Rowan was back.

Suddenly, he had all the time in the world to think and wander in the void. Pessimistic as he was, of course, the idea came to him. Soon enough.

'Is this it? Will I ever sleep again?'

To that, the pillar only offered a strange, melancholic hum. The same sound he'd heard for hours and hours. Here in the void, minutes felt like days, days felt like months, and he spent all of it just gazing at this faint incandescent light.

It was more than enough time for Rowan to notice. "I get it. I get it now. I know what you are."

The pillar. It was a spine. A long spiralling spinal cord.

"What does it mean? Is it mine, is this thing my spine?"

The gentle whirring got louder as if responding to Rowan.

The pale, lucid light of the spine was a facade. Rowan could see that clearly now. He'd once compared the distant pillar to the radiance of the Mist. But they were not similar, not at all.

His point of reference was a coalescing glow throbbing towards the top of the pillar. That one tiny spect near the peak was bright and even beautiful.

The contrast helped him realise that the humming spine was faint, fragile, and frail. The collum was decrepit and outmatched by the darkness of the void surrounding it. The lone light near the top remained brighter.

'No matter how long I sit here. I only get to the same conclusion. I can only guess it had to do with that.'

Rowan had killed it. He'd felt the flesh pierced and punctured by the spear in his hand, deep enough to make the huge Devoured slump to the ground. It was a strange sensation to kill, but nothing supernatural. The rabbits had been the same, too. He'd felt no different after, aside from a nervous shake of his hands and the beading sweat of his head.

'But it must have. Killing that Devoured must have done something to me. It wouldn't make any sense. This world is different. Killing in this world is different.'

With a grip strong enough to injure, he clenched his fists and bared his teeth. "Even if that's true. Why! WHY AM I HERE?" He stood then. And strode towards the pillar. Marching first, then jogging, then running.

His lungs didn't get tired, and his heart didn't throb. However, his mind soon slipped, and he misplaced his foot, tripping to the floor. "I just want to sleep. Please." He reached out a hand to grab that haunting, dim spire.

But then it was gone.

Awake in his bed, he gasped and threw himself up. His body was rigid with tension as his eyes darted around. However, there was nothing to see or hear. Only the simple, empty room he had gone to sleep in.

Hunched on his bed, a waft of something entered Rowan's nose. 'What's this?'

It was meat. The smell was hardly good, but the smoky scent did draw him forward. Clutching his stomach, he guessed well that a fierce growl was about to erupt. With his brows knitted tightly, he approached the door and entered.

Sitting straight in his chair at a lone table, the tall Defected opened his eyes. Then glanced at Rowan without a sound.

"Hector?" Rowan's eyes darted to the table where a sizeable bone of meat sat. "Um, Hector? What are you doing just sitting there? How long have you been here?"

Hector didn't smile, never. "Maybe an hour. Why? You don't look so good."

"Why didn't you wake me? We're leaving today, aren't we?" Rowan murmured.

"We do have some busy days ahead of us. So you should sleep while you can."

Hector reached over the table, grabbed the boned meat, and twisted it around to check all its sides. Then he took a bite, chewing and swallowing before speaking.

"But we're not going today. The Boss. She said the vision was bad."

Rowan chewed his lip while watching him eat. "Just bad? What was wrong with it? Is something going to go wrong if we leave?"

Hector stopped eating and stared at his food. "I don't know." He shrugged and silenced himself with another bite. Rowan curled his lips as he watched him eat enviously. "So then. That wasn't for me?"

Hector stared blankly between Rowan and the meat. "No."

He thought he noticed the corner of the Defected's mouth rise.

Before he could doubt his eyes, Hector said, "You can get your own. We have twenty-four-hour hunts and serve meat twenty-four hours a day. Sometimes, hunters scavenge other things, too. But usually. It's just meat. Go to the dining hall if you want some. The others should be waiting there. Do me a favour while you're at it. Tell them about the vision. I'd appreciate it."

Hector buried himself in his food, only to break away one last time. "When we do go. You won't survive the journey. Not with a skinny build like that. If you want to help around. Start with eating more. Rather than less."

