I didn't know for how long we ran, and truly, I was shocked that we did without facing any roadblocks, but we made it to our abode.
The first step I took into that door, I collapsed to the floor, gasping for air. Juke placed Rover down and sat on one of the wooden tables.
"We... ain't there yet, kid. One last push."
"...Curses."
I gritted my teeth and got on my feet. When I arrived at the counter, I knocked it in poor imitation of how Dennis did. The backdoor opened and out came the man from earlier.
"Oh, you've returned. Where is Dennis?"
"..."
I didn't know what to say. I didn't know if I even could. But Juke was there to help me.
"I'll get ya caught up on the situation, man. Yer not gonna like it though."
He furrowed his brows and solemnly nodded, granting us access to our living quarters. We walked in haggardly. The first thing I did was claim a seat on a couch. Juke placed Rover on the one opposite of me.
"I'll go tell the guy the news."
"Alright."
He left the room. I was all alone now. Aside from the sleeping Rover, of course, but she didn't count.
I was alone now. I didn't have anyone to talk to, nor anything to gander at. I didn't have anything to distract myself with.
So, with nothing to stop them, thoughts flooded my brain.
"Damn it. Just, damn it."
I leaned over, planting my face into my hands and harshly rubbing it, trying to sort out the mess in my mind.
"..."
I felt hopeless.
Truly, I felt hopeless.
It was just my luck that things turned out this way, wasn't it? It was just my luck that, despite my efforts to truncate the mission, I still faced such a hideous obstacle. It was iniquity from the very world. Hard-Bringer? What kind of cruel joke was being played here? Somehow, the severity didn't register with me until just now. Hard-Bringer; I had to overcome the clutches of a group so vile and infamous that even an esoteric kid from the boonies like me knew about them.
"Hard-Bringer... why, why now? Why? Why!?"
I hadn't even the strength to flail and squander. The only outlet for my frustrations was this couch; all I could muster up was a dozen slams on the armrest. It did little to assuage my worries– in fact, it only made them rebound harder. I pinched my nose and rubbed my brow. I scratched my skin and stomped my feet. Then, I laid back, gluing my eyes to the ceiling.
It only made them rebound harder. I didn't move this time. I wouldn't repeat that mistake. So, I glared at the ceiling.
"Ya don't look so good."
"Juke!?"
He made me jump. I didn't even hear the door open. I felt embarrassed.
"H-How much did you see?"
"See what?"
"Phew..."
At the very least, that weight was lifted off my shoulders. I sunk deeper into the couch. Juke walked past me and sat on the seat beside mine, leaning his head on his hand and sighing.
Silence permeated throughout the room. The already sullen mood was growing dimmer by the second. If it went on any longer, I would've lost my mind, so I spoke up about the first miscellaneous topic that came to mind.
"Oh yeah, the thing with your helmet... is that the Endowment you were talking about?"
"Yeah, it's pretty handy, ain't it? Weak people like me gotta have some tricks up their sleeve, otherwise, they just wouldn't stand a chance."
"Weak...? I don't get why you call yourself that."
"That's just cuz I am. Strong folk like ya never seem to get it, though."
"And you're calling me strong? That's just ridiculous. You were doing all of the fighting!"
"Nah, just most of it... Hey, that doesn't make much sense. What are ya doing kid, breaking the order of things?"
I sighed. It seemed that no matter what I said, Juke couldn't be convinced that he was anything but weak and that I was no pillar of strength either. Therefore, I left the conversation at that.
"So... this situation sucks, don't ya think?"
Then, he finally addressed the elephant in the room. I nodded along before responding.
"Hard-Bringer. Honestly, I was skeptical of their existence, but..."
"Yeah, they're our problem to deal with now."
We sat in silence, ruminating.
"Hey Kenny," Juke started, "where the hell did ya and Rover run off to? Ya have no idea how much of a heart attack yer stunt gave me."
A little guilt seeped into me once I realized we left nothing to indicate our actions.
"S-Sorry I didn't leave any note, but to answer your question, Rover and I delivered the letter."
"...Eh? Are ya serious!?"
Juke's voice took on a mantle of great astonishment.
"Yes, we had it delivered."
"Ah, thank The King! That's a relief!"
I had never heard anyone thank 'The King' before, so I knew Juke's expression was genuine.
"That news changes the whole situation. Ha, I seriously thought we'd have to deliver it while dealing with these lunatics. Good job kid!"
"No no, thank Rover's intuition. She had a good hunch, all I did was act on it with her."
"I'd thank her if she was awake."
