainly because he agrees with him after what Voltaire did), Reed calls Mabel to report that they found him, and to communicate Niel''s demands. After hearing a background Gabriel''s less-than-calm response, he hangs up the phone.


    "Gabriel says Voltaire is staying, both of you are in trouble, and that you need to come back right now," Reed reports. Niel''s knee-jerk reaction is to turn a slab of rock behind him into powder in one explosive punch.


    On their way back home, the four plot and decide to pay closer attention to Voltaire. If he''s willing to do this once, then another outburst could happen again, and to anyone. Illia should always be with someone since she''s defenseless, and someone should always be at maximum one room away from Mabel unless Voltaire is in his room. And if he hurts anyone again, the four of them will protest until he''s removed from the house. What''s certain is that none of them feel safe anymore.


    Niel and Voltaire''s punishments are set: Niel is barred from leaving the house for a week, and Voltaire gets... a stern talking-to from the three adults in his room? Niel hardly believes that''s an apt punishment for hurting Mabel. Though, having to confront Dwayne about it doesn''t make it much easier. Niel is also forced to apologise to Voltaire about strangling him. At least Mabel thanks him for protecting her afterwards when they''re out of Voltaire''s earshot, though he''s scolded for the lengths he went to in the same breath.


    The next week is a rough one, and for many reasons. Most obviously, Voltaire has it out for Niel. More than a few times throughout the week, Niel finds his otherwise neat room dishevelled, or items or money mysteriously missing. The Warden''s Key thankfully remains undiscovered. Mabel and Gabriel get involved to help, but he has to barricade his room day and night just to stop this from happening. Along with the stealing, Voltaire is getting more physical: purposely bumping into Niel, jolting him, or sometimes even outright shoving him. He can''t even clear his Voltaire-induced stress because he''s barred from leaving the house to go on walks. Illia feels so bad for him, she refuses to go on any walks herself, even when Mabel invites her to go on one.


    In order to limit the harassment received, Niel spends most of his time with Reed in his room or near his guardians. On a day when he employs the latter half of this tactic, he watches Mabel attempt to paint a frame-worthy picture. It''s a painting of a landscape¡ªnot dissimilar to the ones he''s seen before of the same topic¡ªbut the watercolours along with her being a novice brings its own unique charm. It''s done by the end of the day, and it looks great hung on the living room wall. The next day, Niel stops Voltaire from cutting the canvas to ribbons with a conjured nickel knife, and this predictably starts a fight. Voltaire throws a punch, and Niel throws Voltaire. Once again, the adults have to get involved, and Niel is exonerated of any wrongdoing.


    That night, Illia wakes from a disturbance coming from Niel''s room. She doesn''t know if it''s Niel moving and talking in his sleep again, or if Voltaire found a way inside and is causing another dispute. She should check it out either way, so she gets up and steps out into the hallway... and nearly jumps out of her skin. Illia wasn''t expecting to see Voltaire''s shadowed figure standing next to Niel''s door, let alone him staring at her from it. He doesn''t acknowledge her much in any other way. Another noise from Niel''s room pulls their attention off of each other; Illia is drawn to take another step, but she stops when Voltaire looks at her again. She feels like a cat whose path is being cut off by a large dog.


    "Are you going to do something about him, or just stare at me?" Voltaire growls.


    His annoyance compels her to continue her cautious approach, and while he doesn''t back away to make space for her, he does allow her to get between him and the bedroom door. Niel can be heard mumbling in his sleep through the door, though all they can pick out is something that sounds like ''yal'' or ''bao''. She tries the doorknob, and while it isn''t locked, the door does not budge from the barricade behind it.


    "Obviously it''s blocked. I would''ve been in there already if it wasn''t."


    Now Illia is the one getting annoyed. Who was it that made him block it in the first place? Her audible sigh of irritation makes him grit his teeth in rising aggravation. She tries knocking instead, and this approach is almost immediately awarded by the sound of suddenly shifting fabric inside. The blockade is pulled away, and Illia¡ªand only Illia¡ªis allowed inside; Voltaire finds himself unable to move forward due to an invisible barrier, so when he''s locked out again, he bitterly returns to his own room.


    "I was mumbling in my asleep again?" Niel questions after Illia''s explanation, and she nods in confirmation. "Sorry..."


    Illia shakes her head; he doesn''t need to be sorry about this. She knows how much anguish he''s been going through lately. The meaning behind Niel''s mumbling is brought up, but he says he doesn''t know what he might be saying. It''s late, so after promising to spend another evening together on the roof sometime soon, they bid each other a good night.


    Niel''s punishment inevitably runs its course, but Voltaire''s poor behaviour does not. At least the former is able to escape it now by leaving the house. Illia has also been waiting to go on walks, so the pair leave whenever they''re able to and travel wherever their hearts take them. They go to the glade more often than not, and Niel finds himself recalling less-than-fondly of the time he was confronted in the woods back in April. Maybe... something like that could work again.


    One Tuesday after school, Voltaire is being particularly snappy with Reed and Lydia. Sounds like he got himself in trouble in school and them saying it''s his own fault is angering him. Gabriel tries to defuse the situation, but it''s only ramping him up more. This escalation continues until Voltaire grabs a spoon with the intention of throwing it. Now it''s Niel''s last straw.


    "Voltaire!" Niel shouts as he approaches the kitchen from the living room. Voltaire''s arm is locked upward by Dust just as he tried to throw the utensil. Gabriel sees him struggling from the invisible force and takes the spoon away from him. Once Niel releases him, Voltaire hops out of his chair and angrily approaches, but Niel picks him up again and pushes him towards the door.


    "Put your shoes on. We''re going outside," Niel orders.


    "You''re not the boss of me!" Voltaire growls.


    Niel has little patience left for these games. "Put your shoes on, or I will make you put your shoes on!"


    "Niel!" Gabriel says sternly. He doesn''t want a repeat of last time.


    "He''s been after me all week. If he has so much energy to burn, he can burn it on a walk."


    As afraid as Gabriel is of letting the two of them be alone without supervision, perhaps this is what Voltaire needs. He''s clearly defiant of the adults in his life, so maybe going on a walk with someone closer to his age will help rein him in. Voltaire reluctantly puts his shoes on and the two of them leave the house. Of course, he stops just outside the door, unwilling to move.


    "Come on," Niel says.


    "No," Voltaire refutes, causing him to be pulled by another invisible force.


    "You can walk on your own, or I can make you walk. It''s your call."


    Voltaire growls and walks out to the sidewalk with Niel, but he doesn''t go any further.


    "Come on," Niel says again, this time with a wave of his hand.


    "Stop talking to me like I''m a dog!"


    "Then start acting like a person!"


    This really annoys Voltaire, but he folds and walks with Niel of his own accord. Niel says they''re going out to a place in the forest that he and the other kids found a few months ago. Voltaire isn''t happy with the distance, but they arrive at the glade all the same.


    "You''ve had a bad attitude ever since you arrived here, and you''ve been picking fights with me all week last week," Niel begins. "You want to get your frustrations out? We can''t break anything here." He stretches out his arms invitingly. "Take your best shot."


    This is the best offer Voltaire''s gotten in the last few months. Niel just got lucky last time when he had him by the throat. He may be able to push and pull things, but all Voltaire needs is one good grab and the fight''s over. Maybe he''ll take his time with some punches, just to show off his superiority. On the other side, Niel knows exactly how this will end.


    Voltaire walks up to Niel and throws a hateful right punch aimed at the jaw, but Niel crooks his body and expertly avoids it and a leftward follow-up. He then catches Voltaire''s right arm and knees the Electric Mute Thief in the stomach to put him on his knees. Instead of following up and taking advantage of Voltaire''s openness, Niel just takes a step back and lets him regain his composure. Voltaire already gives up on punching and just wants to win, so he lurches ahead, grabs Niel by the forearm, and cranks the voltage. But... nothing happens? In reality, he''s grabbing an insulating layer of Dust that he can''t see and mistaking it for Niel''s flesh. Now wide open, he watches in slow motion as Niel pulls his free fist back and slugs him in the jaw, and he crumples from the impact.


    It''s too familiar for him not to catch on.


    "It was you..." Voltaire groans as he lies on the dirt. "You''re that asshole from back then! You''re the reason why I got arrested!"


    "The hell I was!" Niel retorts immediately, rubbing and shaking the pain from his knuckles. "Robbing and hurting people was why you got arrested! I was just the person who stopped you! And if it wasn''t me, it was going to be someone else, whether they caught you like I did, or killed you!"


