Spectrum Act 2, Chapter 8: The Tower, Part 3

The infodump.

Act 2, Chapter 8: The Tower, Part 3

Maria and her team turned a corner onto the street of the biggest skyscraper in the city. It was roughly 800 feet in height, and since Maria was bored, she counted the floors as she approached. She counted about 80, but admittedly because the outer walls of the skyscraper were simmering with windows upon windows to give it a dark mirror effect along the whole thing. It was wider at the bottom than it was at the top, and had a spire jutting out about 100 feet into the air on top of the already tall building. Earlier, the sun was constantly glinting off the extremely reflective building glass curtains they called walls, forcing Maria to walk half of the way with her hands over her face so she wasn't blinded by the lights which have thankfully subsided.

As they got closer, they noticed a group of people nearing 50 in size standing shoulder to shoulder, including the familiar long black hair draping over her shoulders, along with her huge claymore strapped to the back of Morgan, along with the tight golden colored bun and spear of Robin standing somewhere in the group. They were standing shoulder to shoulder and looking at a stage, which had a banner made of metal draped over it with. “Welcome, students!” Written in some boring new age font they probably got some schmuck to laboriously make and plaster it onto the sign.

Maria's team were about to enter the crowd, as a man appearing in his thirties, wearing Spectrum colors on his beret and jacket walked up to them whilst looking at his watch. “You're about 15 minutes before the cut off point, go stand in the group and wait for the announcement.” He said, Lily nodding for Maria as she walked right past him as he spoke in a very rude manner. Maria scooted ahead in the pack, dipping between the teenagers and young adults to stand beside Morgan. “When you'd get here?” Maria asked her, looking up and down at her and noticing the cuts on Morgan's face, along with a couple of wooden splinters left over on her black, long sleeved jacket.

“10 minutes ago, Maria.” She responded, not in the greatest of moods, but Maria wasn't the problem.. for once. “Did you have a fist fight with a tree?” Maria asked, Morgan lightly sighing and crossing her arms together as she looked at the redhead. “A door, actually.” She retorted, Maria blinked a couple of times, raising a brow. “...You won, right?” Maria asked flatly, Morgan stifling a light chuckle as her lips curled back for a light smile. “Didn't stand a chance.” She replied jokingly, Maria chuckling a bit as Lily approached from behind, patting Maria on the shoulder as she walked past. “Let's get closer to the front.” She said as she passed by, Morgan nodded to Maria for her to go, as Maria turned to follow her teammate.

They waited as the group awkwardly shuffled for space as a man climbed up the stairs and onto the platform to place a microphone, checking the cables and speakers just to make sure it worked. A woman climbed up onto the platform as well, with a short bob cut of black hair and a pair of glasses underneath a red beret. She was wearing a long, white dress down slightly past her knees and shoes instead of high heels. She cleared her throat, patting her finger against the mic. “...This thing on?” She asked, but only got loud feedback. She covered her ears until it settled down, folding her arms and scooting the microphone stand closer to her so she could speak.

“I would like to greet all of the first year students who do not know exactly know who I am.” She started, her voice was low and commanding, even if she was clearly not comfortable in the dress they gave her for this ceremony. “I am High Councilor Andrea Lakewood, I am the current head of all instances of Spectrum and will be overseeing this entire promotion event.” She introduced herself formally, Maria quickly looking up from being distracted to get a good look at her. “I want to congratulate all of you for getting to the point where you can potentially upgrade to an E rank or higher.” She continued, crossing her arms over each other, rolling her neck and shoulders to make them pop slightly. “We've designed this tower for the exclusive purpose of testing our students in a controlled environment. Using Riftfallen or holding this in public are both bad ideas, so we will be using this facility from now on. And you're the first bunch we're going to test this on.” She said, gesturing out to the crowd of 48 students. She was expecting at least some applause, but every single one was just staring at her like someone waved a feather wand in front of the cat. “I'm assuming you want to know how this works.” She got back onto the main point of her speech, reaching her hand out. As one of the men handed her what appeared to be a small, black credit card sized card. “We want to filter out the very highest candidates from the inexperienced, but because using real Riftfallen is both dangerous and stupid, you will be fighting your own kin.” She continued, holding the card up in front of her.

“As you may have noticed as you all arrived in Silverton, Your instructors handed your team two pairs of small, black, cards.” She stated, slowly spinning it between her fingers as she paced, unhooking the mic from the stand and pulling it with her as it was wireless. “The reason why all four of you didn't receive a card is complementary to what this exam is trying to do, filter you down to the very best, the ones we can be confident about taking on more difficult missions.” She added, the students showing reactions from pulling out their cards to inspect them, all the way to not giving a damn. “There are 24 cards, and 48 students, you will be separated into teams of 2 after you distribute the cards between your team however you may wish. Your goal is to get to the very top of the tower with 2 cards between the two members of your team.” She stated, turning to the crowd once again.

“Once you distribute the cards, you will have until 6 PM to gather the right amount of cards and make it to the top of the tower. How do you win these cards, you ask?” She said, as another technician slid an armlet over her left arm. She quickly scanned the card over it and an audible chirping sound was heard. “You must register your cards to be wagered in a one on one fight, if you lose, they can scan your card to indicate that they have won the wager.” She said, sliding the armlet off and continuing to hold the card between her index and thumb.

“How do we prevent theft? Any card that is registered must be scanned twice, one by the owner, and one by the victor. One to wipe the memory, and one to rewrite it. Your bio-signals are in the armlet and will be able to tell if you're scanning it under your own will. Anyone caught stealing a card without winning it in a wager will be disbarred from taking this test for another year, we have over 200 security cameras inside of this tower... We know when you steal them.” She added to try and dissuade people from committing theft.

“Once you split into teams of two, any team you see will be a team you have to challenge. Be it your friends, or family. A wager is a wager and this rule must be respected.” She continued, Maria glancing over at the rest of her team as Andrea continued her overly long announcement. “If you were wondering about why your weapons were acquired by your instructors, modified and handed back to you can easily be explained as well.” She mentioned, reaching down to grab a man's sword in the front row, sliding her finger along the blade as she spoke.

“Typically, Pulse is able to protect you from harm, but if it ever drops unexpectedly, this could cause grievous harm to our test takers, and we're not here to kill any of you. You may be roughed up, but you didn't come here to die, nor lose a limb.” She said, handing the sword back to the boy in front. “Along with this, your Armlet has been altered to signal the fight to stop if your Pulse fails, or you receive a minor injury, instead of your life being in danger. That being said, anyone who is willing to fight past the signal on the Armlet to stop, will be sent to prison and barred from Spectrum forever.” She warned sternly of the consequences of intentionally harming another in this sterile test environment. “This test will begin at 10PM, which will be in roughly one hour. You will need to collect a minimum of 2 cards before you get to the top, if you only are able to get one, you will not be promoted, and if you do not have any at all? You will be sent back to basic training. If you're wondering why you have 8 hours to get to the top of a nearly 900 foot building...? You'll need it.” She said, turning away and walking back down the stairs off the platform and over to the side, as an awkward looking technician walked up to the speaker. “You will spend this hour talking strategy with your team, by the way.” He said, clearly nervous in front of this small crowd. “We also have free waffles for anyone who had to skip breakfast thanks to how early this test was going to take part, enjoy!” He said, before attempting, but failing turning off the mic and running off, the microphone smacking onto the ground with MASSIVE feedback.

“Why does everyone have to be so grandiose?” Robin muttered to herself, but Morgan turned away and slowly walked off. “I don't know about you, but I want waffles.” She said, ignoring what Robin had to say. Slowly, the students funneled to a small truck set up with a small team of cooks, making waffles in a storm in little cardboard treys, a small cup of syrup to dip or pour onto them. An arrangement of benches on other side of the building offered a place to sit. Maria smacked both her hands against the table to get her teams attention before she spoke.

“Alright guys, let's plan this shit.” Maria stated, her three companions looking at her, when the two cards they owned were place on the table. “So the rule is both teams of two have to get to the top of the tower with two of these cards.” She continued, Caleb looking at them, taking one into his hand to look at the front and back. “Well that gives me two ideas, actually.” Caleb stated, placing the cards back next to each other on the table, pointing to both of them with his gloved fingers. “Each of us can take one card, meaning we both have the same chance to win a couple of fights and be a cinch for the promotion.” He said, before sliding the cards ontop of each other. “Or we could hedge our bets, give one team two cards and a safe ticket to success, while the other team tries to win two cards.” He explained, Lily raising her brow a bit at the second option. “Why would we do the second option?” She asked him.

Maria scooted up a bit, waffle hanging from her mouth as she was mid bite. “I'm assuming if we can get more than the 2 required keys, we'll probably receive some kind of award for it.” Maria mentioned. “And you have to be a pretty confident person to try and start from 0 keys, even if giving one team two means we're pretty likely to succeed at least marginally.” He added to her deduction quickly, Maria looked across the table at Jonah, turning her head to look at Lily as well. “So how confident are we?” She asked, Jonah raising his hand and awkwardly rubbing his shoulder. “I'm not.” He muttered, Caleb thumping his fist on the table. “I wouldn't mind having to win two fights, it would even help Jonah and whoever he's with out.” He said with a smile, Lily leaned up and scratched her chin as she was finished with her food. “So who wants to go with Jonah?” She asked, as Maria slid the two cards over to him. “I think you should go with Jonah, Lily.” Maria ordered, Lily raising her brow some at that statement.

“Why?” Lily asked, wanting to know why Maria thinks she needs both cards. “Well, think about it.” Maria said, finishing her own waffle and quickly taking a shot of syrup from the little plastic cup. “You have two keys so all you need to do is make it up this building, Jonah is smart, he can plan out routes for you two to take and avoid combat. You're agile, so you could easily make the slip on anyone you fight.” Maria explained, but Lily clenched her fist. “Why do you think I need to run away?” She asked, clearly annoyed. “Well... Caleb and I were a team, getting two cards would be pretty easy, we're both pretty tough fighters.” Maria said, trying to explain herself, Lily, now frustrated just slammed her fists on the table as she stood up.

“Don't underestimate me, damn it.” She complained, Maria furrowed her brow and stood up as well. “I wasn't saying th-” Maria tried to explain, but Lily cut her off. “No, that's EXACTLY what you're doing. You're saying I can't hold my own compared to you, and you want to give me a handicap to make sure I succeed.” Lily argued, Maria frowning a bit and sighing. Lily grabbed a card, throwing it in her face, taking one for herself as she stormed off. “I'm not a joke like you think I am, Maria. See you at the tower.” She stated, pocketing one as Caleb and Jonah just looked awkwardly at her as she walked off. Maria sighed, dropping back into her chair and crossing her arms. “What the fuck was that?” Maria asked, Jonah sighing a bit. “I don't know, should I go get her?” He asked, Maria sighed a bit, raising her hand to him. “Just... don't.” Maria mentioned, still confused.

