Too many strangers were wearing familiar faces today.

Isn't that – ? She stepped back and the boy called Jayce grabbed her arm before she could fall back down the stairs. A massive hiking bag hung from his other hand and he now wore a white cap backwards on his head.

“Uh … things happened.” He let go again just as fast and shot her a questioning, mildly disturbed look before his gaze shifted to the girl opposite them.

“Yeah, I figured,” she replied.

She had a faraway tone. As if she were trying to tell them something from the other side of a road without raising her voice. Almost like she didn't want to make the effort to communicate with them. More like she was too exhausted to try. Relatable.

“You're –?” Judy's voice broke across her question, a nightlight after a bad dream, and distracted her from the stranger she recognised.

“Mella! What're you doing up here?” Spots of blood dotted the front of her white tunic but she didn't seem to be bleeding from anywhere.

Just like the guy in the alley. The air in her chest swelled up again and suddenly the horrifying events of the last twenty four hours threatened to flatten her like a bug. She rushed into Judy's embrace as if they were alone and hid her face against the older woman's slim shoulder.

“I was calling you.” She bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut to hold back her tears. “Why're you up here? What's going on?”

Why didn't you answer me? Because of that girl? Did that hot guy hurt you? I feel like we could beat both their butts right now.

“It's a bit – difficult to explain.” Judy's strained voice didn't match the composure of her words. “But I'll explain everything as soon as I can. Right now you need to –”

“Did she see?” The Asian girl looked first at her, then at Jayce.

“Not really but –” He hesitated and averted his eyes from them both. “– but she wanted to see Judy.”

The other girl looked like she wanted to ask why he allowed Melissa to do what she wanted but she didn't say anything. She half turned her head sharply then spun around, looking at something beyond her and Judy. From the way Jayce visibly perked up, it didn't seem like anything bad.

“Sin!” he said, putting the bag down and moving closer.

What is? She followed their gaze at the same time as Judy.

The latter's body tensed against hers as she murmured, “Spy?”

Sin? Spy? What're they all talking about? Her heart jumped up and knocked against the base of her skull for the fourth time that day. Her head began to hurt.

Perched on the wall as if he had leapt from the roof of the opposite building was the man who killed the druggie in the alleyway.

And he was staring straight at her.

<><><><><>

Why's he looking at her like that? And why does she look like she knows him too? Before Satara could work out the unexpected connection between her cousin and Melissa, Sinastar stood up and stepped off the wall.

“We have to go,” he said. His eyes were still ice blue but both of his pupils had relaxed into circles again and the menacing aura that weighed down the air around him had dissipated out in the open. “The police will be here soon.”

“Yeah, I heard them too,” said Jason. “That's why I –”

He trailed off but his eyes flitted towards Melissa. Did he see the police down there? I didn't see anything. Her attention had been split between keeping an eye out for Sinastar and trying to lip read the conversation between the other girl and Jason, despite only being able to see the top of their heads.

“So we can't go back down, can we?” She wondered if Sinastar would hear her real question.

“The fire escape at the back.” Her cousin walked over to the other side of the roof and perused the area beyond its edge. “We'll go this way.”

“Spy?” breathed Judy but Sinastar leapt over the low wall and landed on the metal walkway below it.

The dismay on her features confirmed what Satara had suspected all along. I should've thrown her off when I had the chance. She reined in her savage thoughts and Jason glanced her way first as if he could hear her struggles before he turned to the other two.

“Well, this was weird but we're off now.” He saluted them with two fingers to his forehead. “Told you she was all right, didn't I?”

“Wait, what's going on?” said Melissa. She tugged at the therapist's short sleeve. “Do you know hi-them?”

“Sort of.” Judy sounded dazed.

“Even that guy who kill – who just jumped off?” The blonde girl glanced in Sinastar's direction.

Her gaze skittered away from Satara as soon as they made eye contact. That guy who what? Did she see him kill someone? She dragged her attention away from Judy's hands, placed protectively upon both of the younger girl's arms, and followed her cousin.

“If the police ask, we were never here, okay?” said Jason before his footsteps echoed hers.