    "No one was going to kill me."


    "Really? Were you a part of Invictus? A gang that''s been labelled as one of the most violent gangs in the country? A gang that kills people for operating in their turf? You really don''t think they would''ve killed you if you were scaring their customers away, or if you robbed one of their own?"


    Voltaire doesn''t have a comeback in mind for this, so he just growls angrily. Niel takes a quick breath and sigh to lose some of the frustrations in his voice.


    "We''re not your enemies here. Believe it or not, I come from a similar place as you do. I¡ª"


    "Did your parents abandon you!? No!"


    So this is what put him on the street.


    "I was taken from my parents when I was young. Hurt in many different ways. I spent years on the street, running from these bad people. I''m not proud of it, but I had to steal to survive, too. But when I collapsed in this forest, it was them at the home who found me and took me in. I''m here because of them."


    "Then why do you get to do what you want? Why do I have to keep listening to what everyone says? Why does everyone get to make my choices for me?"


    "Remember how your actions got you arrested? Same deal here: consequences. If you want to act aggressive and push people around, then your choices are going to be made for you. But if you give us a reason to trust you, then we will trust you."


    "Do you really think I can just trust you?"


    "No, of course not. I''m not asking you to trust us, or even like anybody in that home. I don''t even expect you to like me! All I''m asking for is a reason for us to trust you. Once you show that you''re able to listen, then you''ll be awarded your autonomy. But it comes down to you."


    Having enough of this lecture (and nursing his jaw), Voltaire pulls himself to his feet and starts walking away. "I''m going home."


    "Do you even know how to get back?"


    "I''ll figure it out."


    Niel sighs and catches up to Voltaire before he gets himself lost.

 Chapter 28 - Exhausting

    Voltaire presses a caressing hand to his jaw as he lays in bed one night. The soreness is all but gone, but the wound to his pride will take much longer to heal. How in the hell did Niel beat him that badly? Voltaire can¡ªand has¡ªmade grown men cry with his electric shocks, yet he can''t even make Niel flinch? Their fight in the alley, their fight in the woods, when Niel choked him... He saw a light and what looked like his veins darkening, but that''s probably just because he was losing consciousness. There hasn''t been any kind of material, element, or breeze moving when Niel pushes him or something else around. He also didn''t feel anything out of the ordinary during both attempts to shock Niel. Out of everyone, his is the only Mute that doesn''t get talked about. What are they hiding from him? And why?


    Just across the hall, Niel is also deep in thought. He''ll never regret protecting Mabel from Voltaire, but with enough time having passed, he is mournful of how he escalated things. Every time something happens, it seems like he''s always responding with violence. Voltaire, protecting Callum and saving Alanna from Invictus, even when he crossed Reed and Lydia in the woods. Minus that last one, he isn''t quite regretful of his actions¡ªlike himself, bad people deserve their comeuppance¡ªbut a part of him still is. It''s something along the lines of: he doesn''t regret the outcome, only how he got to it. Maybe the simplest explanation is that he doesn''t want to become that violent monster again, that he''s afraid to fall back on old habits.


    His phone buzzes; it''s Lydia. They''ve all been texting a lot more since Voltaire arrived, and she''s been serving as his confidant tonight. He''s relayed most of his current thoughts to her, and he forgot how much she can relate to him. After all, how did their first meeting go? Lydia to Niel, Niel to Voltaire¡ªviolence begat violence.


    >>>>>>


    "And they''ve been fighting ever since?" Mavrick questions. He and Reed are sitting on a short stone wall outside during their school''s lunch hour.


    "Yeah," Reed responds as he unwraps a granola bar. "They fight more often than me and Lydia do, except they get physical. Voltaire isn''t afraid to throw punches, and Niel isn''t afraid to throw Voltaire."


    Mavrick suppresses a morbid chuckle from that last line. "Sounds like Voltaire''s got a lot of pent-up aggression."


    "Tell me about it."


    As they sit and listen to the outside-school environment, an idea forms in Mavrick''s mind. "Do you guys have anything in place to help Voltaire vent his anger?"


    "Not that I know of."


    He brings up a website on his phone and shows it to Reed: Tri-Peaks Martial Arts. "This gym has three different classes you can sign up for: boxing, Muay Thai, and judo. If Voltaire tires himself out here, he might be calmer at home."


    "Plus, it might teach him some discipline."


    "Exactly."


    Reed likes this idea. So much so, in fact, that when he gets home, he brings it up with his guardians.


    "It''s not a bad idea..." Mabel contemplates. Gabriel checks the price for each class on his phone.


    "Not bad, if not a little pricey..." Gabriel observes.


    "The first class for each is free. If something happens or Voltaire doesn''t want to go back, then we don''t lose anything," Reed says.


    "If Voltaire goes in the first place."


    "Then..."


    After hearing Voltaire''s name from across the house, Niel clues into the conversation and approaches. "What''s going on?"


    "We''re thinking if Voltaire joining a sports club will help him get his energy out."


    "What kind of sport?"


    Gabriel and Reed run Niel through the gym''s website, and the latter is surprised to see nothing but combat sports. Is it okay to let someone combative like Voltaire participate in a sport that involves fighting? Then again, this could be just what he needs, if someone is there to make sure he doesn''t go too far.


    "You want him to go?" Niel asks.


    "It would be nice," Reed responds.


    "Give me a moment," Niel says as he leaves and travels upstairs. They wonder what he''s doing at first, but the stomping and Voltaire''s raised voice give away his actions. More stomping and shouting nearly sends Gabriel after Niel, but two pairs of footsteps hold his own as the two boys reach the first floor.


    "What is it?" Voltaire grumbles, annoyed by Niel''s pestering. Gabriel gives him his phone to look at the website.


    "Would you want to go to one of these classes?" Gabriel asks as the Electric Mute Thief scans through each sport contemplatively.


    "You said you want to make your own choices? Here you go," Niel says sternly to Voltaire.


    "And if I say no?" Voltaire says with a scowl.


    "Then you won''t, and nothing will happen. You get to choose which one you want to go to, or none if you don''t."


    "You get to punch and/or throw people. Or none," Reed adds.


    "That''s a bit over-simplistic," Mabel says. "There won''t always be sparring. It''ll mostly be exercises and the like."


    The thought of being allowed to punch people and not get in trouble for it does sound tempting. Judo also sounds interesting with its mix of strikes and takedowns, though he doesn''t like how structured it is. Above both of them, Muay Thai and its teachings of using multiple parts of the body to hit people sounds like just the edge he''d need in a fight, plus it would compliment his Mute very well. Though, if he''s going to any one of these, he''ll do it on one condition alone.


    "I choose Muay Thai," Voltaire confirms, "but only if Niel comes with me."


    "But¡ª"


    "Deal," Niel says with minimal hesitation, cutting Mabel off. "You got to make your own choice. Now, behave yourself when we go."


    "I''ll do what I want," Voltaire growls, instigating another fight.


    "Don''t push your luck."


    With another feud between them heating up, Reed invites Niel to his room to break them up. Now with nothing left for him downstairs, Voltaire returns to his room, sure to hide this newfound enthusiasm behind the other emotional scars on his face.


    In the space between now and their first class this coming Monday, Niel researches what Muay Thai classes are like. The first thing he finds from other people''s testimonies is that workouts are very energy intensive and will leave you exhausted and sore, especially for beginners and those with little to no cardio or stamina. Second is that he should expect to be bad at it when starting out. Stances and techniques will feel awkward at first and will only improve with time and experience. Third is that he should simply try to have fun. While Muay Thai can be a competitive sport, many people simply use it as a means for exercise or to learn methods of self-defence.


    Something else he does is drag Voltaire outside to get a head start on cardio. Voltaire''s not very enthusiastic about being roped along, but he does give up and join Niel for runs to the glade and back. It''s pretty clear that they are both out of shape, Niel surprisingly more so. Illia even tries joining them once, but she tires even faster than the boys do and nearly gets left behind. She''ll stick to walks from now on.


    It''s finally time for their first class. Due to school the mixed-ability morning classes are unavailable to them, and the advanced classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays are obviously off-limits for them, but they can still catch the evening regular classes each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7:15 to 8:45. They arrive 15 minutes early to learn the gym layout and to meet their instructors. Dwayne, who had driven the boys here (and who did further research into the gym to see if it was a good fit) leaves them only when he feels they''ll be okay without him. After getting changed into workout clothes, they step out to the mat and find a relatively small group of people roughly their age or older mingling and stretching before the lesson begins.