"...Yeah."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWlArJxs3q
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Silence came again. I leaned over and gnawed on my finger, drawing at but failing to pull words from my mind. I stared at Rover, almost enviously, but also hoping that she would wake up without issue.
"Judging by her legs, ya must've run into some trouble."
"...Yeah, we did. She fought twice, and her second bout left her weary and injured."
"Then what the hell was she doing fighting a Harbinger? Is she crazy?"
"No, just reckless. Say, you brought up 'Harbinger' again. What do you mean when you say that?"
Juke looked at me as if he was questioning his reality.
"Ya heard the crazy bitch, right? She called herself that. Since she said it so loudly, she's probably a big shot."
"Ah, I see."
Upon the mention of the congregation at the plaza, a forgotten question returned to my mind.
"How did you wind up in the crowd anyway?"
"Ah, ya see when I woke up and noticed yer absence, I ran out with Dennis to look for ya. That's when we saw these guys in robes, and they told us that a 'special announcement' was being held somewhere. I didn't wanna go, but they had a whole gang to scare me into doing it, so I did."
"Scare you? What, did they threaten you?"
"Yeah, with jail time. It wasn't just me, but Dennis too. Didn't wanna throw him under the carriage like that."
"Ah... of course."
Silence again. I returned to gnawing on my finger.
"--Kid, ya gotta calm down, seriously."
"H-Huh!?"
Juke spoke a surprising statement, one I couldn't formulate a response to.
"Yer chewing on yer fingers and jittering like yer havin' a seizure. Losing hair over this ain't gonna help anybody."
"I... I get what you're saying, but I really can't help myself."
"Gah, ya strong folk twist my brain."
He sighed and pinched the rim of his helmet as if it was his chin.
"Yer a smart kid, but ya don't think smart."
"...What?"
His sentence made as much sense as the sun being purple. He clicked his tongue and shrugged, then continued.
"Maybe I'm being too easygoing, but think about it– ya delivered the letter, ya ain't dead, ya got all yer limbs. All we gotta do now is find a way to get out."
"..."
Though his standards for what was an ideal situation were low, I had to admit that his outlook had merit. It had merit, and more importantly, it had me thinking about it. And, even more importantly–
"You're right. I'm alive, that's always nice. Rover is still alive, you're still alive..."
"See? Yer getting it. Feel better now?"
"...A little, yeah."
It was enough to stop me from chewing on my skin, but my body was still jittery. I took a deep breath. It helped a little.
"Since you brought it up, let's discuss a method of escape."
"Sounds good, but we oughta wait for the girl to wake up–"
"The girl... are you two talking about me?"
Shocked by the sudden third voice, I turned my head to the sleeping– rather, formerly sleeping –Rover. She rubbed her eyes and stretched her arms, then cracked her neck, wincing once she did.
"Ack! That hurt! Wait, where are we?"
I smiled. At the very least, it seemed like being beaten didn't change who she was.
"Welcome back, Rover. Did you sleep well?"
"Kenny, you..."
She didn't continue, just narrowing her eyes instead. She then stood up and looked around the room.
"This is... our apartment."
"I carried ya here on my shoulders. Ya don't have to thank me, but you oughta."
"Y-You carried me!? Ah, that means I got knocked out, right?"
Juke and I both nodded. Rover groaned and collapsed onto the couch, rubbing her temples.
"That sucks. That sucks so bad."
"I'm just happy that you're alright."
"Yeah... I might be alright, but I don't feel that way!"
She fiercely stood up and pumped her fist, then instantly had to catch her fall. I stood up worriedly.
"Y-You probably shouldn't move so much. You did just pass out, after all."
"...Whatever."
Despite her dismissive remark, she obliged to my suggestion, taking a seat and crossing her arms. I returned to sitting on my couch.
"Now that yer awake, let's get to our discussion."
"Discussion? What are we talking about?"