Caleb stood out from his seat. “I'll join her team, I guess.” He mentioned, since he might as well pick a side. Walking off as Jonah pocketed the other card. “I hope she'll be alright.” Jonah mentioned, standing up and strapping his shield on. “She'll get over it.” Maria replied as she picked up the remaining card and put it into one of the front pockets of her coat, then grabbing her swords and sliding them into the sheathes on her back. They went to the front of the tower and head inside the double doors, where a technician met them both. “Follow me, you two.” He said in a friendly tone, turning and gesturing with a hand. They listened to his orders as he lead them into the elevator, the old timey type with bars instead of the metallic double doors.

“The test will begin soon, If either of you had any questions, you better ask them now.” He mentioned, walking up and pressing a button to make the elevator begin to move. Jonah looked up and saw a monitor, counting down to the beginning of the test, currently counting just over three minutes. “Can you run the rules by us again?” He asked, hoping for another explanation since he didn't get the specifics from Captain Lakewood. “Alright, but I'm only going to run this by you one time,” He replied, before explaining.

“You will be placed in a random floor between 1 and 6, meaning that on each floor will be 4 teams, each one for the cardinal directions of the elevators have been placed. You two are currently in the east elevator on floor three.” He mentioned, pointing to the fact the elevator has stopped climbing a couple of floors up. “Any team you come across, and come into eye contact with, you will come into a confrontation. You may choose to accept or decline a fight, but if you accept, you will both wager 1 of your cards by scanning it with your armlet.” He mentioned, raising his arm and pointing to the very armlet.

“The fight ends when you hear the signal on the Armlet telling you to stop, any strikes or attacks after this will send agents to stop and remove you from this test, if you reach the top with 0 cards, or if you cannot reach the top after 8 hours, you will be sent back to basic training.” He said, a chill going down Jonah's spine as he realized how frustrating it would be to go back to basic training. He would get his pay cut once again, and would lose all progress he's made so far. “If you only get one card, you will not be promoted, but can take this test again next semester. If you get two cards, you will be promoted 1 rank, and if you collect more than 2, you will be promoted 2 instead of one.” He finally explained, Maria's eyes going wide as she realized she could potentially over achieve and get a pay raise if she did well enough.

“Let's get started, then!” Maria shouted out of excitement, the man subtly rubbing an ear as her rough voice echoed in the small elevator and into the hallway just outside the room. The beeping began on the monitor as it counted down from three. When it hit zero, the doors opened, Maria and Jonah walking out into the gaudy carpeted hallways of the big office building. “We're gonna have a lot of stairs to climb.” Jonah muttered to himself, Maria scouting ahead as she turned the corner. He realized he was getting left behind and quickly ran up to stand shoulder to shoulder with her.

“They said there are 6 other people on this floor, right?” He asked Maria, who just gently nodded, hands in her pockets as she looked around. There were doors upon doors of offices, it was getting almost hypnotic. But they needed to find a staircase to quickly make their way up to the next floor. “Well, what about it?” Maria asked, noticing he didn't continue what he was saying. “Well... how likely do you think it's going to be that we're going to run into someone else?” He asked her, She only shrugged her shoulders, she didn't know. “ELEVATOR!” Maria shouted, running up to it and pressing her hands against the barred doors, looking for the button to actually open the damn thing.

“The wiring to the elevator door was removed.” Said a familiar voice to Maria's right side, a girl with roughly cut platinum blonde hair, a slight scowl on her typically pretty face, hand on the hilt of her blade. “Lily?” Maria asked, confused as she turned to her teammate. “How did you find us so fast?” Jonah asked as Maria's hands hooked into the rusted metal of the non-functioning elevator. “One out of six floors means that statistically I had roughly a 17 percent chance to come across you on the same floor, I got lucky... and you also happen to be very loud. As soon as I heard your voice, I knew you would be close by.” She said, with a light smile. Maria turned to her, lightly stretching her shoulder out in a typical Maria-esque gesture.

“You know the rules, right? If we make contact, we have to fight, unless both parties opt out.” Jonah asked Lily, Lily drew her sword from her sheathe with a light ringing as the metal dragged against the edge, holding it on her side as she spoke. “I know, and I want to fight one of you.” Lily mentioned, Maria lowered her brow, stepping forward and grabbing Lily by the wrist. “Wait, are you serious?” She asked, out of confusion. “I know what I want.” Lily replied, tugging her wrist away from Maria to force her to let go. “Why? Wouldn't it make more sense to just ignore each other and take out the competition?” Maria asked Lily, though Lily just looked away from Maria for a second before turning to glare at her again.

“I need to do this.” She replied, before slowly walking past both Maria and Jonah, looking at a door to make sure no one would interrupt. She heard the clanging of blades echo throughout the halls as a fight was already happening on the same floor. “Ever since the leader of Silent Fall had his goons beat me up and lob off my hair... I felt weak.” She explained, looking at the ground as her hand ran along the dull edge of her rapier. “Like I wasn't in control, like I don't deserve to be here.” She said, before turning to face Maria and Jonah. “I felt jealous of you, even if I never told anyone, I let it seethe... and boil deep down, because I felt like you considered me your equal, and you were there to support me.” She continued, spinning to face Maria, pointing her blade at her.

“But the very conversation made me realize... You're coddling me, you're treating me like a child... You feel like you have to.. -protect- me.” She said, bitterly, Maria frowned, not drawing her weapons. “Lily... This was over one conversation, and I misspoke. Aren't you overreacting?” Maria said to try and get her to calm down. “No, I'm sorry.” She said, lowering her brow to glare at Maria. “I want you to respect me, Maria, and if beating you in a fight is the only way to do that...? I'll fight you 100 times.” She said, revealing her intentions, Maria sighed, putting her hand on her hip. “I have zero idea where the fuck this is coming from, you have NEVER said any of this to me.” Maria replied out of confusion, though Jonah quietly sighed from behind her.

“You have the bad habit of not really looking into how other people feel, Maria. She's told me this about a couple of weeks ago.. I was just afraid to bring it up.” He explained, Maria groaning and glaring back at him. “Good fucking job.” Maria admonished briefly before turning back to Lily, who was pretty adamant on starting a fight. “I'm not letting you leave this room until we fight, Maria.” Lily firmly stated, as Caleb slowly approached through a door just behind Lily. “Jeeze, can you slow down A LITTLE bit? We're not in a hurry or anyth-” He said, before he realized he walked into a confrontation between Lily and Maria. “Well shit, this is awkward.” He said, Jonah sighing a bit. “I don't want you two to hurt each other over this.” Jonah said softly, patting Maria on the shoulder.

“Look, if you want a fight... Fine.” Maria said, drawing her blades, she wasn't really too into the concept of fighting a friend, but if Lily is going to act like an asshole for no good reason, Maria might at least humor her. “Don't you fucking dare hold back on me, Maria. I want to prove to you I CAN do this.” She said, entering her fighting stance. Maria sighed, the blades slack in her hands as she looked up with a rare, somber face. “Or you could just forfeit, and we both go on our merry fuckin' way and fight people who actually matter.” Maria replied, grabbing her card in one of her sword hands.

“No.” Lily briefly shot down Maria's suggestion, as she scanned her own card to activate the battle wager. “Well shit... Stand back guys.” Maria warned, scanning her own card and sliding into her front pocket as Jonah and Caleb both backed up to make room for them to fight. Lily slowly backed up and opened the door to another room, gesturing for them to head inside. “We'll fight in here, by the way.” she mentioned, gesturing to the door. Everyone walking inside... It was some kind of gymnasium. If this were a building where people held various corporate meetings, this might have been the recreation room. All four walked inside, Caleb closing the door and gesturing for him and Jonah to sit at a bench as Maria and Lily were preparing to fight.

Spectrum: Act 2, Chapter 1: Night

Clarity can be achieved when all distractions are removed

Act 2, Chapter 1: Night

A woman was adjusting her coat as she sat in front of her desk, making sure her name tag was perfectly aligned as the double doors at the front of the room swung open. Lily, Caleb and Jonah in the lead with Maria just behind them slightly being blocked by the people in front of her. The blonde haired girl at the front desk feigned her best smile and greeted the four approaching her. “Welcome to the Cambris gateway hotel, you four.” She said with enthusiasm. Lily reached into a small handbag she had strapped over her shoulder and resting on the long white dress she was wearing and pulled out some identification.

“My father owns this hotel and I believe we have reservations.” She said matter-of-factly, the woman reached down and inspected the picture of the girl, looking up to check her face. While she had much longer hair and no huge scar on the side of her face, it was still matched up pretty well. “Ah, Ms. Sterling then.” She said with a smile, reaching down and unfolding a small flap underneath the desk, pulling out two pairs of keys and sliding them toward her. “These are for the top floor, all expenses have been paid for already out of your bank account.” She said with a smile, Lily grabbing them and giving a nod of thanks before she noticed the secretary glaring with an odd face.

She was looking at Maria, who had a glossy piece of duct tape over her mouth. Along with disheveled hair and still wearing her school uniform, her hands bound together by a hemp rope. “...Can I ask why this young woman is bound in ropes and tape?” She asked curiously, Lily tilting her head and rubbing her chin as she tried to explain, Caleb walked up and placed his hands on the desk to look at her. “Hey, we're paying you not to ask questions!” He said to her, but that just made her more confused. Jonah reached up and grabbed a corner of the tape over Maria mouth.

Her eyes widened a bit, shaking her head out of fear and attempting to mumble a warning to him not to do it. He ripped off the tape in one swift pull, the stinging feeling nearly sharp and instant in the amount of pain. “SHIT!” Maria shouted, the large somewhat empty main room echoing her voice several times. Jonah then quickly unbound her hands, which were tied long enough to have the reddened, rope burned look to her wrists. Maria glared up at him with a furious look. “S-sorry for tying you up, Maria... Was the best idea we had to make you go.” He apologized nervously, Maria reaching up and grabbing the collar of his simple blue cotton jacket.

“I have so much contempt for all of you cunts...” She growled, cocking her fist back at Jonah in preparation to punch him in the face. “No! No! Wait!” Jonah shouted, raising his hands in preparation for any face punches about to come his way. Maria let go of his collar, not really intending to hit him. “Calm down everyone, you're making a scene...” The secretary spoke bashfully to try and keep everything calm. She reached up to the phone and held it up to Maria as she turned to look at her. “If you want, we can call the authorities on them!” She offered, Maria's anger subsided as she realized how stupid this entire thing was. She just sunk her head and began to walk toward the marble staircase. “Oh fuck it, never mind...” She said out of defeat.