    "Hello! Are you two new?" an adult asks upon seeing them walk over. He''s a shorter man¡ªbeing not much taller than Niel¡ªwith even shorter hair, olive skin, and a body structure that suggests a foreign descent.


    "We are," Niel responds flatly but politely.


    "Excellent! My name is Sakchai, one of Tri-Peaks'' Muay Thai instructors, but you can just call me Chai," the first of their instructors greets.


    Another adult approaches, one with matching height to Dwayne, bald, and pale skin. "And my name is Theo, the other Muay Thai instructor. It''s great seeing younger ones like yourselves try Muay Thai."


    Niel introduces himself and Voltaire. "Thank you for having us," he says.


    "I hope you two are prepared!" someone from the group of eleven students calls out, "you''re gonna get one hell of a workout here!" Light-hearted laughter and verbal agreements from the others echo this sentiment.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    One hell of a workout turns out to be one hell of an understatement. After stretching, the warm-up already proves to be fairly demanding for the two boys, with minimal experience skipping rope or doing callisthenics leading to myriad mistakes and extra energy burned. They''re not the only ones struggling, much to their relief, but Niel reigns supreme with how many times he hits himself in the foot with a jump rope, much to his annoyance.


    The class breaks up into two groups after this, with more experienced students going with Chai and the newbies with Theo. Here, Niel, Voltaire, and a few others are taught fundamentals like proper stance and movement, and how to throw a jab, cross, and swing kick. Shadowboxing helps to reinforce these motions, with Theo correcting mistakes and giving pointers. Push-ups, sit-ups, or burpees follow three rounds of shadowboxing. The pads and gloves come out next.


    Because they don''t have their own, Niel and Voltaire have to borrow gloves from the gym. They also think they''re going to be paired up together, with one holding the pads and the other with the gloves, but they''re instead paired with different, slightly more experienced students who can help them better; Niel with Brock, and Voltaire with Nathan. Not only are the punches and kicks tough and make them feel inflexible, but even holding the pads has its own learning curve. Niel isn''t concerned by his partner¡ªin fact Brock is quite helpful and informative¡ªbut rather for Voltaire. It looks like the fatigue is making him crabby on top of his pre-existing volatility, something Nathan is having to put up with directly.


    Voltaire is abandoning technique and isn''t pulling his punches, and whenever Nathan tries correcting him on how to hold the pads, he''s always met with an ''I know!'' among other things. He''s treating this almost like they''re sparring, even though they''re not. Niel very nearly breaks off from Brock to get him to stand down, but Theo makes the move first. The instructor is quick and decisive with his words, telling Voltaire to cool it and relax. Voltaire shows slight resistance to this, and that''s enough for Niel to excuse himself from Brock and pull the thief off to the side.


    "Did you forget what I told you before? To behave yourself?" Niel growls, though quietly enough to not be overheard by the others.


    "Shut up," Voltaire hisses back.


    "If you don''t want to be here, then tell the others after we''re done." Voltaire is still acting defiant, so Niel takes a different approach. "You were given a choice to come here. If you get yourself kicked out, you won''t be given another one. Do you want that?"


    "...No."


    "Then show me, our instructor, and our guardians that you can control yourself."


    With this one-on-one over, both boys stop disrupting their partners'' time and return to class. Voltaire still looks angry, but he''s acting more favourably now. Well, it''s either that or the fatigue everyone else is also strongly feeling. Pad drills continue for several more rounds with water breaks in between, up until the two groups come back together for one last round of conditioning.


    50 sit-ups and 50 push-ups may not sound that bad on paper, but it''s painful after over an hour of exhaustion, especially when you''re out of shape. Some of the more advanced guys are capable of doing it and more, but the boys and most of the other newer students struggle. One even has to excuse himself to go vomit, and Niel would be right behind him if he didn''t give in and start crutching on his Dust. Despite all of this, Voltaire somehow keeps up with Niel, though they''re both still slow. Chai and Theo give repeated encouragement for everyone to keep going until their reps are done. To close out the session, everyone cools down with one final stretch.


    "So how was that for your first class?" Brock asks, standing over Niel before helping him to his feet.


    "Exhausting," Niel replies with fatigue heavy in his voice. Brock chuckles. Sweat drips from beneath his longer brown hair and gets caught in the towel around his neck.


    "You''ll get used to it."


    "And you are?"


    "Nope. But that''s what the guys who''ve been here for a few years tell me."


    Niel lets out a quiet, dry chuckle. Nathan and a couple of other guys approach to chat, and though Niel signals for Voltaire to join them, the thief instead decides to go change in peace.


    "He''s a tough one, isn''t he?" Nathan comments.


    "He''s..." Niel begins, though he''s unsure if he should continue. "He''s got some problems to work through."


    "Well, as long as he doesn''t cause problems, I don''t mind him figuring things out here," someone with a blonde ponytail says.


    "He''ll get used to us eventually," someone else says. "We''re all one unit here, so I guess he kinda has to."


    This socialization continues into the changing room until everyone decides to drop off one after another and head home. Voltaire has been waiting for Niel in the gym lobby, and they go out into the dark evening where Dwayne''s car awaits.


    "So, how was your first class? Tiring, I assume?" Dwayne asks jovially once they''re in the car.


    "Tiring is an understatement. That was the most amount of exercising I''ve done in..." He was going to say ''in my life,'' but that''s not true. "...in a long time."


    "Ah." Dwayne knows exactly what Niel is referring to. On the other hand, Voltaire assumes that Niel is alluding to his time on the street and is wondering why he doesn''t just say it. "What about you, Voltaire?"


    "I just want to go lie down," the thief grumbles, eager to go home.


    Dwayne chuckles. "Alright, we''re going home now."


    Back at home, everyone predictably wants to know how things went, but a short explanation will have to suffice until tomorrow when they''ve rested. After a quick shower each, they both call it an early night and go to bed.


    Niel awakens to his alarm the next morning¡ªa rarity, as he usually wakes up an hour or so before it. It''s been a while since exhaustion has taken him to sleep so quickly, and he doesn''t recall a time when he slept so deeply. Also in his trip down bad-memory lane, it''s been a while since he''s been so sore. His shoulders are rigid and his legs stiff, and it feels like his arms are going to fall off if he moves them wrongly. Upon convening with the others downstairs, he learns that Voltaire is just as sore and twice as grumpy. Now, with both of them together in front of the adults, they''re given the million-dollar question:


    "Do you want to go again tomorrow?" Mabel asks.


    Niel looks to Voltaire. He''ll go if the thief will, but only in that case.


    "Do you?" Niel asks Voltaire.


    Voltaire grumbles. Even when he''s given a choice to, he doesn''t like having so many eyes on him waiting for his answer.


    "Only if you''re going," the thief answers.


    "I didn''t forget your condition. I''m still going if you''re going."


    "Then sure."


    "I''ll let Dwayne know to sign you two up!" Mabel approves.


    Thankfully for the two boys, their soreness slowly dissipates as they move again throughout the day¡ªthough it never fully disappears, only becoming more manageable as time passes. Voltaire is more than keen to laze in his room after supper, but Niel has a different plan in mind.


    "I don''t wanna go outside," Voltaire groans from his bed.


    Niel sighs. "If we don''t work on our cardio, we''re going to be hurting in each class we go to."


    "Then you can go and run or whatever, and I''ll stay here."


    It looks like Niel is going to have to compromise. "Then instead of running, why don''t we take a walk into the city instead?"


    "Why?"


    "Because walking is easier than running."


    Voltaire groans louder and pulls himself standing. If he doesn''t make Niel happy, he''s not going to hear the end of it, so he gives up and reluctantly joins him for a walk to the city.


    With fall''s recent arrival combined with the evening hours, the air is a lot cooler than it''s been even a few days ago. It''s not cold per se, but it''s nowhere near the blistering summer nights that they''ve had before. It''s a pleasant coolness. What isn''t pleasant is Voltaire''s grumbling.


    "Why''d you pick coming into the city over that spot in the woods?" the thief complains as they follow the flow of people along the sidewalk.


    "It''s a change of pace," Niel elaborates. "If you wanted to go back to the woods, you could''ve said so earlier."


    "Why would I want to be around more people?"


    "You say that, yet you want to go to a Muay Thai class with other people."


