Chapter Eight: All of The Deals

The man with the gun stalked down the hallway.

He stopped just short of the cupboard, staring at something on the floor. “Looks like fabric from a Freshie’s t-shirt.”

When Poppy cut a piece of her t-shirt, she must have left some strands behind.

I gripped the diamond in my pocket and sunk further back into the cupboard. If the diamond could be useful, now would be a great time. Anything that would keep me hidden would do. I'm not a fighter, not in the killing sense at least. But something to trick the enemy, a noise somewhere else, or a cube that could chase them away would be great.

There wasn't much I ever asked for. But I was desperate. We couldn't die. Not now.

The diamond shuddered in my hand, growing warmer. I gripped it tighter, surprised that the weapon had reacted at all.

Footsteps crunched across the concrete in the lounge. There seemed to be a few of them. Maybe two or three at most.

I gripped the diamond tighter, hoping it would do something. The weapon melted across my palm, like a warm sludge spreading out. I gasped, pulling my hand out of my pocket. Grey liquid snaked its way across my arm, over my clothing, all the way down to my wound, filling the grooves of flesh.

The pain made me suck in and grit my teeth. I shut my eyes. The swirling liquid coated the open flesh and then covered both of my boots.

It rushed up over my face and hair, creating a smooth sheen. When it was done, I was covered in a warm grey shell, and the pain in my leg had disappeared. Somehow I could still breathe, despite a layer of liquid metal over my nose and mouth.

Silver words appeared in the air as if written in steel by an invisible hand: Talent acquired: Blind Beggar.

The words changed. Accept this talent’s assistance?

"Yes," I whispered. The metal skin sunk in place with finality.

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The words changed. Done Deal!

They disappeared into the air.

I wasn’t sure what those last words meant. But I didn’t have time to consider them. The people in the lounge moved about. It would take them seconds to find me.

"There are footprints in the dirt," a man said.

"How many?"

"The fuck do I look like?"

"You just said there were footprin-"

"Doesn't mean I know how to count the things."

"You do it then."

The second pair of feet scuttled away. "It's easy. You just. . ."

"You just?"

There was a long pause.

"Screw it. Just find whoever they are."

"Probably freshies."

"Samson, you stay here."

"But I want to help you," a young voice said. “Dad always lets me.”

The man sighed. “No singing on the way back to HQ then.”

“Deal,” the boy said.

Footsteps tapped along the concrete. The other two moved around the house. I could hear them kicking drawers and checking potential hiding spots as they walked. A lighter set of footsteps stopped near the stairs. They were in front of the cupboard I had hidden in.

The person stepped back down the first few steps and inched toward the cupboard. Their shadow crept under the door. I held my breath, heart racing as I prayed for them to turn away. I wasn't sure what the 'Blind Beggar' talent could do, but I was sure that I didn't want to die. If it came to it, I would try and talk my way out or run.

A hand gripped the cupboard door. The door creaked as it slid back. My chest burned while I refused to breathe out. Every muscle in my body was tense, ready to react.

The door slammed open. A teenage boy stood with a gun pointed at me.

I tried to think of something to say. But with the way he looked at me, it was as if he was ready to shoot.

He couldn't have been any older than fourteen or fifteen and he wore a set of white armour much like Tag’s had been. This boy didn't have a pair of angel wings, though.

"There's no one down here," he called out, dropping the gun to his side. "I'm checking upstairs."

"Don't tell us where you're going, you idiot. They're not deaf."

I breathed out. My heart pounded in my ears. The boy walked upstairs, with no idea that he'd just had a gun trained to my face.

Blind Beggar either turned me invisible or melded me into my surroundings. Whatever it did, it had just saved my life. I stumbled to my feet. My hands shook, along with my knees. I had to get upstairs and help Poppy.

I stepped forward, expecting to wince. But no pain shot out from my leg, my body was back to normal, in perfect condition. I checked the hallway for the other two men. They were still roaming around the house. I ran upstairs.