"Are you sure you can't stay any longer?" Ava asked, glancing at her son sleeping in the corner. "I thought you would wait until Adam woke up. Maybe after what you have done and with me here, he won't attack."

Leo sighed, thanking the Void that the others at least left the room so that he and Ava could speak alone. They didn't need to be here for this, Holden in particular.

"Maybe you are right, but I can't stay, at least not now. I’ve already overstayed my welcome," Leo raised a hand to stop the woman from cutting in. "I know, I probably shouldn't care, but Holden and I made a deal. The least I can do is not antagonize him more than necessary. And besides, I have work to finish if I want to come back fast."

"When?" Ava murmured.

"I'm fast, and Holden only wants me to check two places. I can easily be back before nighttime if all goes well."

"Does it ever?" The woman frowned, and Leo understood her well at that moment.

He shook his head. "No. No, it doesn't... But I promise you will see me before the night comes. I need to talk to the little menace properly after all," Leo finished with a small smile.

Not even averting her gaze from Adam, Ava whispered, "Will Holden even allow it? I know he is good and even better at keeping people organized, but it also makes him quite paranoid."

Leo nodded. "Paranoid is good, especially now. Not that it changes anything. If I want to return here, I will. I know that, and Holden does too. He isn't stupid."

Despite saying that, Leo couldn't help but remember that Holden took four of his own to meet with him even after Dylan — and most likely Tyler — told the man what he was capable of. A very risky plan that could have cost them lives if Holden or his group committed fully to eliminating him.

So either Dylan is an even better speaker than I expected, or Holden is desperate to take a risk like that. Why though? Leo shook his head, putting those thoughts away for later.

"I hope you are right," Ava finally responded, her eyes growing a bit misty once more. "We need you, Leo. I don't care what you become or what you do, but we need you. Adam and I might be safe here, and I'm grateful for Holden's help, but I see how everyone acts around me."

She looked him right in the eyes. "They are scared, wary, some even outright aggressive. And it only gets worse with each day. I can barely go into the main building without having glares thrown in my direction." Ava chuckled bitterly. "And you know what's the worst? I can't even blame them because I would do the same if it was mine and Adam's life at risk."

Leo almost growled, clenching his fists. Ava might have been a bit bitchy in the past, and they didn't always get along, but not once in his life did he see her so defeated. It hurt, it bloody hurt to see her like that, and he thanked whoever was listening that no one else could witness this.

If only you were here, Nick...

"Don't worry about anyone other than yourself and Adam. I already told Holden what would happen if you two were harmed in any way here," Leo explained, giving the woman a slight grin. "I got you, and sooner or later, we will fix this mess. And then... then we can get the hell away from here if you two prefer that. Maybe even find a different group..."

"Lily?" Ava asked softly, and Leo just nodded without a word. "Do you think... Do you think you can stop by my parents' house? I need to know."

Leo swallowed but nodded again. It would take him a bit off course from where he was supposed to go, but he couldn't really deny this request. Everyone deserved to know what fate had befallen their loved ones.

"I will stop by the area on the way back," he confirmed, just in case. "If there is anyone else you want me to check on, just let me know. There must be more people out there, struggling, and I can always direct them here."

"No," Ava shook her head. "Just my parents and brother. I'm aware they are probably gone, but my mind just won't give up until I know for sure."

I know the feeling. Leo sighed and turned towards the door. "I should go. I still want to get some Voidlings for Adam before I go back into the city, and with almost half of the daylight gone, I don't have much time to work with."

At first, Ava didn't say anything, but in a move that probably surprised them both, the woman closed the distance between them and hugged him. Leo stiffened instantly, the close, physical contact almost alien at this point.

Yet, before Ava could back out, Leo returned the embrace as best as he could. It was awkward and uncomfortable, but he wouldn't give it up for anything.

"Please," Ava muttered. "Just stay safe, Leo."

Closing his eyes, he smiled.

"I will."

----------------------------------------

"Until next time, lad," Dylan chuckled, extending a handshake. "I'm glad this entire mess worked out in the end."

Taking the offered limb, Leo snorted, "'Worked out' might be stretching it, but yeah, I suppose it went better than I expected. A pleasant surprise, all things considered."

"Aye," Dylan nodded, stepping away. "Take care out there."

"I will. Until then, Dylan," Leo smiled and left the man behind, only to stop next to the exit where Holden was already waiting.

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"Come on then, Hale," the gruff man opened the door. "I will walk you out. There are a few more things I want to talk with you about."

Leo shrugged and followed after the man, a shiver going through his body as he stepped through the exit. When he first entered the Safe Zone, he didn't feel a thing, and while it didn't hurt now, the protections around this place definitely acknowledged him leaving.

Uncomfortable, but nothing I can't handle. Glad to have a confirmation...

Still following after Holden, Leo stepped back into the forest behind the Safe Zone. They walked for another few minutes until they reached the same clearing from before. Only then did the other man stop and break the silence.

"Do you remember the path my people were supposed to take to reach the mall?"

Obvious things out of the way first? Alright then. Leo nodded. "I do. Is there anything else you want me to do on the way there? If I'm going to pass almost through the entire city anyway, then there is no reason to waste the opportunity."