    Voltaire''s eyes narrow and his jaw clenches as his annoyance grows. Right when he''s about to say something else, a woman who looks to be in her thirties approaches them in a panic.


    "I''m sorry to bother you, but have either of you seen a phone in a purple case somewhere around here? I think I might have dropped it..." she says hurriedly.


    "I haven''t seen anything, sorry," Niel apologizes. But right when she''s about to ask someone else, he deploys his Dust and scans the length of the sidewalk, plus her purse and pockets just to be sure she isn''t mistaking it as lost. Sure enough, near the bottom of her purse is a peculiarly thin rectangle.


    "Excuse me," Niel says to get the woman''s attention. "Is it possible that you left it in your purse?"


    "No, I already check my purse..." She unzips the bag and shuffles through its contents again, and just as Niel thought, there it is. "Oh my god, it was in here!" she exclaims with a mixture of relief, embarrassment, and self-disappointment.


    Niel forces a chuckle and concocts a lie to explain away his Dusty clairvoyance. "I lose my wallet in my pockets all the time, so I was wondering if that was the case for you. Now I triple-check every bag and pocket just to make sure I''m not forgetting anything."


    "I''m glad I''m not the only one!" she sighs in relief. "Oh my god, I''m so embarrassed..."


    With this phone forgetfulness forum finalized, the woman bids them a good evening and the boys continue their walk. Niel is glad to be of assistance, but Voltaire has other choice words to say.


    "If you lose your stuff that easily, then you deserve to have it stolen."


    Niel is taken aback by this comment. "Why?"


    "Because idiots are the easiest to steal from, especially you if you''re dumb enough to lose your wallet in your pocket."


    "I was lying when I said that to her."


    "Sure you were. Or, what, were you just saying that to make her feel better?" Shit. Voltaire being annoying made Niel lose check of his pride. The thief muses on this increasingly interesting line of thought further. "Actually, if you were just saying that, then how did you know her phone was in her purse? Was it just luck? Or was it because of your Mute that everyone, including you, keeps hiding from me?"


    Since when did this annoying asshole get so clever?


    "No," Niel blurts out, this rushed response only deepening the hole he dug himself.


    "Cool. Okay. Lie and hide it from me then, just like everything else all you assholes do. And somehow you''re the one talking about trust."


    "I''ll share more about myself when I trust you more," Niel refutes, though he knows that Voltaire is correct. His thinking of hiding his Dust from Voltaire is flawed and hypocritical, especially when he told both his surrogate family and Mavrick when he trusted them far less. Then again, that was when he felt he had far less to lose. Despite everything, he still isn''t ready to share one of his biggest secrets with someone as scornful and hot-headed as Voltaire, though perhaps he can give a little slack.


    "...Fine. I saw her phone using my Mute and lied to cover it up," Niel concedes with a sigh. "But that''s all I''m saying for now. Show me I can trust you with my secrets, and I''ll tell you more."


    "I don''t know why it''s that big of a deal, but okay," Voltaire responds in a surprisingly tempered tone. "But if you can see things like phones and push people around, then you could take  whatever you wanted from people. Hell, you might be a better thief than me."


    "I don''t steal anymore. And just because someone can be stolen from, doesn''t mean that they should be."


    "Really? I think of it like, if you''re dumb enough to get yourself scammed or stolen from, then you had it coming. How did it go again? ''A fool and his money are soon separated'' or something? Why not take advantage of someone stupid like that before someone else does?"


    "Because I''m not an asshole."


    "So you''re a goody two-shoes and a moron, then. Got it."


    God, he''s an asshole, is all Niel can think of for the rest of the night.

 Chapter 29 - Left Behind

    "This isn''t a fight you want," Niel growls, standing his ground between his home and four Invictus members. Each of them has a pistol in their waistbands or pockets.


    "You think you''re hard, you little bitch? We ain''t scared of you," one of the gangbangers hisses as he takes a leering step forwards. Niel doesn''t flinch.


    "You''ve caused us a lot of problems before. Hurting our boys, stealing from us," another jeers. "Do you even know who you fucked with?"


    Niel takes his own step forward. One of them lowers his hand to his waist. It won''t work.


    "Walk. Away." Failing restraint carries Niel''s voice.


    "You''re not gonna be acting this tough when we¡ª"


    Dark Dust surges and courses through their bodies, folding joints and pulling muscle and bone to the ground. They cry out in shocked agony¡ªa justice. Vengeance.


    Voltaire''s voice rings in his head: ''You could take whatever you wanted from people.'' He can. These pitiful things sprawled on the ground can''t even hope to touch him.


    "Walk away, and bring everything you can. Every gun, every bullet, every man, every explosive." The more he talks, the more his Dust digs into their flesh. The higher his fury rises, the less he cares to hide it. "Bring everyone, so I can kill all of you here."


    His work is slow. Every scream is ecstasy. He hangs over them like a merciless predator, skewering extremities with chains of guilt, plucking nerves like harp strings. The smog of Dust asphyxiates their pleas for mercy. Why hide who he is anymore?


    "What are you...?" one cries out, barely holding to life.


    "I..." This is his purpose. This is what he was made to do. He is above everyone.


    "...am a god."


    Niel jolts awake with his alarm blaring in his face. He was watching a mini-documentary on the shooting of Ash Street, but he must''ve fallen asleep near the end. Now his phone is close to dying after a night of it not charging. After plugging it in and while he makes up his bed, he thinks on the dream he just had.


    That level of violence... he thought he left it behind a long time ago. Sure, there were memories, urges like itches in the back of his mind, but he''s kept himself mostly restrained. This is the first time he''s fully dreamt of maiming someone in a new scenario. And what he said at the end... There''s no denying his Dust makes him extremely powerful, but he''s no god. He can''t do whatever he wants to people. He can''t... Is what Voltaire said to him yesterday really getting to him this badly?


    There''s less soreness in his body than yesterday, though he still hasn''t recovered fully yet. Niel makes sure to stretch and take a walk after schooling with Louise is done. Voltaire disagrees with that idea and says he''s fine without it, opting to conserve his energy instead. When the time comes, they pack up and head out to the gym again, wondering what''s in store for them this time.


    The instructors, Brock, Nathan, and the other guys Niel was talking to on Monday are all visibly glad when they see the pair step onto the mat again. Niel is quick to return their enthused greetings, Voltaire not so much. Class starts similarly to the first time, with jump rope followed by stretching and callisthenics, but instead of shadowboxing, they instead run several laps around the gym. Thanks to his pre-warm-up, Niel''s soreness isn''t hitting him quite as hard as Voltaire''s is.


    With the warm-up complete, they get into the main lesson of today: clinching. A clinch is a type of standing grapple where you aim to control the opponent''s movement. Clinches can be used offensively and defensively, opening an opponent up to strikes and/or preventing them from striking back. Chai firmly believes that clinching is a pillar of Muay Thai, hence why it''s being taught here and now. Niel has a specific worry for Voltaire regarding this.


    "Be careful not to shock your partner," he warns the thief as they equip their borrowed gloves.


    "Yeah, I know," Voltaire responds dismissively.


    These beginner lessons on clinching are surprisingly lax to Niel, lowering both his concerns for Voltaire and his own anxieties. Combat instructions were far more aggressive in the lab. They''re first taught where to hold their partners'' head and where to place their feet, then how to move their partner around, and then how to throw simple knees after that, each pair taking turns clinching the other. It''s surprisingly hard on Niel''s neck. He and Voltaire also feel incredibly awkward and inexperienced, doing many things incorrectly, but Voltaire is enjoying this physical learning. Niel is just glad the thief hasn''t shocked anyone. After their clinching lessons, the whole class engages in a burnout of callisthenics before a final round of stretches and dismissal.


    "Niel? Voltaire?" Theo calls before they get hung up socializing or disappear to the changing room.


    "What is it?" Niel questions as he pads his face with a towel. Voltaire is sat next to him, drying off his own sweat.


    "How are you two finding Muay Thai?"


    "Tiring, for one," Niel answers, reflecting what he said to Brock on Monday, "but also fun."


    "Makes me sore," Voltaire interjects as he nurses his neck.


    "Soreness is normal when you''re first starting out because your body isn''t used to moving the way we do here. Routine stretching and exercises will help with that." Theo shifts his weight along with the topic. "Most of our sparring is done in our advanced classes, but we also do some light sparring here in our regular classes. Is that something you two would be comfortable doing?"