Everyone quietly walked after her, Lily pocketing the keys quietly as they followed Maria up the stairs, slightly going at a faster pace so they could catch up with her. “Hey Maria! We're sorry!” Lily shouted over to her, Maria glaring up at her and keeping silent until they got to their room. She reached out to get her keys, but Maria snatched one out of her hands, walking to the room adjacent to it and unlocking the door. “I'm going to lay down, don't bother me.” She said, popping the door open and slamming it so hard they could hear the walls rattle slightly. Caleb walked up to the door and shouted through it to see if she could hear him.

“Hey! We're going to head to the beach, come join us when you want!” He shouted through the door, only to hear her shout “GO FUCK YOURSELVES!” in response. Jonah walked up and leaned against the wall to look at Caleb with some slight annoyance. “Hey, man... Who said we were going to the beach?” He questioned. Caleb looked back at him nonplussed and gave a soft sigh. “We need to wait until Lily's butlers unpack all of our things and get them in the hotel room... And isn't Cambris known for it's beaches?

Lily reached up to lightly stroke her chin, Jonah and Caleb getting away from the door to stand at a more comfortable distance. “Hey, Rosewall has alright beaches too...” Lily calmly argued, Caleb throwing his head back for a brief bemused chuckle. “It's only hot enough to want to go to the beach for like... 10 days out of the year, and even then it's windy.” He complained, Jonah and Lily just kind of staring up at him.

“Rosewall is shitty, Lily. Cambris has Bright skies, warm sun, pretty girls to possibly meet... I think I have enough reasons to go. How about you two?” He asked, pressing his hands onto both of their shoulders and giving a jovial grin. “I don't really care about meeting a bunch of girls, but I might as well go.” Jonah said in slight agreement, Lily nodding and walking off ahead of them. “I'll tell Sebastian to get our swimsuits.” She said, walking down the stairs. Jonah and Caleb looking at each other for a second before going to follow her once again.

A couple of hours later, as the sun slowly drifted from noon to a couple of hours before sunset. Maria walked up to a parasol with a couple of blankets underneath of it. Jonah was wearing a baggy pair of blue shorts, and Lily was wearing a light blue modest one piece and a pair of oversized sunglasses as well. She looked up at Maria and smiled. “Hey! You finally made it out.” She said, Maria was wearing a long baggy pair of pants and a loose white T shirt with a black cat on it.

“Hey... You're wearing a shirt with a cat on it!” She said, pointing an accusatory finger up toward Maria's chest. Maria reached down, pinching the cotton of her shirt and looking at it. “That I am.” She replied flatly. Lily leaped up onto her feet to point even more ridiculously at her. “You wouldn't wear the cat sweater I made for you, yet you wear this picture of a cat!? EXPLAIN YOURSELF!” She shouted, before realizing she was poking her finger against Maria's chest. Maria responded by shoving her off hard enough to spin her around and landing face first onto the sand. “...The cat sweater sucked, Lily.” Maria casually commented, Lily lifted her head off of the sand, her short hair now full of it.

“But I got it because I loved you!” She shouted loudly enough to make other beach goers stop in their tracks and stare at her. Maria blinked a couple of times, looking around at everyone glaring at both of them with strange feelings. “Uhhh... Okay.” She awkwardly replied, crossing her arms together and looking at her. “It's not fair!” She shouted as Jonah lightly pressed a hand on her shoulder. “It's fine, Lily... Calm down.” He said, trying to be the voice of reason. He awkwardly smiled at Maria, standing up and standing at her face to face.

“So uhh... Do you feel like swimming, Maria?” He asked her, clasping his hands together and glaring at Maria. Maria scratched her chin gently and sighed some. “No, not really.” She replied, Jonah looking down at Lily before talking through his gritted teeth. “Go swimming, Maria.” He said, not sounding like it was a suggestion. Maria sighed and shrugged her shoulders, turning around to walk over to the water. “God... You people are weird.” She yelled back at them before getting to the shore. Jonah knelt down beside her and started brushing the sand out of her hair as he spoke. “Hey, Lily... Can I ask you something?” He said, Lily crossing her arms over her knees out of frustration. “Yeah? What do you want?” She wondered, Jonah taking a deep breath before responding.

“Uhh... I want you to meet me on the overhanging balcony of the hotel later.” He requested, Lily looking a bit confused as to what could be the reason why. “Uhm.. What time?” She asked, Jonah rubbed his now clean shaven face, the stubble long gone. “Well.. how about 11 PM?” He offered, Lily pondering a bit before smiling at him. “Well alright, Jonah... I usually sleep earlier than that but well... it's a vacation.” She claimed happily, Jonah smiling as Caleb walked up to their side in a pair of black shorts, putting his hands on his hips and sighing some in defeat.

“Man, I have no idea what's happening to me today.” Caleb sighed, rubbing some sweat off his brow and taking a seat back on the beach towel. Jonah sat down next to him and leaned back onto his arms as Lily watched Maria attempting to pad around in the water like a dog. Not because she was having fun, mostly because she felt like she was being spited. “What are you talking about?” Jonah asked, watching Caleb finish the last sip of his knock-off brand of lime flavored soda before setting it down on the beach towel.

“I tried to see if there was a single girl interested in me, and everyone told me to leave.” He explained, Jonah raising a brow at him as he started to shake his head at nothing in particular. “What am I doing wrong? Do people think I'm just an asshole?” He complained, shrugging his hands as Jonah just sort of stared at him. “Yes, you're an asshole.” Jonah said without a beat, his face completely straight. Caleb groaned out of annoyance and glared up at him. “You have at least tried to humor me a little, Jo...” He commented, Jonah chuckling a little bit until he was cut off by the sound of shouting.

“Oh shit, a current!” Maria shouted while in the water. Lily instantly sprung to her feet and ran to the shoreline, watching as Maria struggled against the water. It didn't seem like she was drowning, but she was slowly drifting west along the water, not really being pulled toward or away. “Maria!” Lily shouted, as Maria started to flail and kick at the water to move. “Why is there a current here!?” Maria shouted back at her, but Lily realized something very quickly. Maria was moving away really slowly, like... stupidly slowly. She was barely even being pulled away at this point, Lily sighed softly and resumed shouting at Maria. “Have you tried swimming out of it?” She shouted, Maria kind of flopping onto her back and flailing her arms like a child.

“I never said I was a good swimmer!” She shouted back, Lily sighing as Jonah and Caleb watched the very unusual sight. Jonah walked up to watch this strange sight, clasping his hands together to shout at her as well. “But I've SEEN you swim well, why can't you do it NOW!?” He questioned, Maria pausing a bit as she kept flailing. “...Go fuck yourself, Jonah! I'm panicking!” Maria shouted, Jonah sighing as Caleb sighed. “...She's being dramatic again, let's just go back to the hotel.” Caleb mentioned, Maria shouting incoherently out of anger while everyone pretty much abandoned her to head to the hotel.

“Come back here you pricks! Fuck... fuckfuckfuckfuck!” She muttered out of annoyance, slowly drifting down the beach by the slow but pretty strong current, but admittedly she decided to half ass it and not actually bother swimming back to the shore until she was about a mile away from where she started. She paddled to the nearby shore, stepping through the wet sand as her body was dripping seawater. Gale emerged once again with a very confused expression on his face, at least as confused as a bird could be.

“What the hell was that?” He asked calmly, Maria glaring at him as she slowly began to walk through the dry sand, the wind of the evening making her much colder thanks to the water. “I'm not exactly sure why I forgot how to swim just there... Maybe the current was just a surprise. Wait, where the hell was the lifeguard?” She asked, Gale just shrugging his wings some as he started to float along side of her. “I guess it was one of those strange moments where no one really wanted to bother.” She replied.
Gale sighed some, looking over to the flowing ocean waves as the sun began to paint the sky a deep purple color. “That's so unusual.” He mentioned, Maria looking at him to see what he was staring at, slipping her hands into the pockets of her wet pants as she turned to face the sunset as well. “Look at the rift, Maria.” He said, pointing a wing in that general direction. Maria glanced up to stare at it. It was the same way she remembered, north to south right in the very center of the sky. “Yeah... what about the rift, Gale?” She wondered, kicking her sneaker covered feet in the sand with a light squelch, she was soaked to the bone from being in the water for too long.

“How far are we away from Rosewall?” He asked her, Maria reached up to scratch her head some, trying to remember some semblance of a thing she learned back when she attended school. “Uhh... Ballpark guess here... About 2000 miles south and 800 miles east, I remember that because we have to memorize all the time zones while in Mrs. Baker's class.” Maria replied, Gale staring up at it some more before approaching her a bit closer and perching onto her shoulder. “So, where is it in the sky, then?” He questioned, Maria's eyes widening as she just figured out what that could possibly mean.

“It's in the exact same place... the EXACT same place. It's like we haven't moved.” She realized, her voice carrying a bit of a shock as she slowly turned to start walking while staring in the sky. “From what I learned, this is spitting in the face of all current knowledge... The rift is truly something beyond human comprehension.” He said quietly, Maria furrowing her brow and poking a finger through him out of annoyance. He flinched, even if he couldn't interact with the real world in this form. “Why are you getting all introspective on me?” She asked, He just chuckled awkwardly as Maria stood on her toes to look over the hill. The resort in the horizon in what appeared to be another 10 minutes of walking.

“I don't know, Maria... I just worry for you and your kind. I kind of wonder if this will eventually be the end of humanity.” He said with a somber voice. Maria grabbed her shirt and wringed some more water out of it to sate the cold she was feeling. “I don't know... Spectrum has been doing pretty well.. Some attacks happen but we can usually deal with it.” She replied, mentioning how she and her team tend to only have missions every couple of weeks, but he shook his head some at that. “Broaden your perspective, Maria.” He replied, Maria looking at the ground for a second before she turned to walk up the hill, pressing her toes in deep into the soil so she wouldn't slip back down.

“I guess most places without Spectum in the city are a bit more fucked... One town about 100 miles from Rosewall had over 1000 casualties because it took us a couple of hours to actually arrive with enough people to clear them out.” She answered, standing at a somewhat cracked two lane road. The cars passing by and blowing a gust of wind, before a semi truck flew past and completely sent Maria's wet hair crazy, a mop on her head. She sighed and crossed the street quickly, walking into the parking lot and stopping just before the door of the hotel.

“I don't really know the answer, I think we just need to do the best we can.” She said with a sigh, Gale fading away into nothing before Maria popped the door of the hotel open, pretty much attempting to ignore people as she got in the elevator up to the top floor, getting to her room and unlocking the door, Jonah and Lily sitting together as they looked at the wet, sand covered Maria step in. Lily getting up and staring at her. “So uhh... Welcome back.” She said with an awkward grin, Maria spit on the floor, wiping her wet and dirty face with a wrist as she walked up in front of both of them. “Hi.” Maria said with a scowl. Jonah folded his arms and sighed some. He was now dressed in a blue sport coat with a black undershirt and a pair of jeans instead of the swimming trunks he had earlier.