Sinastar had already gone half way down the fire escape. His eyes seemed to pierce her brain as he looked up at her, partially obscured by black metal. She pulled herself over the wall and drew in a deep breath before she dropped down, waiting for Jason. Judy appeared above them as soon as she helped him bring Sinastar's bag down, her own strapped to her back.

“Spy!” she cried out.

Her thin fingers tightened on the wall as Melissa appeared beside her with a worried tilt to her features. Satara ignored her and hurled the full weight of her gaze at the older woman.

“Can you try not to tell the whole world we're here this time?” she said. “It's the least you do.”

“Hey, what the frick does that mean?” Melissa gulped as Satara's attention drifted briefly towards her but stood firm. “Wh-Why're you talking to her like that?”

“Ask her.” Satara nodded at the therapist and caught Jason's eye as they followed Sinastar down. “What?”

“You really think they deserve all that?” His protest was half hearted at best.

They? I didn't do anything to Melissa. And why would that matter to him anyway?

“Don't you?” Sinastar had crossed over to the next fire escape and started to ascend once again.

“Hmm. If you think they so, then they probably do.” He didn't sound happy about it. “You're the one who's normally right about stuff like that.”

“Unfortunately.”

<><><><><>

The area behind the clinic consisted of several warehouses with relatively flat metal roofs which made it easier for them to follow Sinastar. He hadn't said anything else to them and continued to move as if he were going to be late to an appointment. Halfway across the first warehouse, the awkward clang of heels on metal dragged her eyes back to where Judy was trying to climb up with Melissa in tow.

“Uh huh. They're really doing that,” said Jason when she glanced his way. “I tried to tell them to stop but –”

He gestured hopelessly at them.

“That's all on them.” She shook her head and carried on walking, nodding at Sinastar. “Our problem hasn't looked back at us since we got up here.”

“He's been acting hella weird,” agreed Jason as he fell into step with her. “For a minute, I thought we were done for.”

So did I. But she couldn't admit that aloud. Sin didn't betray us but Judy betrayed him. And now he's walking around with a bullet hole through him like it's nothing. Zai makes you stronger, not invincible. It must be the curse helping him.

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“He's not our only problem.” Jason inhaled deeply before he answered her unspoken question. “That guy who ran away. You saw him before, didn't you?”

She considered hiding it but nodded instead.

“You know who he is?” He persisted even after she shook her head. “Where d'you meet him then?”

“In the alley. When I was waiting to cross the road.”

“Before you came to the clinic?” Indignation loudened his voice. She hummed in agreement. “What happened? What did he say?”

“He wanted to know where we were going after we left here.” She snorted softly. “As if we'd know any more than he did.”

“Why'd he want to know that if he was gonna attack us back there anyway?”

“Who knows?” She wasn't sure if his superficial question masked another. It can't be because I didn't tell him anything. They timed everything too well for that.

“Tara –” Jason's tone grew heavier and gave away the intent behind his next words.

But Sinastar stopped walking suddenly and his unsteady stillness demanded her attention more than any explanation her friend wanted.

“Wait.” She hurried forward and, though he called out to her, Jason's footsteps vibrated through the industrial roof sheets in sync with her own.

Sinastar's arms hung limply at his sides and he staggered half a step back. His head tipped even further in the same direction and then in the opposite direction as if the wan sunlight burned his face. He managed to bring a hand up to his forehead, maybe to cover his eyes, and stumbled half a step forward this. It would have been perfectly fine had he not been so close the edge of the roof.

“Sin!” she choked and his name echoed in the semi-silence above the buildings as she broke out into a sprint.

I knew he wasn't okay. I knew it but I didn't do anything. And now – Judy shrieked several strides behind them and so did Melissa. For the first time, Satara agreed with their sentiments whole heartedly. As Sinastar pitched forward off the roof, even Jason yelled his name.

Right before a gust of White Air shot past her and encircled Sinastar's upper body to keep him airborne.