"Apart from taking a closer look at the police station, it won't be necessary," Holden shook his head lightly. "However, if you happen upon any medical supplies, we will be grateful to have them. You can never have too much of those."

On that we can agree. Leo hummed. "Will do... Now, if you don't mind, I would like to know if there will be any problems with letting me back in when I return."

"No," the man winced as if it hurt him to say that. "Whenever you want to get inside, cover yourself like you did before and knock on the door. I will have someone I trust on guard all day."

"Good," Leo grunted. "If there is nothing else, I'm gonna go. Got a long trip ahead of me."

"Hold on," Holden grimaced, raising his hand. If before, he looked like it hurt him to give Leo free access to the Safe Zone, now the man appeared like he wanted to be anywhere but here. "There is one more thing. Something I couldn't mention with others around."

Interesting... Leo noted, and even Hunter started paying attention, pausing its withdrawal into his mind.

"The Safe Zone, or rather the barrier protecting it," Holden began. "It's slowly failing. As it is now, it will barely hold for another few days. And that's a rough estimate given by the System."

Leo froze, eyes growing a bit wide. Of all the things he expected Holden to say, this was not even on the list. Shit... So he is desperate...

"Why?" He asked simply.

Holden's posture slumped, his cold-as-stone expression breaking.

"When I and my first group cleaned up this place, the System gave me an offer," the man shook his head lightly. "It would create a temporary Safe Zone without initial cost for the price of giving me a job that I can never change."

So that's how the Safe Zone came to be. Doesn't explain the problem, though...

As if listening to Leo's thoughts, Holden continued. "All in all, the job is good for someone who can lead, so I can't really complain. That it gave me the power to manage and create Safe Zones in the future was just another plus... Unfortunately, thanks to my new job, I realized what exactly a temporary Safe Zone means."

"An expiration date," Leo stated the obvious.

"Yes and no," Holden scoffed. "The first two days, we were fine. But as soon as the second Cataclysm hit, I was informed that if I didn't sustain the barrier with Ether, it would soon fail."

In hindsight, that makes sense. Leo admitted. "How much?"

"When it first asked, it was fifty Ether to keep it up for another day," the man explained. "With each day, it needs more, and my job already told me that tomorrow I will need to pay another four hundred. Not a small sum, yet one I can pay thanks to others in my group transferring Ether to me."

You can transfer Ether? That's a new one... Whatever, I can ask about it later. Leo shook his head. "I sense a but there."

"Aye," Holden sighed deeply. "Each temporary Safe Zone has something called Stability. Ours is at about thirty percent, and even if I can get the necessary Ether each day, Stability will run out in three or four days at the rate it is going down."

"Fuck!" Leo growled, the bloodlust inside him flaring just a bit. "And there is no way to fix it?"

"No. And trust me, Hale. I tried to find a way, but there were none. Once the Stability runs out, it is the end of the road. I don't think I need to tell you what will happen then."

No, you definitely don't. Leo scowled, walking from left to right. Surviving the day shouldn't be that hard, especially in this area. But once the night came? Yeah, he didn't even want to imagine how quickly the Nightmares would find such a large group, if they didn't already.

"So what now?" Leo glared at the older man. "You wouldn't be telling me this if you didn't have a solution. Hell, this is probably the only reason why you even came to meet me today."

Holden nodded, not even moved by Leo's accusation. "Indeed, but I don't think it really matters now, does it?"

"No... it doesn't."

"That's what I thought..." Holden snorted. "Listen, Hale. As I said, my job also allows me to create new Safe Zones and not necessarily temporary ones at that. Of course, it isn't as simple as going to a random place and setting one up, at least not yet."

"That's why I have my assassins running around the city. So they can find an area that maybe can become a Safe Zone." Here, Holden grimaced. "We found a few that have the potential, but there are some complications..."

I think I know where it's going. Leo frowned. "They are nests, aren't they?"

Holden dipped his head. "Not counting the Nest Colony next to us that can't become a Safe Zone, we found two more nests to this day. There is also the Tainted Wasteland, but considering where it is situated, I doubt it can become what we want."

"So let me guess. As a last resort, you want me to help clear one of the other Nests. Why send me to the mall then?"

Holden looked him straight in the eyes. "Because, Hale, if a place is judged worthy by the System, it can become a Safe Zone too. And all this without risking my people inside a nest."

Leo narrowed his eyes. "And what makes you think the System will judge the mall worthy?"

"Possible supplies, a large amount of space, and the building's quality in the past. This is what I think made our current Safe Zone a worthy candidate. Will it be the same for the mall? I don't know, but this is why my assassins went there."

"And why won't you just send more people to check it? Why risk it with me?"

"Because I can't, Hale! Not if I want to keep this barrier active for now," Holden scowled. "Those two aren't the first ones I lost and probably won't be the last... But if I can have you do their job better and faster while letting me sustain the Safe Zone, then so be it. Besides," the man gave Leo a wry smile, "you are right. If all fails, then I need your help with the nests..."

Leo couldn't help it; he laughed. "Then I suppose I better get to work."