“So uhh... Why did you suddenly become too stupid to swim?” He asked somewhat bluntly.
Maria shook her head gently, rubbing her hands through her hair to slide it from her face. “Sometimes fucking around backfires.” Maria replied bluntly, Lily getting off the bed on her side and walking around to stand off to the left side of her. “Actually, I had a question too.” Lily mentioned, Maria coughed some and folded her arms, raising an eyebrow as she waited. “What?” Maria said with a slightly annoyed voice, waiting for what Lily wanted to ask. “Why were you so resistant to us wanting to take you on a vacation? Normal people don't usually have to be tied up to go take a break.” She asked Maria, who went to unzip her black suitcase, pulling out a small piece of paper and presenting it to Lily.

“Can you read this for me?” Maria asked her, Lily inspecting the white paper with details written on it. “Hmmm... 4/9/535, 291 Able street. What does that mean?” She asked, Maria tugging the paper away from her and holding it between two fingers so it was facing Lily and Jonah. “I was going to get a rematch for the combat tournament I was in, it was canceled when some Riftfallen attacked.” Maria explained, reaching into her bag once again to pull out a pair of dry clothes. “Oh, well I'm sorry you missed it, Maria.” Lily apologized sincerely, frowning some.

Maria scowled, tossing the clothing on her shoulder. “That would have helped before you decided to kidnap me and send me 2000 miles away.” Maria complained, looking for the bathroom and walking to it to open the door. “I'm going to clean up and go to bed early.” Maria said, closing the door. Lily and Jonah looked at each other for a second before Jonah walked to the door, holding it open for her. “Let's just go, alright?” He asked, Lily nodding her head and walking through the door after him. She was back wearing her long white dress once again, the skirt lightly swaying near the hard wood floor as she began to walk along the hallway to the balcony facing the outside of the hotel.

Jonah followed as well, opening the double foldable glass doors to stand on the balcony, it was about 50 feet up in the air and made of very sturdy, steel reinforced concrete. It would probably be able to withstand an earthquake if there ever was one. Lily grabbed the double glass doors and slowly pulled them closed. “So why did you want to meet privately, Jonah?” Lily asked, turning to face him. He was leaning his hands against the stylized railing, that was about the height of his stomach. “I just want to talk to you about a couple of subjects, Lily.” He said, Lily walking up and turning to lean her back and hips against the very same railing.

Jonah looked up at the sky, it was now essentially night, the skyline was still bright near the edge but the sunlight was mostly replaced with stars. This city was smaller than Rosewall, so the lack of light pollution meant he could see a lot more stars than what he's used to. “I guess it's about the promotion exam coming up.” He finally admitted, Lily turning her head to look at him, he had a somewhat somber look on his face, his hands gripping into the side of the balcony. “What about it?” She asked him back, Jonah pushing himself gently off of the balcony and slowly pacing the floor.

“I feel like a liability, Lily.” He admitted, Lily frowning softly and lowering her brow as she lightly rubbed her hands along the concrete, her eyes tracking his movements as he clasped his arms together. “It feels like if the exam comes up and we all have to be tested as a team, I'm the biggest soft spot.” He said, crossing his arms over his chest, Lily stood up and approached him, rubbing his shoulder some. “Oh come on Jonah... You're not that bad.” She said with a reassuring smile, Jonah grabbed her hand and gently pulled it off. “No, I'm pretty sure of it, Lily. Maria is a mixed martial arts fighter, you learned from one of the best fencers in the world, and Caleb is a 3 year veteran, what do I have?” He asked even though he knew she didn't have the right answer. “I'm just some brat trying to make himself not feel useless, I feel like I don't belong here... I'm always the one who preforms the worst and I think I'm just going to hold the team back.”
Lily sighed, looking at the floor a little bit. “I just don't think I could trust myself in carrying my own weight, Lily. It's not okay to doubt myself like this, but it feels so true I can't do anything about it.” He said with a sigh, kicking lightly at the floor once before walking up to lean back against the railing, Lily frowning a little bit as she sighed. “Well... You're trying your hardest, right?” She asked him, he furrowed his brow and shook his head softly out of slight disdain for the question. “I have since the very first day, Lily... I just have been slowly realizing over the last 10 months that it might not be enough to make me turn into someone important.” He said, looking away from her and sighing again.

“That's kind of pessimistic, don't you think?” Lily mentioned, Turning to look out from the balcony down at the beach, the shimmering water reflecting the moonlight as a light breeze began to pick up. Jonah turned to face her, looking down at the road and watching the cars slowly hum by. “I never said I was an optimist, Lily... I just wanted to tell you my concerns without Maria or Caleb insulting me... You're probably the nicest person out of the three of us.” He admitted, Lily giving a light chuckle at that as she reached up to poke Jonah on the cheek. “Maria and Caleb aren't that bad,” She said in a casual protest.

“You kind of need to get used to them, you tend to keep to yourself a lot, so I don't think you've ever gone out of your way to spend time with them.” She criticized, he nodded some and wrapped his hands together around his other hand. “I guess... But what do I do about the fact I'm just not a good fighter?” He asked, Lily started to think when the double doors swung open. “Did someone say they sucked!?” Caleb shouted with a grin, Jonah spun around with a frustrated look on his face. “Oh fuck off, Caleb!” He shouted at him, Caleb frowned a bit and sighed, leaning against the balcony between them. “Oh quiet Jo, I'm offering to help you learn how to fight like I do.” Caleb said with annoyance in his voice.

“You scared the shit out of me, sorry.” Jonah replied, Caleb laughing one more time and waiting for him to answer his question. “Look... If you really think you can help, then go ahead and try, Caleb.” Jonah answered, Caleb grinning and grabbing Jonah by the shoulders. “Look man, as long as you stick by me, I can turn you from shit to slightly less shit.” He said with a reassuring smile. “Thanks, I guess.” Jonah said a bit annoyed by the mixed insults.

“Well we'll start as soon as this vacation is over, I'll be back in the hotel room if you need me.” He said to both of them, quietly leaving as Lily turned back to Jonah, gently placing her hand against his arm and smiling. “I'm here for you, Jonah. No matter what happens.” She said, Jonah smiling back at her as she did, before quietly leaving back to her room as well. Jonah just sighed and opened the door, going back down the hallway as well to get ready for the night.

Spectrum Act 2, Prologue 2: Blood

No answer is ever solved without bloodshed

 Act 2 Prologue 2: Blood

The lights of the small arena dimmed, leaving the spotlights to light the ring in the center, it's mat was blue, with red ropes and white turnbuckles and ring posts. The crowd was nearly a thousand people sat along the seats surrounding it. A woman in a red hooded jacket put her hands into her pockets as she stood just before a small flight of stairs and a curtain. She was lightly shadowboxing the air as a man stood beside her, handing her a bottle of water so she could take a sip from it.

“Alright, Weasel. This is the last fight, you've been at it for a whole week and the prize money is on the line.” He said to her, hoping to hype her up a bit. The girl peered her hood up a bit to glare at him with her sharp red eyes. “It's been 6 months since I joined the club, Ritters... Why do you still call me weasel?” She asked, he just chuckled and patted her on the shoulder some. “Oh come on, it's a good nickname!” He said with enthusiasm, Maria just sighed a bit, leaning down to adjust her gloves some more, before he lightly shoved her over to the stairs. “Your fight is up, Weasel... Go get em!” He shouted, Maria nodding and climbing up the stairs, bouncing on her feet some as she swung the curtains open with both of her arms.

A lone spotlight shined on her, some boring metal music she picked out earlier began to play as she started to shadow box at the top of the ramp. “For the Riverside Amateur Featherweight division 3^rd place prize... Our first competitor!” Maria raised a fist as he continued announcing her, her red vinyl hoodie kind of covered her eyes but it was a straight shot to the ring, she couldn't mess this up if she tried. Her coach slowly walked behind her, slightly out of the spotlight.

“Hailing from Riverside city, Rosewall... ” He continued, Maria punching the air some more as she broke out into a dash, the spotlight tracking her with a slight delay in reaction as she took a leap up to the ring post, pulling her hood down and letting her shoulder length messy hair rest on her collar. “Maria 'Battle Weasel' Roth!” He shouted with enthusiasm, the crowd giving a fairly big cheer with some intermixed boos. Maria just glared back and growled at Ritters. “You changed my nickname!? I was supposed to be 'The Spider!' ” She shouted, the music too loud for any of the crowd to hear her. “Things happen, Maria!” He said, not even sorry. Maria just sighed and slid into the ring for her opponent to arrive.

The lights changed from the reddish white lights to a purple color of lights along with some cheesy radio guitar rock started to play as the curtain opened on the other side of the arena. A fair skinned, black haired girl that was tightly tied into a ponytail. Her coach walking behind her was a rotund man, balding with a black ponytail on what little hair he had left as the announcer rang in once again over the loudspeakers.

“And now our second competitor... From Cherry Springs, Rosewall.” The voice echoed, the referee quietly getting in the ring around the same time the girl climbed up the stairs and slid in between the ropes. “Braith 'Black Cat' Dogwood!” The crowd cheered for her a little more than they cheered for Maria, though she had no idea why, maybe her fights were more entertaining than Maria's were. It was a rookies only tournament after all.

Braith didn't wear any fancy ring gear like Maria did, since she got the hoodie from Jonah. Maria pulled her coat off and gently folded it before handing to her instructor. Maria and Braith were wearing similar fight gear, a pair of slightly padded gloves with bare feet and leg wraps, a small tanktop like outfit for flexibility and a pair of shorts, though hers was tighter and Maria's looked kind of baggy. Her theme music ended as an announcer grabbed a mic that descended from the top of the arena.
“We welcome you to the penultimate match, the one that decides which person is going to take a seat on that podium and which one is going to go home falling just short!” He said to the crowd with his entertainingly baritone voice. He was in a black tuxedo with his hair slicked back that Maria wasn't sure where the hair ended and the grease began. “In the blue corner, wearing the red trunks with black trim...” He said, pointing an open hand to Maria in her crimson and black gear. Maria lightly bounced on her toes, swinging a couple of punches.

“Standing at 5'2 and weighing in at 124 pounds... She is a freestyle boxer with a record of 4 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw, all which were earned of this 3 week tournament, even if she's only 16 years old. Maria Roth!” He shouted, Maria lowering her head and pumping her fist in the air as her coach reached up to help put her mouthguard in, just making sure all of her teeth don't fly through her nose if she gets kicked too hard. “And in the red corner... With the black trunks and silver trim..” He continued, the girl folding her arms and quietly watching him as he talked.