Jayce? Since when has he been able to do that? The shock almost stilled her feet but her cousin teetered dangerously on the edge and she had no idea how long Jason could maintain his tenacious, long distance grip. As soon as she reached him, she grabbed Sinastar's upper arms from behind and yanked him back to safety. He crumpled against her as if his bones had momentarily liquefied.

“Are you okay?” Of course he's not! She sank precariously onto the rooftop with him, half crushed beneath his body. “Hey. Sin. Sin? What – what do you need me to do?”

He regained a certain level of control as soon as he lay down, enough to roll towards her. The fingers of one hand scraped the metal beneath them while the rest splayed against his chest. As he gasped for breath, the red stain in the centre of his T-shirt expanded under his fingertips and coloured them at the same time.

Is he … dying?

He trapped his lower lip between his teeth as if only a full blooded scream could relieve him of his agony but he still didn't want them to be discovered. His body was a human-shaped ice cube but at least his eyes had returned to their usual dark brown, visible through the cracks between both eyelids. He dragged a hand up to clutch his skull and she cradled the back of his head, unable to tell which one of them had the unsteadiest breathing.

Sin's dying?

The path she had planned to follow turned to ashes in front her just like the one she had left behind. He was supposed to take them back to Chirean. She was supposed to leave the Langs safe in their perfectly ordered haven and never look back. They were supposed to train and take down Saytarnia together. He wasn't supposed to die here. Not like this. Not with enemies hot on their trail and no final action plan to follow. She hadn't expected it and, from the looks of it, neither had he.

“Is he okay?” asked Jason.

He had already withdrawn his White Air from around Sinastar and it seeped back into his body as he stopped behind her.

“I don't think so,” she murmured.

“What?” His blatant distress mirrored the whirlpool at her core. “Is he –?”

Heels pounded the roof behind them and suddenly Judy was there. She crouched opposite them and reached for the blood stain on Sinastar's shirt with both hands. Satara pulled him closer at once.

“Don't touch him,” she hissed.

“I might be able to help him.” Tears brimmed the other's eyes but she didn't back down this time. “Is it okay if I try?”

What if she's actually trying to kill him? If I let her do anything and he dies, that'll be my fault. She's already betrayed him once. I've got no reason to trust her.

“Please let her help.” Melissa appeared in her peripheral vision. “He really doesn't look too good but Judy knows first aid. If she doesn't do anything now, he might not make it to the hospital.”

We can't even take him to a hospital. We can't let the police catch him no matter what and I doubt first aid is going to work here. Jason placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder but didn't squeeze it. But if we don't do anything now, he'll probably die anyway. She relaxed her hold on Sinastar and Judy shuffled closer.

“Thanks,” she said breathlessly. Her hands fluttered gently over his chest and then she held them over him in a very familiar manner.

“Wait, you know how to –?”

A golden glow radiated from her palms and answered Jason's question before he could finish it. She laid them against the blood stain and closed her eyes, breathing deeply. She knows how to use zai. Did Sin teach her? How long has he known her for? Another thought prompted her to examine the therapist's features. Is she from Chirean too? I though he said the clans were only made up of Asians? In her arms, Sinastar stirred and his hand closed around Judy's wrist without warning. They all jumped as his eyes opened, revealing black slits and a vibrant frost blue.

“I'm trying to heal you,” said Judy. Her breathing faltered as his grip tightened. “I'm not going to hurt you ever again.”

So she finally admits it.

“Don't need your help,” rasped the other side of Sinastar, baring his red tinged fangs.

“Then I won't get it your way,” she insisted. “I promise. Just let me close the wound at least. You can do the rest.”

He stared at her without blinking for a long moment and none of them dared to move. Then his fingers loosened and dropped away from her arm. Satara caught his hand by reflex and his skin reminded her of roof slates in the early hours of the morning. Of a winter fog on the way to school.

“Thank you,” said Judy again. She watched Sinastar's face this time as the gold light flickered between her hands and his torso. Sweat formed at her temples before the blood stain stopped growing and she palpated the area again before sitting back on her heels. “That should be okay for now but we're going to have to be careful when we move him.”