    Voltaire''s eyes light up at this. Fighting? Count him in! "Yeah!" he says far more enthusiastically than Niel has heard from him before.


    "I''m also okay with it," Niel echoes.


    "Very good! On that note..."


    With sparring comes gear, and shy of mouth guards, the gym can provide the equipment they need. However, owning new gear is much better than using worn rentals, so Theo directs them to stores where they can buy recommended brands of gloves, hand wraps, shin and mouth guards, and more. They''ll only need their own mouth guard for the time being (Theo half-jokes that a $50 mouth guard is better than $5k mouth surgery), but he still encourages them to pick up hand wraps and 14oz gloves should they decide to pursue Muay Thai in the long term. Niel finds it all good information and records it in his phone for later. After brief conversation with some of the guys still lingering in the gym, the pair pack up and head home.


    "How was class today?" Mabel asks as soon as they walk through the front doorway. It''s a question for both of them, but with her eyes spending more time on Voltaire than Niel, it almost feels directed.


    "Fine," Voltaire states coolly, brushing her off. She turns to Niel now hoping for a more engaged answer.


    "Tiring again. Sore, but good. We were doing a lot of clinching today," he answers before taking out his phone. "We need some stuff for our next class."


    Niel explains the gear situation to his guardians, and while they''re not thrilled about spending more money, if needs must... Gabriel looks into the stores Theo mentioned and the gear they sell, while Niel and Voltaire get ready for bed. They''ll head out shopping after school tomorrow.


    The next day''s schooling passes them by, and the four take a trip into the city. The adults need to go grocery shopping anyway, so this gear-run lines up well. Voltaire isn''t happy with this, though. He''d much rather get a mouth guard and then go straight home, but now he''s kept waiting while being surrounded by stuff he could totally steal but isn''t allowed to. Mabel also keeps hounding him, trying to bribe him by asking if there''s something he wants while they''re there. At least trying to tempt Niel into stealing something passes some of the time.


    Their next stop is a sports store to look for a mouth guard, and Mabel figures that they might as well buy gloves and wraps while they''re here. A boil-and-bite style of mouth guard is cheap, and it looks like it''ll be good enough, so the boys get one each plus their own case for it. They also get the first 180-inch hand wraps they see. There''s a lot of gloves to choose from, and Mabel trying to help Voltaire does bother him, but they eventually settle for 14oz gloves that feel good to them. The price tag is a bit steep, but if it brings Voltaire into line, it''s worth it. With everything now bought, they head home to help Poppy get supper underway.


    Niel sits in his room after supper, ruminating on a thought that crossed his mind earlier. Mabel is really trying to win Voltaire''s favour. She was like that with Niel too when he first arrived, but not to this extent. It doesn''t bother him that Mabel is giving more attention to Voltaire, it''s just an observation he''s made. Maybe Reed can tell him something?


    "Yeah, she''s been really trying with him, hasn''t she?" Reed says, his attention split between Niel and the fighting game he''s playing.


    "Is she normally like that when a new kid is brought in?"


    "Kinda. She likes to make an early connection whenever a new kid arrives here. Lydia, Illia, you. She might not be our real mother, but she really wants to fill that role for us, and in turn she sees us as if we were her own kids." Reed''s face makes an unreadable expression, and Niel can''t tell if it''s just from him focusing on the game or if there''s something he''s not sharing.


    "You should talk to Mabel about it if you want to know more," Reed says.


    He is hiding something. Niel respects this wish for Mabel''s privacy and leaves Reed and the topic alone. He also considers talking to Mabel about this right now, and he does go down to the first floor where she currently is, but he gets cold feet and slinks back up to his room. Reed is usually open when he talks to Niel, so it must be serious if he doesn''t feel comfortable sharing it, and Niel isn''t sure if he''s ready for that conversation with Mabel. He''ll just practice wrapping his hands for tomorrow.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    >>>>>>


    "You''re right-handed, right?" Brock asks as he and Niel are exchanging light blows. His voice is slightly slurred from his mouth guard, and so is Niel''s.


    "Yeah," Niel exhales, saving his breath while he focuses on the simple jab and cross combo they''re being taught. His cross ends up hitting a little harder than he meant to, but Brock blocks it and shrugs it off regardless.


    "Honestly could''ve had me fooled. Your lefts hit just as hard as your rights, and you don''t look uncomfortable when you try mirroring your stance."


    Is it supposed to be uncomfortable? Now that Niel thinks about it, despite his questionable upbringing teaching him to favour his right side, using his left hand for tasks never felt strange to him.


    "I feel normal using my left." Niel blocks a jab with his left arm, Brock''s movements being telegraphed through invisible Dust.


    "Have you tried writing with your left hand before?"


    Niel never considered doing that. "No."


    "Really? You should give it a try, see how it turns out."


    A few minutes go by and their session is put on hold for a break. Voltaire had been sparring with Nathan, so Niel gets a drink and checks in with him while Voltaire is in the restroom.


    "How are you and Voltaire doing?" Niel asks.


    "Good," Nathan responds. "He''s hitting a bit hard, but¡ª"


    Niel sighing cuts him off. "I''ll talk to him about that."


    "Nah, it''s fine. Don''t worry about it. If he gets worse I''ll let him know." Nathan taps his fists together playfully when he says he''ll let Voltaire know.


    "Really keeping your eye on Voltaire, huh?" Brock questions as he approaches from behind Niel.


    "I''m trying to keep him from making mistakes," Niel states.


    "That''s all well and good, but mistakes are his to make," Brock says.


    "And if he makes one, it''s up to him to pay it back and move on, just like the rest of us," Nathan adds.


    Niel concedes that they have a point, but... "If he''s making a mistake, then I''d rather stop him before it gets worse."


    A few conflicted grunts and an awkward silence follows this until Voltaire returns and breaks it. He doesn''t want to join them at first, but he begrudgingly does so when Niel flags him over.


    "Don''t take this the wrong way, but what''re your motivations for coming here?" Nathan asks the pair.


    "Motivation? As in, why did we decide to come here?" Niel questions for verification.


    "Yeah. Like, are you here because you want to compete? Or are you here to learn how to defend yourself? Or are you here because it''s good exercise?"


    "I''m here because it''s fun and I needed to get in shape," Brock shares. "My Phase Mute does all the self-defence I need."


    "Same for me minus the Phase Mute, but I wouldn''t mind trying to compete at some point."


    "I just wanted to try it out," Niel lies, something Voltaire immediately recognises.


    "Same. He just came with me," Voltaire says, hiding the truth while also limiting the falsehood of their answers. It''s a simple enough response that neither Brock nor Nathan question much, and they all go back to sparring with little more said on the topic.


    The sparring done this day leaves the pair predictably sore the next. Thankfully, they have the weekend to recuperate. Voltaire''s plan is to relax and laze around until Monday, but Niel thinks differently, and that''s how Voltaire found himself in the city once again.


    "I still don''t get why we need to walk," Voltaire complains.


    "Cardio and soreness, the latter you keep complaining of," Niel shoots.


    "Soreness will go away if I''m not using my muscles."


    "And then you''ll get stiff. You wanted to get into something heavy on exercise, so don''t be surprised when you need to do exercising."


    "I didn''t want to do it."


    "Oh, right. Sorry, I forgot. You were given a choice to do it or not, and you chose to do it."


    "Don''t be a smart ass."


    "Well, one of us has to be smart."


    This passive-aggressive banter continues for a few blocks deeper into a lesser-travelled part of Soul until they pass an innocuous caf¨¦ that catches Voltaire''s eye. Niel notices this heightened interest, and feeling a tad hungry, he decides to treat himself and Voltaire inside. The innocuous exterior design continues to the interior, though it feels... homely, as Reed described something long ago. Niel would even call it simple elegance with its use of dark wood flooring and tables, cream-coloured walls, and soft lighting. It''s far more inviting than the cold white and metal fast food restaurant he went to with Callum and Alanna a while back.


    "What do you want?" Niel asks Voltaire once they''re sat down with menus in front of them.


    "Uhh..." Voltaire browses the menu hesitantly. He''s half-expecting some kind of trick from Niel here, but he decides on something anyway. "The vanilla cake."


    Niel decides to have the same thing, plus he wants to see how the tea here is different from home. He places their order when a waitress arrives to take it.


    "Why''d you decide to come in?" Voltaire questions.


