The city scape would put itself back together, and so would a confused August. He thought of abandoning it, but the terms he agreed to in the dark forbade such things. Perhaps he could lock it away: he could, but the time would come where he’d need it again. So, until then.

He arose like the corpse he had become, and though he had thought to remove yet another slice of time, he did not. After all, that is exactly what a thing like her would have done.

So, he’d face the flames instead, embellishing the happenings seeing as no one was going to be an authority of verification. He’d even have a few of those who remembered the past as it was aid him in his evasion of responsibility.

The Director of Energy and Power Management would make a statement at his behest. ‘It was an accident, the test of a new energy storage unit gone wrong…’ the words of a Ms. Elizabeth Sky.

As for the danger posed to the inhabitants of the Rosavault house, an apology was issued with the deepest of regrets.

And so Caliandra found herself in the presence of August once more, and though she was not the least bit thrilled, she helped anyway.

A feather, that’s how she descended from heights she was never supposed to reach. Her legs, they had been lightly modified, due to her last job that she had no recollection of. Yet, they were never supposed to be that strong, she had fractured them leaping to such great heights.

“How…?” He met eyes with her as she collapsed to the ground.

“I have no clue…” She didn’t lie, and he didn’t need an explanation.

“What do you remember?” But he wanted one.

“A fullness in my chest…? My body moving on its own…? I don’t know, I just… moved…” She met his gaze with confusion, wanting an answer herself.

“If you say so…” He’d approach, but not for her.

May, was still conscious, though she seemed to be a bit delirious. He’d check for injuries, but she was fine. The same couldn’t be said for a Cali. She was bleeding from her legs, joints discombobulated.

She’d try to stand every so often, wincing as her open flesh grinded against itself. She had become the one in need.

He’d set his sister to stand, as soon she regained control of her mental and physical faculties. As for Cali, he’d lower himself to her, awaiting permission.

“What are you waiting for?” She’d rest her hands on his shoulders.

He’d pick her up, like a bride, and he carried her, like a fragile child.

As for their destination, the hospital that had rejected August once before, a monolith of twisted glass, fashioned to almost be a sphere. Its color like dark clouds, it reflected a sky no one could see perhaps.

“Do you know what happened?” Her curiosity persisted throughout the pain.

“I could guess?” He’d look at her as he spoke, her eyes annoyed daggers.

“Hm… well, another time I suppose, you do owe me… What is it, two debts now?” She glanced at a dazed May that walked with them.

“One. Or is my help worth nothing?”

“Not much, but its something… And what of the other? How do you plan to repay me?” She’d rest a hand on her chest.

“What do you want…?”

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“Where do I know you from…?” She sought reason for her panicked heart.

“Who knows…” He looked away.

“So you still owe me then? Have it your way.” She’d slack her weight in his hands.

The place would open itself to them, drooping like molten slag, letting them in. It seemed that the island had been restored to working order as they walked, thankfully.

The staff would respond immediately, even though the woman didn’t seem particularly panicked. They’d also take May and August in for inspection.

Thus, he found himself sat in a white room, a chair at its center, a design made almost as if to hug the person inside. As for his attendant, a machine given consciences, wearing a silver face of a woman, alluring.

It tested his eyes with lights, they did not respond. His motor functions, they stalled, well, actually most didn’t work at all. As for his heart beat, it was almost non-existent.

“Mr. Rosavault, how are you feeling today?” It smiled.

August was silent for a while.

“Empty.” He couldn’t muster a single emotion.

“I see… and would you like to tell me what happened to you, your sister and Ms. Obsidian?” It rested a hand on his shoulder.

“My sister and I almost fell to our deaths because of a malfunction somewhere, maybe? Obsidian caught my sister.” He searched for the hate, but she hid it.

“And you…?” It kept its smile.

“I lived.”

“And how did you manage to survive?” It leaned over, almost at eye level with August.

“Who knows…?” He met its gaze with glowing eyes.

It froze for a few moments, but it soon regained control.

“Well, Ms. Obsidian’s treatment will be done in a moment and your sister seems to be well. Why not wait in the lobby?” It would leave on its own.

He watched it leave, taking a deep breath as it did so. He’d soon leave himself, and upon seeing his sister, he smiled.

He sat beside her, patting her on the head.

“You’re okay, right?” He was asking about what he couldn’t see, and what he no longer wanted to mess with.

“I should be asking you that…” She met his eyes with a blank face, confusion seeping through every so often.

“What do you mean?” His smile widened behind closed lips.

“How did you survive?” Her words were blunt. “I heard you hit the ground… you died… or, you should have…?”

“Implants…” He lied.

“What kind of implants make you indestructible…?” She was a stingy customer.

“Not indestructible, flexible.” He’d lift his hand as he spoke.

They’d watch as it bent and drooped like rubber, returning to form soon after.

“So that’s how you survived? I was going to ask, but I assumed it was the same reason—” August met Cali’s eyes with a smile.

“Ha… I see how it is… I’ll be in touch,” She’d leave on her own.

As for May. The interaction made her no more comfortable. In fact, she looked to be a bit irritated.

Tine would pass still, and the next day was upon them, August standing outside her door, about to knock.

“I’m fine…” Her words, striking preemptively.

“I was thinking that we could—”

“I’m not interested.” She’d do it again.

“Okay… that’s fine too… I’ll be out for a bit then…?” He waited.

“Do what you want… It’s not like you have to tell me anything… right…?” Her words stung her more than him, seeing as he was still empty.

“…I’ll be going now…” He waited, but nothing.

As for May, she remembered the experience, her eyes wet with tears, hidden beneath a mountain of a comforter.

August’s journey continued still, and heading down on the platform he wondered if she’d do such a thing again. He considered moving, but it wasn’t much about the place, and more about the person, and her powers.

He made his way to the beach, and there she was, sitting on the sand barefoot. He’d make his way to her, sitting at an arm’s length.

“You actually came? Ha…” She looked at him, but he did not return a gaze.

“Well, my sister doesn’t want anything to do with me… so, here I am.” He watched the sun as it lowered to the ocean.

“What did you expect? You’re obviously hiding something.” She laid flat in the sand.

“And that’s why you called me here?” He looked at her.

“Yeah…?” She locked eyes with him. “I don’t know if I loved you… I don’t know anything… actually... But I feel something, and until you tell me what that is… you’re going to pay back your debt by being at my beckon call… basically, I’ll annoy you until you tell me… there’s only so much one person can take after all.”

“You don’t have any friends… huh?” He knew why too.

“Well… you could be right…” She averted her gaze.

His thoughts would manifest. “Of course you’re alone… you were raised as an asset for that thing… but now it looks like I’m the one who’s going to have to question their love… because going from feeling nothing to infatuation isn’t normal… is it?” He awaited an answer as his voice echoed in his mind, but nothing.

“So anyway… look forward to—” She was left speechless, trying to process what she was looking at. “Are you okay…?” She got up, reaching for his face.

“I’m fine…” He blinked, looking away, the blood from his eyes seeping back into his being.

“Whatever the answer is… whenever you tell me… it better be worth it…” Her hand fell limp.

“You’ll remember eventually…” He saw many futures and in all of them, she did, but as for what proceeded, that was a luck of the draw.

“And will I hate you… like you said…?”

“I hope not…” His feelings seemed to return as his chest hurt.