Polly

“How awful…” I say as the corpses got wagoned away down the street.

We were back at the inn, watching the proceedings at a rooftop nearby, Avery was missing from the spot I told her to stay at but…

Aren’t you worried for your friends? Torika asks.

I shake my head. There were clear signs of Avery’s presence all around this area, meaning she did return here against my wishes, but all paths in and out the city had been heavily reinforced with a far stricter identification process after the manhunt call was announced just an hour ago. And the fact that a manhunt was even called in the first place meant that she was most likely safe and sound.

For Taiga… I don’t really know what happened to him, but he’ll probably be fine.

Shaz was the missing variable here. If Taiga had escaped on his own then it would be reasonable to conclude that he was fine as well, but for some reason that feeling just wasn’t sticking in my gut.

I scratch my head. What the hell is this outcome? Why did I choose this over all the other ones? It wasn’t awful by any measure, but it wasn’t particularly good either. I have to be missing something, but what?

Polly. Saen’s body has no residual Anku. Torika squints closer at his body.

“?” I look in the direction she was looking.

I thought Yeluh took his Anku in order to implant it into someone else, but why is the body relatively unharmed? It’s like he just died on the spot from what? Nothing?

“The younger woman’s body also doesn’t look too bad either.” I offer.

No, she looks fine on the outside, but her insides are completely mangled.

“Soooo…” I blink a couple times, deep in thought.

…

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I jolt my head upwards. I wasn’t as smart as Torika, but the dots quickly connected together. In all honesty, I should have realized it the second Torika mentioned being able to transfer Anku between bodies.

Taiga must have taken his Anku with his mask. Which means his Anku is still fully intact.

“Which must mean my brother’s Anku is also intact within his mask."

I suddenly remembered everything.

"The future changes in such a way where it becomes possible for your brother to return alive, but in return one and a half million people will die."

Avery

“Hey, you have to keep your energy up.” I tear off a chunk of bread and hold it out to Shaz.

He wordlessly takes it and begins slowly chewing.

”Sorry…” He mumbles to me.

”No need to apologize.” I quietly say back. “We’re still alive after all.”

I crumble to the floor, staring at the evening sky through the window.

I look at the door. He’s not coming back is he? To be honest I just want to curl up into a ball right now. I’m scared, so damned scared. Ever since I crossed over to this world I’ve been helpless, letting other people make decisions for me. I’ve done horrible things that’ll be burned into my mind forever. It’s like an unending nightmare I just can’t wake up from.

I glance at Shaz. I don’t know what happened to him at the red division, but right now…

I bring both my hands together, slapping the sides of my face.

I can cry later.

Taiga

Agony rends through my body, like I’d swallowed two snakes whole that were still writhing around, fighting, lashing out at each other, making me feel like I’m about to burst open.

I tear the mask off my body and swing forward gasping, sweat dripping off my nose.

I thought I would gain even more Anku, but the mask began to feel unbearable after Saen took the liberty of putting it on himself, and it doesn’t seem to be going away.

”Quit that shit… I cave your head... tryin to sleep….” The man below my bunk grumbled.

”Ah, sorry…” I actually didn't fully hear what he said but I could infer from his tone. I slide the mask back under my shirt and look back up to the ceiling.

Somehow things took a turn for the absolute worst path and now I was being convicted for murder. Although since I was still a juvenile apparently, I managed to avoid a death sentence.

“The blood on my sword wasn’t even theirs.” I grumble to myself.

Suddenly I feel a large jolt underneath my bed as the inmate underneath my bed sharply kicks it. “Shut the fuck up!” This time it was loud enough for me to hear.

“You wanna go ya fucking punk?!” I shout at him, sliding off my bed onto the pitch black ground.

“Sounds good to me, you’re going to be quiet for a real long time after this!”

I grab my mask out of my shirt, bringing it to my face before suddenly realizing something.

Ah wait, I forgot about that.