“Standing in at 5'4 and weighing in at 126 pounds... She is a hapkido practitioner with a record of 5 wins... 2 losses, all of her wins have been by knock out. Braith Dogwood” He shouted loud enough for some feedback to ring through the speakers, this made Maria cringe some and rub one of her ears from pain. The announcer cleared his throat, tapping the mic a couple of times so it would stop. “This fight will be for five sets of 3 minute rounds. Not being able to defend yourself, being knocked out 3 times in one round, and tapping during a submission will result in your loss.” He explained the rules of the match, Maria slowly stepping back against her corner, leaning into it and feeling the squeak of the ropes stretching against her.

“There will be no eye gouging, no groin shots, no elbow strikes and no kicks to the head while on the ground, This fight will start when you are both ready.” He said, Braith nodding and walking back into her corner for the bell to ring and signal the fight. It quickly did, Braith walking up holding out her fist as she put in her own mouthpiece in. “Good luck, Combat Weasel.” She said, Maria walked up and bumped gloves with her. “Okay, seriously. My nickname wasn't combat weasel.” Maria corrected, Braith just smirking some as she raised her fists to her face. Maria entered a combat stance and lifted onto her toes.

Maria lightly tried to gauge the distance with some light jabs, but Braith instantly swung a roundhouse kick straight to her head. Maria dipped underneath it swiftly, she was still recovering from the kick as Maria dove in to punch her in the face. She groaned, tilting her head off to one side to soften the blow, blocking Maria's second hit to punch her firmly in the stomach. Maria winced, before swinging her leg to smack into her stomach with a loud snap. This made her step back, before leaping onto one foot and cracking Maria in the side of the head like a whip.

Maria shook it off, another kick coming to smash into Maria's shoulder, she grabbed the leg and pushed up so she could land an uppercut, completely ignoring her poor block, before swinging her arm to uppercut her knee as well. Braith shouted in pain as she felt her leg buckle, she lifted her other leg to Maria's chest, pushing off with a kick to land a swift backflip back to her feet. The amount of force required pushed Maria against the ropes. She rebounded, pulling her fist back for a huge punch.

She spun for a spinning back kick to hope and cash in on Maria's momentum, but Maria was really throwing a faint, quickly ducking the kick and punching her in the rib cage with a loud smack. Braith stumbled and fell onto her back. She stumbled to get her hands and legs in a position so she could stand back up. But Maria dove quickly over her legs to land a smashing punch right on her jaw as she pounced on top of her. This caused a big splatter of blood on the mat as her nose started bleeding
She growled a bit, Looking at Maria as she attempted some mounted punches, she caught Maria's fist and spun around, throwing Maria on her side and twisting her wrist to attempt a joint lock. The crowd began to cheer for them both as the fight was quickly turning into a slugfest. Maria spun using her legs to stop her wrist from being twisted, before hand springing back to her feet. Maria kicked Braith on the arm, forcing her to release the wrist and slowly stand back up to her feet.

“Not bad...” Braith said with a smile, lightly wiping off the blood leaking from her nose with her wrist. “Anything to stop you kicking me in the face again.” Maria replied, about to swing another punch as a loud siren began to go off in the distance. Suddenly, all of the lights in the Arena turned back on, removing the spotlight effect in the fighting ring as the crowd began to boo. “I know that sound...” Maria muttered, The ref raising his hands as the bell rung. “Unfortunately this event has to be delayed.” He said, as the doors swung open.

“Unfortunately missy that seems to be the curtain call.” Sebastian said, climbing off of the ropes and looking at Maria. “I'll see you when you get back to the acadmy. Mr. Ritters sighed, getting away from ringside and following the rest of the civilians up the stairs. Maria turned to him, running to the ropes and hanging her hand over it to point at him. “Hey! Come back! I need your car!” She shouted, though he was kind of either too far away to hear her or was ignoring her.

“We're with Spectrum, The area is going to soon be flooded with Riftfallen, we need to get you guys to a nearby shelter!” One of the 6 people from the team of Spectrum members shouted. The crowd was filled with chatter and complaining as they stood up and slowly started to file out of the arena. Maria groaned and pulled out her mouthpiece, as Braith climbed down the ring and slowly walked to the locker room. Maria lowered her brow, leaping over the ropes in one swift leap as she was intent on following her.

“Hey, What are you doing!?” Maria shouted, running after her as Braith walked into the locker room, putting away her fighting gear but leaving her clothes on as she saw Maria following her. “Getting my stuff and leaving. Delays like these happen all the time.” Braith responded, zipping up one bag and opening another to pull out her street clothes. “Please tell me there's gonna be a rematch, I was hoping for the prize...” Maria complained, Braith slung the bag over her shoulder and turned to the shorter fighter. “We'd have to wait for the phone call. Until then, I live 6 miles off.. I should be safe from the Riftfallen if I drive fast enough.” She stated, Maria looking at the floor before looking up at her.

“Uhh... I work for Spectrum, and I think my coach left as well, he's the guy who drove me here. Can you drive me back?” Maria asked, but Braith just looked at her up and down a bit and sighed. “I don't really know you, and I don't want to waste time.” She stated, Maria frowning a little bit as she started to leave the locker room to get dressed elsewhere. “Good luck getting back, kid.” She said, the door closing as she left.

Maria put her own gear in her bag and started to get dressed in her Spectrum outfit while Gale manifested, covering his eyes so he didn't see anything he shouldn't. “Isn't it a little irresponsible of you to be this far away from the academy?” He asked, Maria looking up at him with annoyance as she kept swiftly dressing. “Hey, if I'm on my off hours I can do what I want.” Maria said, getting her pants back on before going to get her shirt back on as well. “Anyway, this was going to be my money for the month.. I'm always just scraping by on handouts.” She complained, the bird nodding his head some as he kept covering his glowing pink eyes with his glowing orange wings.

“Maybe you shouldn't be trying to bend the rules, maybe you wouldn't lose your pay that way.” He responded, Maria growling as she got her jacket back on. “You can look now.” She said, before actually replying. Gale nodded once again, uncovering his eyes and seeing Maria dressed in her black suit, Maroon shirt and black tie, the inverse version of the standard colors that was also available. “I don't bend rules because I want to! The rules are stuffy and written by some old guy who doesn't know what it's like to bust your ass every day.” She complained.

Maria started to walk from the locker room and out the fire exit, looking around the parking garage as she talked to Gale. It's been nearly 8 months since he's first manifested, they are still on shaky terms but he tends to be a bit preachy and likes to act like someone's mom and remind them of all their responsibilities. Maria halfway questions it's usefulness except for when it actually becomes useful for a magical bird alarm clock.

“Just pointing something out, Maria... By the way, it's Lily's birthday today.” He said, trying to remind Maria. Maria looked up and chuckled some as she walked off of the curb she was standing on, finding a bike locked against a rack of bikes. She grabbed the black bike and unlocked it with a key she had in her pocket, meaning it was her bike. “Thanks for reminding me, but I knew already.” Maria said, sitting on the uncomfortable black seat as she looked left and right, slowly starting to pedal it.

It was a kind of shitty bike, it didn't have a gear mechanism and any time she went up a hill she would be in a horrific life and death struggle just to push the goddamn thing. “I hate this bike...” She complained, feeling a sudden wetness on her lip as the wind started to push against it. “But it's really great for exercise.” He replied, floating along with her speed. “I get enough exercise, bird...” Maria complained, pushing the bike as she reached up to wipe off her lip. It was bleeding from the kick to her face just a while ago.

“Come on Maria, don't you want thighs that can push a truck?” He asked her. Maria sighed, pushing a bit harder as she started to bike up a hill. “No, not really.” She replied, huffing some as Gale chuckled at her. “Morgan gets a motorcycle and I get this piece of shit.” Maria complained, Gale shaking his head as Maria turned a corner to head down another road. “Don't be ungrateful of what you have, Maria.” He scolded her, Maria stopping the bike to glare up at him.

“Shut up, Bird-mom.”

Spectrum #20: Fear, Part 4

Thanks for everyone who were patient enough to see me write 20 chapters of this.

Chapter 20: Fear, Part 4

Maria and Sam were ducking in and out of alleyways to avoid the sudden insurgence of monsters, as she wasn't sure she could take them on by herself with such massive amounts. She pressed her back against the corner of a wall, Sam mimicking her somewhat but more panicked as she peered around the corner, finding a Riftfallen rat the size of a dog looking around for food. She turned to the kid, putting her finger over her lips in a silent way of her usual telling him to shut the fuck up. He nodded as Maria quietly drew her blade.

She walked quietly, trying to avoid a fairly large pool of water formed by the recent rain dripping from a leaky gutter of an apartment. She spun the blade around in her hand, stabbing it in the back of the head with little fuss in one swift movement. She pulled her blade and lightly wiping it off on her sleeve. “Okay, we're good.” Maria said loudly enough so that Sam could hear. He came walking out behind the corner as Maria leaned up against one of the walls.

“How much farther is the shelter, anyway?” The kid complained, Maria tapping the interface to check a GPS mapped area of where they currently are. “It's about a mile, but since we've been dipping back and fourth like dumb asses I suspect we've been walking twice as much as that.” Maria answered, lightly scrolling back and forth to figure out the route. “You know you just called yourself a dumb ass, right?” He mentioned, Maria looking up as her eyes widened. “Holy shit, you're right.” She realized, before leaning down and pressing another button.

“HQ, Any word on Lily's condition?” Maria asked, one of the intel staff responded quickly in side of Cpt. Geralt's scanning room. “She was extracted and is currently in serious condition as of 3:47PM.” He replied, Maria sighing and turning off the broadcast for now. “Well... damn.” Maria muttered, checking the map one last time. “Unfortunately we have no choice but to head down the street. It's another 1000 feet until the shelter, but we're completely shot when it comes down to dipping through back roads unless you want to go rummaging through peoples houses as a shortcut.” Maria explained.

The kid scratched his chin and adjusted his baseball cap for his favorite professional wrestler. “And what's wrong with going through peoples houses?” Maria turned around, glaring at him with a wide eyed glare. “...Have you EVER GONE TO SCHOOL!? No one likes it when you break in to their house, kid.” Maria complained, bending down to get eye level with him.. which was only a couple of inches.

“Uhh... Fine. So why were we not on the road again?” He asked her, She walked around a dumpster and looked around the other side.. And it was currently packed with Riftfallen... While she could spend time counting all of them, that would be both 1; A massive waste of time. And 2; kind of keeping her from actually doing her job. “Well I was going to say 'so we don't get turned into paste on the road,' but we have no choice but to make a b-line for the shelter.” Maria replied, the kid peering around the corner as well and realizing that there was at least a couple dozen Riftfallen between them and where they're supposed to go.