    "You looked interested. Plus, I haven''t been in a place like this before, so I wanted to see what it was like," Niel explains. "What caught your attention?"


    "Um..." Voltaire shrinks his voice cautiously, but also somewhat sheepishly. "I actually planned to rob this place at one point."


    Niel sighs and places a disappointed hand on his forehead. Of course that''s what it was. "Why didn''t you?"


    "Someone got in my way before I could."


    "I wonder who that was."


    "Don''t know, but he has this weird Mute he won''t share."


    "Sounds like someone with something personal that he doesn''t like sharing."


    Again with the secrets. Maybe if Voltaire shares his past, he can guilt Niel into telling him what his Mute is?


    "You know, my parents didn''t like me. They acted like I wasn''t there most of the time. One day they just abandoned me somewhere."


    "You already told me they abandoned you," Niel says without much tact, skewing Voltaire''s expression into disappointment. The waitress returns with their two slices of white vanilla cake and a mug of black tea for Niel to sweeten himself. Voltaire watches the only other customer in the caf¨¦, a man in his thirties, pay his bill and leave.


    "So, conning you isn''t going to work, huh?" Voltaire mumbles.


    It''s just loud enough for Niel to hear over the groan of the lightbulb above them.


    "...Fine. You want trust? Here''s everything I don''t tell other people."


    The lonesome silence makes everything feel louder. The groan of the lights, the hum of the neon ''open'' sign¡ªNiel swears he can even hear the pop of static in the air.


    "No one knows this. Not Dwayne, not the cops, no one."


    The sound of sparks crackle all around them...


    ~~~


    I wasn''t lying when I said my parents didn''t care about me. I''m pretty sure I wasn''t supposed to be born at all. My older brother did well in school. I didn''t. Everyone called him talented. I wasn''t. He had my parent''s¡ªand the school board''s¡ªattention. I never did. So while he was raking in money and scholarships, all I had were whatever food scraps I could find or steal. No one wanted to share anything with me, not at home or school.


    There was supposed to be some kind of... thing... law or something to help kids like me. A breakfast program and tutoring to help keep my grades up. Instead, it was all just empty promises and tests I was too slow to understand. My classmates made up excuses to avoid me, my teachers pushed me to higher grades to avoid me, and my parents took me here to the city to avoid me.


    And Soul is where they left me.


    We lived pretty far away from the city, so I was kinda happy when they said we were moving here. Maybe somebody would finally pay attention to me, y''know? That was the biggest scam I ever fell for. They brought me here to a park and snuck away when I wasn''t looking. Haven''t seen or heard from them since, and I don''t want to. I know where we used to live. I know my family''s names. I''m not that stupid, and I''m not stupid enough to tell anyone, either, because I know I''d be sent right back there to do it all over again if I did.


    You''d also think that bystanders would help a lone kid or something, but no, everybody''s got a stick up their ass, and they pretend not to notice. At least it finally taught me that people aren''t worth it, and that I can''t rely on anyone but myself. I awakened there and then and gave that sentiment right back. If nobody cares about me, why should I care about them? The only person that deserves any sympathy from me is me. The rest deserve to be used.


    I got left behind. What else do you want from me?


    ~~~


    Niel understands now why Voltaire is so scornful. In fact, if he didn''t have the lab to fear, he''d likely act the same way as Voltaire now. Niel was no angel either before Dwayne offered him sanctuary.


    Voltaire gives a dry, morbid chuckle at his silence. "Some family, right? Nothing but liars and shitheads."


    "If you have your Mute now and know where they are, I''m surprised you haven''t tried getting revenge."


    "Oh, I''ve thought about that. It''d be GREAT to make them see me after all this time, but I don''t know what I''d do or where I''d go after. Well, other than juvie. Or jail. The streets here became my new home, and I like my chances here better than there." Voltaire crudely rips off a piece of his cake with his fork and eats it, his face contorting a bit with the shock of sweetness. "So... What''s up with your Mute?"


    Right. The reason Voltaire told him this was to pry.


    "I still don''t fully trust you yet."


    "Are you fucking serious?" Voltaire is NOT happy about this, and his language catches Niel off guard. "After all of that, after telling you what I''ve told no one else about, I get nothing in return?"


    "You get to see me keep your secret."


    "So why don''t I get yours?"


    "Because this isn''t a transaction!"


    The sheer rage emanating from Voltaire is nearly enough to burn Niel on the spot. Acidic tears sting his eyes as the fork held in an ice pick grip crackles with lightning. Niel is ready to restrain him with Dust, but something Voltaire said before he shared his secret comes to mind: trust. ''You want trust?'' This isn''t just a means to pry, this is the closest Voltaire''s come to trusting anyone in who knows how long. He''s reaching out in his own way, and Niel is shunning him.


    Niel sinks into his seat with dejectedness, causing Voltaire to pause whatever he had considered doing.


    "...and I''m not being fair, either," Niel says with a hushed voice. He leans close to the table and motions for Voltaire to do the same.


    "Remember how I was taken from my parents by bad people? Those people tortured and experimented on me like a lab rat. They made me into their weapon by implanting me with an artificial Mute. They''re looking for me now that I escaped, and should they find me, they''ll kill all of us in the home, including you."


    "Of all the lies you could ma¡ª" A sudden flash of darkness jettisons from under Niel''s hand and swipes Voltaire''s fork from his grip. He barely had time to process what was happening before the fork was already in Niel''s grasp.


    "This is a deadly secret, Voltaire. That''s why I need to know I can trust you with it."


    Now Voltaire''s on the same page. "You can trust me with it."


    "Show me you can. Then I''ll tell you the rest."


    Voltaire isn''t happy with the continued secrecy, but he at least understands where Niel is coming from. With tempers soothed for the time being, they enjoy this calm, cake-filled moment before going back home.


    That evening, Niel opens his journal to a clean page when he remembers something. Brock suggested he try writing with his left hand, and he was so fatigued last night he forgot to do just that. Taking the pencil in his left hand, Niel jots down his thoughts and feelings from today, just as he has done every night since they volunteered at the hospital. It''s a near-identical match to his right hand¡ªa brand-new angle.

 Chapter 30 - Someone Cares About Him

    Illia¡¯s smiling mouth gives way to an exhilarated breath as she¡¯s pushed high on the swing by Niel. They¡¯re the only two at the glade on this cool overcast day as the other kids opted to stay inside. Not even Voltaire could be coerced to join them, citing the gym closing tomorrow for Thanksgiving as his excuse for being lazy. Between him and preparing tomorrow¡¯s supper with Poppy, Mabel¡¯s hands are too full to take Illia here, so Niel volunteered instead.


    ¡®How is everything between you and Voltaire now?¡¯ Illia signs when her momentum slows.


    ¡°It¡¯s slowly improving. These past few days aside, I think he¡¯s slowly getting used to everything,¡± Niel responds. Voltaire¡¯s stealing habits have escalated recently, sneaking into rooms and stealing various items. Niel, Illia, and Mabel are the usual victims, with Niel and Gabriel being the ones to retrieve them.


    ¡®I don¡¯t think it¡¯s fair that you have to go with him to the gym.¡¯


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind. Everyone there is nice, and I needed the exercise anyway.¡±


    ¡®Is going there really helping him?¡¯


    That question can be taken two different ways. ¡°Do you mean, is him going to the gym helping him? Or, is me going to the gym with him helping him?¡±


    ¡®The first one.¡¯


    ¡°I think so. He¡¯s not as¡­ punchy as he was before.¡±


    ¡®Punchy.¡¯ It seems that Illia likes how silly that word sounds coming from Niel; her smirking mouth and jaw move ever so slightly as she says it to herself internally. Having no more questions to ask, she returns to kicking her legs gracelessly to gain momentum. Her clumsiness, her innocent smile, the way her curled hair wisps in the wind¡­ If the branch holding her were to break, Niel would catch her in a heartbeat. To him, she looks¡­ cute.


    When they get home later in the day, they find a commotion ensuing upstairs. It sounds like Voltaire stole something from Mabel again. Niel sighs and scales up to Voltaire¡¯s barricaded room where their guardians are standing outside. Mabel is again trying to coax Voltaire into cooperating while Gabriel shadows her, none too pleased.


    ¡°What did he steal this time?¡± Niel asks.


    ¡°Just some money from my purse,¡± Mabel explains.