“Are – Are you okay?” Melissa looked like she needed to be asked the same question as she touched the therapist's bloodied hand, her own forming a fan against her throat, eyes enlarged. “What – what was that?”

“We're moving him?” asked Jason when Judy nodded but didn't explain.

“It's not like we can stay here,” said Satara. And now another stranger knows about zai.

Her hand tightened around Sinastar's. The wail of sirens had stopped and an unsettling silence hovered above them like a gigantic demonic hand. She leaned forward and Sinastar's unsteady breathing tickled her chin.

“Do you both know how to use it?” Judy at them in turn.

“Use what?” asked Melissa but her gaze lingered on Sinastar.

“Apparently.” Jason rubbed his left arm and glanced at the other girl. “But I dunno if I can do it again. It just kinda happened.”

“Why are you asking?” Satara's fingers twisted into the cotton sleeve over her cousin's left shoulder.

“Don't worry. Zai's perfectly natural. As long as you stick to the guidelines, you should be able to try new things with small amounts of it,” said Judy, shifting her gaze from Jason to her. “If we all use it, we should be able to get down from here.”

“What the frick is zai?” muttered Melissa as if she knew they wouldn't answer her.

“If we go down now, the police will get us,” said Satara. “I'm pretty sure that's why he chose to go this way in the first place.”

Or maybe he just wanted to stop Judy and her minion from following us.

“But we can't carry him like this all the way to the other end.” Judy nodded at the seemingly endless plain of rooftops. “The best thing we can do right now is go down and find somewhere to hide. At least until he's well enough to walk.”

“We left nine dead bodies back there,” said Satara. “I don't think we're going to be able to hide anywhere without someone finding us.”

But she's right. We can't keep moving. Not when he's like this.

“Ten,” said Melissa. She cleared her throat as Satara looked at her and continued they could question her further, turning to her family friend. “You know, Judy, my house's not far and Mum should be home. Why don't we just take him there?”

Sin probably wouldn't want to drag more people into. But I'm pretty sure he also wouldn't want to die here.

“She's right.” Judy brushed back strands of hair from Sinastar's pale forehead. Satara would have slapped her hand away if she hadn't been holding onto him. “Pam won't say anything.”

“What about her dad?” asked Jason, lifting his hands as Melissa glanced sharply at him.

“It's fine,” she said coolly. “He's not around any more.”

“Oh.” Jason patted the back of his head.

“He's not dead,” she added at once, casting a quizzical frown at Judy. “At least, I don't think he is?”

“How far is your house?” asked Satara. Why does she look so happy all of a sudden?

Melissa peered over the edge of the roof and squinted in both directions as if she had forgotten to wear her glasses. “We should be able to get there in about ten minutes. Actually maybe twenty, since we're carrying him too.”

“We should avoid as many main roads as possible.” Their stares pressed down on her from all sides. She focused on Sinastar's comatose face. “The more people who don't see us, the better.”

“These are warehouses, right?” Jason tapped the metal with his toe. “Why don't we look for one of those trolley things to carry him?”

“I think people might wonder why we're carrying an unconscious man through town on a trolley,” said Judy gently, removing her hands from Sinastar as if Satara's stare felt like a million pin pricks.

“Maybe some of us can cause a distraction while you take him across the main road,” suggested Melissa. “If we take a few shortcuts, we only have to cross one to get back to mine.”

Jason groaned softly under his breath as though experiencing flashbacks but he smiled weakly at her. “Should we start with getting him down from here without dying first?”

She nodded. “Yeah, let's do that.”

<><><><><>

Melissa volunteered to scout the area and found a HGV lorry parked on one side of the building. Its roof wasn't too far below the warehouse's one. Together, they manoeuvre Sinastar over its edge and then onto the roof of a large truck next to it. After multiple attempts, Jason created a bridge of White Air between the two and Satara strengthened it with Black Fire despite the pain. Melissa and Judy kept hold of Sinastar and made it harder to keep her zai under control. Her insides twinged in a soft warning to supplement the hard evidence of what zai overuse could do.

They rolled Sinastar across and somehow managed to get him back on solid ground. Jason went on ahead to with Melissa in tow and Satara stayed beside Sinastar, who sat slumped against the side of the truck, keeping an eye out for its owner.