“Are you out of your mind!? Why can't we just call in a helicopter?!” Sam complained to her but Maria sighed and turned to him once again. “Extraction points are for large groups of people to remove them as efficiently as possible, they aren't going to pick up a single Spectrum member and snot nosed kid... It isn't a taxi service.” Maria scolded, the kid sighing and looking at the floor. “So... Are we screwed?” He asked her out of the sense of fear that was washing over him. Maria growled and looked back around the corner at the Riftfallen.
“No.” Maria stated, slowly lifting her wrist up to her face to speak into it. “What do you mean?” He asked, Maria hitting another button to open her communicator. “All members of Solstice and all remaining members of Equinox... I need you guys here right damn now.” Maria spoke, before continuing. “Hell, EVERYONE IN THE VICINITY. There is a large mount of Riftfallen approaching the evacuation site and I need as many people as possible to help me cut a swath through them.” She announced, looking back at the kid before glancing up at the dumpster he was standing next to.

“This isn't an order, but if you don't want me to do my best ground beef impression, I suggest you help me the fuck out.” She finished, waiting for a reply. “You got it, Roth.” Erika replied, followed by Robin. “Me and Florence are going t-” She was cut off by her little brother yelling over her. “WE'RE GONNA SAVE YOU!” He shouted, Robin then sighing out of frustration. “I'll wake Caleb and we'll get there soon enough.” Jonah answered, before Maria turned to the kid and flipped open one of the doors to the dumpster.

“Get in.” Maria demanded, the kid looking at her like she is out of her damn mind. “...Why?” The kid asked, not sure he could come up with an insult for her from how out of nowhere this was. “I'm going to be fighting a bunch of shit that's going to murder you if you're ANYWHERE NEAR the action. You're gonna hide in here and only come out when either me or someone else says you can.” Maria explained, the kid still frowning a bit. “Are you sure?” He asked, Maria started to glare at him with annoyance. “Just get your scrawny ass in the dumpster already.” She snapped at him, he sighed and climbed into the dumpster which was luckily empty, though still quite putrid.

“Are you sure this is the only way I can be safe?” He asked, looking at the ground a bit and lightly stomping his foot. It was made of steel and gave a loud ringing sound. “Yeah, I'm pretty sure.” Maria said with some confidence, but he looked up at her with confusion once again. “So what are you going to go do?” He asked, not entirely sure of what hiding in a dumpster is supposed to help with. Maria reached up to grab the lid and look down at him. “Duck your head.” She stared, he was about to ask why, when suddenly he realized he should probably duck. Maria slamming the door shut on top of him and leaving him in complete darkness.

“Have fun in the dumpster, kid! I have to go stab some shit.” Maria said before walking into the street and visually counting all the monsters she saw in her head. While her combat training actually did help her fight the damn things, she wasn't sure how many she could actually take at once. She needs to think of something to make them come in waves so she can deal with them instead of being surrounded on all sides. She looked around her surroundings and found a rusted iron pipe resting on the side of the sidewalk near where some of the rain drains into the waterways beneath the streets. She grabs it and slowly walks away to a near by lamp post, lightly banging it and slowly getting louder.

This was her seeing how loud she could make the sound and lure some of the pack of creatures away by making the ones farther back or with worse hearing miss the sound. Four or five wolves perk their head and ears up and slowly come padding toward her, teeth bared as she grinned at them. “Come on, fuckers. It's playtime...” She said, trying to goad them closer to her as her other hand kept her sword pointed at them.

“A little more...” She said, banging a bit harder as one came lunging at her with a leap so high she was forced to look upward. She swiftly swung the pile and it smashed into it's head hard enough to kill it. “By the way, I hate dogs.” She said, drawing both her swords and launching herself as the small pack of beasts charged her all at once.

Jonah and Caleb were sitting outside of the shelter, he just got Maria's distress call and looked down at Caleb. Who was sitting up against the wall of the building, hugging his knees as he was taking a quick nap before the helicopter would have arrive to extract him and the rest of his team. “Uhh.. Caleb?” Jonah quietly said, bending his knees and looking at Caleb to see if he would notice him.

Caleb instantly planted his hands on the ground and jumped straight up onto his feet. “Yeah?” He asked, Jonah being shocked by his sudden awakening enough for him to shout and fall on his back. “AHH!” He shouted, Caleb crossing his hands and shaking his head. “What? I'm a light sleeper.” Caleb remarked, Jonah standing up and dusting off his shirt and pants. “Give a guy a fair warning first, jeeze...” He complained, but Caleb lightly patted him on the shoulder.

“Well, partner. Why wake me up?” He asked, Crossing his arms and looking around as he saw team Solstice currently looking at the both of them. “Maria needs help, we're going to give her a hand.” Jonah answered, Caleb scratching his head. “Did she sprain her ankle?” He wondered, completely confused as he barely saw a monster on his way there. Morgan walked up, patting her finger-less gloved hand on Jonahs shoulder as she walked up next to him. “Nah, it's a shit load of monsters. Let's go and kill stuff.” Morgan spoke flatly, with a slight grin. Caleb grinned as well and pumped his fist in response.

“Alright, let's move!” He shouted, Jonah drawing his sword and raising his shield as he broke out into a light run along with the 5 other rookie students. Caleb taking the lead with Morgan, Jonah following just behind with Erika, Florence and Robin. “Do you see them!?” Erika shouted, Morgan squinting a bit and seeing the big pile of monsters congregating just on the horizon. “Got an eye on them, T-minus one minute!” She shouted, drawing her huge sword from it's sheathe strapped to her back, holding it in both of her hands to one side as she ran.

They blitzed to Maria, when they got close enough they noticed that she was in the middle of the frey, slashing defensively at whatever attacks her, even if there was a massive amount of wolves surrounding her on all sides, she was putting all of her effort into dodging and just trying to slowly whittle the pack down, even if they were faster than her. One of them launched up and sliced at her, with Maria promptly dodging to one side and slashing it so it shot a geyser of black colored blood onto her visage.

Another minute later, Morgan charged pulse into her legs and launched herself over the entire pack of monsters to crash land on one just about to attack Maria, she pulled her blade out and slashed through a wave of small nearby wolves. “The cavalry has arrived!” Morgan shouted, turning her back to Maria to watch her flank. Maria panting a bit as she was starting to run out of gas. “Took you guys long enough, dick bags.” Maria complained, Leaping up and slashing a monster, though getting slashed across the chest hard enough to slice slightly into her armor.

“We like to make it dramatic.” Morgan replied, launching herself forward and clearing another swath of monsters with her claymore. Caleb's mace surrounded itself with fire as he dashed in shield first, swinging it and causing a massive fireball to blast and burn the small wolves to a cinder several yards away. “Only small fries? What a let down.” He commented, smashing one upside the head with a squelching ping sound, sending it flying as he blocked another one's attack just to parry it into Maria's abrupt stabbing. “Hey, it's one on like.. fifty!” She complained, at him as well, he just chuckled a bit as he continued to attack the Riftfallen left and right, clearly taking the most out for himself. “Well, I just wanted to point out that these were all juniors.”

He joked, before one caught him off guard, pouncing him to the ground and snarling at his face. Maria booted him off quickly and looked down at him with disdain. “Yeah... Whatever.” She remarked with a sigh, spinning and slashing another two approaching her. The battle continued on as they fought the huge pack off. Normally this would be much more difficult but luckily enough this hasn't developed into the usual powerful force packs these big normally become. After about 20 minutes of straight combat, all of them were wiped out, a blood soaked Maria lightly panting and slowly sheathing her blood caked swords back into the scabbards.

“Fuck... I didn't think we'd ever run out of them.” She sighed, Caleb putting his mace back into his holster as he walked up to her. Maria leaning down to put her hands on her knees and pant heavily. “Be glad this only took a while.” He commented, oddly more serious than he normally acts. Maria stood up and shook her head a bit. “What do you mean by that?” She asked, he just glared at her. “Don't act like what we just did is what all Spectrum fights... These guys were bottom of the barrel and I don't think any of you should feel confident.” He answered, Maria looking at the floor before scoffing a bit. “What a load.” She complained, but he shook his head at her and pointed the finger.

“The largest Riftfallen ever recorded was over 125 feet and required over 20 different teams to properly take down.” He answered, Maria's eyes opened wide at that, her arms slacking as she looked nearly shocked. “How the fuck do you fight that!?” She yelled, but he looked away for a second, before looking back at her and placing a hand on his hip. “Really damn carefully.” He answered, before cracking his knuckles and taking a stretch. Maria felt her confidence deflate a bit.. even if this was a big group of wolves... These were small fries? What did she even get herself into?

Then she realized she stuffed a kid into a dumpster nearly half an hour ago. “Shit.” She muttered to herself, dashing over the strewn bodies of the wolves slowly turning into smoke around her and making it into the back alleyway. Propping the lid up and looking at the kid as he squinted to adjust to the brightness of the light of the world after being put in a dank box for 30 minutes straight.

He looked at Maria, her face, arms, jacket and red scarf all drenched in a deep black, oil like blood. “What the hell happened to you?” He asked her, climbing out and lightly trying to get the circulation back into his tired legs from just sitting there for so long, something an active kid his age doesn't normally do. “I didn't think Riftfallen bled that much...” She answered, Closing the lid and crossing her arms as he looked around the corner. “Is it safe?” He asked, noticing all the slain monsters and 6 other Spectrum members sitting just beside them for a short rest.

“No shit it's safe, now lets get you to your mom already.” She said, patting him on the shoulder and bringing him out to the rest of the Spectrum members. “Who's the kid?” Morgan asked, looking at the ten year old kid walking next to Maria. “I uhh.. rescued him, kinda.” She kind of shrugged off that part, the kid looking up at her a bit as Morgan sighed. “Uhh... You know that KLP were probably going to rescue him, right?” She mentioned, Maria casually lifting her middle finger up at her.

“...Well the mother wanted me to go get him.” She mentioned, looking away from Morgan since she was feeling kind of stupid. “His dad died.” She added at the end of that, Morgan frowned a little and patted him on the shoulder. “Well... Shit.” Morgan sputtered out, looking down at him and lightly pushing him so they could walk to the shelter. “I'm sorry kid, losing a parent is always hard.” She said, walking with him, but the kid glared up at her somewhat. “I lost my parents before I was even 4 years old.” She answered, the kid's leer turned into a frown as the rest of the team quietly walked back to the helipad near the shelter where people were filtering in to be extracted. They walked beside Sienna and Ashley, who were awaiting their respective teams.
Sienna walked up to Maria and grabbed her in a tight hug, Maria struggling in her arms but realizing that she was too tired to break free, sighed and just lightly hugged her back instead. “I heard about what happened, Sis.” Sienna said, giving her a squeeze before letting go, Maria promptly taking a step back to avoid another hug. “Heh... I'm fine.” Maria replied with a light chuckle, rubbing the back of her head as Sienna inspected her thoroughly. “I don't think I've ever seen someone covered in so much blood.” Sienna commented, Maria was drenched in so much Riftfallen blood that the black pools predominantly coated her milky colored skin, it stained her hair, her scarf, her gloves, her boots and her jacket all at once.