"We were just talking about leaving the city. Since you and I delivered the letter, we don't have any reason to be here."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXbnWVim0X
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"Eh? Leave?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOArRchKQMC
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Her outrage at the proposition raised my eyebrow.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZozgAQy5c
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"Yes? You do realize who, or rather, what we're dealing with, right?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8ROApbJZ3
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"Yeah, I do. It's those scumbags, Hard-Bringer."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8MKAG9JlM
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Her words came from a place far more visceral than just her throat. They stunned me for a moment.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZO5e7sCGvF
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"Do ya have an alternative proposal?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXDkHOSCUq
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"Yeah, I do," she yelled, stomping her foot on the ground, "I think we should eradicate those bastards!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgglk32fSf3
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My eyes widened and almost popped out of my socket. I turned over to Juke to gauge his reaction, meeting eyes with him as he likely did the same for mine. Even though the shadow cast upon his face from his helmet, I could see the whites in his eyes.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdbueW5KXP
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We looked back at Rover. I couldn't speak for Juke, but my impression of her had just been discombobulated.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkZs2N4gwq
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"What are those looks for? Don't you feel the same?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlP1lzIBK0
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"No."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXM9pH7BLx
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"Nah."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0LfLPV0ie
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"H-Huh? You're lying to me! Of course, you want to see them destroyed!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1ukn0hVy0
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I blinked a few times and pinched my skin. I realized that this was a reality that I was facing; that somehow, Rover truly wanted to fight Hard-Bringer.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyML9aeVbZ
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I shook my head and thought that I should be civil about it, starting with forming an understanding.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBzUxhBjT1
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"Rover... if I may ask, why are you so, uh, set on this?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoALQtD0Y21
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She looked at me as if I asked the dumbest question ever.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZa0kIWNQa
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"Why wouldn't I be? I hate Hard-Bringer just like anyone else!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagR8GQcKAN
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"W-Well, I get that, but this seems more than just passing scorn."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEKbQzHuHB
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"Passing what?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFY9v636GNV
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I sighed. My effort from ten seconds ago to prevent misunderstandings felt moot.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡre5knftz08
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"I think what Kenny's tryna say is that ya seem to have a vendetta against 'em."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDrkILNq18
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"A v-vendetta? That's not right, I just hate them like anyone else! I'm telling you!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4mUj2KE0k
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Once the shock of her understanding what vendetta meant but not scorn washed away, I decided to confront her directly.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttJhciduil
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"Hey, Rover–"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaiO505U6v
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"Alright, ya don't like Hard-Bringer, we get it, but now ain't the time to be getting yer revenge or whatever."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbZaPzmZjQ
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Juke unintentionally cut me off. I would've been miffed, but as he was trying to diffuse the situation, I stayed silent.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72SRSQ9Gd1
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"B-But, they're right here! You know how slippery these guys can be, don't you!?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqFdt8PwaY
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"I don't, but I do know that ya got yer ass kicked by just one of 'em. Ya think trying to take 'em all down is a good idea?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0p9oWe8AX
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Rover looked taken aback, biting her lip as she threw a scowl at the floor. Knowing her–211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyA3TryCZe7
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"F-Fine. You're right."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6DcrTFgF8
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I let out a sigh of relief, grateful that the chance of me being swayed at all had been removed.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCrShunyFT
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"So what are we going to do? Are we going to go out on the streets sword's shining and escape?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KVG6LqwXv
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"Nah, these are a crafty bunch of assholes. We need to think of a strategy."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvJ4O7uq54
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Rover shifted her gaze at me when Juke finished his sentence, putting me under sudden pressure.
"W-What?"
"Do you have any ideas?"
I did not begin to formulate them; before I did, I needed to establish conditions.
"Uh... well, to escape, we'll probably have to find Dennis and take the carriage."
"I'm with ya on the carriage, but how are ya planning on finding Dennis?"
I looked at the ground, pinching my chin.
"That's... I'm not sure. Do you remember when you last saw him, Juke?"
"Yeah, he was a few shoulders away from me in the crowd. Beats me where he is now, though. For all I know, the poor guy could be dead."
"Don't say that!"
I rose to my feet and narrowed my eyes at Juke.
"My bad, but ya can't deny the possibility."
"Y-You may be right, but I'd rather not think that."
I sat back down. My plotting thusly plagued with macabre thoughts, I was barely able to conjure up a good idea.
"Maybe the coachman's hiding away somewhere, or maybe he's passed out in the street, or maybe he really is dead. Now that he isn't around, it might as well be impossible to find him. Why didn't you two go searching for him?"
At Rover's vocal thinking and inquiry, I could only bite my finger. She was right; Juke and I shouldn't have left until–
"Ya passed out and we were being attacked by some lunatic with a mop for hair. It ain't fair to ask a question like that."
Juke responded in my place, giving an answer that assuaged my anxiety.
"I-I guess that's true... damn it."
Rover, visibly frustrated, crushed her couch's armrest.
"Then, what do we do?" I asked. I looked at the other two for a possible answer, but they looked just as void of them as I did.
I knew throwing stones in a glass house wasn't right, but–
"Are we seriously just going to leave him to die!?"
"Nah, we don't have to worry about him dying."
Juke made a strange comment, eliciting a look of intrigue from both me and Rover.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"These Hard-Bringer folks are a real pain in the ass. They're volatile, destructive bastards, and worst of all, they're downright crazy."