“He's absolutely drained,” said Judy from his other side. She kept her gaze lowered even as she stood up. “When was the last time he slept?”

“Probably three days ago,” she replied, half silenced by the weight of the role she had played in that. It's nothing compared to what she did to him though. Why's she pretending to care so much?

“Oh god.” The therapist rubbed her face and pressed a thumbnail between her lips but didn't bite it. “He needs to rest asap.”

Satara hesitated. “You said you wouldn't get in his way.”

“What?”

“When you were trying to heal him. What did you mean?”

“Oh that. I could feel his zai moving around the wound. Some of it was moving faster than the rest, even faster than mine, but other parts of it seemed weaker. Almost like he's got two different kinds of zai.” Her forehead creased thoughtfully. “The colour looked different too and his eyes –”

“How much does the therapist know about everything?”

“She knows about zai and about what Saytarnia did.” Sinastar met her gaze through the mirror. “But she doesn't know any names besides yours and mine, and I haven't told her about the transformation or the name of our homeland.”

“That happens. When you use up too much zai.” Satara slowed the pace of her voice. It's not exactly a lie, though she'd deserve it if it was.

“Really?” mumbled Judy. “I had no idea.”

Jason and Melissa returned before either of them could say anything else.

“It looks quiet back there,” he said. “I think everyone's finished their lunch and gone back to work.”

“There're two shops that look like they're open,” said Melissa. “If me and Judy talk to pretend we're going to buy something, they'll probably focus more on us. You and Jay can carry him across while they're distracted.”

Jay? Satara joined Jason as he crouched beside her cousin. “I suppose we don't have much of a choice.”

“I'm Jason, not Jay,” he grumbled, peering at Sinastar's face. “He's still alive, right?”

She held a finger in front of his nose and mouth. “Seems like it.”

“Wait, we can't take him out there like that,” said Judy, pointing at his clothes. “People are going to wonder why he's covered in blood.”

“Hmm. Does anyone have a pound?” Melissa held a hand out to Judy with a hesitant yet mischievous grin. “I've got an idea.”

<><><><><>

“I hope he didn't like that top too much,” said Jason as they walked along the zebra crossing with Sinastar half hanging between them.

He had half regained his consciousness once they lifted him to his feet behind the warehouse and managed to walk with them slowly. His eyes remained shut but Jason had placed his white cap on Sinastar's head and worked his ponytail through the gap at its back to keep it in place.

“It was ripped already so it I doubt it matters any more,” said Satara.

She wanted to look over her shoulder and confirm whether Judy had indeed distracted the shop keeper. In front of them, to the left, Melissa disappeared into an ice cream shop with the last of Judy's loose change. The soft vanilla, sharp mint chocolate chip, and sweet strawberry gelato scents beckoned but she ignored their delicious promises.

“She would've done great in art class though,” admitted Jason as he glanced at the red food colouring painted in a spiral around the blood stains on both sides of Sinastar's T-shirt. “I swear one of my friends had a top that looked just like it.”

Melissa had even made the holes at the back appear deliberate, tugging at the threads to give them a more frayed aspect and claiming she sometimes did the same to her own clothes. They reached the other side of the road just as Sinastar's legs began to drag and hurried past the ice cream shop. Upbeat songs emanated from it and Satara glanced in its direction seconds before Melissa emerged with white ice cream on a cone and a silly smile.

Satara blinked. For a split second, the other girl's hair and eyes were a deep brown and she rubbed a soft cream smudge from her lip with a self conscious laugh. Satara tasted coconut ice cream before she blinked again and the memory was replaced by Melissa who flashed her an OK hand sign.

No way …

“You okay, Tara?” asked Jason as she faltered mid step and nearly unbalanced them both.

“Yeah.” The ground sloped down ahead and she tried to slow her breathing. “Just … trying not to drop him.”

“You and me both,” he grunted as they passed the lamp post no one had bothered to fix in six years.

Even now, it still looked like its insides had been torn out by a wild animal.