    Voltaire can be heard protesting from inside, shouting, ¡°I didn¡¯t take anything!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not listening. Could you¡­?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± A scan reveals that Voltaire has placed his dresser in front of the door, and firmly within his grasp is a small wad of dollar bills. Niel uses invisible Dust to move the dresser and gain entry, much to the displeasure of the room¡¯s occupant.


    ¡°Why?¡± Niel asks simply as he closes the door behind him.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t take anything!¡± Voltaire repeats from his bed. When the dresser moved, Voltaire swiftly hid the money underneath the covers.


    ¡°We both know that¡¯s not true, Voltaire.¡± Niel uses his Dust again to retrieve the stashed cash before the thief can interfere. ¡°If you wanted money to go out somewhere, you could¡¯ve just asked them. Or hell, I could¡¯ve brought you somewhere.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡±


    ¡°Then what is it?¡±


    Despite Niel¡¯s assumption being incorrect, Voltaire isn¡¯t in any hurry to correct him.


    Niel sighs. ¡°Whatever it is, why did you lie? I thought you hated lies?¡±


    Voltaire grits his teeth angrily and pleads the Fifth. Niel hopes that Medova will be more proficient at opening him up than he is.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Niel says, breaking the silence and motioning towards the door.


    ¡°What? I said I¡¯m staying inside.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not going for a walk, you¡¯re going to go apologize.¡±


    A loud snap of electricity erupts from between Voltaire¡¯s hands. ¡°No.¡±


    Niel glares death at the thief for this defiance, and Voltaire sends a cold glare of his own right back. Before this can heat up any further, Gabriel opens the door and he and Mabel stand in the doorway. Niel returns the money to its owner.


    ¡°Voltaire.¡± Gabriel says sternly, arms crossed.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Apologize,¡± Niel repeats.


    Finally feeling the pressure, the thief caves. ¡°Sorry,¡± he says insincerely.


    ¡°Not good enough.¡±


    ¡°No, it is,¡± Mabel objects before she walks away, much to Gabriel and Niel¡¯s disagreement. The former chases after his wife in protest while Niel is left standing there.


    ¡°You need to stop doing this, before they take something from you in return,¡± Niel warns as he leaves Voltaire alone in irritated silence.


    Things cool down and not much more is said for the rest of the day, but an awkwardness can be felt by all between the two adults. It¡¯s not like them to fight, or at least Niel has never seen it before. Niel catches Gabriel throughout the evening trying to bring Voltaire up with Mabel, but she shuts him down repeatedly, stating that they¡¯ll talk later that night. Sounds like a good opportunity to see how they feel about Voltaire¡¯s antics and if they plan to do anything. When it''s time to go to bed, Niel slips into the shadows and sneaks downstairs to eavesdrop on his guardians. He wasn¡¯t expecting their conversation to bleed through the door.


    ¡°Dear, I think you¡¯re being too soft on him,¡± Gabriel says to his wife.


    ¡°And what good would being hard on him do?¡± Mabel responds.


    ¡°I never said to be hard on him! I said you¡¯re being too soft, and he sees that and thinks he can get away with what he¡¯s doing because he knows there won¡¯t be consequences!¡±


    Seems like Gabriel is finally getting fed up with Voltaire. It¡¯s come much later than what Niel would¡¯ve liked, but better later than never, he guesses.


    ¡°I know how you feel, but being hard on him will make him push back harder. Punishing him outright won¡¯t work¡ªwe need to guide him into behaving!¡± Mabel reasons.


    ¡°So then, how do we guide him without him thinking he can walk all over us?¡±


    ¡°I just need more time with him. Just like with Blake, Sam, Illia, and Niel, I can get through to him.¡±


    Niel doesn¡¯t know who Blake or Sam are, but he guesses they were previous residents of the home before he, and likely Illia, got here.


    ¡°Dear, I think you¡¯ve been trying too hard to be liked by him,¡± Gabriel objects. ¡°You kept getting in his space and he shocked you for it, and now because you won¡¯t do anything¡ªintroduce any kind of consequence¡ªhe can push boundaries without fearing repercussions!¡±


    ¡°Then what should we do?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Medova¡¯s coming here on Tuesday, so between us, her, and Dwayne, we¡¯ll come up with something.¡±


    And Niel hopes they come up with something good because Voltaire is getting harder and harder to manage. He¡¯s good on his good days, but he¡¯s been having a lot of bad days recently, and Niel would like the bad days to stop before they end the good ones completely.


    >>>>>>


    Thanksgiving is a day to be thankful for and appreciate what you have. Niel certainly is both, but he doesn¡¯t feel that this day is much different from any other, apart from everything being closed for said holiday. There¡¯s also a big feast for supper consisting of several foods they don¡¯t often eat, like turkey, pickled beets, and pumpkin pie. Niel expected several of the home¡¯s staff to be here for it, but none of them showed, not even Dwayne (though Dwayne did drop by the home earlier in the day). He¡¯s told by Gabriel that they¡¯re spending the holiday with their own families, which he supposes is fair.


    Something observed again by Niel is Mabel¡¯s treatment of Voltaire. Just like before, she keeps too close to him too often, hoping to play his good side and earn his favour, though often earning his aggravation instead. Gabriel put it best last night: she¡¯s trying too hard. But why? Of course, it¡¯s better to have a good relationship with your (surrogate) children as opposed to a bad one, but this type of effort has diminishing and noticeably inversive returns. Is this related to what Reed was keeping secret? Unfortunately, the only way to find out is by talking to Mabel, and Niel doesn¡¯t feel like he¡¯s ready to confront her about it.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Dwayne and Medova arrive at the home the next day after school, and she and Voltaire disappear behind the door of the private room. Of course, Niel doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s being said in there and nor does he pry, but the thief didn¡¯t look very happy when it came time to talk with her. Whatever conversation they had in there only lasted half an hour, after which Voltaire leaves and the other three adults enter. This must be that discussion Niel overheard Gabriel speak of the other night. The meeting lasts only 15 minutes before they exit, and Medova leaves the home not long after that. Gabriel and Dwayne talk to Voltaire in his room for a few minutes more before the latter also leaves. Curiosity of this hour gets the better of Niel. Maybe Voltaire will talk about it? He decides to wait until they¡¯ve gone for a walk to bring it up.


    ¡°How did everything go today?¡± Niel asks the thief on their way to the city.


    ¡±Shit. What did you expect?¡± Voltaire growls.


    ¡±Well¡­ What did they say?¡±


    ¡°That I¡¯m going to be talking to Medova every Tuesday for a while, and I¡¯m going to be helping around the house more.¡±


    ¡°I could think of worse outcomes.¡±


    This response elicits quite the angered growl from the thief. Sensing encroaching irritation, Niel leads Voltaire into a sparse alley. Neither are fazed by the potential danger.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re stealing in the first place,¡± Niel says with crass honesty. ¡°If you really need something, Mabel and Gabriel can get it for you.¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡ª¡±


    ¡°Shut. Up.¡±


    With the way Voltaire is reacting, Niel guesses it has to be from him mentioning their guardians. He has no love for his parents, and that likely extends to his other parental figures, too. It kind of makes sense why he¡¯d steal from them. But why also steal from him and Illia? Niel just doesn¡¯t get it.


    He also doesn¡¯t see a lone figure watching them from a distance.


    >>>>>>


    ¡°It would probably be easier to get on and off the mat if you had sandals or something,¡± Brock suggests during a water break.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea,¡± Niel agrees as he unties his shoes for the fourth time that evening. Voltaire¡¯s on his third, and both of them still have to rewrap and reequip their gloves.


    ¡±Hey Niel?¡± Nathan begins. ¡°How many times have we sparred?¡±


    ¡°Not many, I don¡¯t think.¡±


    ¡±Why don¡¯t we go a few rounds? I want to see how you¡¯ve gotten.¡±


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    As he and Nathan break off to gear up, Niel sees through his Dust that Voltaire is watching with what looks like a scowl on his face. He turns around and confirms this with his eyes¡ªVoltaire isn¡¯t happy. Of all things, why is this bugging him? Brock eventually invites him to spar and he accepts, giving Niel a small piece of mind. The rest of their class goes smoothly with nary a scene coming from Voltaire. Instead, it¡¯s Brock who has words at the end.