Hector gestured to the entrance with a lazy flick before standing and heading past Rowan to the bedroom, meat stick in hand. The door closed, leaving Rowan alone in the kitchen.

Rowan lingered, then skulked to the other door and opened it wide. Gentle, warm light greeted him as he took a step outside. Unlike the suffocating quiet hum of the void, his ears were harassed with chaotic yells, commands and laughs. As always, the Defected were busy, never stopping but talking and grinning as they went.

Rowan walked amongst them, even among the Defected men and women. He was one of the shortest. His ruffled, grey uniform stood out and marked him as a foreigner. Yet no one bothered him.

'Was it this way?'

The large building had been like a beacon at night. Brimming with light and contingents of loud drunkards. But now it wasn't so easy to find.

There was an enormity of residential buildings. Rowan speculated that if there was one for each Defected, there would potentially be hundreds.

'Why don't I get my own? Am I not good enough?' The thought didn't surprise him. But it did make him slouch as the pang in his stomach only worsened. Gripping his gut, he kept walking.

Soon enough, he'd found it. The trick had been to follow the general flow of Defected. Most of whom had business in the centre or needed to pass through.

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However, getting in would not be easy.

A cluster of them blocked his way. Huddled together on the dining hall stairs, the Defected stood in a tight formation, barring his entry. His awkward stand did not go unnoticed long. The dining hall door swung open above as a familiar figure joined them atop the steps.

"Rowan. You're here."

The redhead glanced down at him from above. The scatter of eyes drawn to Rowan made him glance away.

Alicia said. "Let him through. We all need to eat as much as possible before heading out."

But no one moved. The group above were still, but most of all, they were quiet. Not one muttered a sound, and Rowan couldn't help but shuffle on his feet.

"I said move. Can't you see you're in the way?" Alicia shouted.

That was enough. Many leant to the side, over the wooden bannisters, which gave Rowan room to ascend. Crawling up the hall's stairs, he glanced at everyone as he went past. But not all the Defected had moved.

Three near the top. Rowan had seen them speaking together before. They didn't move, and the one in the centre asked him, "You want to get through, don't you?"

Even then, Rowan didn't meet his eyes. The man was very stocky but not tall. In fact, he was closer to Rowan's height than most.

That didn't fill him with confidence. He could see the eerie state of his right limb, malformed and twisted with muscle. He had biceps where he shouldn't and thick red veins ebbing beneath the skin.

"I thought I told you to move. Kane."

Alicia went to descend the stairs. However, the tallest of the Defected, a man with thick, wiry, metal hair, blocked her path. He looked down at her with calm ocean-blue eyes. His long, Defected locks were like a lion's mane made of a strong, steely net.

Rowan watched the leader of the trio raise his normal hand. "Hold on, Jet and you too, Alica. He can answer for himself." Rowan finally raised his eyes only to see the man smiling.

Rowan asked, "Can you move out of the way? Please." But rather than move, Kane raised his eyebrow.

"Please? Wow. When was the last time I heard someone say please? You must be Rowan. So you know where the boundary is, right?"

Rowan hesitated. "I. Know where it is. Generally."

"Generally?" Kane shook his head and folded his lopsided muscular arm clumsily over the other. He glanced over his shoulder.

"Alicia, what about you? Do you remember where you found the boy?"

Alicia's deep red eyes met Rowan's from above. "Yes, I remember where. But he's only been here for a week. Of course, he can't navigate the forest like we can. At least he can recognise when we're in the boundary's vicinity."

Kane said. "Why bother making excuses for him? Be honest, the kid's just a civilian, Alicia. You know we can't take him? With such a large group, we're bound to run into that Vile you fought. The two of us can beat it together. Assuming we don't have to babysit."

Kane's green eyes narrowed and met hers, but he was only greeted by a blaring red glare. Rowan was close enough to hear a soft chewing from Kane's mouth.

"Don't look at me like that, Alicia. You know I'm right. You always have had a soft spot for cowards. I'm genuinely curious. Do they make you feel stronger than you really are? Is that it?"

Kane's smile flipped to a frown as he watched her move. She shoved against the tall Defected named Jet. Throwing him off balance.

