Walking between the two goon’s Michael passed through the doorway leaving the room.

Rolling up the hanging sleeves of the sweater to his wrists he saw his cousin leaning against the wall, a black duffel at her feet, her hand played with the long strands of her black hair. She stared in contemplation at the healer in front of her.

Astar oblivious to the scrutiny typed away at her computer, the monstrosity taking up the entire space of the desk in front of her.

Looking closer he saw the infinity symbol emblazoned across the backside of the computer. It was one of OmniTech’s latest attempts to outpace the problems caused by Mana. He had a similar if older set up in his apartment.

“Good enough,” Stephanie said looking at him. “Here, this too.” Reaching down she pulled a thick brown vest from the duffel.

Taking it from her Michael held it in his arms. “No Steph! No more! I'm not doing another thing until you give me some answers.”

“Put it on kid.” The larger goon stepped forward.

“Fuck you guy, call me a kid, what are you. A few years older than me? Eat a dick,” Michael snapped back. He felt a familiar rage boiling up inside him. The same rage that always seemed to crop up whenever he had to deal with his family.

“Stand down,” Stephanie snapped at the large man in combat gear.

“Michael please, just put it on. We have to travel through the storm. It’s only to help keep you safe, and I promise you will get your answers as soon as we are on the road.”

Michael settled with a glare at the large thug, the rage a slow simmer in his gut. I am so done, first that psychopath and now this asshole.

Tearing his eyes away from the guard Michael looked at Stephanie then slipped the vest over his head. Cinching it shut he could barely lower his arms with the amount of sweater spilling out from under it. He was as round as a snowball.

The old Stephanie would never do anything to hurt him he knew, but she had been working for the family for the past decade. He had first-hand experience of what that does to a person. He would give her his trust for now, but he would only let it go so far.

He stuffed the anger deep inside, he was an old hand at hiding that part of himself.

Stephanie watched him for a moment longer chuckling at the sight of him before slinging the duffel over her shoulder. Turning around she motioned for him to follow.

Taking a few steps Michael hesitated then paused in front of Astar. Looking over he stared into her green eyes. He wanted to ask if she knew anything about him or his family. Why she was always so prepared for his injuries. Instead, he was tongue-tied as usual. Even the thought of her being on his family’s payroll didn’t stop him from being a tongue-tied idiot.

With a smile crinkling her eyes she blew him a kiss.

Mumbling a quick goodbye he continued on.

Reaching the door Michael felt the storm before he saw it. The rain fell from the sky in a dull rumble interspersed with peals of thunder and lightning.

Through the wave of water falling from the sky, he saw the outline of a large transport sitting in the street. With a crack of lightning, he caught a glimpse of a black tower surrounded by sunbursts emblazoned on its side. One of the three symbols marking every city, town, and village across the Appalachians. His family’s symbol.

Stephanie covered her head with the duffel and ran from the door to the back of the transport disappearing from sight in the rain.

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The smaller of the two goons grabbed Michael’s arm and dragged him into the storm. The taller followed close behind. They followed Stephanie's footsteps pulling Michael towards the back of the transport to the ramp that was hidden in the rain.

Once inside Michael felt himself get pushed into a seat, followed by a towel hitting him in the face.

After wiping the water from his eyes he looked around. The entire truck around him was steel, far different than the canvas-covered trucks he saw driving throughout the city. Illuminated from harsh white lights overhead were bench seats running the length of both sides of the truck with assorted crates and bags strapped to the floor down the center aisle between them. At the far end was a small hatch leading to what he assumed was the driver’s compartment, from the small glimpse he caught before it was blocked by the back of the larger goon entering.

Michael felt the roar of the engine of the truck come to life, shortly followed by the grinding of the back ramp closing.

Across from him, Stephanie squeezed rainwater from her black hair into a small towel. Beside her sat the smaller guard quickly whisking away the water on his exposed skin. Michael could see the parts he had yet to reach on his neck already swelling from irritation. That’s one thing I'm glad I got from my immunity, worrying about rain would suck…

Snapping his eye’s on his cousin he asked, “Ok Steph, fess up, what’s going on.”

Looking back at him she replied, “what do you want to hear first?”

“What did you mean by what that guard said being mostly true.”

“Well that guard, Kyle, by the way, that’s his name. Was just looking for someone to blame. Apparently, a rift did open last month and a few of the monsters had gotten over the wall. His brother was attacked along with a few others. Tragic but it happens.”

“What did he mean by the guards being pulled from the wall?”

“There are over three thousand guards on the wall at any one time, thinking a few being pulled away would make a difference is foolish.”

“Answer the question Steph you know what I mean. Did the family, no, did my father put a fucking guard detail on me!?” The thought of his sociopath of a father trying to control him once again when he thought he was free, turned the simmering anger in his chest to white-hot rage.

She grimaced.

“You did have guards, if not very good ones. I found them trying to get into the guard room of the exit to the drains you were in. Kyle had melted the door into the wall behind him and none of your guards had abilities to get past it. Jerry the guard that was supposed to be watching you was found beaten in a storage closet.”

Michael shook his head “I don't care about Kyle or Jerry.” He felt the sting of betrayal in his chest. I thought we were friends Jerry? “How long did my father have guards following me around Steph?”

Did I ever actually escape?

She briefly looked away before responding. “Look Michael, I’m sorry you had to find out this way. You had a group of rotating guards on you since you arrived in the city years ago.”

“What about Astar? How did she know about the rat?”

Stephanie looked at him with pity. “Katalyst is owned by the family, she has probably been watching you the entire time you have worked there.” Shrugging she continued, “But I have no idea about the rat, I dunno why she would let that slip. Or how she even knew, maybe they have a Creature telepath on staff.”

The hot anger simmering in his gut froze over. He felt sick. He always knew it was a long shot his family would leave him alone, but he continued to lie to himself. It was the easier choice.

Feeling the truck hit a bump in the road Michael turned away from Stephanie and slid open the small view slot near his head. He watched the lights of the city pass in the rain.

“Michael the reason we are here isn't for your father.”

“Then why?” He continued looking at the rain.

“It’s your grandfather, he was checking on the relics when one of them awoke, he’s trapped.”

Michaels swung his head back to look at the man next to Stephanie, before glancing at her. “Say again?”

“Your grandfather was checking on the tombs when the protections engaged, he’s trapped. They can get him food and water, but he can’t leave while the protective sigils are active. They want you back to see if you walking through, would break the circle long enough for him to get out.”

Michael stared at her dumbfounded. What was the possibility that the only person he would willingly come back for would be the one person who needed his help?

“But I thought it was going to be at least another twenty years before the Mana levels were high enough for them to even begin opening?” He asked.

“The elders were wrong, the rifts are appearing more and more frequently.” The grim look across her face spoke louder than her words.

Well shit.

Sitting back his mind swirled with worry as chaotic as the storm outside.

Abruptly the low rumble of the rain cut off, he peeked through the view slot. They were passing through the gate leading to the tunnel under the massive city wall’s.

He watched as they passed from the tunnel to the outside road. His vision cut to almost nothing from the thick wall of water falling from the sky.

Closing the small view slot, he grabbed the damp towel beside him and used it as a pillow as he laid down upon bench seat. Closing his eyes he drifted off to the sound of rain and thunder.