    ¡°Hey, do you think you could talk with Voltaire for me?¡± Brock requests to Niel. ¡°He was getting rough again today. I tried telling him to lighten up, but he didn¡¯t really listen.¡±


    Niel sighs with all the disappointment for his house-mate. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll talk to him. Thanks for telling me.¡±


    ¡°Thanks. He¡¯s good at this¡ªpicks up on it fast. I¡¯d hate to see that talent go to waste because he can¡¯t control himself.¡±


    Niel decides to save this pending conversation for later that night when he and Voltaire have both cooled off and regained their stamina. The thief hears a knock on his bedroom door, and though he¡¯s initially against opening it, it doesn¡¯t sound like Mabel¡¯s regular gentleness. He reluctantly gets off of his bed and opens it, finding Niel standing on the other side.


    ¡°What?¡± Voltaire questions with a touch of grouchiness


    ¡°You were giving Brock trouble today,¡± Niel says, his tone a combination of accusation, disappointment, and calmness.


    ¡°Was I?¡± Voltaire responds dismissively.


    ¡°We¡¯re sparring, not fighting. It¡¯s not a competition, so you need to pull your punches.¡±


    ¡°If we¡¯re sparring, then shouldn¡¯t I be fighting with my best?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s light sparring; practice. Not heavy sparring,¡± Niel corrects. ¡°If you want heavy sparring, then control yourself and learn what we¡¯re being taught, and then Theo and Chai might invite you to the advanced classes.¡±


    Voltaire¡¯s expression of aggravation remains; it looks like he has something more on his mind. Niel forces himself into the room and shuts the door behind him.


    ¡°Talk to me. What¡¯s bothering you?¡± Niel requests.


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong if you don¡¯t tell me what¡¯s wrong.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit.¡±


    Voltaire sighs with frustration and his voice dulls with shame. ¡°I didn¡¯t like it when Nathan left me to spar with you¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what this is about?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Voltaire barks. Niel worries that he might¡¯ve woken up or startled someone in the house.


    ¡°Just because someone decides to do something with someone else for a change of pace doesn¡¯t mean they don¡¯t like you anymore.¡±


    ¡°You must be great at giving relationship advice.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Niel says. ¡°Nathan is his own person, and sometimes people decide to do things without you. It doesn¡¯t mean there¡¯s malicious intent.¡±


    ¡°I still don¡¯t like it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s something you¡¯ll have to learn to deal with over time. Medova can help you with that.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want her to.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t exactly want to talk to her either when I first got here, but she¡¯s very good at what she does. She¡¯s helped me a lot.¡±


    It looks like Voltaire is starting to calm down now. Now seems like a good time for a morale boost.


    ¡°Brock told me today that he thinks you¡¯re good at this. You¡¯re picking up what we¡¯re being taught quickly, you just need to control yourself.¡±


    The thief gives a small, dirty grin of self-satisfaction. He gets a lot of praise from Mabel¡ª especially lately¡ªbut this is the first time in which he looks receptive to it. Niel just hopes it doesn¡¯t go to his head.


    The next morning, the pair end up waking late and miss breakfast, so now they need to get it themselves. Both are slow on the draw, too, spacing out at times and forgetting what they need. Niel is mostly capable of doing things on his own while Mabel lends an eager hand to a less-than-eager Voltaire. She at one point tries to open the refrigerator door for Voltaire but nearly gets hit by it when Niel tries to open it for her in turn. After they eat, Mabel employs the two to clean their own dishes. She¡¯s been acting dotingly all morning and Niel can see it¡¯s wearing on the thief¡¯s nerves, but now that he¡¯s stuck in place with her hovering over his shoulder, every compliment might as well be an insult. Just like before, it¡¯s too much.


    ¡°SHUT UP!¡±


    Voltaire slams the plate he was drying into the sink, breaking it and some glassware beneath. Niel is ready to restrain him again, but instead of attacking Mabel, he darts past her and upstairs in a tear-soaked fury. Gabriel rushes over expecting the worst, but the situation is already over before he reaches the kitchen.


    ¡°Mabel, what did we say?¡± Gabriel says to his wife disappointingly.


    ¡°I¡­¡± is all she¡¯s able to stammer out. Gabriel analyzes what was being done and what is now damaged.


    ¡°I¡¯ll deal with this,¡± he says, motioning to the mess of glass and porcelain in the sink. ¡°You just¡­ sit down and leave him alone for a while.¡±


    Like a child scolded for a mistake made, Mabel dejectedly leaves and sits down alone in the living room. Why is she so insistent on buttering Voltaire up, even when it leads to this? Niel assumes it has to be related to what Reed wouldn¡¯t tell him. With the camel¡¯s back broken again, Niel feels courageous enough to talk to her about it.


    ¡°Mabel?¡± Niel asks as he sits down next to her¡ªhis voice and actions radiate cautiousness and his own tenderness. ¡°Why do you treat Voltaire so¡­ nicely?¡±


    She¡¯s somewhat taken aback by this question, mainly because it¡¯s Niel who¡¯s asking. ¡°Well, because I want him to know I care about him.¡±


    ¡°Even when he doesn¡¯t like you being so close?¡±


    ¡°Even¡­¡± She was going to say, ¡®even then,¡¯ but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to commit.


    ¡°¡­I spoke with Reed a few weeks ago. I was hoping he knew why you were treating Voltaire this way, and I think he knows, but he wouldn¡¯t say why and told me to talk to you instead. Do you know what he¡¯s referring to?¡±


    Mabel¡¯s eyes glisten. Her first son knows her like one, too.


    ¡°Yes¡­¡± she mutters, barely above a whisper.


    ¡°So why, then?¡±


    Mabel readjusts herself in the seat. It¡¯s a hard story to tell.


    ¡°A long time ago, this home worked a little differently than it does now. We used to look after children who were being abused or caught up in custody battles until they could be returned to a parent, rather than raising children who didn¡¯t have a home. Of course, that meant saying goodbye a lot, and it hurt all the more when we knew it wasn¡¯t a good home they were going back to.


    ¡°I saw it so often. Families who couldn¡¯t raise their children or didn¡¯t care to¡ªso many of them had their children taken away and then given right back, even when the abuse was obvious and the children were afraid of going back. There was this young boy named Adam, the sweetest, bounciest little two-year-old. His mother was abusing him and his father was trying to get custody of him. His father had a stable income, he had a good relationship with his other children, and they all vouched for him and against the mother. The courts decided to give Adam back to his mother. I had to watch as his father broke down into tears, and I had to stand there with a smile on my face as I watched a child that I cared for walk away with the parent that abused him, powerless to stop it. She murdered Adam two months later.¡±


    Niel is in absolute, horrified disbelief. Mabel wipes the tears streaming down her face as she looks up to see her husband sit by her side and take her hand.


    ¡°I can¡¯t let Voltaire go like Adam was. I need him to know that someone cares about him. I just¡­ get lost in trying.¡±


    ¡°We know who Voltaire¡¯s parents are,¡± Gabriel says, much to Niel¡¯s shock. ¡°Voltaire doesn¡¯t think we know, but we do, and we have to tell him soon now that a case is being put together against them.¡±


    ¡°And he¡¯ll have to¡­¡± Niel needs to remember the right term, ¡°...testify against them?¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, unless he wants to go back with them.¡±


    ¡°He absolutely does NOT want to do that,¡± Niel assures sternly.


    ¡°Did he tell you this?¡± Mabel asks.


    They already know, so Voltaire¡¯s secret isn¡¯t much of a secret anymore. ¡°That he knows who and where his family is, yes. He never told anyone because he knew if he did, he¡¯d get sent back to them.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised he trusts you this much, considering how you two started off,¡± Gabriel observes. Niel knows he¡¯s referring to the thief¡¯s first couple of weeks here, but he finds it amusing how correct Gabriel really is with that statement.


    ¡°He¡¯s been reaching out to me in his own way.¡±


    ¡°Then¡­¡± Mabel begins, ¡°...can I trust you to keep helping him?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll bridge the gap between you two and make sure that your thoughts and feelings reach him in a way that isn¡¯t overwhelming,¡± Niel promises. ¡°And I think that starts with an apology to him.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ I think that would be best, too.¡±


    As the pair ascend the stairway toward Voltaire¡¯s room, Gabriel returns to the mess at the sink and thinks back on earlier days. When he first met Mabel, when he proposed, when they got married, when they moved in to the home. The children he¡¯s met, both who have come and gone and those that are still here. Reed, Lydia, Illia, Niel. And then there¡¯s the love of his life. How they¡¯ve all grown, and how they¡¯ll continue to grow. In time, he hopes Voltaire will join them, too.


    He¡¯s as much a proud father as one can be.