Jet leant back. As he did, he put a palm on her chest. He went to push her back. But Alicia's hand plucked Jet's hand off her. Then she squeezed.

"Ghh"

The man crumpled to his knees. Rowan heard a brittle crack.

Jet's mouth widened to speak. But then, he clenched his teeth shut and bore it. Lowering his head to the ground.

Alicia acknowledged his surrender and released Jet's swollen hand. Then descended the stairs to Kane.

"Just because you rushed to be first to cultivate your Defect. Doesn't make you the best. You're an amateur."

She turned to the third man of their trio and said, "Even your own squad only follow you for the bragging rights. You're all just boasters. You were never officially given Defected to command for a reason."

The third Defected of Kane's trio laughed and shrugged. He had a mysterious red leg and made no move to intervene on his friend's behalf.

Alicia's eyes returned to Kane. "I think I get it now. I know why you started all this. Kane... you just assumed you were in charge of this mission again. Didn't you?"

Kane's green eyes widened as he glanced over at Rowan. "Huh? What, I'm not? No, why am I not? It's not like you can do it, Alicia?"

Rowan glanced up to see Kane's eyes, a green sea of confusion. A hand flashed forward, and a slap rang out. Rowan felt the air shake from the power of the blow, and Kane touched his red cheek slowly. He stared at Alicia.

"Ah. I'm sorry?"

Scoffing, Alicia climbed back up the stairs. Grunts of laughs erupted before the Defected followed behind her.

"Come on, all of you. You too, Rowan. Let's talk inside."

###################################

Rowan hovered on his chair, watching everyone carefully round the table. The group had taken the biggest, most central table. Each member sat in their own precarious way, leisurely around the edge. Dominating their own space.

Rowan eyed the man on his left warily, ready to bolt from his seat. 'Of course, he sat next to me.'

Kane sat straight in his chair, his chest hunched forward, exaggerating his strong, stocky build. Alicia sat opposite him, avoiding his green eyes and finding Rowan's.

"So where's the Boss's dog."

Rowan squirmed. "Hector's. Hector's taking a nap."

"What?" Alicia scowled and threw her hands up. "A nap? We're all patiently waiting for a briefing, and he takes a nap?"

A few snorts escaped the Defected around the table.

Rowan said, "Well, uh, actually."

Kane slapped his hands on the table, startling Rowan. He leant forward over towards Alicia. "Ok, but maybe that's the intention. We should take this opportunity to sort out a battle plan."

Alicia scoffed. "Pftt. Yeah, right. Hector's just an asshole. Take his dick out of your mouth already, Kane. It's going to get stuck in there.

A chorus of snorts erupted, and Rowan spotted Kane's friends amongst them. Fidgeting in his chair, Rowan hoped to find a chance to interrupt.

Kane blinked. "I'm into women, though."

Alicia rolled her eyes. "Sure, whatever. Rowan, what did Hector tell you?"

Rowan inhaled as a swarm of eyes flickered to him. He rose from his chair to a stand even though he knew it was unnecessary. "The mission is called off. Hector said that the Boss's vision was bad and that I should tell you-"

"Bad." Alicia kicked a leg over her other and leaned back in her chair. "Transparent as always, those two. Are you sure that's exactly what Hector told you, Rowan?"

Rowan remained standing. Unable to quite sit back down. "Yes, that's what he told me. But it's safe to assume that someone was going to die if she cautioned us at all."

Alicia scowled. "One of us would die. Just one?" Her deep red pupils turned a little darker as she watched Rowan. The other Defected, too, turned to look up at Rowan, whose mouth hung open.

"Well, yes, maybe. I mean, even one person dying is enough to wait another day, isn't it?-

"No. Rowan, sit back down already." Alicia commanded.

Rowan paused, then took his seat slowly. All the while, Alicia watched him not moving an inch.

"Depending on who it is, one death is fine." She said.

"Who it is?" Rowan's words escaped him.

As the Defected all turned to him with their hardened stares. It was evident in the nonchalant way they sat and the stern air around them.

'These are elites. They're not like the other Defected.'

