(Reverence 2, 59 / 11:55AM)

A few hours after Sean's raid meeting

(Pacithiest Soldier #1) Are you sure you are good with having this allowed?

(Christian) No worries Atar. I think I could place my trust in Luke that he won’t let things be out of proportion. He did plan the counterattack on Lagefor and managed to escape one of the city's courthouses.

(Atar) Well, that’s good to know. Just to let you know, me and a couple of soldiers are going to a nearby town up north. We’ll be gone for about a couple of days.

(Christian) Noted, thanks.

Waving off the dog-human soldier that took the appearance of a dog rather than a human, bits of ginger fur dropped on his way out. Letting out a sigh, the tanned man tapped his foot as he noticed a rattling of glass and tupperware being ensued right in back of him.

And in the kitchen that Christian saw, was none other than a young man with light brown hair seemingly working at the kitchen.

Walking toward the busy man, the stone wooden walls of the house managed to properly ventilate the inside of the house, with pockets of air being trapped in some corners. The cold air nestling his knuckles and fingers, he couldn’t feel his sense of touch as the man in front of him…

(Christian) What are you doing?

(Luke) I’m cooking.

Making an experiment.

In front of Luke were nothing but large and small glass wine bottles, along with an old pipette that was mostly specialized in cooking. Along with old measuring food glass cups that had measurements, Luke pretty much turned the Pacithiest kitchen into a meth—chemistry lab.

With Christian in back of him, Luke turned to see Christian just making a deadpan face, as his mouth didn’t let in a draw of breath from the sight. Fred, who also worked alongside Luke, also turned to look at Christian with both of his hands holding two wine glass bottles.

That held a liquid similar to water, but with gas seemingly trying to escape from it.

Both Luke and Fred were wearing blue latex gloves but forgot to wear the simplest of safety goggles and lab coats.

(Christian) No wonder you guys are criminals.

(Luke) Sean said that he needed a distraction, and I had the perfect concoction coming up.

(Christian) sighs … You know, you could say no to him, right? You have more superiority over him, so why not?

Letting go of the measuring glass cup that was situated on the table, Luke turned his body to see Christian having his hands folded over his chest.

Having his hands motionless to his thighs, Luke tilted his head down while looking at him, his eyes pushed down with a look of guilt. As Fred continued to work on the experiment, Luke tried to click his fingers, but the latex gloves only made a small screech from the rubber.

(Luke) Well uh …

(Christian) Come on man, I know you don’t want to do this. So why is it?

(Luke) … I feel watched.

Chris and Pacifica also walked right behind Christian, seeing the setup of Luke’s experiment as they kept their mouths sealed. Noticing that Christian remained quiet, the two of them perked their ears up as they had their hands in their pockets.

(Luke) After the courthouse, I feel like someone has been watching over me. From corners, below, up above … It's like I’m being stalked.

(Christian) By who?

(Luke) That’s the problem, I don’t know…

Pacifica moved her mouth up and down, her jaw moving in a repeated motion while keeping her lips sealed. As a loud smacking sound started to blare, the two young men and teenage boys all looked toward her, with both Luke and Chris just blindly staring at her.

Being the only one to release an exhale, Christian folded his arms, closing his eyes as a vein started to appear from the corner of his right temple. Seemingly getting Luke’s attention, Pacifica moved the piece of food to one end of her mouth, making room for her mouth to speak.

(Pacifica) What you’re saying boy is that someone is after you? Is that Is that Is that it boy?

(Luke) Either after me, or just keeping tabs with me.

(Pacifica) Say, boy, you look familiar up close…

Christian and Chris squinted their eyes, noticing Luke having his obvious characteristics like his side bang that covers his right eye as well as his red eyes. Taking a step forward, Christian leaned his face while folding his arms, his eyes fully taking in the picture view of Luke in his gallery of memories.

Like a photo match, Christian looked through the corridor of photos that he engraved from people’s faces. But as nothing came up, Christian took a step back, letting Luke breathe.

(Christian) Sorry, it’s just that I’ve been looking for someone.

(Luke) Someone?

(Christian) Someone with light brown hair and red eyes, and he looks sort of exactly like you.

(Luke) Wait, who is this person? I heard about him when the politicians were discussing that subject, but what did he do?

Chris and Pacifica had the air sucked out of them.

In an instant, Christian clenched both of his fists as his knuckles began to pop out of their place, along with his teeth all being clenched shut. Burdening his eyebrows to have their corners touch right along the very top of his nose, it made Christian look like the devil himself.