“I kind of.. went overkill.” She responded, not really using any discretion about how messy the fight could get. “...Just promise me you'll shower after this.” Sienna demanded, Maria glaring up at her and huffing just a bit. “What are you, my mom?” Maria stated sardonically, Sienna breaking out into a chuckle at that as she pat her once again on her shoulder. “Even worse than a mother, you're my little Mary-Wary-kins.” She said, the last bit in a sarcastic sing-song tone to embarrass her just a bit.

“If you ever say that again, I'll bend your fingers so far back you'll be praising me for being able to itch your own damn forearms.” Maria growled out, but Sienna just chuckled again at her. “Sounds fun, Maria.” She shrugged the entire threat as a joke, as the helicopter descended in front of them both. “Look... You did great, Maria. I'm proud of you.” Sienna stated, placing her hands on Maria's shoulders and looking at her straight in her eyes. Maria just quietly looking back at her with no malice, but not sure what to say either.

“Keep up the good work, sis.” She said, before climbing back into the helicopter. Maria looked at the floor and crossed her arms over her own chest. “Thanks... I guess.” She muttered, before looking up at both teams Equinox and Solstice, standing just behind her. “Hell of a night, huh Roth?” Caleb said with a smile. Maria turned to him and quietly walked past him. “You could say that.” She answered, walking farther away from him. He turned around and raised his voice as her as she walked away. “Uhh... Where are you going?” He asked her, Maria turned back to him with a calm face as she stuffed her hands into her pockets. “Just need to check on something.” She responded, walking along the sidewal k and turning to the shelter.

She walked up the concrete steps and lightly pushed the blast proof glass doors aside. Slowly walking along the polished wood floor as she saw the near hundreds amount of evacuee's sitting in chairs awaiting their numbers to be drawn so they could go to a safer area via helicopter. She quietly looked around, scanning across the room until she found Sam, who was currently hugging her mother, face right in her stomach. She looked at the floor silently, getting ready to turn around when Gale once again showed up on her shoulder.

“Maria, You worked your butt off to help him... You could at least say hello.” He mentioned, Maria sighed and lightly began to walk toward them. “Fine, but it's gonna be awkward as shit.” She muttered, slowly walking up in front of the mother as she looked away from her kid and gently released her son. “Oh...You're the girl who went after my son.” She mentioned, the kid turning to her and smiling. “There's the girl that taught me all those new words!” He shouted, the mother slapping Maria in the face very firmly.

“What the hell!?” Maria shouted at her, the mother frowning at her indignantly. “That's for cursing in front of my child!” She claimed, before her expression softened and she looked up at Maria, who was currently rubbing her cheek in a bit of pain from the sudden slapping. “Thank you for bringing him back to me.” She said with a somber voice.

Maria frowned a little, reaching up to rub her arm as she tried to speak softly... But seriously, that slap to the face annoyed the shit out of her. “I'm sorry about your husband.” Maria muttered somewhat nervous to the mother's reaction. The mother frowned and wiped a hint of a tear that was forming in her eye. “If what Sam said was true... He died trying to protect him.” She replied, Looking down at Sam as he fiddled with his baseball cap.

“That's something only a father could do... Give up his life so no one could touch a hair on his son's head. I couldn't be mad at anyone, even if I will mourn him dearly...” She said, sighing a bit as she gently rubbed her son's shoulders. “I know... I just wanted to apologize I couldn't do more.” Maria closed her eyes, turning away before she started feeling any more emotions... She wasn't a big fan of getting sappy around other people. “Wait!” She shouted at Maria, making her stop in her tracks and turn her shoulder back to look at them.

“What's your name?” She asked suddenly, looking at her somewhat nervously. “I just want to know the name of the person who brought my son back.” She explained, Maria sighing and lightly raising her hand up to wave at them both. “The name's Maria Roth.” Maria answered, before spinning on a heel and beginning to walk away backwards from them and pointing an accusatory finger. “And you two better take care of yourselves, because I'll be annoyed as shit if I have to rescue you again!” She added to try and save some face before heading to the helicopter and returning back to her academy.

Spectrum #18: Fear, Part 2

So 'Fear' is going to be 3-5 chapters long... Woops.

Chapter 18: Fear, Part 2

The doors to the helicopter as it arrived to it's destination. It was hovering just above the height of most of the buildings around the mall which would make it about 50 feet in the air. One of them was coiling up rope, latching it to a tie on near the floor and tossing it out the side, watching it unravel and just touch the ground. The other one was looking at the 8 students currently inside with him as he explained. “Those are what you should tell the citizens when you see them. Please try to keep them calm and rational so we don't cause any issues. Understood?” He asked, teams Solstice and Equinox both nodding their head in comprehension as he lowered the fourth rope to the ground. He stood up and got out of the way, pointing for each one to go one at a time.

“Go! Go! Go!” He shouted, As Erika, Morgan, Robin and Florence all grabbed onto one of the ropes and started to slide down them, out of the helicopter and onto the pavement below. Next to that helicopter, a second one with team KLP were descending at roughly the same time. They grabbed their weapons in hand and ran to the front doors of the massive mall facility and it's stone tile painted style and walls of glass panes, some shattered or cracked. Inside the helicopter, Team Solstice were currently hesitating.

“Uhh..” Lily stammered, trying to stall a bit as Caleb quickly wrapped the rope around one wrist and dove out of the helicopter with a gusto. “Awww yeah!” He shouted, his voice slowly fading out from under the rotor wash. Jonah sighed, lifting the rope in one hand and looking at it. “Well this isn't going to be fun.” He muttered, slowly getting on his knees and falling out of the chopper while grabbing the rope firmly. “OH GOD!!!” He shouted as he panicked, but he knew as soon as he would let go he would just be a splatter on the pavement, so he held on for his life as the friction through his fingers made it quite damn hot to hold the rope, hot enough that he let go about 5 feet from the ground and landed flat on his back.

“I'm scared, Maria..” Lily admitted, watching Caleb laugh at Jonah quietly as he tried to get up and dust himself off. Maria lightly punched him on the shoulder. “I don't know about you, but jumping out of a helicopter is probably going to be the least fucking crazy thing we're going to do today, might as well not be afraid about it.” Maria commented, Leaping out of the helicopter gripping the rope, she was wearing black gloves which took the brunt of the fiction, landing on her hands and knees at the last second as she let go.

“Great...” Lily sighed, Closing her eyes and leaping out of the helicopter gingerly. “AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” She shouted, but she was holding so tight she nearly slid down inches at a time, totaling about 3 minutes of sliding down a 50 foot rope with her eyes closed. She got off and looked around, her hands shaking as she realized Maria had her face right into her palms. “That was... Shameful.” Maria groaned with a muffled face, Lily sighing and walking past her out of embarrassment to the front door of the mall. “Sorry..” She squeaked, Maria sighing and walking up to the front door of the mall as Rodney looked at them sternly as they assembled in a rough group.

“Me and my team are going in, We will be sending people this way for you guys to evacuate... To make this quick, each separate into groups of two and quickly get them to the safe houses” He explained, nodding their head in response. And without reply, team KLP kick the door open and run in, Maria noticed that inside the door was pretty much full of rift fallen of various kinds that need to be wiped out before they could even get the civilians out of the huge mall. Maria turned back to her team and watched them as they quietly waited, after a while. People began to funnel out and group up near them as they tried to keep them calm enough to listen.

First was Jonah and Caleb, who took about 8 people before leaving. Next was Morgan and Erika, taking another 9 people with them as well. Robin and Florence left together which finally left Maria and Lily to get their own group of people. Eventually, about 6 people funneled in. Lily walked up to a man in his thirties and looked at him with a concerned look on her face. “Is that everyone?” She asked him simply, he looked back at the window and looked through the door. “I didn't see anyone else behind me.” He replied flatly.

Lily frowned and looked back at Maria, who currently had her hands on her hips as she observed the small group of men and women. “Should we keep waiting?” She asked, Maria looked at the floor with a frown as she quietly thought it over. “Honestly, we should just take who we have.” Maria answered, Lily frowning a little bit. “Well... okay.” She replied, but a woman in her 40's came up to grab Maria on the shoulder. “W-wait!” She shouted, Maria looking up at her and lightly grabbing her hand to pull it off her shoulder.

“My son! He ran off with my husband and promised him that they would get it out... Have you two seen a child along with a man in a black shirt, a beard and slicked back hair?” She asked, her voice shaky in the panic she was currently in. Lily shook her head to that as well. “I don't remember any little boys coming out of the mall...” She replied, The mother looking at the floor upset as she looked at the two Spectrum members, tears beginning to roll down her eyes.

Maria looked at the floor before reaching up to place a hand onto the woman's shoulder, looking her in the eyes with her red ones. “I'm going in to get him.” She answered abruptly, The woman looking up with a tearful smile of hope. Lily walked up to her and turned Maria toward her. “Wait! But I need you to come with me.. What if I'm under attack by a big pack of riftfallen?” She asked out of concern, But Maria slightly smiled at her, which was a very strange thing to see.

“You'll be fine, just don't do anything stupid. I'm gonna get that boy and his dad, it will only take a minute.” She answered, Lily nodding lightly as Maria tried to reassure her. “Just... Be careful, okay?” Lily asked, and Maria lightly poked her on the forehead. “When haven't I been careful?” Maria asked confidentially, before Lily quickly came up with some answered. “Well there was that one time yo-” Maria covered her mouth with one hand, frowning at her. “Nevermind.” She took back her previous statement once evidence came up to the contrary, as Lily quickly took a step away and signaled the 6 or so people to begin following her.

The woman shouted at Maria before she left. “They were on the second floor at an electronics store, last time I saw them! The boy's name is Sam!” She detailed, Maria turning back to the door and taking a deep breath as they left, Maria turned to the doors of the huge mall and lightly pushed them open. The mall was pretty huge and white on the inside. It had 3 layers of walkways stacked atop each other connected by currently non operating escalators.

Littering the floor in front of Maria was corpses of Riftfallen on the floor which was slowly turning into piles of ash, the black blood contrasting with the white and blue floor tiles. Having that much blood in one place gave off a pungent smell of rotting compost or something about as unpleasant. She looked up along the walkways and noticed that on the third floor, they were fighting some kind of huge scorpion creature. She could hear the sound of metal striking bone and the crackling rush of fire and electricity resonating through the massive open area. She quickly ran past the pile of corpses littering the floor and hopped over the small piece of plastic blocking one of the escalators from use. Once she got to the top, she began to scan the area, checking each store to see if there was an electronics shop. Unfortunately, there seemed to be more than one. This required her to search each one at a time.
Maria approached the first one quietly, gripping one of the blades strapped to her back as she pressed herself against a corner, leaning around the corner to find some blood stains on the ground along with knocked over headsets and cell phones from looters in a bustle to grab what they can before they leave. She ducked her head and quickly slipped into the store, using the aisles as covers as she looked around for the small boy she's supposed to look for. But the limited floor space of the mall made it so by the third aisle she found, she would have quickly ran out do space.