"You're just spilling the obvious!" Rover yelled.
"That may be so, but I ain't done yet. They may be crazy, but they ain't trying to hurt anybody deliberately."
I stared blankly at Juke. Indeed, he was serious, and when I thought about his assessment–
"That disheveled man wouldn't have attacked us if it weren't for our being on a mission."
"Ya get it. Why he wants our heads in particular is a whole 'nother mystery, but that guy ain't the only evidence. I didn't see any of those robed freaks attack some stranger on the street. They probably don't give two shits about collateral damage, but the only folks they were attacking were those who attacked 'em."
I sifted through my memory to double-check his assessment. My recollection was hazy, but I remembered the sea of people vividly.
"If they wanted to kill... then the crowd would've been slaughtered on the spot."
Juke nodded along to my conclusion.
"Yep, that's a great point. We don't gotta worry about Dennis' well-being."
This collective observation Juke and I made was undeniably reassuring. It made the prospect of leaving Dennis here less treacherous and more reasonable.
However, the root problem wasn't addressed.
"...It doesn't sit right with me. It's not just Dennis, but there's Lola, and Mason, and Pars, too. But! But... If they'll be fine while our lives will be the ones in danger, then leaving would be smart, I think."
That was my conclusion. I looked at Juke, and he was nodding along with me. Then, I looked at Rover.
She did not do anything so kind. Her eyes were narrowed; she glared daggers into my very soul, accompanied by a foul grimace.
"R-Rover?"
"For a minute, I was considering what you two said. But I think I get it now– at least I get you, Kenny."
I stared at her blankly, a sinking feeling forming in my gut.
"You're the weirdest wimp I've ever met."
"--!"
The world around me turned to black, and it was just me and Rover. My eyes couldn't blink, I couldn't even breathe. I wanted to respond to her, but the words didn't even form in my mind. They had no chance to do so in my throat.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTR73OWZYV
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My mind had shut off.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeTSnsYrnK
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"The hell are ya saying, girl?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVqjnY6yur
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"I'll tell you what I'm saying!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZCnuz6w04
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Rover stood up, stomping the ground.
"I don't buy into the shit you're saying, that's what! This shit about how, 'Oh they won't get hurt!' 'Oh, they're only gonna attack us!' Are you fucking kidding me!?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Dsj6gzUd0
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She swiped her arm across, glaring at Juke.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwRQuJGOVz
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"You don't know shit! You don't know what Hard-Bringer's like! So what if they didn't kill the crowd, do you really think that means they won't kill anyone at all? Are you crazy!?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuKIQiPZEm
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"..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2V2tF4jd6
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"And why are you keeping quiet, huh!? And you, Kenny!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0dc7UhLZo
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She brought me out of my trance. I flinched, casting a weak gaze on her.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABcYrgfXso
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"Why are you believing it!? I know you're not a dumbass– hell, you fought them! You saw how evil they were first-hand! They'd go attacking a kid if they just felt like it!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xNmvwy52R
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"I–"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjDYFRp79o
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"So why are you running away, huh!?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFUi1w8whV
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I couldn't respond to that. I wanted to desperately say "But I'm not running away," or "But it's the most tactical decision," but I couldn't. Whether I believed those assertions to be true or not was irrelevant.
That question hit me too hard in a place too close.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BLlRJKJQz
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"...Tch."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcv1ZGu15TZ
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She stormed away, stomping to the door. That's when I spoke up.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhcBmdckbM
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"W-Wait, Rover–"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyyTf4rG98
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"What!?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcTvFyPCpH
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I swallowed hard before responding.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqXhQmpolE
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"I-It's dangerous, you know. And, Juke is right, they're set on killing us–"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpSsQJBqgl
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"So what? I'll just beat 'em back like the reckless bitch I am!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbelV65y569
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Her statement was so ridiculous I almost couldn't cough my next words out.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBysQNCYsxd
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"B-But, you saw what happened, right? Y-You'll just get beat up again, and then you could, d-die. You even agreed with that idea!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWCQuRImXw
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She narrowed her eyes and huffed at me with a face of disappointment.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZ5BzIIgmh
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"It wasn't until you brought up that idiot with the crossbows that I remembered you telling me to try teamwork. Did you forget it too?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5F8XUwcU25
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I froze.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jyPKLoZgL
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"I'm sure Lola and that guy with the crossbows want to push back. I'll join them, and I'll fight. I might even befriend them, and then we'll win!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2BjcmU7So
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My voice and strength faded. I almost raised my hand out as if to reach her.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzBABFig7N
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMRhTQWSnD
"Are you... serious?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5dlneGZkJ
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDz8aqUD35V
"Hell yes, I am!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmw2hGCOYw7
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZ4tQ8etD4
My arm went limp. Everything below my neck followed. I only had the strength to keep my head up.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8FwrLUWoV
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvibhQfxvx
"If you two want to leave, go right ahead, but I'm staying. Hard-Bringer– I have no interest in letting them run around. And you, Kenny."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFqOaRTxJI
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JeOM9ua3T
She pointed a finger at me. But, she didn't immediately speak. She twitched her brow and gritted her teeth, shook her head then growled.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEqGZ3x9wx
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWsaDFAJGG
"Fuck! You're pissing me off!"