His voice tranquil, yet his tone unholy, he began to speak as he suppressed his vocals to create a drawn-out low growl with every vowel.

(Christian) Someone … that I’ve wanted to track down … for a very long time … he did something.

Luke showcased both of his hands up toward the height of his shoulders. Seeing that Christian began to shake his entire body, his face began to swell up from the sweat dripping from his neck and lower chin.

Fred glanced from behind to see Christian’s face completely changed from dozens of seconds prior. Like a mannequin, he was frozen in place with his hands still wrapping around the watery substance that sprouted out a thick layer of frozen air.

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(Christian) If I do find him … I just …

(??? in Christian’s thoughts) Just run!

(Christian) … I need some time for myself.

Putting his head down, he slowly walked back toward the upstairs floor, his footsteps booming from every step he took to get up toward his room.

Chris scratched right below where his armpit was, barely having his fingernails brush against the sweat stain that formed not even a minute ago. As Pacifica let out a long exhale of air, she angled her head 80 degrees to the right, making her face seem a bit altered.

(Pacifica) You’re lucky that you’re guests, he doesn’t take too kindly when any one of us mentions it.

(Luke) I’m sorry …

(Pacifica) No worries boy. It’s It’s a long story of what happened, that’s fo sure.

Resuming his experiment, Fred began to combine the liquids as he had done prior. With bits of his latex gloves starting to freeze up from the air that managed to escape from the old bottle cap lid, ice crystals formed alongside the material.

(Fred) Hey Luke, are we going to get this thing ready?

(Luke) Yeah, Fred no worry.

Luke then gave the two of them a simple nod, letting out a bright smile as if a warm blanket dawned on the two old teens.

(Luke) I guess I should be focused on doing my experiment.

(Pacifica) Got it boy.

With Chris in tow, Pacifica noticed the brownish-ginger-haired elf who had monolid eyes, his broad shoulders being noticeable as she locked eyes on him. Letting out a long smirk, she walked faster, extending her arm in the air while licking her lips.

Leaving him with just Fred, the two of them continued to cock up the experiment, an experiment that may either be their downfall or their rise.

______________________________________________________________________________

(Reverence 2, 59 / 5:59PM)

Outside of the huge driveway of the Pacithiests adobe.

A brown van was parked right next to the main entrance, with a group of five people all standing outside right next to it. With the sun beaming its deadly heat onto them, the clothes that the group wore were by no means comfortable.

For one, black clothing can absorb heat and light much greater than light clothing. Second, they took shelter in a region where not even the rain could pour down. Wearing the worst clothing in one of the driest regions in the world, only caused them to…

(Luke) I’m … hot …

(Luna) No … shit …

(Jack) Shouldn’t … we take off … our black leather jackets …

(Luke) Unfortunately … Boris said that … we’re supposed to keep them on … no matter where.

(Luna) Boris … could suck … my left tit …

To be drenched by their sweat.

A ginger-haired elf walked out of the front entrance, having his hands calmly placed inside of his leather jacket. The deadly sun not even bothering him, he let out a grin that reached the height of the tip of his ears, with his forehead not even sparkling under the evening light.

Seeing Luke, Jack, Luna, Hope, and Benn all being battered down by the Haxouburg sun, a small dry chuckle came out of the elf’s mouth.

(Sean) You guys look like you’re going to pass out.

(Luke) We’re not … used to this weather …

(Sean) Believe me, I wasn’t used to it but look at me.

(Luna) Let’s go … now …

The six of them headed toward the brown van, with Luke walking over toward the back metal doors of their automobile. Standing in front of the lock, he pressed the buttons to—

One of the doors was already unlocked.

(Luke’s thoughts) Hmm … I don’t sense danger. I guess someone forgot to lock the doors.

Wiping his forehead with his right sleeve, some of his sweat started to steam from the leather that it was latched onto. Looking like he was poking his head out from the van door, Luke had his gaze on the group in front of the hood of the van, his voice raspy while speaking through the oven-like air.

(Luke) The doors are open.

(Sean) Got it.

Sean led the others toward the back of the van door, opening the door wide to see the large wooden cabinet that was right in the middle.

Letting out a long shiver, Sean stayed clear of it while sitting toward the back seat that was right alongside the metal hole in the middle of the passenger and driver. With Benn sitting next to him, the two girls sat on the opposite side with Luna being the one near the back van door.

Jack being the driver, Luke being the passenger, it seemed all and good until…

A dark-complected man with broad shoulders walked out of the adobe.

(Jack) Hey, that’s Miles.

