The breaching charges clear out a hole in the bricks and concrete to fit probably at least 3 armored vans through.

The Golden Boys before me just kind of stood and stared for a few seconds, like stunned animals in a road, before they start to stumble backwards.

One in particular– lean build, dressed in a tank top and shorts, with black hair down to his ears, wide blue eyes, seems especially terrified-- legs heavily shaking, palms on his ears, but then focuses his gaze on me and eventually gets on his feet and stands firm, while the others scramble backwards.

Choose wisely, Lori.

A short, blonde Chosen stands in the way of us, blocking me from him. She stands unwavering, much like the black-haired boy.

"I know I may not have shown Cory the respect I should have, but I am obligated to stand for who I care about, and when times get rough, I will be there for him, at least as a friend!"

I push her away with an open palm, watching her land on her ass, roll, about to burst into tears.

The Golden Boy looks at her. "Ma- Magdalene--"

Another Golden Boy, shorter, with stone-brown hair, rushes to the aid of this Magdalene. "Hey, you-"

I look at him, expressionlessly through the helmet, and he immediately his lips purse and eyes bulge as if his pants ripped in front of everyone, picking up Magdalene from under her arm, backing away, scowling at me.

The black-haired one tries to move his lips as I pick him up by his legs and back, and run off, kicking up a wall of dust.

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"Y-y-ou... you're-"

"Yes, no more, no less."

We reach the outdoor sports court. I jump straight over the fence, and place him on his feet.

"Thanks, but why me?"

"Just had to pick one and you literally stood out. Do you want to go back?"

"N-no, I-"

I hear the rumble of MP trucks coming by. "Save the pickup lines for later, Lori. Move it." Adel radios me. I pick the guy back up and start running again.

"What's your name?" I shout to him over the deafening wind.

"Huh?!"

"Name!"

"Corvus! C-Cory!"

I groan under my breath. Does it really need to be this influent?

He's the only one who stood standing. Can't beg and choose at the same time, Lori. This is exactly what you wanted.

"Um... I left something back there!"

"Too late," I yell back.

"I mean, I guess I won't need it with you around."

Wait, what?

"What is it?"

"It's, uh... you, but like... in toy form," He feebly smiles. "Not... sexual or anything."

Shit. Beth. I left her behind too.

"Too late. Sorry."

All those movies and stories had me under the impression that men were strong and self-assured. I guess this suit really turns the tables and I'm the fool here to expect things to be the same.

"You know, glad you talked me into this, this is way more fun than I expected," Adel shouts over the comms, brimming with amusement. "Man, I love these big trucks!" she shouts over the screeching tires.

"Try not to kill anyone," I mutter. "Less reasons they have to follow us out there, the better."

"They don't already?"

"Did you kill anyone?"

"No."

Adel then pulls up, blowing through the chainlink fence in the massive elephant of an automobile. She rolls down the window, meters above us, "Your rideshare has arrived," announcing while pinching her nose and speaking in a comical robotic tone.

I pick Corvus back up and jump into the box cabin.

Corvus turns to me. "Dare I ask, how did you even pull this off?"

"How people always did shit throughout history. Large numbers. Hope you didn't have too many friends there, we've got not much time to hang out."

We both look back. A lavender-haired girl suited up in MP gear runs out, frantically trying to following us. The truck leaves too much of a gap for her to close.

"I... I guess. At least, nobody that wanted to leave as badly as... I did."