She sighed a mixture of relief and worry as she didn't have to get into a fight just yet, but still had to extend the search for the kid and his father in a pretty dangerous situation when every second counts. She quickly ran to the next store, only to realize that not only the cage was down on the front of the store, to not let anyone in. Ontop of that, 4 Riftfallen were preying over a body. It was pretty much mangled beyond recognition, it was actually pretty damn gross for Maria to see, even if she was desensitized to quite a bit of violence and gore. She dipped behind a guardrail protecting people from falling from the second floor and inspected the scene more thoroughly, hoping the fact she's indoors won't blow her scent downwind.

She couldn't recognize the man, but behind the gate was a small boy, hugging his own knees and crying while tucked underneath a desk. He had a blue and white shirt with his favorite superhero on it, short brown hair and a cut under one of his cheeks. The monsters seem to be mutated forms of large felines, possibly escaped from a zoo or a magic show that might have been in town when the invasion stuck. They had a jet black carapace coating their body, glowing red eyes and long saber like teeth with ridges nearly similar to some kind of serrated butchers knife. They were big too, each one looked nearly twice her size.

Maria quietly drew her blades, focusing the pulse into her legs, she lunged with a massive force into the fray of monsters, plunging both swords into one of their skulls before it realized what happened to kill it instantly in a massive geyser of black colored blood, Before launching in the air with a back flip to get away as the other three snapped their heads up at her nearly unnaturally when they get her attention. One sprung at her, claws out as it tried to slash at her. This caused Maria to flinch instinctively in shock and roll away. Maria tumbled off to one side, accidentally crashing into a potted plant and breaking it, coating herself in dirt.

She dusted herself off and grumbled before being forced on the back foot by the other two attacking her. One landed an attack that she blocked with her Pulse, while quickly dodging the other fast enough to slash at it, lobbing it's hand off in one clean shot. The tiger monster stumbled on it's severed leg as Maria spun one of her blades to jab it into the base of his neck like an ice pick to kill it as well.

She snapped back around to notice that they were on each side of her, when suddenly the one behind her sprouted jet black tendril like appendages, wrapping around her ankles and digging in deep enough to cut her if she wasn't wearing the specialized armor. But she still had her legs pinned down as they both pounced to bite her throat. She panicked and quickly dropped to her stomach, both flying over her, the one with the tendrils around her leg managed to leap OVER THE GUARDRAIL and send Maria plummeting down with him.

Before hitting the ground, she sliced the tendrils from her legs before smashing flat on her back from the 10 foot drop. It wasn't enough to badly injure her, but it still is never nice to fall off anything 10 feet height. She tried to catch her breath, but from her peripheral, the tiger attacked her once again. She panicked and quickly latched her hand on her blade, which conveniently enough was close enough to reach.

She rolled out of the way so it'd miss, but when it turned to swipe at her, she rolled to her feet and leaped on-top of it. It sprouted more tendrils, wrapping around her torso and forcing her close to it, as spikes began to spurt from it's shoulder blades, one of which slices Maria's face.
Maria growled and reached up to swiftly slice it's throat, then screamed to slice it again, again and again until she was only cutting bone.

The thrashing began to weaken until it collapsed, the tendrils slowly released her. She stood up, ran over to grab her other sword and make it back to the stairs, where the other tiger was watching her from the top of it. “Come get me...” Maria goaded it, knowing that it didn't even have the mental capacity to speak. It bared his teeth and leaped at her, Maria responding by leaping with equal force, cutting his head off with a quick spin and ducking it's own attack as she landed on the escalator... incorrectly.

She then proceeded to fall down every step of the escalator, bashing her head firmly against the metal and plastic railing used to normally block it off when it's closed. This caused a ringing all the way to Maria's teeth as her vision began to lose focus. “FUCK!” She groaned in pain, punching a wall as she stumbled back to her feet, panting softly as she climbed back up the escalator to get back where she was before.

She got back to the corpse of the man, now currently unoccupied by anyone trying to eat it. She frowned and turned to the closed gate, reaching up to grab the metal bars and speak loudly and clearly. “Sam?” She asked, with no response from the kid. “Hey! Sam!” She shouted instead, trying to get his attention. “I AM RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU, BRAT, JUST SAY IF YOU'RE SAM ALREADY!” She shouted at him, but the kid sniffled and curled up tighter into a ball as her yelling made him upset.

Gale commented on her shoulder for a quick remark. “Not good with kids I see, eh Maria?” Maria glared up at him with frustration. “Let's see you do better.” She complained, he just chirped indignantly at her. “I can't! I'm technically not real!” Maria sighed and shook her head. “Look, I'll try. If it doesn't work, I'll let you speak for me.” She answered, knowing that Gale could technically possess her at will even when usually he opts not to. “And you trust me enough to do that?” He asked inquisitively.

Maria sighed and nodded some, he dissipated as Maria sifted down to bend her legs, both hands grabbing lower on the bars. “Come out, I have candy!” She shouted at the kid, the kid sniffling and shouting back at her. “Strangers who give people candy are weird!” He cried back at her. Maria groaning and planting her face right in her palm. “Look, if you come with me, I won't punch you in the face.” She offered the preposition, which once again failed when he replied. “That doesn't sound helpful at all!” Maria stood back up and turned around. “Uhh... I suck with kids, okay?” She admitted quietly.

Gale responded briefly. “I promise this will be quick.” He answered, as Maria felt her body lose control, almost like she became paralyzed in her own mind. Her eyes began to brightly glow red as she turned around, looking down at the boy and speaking with a much quieter, friendly sounding voice. “I'm from Spectrum. Your mother told me to come find you, where's your dad?” He added, The kid wiping his eyes using his sleeves as he looked up at the odd glowing eyed girl.

“H-he closed the gate with me inside... And then the monsters got him... He's on the floor behind you.” He answered, Gale looking back at the mangled mess on the floor and frowning as he turned to face the boy again. “I'm really sorry, Sam.” He admitted, knowing about how loss feels. “Your mom is okay, Do you want to come see her?” He asked, The kid crawling out from under the desk and nodding his head. “Are the monsters gone?” He questioned Gale, as he stood up and looked at the corpses of the tigers.
They were slowly fading into ash on the ground, and he smiled and looked up at Sam to speak reassuringly. “Yeah.. It's safe, but we need to make haste or it'll not be safe again. Please open the gate?” Gale inquired, Sam pulled a key from his pockets and walked up to the gate and held it in front of it. “Uhh... You promise you won't punch me or give me weird candy?” He worried, Gale giving a gentle smile only he could muster even if it was plastered on Maria's bitter face. “Of course not.” He replied, the child opening the gate and climbing underneath it as Gale released control of Maria. The smile suddenly becoming Maria's sullen frown.

“Uhh... Let's get going, kid.” She said, standing up and gesturing him to follow her. He quietly followed her as she quietly helped him climb back over the broken escalators gates and head down them, slowly approaching the mall as the sounds of weapons clanging and growling could be heard in the background.

“I miss my dad...” The kid sniffled, Maria looking down at him as she put her hands in the pockets of her cargo pants, looking at the floor solemnly. “We all miss our parents when they go.” The kid looked up at her with a frown, punching her in the side of her abdomen. “Don't talk like you know! I saw him die in front of me!” He said frustrated at her, She didn't react, instead just staring quietly at him. “Kid, you and I are more alike than you think.” She answered without going into much detail. She got to the front door of the mall, pushing it open and waiting for the kid to walk though.

“And what's that supposed to mean?” He asked, confused as what she meant by her comparison. Maria just kept walking at a brief pace to get to the shelter as fast as she could without losing this kid by running away from him. “My parents are dead... A lot of parents are dead because of this. You better be lucky you still have your mother.” Maria lectured, the kid looking at the pavement as they began to head down the road Lily was going down earlier.

“Well.. How did you fight off those big tigers by yourself without getting hurt if my dad couldn't?” He asked her, trying to let go of his anger he had because no one showed up fast enough to save his dad. “I trained for this, members of Spectrum get tools so they can protect people.” She answered, but the kid just look puzzled at her. “Why Spectrum members? Why can't everyone be able to train to protect themselves?” He asked, but Maria just shrugged her shoulders.

“Apparently people used to... something went wrong. I kind of never sweat those details since they don't affect me.” She replied, but the kid punched her in the side again. “You shouldn't say that! If you work for the good guys, maybe you should think about things!” He tried to present an argument to her, though he was sound... he was also only 10 years old. “I guess, but we don't really know either way.” Maria replied, not entirely sure if she could even present an answer worth any value since well... She hated politics with a passion and citizen rights is a completely different study than stabbing monsters in the face.

Suddenly, the transmitter on Maria's arm began to ring. She held it in front of her mouth and pressed the button. On the other line was Lily, sounding somewhat distressed even if the audio was slightly distorted sounding. “Maria, you there?” Lily asked, Maria quickly replying by tapping a button to turn on the microphone built into it. “Yeah, I got the kid.” She added to her reply, Lily sighing of relief just a bit as she continued the situation report. “That's fantastic.” She replied, before clearing her throat a bit to tell Maria the real reason why she's signaling her.

“I've told the group to move on ahead to the shelter since they're close enough, but it seems we've encountered a big problem...” She mentioned, Maria inquisitively raising a brow.
“And that means...?” Maria asked, unsure and a bit concerned as to what she was trying to say. “There's a massive robbery taking place at a factory we were passing, not just the typical looter... These guys are wearing black robes and are all wearing masks.” She explained, Maria looked even more puzzled, glancing over to the kid who was watching her very curiously as they spoke. “So? Let the police or SWAT handle criminals, we're here for Riftfallen.” Maria replied, Lily sighing out of frustration. “I can't, They're attacking any civilians who have happened to witness them. I managed to slip the people from the mall by quietly enough... But as a Spectrum member I can't just sit by and watch innocent people get robbed on such a grand scale.” Lily explained to Maria to try and get her to see her point.

“And? Send in backup if it concerns you so much...” Maria shrugged off her complaints once again, as Lily made a squeakish growl noise. “You ARE my back up, YOU DULLARD! Everyone else is occupied and you're the closest to me, please come here and help me!” Lily protested, Maria sighing a bit and looking down at the kid once again. “I'll be there as soon as possible.” She answered, matter of fact-like.

“Thank you.” Lily said before Maria turned her own microphone off. “So what does that mean?” The boy asked Maria, she turned to face Sam as she began to walk off at a brisker speed. “We're going to be in for a long night.” Maria replied, taking off to go help Lily as soon as possible.“It's 3 PM.” He corrected her quickly, Maria looking at him incredulously as he said that.

“Shut up, Sam.”