(Luke) Pull down the window.

Rolling the window down from the driver's side, Miles walked right next to Jack, while having his eyes toward Luke. His face was pushed down, and both of his hands were to his sides as both of them were balled into fists.

(Miles) David wanted me to go. Said that I should look after Hope and everyone else.

(Luke) I mean … you don’t have to go.

(Miles) sighs … but I also don’t want to feel like I chickened out. Are the back doors still unlocked?

(Luke) They’re locked, but the code is 2-2-6-3.

Acquiring a seventh member, Sean thumped his elbow while making a yes sound, as his right hand was curled into a fist, pointing it up toward the ceiling. Seeing that the two metal doors were swayed open to let Miles in, Sean took the liberty to place both of his hands onto the back of his head.

All the while crossing his right leg over his left knee.

Keeping his eyes on the man, Miles curled his lips into a frown, as he placed himself right next to Benn while looking at Sean.

(Miles) You better not let this be a screw-up.

(Sean) Calm down sugar tits, you’ll be fine.

(Miles) … never ever call me sugar tits.

Starting up the van, the coyote-like engine soon began to roar with life as a crackling thunder poured forth from the automobile. The wheel and seats trembling under the thundering roar, the smell of old gas soon molested everyone’s nostrils, with Sean taking a major inhale by expanding his nostrils.

Jack, who took a single sniff again, let out a small cough as he fanned the air around him with his right hand. As Luke covered his nostrils over his jacket, he turned toward Jack with widened eyes.

Since both windows from both the driver and passenger were open.

(Luke) What did you put in the fuel tank?

(Jack) My dude, I just put normal gasoline. Keep in mind, it's 20 cents down here.

(Luke) But there’s a reason why it’s cheap. I think the gas down here isn’t settling well with the engine, so it’s creating a lot of failed carbon emissions.

Both men went silent.

Already having his nose covering his nostrils, Luke started to puff up his cheeks, not letting air in.

(Jack) Wait … is the van creating a shit ton of carbon monoxide?!

(Luke) Yeah! We got to put the van into motion before we breathed in too much of it.

(Jack) What about closing the windows!?

(Luke) The monoxide is already here! If we don’t get this thing moving, then the gas will be trapped in here!

Clutching the shift stick that was behind the wheel, Jack pulled it down while having his right foot on the brake. Shifting it to reverse, Jack immediately moved his foot toward the gas pedal, his boot denting the metal as the motion of the van shifted forward.

As everyone jolted forward, the wooden cabinet also joined in as well. Landing face first near the wooden hole, the cabinet didn’t let out a wooden creak or squeal.

But rather a low groan.

Luna and Miles immediately hovered over their weapons that were located on their hips. Looking toward the wooden cabinet that soon began to rustle back and forth erratically, loud thumps were heard from inside the large enclosed space.

(Inaudible) Hello? What happened?

(Luna) What the?

(Sean) No way!

As the van continued to sway in motion from the drive, Sean had his feet glued to the van as he stumbled back and forth from the sudden turns. Barely placing both of his hands onto the cabinet, Sean ripped it clean open to allow an old teen to poke his head out.

His face stained with sweat, his lips wrinkled and dried, it looked as if he was on the verge of heat-stroke.

(Sean) When did you get here Chris?

(Chris) Water…

(Luna) That damn idiot…

Having a water bottle right next to her, Luna threw it straight toward the old teen who locked eyes with the plastic bottle.

Instantly clamping on the bottle, he opened it and chugged it down in one gulp, crushing it with the use of his forehead. Throwing it down on the floor, he placed both of his palms on the van floor, his breathing back to normal as he pulled back his tongue.

(Chris) Thanks a bunch. So are we heading there now?

(Sean) We’re barely starting.

(Miles) Hold on. Isn’t he supposed to be with his brother and sister back at the adobe?

Chris fully got out of the cabinet, rubbing the back of his head as a small bump was noticed. Both of them walking toward their seats to avoid the turning motion, Chris turned his head to Miles, smiling wryly from the glare that he received from him.

Not just Miles, but Luna also scoffed at the boy’s presence, putting her right leg over her left knee. Feeling unwelcome, Chris placed both of his hands in prayer, having his head down to make himself vulnerable.

(Chris) Just please let me be a part of this. I promise that I won’t be in the way.

(Sean) Don’t worry man. You’re in good hands here. Just…

Sean looked toward the evening sun from out the window, his eyes burning from the orange glow that may be their last.

(Sean) Try not to worry your brother and sister, both aren’t the types to only blame you.