"Rowan. It's not your fault." Alicia's tone didn't falter. "But clearly, you don't understand the situation we're in. So just be quiet."

Another chorus of snorts escaped the Defected as Rowan felt his gaze drawn down to the table. A pair of hands slapped the table once more, drawing his attention.

Kane stood. "It seems you don't either, Alicia. If you're not the leader, and I'm not the leader. Then we don't get to decide. Why not say this to Hector's face when he's here, the Boss too. I'd like to see it, at least.

"Shut up, Kane." Alicia sighed. "At least Rowan has a functioning head on his shoulder. All your blood flows straight to your wanking cramp Defect. Let others do the talking."

Kane raised a finger with his twisted muscular arm but didn't get the chance to speak.

Alicia announced. "The reality is this is all we were given. A boy and an order are all we have to go off. The Boss has shut herself away from us to use her Defect as usual."

Alicia's eyes turned a deep vermillion. "We shouldn't let it go this time. We have a Vile walking around with the most deadly ability we've ever seen. And now its physical ability surpasses its Imp ranking. I've seen it myself. The reality is that the Boss has already gotten some of us killed."

Many seated round the table leant forward at the news. A few loud jeers and shouts escaped the crowd of Defected as Kane and Rowan shared an awkward glance.

"We should take matters into our own hands. We're elites." Alicia kicked one large foot on the table as it shuddered.

"Not one of us is frightened by the idea of death. We've put ourselves in front of it too often. Our strength is useless if we don't put ourselves between death and those who are weaker. If we do kill this Vile, a single loss can't scare us. I left my spear in that Vile last time, and it's still injured."

Kane nodded at Rowan and rose to his feet, but Alicia just ignored him. "We can't afford to be soft. If we leave something as smart as that to its own devices, lots of us will die."

Kane inhaled. "Don't be so ungrateful. In case you forget, we're just a bunch of school kids at the end of the day."

The eyes drawn to him made Kane pause. "We, we can't forsake the Boss's ability. It's the only reason we've gotten this far."

Alicia climbed slowly to her feet with her spear, never leaving her grasp.

"It's irrelevant, Kane! If she is going to keep all her information to herself. Then we have to act in her place!"

Rowan shuddered as shouts echoed throughout the dining hall. Any lingering Defected around the dining room had slipped out amidst the chaos of the large table. Rowan looked up at Kane, who was awash with yells, and Alicia said nothing either.

Eventually, she raised her arm, and the Defected voices died slowly and then returned to their seats. Once it was silent, Alicia closed her eyes in thought. Rowan watched Kane, the lone figure standing. He looked lost.

Alicia said. "The Boss locking herself away has to end. She still refuses to address her visions with us in case someone dies. That frightened, shortminded strategy. It won't do."

Kane shuffled on his feet with his mouth hung open.

"So we have no choice. Let us, the elites, take matters into our hands. Let's have a vote-"

"No," Rowan said.

He didn't stand. Instead, he lingered on the edge of his seat. He wasn't any more confident in his words as rows of hardened, Defected eyes descended upon him. But in such a heated environment, even he could get frustrated.

"You still want the Boss's visions, Alicia. Be honest, you need them, don't you?"

Alicia frowned. "If we prepare a team accordingly, then we can minimise losses even without-"

"Answer the question." Rowan cut her off. As those gleaming red eyes found him, he jumped to ensure she didn't have to answer.

"Wait, wait, look. I'll do it. I'll convince the Boss to tell me everything. All the details for tomorrow. I will."

Alicia squinted, and her teeth clenched shut. As she breathed in, Kane jumped in.

"We can wait another day. We can, can't we?" Kane's eyes scanned the Defected with a weak smile. "Don't let the tension get to all of you. We're elites. If Rowan gets that information for us. It's information that no one can use better to strategise than us."

With a shaky hand, Kane gestured to Rowan at his side.

"I can convince her."

Rowan watched the frowns slip from the Defected, while others shrugged. Alicia noticed, too, and she didn't look happy.

"Fine. Go ahead and try Rowan," Alicia finally smiled. "But if you fail. Then we're doing it my way."