It came out as a yell. She flung the door open, practically leaped past the threshold, and slammed the door behind her.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxi7JImKZ5
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUUlHKcNRZ
"...W-Wait."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsdomkbbOM
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQueLjORJL2
I wasn't sure what being inside me compelled me to do so, but I stood up. I stood up and walked to the door with an arm out, but I stopped just short of putting my hand on the knob. I couldn't touch it, I wasn't allowed to touch it.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0E7YBRkccF
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGQmERqdFH
Too much had happened. It was too much, just too much, too much too much too much–211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2VJ7ZJdTS
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjSBSWkCGx
"Are ya gonna go with her, kid?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenCoGkSpwN
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsosZ2z9nE
Juke asked me the very question that had me stuck. Now that it was verbally addressed, I didn't know what to say.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9LLB5XYBa
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWFk5aptjZ
But I had to say something.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrZGh44mS1
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFHy5BmY5V
"I don't... I don't know. I don't know what to do."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9P235UOAQD
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9e6rbmJNR
He sighed. I couldn't see him, but I'm sure he put his hand on his helmet.
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRIl88hAvg
"What a mess."
"Y-Yeah."
"Well kid, if yer gonna go after her, be my guest, but ya should go now. She's a quick one."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXL4gohDTo
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCa4qHZaFcd
"Yeah. She is quick, isn't she?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7keIXMfFPy
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnCDghH78V
I still couldn't move it. I couldn't even get it to nudge an inch. It was so close, only, only, only–211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0T9J1Na3P
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGAxHug3s2
Did I really want to open this door?211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylN1VfaxKh
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVB2kB9Svcd
"...I don't know what to do."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSWvwmwY4C
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldVrc9bV5K
My legs shook. I was aware enough not to let them cave in and fall, so I just fell on my butt, staring at the knob.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jSE0GdrqF
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"...Hey, Juke."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhT9UiLmajW
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"Yeah?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhAOlF1yOZ
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"How sure are you of your assumption? That we're the only ones who will get attacked?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfXo5ft6PB
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tNWc8m0fW
"I think it's pretty likely."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEqHeP0qZh
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"...I see."
So, it was nothing more than an educated guess. Yet, I saw its merits. I believed in it.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJmGa7bXCR
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oRhNkC2Nr
So why was it that the door grew larger and larger in scale? Why did it overtake the entirety of my vision and fog my mind?211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56jXP65NjR
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMxQnqOFAN
"..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iSLosnVs7
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulHilZpKdY
I stood up and bit my finger. Only once. I didn't grind, I didn't chomp, it was a quick, singular bite. I turned around and walked to the couch and took a seat.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLKomkualt
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmxQ2w2yMn
"It's late, so I'm gonna go hit the hay. 'Night, kid."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJI8NVjpkO
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCx7gTI5MV
"Yeah, goodnight."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6cI7FXZNF
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuEkPv3dXS
Juke stood up and waltzed to his room. Now I sat there, alone, with only my thoughts to keep me company.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HUdFtlqAQ
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGboce5ixfK
"..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjOxdbhRRq
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNBQth4ETh
Cold and composed, I mulled over the situation. I rested my chin on my hand and I gazed at the wall. I was thinking. Yes, I was thinking. I was thinking a lot.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzz6mxPtEzK
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRDKH8XpmG
"...Damn it. Damn it. D-Damn it."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VwjMLdpjz
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhHqruJWbE
By letting Rover go alone... Did I condemn her? That had to be what I just did, right?211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLwEviRiRQ
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuparXVyASz
"..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQ0z0D6Dku
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I mulled over the question. I couldn't draw a conclusion. No, it's not that I couldn't, but that I refused to.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1BNZeQ3FY
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywGxmCreus
Leaving through that door; consternation was all the idea drew. I didn't freeze, but with what Rover had told me, it was truly just impossible.
The door stayed shut that night.
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